Chapter 67: Stepmother and Empress Dowager
When Gu Wan saw Shao Jingzhou's eyes shining, she remained silent and tears instantly fell.
The smile on Shao Jingzhou's face froze instantly. She was afraid. He touched Gu Wan's cheek and said, "Don't be afraid, Wanwan. I'll always be here for you."
He stood up again and looked at the imperial physician. "You will protect Wanwan's pregnancy. If anything goes wrong, or if there are any rumors outside, I will only hold you accountable."
The sweat on the imperial physician's forehead was already pouring down like tears, but he still knelt tremblingly, "Your Majesty, I obey your command."
Yu Huainan clenched his fists, then silently unclenched them. These things had nothing to do with him. He knew very well that he would never have her in this life.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty." He forced a smile, his eyes looking away.
Yu Shengxue bit her lip and looked at Gu Wan. What was she then? What about the ambiguity between her and Shao Jingzhou over the past month? She wasn't from this era, and she couldn't be like Yu Huainan, who could smile and say congratulations when the person she loved was pregnant with someone else's child. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she turned and ran out.
Shao Jingzhou saw it, but just frowned.
"The prince should pay more attention to Miss Yu."
Yu Huainan clasped his fists and bowed, "Yes, I'll proceed first."
Shao Jingzhou was in a good mood and just waved his hand to let them all go out. He reached out and touched Gu Wan's lower abdomen.
"Wanwan, this is my first child. If it's a son, I'll teach him horseback riding, archery, and education, and he'll inherit the throne in the future. If it's a daughter, I'll make sure she's the happiest person in the world."
He has already thought about who this child will look more like?
Gu Wan just felt it was ridiculous. Your child is dead. You killed him with your own hands. This is not your child.
"Your Majesty, I want to leave the palace and live alone with my child. If Dad knew I was so shameless, he would never let me enter the Gu family again. I don't want to disgrace the Gu family."
Shao Jingzhou's fantasy was completely shattered, and he grabbed her hand tightly, "Wanwan, I will not let you out of the palace. Don't worry, I will make you the queen, and our child will be born openly." He looked so anxious.
Gu Wan believed in Shao Jingzhou's love for her, but she still remembered that he was an emperor. Time passed, and no one's love could remain constant.
"Your Majesty, can I trust you?"
Shao Jingzhou could feel Gu Wan's cautiousness, so he reached out to hug her and touched her hair. "Of course, I am your husband, and you can always trust your husband." But you must not stay in the Gu family. Wanwan, don't blame me. I will ensure that you and your son will be happy and safe for the rest of your lives.
Yu Huainan found Yu Shengxue in a corner of the Imperial Garden.
Yu Shengxue was squatting on the ground, crying.
Yu Huainan stood aside, looking at the sky inside the red wall.
"What's the point of crying? It's impossible for us to have the one we love completely."
Yu Shengxue just felt that it was different from what she thought. It shouldn't be like this. They had been getting along very well for the past month, but he treated her differently.
"No, he likes me. Can't brother see it?"
Yu Huainan stood up straight with his hands behind his back, "You can enter the palace as a concubine, but Shengxue, please stop saying such silly things as 'we will be together forever'."
It is illusory and impossible for a person to get the person he likes in this world.
Yu Shengxue didn't believe it, but she could do it.
"Brother, if Gu Wan knew that the Emperor didn't want anyone from the Gu family to return alive, would she still be at ease giving birth to this child? Why would she be with her enemy?"
She wiped her tears and thought, "It must be like this, "Everything depends on human effort." Then she left stubbornly.
Yu Huainan sighed.
Gu Wan was sent back to Zhaohua Palace by Shao Jingzhou.
Zhuxiang looked at her master with great concern.
Shao Jingzhou looked at the palace servants in Zhaohua Palace and said, "Take good care of the Queen Mother in the future. I will reward you handsomely. If you make any mistakes, be careful of your heads."
The palace maids were all arranged by the Gu family, so they all answered yes.
Shao Jingzhou let them all go after he finished his lecture. He sat next to Gu Wan with a smile on his face the whole time.
Gu Wan only wanted to use this child to increase the pressure on Shao Sui to usurp the throne.
"Today, I saw that the Emperor and Miss Yu were getting along very well. The Emperor can take her into the palace as a concubine first."
