Chapter 66: Stepmother and Empress Dowager
Yu Huainan didn't know how he got back to the Marquis' Mansion. He just felt like he was floating. He knew that these things should have happened, but he was still sad. No man would not care. If only he could possess Gu Wan earlier, if only the day of proposing marriage could be earlier.
Yu Shengxue had just won an argument with her elder sisters who used to look down on her. She was in a good mood and walked out of the yard with her skirt lifted up. She saw Yu Huainan coming towards her.
"Brother, your complexion seems to be a little off. What's wrong?"
Yu Huainan looked indifferent, as if he didn't see her, and just walked past her as usual.
Yu Shengxue followed and tugged at his sleeve. "Is it about Miss Gu? The Emperor isn't planning on touching her yet. Why are you so distraught?"
She said it with a playful tone, raised her eyebrows and looked at him with a smile.
"Let me guess."
Yu Huainan tugged at his sleeve and said softly, "Get lost."
Yu Shengxue rarely saw him so dejected, and she felt even more relieved. "Did Miss Gu sleep with you?" She then walked over to Yu Huainan, tilting her head upwards with a half-smile. "Didn't you say before that you didn't care? Didn't you say you underestimated me? Why are you so sad?"
Yu Huainan reached out and quickly grabbed her neck, his eyes fierce and his tone frighteningly cold. "I advise you not to try to provoke me."
Yu Shengxue's face quickly turned red and she could hardly breathe.
Yu Huainan then let go of her hand and left with a cold look.
Yu Shengxue bent over and gasped for breath. She looked at his back again and smiled with disdain. She was also laughing at herself. She was still dreaming of being together for the rest of her life.
Gu Wan made all the clothes for her nephew today and folded them neatly.
"Zhuxiang, arrange for someone to take her home."
Zhuxiang took it with both hands, "Yes."
Gu Wan stood up and glanced at the time. "I should be back very late tonight. Please arrange the affairs in the palace."
Zhuxiang frowned. She knew her master was hiding something from her, but she only did what her master asked her to do. "My lady, I will definitely protect the palace."
Gu Wan chose a dress and looked at the medicine on the dressing table. After careful consideration, she took some.
Shao Sui had just returned from the imperial study and saw that it was already dark outside. Most of the imperial guards were from aristocratic families, so someone who could control them was needed to take over the position of commander.
Gu Wan was squatting at the palace gate wearing a cloak.
Shao Sui saw her from afar and walked quickly to her.
Gu Wan looked at his feet, then slowly raised her head and looked over. "The prince is finally back?"
Shao Sui frowned slightly, looked at her red eyes, and heard that her tone seemed to indicate that she was very aggrieved.
Gu Wan stood up and hugged his waist, crying even harder, "Prince, Prince."
Shao then picked her up by the waist and carried her into the hall.
The guards all dispersed, not daring to look at him.
Shao Sui placed Gu Wan on a stool, then knelt on one knee on the ground and looked at her. "What happened?"
When Gu Wan heard that Shao Sui could speak, she knew that he had begun to argue. Tears were still on her face. "Prince, can you speak now?"
Shao Sui nodded, "So you, what's wrong?" He still had some difficulty speaking, but he had made great progress.
Gu Wan was in tears. The wind in the Forbidden City was blowing very hard, and a whistling sound could be heard from outside.
"I am pleased with the prince and want to tell him."
The corners of Shao Sui's mouth were already slightly raised. Would he wait until today? Her soft and sticky voice was really good in this quiet night.
"I, I understand."
Gu Wan stared at him, then as if she had made up her mind, she kissed him directly.
Shao Sui was a little surprised and his ears immediately turned red.
Gu Wan kissed with more force.
Shao Sui put his hand on her waist and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Gu Wan looked into his eyes.
"I know I have no choice in this life, but today I want to choose once. Your Majesty, can you grant me that?" She raised her hand and stroked his cheek.
Shao Sui held her hand and said, "No, you can choose, Wanwan, don't let yourself regret it." He wanted to have her, but not now.
Gu Wan knew it, but she wanted to go a step further.
"Your Majesty, I will not regret it."
Shao Sui didn't want to hurt her. She had just done that yesterday, and doing this today would hurt her.
Gu Wan noticed his hesitation, stood up from the stool, turned around to look at the furnishings in the room, and walked around slowly, "Prince, do you dislike me?" She turned her back to Shao Sui, and seemed to have given up.
