Chapter 1462: Her Highness the Princess (8)

“Going flower viewing?”

Juanzhu softly suggested, “Yes. It’s the season when spring flowers are in full bloom. Your Highness hasn’t left the palace for over half a month. Would you like to go out and have a look?”

Tang Guo recalled the plot. At this point in the original story, the original host had already begun exchanging letters with Lu Qing and had devoted herself wholeheartedly to this talented scholar. She had never arranged flower-viewing outings with her brothers and sisters from the palace.

As mentioned before, the customs of Northern Xia were open. Princes and princesses only needed the Emperor’s approval to leave the palace. Those as favored as Tang Guo even possessed a special token that allowed them to leave at any time.

The only ones truly restricted were the palace servants and the Emperor’s consorts, who were forbidden from leaving freely.

“Then let’s go.”

Hearing that, Juanzhu was overjoyed. Tang Guo glanced lightly at her. This girl truly never learned.

Had she not still been useful, Tang Guo would have long since gotten rid of her.

This ungrateful wretch had provided false testimony, causing the original host to spend her final years alone and miserable before dying young. There was no way Tang Guo would let her off so easily.

Simply driving her out of the palace or secretly killing her would be letting her off too lightly. It wouldn’t satisfy her at all.

Since Juanzhu liked Lu Qing, she would naturally fulfill her wish.

Encouraging her to go out for flower viewing at a time like this definitely had something to do with Lu Qing.

During flower-viewing season, there was never a shortage of talented scholars and beautiful ladies.

Wherever she appeared, Lu Qing would certainly show up as well. Juanzhu wasn’t stupid; she had obviously guessed as much.

The system was speechless.

As Tang Guo pondered, Juanzhu failed to notice the calculating look in her eyes.

This time, Tang Guo not only intended to leave the palace to admire the flowers, she also planned to bring along her elder brother, the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince had grown up under protection. Having never faced any rivals, he lived in comfort without a sense of danger. No wonder he had acted so impulsively to avenge Tang Guo in the end. He had made no preparations whatsoever. If he didn’t fall from power, who would?

For the sake of a carefree future, her dear elder brother had to become capable of shouldering responsibilities.

The system silently thought that the host was raising another workhorse. The ox plowed the fields while she merely enjoyed the harvest.

When Crown Prince Tang Zhi heard that Tang Guo wished to invite him out of the palace for flower viewing, he naturally agreed.

He doted most on his only younger sister and enjoyed lively outings as well, so there was no reason for him to refuse.

“Guo’er, Lu Qing has become quite famous recently,” Tang Zhi remarked inside the carriage. “Judging from the poems and verses he has written, he truly is a rare talent.”

Tang Guo replied indifferently, “There are many talented scholars in the imperial capital who can compose poetry. They’re no worse than Lu Qing. Imperial Brother, I’m afraid you have the wrong idea about what talent means.”

Hearing such a different evaluation of Lu Qing piqued Tang Zhi’s curiosity.

The siblings had always been close, and Tang Zhi was not narrow-minded. Not only was he not angered by Tang Guo’s words, he asked instead, “Guo’er, do you have other thoughts on the matter?”

“Lu Qing can write poetry, compose essays, paint fairly well, and flatter people too. Imperial Brother, why don’t you ask him whether he knows how to manage floods and droughts? The northern regions of our Northern Xia suffer drought year after year. Does he have any ideas to improve the situation? Meanwhile, the south receives excessive rain. How should that be handled?”

Tang Zhi fell silent.

The system thought helplessly, Host, even the ministers might not know the answers to those questions.

“Guo’er, you’re making things too difficult for a newly appointed top scholar.”

“All right, then I won’t make things difficult for him. Let’s choose something simpler. What are his views on corruption cases? What should be done when officials in remote areas, far from the Emperor’s reach, oppress the people while we remain unaware of it?”