The cold wind outside the palace swept up the remaining snow, howling and biting to the bone. Empress Zheng's words were even colder than the snow: "From the moment the late emperor first banished me to the cold palace, I began to scheme. The late emperor was inherently suspicious and had no affection for me whatsoever. Even if my son were the crown prince, he would not allow the Bai family and my father to stand in the court. In order to make my son the crown prince, after I entered the cold palace, I learned that you were going to switch the prince with the crown prince, so I simply pulled the trick of the cat replacing the phoenix."

Zhou Qiyue seemed to only then realize what was happening, his gaze as cold as a needle, as if he wanted to pierce through Empress Dowager Zheng's body: "How vicious you are! You dare to put your own son next to your enemy! Hahaha, compared to you, I am not even one ten-thousandth as vicious. Oh, and the Crown Prince, the son you raised from childhood. Now he is imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court like a walking corpse. I'm afraid that was also part of your schemes."

"Since ancient times, the victor is king and the loser is villain. Of course, I will not be as ruthless as you, even putting your own daughter to death. As for the Crown Prince? I have already discussed it with the new emperor. The new emperor is benevolent and cannot bear to kill his own brother. He has enfeoffed the former Crown Prince as the Prince of Xun and will go to his fiefdom in Lingnan from today."

Although Lingnan was a harsh place, at least Chu Luoxun's life was spared. This could be considered the last thing Empress Zheng did for her son.

Otherwise, the new emperor would never have spared his life.

Empress Dowager Zheng raised her hand to the eunuch holding the white silk and whispered, "Send her on her way!"

"No!" Zhou Qi retreated relentlessly, an overwhelming sense of despair engulfing her. The strength that had sustained her seemed to vanish instantly, yet she still struggled desperately: "My daughter is the Princess Protector of the Nation! You can't kill me! You can't!!!"

"Hmph!" Empress Dowager Zheng turned her head with a calm expression, but her words sent a chill down Zhou Qiyue's spine: "The idea of ​​being buried alive with the dead came from your good daughter. You have killed her many times, and now that you are about to die, you actually think she can save you. How ridiculous."

"You bitches, you're all bitches!" Zhou Qi was furious, her bloodshot eyes seemingly filled with venom: "You will all die a horrible death. You plotted against me, you all deserve to die, you all deserve to go to hell."

"Drag him away and execute him!"

The eunuchs quickly dragged Zhou Qi away with white silk ribbons. His shrill and unwilling screams echoed throughout the palace, accompanied by sobs.

When news of Zhou Qiyue's death arrived, Gu Nanjiao was standing under the plum blossom tree in Qixiang Palace, tending to the blooming red plum blossoms. Upon hearing the news, she felt a sharp pain in her chest and squatted down for a long time before she could finally come to her senses.

Even if she hadn't come up with this idea, the new emperor and Empress Dowager Zheng wouldn't have let Zhou Qiyue off the hook.

It would be better for her to play the villain, sever ties with Zhou Qiyue, and make the new emperor and empress dowager lower their guard against her.

Furthermore, Zhou Qiyue had repeatedly attempted to assassinate her, showing absolutely no motherly affection. This act could be considered revenge for her.

...

The emperor's body lay in state for twenty-seven days, but fortunately the weather was cold enough that it did not smell bad.

On the day of the burial, all the civil and military officials were present. Lu Yanzhao was the head of the civil officials, followed by Bai Luochen.

The Bai family also officially entered the imperial court.

After the emperor's burial, Lu Yanzhao and others waited outside the palace, and Gu Nanjiao soon came out.

When Gu Yanzhao saw her come out, he frowned slightly: "Why have you lost so much weight?"

"No matter what, my father and mother are dead, and I can't just stand by and do nothing. Besides, as the princess personally appointed by the emperor to protect the country, I should at least help them out."

Lu Yanzhao didn't answer, but instead took her hand, and the two walked slowly, their feet crunching on the unmelted snow.

After walking for a while, Gu Nanjiao suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong with you?"

I'm tired!

"You're getting more and more delicate." Lu Yanzhao pinched his nose and slowly squatted down: "Get on, I'll carry you."

