"Xu Dong, has there been any news from the wizard?"

For safety reasons, Gu Qingling arranged for the sorcerer to work in a shop in the capital, and the sorcerer communicated with the palace servants who made purchases on a daily basis.

"Your Highness, this servant was just about to show you the letter the wizard sent in." Xu Dong took out a letter from his sleeve and presented it to Gu Qingling, who eagerly took it with her uninjured hand.

This incident has escalated quite a bit, and Gu Qingling is feeling somewhat uncertain.

But the more Gu Qingling looked at the handwriting on the letter, the brighter the light in her eyes became.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Upon hearing Cen Hai's voice, Gu Qingling quickly shoved the letter under the bed. When she saw Gu Heng, Gu Qingling pouted, "I've caused trouble for Father."

As soon as he showed weakness, Gu Heng's anger vanished instantly.

"You know you've caused me trouble. Why did you go and provoke Emperor Zhaoyuan?" Gu Heng glanced at Gu Qingling's wrist. "And you even ambushed him. Do you have any regard for the people of Daqing? If the two countries really go to war because of you, I can't protect you."

"I know I was wrong."

Gu Qingling sniffed, "At the time, Emperor Zhaoyuan's tone towards me was full of contempt. After all, I am the Crown Prince of Daqing, and I couldn't let Father Emperor lose face, so I was bewitched..."

"Alright!" Gu Heng waved his hand. "Just focus on recovering. Leave the rest to me."

Gu Heng would rather see an imperfect crown prince than a perfect heir.

“Father arrested my uncle, and I was worried… worried that Father and Mother would grow apart.” Gu Qingling recalled the contents of the letter. “Father still released my uncle, and I know that he is innocent.”

"How could I not know?"

"I intend to release Marquis Dingyuan tomorrow."

Gu Heng had already made up his mind. Tomorrow he would personally go to the prison to bring Jiang He out. Marquis Dingyuan was still very important to Daqing. If Jiang He really became estranged from him, he would suffer a loss instead.

“Father,” Gu Qingling said anxiously, “You can use this opportunity to see how many military generals in the court support Uncle, so you can have a better understanding of the situation.”

"Didn't you just plead for Marquis Dingyuan?" Gu Heng looked at Gu Qingling with surprise. "None of the military generals in the court pleaded for Marquis Dingyuan this time, and they all knew their limits."

"Ling'er, Daqing cannot do without Marquis Dingyuan now. Even if we discard him after he has served his purpose, we should do so only after the matter is settled."

After Feng'er left, he thought a lot and realized he shouldn't have taken his anger out on Jiang He.

And what about the Empress...?

Gu Heng suddenly felt a headache coming on; this time, things were indeed in big trouble.

After Gu Heng left, Gu Qingling quickly took out the letter and burned it over a candle flame.

“Xu Dong, tell the wizard that his plan failed and that the Emperor intends to let your uncle go directly.”

......

The next day, Gu Heng's sedan chair left the palace gate and went straight to the imperial prison.

Perhaps to create momentum, Gu Heng did not send anyone to drive away or evacuate the people. The area outside the prison was unusually crowded, as Gu Heng wanted to use this day to show everyone how much he valued the Marquis of Dingyuan.

But to Gu Heng's surprise, Gu Lin appeared gracefully as soon as he arrived.

"Emperor Daqing, we meet again."

"Why is Emperor Zhaoyuan here today?"

Gu Heng felt that he and the man in front of him were incompatible; whenever he saw Gu Lin, he would not have a good outcome.

"The other day, the Crown Prince of Daqing ambushed me at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence. I have come to demand an explanation from you."

Gu Lin was standing on his Daqing territory, yet he couldn't do anything about Gu Lin.

Gu Heng felt extremely frustrated.

"Ling'er's wrist was broken, isn't that enough of an explanation?" Gu Heng lowered his voice, as if warning Gu Lin to stop.

But Gu Lin laughed, "So the Emperor of Daqing is such a person who can't distinguish right from wrong."

As he spoke, Gu Lin unleashed his full aura, deliberately amplifying his voice, and the surroundings fell silent.

"Gu Qingling's wrist was broken by me. That's because he's incompetent, raising such a useless crown prince. Emperor Daqing, I'm worried for you."

Seeing Gu Heng's face grow increasingly ashen, and even the imperial guards around him drawing their bows and aiming their arrows at Gu Lin.

Gu Lin, however, seemed completely unconcerned.

"Emperor Zhaoyuan, don't go too far."

Gu Lin approached Gu Heng step by step, but the drawn bows hesitated to fire their arrows.

Gu Heng, I trusted you greatly back then, but you caused me to lose everything several times for the sake of the so-called throne.

Now that I am standing right in front of you, do you dare to kill me?

"I heard that you've imprisoned the Marquis of Dingyuan." Gu Lin said sarcastically. "Tsk, if Daqing doesn't need the Marquis of Dingyuan, then I won't be polite."

"Linghai, wait with me for Marquis Dingyuan to come out."

Gu Heng gritted his teeth. Emperor Zhaoyuan had indeed taken a liking to Marquis Dingyuan!

For some reason, Gu Heng felt a sense of crisis.

The scene outside the prison was reported to Jiang Yu, who felt a sense of exhilaration.

[I truly admire Emperor Zhaoyuan's temperament; it has forced Gu Heng to beg his elder brother to forgive and forget.]

She forgot that Daqing is now in a weakened state, and Gu Heng still needs his elder brother and the Dingyuan Marquis's Mansion!

"Wanji, send Ayan to the prison. If Gu Heng gets upset and something bad happens, Ayan can take care of him and gain a reputation for filial piety."

With so many people around, Ayan should make an appearance.

"Also, have Consort An prepare in advance."

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Yu's eyes. Emperor Zhaoyuan had set up a ladder for her, and she had to make the most of it.

......

Outside the prison, as Jiang He slowly walked out of the cell, Gu Qingyan happened to arrive.

When Gu Lin saw Gu Qingyan, his eyebrows lifted. Ah Yu had also come to add fuel to the fire. Since that was the case, he would give Ah Yu another hand.

“Lord Dingyuan, I don’t think the Emperor of Daqing values ​​you that much. If you are willing to go to Daning, I will offer you more.”

Gu Heng was so angry that he was panting heavily. This Emperor Zhaoyuan actually dared to poach people right in front of him.

But how could he admit that he, as emperor, had made a mistake under the watchful eyes of everyone?

"Lord Dingyuan, I..." Gu Heng's face turned red as he held back his anger, "This matter was handled improperly by the Crown Prince."

In the end, Gu Qingling was pushed forward.

A sneer rang out. Gu Lin, who was already half a head taller than Gu Heng, looked at Gu Heng with a more condescending air.

"It seems that what I said earlier was indeed correct. The Crown Prince of Daqing is both immoral and incompetent."

One sentence pushed Gu Qingling into an abyss.