Shao Jingzhou hid his smile in his eyes and teased, "Wanwan has mentioned this matter twice. It seems that she is really jealous."
Gu Wan shook her head. "No, isn't this just a matter of time? Can the Emperor go on forever without taking a concubine?"
Shao Jingzhou was about to agree when Zhao Jiukuang came over to report.
"Your Majesty, news has come from the southwest that the prince has been assassinated and has lost contact."
Shao Jingzhou's expression suddenly turned serious, and he stood up. "Imperial Study, call Zhao Zicheng."
Zhuxiang bowed and saw the emperor off, then closed the palace door and walked to Gu Wan and knelt down.
"My Lady, I am incompetent and have caused you to suffer such great injustice."
Gu Wan was really helpless, "Get up, it's nothing." But Shao Sui couldn't be in any trouble.
Zhuxiang cried so hard, "If the general knew, he would beat the queen to death."
Gu Wan leaned on the couch with an indifferent expression, "He shouldn't dare." Besides, she had only promised the original owner to protect the Gu family from being confiscated. She didn't like people who were too loyal.
Zhuxiang stood up and said that the child was not the emperor's, but the prince's. The queen was too bold.
"My Lord, he will be fine."
Gu Wan recalled him carefully. In the later period, he basically never appeared, and basically disappeared in the original work.
Shao Sui's condition was indeed not very good and he was seriously injured, but he subconsciously knew that he must not be in any danger. Gu Wan in Beijing was still waiting for him to return, otherwise how could she go on alone?
Gu Wan simply kept him in the palace. She no longer cared about what Shao Jingzhou did. The rest depended on Shao Sui, and he had to be fine.
A month later, Shao successfully suppressed the bandits and returned to Beijing.
It snowed that day, falling like goose feathers. The entire palace was covered in white snow, solemn and dignified.
Shao Sui first went to the imperial study to reply.
The previous emperor had few children, the imperial concubine was jealous, most of Shao Jingzhou's brothers did not survive, and the two princesses had already married, so Shao Jingzhou regarded Shao Sui as his only relative.
"Uncle, you've suffered so much. Are you feeling better now?"
Shao Sui had lost a lot of weight, but he was more resolute, his eyes were more murderous, and he had a cold aura about him.
"This is the duty of a minister."
Shao Jingzhou nodded with satisfaction, "I understand. You can stay in the palace tonight. I will celebrate for my uncle tomorrow."
Shao then clasped his fists in thanks and said, "I will go back and rest first."
Shao Jingzhou took the memorial presented to him and stayed in the palace just to let him have a good rest.
After he left, Yu Huainan also met with the emperor at his order.
"Your Majesty, those clans are very dissatisfied."
This time, suppressing the clan was difficult.
Of course Shao Jingzhou is not afraid, the more this is the case, the more he wants to do it.
"Their good days are over."
Shao then returned to his bedroom.
"Let him in."
The guard knelt on one knee.
"Your Highness, nothing happened in the palace. It's just that the person in Zhaohua Palace seems to be pregnant. The people sent by the Emperor are watching too strictly, so our people can't find out."
Shao Sui stood up directly, squinting his eyes.
"What are you happy about? Explain clearly."
The guard frowned and said, "Your Highness, yes, I am pregnant."
Shao Sui seemed a little unconvinced. Pregnant? Then, then this child, is his, it is his, it must be his. He suppressed his smile and paced back and forth in the room.
"What should I pay attention to when I'm pregnant? I have to ask the nanny, but she is not in the palace." After saying that, he wanted to go to Zhaohua Palace again, but it was still daylight, so he had to turn back.
"Go back to the palace and bring the leather mattresses I seized. She has fallen into the water twice and is weak."
The subordinates could only stand up, take the token and leave the palace.
Gu Wan was lying on a soft couch in Zhaohua Palace. The heating was warm from the floor heating. She looked a little fatter than in the summer, but that was just right. She was too thin before.
Zhuxiang came in from outside, opening the curtain, with a happy look on her face, and patted the snow off her body.
"My Lady, the Prince is back today."
Gu Wan pursed her lips and nodded. She was covered with a blanket embroidered with crabapple flowers. She lifted the blanket and got off the bench.
"Grind ink for me." He said as he stood in front of the desk.