Shao Sui just felt that what happened yesterday might have made her very sad, so she came here today.
Gu Wan took out the medicine from her sleeve and quietly put it into the incense burner. Then she turned around with red eyes, walked step by step to Shao Sui, put her arms around his waist, and buried herself in his arms.
"After this time, I will not come to see the prince again."
Shao Sui looked at the hairpin on her head and sighed, "No, I don't have any."
Until the fragrance fills the entire room.
Shao Sui could clearly feel the changes in himself, his clothes falling off, "Wanwan, Wanwan..."
The guards stood outside, looking at each other in bewilderment, but they were glad that their master had finally gotten what he wanted for so many years.
Gu Wan originally wanted to leave in the middle of the night, but her body was still a little weak, so she didn't move for a while and eventually fell into a deep sleep.
Zhuxiang waited in Zhaohua Palace all night.
Shao Sui woke up at the same time as usual, feeling a little dizzy. Last night? He saw Gu Wan beside him, and for some reason, his ears felt slightly hot. Last night was indeed excessive, but it was good.
Gu Wan's long hair was draped over her snow-white skin, dotted with red spots.
Shao Sui looked at her and darkened his eyes, then put his arms around her under the quilt, turned over, and kissed her eyes.
"I know you're awake."
Gu Wan opened her eyes after hearing this, "Your Majesty, I have to go back."
Shao Sui gently kissed her thin lips and said in a hoarse voice, "You feel shy today. It wasn't like this last night." He thought of his abnormal feeling last night, but no matter what, as long as it was what she wanted, he could give it to her.
The guards stood at the door.
"Your Majesty, it's time to go to court."
Shao Sui got out of bed and put on his clothes. He had no maid by his side, and it was a habit he developed during his military campaigns, so he usually did everything himself. Seeing that Gu Wan's clothes on the ground were all torn to pieces, he turned around and took out another set from the cabinet.
Gu Wan sat on the couch, hugging the quilt. "Why does Your Highness have so many women's clothes?"
Shao Sui prepared everything, from inner clothes to outer dresses.
"I was planning to go after you fell into the water last time."
He took out her underwear and helped her put them on piece by piece.
After Gu Wan put on her clothes, Shao Sui made the bed. If he asked his subordinates to clean it up, who knows what nonsense they would say if they saw it. But he knew it last night just by seeing the bloodstains on the bed.
Gu Wan looked at him and knelt down to salute.
"Your Highness, this is my wishful thinking. Please don't mention it again in the future, and I won't come to you again."
She said with a smile, her tone very gentle, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Shao Sui heard what she meant. She was worried that what happened that night would happen again, so she would rather give it to herself for the first time.
"Wanwan, no, I will marry you openly and honorably, with a phoenix crown and a red robe, and announce it to the world."
She had her plans, but he had his.
Gu Wan pulled her hand away. "Your Highness, Wan Wan is already very satisfied to hear these words. Don't do anything for Wan Wan. Let's just pretend that nothing happened between us."
After she finished speaking, she lowered her head slightly and turned to leave.
As soon as the subordinate brought the food, he saw the lady hurried out of the yard.
"Your Majesty? This?"
Shao then squeezed his hands and said, "Escort her back safely."
The subordinate answered yes and followed behind all the way.
Gu Wan acted cautiously and had already memorized the terrain.
Zhuxiang breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her master returning at the palace gate. She quickly stepped forward to help him and then asked someone to guard the door.
Gu Wan only used a hairpin to hold her hair up and took off her cloak.
"Nothing."
Zhuxiang didn't ask where her master had gone or what he had done.
"Your Majesty, please wash up first. I have asked the kitchen to prepare breakfast."
Gu Wan nodded. She was a little tired, so after breakfast, she lay down to catch up on her sleep.
Shao Sui went to court today to cooperate with Shao Jingzhou in replacing the position of the Imperial Guard in the court.
It is difficult to move against the aristocratic families, but if Shao Sui wants to move, then we can only do as he wishes.
Seeing that in the court, the clan faction refused to give in at all, and the new emperor faction was also eloquent.
Shao Jingzhou was not surprised at all, but looked at Shao Sui.
"What do you think, uncle?"
The hall became quiet.
Because most of the clans admired Shao Sui, the new emperor faction knew that the emperor had a good relationship with this person.
Shao Sui stepped out calmly and presented the memorial in his hand.
