She seemed to recall something, her eyelashes trembling, and then she continued, "That person kept chanting 'corpse poison'. I would hear it occasionally when I was awake... I also saw her write it on a piece of paper once, but she burned the paper soon after."

"But I don't know what's going on. I just think that if she cares so much about it, it must be very important. It's better to tell you."

Shen Qianchen's eyes became unusually deep, and he stood there in a daze. His eyes seemed to be looking at Chu Qianhuang, but also seemed to pass through Chu Qianhuang and land on some empty point.

At this moment, Chu Qianhuang felt that Shen Qianchen was clearly here, but also seemed not to be here.

Shen Qianchen didn't say anything else. He just turned around silently and walked out, looking absent-minded.

After going out, Shen Zhi's concerned eyes met her: "Sister Chen?"

Shen Qianchen couldn't even say a polite word like "I'm fine" and said, "Mom, you can talk to Big Sister here. I'll be out for a while."

"Go ahead. Don't worry about me." Shen Zhi said considerately.

Shen Qianchen forced a smile, hurriedly left Jingren Palace, and rushed to the imperial study as quickly as possible.

"Madam, you came at a good time," Jingfeng came up to greet her with a smile, "Master Jiu just came down from court, and he's inside."

Jingfeng only led Shen Qianchen to the door, opened the curtain for her, and did not go in himself to avoid being annoying.

There was only Gu Jue and a cat inside.

As soon as Shen Qianchen entered, the young man and the cat on the desk looked at her.

Shen Qianchen pursed her lips and rushed towards Gu Jue without saying a word, staring at him with burning eyes, completely unaware of the black cat on the desk.

Gu Jue's eyelashes twitched slightly, and he could see that beneath the seemingly calm appearance of the little girl, there was a frightened soul.

"Come here!" Gu Jue stretched out his arms and embraced her, letting her sit on his lap.

His little girl has always been very cautious in her behavior. Even if Gu Jue didn't ask, she knew that the only thing that could make her so flustered was him.

"What's wrong?" Gu Jue asked softly, his voice so gentle that it seemed to drip water.

Shen Qianchen pulled his left wrist silently, and pressed the pulse on his wrist with his slender jade fingers again.

The familiar pulse came from under the fingertips again.

His heart pulse was still weak, and the toxins in his body were very faint, just like a very thin strand of silk hidden in a strand of cotton thread, so fine that it was difficult to detect.

That’s right, it’s corpse poison.

If she hadn't considered the corpse poison now, she would not have been able to detect this trace of corpse poison as thin as a silk thread.

It was her negligence! In this life, when she found out that Gu Jue was not poisoned and his hidden injuries were not as serious as in his previous life, she was so happy that she focused all her attention on the small piece of blade in his chest.

In fact, it was because Gu Jue had a hidden injury that his heart pulse was weak, which made her ignore the extremely subtle change in his pulse. It was her fault. She relied too blindly on what she knew in her previous life, which led to her carelessness and loss of Jingzhou, and she missed the corpse poison in his body.

For a healthy person, this amount of corpse poison is like a small ant, insignificant. But the horror of corpse poison lies in the fact that as long as the human body is a little bit weak, it will have an opportunity to take advantage of it, just like termites eating away at a thriving tree bit by bit.

It was not until this moment that Shen Qianchen confirmed that Gu Jue died of poison in his previous life not because of poisoning by someone, but because of corpse poison.

Thinking of this, Shen Qianchen's eyebrows twitched, his eyes still fixed on Gu Jue, a tiny crack seemed to appear in his dark pupils, his gaze became deeper and more complicated.

Gu Jue noticed the change in Shen Qianchen's expression and asked softly, "Is there anything wrong with my pulse?"

His tone was gentle and calm, as if the vast and boundless blue sky could accommodate everything.

Shen Qianchen blinked, and blinked again, his eyes slightly moist, sparkling with crystal tears.

Normally, this pair of clear and bright phoenix eyes with distinct black and white always reveal a kind of confidence that everything is under control, but now these eyes look aggrieved and pitiful.

