Chapter 279: More care or disguised house arrest

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

Chu Ruohan and Du Ruoling knelt on the ground.

The emperor did not let them stand up immediately. His eyes were heavy and scrutinizing as he slowly scanned the two of them.

"Your Majesty, please think twice about the firearms used on the Pingzhou front!" Chu Ruohan raised her head, extremely determined.

Du Ruoling followed closely behind, her voice becoming sharper, "Your Majesty! That firearm... must not be used! Absolutely not!"

The emperor's eyes were deep, and his gaze finally fell on Chu Ruohan's pale but stubborn face.

"I have already sent an envoy to the State of Liang."

His voice was calm and there was no emotion in it.

"I won't use it unless it's absolutely necessary."

This gentle sentence was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake.

"I am not a tyrant."

Chu Ruohan's delicate body trembled for a moment.

She looked at the emperor in disbelief, trying to discern the truth from his deep eyes.

Just then, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall.

A chief eunuch bowed and walked in quickly, looking excited.

"Your Majesty! Urgent military report from Pingzhou, eight hundred miles away!"

The emperor raised his brows slightly, "Present it."

The eunuch general presented the military report with both hands and announced loudly: "General Gu arrived in Pingzhou and personally led the vanguard battalion to launch a surprise attack on the Zheng army camp at night, achieving a resounding victory!"

"We have killed thousands of enemies and seized countless supplies of food and supplies. Our army's morale has been greatly boosted!"

"Zheng State Commander Duan Qingye seems to have been caught off guard and has temporarily retreated. The siege of Pingzhou has been slightly lifted!"

The hall suddenly became quiet.

Chu Ruohan's heart skipped a beat, and a huge sense of surprise and relief surged in her heart.

Gu Junze...he's fine.

He also won the battle!

"Furthermore," the eunuch continued, "according to secret reports, General Wang Duan Qingye is willing to negotiate a ceasefire."

"And expressed his willingness to return the hostage, Young Prince Lin Jingchuan."

Chu Ruohan felt a little relieved, and her tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

As long as there is a possibility of negotiation, poison gas weapons will not be used easily.

A barely perceptible look of satisfaction appeared on the emperor's face, and he waved his hand to let the eunuch leave.

He turned his gaze back to Chu Ruohan, his tone softened a little, but still contained dissatisfaction.

"Since you are pregnant, take good care of the baby."

"Don't toss around every day."

He paused, hinting at something.

"Women interfering in politics..."

He didn't finish the rest of the sentence, but the implication of his words was obvious.

Chu Ruohan lowered her eyelids to hide the complex emotions in her eyes.

The emperor changed the subject and mentioned it as if casually.

"We can no longer live in the Anyang Marquis Mansion."

Chu Ruohan's heart trembled.

"I have approved another house for you. You will move in from today."

The emperor picked up the teacup and gently blew away the foam. The heat blurred his expression. "That house is quiet and peaceful, just right for you to rest and take care of your pregnancy."

Du Ruoling had been keeping her head down, but at this moment she couldn't help but look up. Her gaze lingered on Chu Ruohan's bulging belly for a moment, then quickly dropped again.

Chu Ruohan unconsciously tightened her fingertips and saluted, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

The emperor suddenly granted the house to the eldest princess. Was it because he saw the eldest princess's belongings and wanted to take better care of her, or was it a disguised form of house arrest so that he could use her to control Gu Junze?

Chu Ruohan thought it was the latter.

After leaving the imperial study, the warm spring sun shone on her body, but Chu Ruohan felt a biting cold.

Before they parted, Du Ruoling suddenly asked, "Does he... hate me?"

Du Ruoling's voice was barely audible, with a hint of fragility.

Allen Chu turned around and looked straight at her: "I don't know if he hates you, but I know that he has let it go."

Du Ruoling seemed to have been hit hard, her body swayed slightly, and she forced a smile: "Yes, I let it go..."

She turned and left, her back looking lonely and desolate.

Chu Ruohan watched her go away, with mixed feelings in her heart. This woman who was once crazy about love, and then betrayed for profit, ended up with nothing.

When she returned to the Chu family, Doctor Qian had been waiting for a long time. Seeing her return safely, he hurried forward to greet her.

"Young Madam, you are so impulsive, what if you get pregnant——"

"Don't worry, Doctor Qian. The baby is fine." Chu Ruohan soothed, caressing her belly gently. "I can feel it."

Doctor Qian shook his head and sighed, but still insisted on taking her pulse.

Sure enough, although the fetal condition had some fluctuations, it was still stable overall, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't take such risks again in the future, especially when you are pregnant." Doctor Qian frowned and warned earnestly.

Chu Ruohan nodded in agreement, but she couldn't help thinking about the "new house" that the emperor mentioned.

While he was thinking, Chu's father hurried in with a serious expression.

"What's wrong, Dad?" Chu Ruohan asked, feeling a little uneasy.

"Someone came from the palace and said that the new house the emperor ordered is ready and you are asked to move in today." Father Chu said in a low voice, his brows full of worry.

Chu Ruohan's eyes narrowed slightly: "So fast?"

"Yes, they even sent a team of imperial guards to escort you." Father Chu sighed, "Han'er, I'm afraid you have to accept this royal grace."

How can this be called grace...

A moment later, under the "escort" of the imperial guards, Chu Ruohan stepped onto the carriage.

"Young Madam, what do you think the Emperor means?" Yuling asked in a low voice, her eyes full of confusion.

"It's a favor on the surface, but it's actually surveillance." Chu Ruohan smiled bitterly and looked at the passing scenery outside the window.

The carriage drove towards the palace.

Stopped in front of a quiet house.

The walls are high and thick, and three large characters "Jing'an Ju" are hung on the lintel. The brushstrokes are vigorous and obviously from a famous artist.

Chu Ruohan got off the carriage and looked around.

This house is very close to the palace and far away from the downtown area.

The leading guard stepped forward and saluted. "Madam Gu, this is the residence His Majesty has specially chosen for you. Guards are already guarding it day and night. You can rest assured and take care of your pregnancy."

The words are respectful, but the subtext is: Don't even think about escaping.

Chu Ruohan smiled calmly: "Thank you, thank His Majesty for me."

As you step over the threshold, you will find the courtyard is quiet and elegant, with swaying shadows of trees, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

However, Chu Ruohan knew that this was just an exquisite cage.

It was late at night and Chu Ruohan stood in front of the window, looking at the palace wall vaguely visible in the distance.

"Junze, are you okay?" She whispered softly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking her abdomen.

In Pingzhou camp, a bright moon hangs in the sky.

The night wind carried the unique chill of the frontier, blowing the flags in the wind.

Gu Junze was wearing a black cloak, and his figure looked tall and slender under the moonlight.

Gu Junze would take a look around before going to bed every day.

When passing a relatively remote tent, an excited voice sounded behind him.

"Brother?"

Gu Junze paused

This voice is very familiar.

He turned around slowly.

In the moonlight, Gu Chengan's face came into view. He was wearing the armor of an ordinary soldier, but there was a bright light in his eyes.

How come he is here?

Gu Cheng'an walked forward quickly, his face showing undisguised joy.

"I came to join the army, but I didn't expect to join Big Brother's army!"

His tone was cheerful, and he didn't notice the complexity that flashed across Gu Junze's eyes.