On the day he returned to the palace, Gu Qingfeng sat in Gu Qingling's carriage. "It's been a long time since I've spoken to my elder brother. I feel so stifled sitting here alone."

Gu Qingling was clearly wary. "I didn't keep any ointment in my carriage. If my second brother's leg is uncomfortable..."

"Brother, you're overthinking it. My leg is much better now."

Gu Qingfeng smiled warmly, but no one could imagine how disheveled he looked in the dead of night.

Jiang Yu, who had witnessed all of this, curled the corners of her lips into a smile. "That's right, it has to be like this, dogs fighting each other."

"Mother, there is still no news of Mr. Huo."

Inside the other carriage, Gu Qingyan lowered his head, his tone somewhat stifled.

"Hengxian has been quite turbulent lately, which must have delayed our journey." Jiang Yu ruffled Gu Qingyan's hair and changed the subject. "These days, everyone outside is talking about what happened to Prince Xiang back then. What do you think, Ayan?"

With Jiang Yu's encouragement, many people began to think of the former King Xiang.

The son of a favored concubine, he was deeply loved by the late emperor.

"Recently, Father has been looking at me strangely."

Moreover, some of the old ministers who had supported King Xiang in the past also looked at him with exceptional fervor.

"Is Ayan scared?"

Once you take this step, there's no turning back.

"Mother, if I hadn't been blessed with good fortune, I wouldn't be sitting here in front of you right now."

It's not that he didn't want to choose, but that he had no choice at all.

Seeing that Gu Qingyan had also thought things through, Jiang Yu's gaze gradually softened. "It must have been difficult for you. I'm afraid it will be even more challenging from now on."

"Mother, my uncle has rushed back to the capital, but Father did not send him to lead the troops as he had said before."

Gu Qingyan rolled down the car window and looked out. His father's wariness of him and the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence had intensified.

"After returning to the palace, Gu Qingfeng will clash with Gu Qingling completely, which will give us a temporary respite."

After Gu Qingyan closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, Jiang Yu began to let her thoughts wander. Ayan was right; it had been a long time since she had heard from Gu Lin.

Huo Xiang is Gu Lin, and Gu Lin is Huo Xiang.

Each time Jiang Yu thought about it, her conviction grew stronger.

A strange sense of familiarity, the familiar jade pendant, the money pouch in hand, and the words "Returning it to its rightful owner"...

She should have figured it out long ago, but she was just confused by that face that seemed to have no flaws.

"Your Majesty, I have investigated and found that there is a disguise technique that can seamlessly change a person's appearance."

Wanji's words from a few days ago came to Jiang Yu's mind: "However, that method has long been lost, I heard it's because it can poison people."

poison...

Jiang Yu's breath hitched.

The bruises on his arm that day, and why he inexplicably wasn't allergic to peanuts...

As Jiang Yu thought about it, she began to feel a little flustered.

At the palace gate.

Consort An, along with the other concubines, welcomed Gu Heng and Jiang Yu. Gu Heng only asked Consort Yi a few questions before heading to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, while the other concubines followed Jiang Yu to the Zhaoning Palace.

"During my absence from the inner palace, Consort An has had a hard time."

Consort Yi, with her pregnant belly, looked at Consort Li with some wariness.

"It's all what I, your concubine, should do."

Seeing that Jiang Yu was safe and sound, Consort An breathed a sigh of relief. She had been feeling overwhelmed by the series of events that had recently occurred.

Throughout the entire process, Jiang Yu deliberately ignored Consort Yi.

Even after everyone had left, Consort Yi did not speak.

"Granny, keep a close eye on Consort Yi."

The power of the harem has returned to Jiang Yu's hands. This time, she will no longer be the empress who only stayed in Zhaoning Palace.

On the palace road.

Consort Yi quickened her pace, and Pei Lan behind her couldn't help but remind her:

"Your Majesty, please walk slowly and be careful not to hurt the prince in your womb."

Consort Yi took a few deep breaths, somewhat fearfully. "Peilan, do you think Her Majesty the Empress is starting to suspect me?"

Just now in Zhaoning Palace, the Empress paid attention to all the concubines, but ignored her, who was pregnant.

"Perhaps Her Majesty the Empress has simply forgotten."

“No, Peilan.” Consort Yi steadied herself. “I cannot be targeted by the Empress at this time, otherwise this child will not be born.”

She was very wrong.

......

Meanwhile, Xiao Liangzi approached Mei Chu again.

"Dr. Mei, Her Majesty said she wants to ask if you have ever seen this kind of poison before." As Xiao Liangzi spoke, he took out a scroll from his sleeve.

The scroll clearly depicts the dark blue pattern on Gu Lin's arm.

"I've met you."

Mei Chu's eyes darkened. "This poison is extremely potent. It will kill you once it spreads to the back of your hand."

"If someone poisoned by this substance rashly uses their internal energy, the poison will spread more rapidly."

Ultimately, that is what the Lord is like now.

Mei Chu's words were presented to Jiang Yu verbatim. At that moment, Jiang Yu was drinking tea when the teacup in her hand fell to the ground with a clatter, the sound breaking the tranquility of Zhaoning Palace.

So, will he die?

Jiang Yu's mind was in turmoil. Internal energy... Could the warm current she felt that night have been internal energy?

The toxin spread rapidly, and there was no news for several days.

The more Jiang Yu thought about it, the more terrified she became.

wrong!

Jiang Yu suddenly stood up. Mei Chu knew Gu Lin and knew about the poison Gu Lin had been poisoned. So the person Gu Lin would go to... was most likely Mei Chu!

Mei Chu was covering for Gu Lin.

"Little Liangzi, did you notice anything unusual when you went to see Doctor Mei?" Jiang Yu asked almost urgently.

"Your Majesty, I only smelled a strong Chinese medicine aroma."

Jiang Yu's body went limp, and Ling Mama quickly supported her, saying, "Your Highness, be careful."

But Jiang Yu breathed a sigh of relief. If the medicine could be prepared, then there was still hope.

"Go and give all the precious medicinal herbs in my storeroom to Doctor Mei, and tell him that I am grateful to him for treating my health before."

Jiang Yu's fingernails dug deeply into her palms; Gu Lin absolutely could not be harmed.

She had only just figured out Gu Lin's identity and hadn't even had a chance to meet him yet... rather than Huo Xiang.

Inside the room, after much deliberation, Granny Ling slowly spoke, "Your Highness, Mr. Huo..."

He is the Prince of Xiang.

Granny Ling's eyes widened in surprise. No wonder! No wonder!

Then, when she looked up, she saw Jiang Yu's face full of bitterness.

"Granny, it seems I've dragged him into this mess."

"He must have escaped death by the skin of his teeth back then. He was poisoned and first protected Ayan in Heng County. Then, when he came to the capital, he pushed himself into the abyss for me."

Jiang Yu took off the jade pendant from her waist, saying, "I always owe him so much."

"Your Majesty, Mr. Huo... Prince Xiang will surely be safe and sound." At this moment, any words seemed pale and powerless. Ling Mama sighed inwardly, feeling that fate was playing tricks on her.

"I wish to see him."

I always have to see for myself to make sure he is not in mortal danger.

The next day, Jiang He hurriedly entered the palace.

The moment Jiang Yu saw Jiang He, tears streamed down her face. All the grievances she had held back exploded, and Jiang Yu cried uncontrollably like a wronged child.

Despite Jiang He's repeated attempts to soothe her, Jiang Yu could only speak haltingly:

"He's not dead."