Zhou Shaoyu's face immediately darkened, and he asked, "Where are they?"

The imperial guard said, "They've left. The messenger said His Highness knows where it is."

Zhou Shaoyu found Nanxing waiting outside the palace, whispered a few words to him, and Nanxing left without making a sound.

Although Lao Ding Village is located in the suburbs, it was a village given to Zhou Shaoyu by His Majesty. It was inconspicuous, but easy to defend and difficult to attack.

With secret guards and traps everywhere, it won't be easy for Empress Xie to find Xie Zhaozhao, let alone kidnap her.

Zhou Shaoyu did not believe that Empress Xie could find Xie Zhaozhao in one night.

"Ha, trying to trick me?" Zhou Shaoyu understood the situation in an instant. He listened to the Imperial Guard's report calmly, his expression unreadable.

There must be Empress Xie's men among the imperial guards at the gate. Empress Xie may have been planning this for more than ten years.

The hour of Mao (5-7 AM) was the time for court sessions, when civil and military officials lined up to attend.

Upon seeing Zhou Shaoyu, they all respectfully bowed and greeted him.

After a day of shocking news, everyone quickly accepted that Gu Shaoyu was Zhou Shaoyu and that Grand Secretary Gu was a prince.

Emperor Hui, along with Prince Jing, Lord Xie, Marquis of Pingyang, Duke Xun, Grand Secretary Liu, and others, tearfully signed a "foster care" agreement and left behind a secret edict.

The love story between His Majesty and Consort Yun was too tortuous, too difficult, and too touching. None of the officials had any objection to Zhou Shaoyu's return.

With the princes dwindling, only the deposed crown prince and the young seventh prince remain. Neither of them are fit to shoulder the responsibility, while Grand Secretary Gu is in his prime, possessing both literary and martial talents, and unparalleled wisdom. The Great Cause urgently needs such a strong backbone.

Perhaps everyone had long been accustomed to Emperor Hui's different treatment of Zhou Shaoyu, and now they simply realized, "So that's how it is."

Perhaps it's because His Majesty is weak and the Empress is controlling of the court, which is unacceptable to everyone...

Due to various factors, Gu Shaoyu became Zhou Shaoyu, and everyone not only accepted it quickly but also felt genuinely fortunate.

Zhou Shaoyu did not tell Emperor Hui the message conveyed to him by the imperial guards at the gate, and went directly out of the palace and back to Qingpu Garden.

Now, when he travels, he is accompanied not only by other secret guards, but also by ten imperial guards. When he arrives at Qingpu Garden, the main gate is wide open, and Hongying and others kneel to welcome him.

Zhou Shaoyu stayed in Qingpu Garden for less than half an hour before Nanxing returned through the west gate.

"Reporting to Master, everything is normal on Madam's side."

Zhou Shaoyu nodded, realizing that he was right not to panic; otherwise, he would have fallen right into a trap.

"Don't disturb the lady for now, and don't contact the children either, or the enemy will follow us."

"yes!"

With Zhaozhao and the child safe and sound, he decided to remain calm and observe for the time being.

Hongying came to report: "Your Highness, Lord Xie has arrived."

Zhou Shaoyu ordered, "Quickly, please come in."

Xie Anfeng entered and knelt down to perform a grand salute, partly because Zhou Shaoyu's identity was now clear, and partly because he felt ashamed.

Zhou Shaoyu quickly helped him up, saying, "You are my father-in-law, how can I possibly bow to an elder?"

Xie Anfeng said in a panic, "The hierarchy between ruler and subject must be respected and respected, and I dare not overstep my bounds."

Just now, Xie Anfeng didn't see Zhou Shaoyu in the court. He asked His Majesty and learned that Zhou Shaoyu was going to bring Xie Zhaozhao and the child into the palace.

He couldn't sit still for even a quarter of an hour. He rushed out of the palace and came over when he heard that Zhou Shaoyu had come to Qingpu Garden.

Where is the child?

The message that Hua Zisheng brought out mentioned "the fifth place for men at midnight," but he asked around and couldn't find it.

Zhou Shaoyu then told him the truth: Xie Zhaozhao didn't want the child to become a weakness, so she asked Lu Feiyan, who was beside her, to give the child a drug that made him appear dead.

Upon hearing this, Xie Anfeng was both angry and anxious, saying that Xie Zhaozhao's actions were too risky. How could she drug such a small child?

Zhou Shaoyu thought to himself: Zhao Zhao would never bear to hurt her own child!

If it were said that Xie Zhaozhao had brought a stillborn baby into the palace, people would think she was incredibly powerful and cunning. It's much simpler to say the child faked their death and got out of the palace!

However, Xie Anfeng was greatly relieved to hear that the child was currently lively and healthy.

"Quickly bring the child to His Majesty's sight, so that His Majesty may be pleased as well," Xie Anfeng said. "Has the child been named yet?"

"It's settled, Father Emperor will name him Qiheng."

"Lofty as a mountain, virtuous as a gentleman; the name bestowed by Your Majesty is excellent, as is the noble jewel and the honorable robe." Xie Anfeng was overjoyed. Qiheng, what a beautiful meaning.

Zhou Qiheng!

His Majesty had long known that Zhou Shaoyu was his own son. He was fostered in the Pingyang Marquis's residence, served as an official in the court, and saw him every day. At the wedding, he was even received kneeling from his son and daughter-in-law, and His Majesty personally bestowed a name upon his young grandson.

Xie Anfeng and Xie Zhaozhao were kept in the dark the whole time.

In fact, ever since Old Master Xie gave the secret letter to Xie Anfeng, he only knew that the letter was "very important and concerned the future of Daqian," and his father instructed him "never to open it without permission."

Inside the box was a letter sealed with wax, bearing the seals of His Majesty, Old Master Xie, Marquis of Pingyang, Prince Jing, Duke Xun, and Grand Secretary Liu, among others. Upon seeing these seals, Xie Anfeng knew the importance of the secret letter in the box.

It was never opened and was kept in his study using the most stringent methods.

After Xie Zhaozhao was reborn, she immediately told Xie Yu that she dreamed that her mother warned her of a secret letter that led to the extermination of the entire Xie clan.

Others might take it as a jumbled dream, but Xie Anfeng knew that it must be his sister Yan'er's way of reminding him from the shadows.

Therefore, Xie Anfeng immediately moved the box to a new location. As for the original hidden compartment, he placed a box of silver notes and a copy of the Xie family genealogy.

So what if someone breaks into my study?

So what if the prestigious Xie family has ten thousand taels of silver hidden away?

What's wrong with him, as a clan leader, keeping a spare copy of the family genealogy?

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!