Gu Nanjiao didn't hesitate and jumped up onto it.

"I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Ever since I became the princess who protects the country, I've been living in constant fear. Now, I can finally visit my father openly and honestly."

With the late emperor gone and Consort Yue deceased, she no longer needed to worry. She hadn't seen her father for a long time and missed him terribly!

"Okay!" Lu Yanzhao carried her on his back and weighed her in his arms. "Let's go see our father!"

Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but laugh when she heard this: "You used to call him father-in-law, but now you're calling him dad so affectionately."

"Your father is my father, let's go!"

"But I'm hungry, I'll go get something to eat first."

Lu Yanzhao replied helplessly, "Yes, Your Highness."

...

After ascending the throne, the new emperor worked diligently to govern the country, implementing reforms and vigorously developing the economy, trade, agriculture, and water conservancy. Furthermore, with the assistance of Lu Yanzhao, he rectified official corruption, improved the system of secret memorials, and abolished the hereditary chieftain system.

In less than two years, the Chu Dynasty flourished. Militarily, it not only developed sophisticated firearms and rapid-fire cannons, but also invented a new ten-shot repeating crossbow. Economically, it established trade relations with Persia and other border regions, opening up trade routes. Agriculturally, it vigorously implemented its invented farming tools, reformed the land system, and reduced taxes for farmers. In terms of population, it significantly improved education, and for poor families who could not afford children, the court provided free contraceptives to reduce abortions and child abandonment.

The Great Chu was prosperous and thriving, and its people lived in peace and contentment.

At this moment, Lu Yanzhao proposed to resign from his official post, using the excuse that he had almost angered the emperor sitting at the head of the table to death. He said he wanted to accompany Gu Nanjiao to travel around the world and enjoy the scenery.

"How can you, at such a young age, abandon your ambitions and indulge in the beauty of nature? You have studied diligently for decades, and the late Emperor has decreed that you should assist me. Now that I need you, I have no choice but to refuse your request to resign."

Lu Yanzhao insisted on resigning from his post, and Emperor Yonghe had no choice but to grant him a thirty-day leave: "It is impossible for you to resign from your post. If you insist on accompanying your wife to travel around the mountains and rivers, I can give you a thirty-day leave."

"Alright!"

Left with no other choice, Lu Yanzhao reluctantly agreed.

Having received the emperor's permission to leave, Gu Yanzhao hurriedly returned home, told Gu Nanjiao to pack her things quickly, handed the child over to Lu's mother, and the two of them drove a carriage to go sightseeing.

Enraged, Lu's mother pointed at her son and daughter-in-law and yelled, "Are there any parents in the world as irresponsible as you? You gave birth to a child and then completely ignored her, leaving her to raise it. Oh dear, what kind of life do I have? I have to raise my granddaughter after raising my own children."

After scolding them, Lu's mother immediately put on a smiling face and came to the twins: "Da Ya and Er Ya, are you hungry? Grandma will steam some egg custard for you, okay?"

...

In one month, Lu Yanzhao and Gu Nanjiao traveled all over the mountains and rivers of the Great Chu, saw all the beautiful scenery, tasted all the local delicacies, and wore all the cotton, hemp, brocade, silk and satin fabrics from all over the country.

One day, Gu Nanjiao lay sprawled on the large bed in the inn, looking utterly dejected.

"What's wrong?"

"My skin is cracked again!"

"What?" Lu Yanzhao didn't understand.

Gu Nanjiao leaped up and punched Lu Yanzhao in the chest with her fist: "Did you do something bad? Did you secretly poke him with a needle?"

"My wife, what's wrong with you?" Lu Yanzhao was frantic, grabbing Gu Nanjiao's hand: "You have to die knowing why!"

"I'm pregnant again, and it's twins again!" Gu Nanjiao was on the verge of tears. Why was she so unlucky? She had only not used a condom when she first went in, and she had put it back on in the middle. How could she still be pregnant?

Was it because Lu Yanzhao's seed was too strong? Or was it because her body was too fertile?

She was pregnant with twins!

In short, Gu Nanjiao was very distressed.