Gu Heng was surprised, but then calmed down and said with a wry smile, "Mother, are you mistaken? Liu'er is weak and powerless. Even if she had the guts, she wouldn't be a match for my aunt. Even Princess Atuo wasn't a match for my aunt. Besides, my aunt has personally killed an assassin. How could Liu'er possibly beat her?"

Empress Dowager Guo was also stunned, but she had witnessed what had just happened.

“I can’t be mistaken. I saw it with my own eyes. I saw Consort Liu raise her hand and slap Wen Nongnong in the face.”

“Sometimes what you see may not be true. Mother must have misunderstood.” Gu Heng sighed. “Mother doesn’t like Liu’er, but she has already been punished and beaten. So calm down and let her go.”

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Guo immediately became forceful again, "No, you say she didn't hit Wen Nongnong, then what about the injuries on Wen Nongnong's face? Moreover, she is unfaithful and covets your imperial uncle. I have already been exceptionally merciful to her by only banishing her to the cold palace."

Gu Heng was also annoyed upon hearing this.

He didn't believe Liu'er could have anything for the Imperial Uncle; he was her first man, and she was his first woman.

Moreover, every time they were together, she was completely devoted to him. How could she possibly be pretending to have other men in her heart?

Moreover, she had no connection with the Imperial Uncle at all, so how could she possibly like him?

He thought it was utter nonsense.

It was just that her mother disliked her, so she made up stories about her.

"Mother, please don't say such things again," he said in a deep voice, already displeased.

Empress Dowager Guo was very angry when she saw that he did not believe her. “Everything I said is true. I did not wrong her. The person in her heart is your imperial uncle. She said that her current submission to you is only a temporary measure. When the time is right, she will leave you and go to your imperial uncle.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Heng was so angry that he kicked over the chair, making a loud bang.

"Mother, stop talking nonsense. I don't believe you." With that, he strode out.

Empress Dowager Guo looked at the overturned chair, her heart pounding with fear, and her face turned ashen.

What a traitor!

She could tell he was bewitched by that vixen.

Empress Dowager Guo was furious.

After leaving Xianghe Palace, Gu Heng originally intended to go directly to the Cold Palace to bring Wen Ruyi out, but Empress Dowager Guo's words kept echoing in his ears, which eventually made him feel resentful, so he changed his mind and returned to the Imperial Study.

He didn't believe Liu'er was that kind of person, but his mother wouldn't go so far as to slander her like that.

For a moment, Gu Heng felt conflicted.

...

Meanwhile, Wen Nongnong had just returned to her residence when she encountered Gu Linchao, who had just returned from an outing.

"Why is Your Highness only returning now?" Does that mean he hasn't even had her chicken soup yet?

"Some things at the military camp have caused some delays," Gu Linchao said as he walked in from outside the door.

Wen Nongnong immediately smiled and said, "This morning I went to the morning market and picked out a small hen. I made ginseng soup, and it's still warm on the stove. I'll go and bring it to you." After saying that, she was about to run towards Chenxiang Courtyard, but Gu Linchao called out to her, "Wait."

Wen Nongnong stopped and turned to look at him, puzzled. "Does Your Highness have any orders?"

Gu Linchao's gaze fell on her left cheek, and he frowned. "What happened to your face?"

Wen Nong Nong's eyes darted around, and she quickly covered herself with a handkerchief. "It's nothing, I just got scratched by a branch while strolling in the garden, it's nothing serious."

He must not find out what happened in the palace.

After all, he's involved, and what if he gets angry?