The decision was made on the spot. After lunch, Jiang Hua went back to her room and entered her spatial dimension. She drew two copies of the herbs on the prescription, one for Jiang Xingzhou and the other for Bai Heng to prepare.
The day before his departure, Jiang Xingzhou knocked on Jiang Hua's door.
"What's wrong?"
"The Emperor wants to see A-Yi, and you as well."
Jiang Jing was also disguised by the Qingling Gang, and his original appearance was completely unrecognizable.
Because it was the Regent's carriage, no one stopped them when they entered the palace gate. After getting off the carriage, Jiang Xingzhou took out a curtain and put it on Jiang Hua.
The curtain covered her from head to toe, making it impossible for anyone to see who was behind it. It wasn't until they followed the eunuch into a palace that Jiang Xingzhou helped Jiang Hua remove the curtain.
Jiang Hua looked in the direction the eunuch was bowing and saw a dignified man sitting in front of her. Although he had a few gray hairs, he exuded the aura of a superior.
Should she bow?
Jiang Hua was still considering when the man sitting on the dragon throne suddenly spoke: "The Jiang family has rendered meritorious service, so the kneeling ceremony is waived."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jiang Hua bowed slightly.
"I've heard you have a way to cure the plague in Jiangnan City?" the emperor asked in a deep voice.
"I'm 70% sure."
"Seventy percent? As long as you can resolve the plague in Jiangnan City, I will reward you handsomely."
Jiang Hua did not respond to the emperor's words, but said that everything would be discussed after the matter in Jiangnan City was over.
"This time, I've also brought someone for you to meet."
"Who?" Emperor Zhou Ye's gaze fell on Jiang Jingyi, who was disguised beside Jiang Hua.
"Xiang Lu, go wait at the door. No outsiders are allowed to approach." Meeting Jiang Xingzhou's gaze, Zhou Ye gestured for the eunuch beside him to leave.
After obtaining Jiang Xingzhou's consent, Jiang Jingyi slowly tore off the human skin mask from his face, revealing his true appearance.
Zhou Ye looked at the face that resembled his own and his deceased wife's, and walked over excitedly.
"Let's wait in the side hall first." Jiang Xingzhou took Jiang Hua's hand and walked towards the side hall, leaving the space to the father and son who had not seen each other for many years.
"Did A-Yi know all along?" Jiang Hua looked in Jiang Jingyi's direction with some unease.
“Yes, I’ve never hidden these things from him.” Jiang Xingzhou held her hand tightly.
Half an hour later, the two saw Jiang Jingyi approaching with red eyes, his face now covered by a human skin mask again.
"You stay here with A-Yi, I'll go check on things first." Jiang Xingzhou patted Jiang Jingyi on the shoulder and then walked out of the side hall.
"It's alright, a man doesn't easily shed tears." Jiang Hua gestured for him to sit down next to her.
“No, stepmother, I didn’t shed any tears,” Jiang Jingyi quickly explained. “I just haven’t seen Father Emperor for too long.”
Seeing that Jiang Jingyi was still being stubborn, Jiang Hua didn't call him out on it. Instead, she picked up the untouched tea and handed it to him.
"What belongs to you will surely return to you. Trust your father and your father emperor."
"Stepmother, and you too, right?"
"What do you think?" Jiang Hua smiled and patted Jiang Jingyi's hair.
The three of them didn't leave the palace until sunset. Inside the carriage, Jiang Jingyi lifted the curtain and looked at the towering palace walls and the palace maids and eunuchs hurrying by, feeling a mix of emotions.
"Father, what did Father Emperor say?"
"Once you return from Jiangnan City, I will make you the Crown Prince." Jiang Xingzhou relayed Zhou Ye's words directly to Jiang Jingyi.
"Even before you were born, your father intended to make you the crown prince."
Jiang Jingyi nodded. Seeing his father again today, he realized that he must have worried himself sick over the years, as his hair had turned quite a bit white.
The next day, Jiang Hua and her party boarded a carriage, followed by carts of herbs and grain, all destined for Jiangnan City.
However, their carriage was cut down as soon as it reached the city gate, and they ran into Zhou Yingxuan, who had just returned to the capital from Qingshi Town.
However, they only passed each other by, as it was the Regent's carriage. But as he watched the cartloads of grain being transported out of the capital, Zhou Yingxuan fell into deep thought.
Only after the last wagon carrying grain left the city gate did Zhou Yingxuan order his attendants to investigate what had happened.
He then mounted his horse and galloped towards the First Prince's residence.
...
At the Crown Prince's residence, Zhou Yingxuan had just dismounted when a servant announced that the Duke of Anguo had arrived.
"Your Highness!" An Yuanliang stood up and bowed.
“Duke Anguo, there’s no need for such formalities.” Zhou Yingxuan quickly helped An Yuanliang up.
During his time back in the capital, Zhou Yingxuan had already adapted to his new identity. Yan Yan had told him before that he was destined to be the crown prince and eventually the emperor.
Zhou Yingxuan believed her without a doubt. When he left Xujia Village, he still had some doubts about her words. However, after arriving at the border, he found that she was right. His opportunity lay on the border battlefield.
When he first arrived at the border, he stood out among a group of new recruits. It was because of this that he was recognized by the old general. After returning to the capital and undergoing a blood test to confirm his kinship, he regained his identity as a prince.
"Your Highness, where have you been these past few days? The Emperor is already exhausted from worrying about things in Jiangnan City. If we don't step in to resolve this soon, it might be a case of more harm than good," An Yuanliang said in a deep voice, sitting down and stroking his beard.
"Duke Anguo, rest assured, I know what I'm doing."
Zhou Yingxuan was confident about the plague in Jiangnan City, and An Yuanliang, who was present, was also well aware of this.
"Your Highness, the Empress summoned Xinya today, and yesterday the Emperor summoned the Regent to the palace. There were two unfamiliar people with the Regent, one wearing a veil and the other with an ordinary appearance, who should be servants."
"Today I saw Jiang Xingzhou leading a large amount of grain out of the city gate." Zhou Yingxuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table as he looked at An Yuanliang.
After regaining his status as a prince, he thought he could trample Jiang Xingzhou underfoot, but he didn't expect that Jiang Xingzhou was the regent. Not to mention that Jiang Xingzhou would bow to him, even his father dared not ask him to bow.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yingxuan felt a surge of resentment. He needed to find Yan Yan quickly and ask her how to get rid of Jiang Xingzhou, the biggest obstacle.
This time, after returning to Xujia Village, they searched almost the entire village and Qingshi Town, but still couldn't find her. They had originally planned to find her, bring her back to the capital, and give her the title of concubine.
The Empress Dowager said that the women behind him should be those who can help him, so as soon as he returned, the Empress Dowager chose An Xinya, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Anguo's mansion, for him.
With the support of the Duke of Anguo, he could now walk his own path and have the Duke on his side in the court.
"His Majesty issued an edict yesterday, ordering the Regent to go to Jiangnan City to provide support," An Yuanliang said truthfully.
“Support? Tsk.” Zhou Yingxuan sneered.
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