Zhao Jiu took it with both hands and presented it again.
Shao Jingzhou opened the memorial and laughed.
"Uncle Emperor agrees with me." After saying that, he continued to look behind him. The candidate was within his expectations.
However, this matter cannot be decided in a day or two.
After the court was dismissed, Shao Jingzhou summoned Shao Sui to his study for a talk.
Shao Jingzhou was in a good mood, with a smile on his face, "Uncle, let's continue with our plan. I will arrange for people to start the action."
Shao then bowed and nodded, "Yes."
Shao Jingzhou was a little surprised when he heard the voice, and then he was delighted, "Is the emperor's uncle able to speak?"
"I happened to meet a miracle doctor a few years ago, and I've only recently gotten better."
Shao Sui did not lie, but he did not tell the whole truth either.
Shao Jingzhou laughed heartily, "Alright, from now on in the court, with the emperor's uncle's extra support, the country will be forever secure."
When Shao Sui walked out of the imperial study, it was noon and the sun was shining brightly.
Zhao Jiukuang noticed the time and hurried forward to remind him, "Your Majesty, it's already noon. You need to have lunch. Should I send him over here to eat?"
Shao Jingzhou put down his pen and said, "Let's go to Zhaohua Palace."
Zhao Jiukuang sighed and asked the palace maid to follow him.
The servants of Zhuxiang Zhaohua Palace were waiting outside so as not to disturb the empress's sleep. But when they turned around, they saw the bright yellow clothes and knelt down quickly.
"Your Majesty."
Shao Jingzhou didn't even send a message. "Get up, where's your wife?"
Zhuxiang stood up and lowered her head. "The queen is not feeling well. She went to bed after breakfast and hasn't woken up yet."
Shao Jingzhou thought that he must have been too rough that day, and her health was not good to begin with.
"I'll go take a look."
Zhuxiang knew she couldn't stop him, so she had to follow behind.
Gu Wan slept very comfortably, but her face was a little red and her hair was a little messy, but the beauty became even more beautiful.
Shao Jingzhou thought of that night and then lowered the bed curtains.
"Serve me well, I'll come back later." After saying that, he strode away with his hands behind his back.
Gu Wan is a light sleeper. After all, she has been highly concentrated for a long time. As soon as someone comes in, she wakes up.
Shao Jingzhou was still frowning on the way back. He hadn't had a good talk with Gu Wan since what happened that night, and he knew that she blamed him that day.
However, Shao Jingzhou was unable to come at night and urgently reported that a group of fierce bandits had appeared in the southwest region and had robbed homes many times, causing great suffering to the people. The local officials had been concealing the matter and had not reported it. The people wrote a petition to go to Beijing to file a complaint, saying that the officials were colluding with the bandits.
Shao Jingzhou got very angry at night and urgently summoned Shao Sui and Yu Huainan.
Finally, Shao accepted the order and headed west, setting off the next day.
Gu Wan slept for the whole morning and felt better, but her legs were a little weak. She just hoped that she could get pregnant this time. Although it was not the original owner's child, this child was also in her calculations. But since she chose to give birth to the child, she would raise him well and save his life. The original owner probably thought so too.
Shao Sui arrived at Zhaohua Palace late at night.
Gu Wan rested a lot during the day and couldn't sleep at night. She was making paper-cuts with Zhuxiang. The New Year was just a few months away, so she had nothing to do anyway.
When Zhuxiang saw Shao Sui, she swallowed her exclamation. It was obvious who her master had met that night. She bowed silently and went out, closing the door.
Gu Wan only regarded Shao Sui as a useful partner, and used the name of the Shao family to rebel and protect everyone.
"Your Majesty, why are you here so late?"
Shao Sui looked at the cut red paper and said, "I will lead my troops westward tomorrow to capture the bandits and investigate any collusion. You should protect yourself well in Beijing. I will be back as soon as possible." He whispered, the firelight flickering on his face.
Gu Wan nodded softly, "Your Majesty, please be careful and don't get hurt."
Shao then reached out and took Gu Wan's arm, holding her in his arms, "When I come back, I will give you an explanation as soon as possible." After saying that, he let go of Gu Wan, turned around and left.
Zhuxiang came back in after seeing someone leave, but still closed the door.
"My Lady, what about the Prince?"
Gu Wan sat down and picked up the red paper on the table. "Zhuxiang, it will be over soon. When father returns victorious, everything will be over."
