"This matter must be orchestrated by someone behind the scenes."

"The most urgent task now is to find out who is behind this and what they want to do."

"Otherwise, it might affect our plans."

Upon hearing this, Tiandi nodded and immediately made the arrangements again.

Shou'an Palace.

After speaking with the Empress Dowager for a while, Gu Jingchun slowly rose and took his leave.

The Empress Dowager looked at Gu Jinxi with reluctance and immediately presented her with all sorts of fine things.

During this period, Gu Jingchun visited the palace quite often.

Each time he returned, he would bring back a great deal of rewards.

However, Gu Jingchun had also heard the rumors outside and, fearing that people might guess something from them, simply bowed again and said:

"Your Majesty, I know that your bestowal of these gifts upon me is a sign of your high regard for me, and it is my great fortune."

"However, I am currently an orphan, and to have the Empress Dowager's favor is enough to make everyone envious."

If they were to see you giving my daughter so many fine things again, it might arouse unnecessary suspicion.

The Empress Dowager nodded upon hearing this.

"I know you have always been a cautious person."

"What you're saying doesn't make sense. In that case, I'll have someone stop registering these things and secretly send them out to you."

Gu Jingchun: ...

Actually, you don't have to do with this.

However, since the Empress Dowager wanted to give it to her, she could not refuse.

With that thought in mind, Gu Jingchun took Gu Jinxi and left the palace.

The news that Gu Jingchun brought Gu Jinxi into and out of the palace naturally did not escape the eyes of Consort Kaihui.

Prince Rui is still imprisoned.

Although she had specially arranged for someone to take care of things inside, and everything was complete, she even sent him two women.

Despite this, Consort Hui was still uneasy and kept pestering Emperor Rongcheng to persuade him to relent.

However, he showed no sign of backing down each night.

However, she was also certain that the day when Emperor Rongcheng would relent was not far off.

Therefore, Consort Hui was extra vigilant during this period.

She simply couldn't understand why Gu Jingchun was favored by the Empress Dowager and was frequently summoned to Shou'an Palace.

She didn't believe in copying Buddhist scriptures at all.

However, she still couldn't figure out what Gu Jingchun wanted to do.

Based on her understanding of the Empress Dowager.

As a stain on Crown Prince Shen Hechuan's reputation, Gu Jingchun should not be favored by the Empress Dowager.

Given her personality, she would definitely have dealt with Gu Jingchun immediately.

Even if Shen Hechuan intervenes, she might be spared, but the Empress Dowager certainly won't like her.

Consort Hui was truly puzzled, her memories churning in her mind.

This reminded her of the hunting trip she had taken some time ago.

Prince Rui drugged the two men, but nothing changed. They didn't even try to catch or restrain them. Instead, they thought Prince Rui had been humiliated.

Every action Gu Jingchun took at that time was for Shen Hechuan's benefit.

Whether it's the explosion or the wedding kidnapping incident, it's all related to the previous incident.

Gu Jingchun did everything he could to benefit Shen Hechuan.

Such tacit understanding made her suspicious.

The two had known each other for much longer than just a short time.

And then she thought of Gu Jingchun's child, which made her even more puzzled.

How could Gu Jingchun bring an illegitimate child from outside the palace with him when he entered the palace?

Moreover, it seems that the Empress Dowager does not dislike him.

After all, she always brought various kinds of rewards with her whenever she left the palace.

This made her suspicious of Gu Jingchun and her son's identities.

She vaguely remembered that Shen Hechuan had fought on the border before, and after returning, he was depressed for a period of time.

At that time, she even sent people to infiltrate the Eastern Palace to investigate secretly, only to find out that the Crown Prince was heartbroken because of a woman.

Could it be that the woman was Gu Jingchun?

If that's the case, then the identity of Gu Jingchun's child becomes questionable.

The thought sent a chill down Consort Hui's spine.

If Gu Jingchun's child really is Shen Hechuan's child.

Then she and Prince Rui would have almost no chance of vying for the throne.

After all, having a legitimate eldest grandson is enough to ensure that Shen Hechuan can firmly secure his position as crown prince.

At that time, even Emperor Rongcheng will not be able to easily depose Shen Hechuan.

Thinking of this, Consort Hui immediately said to the maid beside her, "Send someone to follow Gu Jingchun and find out the child's identity."

At this moment, Gu Jingchun had just returned to his residence after leaving the palace when he saw the servant Qi Xiaoer rushing over from the gate.

Qi Xiaoer is a new servant that Gu Jingchun has found.

He is clever and resourceful, and although he looks unassuming, he actually has a lot of skills.

"girl."

He stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said:

"A woman I don't recognize just came to the door. She didn't have an invitation and kept saying she wanted to see you. I don't know her, so I didn't let her in."

"She even caused a scene at the gate of the mansion because of this."

Qi Xiaoer was a little embarrassed when he said this.

"I was afraid she would start cursing at the gate of the mansion and damage our reputation, so I took it upon myself to tie her up."

Gu Jingchun nodded, not paying any attention.

Instead, after sending Gu Jinxi downstairs, he followed Qi Xiaoer to the woodshed to see the person who had been tied up.

Gu Jingchun's house is not large, so the woodshed is particularly small.

Meanwhile, inside the haystack, Chu Qianlan was completely bound from head to toe, almost like a rice dumpling, looking both comical and funny.

Her mouth was stuffed with a smelly rag.

It is now struggling in the haystack.

Upon seeing Gu Jingchun, she immediately struggled forward, making incessant "woo woo woo" sounds.

Gu Jingchun was startled by the winding "thing" on the ground, and finally recognized from her face that the "thing" in front of him was actually Chu Qianlan!

Gu Jingchun couldn't help but look at Qi Xiaoer.

Qi Xiaoer looked completely bewildered.

However, given his quick wit, he absolutely wouldn't not recognize Chu Qianlan. He's probably just pretending to be stupid to help Gu Jingchun vent his anger.

Gu Jingchun gave him an approving look before gesturing for him to untie Chu Qianlan.

Chu Qianlan had been tied up for a long time, and now she was finally free, but she felt extremely uncomfortable, as if her whole body was falling apart.

She lay on the ground panting for a long time before finally standing up.

“Gu Jingchun…”

She called to her, panting.

"How dare you treat me like this..."

Gu Jingchun couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"What Lady Hou said is quite strange."

“You came to my gate for no reason and started cursing, damaging my reputation. It is understandable that my servant tied you up.”

"After all, my servant comes from the countryside and doesn't know anything about the Marquis's mansion in Tiandu, so that's understandable."