The imperial palace.
The lights in the Linhua Palace were brightly lit, and the eunuch led Xue Zhiyi and Huo Wuyou up the long stairs.
Many guests had already gathered in the hall, including the powerful Ge family and the Shen family, who were newly favored by the emperor.
As a close minister of the emperor and a member of the royal family, Huo Wuyou was naturally among them.
As soon as the two of them walked into the hall, they felt countless eyes cast at them, especially those who were interested in Xue Zhiyi, the newly married wife of the Marquis of Lin'an.
Although she was the empress dowager's confidant and many people knew Xue Zhiyi, it was the first time to see her wearing a lady's dress, supported by others, and appearing in such an occasion with a crowd of people following.
She was calm and composed, and her movements were measured. She didn't look like she had ever been a waiter. Her every move was calm and dignified. She was walking side by side with the Marquis of Lin'an, who was now in the emperor's favor. But after all, before they were granted marriage, no one could have imagined that they would get married.
Especially since the current Marquis of Lin'an is no longer the unlearned playboy of the past, while Jiang Wan comes from a mediocre family, has been engaged before, and has served others. This marriage is really a step up for her, and it seems that they are not a good match.
Xue Zhiyi just ignored those inquiring looks and was not at all displeased by other people's comments. However, it was the first time that she and Huo Wuyou sat together so openly in front of everyone, which made her feel a little weird.
In the past, they always met in secret, and when they could finally meet openly, they felt a little uncomfortable.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Huo Wuyou's hand was around her waist, and in her momentary astonishment, he almost half-hugged her and helped her sit down.
Even if they are a couple, they are so intimate in public that it is a bit eye-catching.
Xue Zhiyi glared at him, gnashing his teeth. Huo Wuyou quietly tugged at her collar and whispered, "Your clothes are loose."
Xue Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat: there were some marks that could not be covered by makeup, so he had to tighten his clothes. It seemed that the movement had exposed the marks again.
But when she lowered her head, she saw that her collar was fixed tightly and not loose at all. Realizing that she had been fooled by Huo Wuyou, she stepped hard on the instep of Huo Wuyou's foot under the table, turning his low chuckle into a sudden breath of cold air.
To others, it seemed that the couple behaved intimately, but with blushing faces and lowered eyes, not daring to look at each other. They really looked like a loving newlywed couple... Could it be that such a marriage with such a huge disparity was really a consensual one?
Looking at it this way, they seem to be a good match.
…
Elsewhere, on the long steps of the Linhua Palace, a child half a person's height was walking slowly forward, followed by several eunuchs. He pursed his lips, his expression gloomy, with a melancholy that did not belong to his age.
Ever since Concubine Ge died in the cold palace, the Ninth Prince Gu Shiying has lost his backbone and his temperament is not as bright as before.
The portly eunuch Xiao Weizi beside him consoled him, "Your Highness the Ninth Prince is usually bored in the palace. Today, on New Year's Eve, His Royal Highness Prince Gong and Duke Dingguo have both entered the palace. They have always loved Your Highness the most. Seeing them will surely comfort you."
Hearing this, the Ninth Prince sniffed. How could he understand the struggle for power? He only knew that they were his best brother and uncle. Ever since his mother's accident, only the Empress Dowager had asked people to take good care of him in the palace. Even his father hadn't come to see him. Today, he finally got to see his brother and uncle, and he felt an uncontrollable sense of grievance.
Observing his expression, Little Weizi continued, "The Duke hasn't seen you since returning from Yueling Pass. He must have missed you terribly. He must be delighted to see Your Highness today."
"I miss my uncle too." He said, quickening his pace.
After entering the hall, the guests bowed to him. The Ninth Prince wanted to go straight to Gu Shichong, but found that Gu Shichong had not arrived yet, so he turned to look for Duke Dingguo.
Seeing familiar people, his eyes lit up and he trotted over to them: "Uncle, aunt!"
Duke Dingguo Ge Hanzhang and Madam Ge sat side by side. Ge Hanzhang was tall. Even though he was over fifty years old and had a few silver strands in his hair, he sat there like a mountain, unmoved. Between his brows there was the demeanor of a military commander who was intimidating without anger, but there was also a hint of haggardness that was hardly noticeable.
After seeing the Ninth Prince, Ge Hanzhang's expression relaxed a little, and he patiently comforted him for a while.
Although the Ninth Prince is Gu Shichong's brother, Ge Hanzhang has a different attitude towards him. After all, the Ninth Prince also has the blood of their Ge family flowing in his body. After getting rid of Gu Shichong, this child will be the most suitable puppet.
As they were talking, Xiao Weizi came up with a bowl and said, "Ninth Prince, it's time for you to take your medicine."
The Ninth Prince covered his mouth and nose: "No, it's too bitter."
Looking at the steaming medicine soup, Ge Hanzhang asked Xiao Weizi, "What kind of medicine is this?"
Little Weizi replied, "My Lord, the Ninth Prince suffers from recurring nightmares and cannot sleep at night. This is the tranquilizer the Imperial Physician prescribed. It must be taken three times a day. I dare not neglect it."
After saying this, he looked embarrassed again: "Your Highness is young, please advise me, Your Highness. Perhaps Your Highness is willing to listen to your advice."
The medicine was pitch black, with a sour and bitter smell, and ripples appeared on the table. Ge Hanzhang looked at it, and his heart suddenly sank... Looking at this bowl of medicine at this moment, he felt like he was facing a bottomless pool of water.
He reached out to pick up the bowl of medicine, but Madam Ge grabbed his sleeve. Her face was solemn: "Duke..."
A few people did not notice that Xue Zhiyi and Huo Wuyou were quietly observing them at this moment.
The two of them were very close. Xue Zhiyi covered his lips with his round fan and whispered, "Do you also feel something is wrong?"
"I can't say." Huo Wuyou clenched his fist and pressed it against his lips, making it impossible to make out his mouth shape. "I'm wondering what evidence Your Majesty intends to use to get rid of the Ge family. It shouldn't be something so ruthless, but..."
"But I also feel that even if His Majesty is as vicious as you guessed, it is not impossible, right?" Xue Zhiyi looked at him.
They looked away and exchanged a glance, but didn't say anything.
Xue Zhiyi suddenly asked, "You sent people to secretly monitor Gu Shichong's actions. Did you gain anything?"
At this moment, Chuizhu and a group of young eunuchs entered the hall holding wine vessels with lowered brows and eyes. He placed the wine vessels on the table in front of Xue Zhiyi and Huo Wuyou. A piece of paper was quietly pressed under the wine pot. Then, like the other eunuchs, he poured wine for the two of them in an orderly manner.
"Isn't it here?" Huo Wuyou said, quickly hiding the note in his sleeve, and unfolding the palm-sized note under the cover of the table.
With the help of the hanging beads, Xue Zhiyi glanced at the note.
At just one glance, the pupils of both of them were shocked.
Huo Wuyou crumpled the paper into a ball and hid it in his palm.
——After Gu Shichong handed a packet of medicine to an imperial physician, the imperial physician put the powder into the medicine for the ninth prince.
In other words, the medicine in Duke Dingguo's hand at the moment had actually been tampered with by Gu Shichong!
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