"I am hosting this banquet for you all today to celebrate our great victory over the Qin family."

Inside the main hall, Gu Qingyan, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, spoke with a resounding voice.

"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations to the Emperor and to the Great Yu."

"Da Yu has won two consecutive battles against the Qin family. What does this show? It shows that the Qin family is not invincible!" Gu Qingyan raised his wine cup. "It also shows that Da Yu is strong."

"My beloved ministers, I raise a toast to the Great Yu for having such pillars of the state."

Gu Qingyan drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, and the civil and military officials all had smiles on their faces. It seemed that Dayu was poised to unify the world. At that time, the whole world would belong to Dayu!

"From now on, the entire Chongqing area must be on high alert."

After finishing his celebratory remarks, Gu Qingyan got down to business: "Anyone or anything you discover that is connected to aristocratic families must be reported. We cannot give them any opportunity."

"Your Majesty, we will certainly live up to your expectations."

Listening to the unified sounds from inside the hall, Gu Qingyan glanced at the empty dragon throne beside him; his father was not present again.

Meanwhile, Gu Lin was enjoying the plum blossoms in the outskirts of Beijing with his beloved wife.

“This place has a good view, with mountains, rivers and plum blossoms, so I had it renovated.”

Gu Lin held Jiang Yu's hand. Jiang Yu was completely covered up, but her almond-shaped eyes scanned the surroundings. "It really is a good view. Gu Lin, you've really found a good place."

"I named this place Lingxi Hall."

Gu Lin smiled and said, "Since Ayu likes it, I'll bring you here every winter from now on."

"It must be even more beautiful here when it snows." Jiang Yu took a few steps forward and saw a small pavilion. "Let's go sit in the pavilion."

Half an incense stick later, the two arrived at the pavilion. Seeing the teacups on the stone table and the charcoal stove beside them, Jiang Yu's smile became even more genuine. "You've certainly made thorough preparations."

“If my wife and the child in her womb come out with me and she gets hungry or cold, I will be in grave danger.”

The plum blossoms were so beautiful that Jiang Yu was somewhat stunned.

"Gu Lin, I haven't truly appreciated plum blossoms all these years," Jiang Yu murmured softly. "Before I entered the palace, I liked all kinds of flowers, as long as they were fresh."

"After entering the palace, I rarely had the chance to even appreciate flowers."

"Looking back now, it all seems like something from a past life."

“There will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy flowers in the future. Each season has its own blooming season, and we can enjoy different flowers every moment.” Gu Lin got up, walked to Jiang Yu’s side, and hugged her.

"Ayu, we've been married for several months now. Am I a good husband?"

These words made Jiang Yu's eyelashes tremble. "Why do you ask me that?"

Upon hearing Jiang Yu's words, Gu Lin also panicked a little. "I... I don't know if I've done enough, but I always have to go out for things, leaving you in Zhaoning Palace. Ayu, I'm afraid I haven't kept the promise I made to you on our wedding day."

"No, Gu Lin, you are already the best husband."

Jiang Yu's words instantly soothed Gu Lin's unease, "I often feel that having the opportunity to marry you is a blessing from heaven."

“Ah Yu is the one who truly cares for me.”

......

"Where are Father and Mother?"

After the banquet, Gu Qingyan, still slightly drunk, arrived at Zhaoning Palace.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus has taken the Empress Dowager to the outskirts of the capital. The Emperor Emeritus said that the plum blossoms in the outskirts of the capital are in excellent condition, so he wanted to take the Empress Dowager to see them."

Seeing this, Ling Mama was a little worried and instructed the palace maid next to her to make a hangover soup for Gu Qingyan, "Your Majesty, please sit here for a while. The hangover soup will be ready soon."

Gu Qingyan waved his hand upon hearing this, "Granny, I am in a good mood today. Since Father and Mother are not here, I will go out for a walk."

After saying that, Gu Qingyan left Zhaoning Palace.

"Yingzhi, come with me out of the palace."

"Your Majesty, it is getting late. This servant should escort you back to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to rest."

"No, I must leave the palace now."

He was overjoyed. The powerful families were like paper tigers, easily broken, while his Great Yu would rise high!

The night market in Da Yu is bustling, yet few thieves or troublemakers are found there, because Lingxiao Pavilion's secret guards are everywhere, and no one dares to provoke Gu Qingyan's temper.

But this time, Gu Qingyan happened to run into him.

Where are you going?

A burly man blocked a woman's path. "This road looks like it leads to a brothel. Is this young lady perhaps making a living there?"

"You!" The woman's face flushed with anger, but the burly man grabbed her arm. "Wife, I will never quarrel with you again. Come back with me. The child is waiting at home."

The commotion immediately attracted the attention of the locals.

The woman desperately tried to explain that she was not the burly man's wife, but the burly man held the woman's slender wrist tightly. "It was my fault too. I was a bit reckless after drinking some wine. My wife, I really know I was wrong this time."

"It is a great virtue to admit one's mistakes and correct them, young lady. There are children waiting at home, so please don't quarrel with your husband anymore."

"Yes, your man is strong and capable, he can find a good job, and you can live a good life in the future."

Hearing the well-meaning "comforts" from those around her, the woman could only burst into tears.

"Wife, please, my child has cried himself hoarse because he can't find you. Please come back with me." As he spoke, the burly man hoisted the woman onto his shoulder. Surprisingly, no one stepped forward to stop him.

"Wait a minute."

A voice rang out, and the burly man turned his head to see a young man's figure.

“Since this young lady keeps saying she’s not your wife, then I’ll keep an eye on her for you. Go back and get the marriage certificate.”

Gu Qingyan glanced at the woman and said, "You hurt her wrist."

"Who are you?" the burly man said aggressively. "We lost that marriage certificate a long time ago. What are you doing meddling in my family affairs, you little brat?"

"Since it's lost, go to the government office to look for it. The marriage certificate was made in duplicate; leave one copy at the government office." Gu Qingyan's voice also turned cold. "I'm afraid you're not this woman's husband at all. Tell me, who exactly are you?"

"I am her husband."

“I’m really not his wife… I don’t know him, I just came to the street to buy medicine for my mother.”

The woman's sobs were exceptionally clear, and the veins on the back of Gu Qingyan's hand began to bulge.

Half an incense stick later, the newly appointed Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review rushed over in a panic, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects! Long live the Emperor!"