Zhuxiang spread out the rice paper and put it aside. "Who is your Majesty writing to?"
Gu Wan looked at the plum blossoms in the green glass vase on the table and said, "For Father."
Zhu Xiang pursed her lips tightly and lowered her voice, "Your Majesty, are you going to tell the General about your pregnancy?"
Gu Wan didn't answer again. She held her sleeve with one hand, picked up the pen and dipped it in ink.
"Zhan Xinjia, father, brother is safe. I understand that the war on the front lines is intense. You and I are fighting for the country and the people, but you must know that the day the five cities are completely recovered will be the day the Gu family is doomed. The new emperor still remembers my aunt's sins, and the Gu family is too well-established. Since he ascended the throne, the new emperor has vigorously suppressed the clan. The Gu family also holds military power. The people of the world only know the Gu family, not the emperor. This is not what the new emperor wants to see. I once again earnestly advise you, father and brother, if there are other opportunities, please make another choice. If for no other reason, my sister-in-law is a weak woman, and my nephew is young, please consider it carefully."
She wrote it in one breath and looked at the contents of the letter.
"Once it's dry, seal it with wax and send it off on another route."
Zhuxiang answered yes.
Gu Wan sighed softly, walked slowly to the door, asked the maid to open the curtains, and looked at the heavy snow. This huge Forbidden City can trap people's hearts, but it can also magnify people's hearts.
Zhuxiang just stood quietly behind her master.
In the evening, after Gu Wan had her meal, she sat in the front hall and made shoes for the child.
Zhuxiang sent the rest of the servants away. After a while, she saw someone. She quietly went out, closed the door, and waited at the door.
Gu Wan felt a chill from him and put down the needle and thread in her hand.
"Is the prince well?"
Shao Sui was also afraid that his coldness would hurt her, so he just kept his distance.
"I'm fine. I heard you were pregnant and that you were sensitive to the cold, so I sent someone back to the palace to get a fur blanket. It's made from the prey I hunted in previous years, and it's very warm."
He said as he placed the package on the table.
Gu Wan reached out and poured him a cup of tea, "Warm yourself up."
Shao Sui took it with both hands, his eyes obscure and difficult to read, "Wanwan, is the child okay?"
Gu Wan nodded, "I've already said that I won't see you again, Your Highness. Your Highness, do you know that the Emperor is planning to fabricate a new identity for me and make me a concubine? A child is a life, and I don't want to hurt it. So please don't come to see me again, Your Highness. Just pretend we've never met."
Shao Sui knew what these words meant, the child was his.
"Wanwan, the child is mine?"
Gu Wan didn't hide anything from him and sat down calmly. "Yes, but Your Highness should know that after the five cities are recovered, the Gu family will no longer exist. Neither I nor the child will be important." After saying this, she even laughed at herself, "I have always understood this."
Shao then squatted on one knee, reached out and held Gu Wan's hands, "I said, the phoenix crown and bridal bridal robe will be announced to the world, Wanwan, you don't have to worry about all this, just protect yourself well. You are so smart, I believe you can do it." His eyes were firm and fearless. He stepped forward and gently kissed Gu Wan's forehead, then turned and left.
Gu Wan watched his back as he strode away. She hoped that this coup would be successful. This was her last mission, to protect the Gu family. She didn't want to know the rest.
Shao Sui went back and wrote a letter, sent it to the border, and then forged an imperial edict. There must always be a reason. No matter what kind of palace coup it was, there must be a suitable excuse.
The heavy snow that had been falling for a day and a night finally stopped.
After waking up and getting dressed, Gu Wan went outside to take a look. Although her palace had been cleaned, the branches and the red glazed tiles looked very beautiful in the sunlight.
"My queen, be careful not to catch a cold." Zhuxiang put a cloak on her from behind.
Gu Wan took a breath of air and felt so comfortable.
After dinner, a maid came to report that Miss Yu wanted to see her.
Gu Wan said "oh". She had only said a few words to Yu Shengxue. She asked herself if she knew how to play chess. It was interesting to come here today.
"Let her in." She leaned on the soft pillow. She always felt sleepy in the warm hall.
Yu Shengxue came in and saluted Gu Wan.
Gu Wan smiled and raised her hand, "Get up."
Yu Shengxue hadn't seen her for more than a month since that day, but she didn't expect that she looked even better after being pregnant.
