"Something has definitely happened to Gu Qingyao."

After listening to Wan Ji's words, Jiang Yu didn't hesitate and drew a conclusion directly.

[Are you kidding? With Gu Qingyao's temper, would she really tell Wanji she's had a hard time? I'd think she'd changed her ways if she didn't yell at her a few times.]

"Did anyone go to Gu Qingyao's room today?"

After Wanji sensed something was wrong, he went to investigate first, so he had a basic understanding of the situation. "Your Majesty, today the princess sent someone to invite His Highness the Crown Prince over, but he did not step out of the room even once."

"Gu Qingling?"

"Indeed, His Highness the Crown Prince seemed somewhat absent-minded after going to the Princess's room. He stood outside Zhaoning Palace for a while before running to Taihe Hall."

[There's something strange about this whole thing. Gu Qingling prides himself on being composed; when has he ever been seen running on the palace road?]

Jiang Yu felt increasingly uneasy. What exactly did Gu Qingling know? And where was Gu Qingyao now?

"Wanji, pretend you don't know Gu Qingyao is in trouble. Don't alert her."

Jiang Yu began to order people to investigate Gu Qingyao's situation during this period, but the reply she received was that all the clues had been cut off, and even the servants in Gu Qingyao's courtyard had been secretly replaced by Gu Heng's orders.

[So they think I'm an idiot, that I wouldn't notice something so obvious.]

Jiang Yu also told Jiang He about Gu Qingyao. The Marquis of Dingyuan's family had extensive connections in the army, and Jiang He easily confirmed that Gu Qingyao had never left the palace.

At this time, Gu Qingyao should be imprisoned somewhere in the palace.

“Brother, the Emperor and the Crown Prince have no reason to harm Gu Qingyao.”

Jiang Yu pondered for a long time but still couldn't figure out the key to the matter, while Jiang He had a strange expression on his face. "Perhaps once we find the princess, everything will come to light."

“Given Gu Heng and Gu Qingling’s personalities, if this matter involves them, we will absolutely not be able to get any information from them.” Jiang Yu pondered for a moment, “We can only start with Lingxi Palace.”

As long as Gu Qingyao is alive, her meals must be provided. Neither Gu Heng nor Gu Qingling, being men, have the time or inclination to handle such matters; only Consort Rong can take care of it.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yu looked at Ling Mama standing behind her, "I remember that His Majesty stayed at Consort Rong's place a few days ago."

"Indeed, His Majesty has been staying at Lingxi Palace these past few days."

Jiang Yu looked at Jiang He and laughed, "Since this is a matter of the inner palace, then leave it to me."

[Just keep a close eye on Lingxi Palace and investigate further; you can't go wrong.]

......

“Granny Ling, send someone to keep an eye on Lingxi Palace. I think such an important matter is most likely not outside Lingxi Palace, but inside it.”

No sooner had Jiang Yu finished instructing Ling Mama than she ordered Wan Ji to investigate the people around Consort Rong.

"Especially those close associates, find out their backgrounds and see if there are any we can control."

As a noblewoman raised in an official family in the capital, how could she not understand these schemes in the inner quarters? It's just that Jiang Yu used to be so focused on Gu Qingling and the other two that she never thought of investigating.

The investigation confirmed Jiang Yu's suspicions: there was no movement outside Lingxi Palace, and Gu Qingyao was imprisoned inside.

Wanji also brought good news to Jiang Yu: the close nanny by Rongfei's side had a son who was addicted to gambling.

"With so many gambling debts, the old woman must be very worried about her son." Jiang Yu smiled. "Find a way to pass a message to this old woman. I can pay off her son's gambling debts."

"But I have one condition: she needs to tell me everything about Gu Qingyao's imprisonment."

After sending the message, I didn't receive a reply for several days.

Jiang Yu sneered and ordered her men to detain the nanny's son and imprison him in a manor on the outskirts of the capital.

A few days later, the old woman surnamed Zhao finally relented.

"Your Highness, Granny Zhao says that Your Highness must promise her that you will not take her life until the whole story is told."

What a sharp-tongued old woman!

"I agree."

[It seems I underestimated the situation. The fact that Zhao Mama could request a life-saving talisman ahead of time is no simple matter.]

Two days later, Wanji entered the room with a letter and handed it to Jiang Yu. "This is something that Zhao Mama brought. She said that Your Highness will know the reason after reading it."

Suddenly, Jiang Yu felt a sense of fear as she opened the letter.

"You may all leave. I will accompany Mother to read it." Gu Qingyan suddenly spoke up. After only he and Jiang Yu were left in the room, Gu Qingyan grasped Jiang Yu's hand. "Mother, is the whole truth in this letter?"

Jiang Yu nodded haphazardly, her hands trembling involuntarily. The letter was torn open, revealing only a portrait of a little girl huddled in a corner of a dark room. The hairpin on her head clearly identified her as a girl.

After carefully examining the girl's features, the letter slowly drifted to the ground.

How could Gu Qingyao, after losing weight, resemble Consort Rong?

The next second, Jiang Yu's vision went black and she collapsed to the ground.

"Our Jiang family has been hoping for a daughter like me for generations. And I have given birth to Yao'er. If my father and mother were still alive, I don't know how much they would spoil Yao'er!"

"Granny, do you think I'm a terrible mother? Ling'er and Feng'er are boys, and they can survive on their own. But Yao'er, Yao'er is a girl, and she is destined to have a harder life."

"Make a note of those families who spoke ill of Yao'er behind her back; I will never let them get away with it."

Inside the room, Jiang Yu kept muttering to herself, her forehead covered in sweat.

"Mother, Mother." Gu Qingyan also lost his usual composure and anxiously called out to Jiang Yu, but Jiang Yu seemed to be trapped in a nightmare, her mind filled with all the things from her past life.

Gu Qingyan tucked the letter into his sleeve. He also saw the portrait and recognized Gu Qingyao in it, who resembled Consort Rong.

So this really is why Consort Rong didn't want Gu Qingyao to lose weight.

"I was wrong!"

Jiang Yu suddenly straightened up, her consciousness returning. "I was wrong, I was terribly wrong."

"Mother, you are not wrong, they are wrong." Gu Qingyan's voice was trembling with tears. He was extremely worried about Jiang Yu.

"No, I was very wrong. Ayan didn't know that I had done many wrong things."

In the end, it's all for their own children.

Why treat her like this? Jiang Yu's heart was bleeding, and she gripped Gu Changyan's sleeve tightly. "Ayan, there must be a bigger conspiracy behind this. I must find out the whole truth."

With so many thoughts tangled together, Jiang Yu's eyes began to bleed.