The capital city of Daning.

“Now Your Highness has come to Da Ning as a hostage.” In a private room of a teahouse, Zhuo Yi smiled and raised his cup to Gu Qingyan. “Therefore, Your Highness can only stay in the capital. I hope Your Highness can understand.”

"That's natural."

Looking out the second-floor window, Gu Qingyan saw the bustling crowds on the street, the pride radiating from every face—something he rarely saw in Daqing.

"Furthermore, Da Ning has always rewarded those who have made merits and punished those who have made mistakes. Your Highness has made merits in the war to destroy Da Xia, and the King says that you can choose your own method of reward."

"Then please, Prime Minister, escort me to General Zhong's place."

"Zhong Yi?"

Zhuo Yi raised his eyebrows, and then a smile flashed in his eyes. "Tomorrow, I will take you to the Marquis of Yongyi's residence."

That night, Gu Qingyan tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The next day, sporting huge dark circles under his eyes, he followed Zhuo Yi to the Yongyi Marquis's residence.

"Old Zhong!"

Zhuo Yi was walking leisurely ahead when suddenly, he dodged a hidden arrow with a swift movement. "I have no grudge against you, Old Man Zhong, why do you want to harm me?"

"What good intentions could a weasel have when it offers New Year's greetings to a chicken?"

A deep voice rang out, and an old man with white hair and beard stepped out. His hawk-like eyes immediately locked onto Gu Qingyan, who pursed his lips and withstood the oppressive aura.

"This is the Prince Yan of Daqing."

“The prince of Daqing?” Zhong Yi’s face suddenly fell. “He’s the Prince Yan who brought back that deposed crown prince? With a deposed crown prince like that, what kind of good person could he be?”

"Take it away quickly, don't offend my eyes!"

Zhong Yi grabbed a broom and forced Zhuo Yi and Gu Qingyan to retreat as if shooing away flies.

“Old Zhong, the king has ordered that Prince Yan stay at the Marquis of Yongyi’s residence.”

"The king's orders?"

Zhong Yi sized up Gu Qingyan and said, "Let me make this clear from the start: the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion does not support idlers."

"Don't worry, General, I know everything."

Before he came, his mother had told him that if he did not have the Crown Prince's seal of Da Ning, he should stay in the Yongyi Marquis's residence.

He didn't know the reason before, but now he's starting to understand...

Early the next morning, Gu Qingyan was awakened by a burst of gongs and drums that seemed to pierce the top of his head. "Keep playing the music. I'll be happy to destroy the Great Xia."

Even the reserved Gu Qingyan couldn't help but grit his teeth at the sight of this commotion deliberately staged outside his courtyard.

"Old General".

"Prince Yan? Up so early?" Zhong Yi put his hands behind his back and slightly raised his eyelids. "I heard you are the Empress's stepson. I even exchanged a few blows with the old Marquis of Dingyuan back in the day. Take this!"

The next second, the palm wind struck Gu Qingyan.

Fifteen minutes later, Gu Qingyan was panting heavily.

"Alright, it's time for breakfast." A glint of light flashed in Zhong Yi's eyes. "Go and start the fire."

"What?"

"I don't have a single servant in this Marquis of Yongyi's mansion. If you want something to eat, go and cook it yourself."

Gu Qingyan: ......

......

The capital city.

Jiang He turned his head on horseback to look at Gu Heng on the city wall. Being personally escorted by the emperor and his ministers was the highest honor for a military general.

But Jiang He felt extremely heavy-hearted. He didn't know how many more brothers would die in this battle.

Inside the palace, Jiang Yu held a military treatise in his hands, leaning back in a reclining chair, leisurely reading it.

"Your Majesty, the princess has arrived."

Jiang Yu looked up and saw Gu Qingyao looking somewhat reserved.

"What brings you here?" Jiang Yu's voice carried a rare hint of languor, rather than its usual chill, which made Gu Qingyao overjoyed.

"Mother specifically sent my second brother away and made me go to Prince Yu's residence to observe the proper etiquette every day." Gu Qingyao stared into Jiang Yu's eyes. "If Mother needs me, I can... I can lose weight again."

Before leaving, her second brother told her that Gu Qingling was faking her madness.

The Empress Dowager lifted the ban on Lingxi Palace, and she had a vague idea of ​​what the Empress Dowager was planning.

“Gu Qingyao, the one in Lingxi Palace is your biological mother.”

Jiang Yu thought of all that had happened in her past life and suddenly stood up.

"She is not."

Gu Qingyao's expression began to calm down. Now, when she heard the name of Consort Rong, she felt no ripples in her heart.

"Mother, if you ever need my help, please be sure to tell me." Gu Qingyao smiled. "Consider it a chance for me to atone for my sins."

Even if her mother didn't say anything, she would still lose weight.

After all, the fact that she had lost weight and stood next to Consort Rong was the strongest evidence.

After Gu Qingyao left, Jiang Yu stopped reading the military book. It lay on the stone table, and a gentle breeze lifted a page, revealing a sentence written on it:

They sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, then reap the benefits of the fight.

[Let Gu Heng and his son Gu Qingling fight it out themselves first.]

......

Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"The autumn imperial examinations are just around the corner, so Your Majesty will be quite busy these days."

Qingyu, standing behind Gu Qingling, carried a food box, while Cen Hai wore a standard smile. "This servant will take the food inside. His Majesty will surely summon the First Prince when he has some free time."

"Thank you, Eunuch Cen."

Gu Qingling smiled and said, "I am extremely worried about Father's health. I wonder if Father has been able to sleep peacefully at night these days?"

“Alas, His Majesty has not had a good night’s sleep in a long time.” Cen Hai recalled Gu Heng’s condition every night, and a look of worry appeared on his face. “Even in Jinwu Palace, His Majesty has to burn calming incense to sleep peacefully.”

"Calming incense?"

"Exactly."

A dark glint flashed in Gu Qingling's eyes, "Please trouble Eunuch to take good care of Father Emperor."

After saying that, Gu Qingling left the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Tranquilizing incense... Tranquilizing incense...

After returning to the Dragon and Phoenix Palace, Gu Qingling dismissed Qingyu and opened a box that had been placed in a corner.

Three porcelain vases were neatly arranged inside.

Even though Gu Qingling was imprisoned in the clan jail, Gu Heng still did not send anyone to search her house.

Therefore, the poisons that these sorcerers left for Gu Qingling were still preserved.

"I didn't expect it to be of any use."

A few days later.

"Have you gotten any results regarding what I asked you to inquire about?"

Gu Qingling was clearly in a good mood. Behind her, Qingyu hesitated, then said, "Your Highness, the Emperor's calming incense is specially made by the Imperial Hospital."

The eldest prince in front of him always gave him the feeling that he had not lost his memory.

“Every five days someone would deliver the prepared calming incense to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.”

"Every five days?"

Gu Qingling raised an eyebrow. "Should we send it to the Hall of Supreme Harmony today?"

Seeing Qingyu's affirmative expression, Gu Qingling smiled.

“Let’s go. I was just about to go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to see Father Emperor. We can also go to the Imperial Hospital to get some calming incense for Father Emperor.”

Gu Qingling was somewhat impatient and strode towards the outside of the hall.