"Grand Tutor Wang is right. This matter is of utmost importance. Even for the sake of His Highness the Crown Prince, for the future stability of our Great Cheng, and for the safety of the border people, the position of Empress should belong to Gu Jingchun."

"Ministry of Rites, starting today, immediately begin preparations for the Empress's investiture ceremony."

The Minister of Rites immediately agreed.

After arranging the matter, Shen Hechuan happily left the court.

Meanwhile, in Gu Jingchun's main hall...

She was packing her things when Princess Rongyang arrived.

Gu Jingchun immediately ordered someone to invite Princess Rongyang over.

Princess Rongyang was holding a box in her hands.

After seeing Gu Jingchun, she first sized him up.

"Sister-in-law, you've lost weight. It looks like you've suffered a lot on the way back. Thankfully, you've returned safely."

As she spoke, she sat down in front of Gu Jingchun.

"Sister-in-law, I had a real reason for leaving on the day you came back, so I didn't have time to say goodbye. You won't blame me, will you?"

Gu Jingchun: "You little rascal, if you thought I would blame you, would you have run away at that time?"

Princess Rongyang sat down next to Gu Jingchun, chuckled, and hugged his arm.

"Hehe, I knew you were the best, you definitely won't blame me."

Seeing Princess Rongyang's radiant face, Gu Jingchun couldn't help but ask, "Judging from your appearance, you and Luo Ziqian must be getting along quite well lately!"

Princess Rongyang nodded, but then shook her head.

Gu Jingchun raised an eyebrow.

"What happened?"

Princess Rongyang sighed.

"Sigh, I haven't dared to see him lately."

Gu Jingchun looked over.

"But what happened?"

Princess Rongyang shook her head; there was simply no way to explain it.

"No, I just have some things I can't figure out."

Gu Jingchun's heart skipped a beat.

Now, Luo Ziqian is the commander of the Imperial Guard.

If he were to marry Princess Rongyang in the future, he would certainly no longer be able to hold this position.

Is this what's bothering you?

Thinking of this, Gu Jingchun was about to speak to Princess Rongyang.

Princess Rongyang, however, had already put on a smiling face.

"Never mind, let's get down to business first!"

As she spoke, she pushed the box in front of Gu Jingchun.

"This box was handed to me by my mother before she passed away, and she asked me to give it to you by hand when you get married."

"However, I heard that my brother is discussing making you empress in the imperial court today, so I thought, since I'll give it to you sooner or later anyway, I might as well give it to you now."

Gu Jingchun, however, was full of surprise.

"Given to me by the Empress?"

Princess Rongyang nodded.

"Yes, I don't know why either?"

"Moreover, I always felt that the Empress Dowager liked you very much. It's just a pity that you weren't in Tiandu at that time, and the Empress Dowager's health was deteriorating."

Otherwise, the Empress Dowager would surely cherish you as her own daughter.

Gu Jingchun nodded, but for some reason, his eyes welled up with tears.

In truth, she had only met the Empress a few times, but each time she felt a sense of warmth and familiarity.

When she was going through her history, she was also very upset.

Unexpectedly, the Empress herself left her something.

Gu Jingchun couldn't help but open the box in his hand.

What just came into view was a jade pendant.

The jade pendant is entirely white, crystal clear, and the entire piece is carved into the shape of a butterfly.

Lifelike and very beautiful.

Princess Rongyang gasped in surprise upon seeing this.

"Wow--"

"What a beautiful jade pendant!"

"It's shaped like a butterfly! This is the first time I've ever seen a jade pendant shaped like a butterfly!"

When Gu Jingchun received the jade pendant, his hands trembled.

He stood up in disbelief.

Princess Rongyang was also startled by her.

What's wrong with you?

"But is something wrong?"

Gu Jingchun didn't have time to answer her. Instead, he immediately took off the jade pendant from his neck and carefully compared it.

Only then did they realize that the two jade pendants were exactly the same in both shape and pattern.

Either it was carved by the same person, or it was carved specifically to resemble another piece.

Princess Rongyang was also greatly surprised when she saw it.

The butterfly on your jade pendant looks just like this butterfly!

******

In a dilapidated temple in a remote corner of Tiandu.

Mao Zixiao, dressed in tattered clothes, opened the mechanism and walked in while quickly chewing the steamed bun in his mouth.

They reached the innermost part of the secret room.

He swallowed the last bite of the steamed bun, moved his mouth a little, and then went inside.

"Master, news just came that Shen Hechuan has returned to the palace, and today a decree was issued to make Gu Jingchun Empress. Preparations for the coronation are underway, and the coronation ceremony will be held immediately after the mourning period ends."

Upon hearing this, Guan Zhixin slowly opened her eyes.

"The Empress?"

"No, my young master can only be the emperor!"

"I will definitely stop him!" he said, then looked at Mao Zixiao kneeling on the ground.

"How is that old fellow Jiang Chongfan doing?"

"Everything is going according to your plan."

"He wanted his daughter to be empress, but unfortunately, there were quite a few young masters in the court who wanted to be empress. Among them was Grand Tutor Wang, who defeated him with just a few words."

Guan Zhixin snorted coldly upon hearing this.

"That old man is just as naive as ever, but this time, things won't go as he wishes."

Mao Zixiao was unaware of the specifics of the past, so he could only stand there without saying a word.

After a long while, he finally raised his head.

"Master, Shen Hechuan has also sent people to Qi County to investigate the matter of the young master's adoptive mother, Mei Xueli. I wonder if we should stop him?"

Upon hearing this familiar yet unfamiliar name, Guan Zhixin paused, and after a long while, she smiled.

Why try to stop it?

"Since they want to investigate, we might as well take this opportunity to tell them the whole truth."

"After all these years, the truth should come to light by now."

"We've made them comfortable for so long, it's time to make them anxious."

"That foolish woman, she suffered so much in her life, her story shouldn't just fade away with her death."

"good."

Mao Zixiao raised his head.

At this moment, Guan Zhixin's expression appeared normal, but he could see a hint of loneliness on his face.

******

"Smack—"

Jiang Chongfan slammed the teacup in his hand to the ground, his chest heaving with anger.

"You bastard Shen Hechuan, I really underestimated him. I actually got tricked by him today."

This put the entire Jiang family in a completely passive situation.

Jiang Mingwan rushed over after receiving the news. She paused for a moment upon seeing the scene before walking over.