The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 2

Gu Qingjia looked at his brothers with a dazed expression, then at the despairing ministers, as if only just realizing the gravity of the situation. He followed his brothers’ lead and silently took a step back.

Seeing his sons’ reactions, the Emperor felt a sudden urge to hurl his imperial scrolls at their heads. Useless things! he thought.

The ministers who had originally intended to recommend the First Prince now lacked the courage to speak. They could not fathom the First Prince’s intentions, and they dared not even guess the Emperor’s thoughts.

“Old Third?” the Emperor called out. But looking at this troublesome son only fueled his anger.

The Emperor had originally hoped to raise his sons to be harmonious and loving, avoiding the bloody succession struggles of the past. He had even turned a blind eye to their whims—even if they refused to marry daughters of powerful families to consolidate their status, he didn’t push them.

Who knew they would turn out so wayward? Not a single one of them was reliable!

“Look at you—lacking all decorum, spending your days in the ‘tendership of the willow’ [brothels]. You even refuse to take a Primary Consort!”

Seeing his troublesome third son, the Emperor felt that the First Prince’s refusal to marry was almost bearable by comparison. Upon hearing this, the Third Prince, Gu Qingyi, countered with dissatisfaction.

“Imperial Father, I am not the only one who isn’t married. My two elder brothers haven’t taken Primary Consorts either.”

It would have been better if Gu Qingyi hadn’t mentioned it. His comment immediately reminded everyone of the First Prince, who had run away. The ministers trembled, silently praying the Third Prince would show some verbal restraint.

“Your Majesty, the Third Prince has indeed reached the age for marriage. After all, even the Fifth Prince is already wed…” Wei Changxu, the Minister of Personnel, began to speak, but Gu Qingyi interrupted him before he could finish.

“Imperial Father, what we should be discussing is the matter of Eldest Brother running away from home. My trivial affairs need not trouble Minister Wei.”

Gu Qingyi maintained his rogue-like demeanor, giving the Emperor a headache.

“How did I sire such an unpromising son!” the Emperor barked. Yet, despite his words, he was secretly satisfied with the Third Prince’s reaction.

Though the Emperor was a legitimate son, he was not the eldest; he had fought his way to the Dragon Throne through a massacre of his own brothers. Consequently, in his waning years, he prioritized harmony among his sons above all else. However, having spent his early years stabilizing the empire, he was unaware that the princes were already locked in a fierce private struggle.

Now, he would rather have a few more “unpromising” sons than witness another tragedy of fratricide.

“Imperial Father, please do not be angry. Third Brother’s nature has always been thus; perhaps his ‘destined affinity’ has simply not arrived yet.”

The Fourth Prince, Gu Qingzhao, had been connected to Buddhism since childhood. Since the age of fifteen, he had been practicing as a lay monk at Daxingguo Temple. He spoke slowly and calmly, possessing the elegant air of a Buddhist disciple.

If Liu Qingyue were present, she would have sighed with emotion. No wonder the First Prince, after winning the throne, didn’t kill Old Fourth but instead ordered him to be fully ordained. It would be a waste for such a man not to be a monk.

“If Old Third’s affinity hasn’t arrived, then what about yours, Old Fourth?”

The Emperor looked at his son’s refined temperament and indifferent face. His white robes made him look even more otherworldly. He truly feared that one day Old Fourth would open his mouth only to say he was shaving his head for good.

Gu Qingzhao hadn’t expected to draw fire to himself. He half-closed his eyes and chanted a Buddhist prayer: “Imperial Father, this son only wishes to accompany the green lamps and ancient Buddhas with my master. I have no intention of marrying.”

The Emperor: (Slamming his hand down) “I knew it!”

“Old Sixth, you…”

The Emperor’s urge to play matchmaker had reached its peak. Unfortunately, the Sixth Prince, Gu Qingzhen, was no better.

“Imperial Father, Fifth Brother is already married. Instead of rushing us, why not encourage Fifth Brother to be more diligent so he can present you with a young Imperial Grandson soon?”

Old Sixth was truly “Old Sixth”—with a single move, he shifted the blame, making Gu Qingjia the center of the Emperor’s attention again.

Gu Qingjia’s relationship with his Princess Consort was not deep, and he had no desire for early fatherhood. While having the first grandson might increase a father’s favor, it was a dangerous target to wear in the Royal Family.

“Imperial Father, we should focus on how to bring Eldest Brother back,” Gu Qingjia said honestly. He neither refused nor agreed to the marriage talk, sticking strictly to the matter of the First Prince.

Though the First Prince was not the son of the Empress, he was the firstborn and held a place in the Emperor’s heart. Now that he had abruptly fled the palace, the Emperor was genuinely worried.

“Then, Old Fifth, do you have a plan?”

The Emperor fixed his gaze on Gu Qingjia. His look was stern, yet hidden within it were two parts of fatherly affection. Old Fifth was his most obedient son, living his life exactly according to the Emperor’s arrangements.

Gu Qingjia, of course, had no brilliant plan. But since the Emperor had asked him directly, he closed his eyes and blurted out: “I will go and bring Eldest Brother back.”

The Seventh Prince, Gu Qingxian, couldn’t help but cough upon hearing this. “Fifth Brother, are you joking?”

The Emperor was unaware of the undercurrents between them, but Old Seventh knew. Since they were young, the Eldest Prince and the Fifth Prince had never gotten along. While there was no overt hostility, they were never on friendly terms.

