Chapter 330 No wonder he fell in love with a married woman, it turned out to be fake
Prince Su walked over with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Madam, your filial piety is commendable. However, the Cining Palace is empty and the incense is cold. I'm afraid your visit will be in vain."
Chu Ruohan smiled faintly: "You can't get a tiger cub without learning from the tiger. If you are free, you might as well go with me and reminisce about the past."
Prince Su seemed stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Madam, you are wrong. How can there be any old feelings between you and me?"
Chu Ruohan said calmly, "Your Highness, why are you being so modest? When the Empress Dowager was alive, you were always by her side. You must know the Cining Palace like the back of your hand. Why don't you be her guide?"
Prince Su was silent for a moment, with a gleam in his eyes.
"Since Madam has invited me, I shall accompany you."
The two walked towards the Cining Palace, one in front and one behind.
Along the way, Chu Ruohan seemed to be chatting casually, but in fact she was secretly observing his every move.
There were few palace servants in front of the Cining Palace, with only two guards guarding it.
Seeing Prince Su coming, he quickly bowed and made way.
"The Cining Palace has been uninhabited for a long time, and I'm afraid it's a bit desolate." Prince Su said softly, "Madam, there's no need to stay long."
Chu Ruohan smiled calmly: "It's okay, I brought some incense and candles, I'll leave after burning incense."
As I walked into the hall, a cold breath hit me in the face.
Chu Ruohan glanced around inconspicuously, and after confirming that there was no one else in the hall, she took out a small sachet from her sleeve and lit the incense inside.
"What kind of fragrance is this?" Prince Su frowned, seeming to be somewhat uncomfortable with the fragrance.
Chu Ruohan's expression remained normal: "Shenshuixiang, the Queen Mother's favorite when she was alive."
She secretly observed Gu Chengyan's reaction and saw that his brows were getting deeper and deeper, and he even took half a step back unconsciously.
"Why, Your Highness doesn't like Shenshuixiang?" Chu Ruohan pretended to be surprised. "I heard that Your Highness used to use this incense to regulate his body."
Prince Su tried to maintain his expression and forced a smile, saying, "My sense of smell has been a little off lately, and I can't stand strong fragrances."
Chu Ruohan nodded, almost laughing out loud in her heart.
Gu Chengyan can't stand this fragrance...
The fragrance spread, and Chu Ruohan slowly walked to the altar, knelt down slowly, and clasped her hands together.
"Your Highness Prince Su, do you know Nanny Zhou?" She suddenly spoke, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for Gu Chengyan to hear clearly.
Prince Su's eyes turned cold: "Why do you say that, Madam?"
Chu Ruohan still maintained her prayerful posture. "Madame Zhou died unexpectedly in Puji Temple yesterday. I heard she accidentally knocked over an oil lamp."
Prince Su narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "I know very little about what's happening outside the palace."
Chu Ruohan stood up and turned to him: "What a pity, before she died, Nanny Zhou mentioned an interesting place - Qingmo Valley."
Gu Chengyan's pupils shrank slightly. "Madame Zhou is my wet nurse. I have never heard of this place."
As he said that, he changed the subject and said, "Mrs. Gu, it's better for her not to know some things!"
Chu Ruohan didn't comment, just smiled slightly.
"Perhaps. But what Madam Zhou said before she died always made people feel strange."
The atmosphere in the hall was stagnant for a moment, and the smell of agarwood became stronger. Fine beads of sweat had already seeped out of Gu Chengyan's forehead, but he endured the discomfort and refused to retreat.
"Madam's words and actions today are strange, and seem to be hinting at something." Gu Chengyan sneered, "I wonder if you have any advice?"
Chu Ruohan walked slowly closer, meeting Gu Chengyan's gaze.
"I'm simply curious as to why the prince's temperament has changed so drastically lately, and his behavior has become erratic. Rumors are circulating in the palace that the prince...is no longer the same prince he once was."
Prince Su suddenly burst into laughter, and his laughter echoed in the empty palace.
"Madam, you're such a jokester. People's hearts can change, how can their temperaments remain unchanged?"
Chu Ruohan continued calmly, "Then Your Majesty, do you still remember what stories you often heard when you were a child at the Queen Mother's lap?"
Prince Su paused, as if in thought: "The Queen Mother is kind and has told many stories, it is difficult to list them all at once."
Chu Ruohan nodded: "So the prince can't remember it either."
She turned and looked at a corner of the hall, and her tone suddenly became louder.
"When the Queen Mother was alive, her favorite story for Prince Su was 'Mulan Joins the Army.' Every time she told him about Mulan joining the army to replace her father, Prince Su would be moved to tears."
Prince Su's expression changed slightly, and he immediately retorted, "My lady, you are mistaken. The Queen Mother's favorite story is 'Mencius's Mother Moved Three Times'."
Chu Ruohan's lips curled slightly. "Really? That's strange. I was chatting with the Queen Mother a few days ago, and she clearly said that she loved telling the story of 'Mulan Joins the Army' to the Prince."
The palace was completely silent. A cold glint flashed in Prince Su's eyes.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall.
"Your Highness!" A eunuch hurried in and bowed, "The Emperor summons you!"
A trace of relief flashed in Gu Chengyan's eyes, and he bowed and said, "Madam, I'm sorry I can't accompany you any longer."
After saying that, he walked away quickly, his back hurried.
After Prince Su left, a light sound of footsteps came from behind the screen at the back of the hall.
"Madam Gu is very clever." Concubine Jing said coldly.
Chu Ruohan bowed and asked, "Why do you say that, Your Majesty?"
Imperial Concubine Jing sneered, "Why are you pretending to be stupid? You were clearly speaking to me just now."
Chu Ruohan didn't comment, but just looked at her calmly: "Since the queen is here, she must have heard the whole conversation."
Concubine Jing's expression became complicated: "No wonder, no wonder he suddenly fell in love with a married woman."
"My son is not allergic to any spices, and the Queen Mother only likes Gu Junze among these grandchildren."
"She never read any book to Prince Su..."
She muttered to herself, her eyes filled with shock and anger, "He's not my son...then where is my son?"
Chu Ruohan looked at Concubine Jing's painful expression and felt a slight movement in her heart.
This high and mighty imperial concubine now looks like an ordinary mother!
"Mrs. Gu, since you know the inside story, who is he?"
Concubine Jing suddenly asked sharply, "Where is the real Prince Su?"
Chu Ruohan sighed softly: "I don't know."
"I don't know?" Concubine Jing sneered, "Then why did you expose it?"
"Because this fake Prince Su not only wants to harm my wife and me, but also the emperor and the entire Eastern Jin Dynasty."
Chu Ruohan looked straight into Concubine Jing's eyes and said, "Your Majesty, if you really want to do good for Prince Su, you should join me in exposing this thief!"
Concubine Jing fell silent. She walked to the window, looked at the palace wall in the distance, tears flashing in her eyes.
"My son...I'm afraid he's already..." she murmured, her voice filled with pain.
Chu Ruohan's heart trembled, although she also guessed that the real Prince Su might have met with an accident.
But hearing Concubine Jing say it herself, I still felt a sense of heaviness.
"My lady, now is not the time to be sad."
Chu Ruohan stepped forward and whispered, "We need evidence. We need to find out Gu Chengyan's true identity."
Concubine Jing wiped away her tears, and determination gradually appeared in her eyes.
"You're right. If anything were to happen to my son, I'd make that thief pay with blood!"
The two looked at each other and reached a silent alliance.
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