She trembled softly and said, "I...I didn't even realize that you were poisoned by the corpse."

She had studied medicine for two lifetimes. In order to accumulate experience and to do good deeds for Gu Jue, she saved so many people. Others praised her for her superb medical skills, but she neglected the most important person to her.

If it was Master Lin Miao, he would have discovered the corpse poison in Gu Jue's body long ago.

"Corpse poison?" Gu Jue asked calmly, raising his eyebrows slightly.

Shen Qianchen pinched the corner of his sleeve with one hand, took a deep breath, and explained in a slightly difficult voice: "Corpse poison, as the name suggests, is the poison hidden in the corpse."

"There are many dead bodies on the battlefield. When the bodies decay, it is easy for various toxins to be produced. Especially when the weather is the hottest, the bodies decay faster and this is also the time when the corpse poison grows the fastest."

"Many corpse poisons are very contagious and corrosive. Human skin is relatively thin. When the body is weak or there are wounds on the skin, it is easy to be infected by corpse poison... The weaker the body, the faster the corpse poison spreads."

For most ordinary people, as long as they clean their skin in time after touching the corpse, most of the corpse poison will not have much impact on them.

If Gu Jue was a general who could only command the army in the rear, far away from the battlefield, then he would not have been infected with the corpse poison; if Gu Jue had no hidden injuries, then the tiny bit of corpse poison he had contracted in the north would have been like a minor cold, and he would have recovered long ago.

The problem was that Gu Jue was seriously injured in the north. Before he returned to the capital in triumph, the hidden injury had tormented him for two whole years. Because of his weak body, the corpse poison could penetrate into his lungs and accumulate in his body over time.

Shen Qianchen couldn't help but think of his past life.

In his previous life, after Gu Jue returned to Beijing, his health deteriorated and he was completely unable to suppress the corpse poison. The outbreak of the corpse poison damaged his heart meridians and devoured his body bit by bit.

As a result, Gu Jue's body collapsed faster, as if he had entered a vicious cycle, and in the end, he would die of old age.

At that time, she watched helplessly as Gu Jue became weaker day by day in front of her eyes;

Watching him getting thinner and thinner;

Watching him gasp after taking a few steps off the couch;

Later, he couldn't even pick up the chess pieces. Even when they played chess, he dictated and she made the moves.

Shen Qianchen felt a sharp pain in his heart.

Every time she recalled the days before his death in her previous life, she felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife, her eyes were slightly red, and tears were about to fall.

Gu Jue still had one hand on her slender waist, and with the other hand he used his fingertips to wipe away the tears from her eyelashes. He asked softly, "So, I am suffering from the poison in my heart. Am I going to die?"

Shen Qianchen's eyes suddenly widened, as if he had said something that deserved to be struck by lightning, and he shook his head vigorously: "Of course not."

Gu Jue curled his lips slightly and asked, "If I didn't have you, what would I be like now?"

Although Gu Jue did not know medicine, he was quick-witted and understood the key after a little thought.

Before he met Shen Qianchen, the hidden injuries in his body made his health deteriorate. Although Su Mubai, Yun Zhan and others searched for famous doctors for him, every famous doctor said that they were powerless and said that perhaps only the miracle doctor Lin Miao could save him, otherwise he would not live more than two years.

However, Lin Miao's whereabouts are erratic. I heard that he has been in Nanhao for the past two years. Nanhao is not the territory of Da Qi, so it would take a lot of effort to find him, and it would take at least a year or two to find him.

Given his hidden injuries, if he had not met Shen Qianchen, by now his corpse poison would have probably already invaded his heart meridians, making him incurable. In another year or two, he would be on the verge of death.

Gu Jue actually judged the last point from Shen Qianchen's panic at the moment.

If it does not concern you, you will cause chaos.

This is what she was afraid of, afraid that he would die.

"You saved me!" Gu Jue's thumb gently stroked her lower eyelid, wiping away the tears that were overflowing from her eyes.

Yes, she saved him.

Because he met her after returning to Beijing last year. She gave him medicine and acupuncture to help him recover little by little. Outsiders didn't know, but Gu Jue knew best that she had dragged him out of the dead end little by little.

