"Your Majesty, Consort Yun requests an audience."
The emperor frowned. "What is she doing here? I won't see her."
"Your Majesty, the Empress said she has something to report about Miss Gu." The palace servants below quickly relayed Gu Ruiyun's words.
Upon hearing that the matter concerned Gu Chaoxi, the emperor thought for a moment, nodded, and let the person in.
Gu Ruiyun, dressed exquisitely, walked gracefully into the hall and bowed.
"Do you have anything to say about Gu Chaoxi?"
Although Gu Ruiyun entered the palace, she was not favored by the emperor and rarely saw him, which was completely different from her expectations before entering the palace. Hearing that the emperor only cared about Gu Chaoxi and was impatient with her, she couldn't help but feel wronged.
This further strengthened my resolve to voice my doubts.
"Your Majesty, I have come with a matter of concern. I suspect that Gu Chaoxi has lied to you."
"What have you lied to me about? Just say it straight, don't beat around the bush. I have no interest in listening to your rambling." The emperor was annoyed; before his throne, any beauty was secondary.
"I suspect that Gu Chaoxi and the Regent have been having an affair for some time," Gu Ruiyun said with certainty.
The emperor's heart skipped a beat. "What?! Where did you hear that?"
"I heard from my mother that the father of Gu Chaoxi's unborn child would come to visit, but who knew that the Regent would also come to the mansion to investigate a case that day and speak with my father and grandmother alone."
"This matter seems to be just a coincidence. If it were only this one thing, I wouldn't think much of it. But before this, the Regent had allowed Gu Chaoxi to stay in his villa for so long. Could it be that the Regent is really kind-hearted?"
"The two of them survived a dangerous situation together. Even after you brought Gu Chaoxi into the palace, the Regent found a reason that was against etiquette and had her sent home the next day."
"Each of these incidents may seem insignificant, but with so many coincidences, how can one not suspect that the two had been in contact privately for some time?"
Gu Ruiyun explained the situation to the emperor in detail.
Most importantly, as her childhood nemesis, she knew Gu Chaoxi very well. She had always wanted to break off her engagement with Zhao Mingxu and enter the palace to pursue wealth and status. Having been taken to the palace by the Emperor last time, she should have stayed there desperately; how could she possibly want to go home willingly?
After thinking it over, a guess came to her mind.
"Your Majesty, the child in Gu Chaoxi's womb is very likely the Regent's. They have long been engaged. She and the Regent are conspiring to keep this from you! This is a crime of deceiving the Emperor!"
Gu Ruiyun was unaware that Lu Zhao had been poisoned and had no heir, but this possibility came to mind on a whim.
The emperor broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing the last sentence.
He thought differently from Gu Ruiyun. He knew that Lu Zhao was poisoned and could not have children, so he could not inherit the throne. But outsiders did not know that!
If Lu Zhao admits that the child in Gu Chaoxi's womb is his, who would question him?
Then all his actions these past few days have had a purpose.
No wonder the people he sent to the Marquis's mansion to secretly administer abortion drugs have been slow to succeed; it must be because Lu Zhao has people keeping a close watch on her!
He just wants to seize his throne!
Seeing the emperor's pale face, Gu Ruiyun cursed inwardly for being useless.
She understood the emperor's concerns, and that made it easier for her to take this opportunity to completely crush Gu Chaoxi.
If Gu Chaoxi really marries the Regent, wouldn't he become her elder? She's just a concubine, and she still has to bow to Gu Chaoxi!
She had been fighting with Gu Chaoxi for so many years, she absolutely could not accept this situation.
Just thinking about that scene makes her so angry she could die!
"Your Majesty, I know you love my sister, but if Gu Chaoxi is pregnant with the Regent's child, will the Regent still be devoted to you and serve you with all his heart?"
"You are approaching the age to assume personal rule, yet the Regent still controls most of the court and is hesitant to let you handle state affairs alone. Currently, outsiders only know the Regent of the Great Yu Dynasty, not the Emperor. Aren't you worried, Your Majesty?"
Gu Ruiyun's original intention was to sow discord between the emperor and Lu Zhao. With Lu Zhao down, Gu Chaoxi would naturally not have an easy time either. However, these words struck a chord with the emperor.
"Do you think I haven't considered this? The Regent is powerful, and most of the court is filled with his men. What can I do even if I'm dissatisfied?!"
Gu Ruiyun smiled gently and stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I have a plan. May I ask if you have any military power?"
The emperor's eyes flashed. "Of course there are."
Besides his personal guards, the commander of the Imperial Guards was also one of his men.
“That makes things easier!” Gu Ruiyun said.
She expressed her thoughts.
"Will this work?" The emperor was somewhat hesitant.
“As long as the Imperial Guards are under your control, this plan will definitely work. Even if you can’t bring down Lu Zhao immediately, you’ll have a reason to remove his regency. Then you can cultivate your own people in the court.” Gu Ruiyun said patiently. “Your Majesty, I stand with you.”
Perhaps it was that last sentence that finally moved the emperor, and he agreed.
...
When the palace staff arrived, Gu Chaoxi had just finished breakfast and was taking a walk in the small garden in front of the courtyard.
The once empty little garden has long been filled with all kinds of flowers sent by Lu Zhao, swaying gracefully in the breeze, with the morning dew still clinging to the full petals.
Gu Chaoxi stood there in a long, water-red brocade dress. Her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, and her lips, more beautiful than flowers, smiled as she spoke to the maid beside her. She was like a flower goddess descending to earth, so beautiful that she seemed unreal.
The visitor was stunned for a while before he came to his senses, thinking to himself that the young lady seemed even more beautiful than before after not seeing her for several months.
She hurried over to Gu Chaoxi and said, “Young lady, Consort Yun has been in the palace for a long time and misses her family very much. She would like to invite you to the palace to reminisce.”
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