Zhuxiang believed what her master said, she must be right.
When Shao Jingzhou was free, he would send some fun things to Zhaohua Palace. He did not overstep the bounds and treated Gu Wan with caution.
Gu Wan has always handled it calmly.
A month and a half later, winter has arrived. In the past few days, it has been either windy or drizzling, but today the weather is better.
Gu Wan stood in the palace, looking at the bright sunshine. "Let's go for a walk in the Imperial Garden today. We've been bored these past few days."
Zhuxiang seemed to be hesitant to speak.
"Go ahead." Gu Wan picked up the teacup.
Zhu Xiang frowned, "Your Majesty, you've been treating the Emperor coldly these days. Miss Yu has been coming to the palace every day. I heard..." She glanced at Gu Wan and simply gritted her teeth and told him everything, "The Emperor is about to take Miss Yu into the palace as his concubine."
Gu Wan narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her belly. She just felt that she was pregnant, but she had to ask the imperial physician to check. Although there was a lot of discussion in the palace about her relationship with the emperor, if she really had a child, it would be a royal scandal.
"Just accept it, you have to accept it anyway. So why are you talking like this today? Is it in the Imperial Garden?"
Zhuxiang felt a little embarrassed. It turned out that the master was the hardest to deceive.
"Miss Yu has already entered the palace today and is admiring the flowers in the Imperial Garden with the Emperor, but Prince Yu is also with them."
Gu Wan smiled and said, "Today is just right for acting." She was wondering which day would be suitable.
"Let's go, let's go now." She had been feeling a little nauseous these past few days and couldn't stand the smell of meat.
Zhuxiang helped Gu Wan up, knowing that her master knew what was going on, so she could only do her best to protect her master.
Shao Jingzhou was playing chess with Yu Shengxue, but he just lost another game.
"My remaining works, your chess skills are really good."
Yu Shengxue smiled brightly, "Of course." She was even more confident in the sunshine.
Shao Jingzhou looked at her and shook his head, "Huainan should pay more attention to your sister."
Gu Wan only brought Zhuxiang with her, and the two of them heard the laughter before they even got close.
Zhuxiang was still a little worried about the empress. Most women in this world are passionate, while men are fickle and disloyal. What's more, he is the emperor, so she was afraid that the empress would fall in love.
Gu Wan curled the corners of her mouth, walked closer to Zhuxiang, and then turned around and left with a big move.
Shao Jingzhou happened to be sitting facing Gu Wan, and he immediately saw her back and quickly stood up.
"The Queen Mother."
For a moment, the other two people in the court fell silent.
When Gu Wan was called by him, she turned around leisurely.
"emperor."
The Yu brothers and sisters bowed.
Yu Huainan remembered that the last time he saw her was at the Summer Resort at night. Later, when he wanted to go see her, he heard that she had already served him in the emperor's bed. It suddenly occurred to him that they hadn't seen each other for half a year.
Shao Jingzhou had been patiently coaxing her for the past month and a half. After all, he was sorry for what happened that day.
Gu Wan looked at the three of them coldly. Each one of them annoyed her more than the other.
"You guys continue. I'm a little tired, so I'll go back to the palace first."
Yu Shengxue was the first to speak, "Your Majesty, the Emperor and I are playing chess, and the Emperor always loses to me. Would you like to join us for a game, Your Majesty?"
Yu Huainan lowered his head and looked at the ground, silent.
Gu Wan lowered her head and looked at it. "I don't know how to play chess."
Yu Shengxue said "oh" and pursed her lips. Ancient women were so boring. I really don't know why Yu Huainan likes it so much.
Gu Wan felt that Yu Shengxue had changed a lot. Perhaps it was because he was highly respected in this ancient time that he became a little more arrogant.
Shao Jingzhou looked at Gu Wan and said, "The weather is very nice today. We are about to have dinner. Let's go together later."
Gu Wan agreed immediately. What a great opportunity! She sat aside and watched them play chess silently.
Yu Shengxue is naughty and willful towards Shao Jingzhou, but also cute.
Gu Wan just felt a little bored and yawned.
Zhuxiang was originally very worried about the Empress.
Yu Huainan only dared to glance at her out of the corner of his eyes, and what he was thinking about in his mind was the maid's comments that day.
Gu Wan couldn't ignore the gaze next to her. She had never understood why Yu Huainan hadn't saved the original owner, as the body would have been reduced to ash by then, and Shao Jingzhou wouldn't have known who he was. After all, she was the one he loved so much.