She helped him remove the piece of iron that was buried in his body. She allowed him to ride a horse, pull a bow, and swing a sword at will. She made his body healthy again, so he could suppress the corpse poison in his body and it didn't become serious enough to invade his heart meridians.

Gu Jue placed one of Shen Qianchen's hands on his chest, allowing her to feel his strong heartbeat beneath his chest.

Boom, boom, boom! The strong heartbeat told her again and again that he was still alive.

"Jiu Xia." Shen Qianchen pressed his palm against his chest even harder, and his eyes became redder.

She knew that even if he could suppress the corpse poison now, it didn't mean that he could coexist with the corpse poison. It was just that the corpse poison would act more slowly. The corpse poison was still quietly corroding his heart meridians.

Even more so, the next time he gets injured or seriously ill, this trace of corpse poison will use Gu Jue's flesh and blood as nutrients to rapidly expand...

If she had not discovered it today, and had allowed the corpse poison to run rampant day by day, when one day Gu Jue's heart meridians were severely damaged and the corpse poison worsened, it would be very likely that the situation would develop into the same as in the previous life.

By then the poison has entered the heart meridians and even gods cannot save you.

She would once again face the despair of her previous life, watching Gu Jue gradually become weaker and sicker, until his life was exhausted...

And now, it’s not too late.

After the extreme fear, Shen Qianchen's heart finally began to calm down, and he couldn't stop feeling grateful.

If she finds out after another year or so, then...

She simply didn't dare to imagine any further.

Shen Qianchen adjusted her position on Gu Jue's thigh and turned sideways. She wrapped her arms tightly around his thin waist, rubbed her face against him first, then put one ear against his chest, closed her eyes, and listened to his heartbeat.

"Meow?"

The black cat on the desk did not leave. It tilted its round face and looked at the two two-legged beasts stuck together in front of it, with a look of confusion.

Shen Qianchen ignored the cat, still closing his eyes, and muttered to himself: "Not bad."

Shen Qianchen sighed with relief in his heart again, and recalled the conversation he had with "Chu Qianhuang" at Baiyun Temple yesterday.

It was not until this moment that Shen Qianchen figured out the cause and effect of it, why "that Chu Qianhuang" was confident that she could escape, and why she felt that Wuhejia Tower could be her support.

This kind of corpse poison is too hidden. If Shen Qianchen didn't notice that Gu Jue was infected with the corpse poison this time, then within a year and a half at the shortest, or three to five years at the longest, the corpse poison in Gu Jue's body would be incurable.

Once Gu Jue dies, who will be able to hold on to the throne of Da Qi? !

Gu Nanjin is too weak, and his younger brothers are all unable to bear the throne. By then, the Great Qi will be leaderless and will inevitably decline gradually like in the previous life.

Then, the situation in the Central Plains should develop as "that Chu Qianhuang" knows, and finally Wuhejialou will lead his troops north to unify the world from north to south.

If I had been a little more careless and hadn't noticed that something was wrong with "Chu Qianhuang", everything that would have developed next would have been as "Chu Qianhuang" had expected.

Just thinking about it, Shen Qianchen still felt a lingering fear.

This incident also sounded a wake-up call for Shen Qianchen. She claimed to have experiences from her previous life and she claimed to have excellent medical skills, but she was a human being after all, not a god, and her cognition was ultimately limited.

If there hadn't been Master Juehui, if there hadn't been "that Chu Qianhuang", she would probably have made the biggest mistake of her life and would not have been able to save the person she wanted to save the most.

Gu Jue gently stroked her back with his right palm, as if he was stroking a lazy cat, with gentle movements and a slow rhythm.

He lowered his eyes to look at her little face pressed against his chest, and the tenderness in his heart was so full that it overflowed.

Once upon a time, Gu Jue went to the north to join the army at the age of fifteen, with the determination to return home wrapped in his horse's hide. As a prince, he was born noble and enjoyed rights and wealth that ordinary people could not enjoy. But along with that, he also had to shoulder his responsibilities.

So, he resolutely went to the north.

