After explaining the situation to the emperor, Gu Jiangli indeed stopped staying at Yongning Palace.
She was either with the emperor or with the empress dowager.
Just as the two had planned, she was perfectly safe.
Gu Jiangli could see Prince An even when she was in Wenhua Palace. She didn't know what method the Empress Dowager used to make Prince An obedient and stay in her palace for several days in a row, but as long as Prince An did not leave the Empress Dowager's side, the Emperor and she were still relatively safe.
Because he didn't have time to give orders, he couldn't do anything underhanded.
Gu Jiangli stared intently at him, and the Empress Dowager's eyes were also fixed on Prince An.
The Empress Dowager once told her secretly that when she was not around, the Empress Dowager would pull Prince An to chant sutras and pray to Buddha, and he could not do any of those little tricks.
Gu Jiangli felt much more at ease.
Only if Prince An cannot make a move during this period will she and the Emperor have a greater chance of winning.
The first good news came from Oman.
Aman's grandfather himself had not yet arrived in Tianyuan, but his handwritten letter had reached Gu Jiangli and the emperor by carrier pigeon.
The old man's judgment coincided with what Oman had said earlier.
In his letter, he also said that the emperor's illness was caused by the Jade Moon Vine.
The letter also stated that mysterious people have been buying Biyue vines from them at high prices over the years, and many villagers have risked their lives to go up the mountain to pick Biyue vines in order to earn high rewards.
Therefore, the old man also believed that the emperor's illness must be inextricably linked to the Jade Moon Vine.
Oman's grandfather is currently on his way to Tianyuan and will soon arrive at the palace to treat the emperor.
After reading the letter, Gu Jiangli felt a little relieved.
According to the letter, the emperor could still be cured, and it would not be difficult to do so.
To prevent the emperor from wearing problematic clothes again, Gu Jiangli had secretly ordered people to make other clothes for him. However, there was really no other way to make a dragon robe, so the emperor claimed to be ill and did not appear in court for the past two days.
He only summoned some ministers in private to find out Prince An's cronies.
Gu Jiangli was unaware of the specific progress.
However, judging from the emperor's expression that she saw every day, she must have found some of Prince An's henchmen, and quite a few of them.
That's why the emperor always had a furrowed brow and a heavy heart.
"Your Majesty, please don't worry too much. It's a good thing that we were able to capture them. At least we didn't give them the opportunity to harm you."
Gu Jiangli offered this comforting remark.
The emperor must have taken it to heart, for the worry on his face did indeed ease considerably.
"Yes, I know. It's just a bit unexpected. Some people are dedicated to the country in their daily lives, but they also harbor their own selfish desires. Some people are usually rigid and pedantic, but they become flexible and adaptable when it comes to matters related to themselves. The human heart is truly unpredictable."
"Who is the person Your Majesty is referring to?"
Gu Jiangli regretted asking the question as soon as she did.
In principle, she shouldn't be too involved in the affairs of the previous dynasty; if people found out, she would become the subject of gossip.
So she quickly added, "Your Majesty, I shouldn't have asked so many questions. If it's inconvenient to say something, then don't."
“There’s nothing inconvenient about it. Speaking of which, this person should be considered a household name. He is Ning Song.”
"he?"
It is indeed a household name.
Even Gu Jiangli, who was far away in Yunjiang, had heard of this genius's reputation.
"He's also one of Prince An's men? How could that be?"
A cold smile appeared on the emperor's lips: "Yes, how could that be? I never expected that he was also one of Prince An's men. The late emperor valued him so much back then, and he rose through the ranks to become the Minister of Works. After the late emperor passed away, I never treated him unfairly, but he still had to work under Prince An."
Gu Jiangli was also somewhat puzzled.
She had heard that Lord Ning Song was an exceptionally upright and incorruptible person who placed great importance on rules and regulations; it would not be an exaggeration to call him pedantic and rigid.
How could someone like that betray the emperor and work for Prince An?
It's really puzzling.
Gu Jiangli was lost in thought when the emperor pulled her back: "Alright, stop thinking about it. These things are none of your concern. The Prince of An's men have investigated enough, and this matter will be over soon."
"Hmm, has His Majesty made any unusual moves lately?"
"No, what about the Empress Dowager? Is Prince An still behaving himself?"
"He's very honest. I'm afraid even if someone wanted to come to the Cultural Palace to report to Prince An, they wouldn't have the chance. I don't know how the Empress Dowager managed to keep Prince An so obedient."
"It shouldn't be difficult. A few days ago was the anniversary of Princess Rong's death, and a few days later it will be the anniversary of Prince Rong's death. Prince An's biological parents both passed away in the same month, so it's reasonable for the Empress Dowager to let him focus on chanting scriptures and praying to Buddha. If Prince An wants to maintain his reputation and face, he must also obey the Empress Dowager's arrangements."
I see.
No wonder these Prince Tianan were so dutiful, without uttering a single complaint.
However, it turns out that Prince Rong and his wife passed away in the same month.
She had never heard of this before.
Seeing her thoughtful expression, the Emperor couldn't help but smile and ask, "Are you trying to ask about Prince Rong and his wife?"
Gu Jiangli smiled sheepishly: "His Majesty saw through me."
"You come from Yunjiang, so it's normal that you haven't heard of these things. Prince Rong is my elder brother. He and my sister-in-law were very much in love. When my sister-in-law was giving birth, she had a difficult labor. Although the child was born safely, she died."
"My elder brother was heartbroken and, in despair, chose to commit suicide. Before his death, he entrusted the infant Prince An to my care."
"Although my elder brother and I were not born of the same mother, he was very close to me from childhood. Faced with my elder brother's dying request, even though I was only a prince in my teens at the time, I had no choice but to grant it."
“After Prince An grew up, he called me Father Emperor. I thought he regarded me as his biological father. Now it seems that every time he called me ‘Father Emperor,’ he must have felt very uncomfortable.”
The emperor's expression was calm, no longer showing the anger and annoyance he had felt when he first learned about Prince An's character.
Gu Jiangli understood that it wasn't that he wasn't angry, but rather that he could only helplessly accept this fact.
Although they had tried their best to treat Prince An well, the result was so tragic, which is truly regrettable.
The fact that Prince An, at such a young age, has already meticulously planned so much shows that his hatred has been brewing for many years.
But what exactly did he hate about the emperor?
Could it be that Prince Rong is the one who could make Prince An resent the emperor?
Looking at the emperor's slightly sorrowful face, Gu Jiangli did not ask any further questions.
Based on her intuition, the relationship between the Emperor and Prince Rong was no less than that between brothers in an ordinary family.
He was genuinely grieving over Prince Rong's death, so Gu Jiangli didn't continue the conversation.
Just then, Eunuch Ming knocked on the door, saying that someone wanted to see the emperor.
It must be a minister who came to discuss state affairs who came to see him.
Gu Jiangli did not linger there. After a brief farewell to the emperor, she went to the Cultural Palace.
Perhaps the Empress Dowager knew more about the affairs of the deceased.
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