Zhaoning Palace.

"You've had a tough time these past few days." Jiang Yu rarely wore armor, and her aura was exceptionally sharp.

"After His Majesty woke up, he summoned Consort Yi to serve him in the Hall of Supreme Harmony." Consort An said with a bitter smile, "If it weren't for Your Majesty's kindness, I would still be in the same state as in the Cold Palace."

Because Gu Heng harbored resentment towards the Chen family, he had previously allowed Consort An to be bullied by Consort Rong. Now that Consort Yi had come along, he naturally abandoned Consort An once again.

“I know all your suffering.” Jiang Yu included Consort An in her camp. “After some time, I will return to my parents’ home. I’m afraid you will have an even harder time in the palace.”

"This concubine will simply avoid Consort Yi's sharp edge."

But Jiang Yu shook her head, "You and Consort Yi are both consorts, equals, so there's no need to avoid her sharp edge."

"Before I leave, I will entrust you with the power to manage the six palaces. However, there is one thing I need you to do."

Jiang Yu's fingernails tapped rhythmically against the back of the chair. "Consort Rong, we need to find a way to get Consort Rong out of the palace..."

As Consort An was leaving, Jiang Yu said with an inscrutable expression, "The flowers in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom; you should go and enjoy them as well."

But when Consort An deliberately took a detour through the Imperial Garden, she saw Gu Qingyao sitting blankly by the lake, her eyes empty, tears streaming down her face.

"Princess."

Because of what had happened before, Consort An was somewhat afraid of Gu Qingyao and only called out softly.

"Why are you here?" Gu Qingyao asked Anfei, wiping away her tears. She appeared distant and cold.

Seeing Gu Qingyao like this, Consort An inexplicably thought of her childhood.

So Consort An mustered her courage and said, "If the princess doesn't mind, please come back to the palace with me, and I will prepare some food for you."

"You can cook?"

As if guided by some unseen force, Gu Qingyao followed Consort An's steps, but kept a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Jing'an Palace.

An hour later, a steaming hot meal was placed in front of Gu Qingyao. Gu Qingyao looked at Consort An in surprise, "These...you made all of this yourself?"

Consort An smiled but remained silent, gesturing to Gu Qingyao to try it.

The food melted in her mouth, and was slightly sweet but not greasy, just what Gu Qingyao liked to eat. Gu Qingyao unconsciously quickened her pace of eating.

Consort An's heart trembled slightly; the princess's tastes were so similar to her own.

"If I hadn't entered the palace, according to my relationship with the princess, I would be her aunt." Consort An smiled. In all the years she had been in the palace, she had never smiled so heartily.

My own mother... my aunt?

Gu Qingyao put down her chopsticks and looked up at Consort An.

“When I was young, the Chen family was just an ordinary official family. My mother died early, and my father remarried only a year later. At that time, I often didn’t have enough to eat, so I learned to cook for myself.”

When Consort An saw that there were grains of rice stuck to the corners of Gu Qingyao's mouth, she couldn't help but reach out and take a handkerchief to wipe them off for Gu Qingyao.

"It wasn't until the emperor ascended the throne that the family turned their attention to the concubines."

Having been in the palace for nearly ten years without being favored, the first time he was favored was thanks to the Empress's patronage.

Gu Qingyao suddenly felt a little guilty. She knew that Consort An in front of her had been given a potion to prevent her from having children by Consort Rong. At that time, she was still snuggling in Consort Rong's arms, saying that her father should only have Consort Rong as his woman.

All the other women in the harem deserve to die.

“In the early days when I first gained the emperor’s favor, I was terrified. I didn’t want to go back to the days when no one cared about me. I wanted my father to respect me.” Consort An’s eyes were somewhat clouded. “But the emperor’s favor is not lasting. In the past few months, I have come to understand this.”

“Princess, but you are different from me.”

Looking at Gu Qingyao, who looked confused, Consort An sighed inwardly. She was just an eleven-year-old child.

“Your reputation may have been bad before, but now everyone in the capital says you have the demeanor of a noble lady.” Consort An explained to Gu Qingyao in detail, like an elder. “You have a bright future ahead of you.”

"But what if... something irreversible has been done?"

Gu Qingyao's tears flowed again. She couldn't control herself. She couldn't see any light ahead.

“Princess, we will admit our mistakes.” Consort An reached out and gently pinched Gu Qingyao’s nose. “Since it is beyond redemption, we will silently protect her.”

"Your Majesty is the kindest person I have ever met."

If she hadn't been driven to the brink and deeply hurt, the Empress wouldn't have been so heartless.

Gu Qingyao's tears flowed even more profusely, precisely because she had seen how good her mother was, which made it even harder for her to forgive herself.

"Princess, don't cry."

You are the only princess of Daqing. On many occasions, your intervention to protect the Empress is far more useful than that of a mere concubine.

......

"The Empress Dowager deliberately lured Consort An and my elder sister to meet."

As Gu Qingyan helped Jiang Yu pack her things, he spoke softly, also somewhat puzzled by his mother's intentions.

“Gu Qingyao acts impulsively, and I don’t want her to cause me trouble.”

Jiang Yu's eyes flickered slightly. If Gu Qingyao continued like this, Gu Heng would sooner or later suspect that Gu Qingyao would reveal what happened back then, and then Zhaoning Palace would also be dragged into the quagmire.

Unlike Gu Qingfeng, Gu Qingyao was once imprisoned in the dark dungeon of Lingxi Palace by Gu Heng and Gu Qingling. Gu Heng knew that she knew about her background.

If Gu Qingyao insists on standing up for her, it's tantamount to digging her own grave.

"Now my elder sister is also wholeheartedly devoted to Zhaoning Palace."

Seeing the smile on Jiang Yu's face gradually fade, Gu Qingyan immediately shut his mouth, his mind filled with doubt: what secrets are hidden here?

“Ayan, I heard from my brother that Mr. Huo is currently staying in the Marquis’s residence and has come to the capital specifically to say that he wants to see you.”

Jiang Yu quickly changed the subject. Seeing Gu Qingyan's sudden joy, Jiang Yu's wariness towards this Mr. Huo Xiang increased even more.

Is this person who knows the secret to Ayan's faster wound healing truly reliable?

A murderous intent flashed in her eyes; if this person's identity was questionable, then she wouldn't be so ruthless.

On the day Jiang Yu returned to her parents' home, the Empress's ceremonial palanquin went straight from the palace gate toward the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence.

Jiang He was already waiting outside the Hou Mansion.

Upon arriving at the Marquis's residence, Gu Qingyan immediately spotted the figure behind Jiang He. "Mother, that is Mr. Huo."

In front of Jiang Yu, Gu Qingyan dared not call Gu Lin "Brother Huo" again.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu's gaze slowly shifted to Gu Lin, who then took a step forward. "This humble subject, Huo Xiang, greets Your Majesty the Empress and the Third Prince."

"I have long admired Mr. Huo's name, and I am finally able to meet him today."

Jiang Yu's eyes narrowed sharply when she saw the jade pendant hanging from Gu Lin's waist.

"Your Majesty?"

Seeing Jiang Yu lost in thought, Jiang He couldn't help but remind her.

Jiang Yu finally calmed herself down, her hand tightly gripping the handkerchief beneath her sleeve. This jade pendant...