Chapter 502 Sending Away
Yun Yichen stared intently at the emperor, as if trying to see through his thoughts.
Upon hearing this, the emperor couldn't help but smile. As expected, Yun Yichen was the one who understood him best.
The states of Wei and Jin paid tribute at the same time. Wei had a strong military, Jin had exclusive control of gunpowder, and the Great Zhou was located in the middle, which was also the richest in resources and food. Therefore, the three states were able to form a tripartite balance of power over many years.
But a century has passed, and after many years of development, the Three Kingdoms were no longer content with just their own territory, so they all took action.
The emperor didn't know what the states of Wei and Jin really wanted, but he clearly wanted to use their combined strength to become the hegemon.
"Let's agree to the marriage alliance with Jin for now. As for the choice of the person, my Changxing is naturally not suitable. Since His Highness the Crown Prince of Wei has granted permission for me to choose, then Jin will follow suit."
After a moment's thought, the emperor made the same decision as before, only this time, he was clearly excited.
The group had come to discuss the purposes of the envoys from both countries, but before they could reach a conclusion, the emperor issued an imperial decree.
"Your Majesty, we have not yet ascertained the intentions of the Jin Kingdom. Would it be too hasty to agree to the marriage alliance so hastily?"
An old minister stepped forward to persuade the emperor to retract his decree, but the emperor would not listen to him. He simply waved his hand and said, "I understand what you all mean, but my mind is made up and there is no going back. You may all go back now."
Since the emperor had said so, the crowd naturally couldn't linger any longer and thus agreed.
"Lord Yun, what exactly did you mean by those words just now? And why did His Majesty suddenly agree to the marriage alliance with Jin?"
As soon as the group stepped out of the palace gates, they surrounded Yun Yichen, hoping to glean the emperor's message from him.
However, Yun Yichen did not answer any of them, but coldly said: "Since His Majesty has made a decision, it is naturally because he has made a decision."
After saying this, Yun Yichen flicked his sleeves and left gracefully. After everyone had left, the emperor asked the eunuch beside him, "What do you think of our Grand Secretary?"
The eunuch, who was called out by name, did not know what to say. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Although the Grand Secretary has a bad reputation in the court, he is loyal to His Majesty and is therefore a good minister."
Upon hearing this, a dark and ambiguous light flashed in the emperor's eyes, and he smiled and said, "Indeed, it is an auspicious time. Without his words, I really wouldn't have been able to make this decision! I just don't know what the outcome of this decision will be."
The emperor's words were somewhat perplexing, and the eunuch wisely kept quiet after hearing them.
Two days later, Gu Yuhe's funeral was held.
As Gu Yuhe's closest sister, Gu Yuxin took on the task of attending the funeral.
However, there was one more thing she hadn't done before sending Gu Yuhe off.
Early that morning, after putting on mourning clothes, Gu Yuxin did not go directly to the mourning hall, but instead took her maid to demolish the house.
Inside the demolished house, Aunt Qiao was tortured and interrogated before being left in a corner. No one called a doctor for her, nor did anyone wash or groom her. Apart from two cold steamed buns a day, Aunt Qiao didn't even have water to drink.
As soon as the door to the house opened, Aunt Qiao rushed over to Gu Yuxin, who was walking slowly in, as if she had grasped a lifeline.
"Yuxin, you've finally come. You've finally decided to come see me."
As Aunt Qiao spoke, she grabbed Gu Yuxin's clothes like a lapdog, "These past few days I've been locked up here and ignored, they haven't even given me water. If you hadn't come soon, I'm afraid I would have died in this demolished house."
Aunt Qiao's tears streamed down her face, making her already gaudy face look even more disheveled.
Seeing her like this, Gu Yuxin tugged at her clothes and took a step back.
"Does Auntie want me to take you out of the woodshed?" Gu Yuxin stared intently at Auntie Qiao, afraid of missing any expression on her face.
Aunt Qiao's face lit up with joy upon hearing this, and she nodded hurriedly, trying her best to please her, "Yuxin, don't worry, as long as you rescue your mother, I promise to stay in the courtyard and never cause you any trouble."
Even at this moment, Aunt Qiao still didn't say a word about her clothes, Gu Yuxin's death, or her debt to her. A self-deprecating smile appeared on her face.
“Yuhe, look at this is the mother you can’t forget, but she has never cared about you in the slightest. Even after you died, she was only thinking of herself. Yet you were foolish enough to be schemed against by her and ultimately gave your life.”
It was unclear whether Gu Yuxin's words were meant for Gu Yuhe or for the woman in front of her.
Anyway, after she finished speaking, she didn't receive any response.
Aunt Qiao just stared at Gu Yuxin. This child had always been quiet, but today, looking at her own child, Aunt Qiao felt a chill run down her spine for the first time.
It wasn't for any other reason than the way Gu Yuxin looked at her. There wasn't a trace of how she looked at her own mother; she looked at a stranger better than that.
Because Gu Yuxin was looking at her with a hateful gaze.
“Yuxin, no, Yuxin, let your mother explain. It’s not that I don’t care about Yuhe.”
Aunt Qiao reached out to pull Gu Yuxin aside to explain, but the two maids immediately restrained her from the left and right.
"Miss."
The two looked at Gu Yuxin, waiting for her instructions.
"Take it with you! The carriage is already waiting outside the back door."
Gu Yuxin didn't even glance at Aunt Qiao. This woman was more like her birth mother than someone who had taken everything away from her.
If she owed him any favor for giving birth to him, it was settled when she killed his older sister and, in doing so, also killed him and Yuxin.
Yes, Aunt Qiao's use of Gu Yuhe to flatter Gu Shuyan was not simply a matter of wanting to get rid of her.
She knew that the young ladies of the Gu family traveled together in the same carriage, and she also knew that in that frenzied state, the three of them had no chance of escape except by jumping off the horse.
But she still drugged them as before, waiting for news of the three Gu sisters' deaths to arrive. Gu Yuxin felt no shame at all for such a cruel and heartless mother who treated her like a human being.
"Let go! Where are you taking me? I am the mother of the Second Miss and the Third Young Master. Aren't you afraid they will blame you for treating me like this?"
Aunt Qiao struggled and screamed frantically, but none of the maids and servants who were holding her paid any attention to her.
Seeing that she was making a scene, the leading old woman couldn't help but sneer, "Does Aunt Qiao still think she's that concubine who had gone through hardships with the Second Master and left behind three children for the Gu family? The Second Miss instructed us to personally escort you here."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
