While the emperor was climbing the mountain, Gu Chaoxi, bored, was directing the guards in the villa who had nothing to do to dig holes, loosen the soil, and plant flowers.
"This place is near the pavilion; planting a patch of roses here would be perfect for enjoying the flowers."
"A clump of peonies is planted on both sides of this path."
Xiangzhu suggested, "Miss, an artificial lake has been dug next to the courtyard. Would you like to plant some lotus flowers in it?"
Gu Chaoxi thought for a moment, "Hmm, let's buy some more grass carp, crucian carp, and koi to raise and fatten up before eating them."
Xiangzhu exclaimed, "You eat koi fish too?"
Gu Chaoxi nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world, patted her stomach, and suddenly felt like having fish soup.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang.
The gate of the villa was kicked open forcefully from the outside, and a group of shadow guards escorted a figure in bright yellow into the villa. They came in with great momentum and soon arrived at the courtyard where Gu Chaoxi was.
Inside the villa, the guards left behind by Lu Zhao reacted quickly and rushed over to protect Gu Chaoxi, drawing their swords to confront the newcomers.
"How dare you! You don't even bow to His Majesty? Are you trying to rebel?" the Shadow Guard leader shouted.
The guards in the courtyard were all Lu Zhao's men, and they only recognized Lu Zhao. Even if the person who came was the emperor, they would never back down.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am acting on the orders of the Regent and forbid anyone from entering the villa."
The emperor did not speak, but his sharp gaze shot to the guard who was leading the conversation. Then, his gaze slowly fell to the figure behind him, protected by a group of guards.
His pupils contracted slightly.
He never imagined that the woman Lu Zhao was keeping as a mistress was actually Gu Chaoxi!
The person he had painstakingly searched for was in Lu Zhao's villa.
You, Lu Zhao! On the surface, you're all upright and gentlemanly, but behind the scenes, you're a hypocrite who steals your nephew's daughter. What a scoundrel!
He even entrusted Lu Zhao with investigating Gu Chaoxi's disappearance—what a case of the thief crying "stop thief!"
The emperor stared wide-eyed at the scene in disbelief. After a long while, he laughed in anger, "Good, good, good! You truly are my good imperial uncle!"
Gu Chaoxi felt that the emperor was probably already furious, and his mental state was worrying. Of course, if she weren't the one in question, she would still be happy to watch the show from the sidelines.
The next moment, the emperor glared at her angrily.
"Gu Chaoxi, I ask you, did Lu Zhao place you under house arrest here?!" The emperor questioned angrily, his face contorted with rage.
The emperor was furious and wished he could draw his sword and kill the people in the courtyard immediately.
This is not just a woman's problem; Lu Zhao's actions have trampled on his imperial dignity!
Gu Chaoxi may not be good at much else, but she excels at assessing situations and making judgments.
The emperor has brought more men than his guards, so a direct confrontation would not benefit either side.
It wouldn't sound good if word got out that the emperor's uncle stole his nephew's woman.
In the blink of an eye, she had come up with her explanation.
“Your Majesty, it has nothing to do with the Regent. That day, I was kidnapped by bandits and taken to the mountain. It was His Highness the Regent who rescued me. I had nowhere to go, and it was the Prince’s kindness that allowed me to stay here temporarily.”
She lowered her hands, revealing her slightly protruding belly, her eyes filled with tears. She glanced cautiously at the emperor, her expression sorrowful.
"I am no longer a virgin, and I dare not even dream of entering the palace. I have no face to return to the Marquis's residence."
Gu Chaoxi did not explicitly state whose child it was, but the emperor, following her words, came to another conclusion.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
That's true. Lu Zhao was poisoned and couldn't possibly have children. He was just being paranoid.
The murderous intent in his eyes dissipated, and the emperor's face showed tenderness. "Don't be afraid, I don't despise you. Come back to the palace with me, and I will send people to arrest and behead all those thieves who dared to lay a hand on you."
"Come here, I will take you back now. I will send someone to inform the Regent."
Although the emperor believed that the child in Gu Chaoxi's belly was not Lu Zhao's, he was certain that Lu Zhao had ill intentions in placing her here, and the emperor would not give him the chance.
The guard leader was about to speak when Gu Chaoxi stopped him with a look.
"Your Majesty, I will go with you." She was very sensible.
"girl!"
Gu Chaoxi patted Xiangzhu's hand reassuringly, then said, "May I bring Xiangzhu with me? She is my maid, and I feel uncomfortable without her."
"Approved."
Afterwards, Gu Chaoxi went back into the room to pack some things, took the whip that Lu Zhao had given her for self-defense, and left with the emperor.
Throughout the journey, the emperor's gaze lingered on Gu Chaoxi's slightly protruding belly.
Gu Chaoxi pretended not to know that the baby in her belly was only a little over two months old and hadn't shown yet. Her slightly protruding belly was simply because she ate too much at noon today.
With a cold expression, the emperor led Gu Chaoxi down the mountain. The first thing he did upon returning to the palace was to summon the imperial physician to prescribe an abortifacient for Gu Chaoxi.
Gu Chaoxi is his woman, and the illegitimate child in her womb, regardless of whose father it is, cannot be allowed to remain.
Gu Chaoxi was placed in Chang Le Palace.
Xiangzhu was very worried. "Miss, what do you think His Majesty means by this?"
He remained silent with a gloomy face throughout the journey, and upon arriving in the capital, he did not intend to send the person back to the Marquis's residence, but instead forcefully sent him directly to the palace.
How is this any different from abducting a woman?
Xiangzhu had clearly forgotten what her master had done, and was cursing the emperor in her heart.
Gu Chaoxi sat at the table, her face calm, but she was actually a little unsure of the emperor's thoughts.
Could it be that the emperor really wanted to wear a green hat to court every day?
"Xiangzhu, can you get in touch with the Prince?"
"Don't worry, young lady. The guards on the mountain have definitely sent word. The prince will surely return once he finds out."
In the evening, just after dinner, a bowl of dark medicine was presented to Gu Chaoxi. The nanny who delivered the medicine said in an unyielding tone, "Miss, drink your medicine. His Majesty instructed me to watch you drink it."
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