Gu Wan saw that she was dressed up well today. Her skirt was lavender with large jasmine flowers embroidered on it, and the front of her coat was also green. There was a circle of white fluff around her neck, and the hairpin on her head was even more matching.
"Miss Yu, what's the matter with you coming here today?"
Of course Yu Shengxue has something to do. The Gu family will set off to return to Beijing in a month and a half. The five cities now only need to be reorganized. The emperor has already announced the imperial edict at the court meeting yesterday, asking them to come back for the New Year.
"It's nothing serious. I just thought your Majesty would be bored, so I came over to chat with you."
Gu Wan nodded, "Indeed, the palace is very deserted. The ministers outside have been urging the emperor to choose a concubine, but he has been unwilling to do so."
Yu Shengxue certainly knew, "The Emperor might have his own ideas."
Zhuxiang poured Yu Shengxue a cup of hot tea.
Gu Wan had a smile on her face. She was in a good mood today, so it was a good opportunity to tease her.
"In fact, I have asked the Emperor to marry Miss Yu twice, but he declined both times. I guess he didn't want to let Miss Yu suffer."
She knew that Yu Shengxue's visit this time was definitely not with bad intentions, but just to talk and relax, so it would be better for her to take action first.
Yu Shengxue felt she had never heard such humiliating words before, so she gritted her teeth and said, "Your Majesty, you are joking. I am your Majesty's subject, how can I be your consort?"
Gu Wan seemed to suddenly understand.
"It turns out Miss Yu had no intention."
Yu Shengxue clenched her fists and said, "Empress Dowager, I'm afraid you still don't know. General Gu will be returning to the capital soon."
Gu Wan knew it a long time ago, "Really? It's great that father and brothers will be back."
Yu Shengxue listened to her gentle tone and the sincerity in her eyes when she looked at him. For a moment, he didn't know whether she was really stupid or just pretending to be stupid?
"I have something I would like to ask your Majesty."
Gu Wan signaled her to speak frankly with her eyes.
Yu Shengxue stood up from her chair. "Your Majesty likes the Emperor, right? Why do you want him to take me as his concubine?"
Gu Wan knew what she was thinking and insisted on being together for life, but why should she care about feelings? It was probably the most unreliable thing in the world.
"Miss Yu, do you want to hear the truth?"
"The Emperor has arrived."
The announcement from outside interrupted the conversation in the room.
Gu Wan didn't move.
Shao Jingzhou strode in, and Zhao Jiukuang took the cloak and stood aside.
Yu Shengxue saluted.
Shao Jingzhou sat next to Gu Wan and asked, "How are you today?"
Gu Wan just hummed, "Your Majesty, Miss Yu came over to chat with me."
Shao Jingzhou then realized that Yu Shengxue was also there, and his brows immediately frowned, "What are you doing here?"
Yu Shengxue felt very aggrieved when he questioned her like this, and her emotions were inexplicable.
Gu Wan could see that she was deeply trapped in love, and that even the smallest thing about the other person would make her emotional. It seemed that this was indeed the case.
Yu Shengxue's nose felt sore and her throat felt like it was blocked by a ball of cotton.
"I have something important to do, so I'll take my leave first." After saying this, he hurried away.
Shao Jingzhou turned around and held Gu Wan's hand, asking as if unintentionally.
"She didn't say anything to upset you."
Gu Wan shook her head gently. She reached out and hugged Shao Jingzhou, sighing softly, "I haven't been sleeping well lately. I always have some messed up dreams."
Shao Jingzhou reached out and slowly patted her shoulder, "Don't think too much, nothing happened, everything is fine."
Gu Wan came out of his arms and looked at him calmly, "My father and brothers are coming back, right?"
Gu Jingzhou didn't want to hide it from her, and he couldn't hide it either. "Yes, I wanted to give you a surprise. Did she say that?"
Gu Wan neither admitted nor denied it, but asked another question hesitantly, "Do you still want to kill them?" Tears were already flashing in her eyes.
Shao Jingzhou reached out and gently scratched her nose. "How could that be? You're still pregnant. I promised you I wouldn't do anything, but I'll inevitably retire."
Gu Wan raised the corners of her mouth and said, "Retirement is the best. I hope they can live an ordinary life." After saying that, she looked at him straight with bright eyes.