During those years in the north, even during those two years when he was tortured by hidden injuries, he could tell the world frankly that he was not afraid of death, he was worthy of his father, worthy of his comrades in the army, and worthy of the world.

But now it's different.

In just one year, his world has changed dramatically because of her arrival.

Now he is afraid of death and does not want to die.

If he died, what would happen to this little girl? He knew she was strong and would not be so fragile that she could not live because of his death, but she was too stubborn. She would never forget him and would never get over his death.

He didn't want his little girl to live with despair; she should live a carefree and unrestrained life.

So he asked her, "Can it be cured?"

Shen Qianchen suddenly opened his eyes and nodded firmly at him: "Yes!!"

She answered decisively.

Of course it can be cured.

Gu Jue would never leave her like he did in the previous life.

She would tie him tightly to her with her hands.

Shen Qianchen stared at him with the eyes of a little leopard looking at its prey, so focused and so greedy.

Seeing that she was in good spirits again, Gu Jue's eyes softened and he said, "Then treat her."

"Don't cry, dear."

The last word "good" was spoken in a very tender and moving way.

Did she cry? Shen Qianchen blinked, and then he noticed that Gu Jue's chest was wet from her crying, and then he realized that there were tears on her eyelashes, and then he felt a wet and sticky feeling on his face.

She cried so hard that tears covered her face.

Gu Jue took out a frosty white handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and cheeks.

Shen Qianchen seldom cries, and her tears are probably left in the Chu family of her previous life.

In her previous life, ever since she followed Gu Jue, she had a goal in life. She wanted to become Gu Jue's helper like Su Mubai, Xue Fengyan, Mo Chen and others.

She no longer had time to be weak.

Even when Gu Jue died in her previous life, she didn't cry because she didn't want him to worry about her.

The first time she cried in this life was at dawn on the third day of the first lunar month. When Gu Jue woke up because the effect of Ma Fei San had worn off, she cried out of joy.

This is the second time.

Because of fear, but also because of joy.

She can save Gu Jue, and God still favors her.

Shen Qianchen curved her lips and smiled, her mood began to calm down. She raised her little face slightly and cooperated with his actions, letting him help her wipe her tears.

After he wiped her tears, he lowered his head and gently kissed her eyes, again and again.

Her eyes, which had just cried, were surprisingly sensitive. Shen Qianchen felt that his two kisses seemed to be ironing her heart through the thin eyelids.

She liked the feeling of being cherished and comforted by him, and her body began to feel a tingling sensation that spread to her fingertips and made her tremble slightly.

After Gu Jue kissed her eyelids, he restrained himself and stepped back, continuing to stroke her back with his hands.

The room fell silent; silence was better than words at this moment.

The black cat couldn't bear to watch it anymore and ran away with a meow.

Shen Qianchen rubbed his forehead against Gu Jue's shoulder again, and said, "Mother went to Jingren Palace to see Big Sister, and she said that Big Sister is really back."

"That lonely ghost has disappeared. I want my mother to take my elder sister back."

What she meant was not to let Chu Qianhuang return to the Chu family, and to let her stay with Shen Zhi and Shen Yunmu in the future.

Gu Jue always followed Shen Qianchen on these unimportant matters.

Anyway, to be honest, "that Chu Qianhuang" didn't break any laws, didn't need to be tried, and there were no victims waiting for an explanation. Especially now that the real Chu Qianhuang has returned, he is no longer the same as the previous "that Chu Qianhuang".

What made Gu Jue feel more difficult was the soft and fragrant girl in his arms. His little girl was so fragrant and soft, as if the wind would turn into sweet honey in his arms, filling his arms with a subtle fragrance.

His body tensed slightly, but the little girl was still unaware. She moved restlessly on his legs and said seriously, "Jiu Xia, I will continue to practice medicine at Jishiditang in the future."

Life is like rowing against the current, if you don’t move forward you will fall behind, and the same is true for studying medicine.

She doesn't have a compassionate heart, but she has benevolent skills. She wants to continue practicing medicine because she wants to accumulate virtue for Gu Jue. She has changed Gu Jue's fate, and she is always afraid that Gu Jue will pay a price for it.

