Jing'an Palace.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty has suddenly ordered the Empress to also go on the autumn hunt, which has put you in a difficult position."

Consort An sneered upon hearing this. The Emperor didn't even care about the Empress, so why would he care about her?

"Summon Consort Li and Consort Gu here. I have something to tell them."

The original intention was to use the autumn hunt to promote the two noble ladies and divert Consort Yi's favor, but unexpectedly, this is the current situation.

After an incense stick had burned, the two concubines arrived hand in hand. Having been in the palace for half a year without receiving the emperor's favor, this autumn hunt was a precious opportunity for them.

"This concubine greets Consort An."

Consort An smiled kindly and invited Consort Li and Consort Gu to sit down.

"The main reason I've summoned you here is regarding the autumn hunt." As soon as Consort An finished speaking, the two of them involuntarily tensed up. "Eunuch Cen from the Emperor's side went to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence to deliver an imperial decree, saying that Her Majesty the Empress should also go."

Consort Li and Consort Gu turned pale. "Your Majesty..."

"Don't worry, Her Majesty the Empress did not say you were not allowed to follow."

Consort An's next words left the two of them speechless for a long time. "On the contrary, Her Majesty said that you two should serve the Emperor well. If you can gain his favor, Her Majesty can persuade the Emperor to promote you at the end of the year."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The two left gratefully, unaware of the sudden, brooding look in Consort An's eyes behind them.

Gu Qingyao stepped out from behind the screen. "Why does Mother still want them to follow?"

“Princess, the concubines in the harem will never have a good life if they don’t compete for the emperor’s favor.” Consort An’s tongue was bitter. “If Her Majesty the Empress cuts off their path, there will only be more trouble in the future.”

However, it seems that the Empress no longer cares about the Emperor.

Well, this is a good thing.

......

Meanwhile, on the other side is the Dragon and Phoenix Palace.

"Ling'er, since that divine physician's medical skills are so superb, may we ask him to treat Feng'er?"

With the intention of making the most of everything, Gu Heng tentatively asked.

Gu Qingling's face darkened. "I will go and ask the divine physician right away. It was my oversight before that I didn't think about my second brother's leg."

He wasn't unaware of this; he simply felt that Gu Qingfeng, who was in a wheelchair, was more advantageous to the current situation.

Gu Heng was overjoyed upon hearing this and said "good" three times in a row.

After all, they are his sons. If Feng'er can recover to normal, the military power of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion can be handed over to Feng'er in the future.

"Whatever the divine physician's request, I will grant it."

Gu Heng's anxious expression caught Gu Qingling's eye, and Gu Qingling's hands clenched into fists under her sleeves.

A sorcerer disguised as a divine healer entered the palace, and Gu Qingling recounted her entire conversation with Gu Heng.

Whether the Second Prince's legs can be healed is entirely up to His Highness.

The wizard chuckled, and seeing Gu Qingling's evasive gaze, he guessed most of what Gu Qingling was thinking.

“He is my own brother, so naturally I will not abandon him,” Gu Qingling said slowly. “It’s just that I don’t want his leg to heal too quickly.”

Ideally, recovery should be slow, year by year.

"Understood."

Surrounded by palace servants, the shaman entered Gu Qingfeng's room. Gu Heng also rushed over from the Hall of Supreme Harmony, anxiously awaiting Gu Qingfeng's diagnosis.

Inside the house, the wizard unwrapped the gauze from Gu Qingfeng's legs. Due to the injury, Gu Qingfeng's legs had lost all feeling.

"The Second Prince's leg can still be treated."

The wizard's words instantly brightened Gu Qingfeng's dull eyes. "Divine doctor, can my leg still be healed?"

"As long as the Second Prince follows my method, he will gradually recover."

As he spoke, the wizard sprinkled fine powder onto Gu Qingfeng's legs, and instantly, a cool sensation washed over him.

Gu Qingfeng's eyes were red with joy. "Just now, I felt a chill in my legs."

"This shows that the Second Prince's leg is not completely broken." The wizard remained expressionless; no one would have guessed that the powder he had just used was the most vicious poison powder from his Di Kingdom.

Once you get hooked, you become addicted. Over time, you may appear to have recovered on the surface, but in reality, you are completely depleted inside.

In order to obtain these medicinal powders continuously, Gu Qingfeng had no choice but to use them for his own purposes.

The wizard couldn't help but smirk; both of Daqing's legitimate princes would be under his control.

His plan to restore his country is just around the corner.

......

The Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"My esteemed ministers, the newly appointed magistrate of Heng County has presented me with something."

Gu Heng waved his hand, and Cen Hai immediately took out a paper umbrella. Everyone nodded in agreement. This was... the Umbrella of Ten Thousand People!

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Since the founding of the Great Qing Dynasty, very few emperors have ever received the 'Ten Thousand People Umbrella' (a symbol of universal benevolence). This is a great achievement for Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations! Long live the Emperor!"

Silence... The entire hall was as silent as death...

The ministers kneeling on the ground to offer their congratulations still sensed something was amiss. After a long while, Gu Heng's voice finally rang out:

"These were given to the Third Prince by the people of Heng County, who said it was to repay the Third Prince's kindness."

Ordinary people don't understand power struggles and schemes; they only know who treats them well and who doesn't.

"This... the Third Prince is Your Majesty's child. If the Third Prince receives the Umbrella of Ten Thousand People, it's the same as you receiving the Umbrella of Ten Thousand People." The crowd began to try to cover it up.

Thud—

Gu Heng slammed the paperweight onto the table. "Enough!"

Outsiders may not know Gu Qingyan's background, but Gu Heng knows it all!

"The Third Prince cares deeply for the people; it is truly a blessing for me." Gu Heng said with a forced smile, and the ministers who wanted to speak up for Gu Qingyan also shut their mouths tremblingly.

After everyone dispersed, Cen Hai told Gu Heng the news he had gathered from the people.

"How long has he been under the Empress's command, and his reputation outside is already so good?"

Even Cen Hai was somewhat surprised, but it was the truth. Whenever he asked about the Third Prince, the common people were full of praise for him.

Praises such as "The Third Prince distributed porridge," "The Third Prince has the people in his heart," and "The Third Prince is filial" were lavished on Gu Qingyan without any expense.

"Fortunately, this umbrella of ten thousand people reminded me, otherwise I would have really raised a scourge."

The umbrella of ten thousand people stood quietly in the corner. The killing intent in Gu Heng's eyes gradually solidified. In less than a year, Gu Qingyan had already surpassed Ling'er in stature. He really could not be allowed to live.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider." Cen Hai knelt down. As Gu Heng's personal eunuch, he naturally understood Gu Heng's murderous intent.

"The autumn hunt is coming soon, let's make our move while it's underway."

Gu Heng twirled the jade thumb ring on his hand. As expected of that person's child, he was just as annoying as that person.