She couldn't understand it. If she had the chance, she really wanted to ask, not for anything else, but just to understand the inner thoughts of this kind of people for her future mission.
After Shao Jingzhou and Yu Shengxue finished the fourth game of chess.
"How did the Emperor win this round against me? Could it be that the Emperor was intentionally giving in all the previous rounds?"
Yu Shengxue seemed a little dissatisfied, but there was more boasting in her tone, and her eyes swept over Gu Wan.
Shao Jingzhou stood up and said, "Of course, otherwise you'll lose and cry. What if the Marquis of Zhennan comes to trouble me?"
Yu Shengxue tilted her head playfully, "Daddy wouldn't do that."
Zhao Jiukuang came over slowly, "Your Majesty, lunch is ready."
Gu Wan also stood up and walked slowly in front.
Chengqian Hall.
Gu Wan frowned slightly when she looked at the food on the table. She could already smell the fishy smell.
Yu Shengxue opened the lid of the soup and said, "This soup is my favorite. The royal chef makes it so delicious and fragrant."
As Gu Wan opened the lid, she felt the smell getting stronger and stronger. Finally, she couldn't help but "Ugh."
Zhuxiang hurriedly handed over the handkerchief.
"My Lady."
Shao Jingzhou saw that Gu Wan looked a little strange and hurried forward, "What's going on?"
Gu Wan covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and pointed at the soup she had just opened. "It's too fishy."
Shao Jingzhou looked at Yu Shengxue who was still holding the lid in her hand, and looked at her with a sharp look, "Close it quickly." His tone was very bad, and then he hurriedly patted Gu Wan's back.
Yu Shengxue was frightened by Shao Jingzhou's voice and closed the lid with some grievance.
"This is obviously not fishy, it smells so good." She had been a little indulgent these days, not remembering the difference in their identities at all, and her words just came out of her mouth.
Yu Huainan glared at her and stood up. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty and the Queen Mother. I have spoken without restraint."
Shao Jingzhou didn't care about this because he didn't smell any fishy smell. He suddenly had an idea.
"Zhao Jiukuang, summon the imperial physician."
When Gu Wan heard him call for the imperial physician, she hurriedly and nervously held Shao Jingzhou's hand, seemingly forgetting the occasion and the people around her.
"Don't call the imperial physician, Shao Jingzhou, don't call the imperial physician." Her eyes were a little red.
Shao Jingzhou frowned. So it was because of what he thought that she didn't dare to call the imperial physician?
"It's okay, the imperial physician is my man and won't say anything nonsense." He half-hugged Gu Wan and whispered comfortingly, his tone very gentle.
This was the first time Yu Shengxue saw him like this. Could he speak so gently to a woman like this? Could he comfort a woman like this?
Yu Huainan was so smart, he had already figured out why. He looked at Gu Wan with disgust and hatred in his eyes.
Gu Wan glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. So that's how it was? She suddenly understood Yu Huainan's thoughts. He had been paying attention to her in the pavilion just now, but when he learned that she was pregnant, he became disgusted and even resentful.
I guess he treated the original owner in the same way at that time. The love he couldn't get turned into hatred because of the original owner's shamelessness, which not only led to an affair but also resulted in the birth of a child. What he hated even more was that he didn't get her, so he destroyed her because he couldn't get her. At least she died in his hands.
She laughed in her heart, he was indeed a noble man who grew up under the ancient system and ideology, or maybe his love for the original owner was just possession and aggression.
If he were given the chance to get the original owner, he would definitely resort to more despicable means. It's so sad to be liked by him.
Zhao Jiukuang was already trotting over with the imperial physician.
Shao Jingzhou also asked them to leave. There were only him, Zhao Jiukuang, Zhuxiang, and the imperial physician in the hall.
The imperial physician felt the emperor's pulse and was greatly surprised by the royal secret. Thinking of his own family, he knelt down tremblingly and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress' pulse is pregnant."
Although Shao Jingzhou had guessed it beforehand, he couldn't resist his joy at the moment. He smiled and walked over to hold Gu Wan's hand.
"We have a baby, Wanwan, did you hear that?"
The author has something to say:
Shao Sui: I heard it, my child.
ps: It was revised four times. The heroine’s xx scene made me cry because it couldn’t pass the review.
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