The sea of ​​medicine is endless. She continued to practice medicine. Saving lives was also a way of learning. The accumulated experience would always help the people she wanted to help when she needed it one day, Gu Jue, Shen Zhi, Shen Yunmu, Chu Yunyi...

She is a very selfish person, and her heart is actually very small...

"Well." Gu Jue smiled and said, "Just do whatever you want to do."

He never intended to imprison her in the birdcage of the palace. He ascended the throne because the situation pushed him to this position, and also because he wanted the people under his wings to not have to look ahead and behind, and not be restricted by others, so that they can live more freely.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Shen Qianchen hugged Gu Jue again, buried his face in her arms, and said in a vague and coquettish voice: "Jiu Xia, you are so nice."

She lowered her head and didn't notice that his eyes were getting hotter and hotter, but she felt that his body seemed a little hot.

Is he having a fever? ! Shen Qianchen was just thinking about whether to test the temperature of his forehead when he heard Jingfeng's dry cough clearing his throat from outside the door curtain: "Ahem, Master Jiu, the Minister of Rites and the Left Vice Minister want to see you."

If the person who came was not the Minister of Rites, and it was not in broad daylight, Jingfeng would have wanted to send these people away who did not know how to choose the time. He did not think that it was almost noon, and choosing this time to come to see the emperor would not allow people to have a good lunch.

Seeing that Gu Jue was busy, Shen Qianchen jumped off his lap and planned to leave the imperial study. Shen Qianchen had now come to her senses from her previous depression, and when she recalled how she had just cried like a child in front of Gu Jue, she felt a little embarrassed.

Who would have thought that Gu Jue would grab her sleeve and stop her from leaving: "You should listen to it too."

Shen Qianchen knew what Gu Jue meant, that this matter was also related to her.

于是，她就乖乖地挑了个窗边的位置坐下了，趁着杨玄善他们没进来前，先用温热的布帕擦了擦眼睛，又抹了自己制的香膏。

等杨玄善与礼部左侍郎进来时，沈千尘的眼睛已经恢复如常，根本就看不出她刚刚哭过一回。

杨玄善与礼部左侍郎给帝后行了礼后，就说起了正事：“皇上，钦天监已经给祭天仪式算了几个吉日，分别是六月初一，初五，十五……请皇上择一个日期吧。”

祭天仪式是大齐朝的一个大日子。

每一任帝王在登基时，都会祭天，既是祈求上天保佑风调雨顺、丰衣足食，也是告知天地新帝登基了，仪式十分隆重。

对于沈千尘也在这里，杨玄善早就见怪不怪了，神色如常，一点也不避讳。

顾玦看了下礼部递上来的折子，随便勾了个就近的日子：“那就六月初一吧。”

杨玄善又继续说起当天的一些仪制：“祭天礼的过程包括迎神、行礼、进俎、初献、亚献、终献等等，皇上与皇后娘娘需要提前三天沐浴斋戒……”

“……”

“从皇宫出发开始算，到祭天仪式结束，整个过程大概需要两个时辰。”

其实，关于祭天仪式的要点都已经写在这封折子里了，可杨玄善还是详详细细地说了一遍，他也是因为登基大典被顾玦折腾怕了，生怕这位新帝又提出什么非常规的建议，所以还是早点把仪制说清楚得好，新帝要改，那就赶紧改。

杨玄善说得这些实在是太过乏味，沈千尘听得心不在焉，反正在祭天仪式前自有宫中的嬷嬷会教她这些礼节，她也不用记得那么清楚。

整个过程出乎杨玄善意料的顺利，他做好了被顾玦挑剔的心理准备，甚至还提前做了好几种应对方案，然而，这一次顾玦一个毛病也没挑，又问了下沈千尘的意思后，全都批复了。

等杨玄善从御书房出去时，人还有些晕乎乎的，暗暗地捏了自己的大腿一把。

杨玄善他们一走，沈千尘也迫不及待地跑了，只丢下一句：“我还有事。”

