Gu Shaoyu said, "You are a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and you have studied diligently for ten years. It would be a real pity for you to serve the emperor. If you are willing to serve the court, I will give you a chance."

Shen Su said excitedly, "This sinful subject is willing to atone for his sins with good deeds. This time, this sinful subject has another mission, which is to find Grand Secretary Gu's niece."

"Niece?" Gu Shaoyu's mind raced. Which niece?

Before he came, Princess Yurong had a private talk with him, telling him to settle things in Zizhou and not to return to the capital.

Go to Qinglai Prefecture in the Nanzhao Kingdom to find the chieftain's grand-niece-in-law, who is also Gu Shaoyu's niece, Gu Jiaojiao.

Shen Su took the letter out of her sleeve and handed it to Gu Shaoyu to read.

Gu Shaoyu immediately understood.

Gu Jiaojiao is the eldest daughter of Gu Boyu and the younger sister of Gu Chengyan.

Gu Shaoyu handed the letter back to Shen Su and said, "You follow the original plan. As for the rest, I will arrange it for you."

Shen Su was overjoyed and left.

Wei Shuyun kept his mouth shut. Even with the severe torture inflicted by Magistrate Qin, he refused to confess and insisted that Prince Rong had slandered him. Grand Secretary Gu tried to force a confession out of him.

Gu Shaoyu said, "There are some facts that you cannot cover up your crimes even if you don't admit them."

They were locked in a cage and taken back to the capital to be interrogated by the Dali Temple.

Jin Feng was also a tough nut to crack; after three days of interrogation, they hadn't gotten anything out of her.

Gu Shaoyu didn't delay any longer, put the prisoner in a cage, and returned to the capital.

Before leaving, Gu Shaoyu secretly instructed Xie Yu and Ling Xun, and Wei Shuyun and Jin Feng to take the prison cart back to the capital.

Prince Rong and the three of them rode back in a carriage.

Hongying led thirty female soldiers, along with the escorting officers from Zizhou Prefecture, to escort the prisoners back to the capital.

There were still three prisoner cells, all covered with black cloth curtains.

Wei Shuyun asked why a black cloth was covering it.

Hongying said irritably, "The Grand Secretary is afraid you'll freeze to death; besides, Prince Rong is a prince after all, so we should save face for him."

I won't tell you that Rong Wang's prison cell is empty.

Wei Shuyun then stopped making a fuss and obediently lay down in the cage to sleep.

Unexpectedly, just as the group entered the official road of Jinghu Prefecture, a group of masked men appeared and, without saying a word, began to kill them.

After a fierce "fight," in the chaos, Wei Shuyun vaguely saw through the curtain a group of bandits fighting with the escort team.

The curtains of his cage were opened, and his opponent, wielding a three-pronged halberd, stabbed him in the knee.

"Ah~" Wei Shuyun screamed in agony.

The man snapped, "What are you howling about?"

Another halberd struck his other knee.

The sound of bones shattering was enough to make your teeth ache.

Wei Shuyun screamed again and fainted from the pain.

Hongying didn't know why Prince Rong had secretly left. Xie Yu said, "Someone must have silenced him on the way. Now that he's gone, you don't need to be afraid anymore. Kill him however you want."

"Where are Wei Shuyun and Jin Feng?"

"Leave no survivors."

"What should we say when we return to the capital?"

"It was hijacked halfway there."

"..." No wonder it was covered with a black cloth; it turned out that Prince Rong had hired assassins.

Use the clay pot mine to deplete the enemy's resources!

**

In Zizhou, open and covert battles raged, and the capital was no less fierce.

The Empress Dowager's funeral was held on the same day Gu Shaoyu left the capital.

Like other officials' wives, Xie Zhaozhao saw the "Empress Dowager" off from the capital and escorted her to the imperial mausoleum.

After performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows, the roadside offering, and all the other rituals, Xie Zhaozhao was exhausted and dizzy.

His Majesty sent the Imperial Guards to protect the coffin and ensure its safe passage out of the city because the person inside the coffin had already been replaced.

Wei Jingzhong wasn't sure if the coffin actually contained the Empress Dowager, so he didn't dare to gamble.

Moreover, His Majesty decreed that the Wei clan was not allowed to approach; they could only watch from afar and could not get close.

Everything went smoothly.

After returning to the city, the civil and military officials and their families did not go directly back to their residences, but instead went to the palace to accompany His Majesty and the Empress.

Xie Zhaozhao brought Yuanyuan and Lu Feiyan to the palace today.

Lu Feiyan said, "Madam, your health cannot be neglected. Although I am not as clever and capable as Sister Manman, I can protect you in critical moments!"

Yuanyuan had been guiding and instructing Lu Feiyan, and she had learned quite well without making any mistakes. She stayed obediently by Xie Zhaozhao's side, not daring to leave for a moment.

Everyone went to the Queen's palace first to rest and talk.

Coincidentally, Xie Zhaozhao met Xie Tingting at the entrance of the main hall.

Xie Tingting walked over excitedly and took her hand: "Madam, is everything alright?"

"Your Highness, are you well?" Xie Zhaozhao noticed that the concubine's belly was very large and her tired cheeks were covered with thick powder, so she asked, "Is Your Highness carrying twins?"

Her belly was so big that Xie Zhaozhao felt it was about to fall to the ground at any moment.

Xie Tingting has also gained a lot of weight, and her double chin is extremely noticeable.

She originally had fair skin and a good appearance, and her plumpness didn't make her look ugly; on the contrary, it made her look very fortunate.

"No, it's a single pregnancy. She's already eight months along, and will give birth in two more months."

Xie Tingting's face was filled with maternal tenderness as she touched her belly, saying, "He kicks me every day!"

As the two were talking, they saw Princess Yu Rong swaying as she entered.

Xie Tingting immediately smiled and greeted Princess Yu Rong with a bow: "Princess."

Princess Yu Rong's arrogant face suddenly broke into a smile. She looked at her and nodded, saying, "Consort Xie looks very well; she will surely give birth to a chubby little imperial grandson."

Xie Tingting said with a smile, "It's all thanks to the princess sending so many good things every day. Once Bao'er is born, we must thank his royal aunt properly."

Seeing that the two were having a lively conversation, Xie Zhaozhao left on her own initiative, took a seat, and quietly waited for the Empress to speak.

Yuanyuan and Lu Feiyan stood behind her, one on each side, with their eyes lowered.

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