Chapter 699 Debut - Trump Card

Although Sun Ruoyun longed to see Lu Changqing, her own longing was nothing compared to his safety.

Upon hearing this, Lu Changqing initially wanted to say that he had come because he wanted to see her, but when he met Sun Ruoyun's worried eyes, he could only nod and say, "Okay!"

The next morning, the guards relayed the message to Yun Yichen.

Yun Yichen and Gu Shuyan were both somewhat surprised to learn that Lu Changqing was the one who went yesterday.

It should be noted that Sun Ruoyun had always been the strategist for the Sun family, yet this key figure had become Lu Changqing's man early on.

"It seems the other side already knows my brother's identity. The Fourth Prince might turn against us next."

Gu Shuyan voiced her concerns, and Yun Yichen also felt that they had been acting too conspicuously lately.

"I will tell Renjie to be careful, so that the other party doesn't trip him up."

Now that the Fourth Prince knows the truth, he can't just do nothing. They can't predict how the other party will arrange things, but necessary arrangements can still be made in advance.

"Perhaps we can talk to the Fourth Prince?"

Gu Shuyan rested her chin on her hand and looked at Yun Yichen.

"Should we speak with the Fourth Prince?"

Yun Yichen didn't understand why Gu Shuyan would say that.

Before Yun Yichen could speak, Gu Shuyan explained to him, "As far as we know, the Fourth Prince is considered your fellow disciple. Since the old master trained him, he certainly wouldn't have made him the emperor. Besides, don't we still have a trump card?"

Gu Shuyan's words enlightened Yun Yichen. He had been so focused on the princes' struggle for the throne that he had completely forgotten that the fourth prince was the old man's apprentice.

"Perhaps we can reach a cooperation agreement!"

Yun Yichen smiled slightly and exchanged a smile with Gu Shuyan.

Time flies, and July is here in the blink of an eye.

Gu Shuyan's pregnancy progressed further, and her belly became noticeably showing.

“Now that the child is growing up, he comes to visit us more often. He can also come with you two sisters-in-law to make some clothes and shoes for the child in advance.”

While eating with Gu Shuyan, Madam Ji gave her some instructions.

Yun Yichen has no mother, so many things have to be taken care of by his mother-in-law.

Gu Shuyan had given birth in her previous life, so she naturally knew these things and had already made preparations while she was at the Yun residence.

"Don't worry, Mother, the doctors have all given us instructions."

As Gu Shuyan spoke, she touched the seven-month-old baby and said with a slight doubt, "This baby is already seven months old, but it hasn't moved much at all."

Gu Shuyan still remembers the first time the baby moved in the womb. At that time, both she and Yun Yichen were overjoyed, and Yun Yichen even put his hand on his belly to interact with the baby.

But the child was only active at that time. After that, Gu Shuyan never felt particularly tired.

Even though it was just a fetus, Gu Shuyan felt that it was very sensible, as if it knew how hard she was working and didn't bother her at all.

"You don't need to worry about such a well-behaved child. Didn't Yichen say before that the child was perfectly healthy? Perhaps it's because the child is sensible and knows not to bother you."

Lady Ji herself also found it strange, but faced with her daughter's worries, she had no choice but to offer comfort.

"Yes, I hope so too."

As Gu Shuyan spoke, the old monk's words echoed in her mind once again.

Perhaps the reason this child is so quiet and well-behaved is because he is his own Rui'er.

While the mother and daughter chatted casually at the Marquis's residence, the imperial court was unusually lively.

This morning, the emperor received an urgent message from a messenger, reporting on the status of the first batch of grain.

The emperor was overjoyed to learn of this year's bumper harvest.

"In the past, there was a food shortage, and everyone struggled through a year of famine. Now that the famine is over, all of you have worked hard this year."

"May Heaven bless the Great Zhou Dynasty, and may good fortune come after adversity. Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations."

All the ministers knelt down and kowtowed, shouting slogans. Looking at the crowd prostrate before him, the emperor couldn't stop smiling.

After exchanging some pleasantries, the emperor was so pleased that he dismissed the court and went to the empress's bedchamber.

"Does Your Majesty have some joyous occasion today?"

As soon as the Empress saw the Emperor, she rushed over to greet him and led him into the room to sit down.

The Empress had just heard about what happened in the previous dynasty. Being able to receive news of a bountiful harvest ahead of schedule is the best news she has heard since last year.

"It is indeed good news. The report says that the grain harvest in several coastal areas has been bountiful. The grains in various places are also growing very well. If there are no problems, the harvest can begin in early August."

The emperor smiled and picked up the fruit that the empress had placed on the table. "Speaking of which, we have been able to do a lot of work these days thanks to the empress for looking after the harem."

While praising her, the emperor even picked a grape for the empress himself.

The Empress accepted the compliment with delight, and then slowly said, "Speaking of which, last year we were very grateful to Lord Yun and Grand Secretary Gu for their great efforts in disaster relief. If it weren't for them, I'm afraid this matter wouldn't have been resolved so quickly."

The Empress's words were full of probing. The Emperor was initially happy, but after hearing these words, he couldn't help but shift his gaze to her.

Seeing that the Empress still looked completely clueless, he slowly said, "Indeed, it was thanks to those two that this disaster would not have passed so easily."

The emperor's words were a confirmation of Gu Renjie and Yun Yichen's abilities. In the past, the empress would have simply assumed that the emperor valued the two of them.

But now...

The Empress, having already made her decision, addressed the Emperor without offering any suggestion: "Your Majesty, the two gentlemen have rendered such great service; would you like to reward them?"

As the Empress, such rewards generally had to go through her and then be distributed by the Imperial Household Department unless the Emperor himself gave the order.

The emperor assumed the empress was asking for his opinion, so he nodded without thinking.

"After the Empress's reminder, I also feel that we should reward the two of them handsomely."

Following his words, the Empress continued, "I remember that the eldest son of the Gu family is already past the age of twenty, and the Marquis of Yi'an's mansion does not yet have a heir. Why doesn't Your Majesty bestow the title of heir upon the eldest son of the Gu family?"

The Empress's tone was full of inquiry, as if she had just thought of it unintentionally.

The emperor, without even thinking, immediately rejected the idea: "No way!"

"Are you kidding? That son is someone he values ​​and wants to pass the throne to. How could he possibly let him become the heir of the Marquis of Yi'an's mansion?"

The emperor's rebuttal was so forceful, and without any apparent thought, that the empress was slightly taken aback upon hearing it.

Upon seeing this, the emperor realized that he had misspoke. Thinking of the memorial submitted by Marquis Yi'an requesting an official title, he suddenly felt somewhat fortunate.

"That's right, Marquis Yi'an has already requested me to appoint Second Young Master Gu as the heir apparent of Marquis Yi'an, and I have agreed. So, for Minister Gu, we can only exchange some rewards."