顾玦含笑看着沈千尘离开的背影，目光温和。

几缕阳光从窗外照了进来，洒在他的身上，映得他眉眼昳丽，气度高华，如诗如画般，让人觉得可望而不可即。

他的目光始终追逐着少女的身影，让他那种清冷的气质柔和了几分。

沈千尘离开御书房后，没去景仁宫，而是往南门方向去了，吩咐琥珀道：“琥珀，你亲自跑一趟景仁宫，去给我娘传话，让她把楚千凰带回去吧。还有，我过两天出宫去看他们。”

琥珀一一应下，与沈千尘分道而走，往西去了景仁宫。

至于沈千尘带着江沅从午门出宫一路往南，去了一趟大明门附近的太医院。

她的出现令太医院都沸腾了，从太医令到下头的一群太医全都来相迎，心里是惊疑不定，各种揣测爬上他们的心头。

在众太医忐忑不安的目光中，沈千尘令人笔墨伺候，斟酌了一番后，她开了一张方子，让他们按这个来抓药。

太医们再次傻眼了，整个太医院的太医其实都心知肚明皇后就是济世堂的那个神医，只是谁也不敢往外说而已。

让他们想不明白的是，如果皇后需要抓药，让她的亲信直接拿方子过来太医院不就行了，他们可以按方子抓药，再亲自把药送到宫中去，皇后又何必亲自跑一趟呢。

也没人敢问，由太医令亲自去给沈千尘抓的药，又由两个太医把药仔细地包好，他们把平日里药童的差事也都包揽了过来。

直到沈千尘一炷香后离开太医院，一众太医仍然感觉脚下发虚，一头雾水，围在一起猜测着皇后开的这方子到底是治什么病的。

沈千尘再回到皇宫时，已经是午时三刻了，沈芷与楚千凰已经走了。

沈千尘让人往沈宅送了些点心以及几筐荔枝，就埋头忙了起来，她要给顾玦熬药，还要试礼部送来的大礼服，这大礼服是祭天仪式当日穿的。

等沈千尘试完了大礼服，天色已经是黄昏了，顾玦也回来了。

“快喝药。”沈千尘看到他的第一句就是这三个字，还亲自把汤药帮他吹了吹汤药，又小心翼翼地把药碗送到他手中。

顾玦很听话，一口气就把碗里的汤药一饮而尽。

“乖！”沈千尘亲眼看着他喝下，眉目都舒展了开来，等他喝完，又往他嘴里塞了一颗玫瑰糖。

一旦确认是尸毒，对于沈千尘来说，其实并不难治，最难的一步是确认尸毒的过程，以及确认尸毒的种类。

沈千尘接着又道：“脱衣裳。”

顾玦：“……”

顾玦静静地看着她。

沈千尘怔了怔，这才迟钝地意识到她说的话似乎有歧义，急忙补充道：“我给你行针。”

关于顾玦的治疗方案，沈千尘已经都想好了。尸毒虽然轻微，但是慢性毒，所以治疗起来也比急性的毒更费时，要完全拔除毒素，需要花一点功夫。

“当然。”顾玦轻轻地笑了笑，慢吞吞地去解束腰的绦带。

沈千尘莫名地从他这两个字中听出了一分戏谑，耳根微烫，气势高昂地梗着脖子道：“还有，罢朝三天。”

“好。”顾玦二话不说地又应了，“就罢朝到祭天那天吧。”

