"Ayu, the flower viewing banquet is the day after tomorrow. Have you thought about Gu Qingfeng's matter?"

What reason Gu Qingfeng would give for attending the flower-viewing banquet is a rather thorny issue.

Jiang Yu needed to ensure Gu Qingfeng's attendance was legitimate, but also to avoid arousing suspicion from Pei Jian's side. Therefore, she hadn't figured out what kind of reason would be appropriate.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu shook her head, "I haven't decided yet. Everyone knows I don't like Gu Qingfeng, so I'll invite him to the flower viewing banquet..."

"I do have a way."

Gu Lin smiled mysteriously. Jiang Yu leaned in to listen, and after a few moments, the couple exchanged a glance and both revealed unspeakable smiles.

When these two people show this kind of smile, it usually means that someone is about to have bad luck.

......

The next morning, Gu Lin unusually attended the morning court session.

When the court officials saw Gu Lin's figure, some of the more mentally fragile officials began to tremble. After all, the psychological trauma from Gu Lin's last court appearance was too great to be easily dispelled.

"Father."

Gu Qingyan was clearly surprised, but still wanted to get up and greet Gu Lin himself.

Seeing this, Gu Lin waved his hand and said, "I'll just say a few words."

"The Empress Dowager has been having trouble sleeping these past few days, and her words are often filled with strange and supernatural phenomena. Therefore, if any of you can recommend a Taoist priest with high magical powers, I will reward you handsomely."

After saying that, Gu Lin swaggered away from the court.

"Alright, did you all hear what Father Emperor said?" Gu Qingyan's words brought the ministers back to their senses, but after Gu Lin's words, the ministers were somewhat distracted during the morning court session.

Gu Qingyan was not annoyed. He directly ordered Yingzhi to announce the end of the court session, and then hurriedly headed towards Zhaoning Palace.

"Mother, what is Father doing?"

Gu Qingyan spoke while drinking rice porridge, "Father Emperor is the least credulous of Taoist priests, and why would he go to the common people to find Taoist priests instead of consulting the Imperial Preceptor?"

Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh out loud upon hearing this, "Besides us, who else would want Gu Qingfeng to appear at tomorrow's flower viewing banquet?"

"Pei Jian?"

“Exactly.” Jiang Yu wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. “That’s why, now that your father has said that, Pei Jian will do everything he can to find a ‘Taoist priest’ to pave the way for Gu Qingfeng.”

“Even if Pei Jian doesn’t come looking, we can ask the Imperial Advisor to divine the future. We can just say that Gu Qingfeng must appear. In short, Pei Jian won’t doubt any of these methods.”

Gu Qingyan suddenly realized, and couldn't help but twitch his lips.

"Such a method is indeed something only Father Emperor could come up with," Gu Qingyan retorted without any politeness. "Mother, you have no idea how the ministers reacted like mice before a cat the moment Father Emperor appeared..."

Imagining the scene at that time, Jiang Yu laughed even harder.

Upon seeing this, Gu Qingyan's heart immediately jumped. "Mother, please be careful not to upset the little one in your belly like yesterday."

"Did you hear that? Your older brother is talking about you!"

Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows, making her appear extremely gentle.

......

Sure enough, a court official claimed to know a Taoist priest with high magical abilities and even presented Gu Qingyan with the priest's location.

"This Taoist priest is truly extraordinary, living in such a remote place."

A meaningful glint flashed in Gu Qingyan's eyes, but the courtiers remained oblivious, continuing to boast about the Taoist's prowess.

"In that case, let's summon him to the palace. I need to see him first."

In the evening, when it was time for dinner, Gu Qingyan hurriedly arrived at Zhaoning Palace.

"As expected, Pei Jian couldn't help but take action. The Taoist priest said that the ghosts of Gu Qingling and Gu Qingyao were haunting you, and that Gu Qingfeng should warn the ghosts of Gu Qingling and Gu Qingyao in front of you, Mother."

"Only Pei Jian could come up with such a lie."

Jiang Yu pursed her lips. "But this Pei Jian is really terrifying. We screened the Pei family's spies several times before, but we didn't expect there were still some who slipped through the net."

No.

Gu Qingyan shook his head. "He didn't know it was Pei Jian's order. Pei Jian must have used money to motivate people to do things for him, so he wasn't a spy. It was just that a corrupt official had embezzled Pei Jian's money."

When Gu Qingyan said this, his eyes were sharp. After his mother gave birth safely, he was determined to expose these corrupt officials in the court.

“Da Yu is extremely strict in dealing with official corruption, but I didn’t expect these people to still be tempted by money.” Jiang Yu sighed softly. “Then we can just let Gu Qingfeng enter the palace tomorrow.”

“I will have a private conversation with him at the flower viewing party, and then he can make his move.”

At this moment, Gu Lin also hurriedly returned, first changing into casual clothes.

"I've already given the replacement powder to Gu Qingfeng. Ayu, I'll send someone to search Gu Qingfeng again tomorrow to make sure there's nothing dangerous on him."

“Look at me, I’m pregnant, and your father is on tenterhooks all day long, like a tightly strung bow.” Jiang Yu smiled and said, “Relax, I’ll be fine.”

“Ayu will be fine, but I don’t dare to completely trust Gu Qingfeng.”

As Gu Lin spoke, he glanced at Gu Qingyan, and the father and son nodded slightly in unison.

"Okay, I'll pretend to have a miscarriage tomorrow."

When she uttered the words "startled pregnancy," Jiang Yu's heart trembled, and she couldn't help but reach out and touch her high, swollen belly.

Little one, tomorrow you'll have to fight alongside your mother.

......

The next day, we admired the flowers.

The ladies and young women of the capital all came to the Imperial Garden. When Jiang Yu appeared with her big pregnant belly, everyone stood up and bowed.

"No need for formalities. I feel quite stifled staying in Zhaoning Palace every day. It just so happens that the flowers are in full bloom, so I invite everyone to come here to admire them."

Jiang Yu smiled and said, "I am feeling unwell and it is inconvenient for me to entertain guests. Please make yourselves at home."

After saying that, Jiang Yu sat down in a pavilion, and Gu Qingfeng was pushed into the pavilion in a wheelchair in full view of everyone.

"Why is the Second Prince here?"

"Haven't you heard? Yesterday, a Taoist priest said... the ghosts of those two are haunting the Empress Dowager, and the Second Prince needs to come and drive them away..."

The group discussed in hushed tones, and Granny Ling, upon hearing this, did not stop them, seemingly encouraging the discussion on her own.

In the pavilion.

Gu Qingfeng sat in his wheelchair, staring intently at Jiang Yu, as if trying to imprint her image in his mind.

"It's so good to see my mother again."

Gu Qingfeng grinned, then took a deep look at Jiang Yu's belly.

The next second, Jiang Yu clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.