"If the emperor deceives me, I will never see him again, even if I die."
Shao Jingzhou lowered his gaze, feeling a little uneasy. "Of course not."
Gu Wan chuckled and took Shao Jingzhou's big hand.
"Feel him. I think he can sense your arrival."
Shao Jingzhou had lunch with Gu Wan and then returned to Chengqian Palace with a gloomy look on his face.
"Xuan Yu Sheng Xue."
Zhao Jiukuang hurriedly turned around and went out to make arrangements.
Yu Shengxue knew that Shao Jingzhou was blaming her, but she didn't know what Gu Wan said in front of him.
"Your Majesty."
Shao Jingzhou didn't call her to get up, but walked step by step to her and half-knelt in front of her.
"Yu Shengxue, if you do this again, I will kill you."
Yu Shengxue felt that the voice was colder than the snowy winter. She liked him so much, gave him advice, and stayed up late to design, just to get his attention, but he still chose to protect that woman, the woman who was inferior to her in every way. When she raised her face again, she was already in tears.
"Don't you, Your Majesty, understand my feelings?" She burst into tears.
Shao Jingzhou certainly knew this, and he did not deny that he would be attracted to Yu Shengxue, but he had already fallen in love with Gu Wan first, so there had to be a first come first served order.
"If you do your job well, I will naturally reward you."
Yu Shengxue stood up and reached out to wipe the tears from her face stubbornly. "I, Yu Shengxue, don't want those material things. I only want your heart. We had heart-to-heart talks late at night, and you clearly understand me so well. Why, why? Is all this fake?"
She didn't believe it. She didn't believe that a person could pretend to like another person. How could someone be so good at acting?
Shao Jingzhou turned around and looked at her coldly, "You've overstepped your bounds. Don't forget where we are. This is the Imperial Palace."
Yu Shengxue laughed and cried, looking at the person in front of her with heartbreak.
"Okay, I was too stupid to believe it." She turned around and walked out step by step.
Shao Jingzhou always knew what he wanted and what he didn't want. If it weren't for Gu Wan, he knew he would fall in love with Yu Shengxue.
Yu Shengxue stumbled as he stepped on the snow, making a crunching sound.
Yu Huainan stood at the palace gate waiting for her to come out, "I advised you not to act on your own."
Yu Shengxue was so unwilling, she was so unwilling, "Brother, please, help me get him, okay? I really love him, I can't live without him."
She was panicked and helpless, with no other options, and she thought she had a chance.
Yu Huainan let her pull his sleeve.
"He is an emperor, he cannot satisfy your lifelong desire to be with you."
Emperors have always been heartless.
Yu Shengxue shook her head, "Brother, I don't ask for anything more. I don't ask for a couple. As long as he can accept me, I just want a chance."
Sometimes Yu Huainan really wants to visit the world she described.
"You must enter the palace and become his concubine. Without his love, the harem will bury your life."
Yu Shengxue felt so painful in her heart that she could hardly breathe.
"No matter what, I want to try it."
See if you can get his love.
Zhaohua Palace.
Zhuxiang came in and bowed, then stood beside Gu Wan and whispered, "Your Majesty, someone ran out of Chengqian Palace crying."
Gu Wan peeled an orange and said, "It's very sweet. Try it too. Is it snowing outside again?"
Zhuxiang took it and said, "Yes."
Gu Wan yawned and said, "I want to take a nap. Let's go."
They didn't care about each other. Shao Jingzhou had hurt the original owner so badly in his previous life, so of course he had to pay back his debt in this life.
Shao Jingzhou had a dream at night.
In the Gu Mansion, a raging fire engulfed Gu Wan, crying and standing in the fire, shouting at herself.
"Shao Jingzhou, I hate you. I curse you to never be loved again. No one will ever love you."
Then she fell in front of him and was finally consumed by the fire, leaving no trace of her body.
Shao Jingzhou woke up in shock, sweating profusely. This was still Chengqian Palace. He stood up and put on his clothes.
The eunuch on duty today was a young eunuch who rushed in hurriedly when he heard the noise.
"Your Majesty, it is not yet time to go to court."
Shao Jingzhou just nodded and put on his cloak, "No need to follow me, I'll go for a walk by myself." After saying that, he walked out of Chengqian Palace and headed towards Zhaohua Palace.
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