今天是五月二十二，距离祭天仪式还有八天，也就是说，顾玦可以好好休息八天了。

对此，楚千尘十分满意，把方才被他调笑的那一点点的赧然抛诸脑后。

“这样好！就这样！”她拍案下了决定，抿唇一笑，笑容又娇又甜，一双眼眸亮晶晶的。

哄他的小姑娘最重要。顾玦在心里道，对即将操劳的内阁大臣们毫无愧疚之心。

当天，他就让人拟旨，对外的说辞是接下来的几天罢朝，帝后要为祭天仪式斋戒。

祭天前的斋戒一直都是很重要的，不止是帝后，整个京城从勋贵朝臣到文人举子再到那些平民百姓也都在为了祭天而斋戒。

原本就处于国丧中的京城显得既冷清又隆重，街道上的那些酒楼、戏园子、百戏班子依旧是闭门不开，也就是那些文人学子得了马上要科举的消息，出入茶馆、书肆的读书人变多了。

楚云逸策马缓行于京城的街道上，心事重重，后方的小厮欲言又止，想劝，最终还是没劝，跟着他一起来到了京兆府大牢外。

照规矩，关在牢里的犯人是不可以随意探视的。

但谁都知道楚云逸是皇后的亲弟弟，还以庶子之身被封了永定侯，可见帝后对其的看重，楚云逸想见关在牢里的一个女犯，牢头自然是通融了，甚至不用去特意请示京兆尹。

天牢里的空气很阴冷，带着一股子难闻的霉味。

这不是楚云逸第一次来大牢，却是第一次来这种地方探望自己的生母。

直到白云寺的那日，楚云逸才知道原来姜姨娘在他不知道的时候自以为为他好地做了这么多的事，犯了那么多错……

某间牢房里，一个身着柳色衣裙的女子形貌憔悴，但是，她的头发依旧梳得整整齐齐，屈膝坐在一块破旧的草席上，背靠在墙。

她原本闭着眼，当她听到外面的脚步声临近时，猛地张开了眼，目光恰好对上了牢房外的少年。

“逸哥儿！”

姜姨娘原本如死灰般的眼眸在看到楚云逸的那一瞬绽放出异常明亮的神采。

她从草席上站了起来，快步抓住了牢房的木栏杆，目光痴痴地看着楚云逸，泪水汹涌地盈满了她的眼眶，从眼角淌落下来……

“你不用在意我，我这一辈子，值了。”姜姨娘哽咽地说道，眼睛越发明亮，恨不得把楚云逸的样子深深地铭刻在心中。

她还以为她这辈子都见不到楚云逸了，能再见他一面，她再无遗憾了。

她已经为楚云逸扫平了所有的障碍，太夫人、楚令霄、楚令宇和楚千凰全都不能再妨碍楚云逸的前程了！ 楚云逸用一种陌生的眼神看着与他相隔不足三尺的姜姨娘。

从知道沈千尘是沈芷亲女的那一刻起，楚云逸就已经知道了一件事，他的姨娘没有他过去以为的那么柔弱单纯。

但是，他还是没想到姜姨娘心可以狠到这个地步，可以犯下这么一连串的大罪，以“为了他”的名义。

楚云逸面无表情地站在那里，双拳在体侧紧紧地握成了拳头。

他深吸两口气，努力平稳着语调，徐徐地问道：“那么，姨娘有没有想过我呢？”

“我想要你不择手段得来的爵位吗？”

“我一心想要靠自己的本事来搏前程，姨娘你知道吗？”

“你什么都不知道，却自以为，你一心为‘我’好。”

“姨娘，你真以为我现在拥有的一切都是你的‘牺牲’换来的吗？”

Chu Yunyi asked Aunt Jiang several questions in a row, but Aunt Jiang did not answer them. She answered irrelevantly: "Brother Yi, you have grown up, and I am very happy."

Her brother Yi has always been a bright and cheerful child. If she doesn't help him fight for it, he will just give up the title to Shen Yunmu and the second wife.

Even though Aunt Jiang didn't say it, Chu Yunyi could still see that this was what she thought in her heart.

Chu Yunyi closed his eyes with some difficulty and said in a tired voice, "You are wrong. I am where I am now because I have a sister who cares about me."

Aunt Jiang knew that Chu Yunyi was talking about Shen Qianchen, and she didn't take it seriously. If Shen Zhi hadn't taken Shen Yunmu away, Shen Qianchen would definitely give the title of Yongding Hou to Shen Yunmu.

Chu Yunyi continued, "Because of my sister, I was able to join the Xuanjia Army, receive instruction from my brother-in-law, and have the opportunity to hone myself. Otherwise, I would just be a delicate flower in a greenhouse, and I would not be who I am now."

"If I had been content with my current situation because I was admitted to the Imperial College's military department, do you think my brother-in-law would have given me the title?"