Gu Qingjia nodded firmly. Aside from this, he really had no other ideas.

“Imperial Father, though I have no great achievements and lack the ability to lead the court or manage state affairs, I am willing to share your burdens. Fourth Brother is devoted to Buddha, Seventh Brother is of frail health, and Sixth Brother is clever. Although Third Brother is a philanderer, with him staying by your side to fulfill his filial duties, I can leave with a clear mind.”

Gu Qingjia was usually a “muted gourd”—only speaking a few words when prompted. Now, he was speaking with surprising eloquence. The Emperor sized him up as if seeing this son in a new light.

“But you have only been married a short while. If I send you to find Old Eldest and you neglect your new Princess, I fear the Noble Consort and the Liu family will have objections,” the Emperor mused. He was inclined to send Gu Qingjia, but he needed a proper justification.

Hearing this, Gu Qingjia knew the door was open. Remembering his wife’s instructions, an idea formed. If one wanted to give up the struggle for the throne and be an idle Prince, the best way was to stay far away from the court.

“Imperial Father, I can take the Princess with me. She was raised within the city walls and has never seen our empire’s great rivers and mountains. She feels great regret over this. This is a wonderful opportunity; I pray for your permission.”

With those words, the Emperor finally had his excuse. “What do the ministers think?”

This was a private family matter for the Emperor, so the ministers naturally dared not object. “The Prince and his Consort share a deep affection, and he treats the First Prince as a brother of the same soul. We have no objections.”

The matter was settled, and the ministers finally exited the inner hall. The Emperor looked at his remaining sons with a hint of disdain. “It is already this late. Are you not leaving? Do you intend to stay here for dinner?”

The princes retreated one by one, leaving only Gu Qingjia behind.

“Old Fifth, you have been thoughtful and obedient since you were small. I know this task wrongs you and your wife. When you return, I will host a grand banquet in your honor. For now, just have a simple meal at the Noble Consort’s palace.”

The Emperor did not particularly favor Gu Qingjia; he was merely fair. His true favorite was the Second Prince, born of the late Empress. Though the Second Prince shared the same fate as his father—losing his mother at birth—his maternal family was prestigious. If the Emperor had to choose, he intended to choose the Second Prince. That was why the Second Prince had been sent to the borderlands.

The civil officials of the court traditionally favored the “legitimate and eldest.” The Second Prince was already legitimate; if he gained military power, the throne would be within his grasp.

Gu Qingjia lowered his eyes. He knew he had no backing; trying to seize power would be as difficult as reaching the heavens. He never even thought about that imperial seat. Yet, being a son just the same, there were moments of resentment. But he never showed it, knowing that a parent can never truly “hold the bowl perfectly level.”

“This son does not feel wronged. I am happy to ease your worries, Imperial Father.”

Gu Qingjia understood that in the Imperial Family, one cannot speak freely. The man sitting on the high throne was his father, but also his Sovereign.

“I let you brothers live together when you were young, hoping you would grow up without a care. Now that you are grown, I find I can no longer see into your hearts.”

Alarm bells rang in Gu Qingjia’s mind. He didn’t know what his father meant by that. The Emperor was not yet old, but his sons had already come of age.

“Imperial Father…”

Just as Gu Qingjia was about to kneel, the Emperor stopped him. “Do not kneel. There are no outsiders here, only father and son.” The Emperor shifted the topic casually, asking how his new Princess was.

Gu Qingjia bowed his head slightly. “The Princess is very good. She is lively and lovely. I like her very much.”

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction. Meanwhile, the “lively and lovely” new Princess had no idea that her easy life was about to end.

In another part of the palace, the Noble Consort looked at her niece—vibrant and charming—and felt a sudden pang of regret for marrying her off to Old Fifth.

“Yue’er, tell your aunt, how does the Prince treat you?”

The Noble Consort had little contact with Gu Qingjia. Her own unpromising son spent his days in debauchery, making it harder to see him than to reach the stars.

“Aunt, the Prince is quite good. He has a gentle temperament. Although there isn’t much ‘affection’ between us yet, we can make a life together,” Liu Qingyue said, blending truth with fiction. She knew Old Fifth and Old Third (the Noble Consort’s son) were not in the same faction, but since the Noble Consort truly cared for her, she didn’t want to cause conflict.

If Gu Qingjia followed her advice and withdrew from the succession struggle, he might actually survive.

The Noble Consort held her hand, speaking earnestly. “In families like ours, marriages are never our own to decide. As long as you can get by, it is enough. If the Prince treats you poorly, do not fight him openly. Out of respect for me and the Liu family, he wouldn’t dare go too far.”

The Noble Consort was favored, but she was confined to the Inner Palace and could not interfere with court politics. Liu Qingyue’s marriage was already a concession from the Emperor. Gu Qingjia’s biological mother was of low status and had died young; marrying the daughter of a high-ranking official wouldn’t shift the balance of power. Had he been someone of higher standing like the Third Prince, Gu Qingjia would never have been allowed to marry Liu Qingyue. This was also why, of the seven princes, only Gu Qingjia was currently married.

The Emperor hoped for harmony, but he knew the winds of the court were changing. With the princes’ maternal families pushing from behind, the surface peace could not last.

Liu Qingyue remained silent with her eyes downcast. She knew that as a woman in ancient times, the Noble Consort’s words were “correct,” but she still wanted to fight for a measure of her own freedom.