Chu Yunyi sharply tore a hole in Aunt Jiang's "self-righteousness" and made her face the truth.

Aunt Jiang wanted to say that it was because Chu Yunyi was ambitious that Gu Jue appreciated his character and talent, but before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by Chu Yunyi: "Aunt, do you think I'm a good person? But there are many people like me in the Imperial Academy, and there are countless in the various states of Da Qi. Why should my brother-in-law give me a chance?"

"Because of my sister, I was able to catch my brother-in-law's eye."

Chu Yunyi is self-aware. Over the past year, he has realized how high the sky is and how deep the earth is. There are many young talents in this world, but only a handful of them can be called geniuses with extraordinary talents.

If one wants to stand out among countless talented people, hard work is important, but luck is also important. His luck is his sister, which gives him opportunities that ordinary people cannot even reach.

For example, if you want to be a civil official, you have to take the imperial examination to become a Jinshi. Then you have to start from being a Tongsheng, and after passing the Xiucai and Juren examinations, you can take the Jinshi examination. So many scholars have to stand out from thousands of people before you can become a Juren, and it is even more difficult to become a Jinshi.

The same is true for military generals.

There is no such thing as easy success in this world! ! Aunt Jiang was in a trance, her lips trembled slightly, and her faith seemed to have a crack, and it was in danger.

Chu Yunyi finally said: "Aunt, you are wrong. I don't rely on you for everything I have now."

Aunt Jiang seemed to hear the sound of something breaking. Her lips became paler and she trembled even more violently.

"No, no..." she murmured, not knowing whether she was trying to convince herself or Chu Yunyi.

Chu Yunyi said everything he needed to say. He did not stay any longer and just said, "Aunt, I'm leaving."

"Brother Yi!" Aunt Jiang grasped the wooden railings tightly with both hands, trying to call Chu Yunyi, but Chu Yunyi did not stop or look back, and strode out of the cell.

No matter what the Jingzhao Yin decides, that is the punishment that Aunt Jiang deserves. He will not plead for her. All he can do is to atone for the mistakes she has made.

When I came out of the dark cell, the sunlight outside that was shining directly into my eyes seemed particularly dazzling.

The servant was already sweating profusely waiting at the prison gate, feeling somewhat worried, and called out, "My Lord?"

"Go back."

Chu Yunyi said lightly, took the reins handed to him by the servant, and climbed onto the horse swiftly.

The servant was stunned and forgot to get on his horse for a moment.

He looked up at Chu Yunyi on his horse and felt that after visiting Aunt Jiang, his whole body seemed to have been cleansed and his muscles strengthened. He became more mature and calmer, like a child who had suddenly grown up.

The boy, who was only thirteen years old, had a subtle temperament between adolescence and youth, far more prominent and outstanding than his peers.

Chu Yunyi rode away on his horse, his eyes clear and bright.

Stepmother Shen Zhi was right. People did not have the right to choose their parents. This was true for everyone. He had no right to feel sorry for himself or complain about himself. He still had a lot of things to do.

He wants to support the Chu family, and he and his younger brother Shen Yunmu must become their sister's support.

He got his current opportunity because of his sister, but he can make himself good enough, so good that no one will question his achievements in the future, just like his brother-in-law.

The horse's hooves were flying, and Chu Yunyi's heart became open as the horse galloped.

The snow-white horse galloped freely on the empty street and soon returned to Songhe Street where the Yongding Marquis Mansion was located.

Before he knocked on the door, he had already alerted the concierge, and someone shouted, "The Marquis is back!"

The door of the marquis's mansion was opened immediately, and the servants bowed their heads to greet him, calling him "Marquis".

Chu Yunyi strode in with his head held high, his posture straight and his steps firm.

As the head of a family, you must be able to take responsibility for it.

Not only does one have to have enough food and clothing, but one also has to restrain one's family. However, if one person makes a mistake, all will prosper together and if one person makes a mistake, the whole family will be affected.

Chu Yunyi felt that the burden on his shoulders was heavier.

But at the same time, he became more determined.

(End of this chapter)