The carriage bumped along the way.
Gu Jingchun was used to riding in a spacious and stable carriage.
Now, sitting in the carriage of the Marquis of Yong'an's residence, he was so dizzy from the shaking that he not only failed to get a proper rest, but his complexion also became even worse.
Finally, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
Gu Jingchun breathed a sigh of relief and, with Lanxin's help, slowly stepped down from the carriage.
She looked up at the magnificent palace before her, with its red walls and yellow tiles, flying eaves and brackets, carved beams and painted rafters, every detail showcasing the majesty and luxury of the royal family.
The palaces in the distance are layered upon layered, stretching as far as the eye can see, like a mysterious labyrinth.
Just like Gu Jingchun in his previous life, once he entered this palace gate, he was trapped in a small palace inside for the rest of his life.
Now that she's back, she won't go down that path again, and she'll make Gu Yunjin experience the same kind of imprisonment and beatings.
"snort!"
After Chu Qianlan got out of the car, she saw Gu Jingchun staring blankly at the palace and couldn't help but snort coldly.
"Take your shocked look away and look down at me."
As Chu Qianlan spoke, she looked approvingly at Gu Yunjin, whom she had raised.
She wore a newly made light pink brocade robe, which made her look dignified, beautiful, and graceful.
Even at the palace gates, she stood beside Chu Qianlan with neither arrogance nor servility, displaying the demeanor of a noble lady from a prominent family.
She approved in her heart, then turned to look at Gu Jingchun and muttered something under her breath.
"Keep up."
"Don't look around, and don't act like a petty, low-class person, or you'll become a laughingstock."
With that, he led his men inside.
Led by a young eunuch, they passed through the long vermilion palace walls and finally stopped at a magnificent palace.
This is the Shou Kang Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided.
Gu Jingchun walked over here and couldn't help but look up for another second.
The Empress Dowager of the Great Cheng Kingdom was also a legendary figure.
Back then, she personally donned armor and led troops into battle.
On the battlefield, she always took the lead and charged ahead, striking fear into the hearts of enemies within a hundred miles.
She is a true woman who is just as capable as any man.
It can be said that she was responsible for half of the great empire that Dacheng possessed.
After the country was initially settled, the Empress Dowager assisted the Emperor in ascending the throne. She single-handedly managed the inner palace, acting decisively and strictly disciplining herself, which completely relieved the Emperor of any worries.
Therefore, even though she is now in her sixties and never gets involved in politics, the Emperor does not dare to underestimate her in the slightest.
Gu Jingchun held this Empress Dowager in high esteem.
Besides these things, it was also because in her previous life, the Empress Dowager was one of the few people who truly cared about her.
Back then, she was beaten and bruised all over by the Third Prince. It was the Empress Dowager who, upon learning the news, personally brought the imperial physicians to treat her.
Therefore, she also gave the Third Prince a severe lesson.
The Third Prince was reprimanded by her. Even if he was dull-witted, he knew he had made a mistake and didn't dare to utter a sound.
After that, the Third Prince hit her much less often.
Unfortunately, her good fortune didn't last long, and the Third Prince started beating her again after going out one of his outings.
He ordered his men to heat the iron hooks until they were red-hot, then had them pierce her shoulder blades and hang her up.
She screamed in pain, while the Third Prince clapped his hands with childlike joy.
"This is so much fun! Just as Yun Jin said, she can sing."
"Her voice is so beautiful, I want to hear it again."
As soon as she finished speaking, a whip would fall on her body.
It was then that Gu Jingchun learned that the reason the Third Prince hit her was because Gu Yunjin was secretly interfering.
Now, fate has given her a second chance.
Then she would also let Gu Yunjin taste what it felt like to have her butterfly bone pierced.
In her past life, she had tasted pain and suffering; this time, she would make them pay back tenfold.
And this time, it's the first "gift" she prepared for her.
At this time, Shou Kang Palace was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Many noble ladies from prominent families gathered in twos and threes, chatting happily and having a great time.
And at the very moment Gu Jingchun stepped in.
The lively and bustling atmosphere seemed to be paused, and everyone's eyes turned to her.
Those gazes contained curiosity and inquiry, but even more so, undisguised contempt and disdain.
"Look, that's the one who grew up in the countryside of Gujia."
A noblewoman dressed in a pale yellow brocade robe covered her face with a handkerchief and spoke softly to the person beside her. Although her voice was low, it was enough for everyone around to hear.
Although Gu Jingchun was dressed simply, her face was stunning enough, and paired with her clothes, she had a unique and outstanding presence.
Even standing in a vibrant crowd, she couldn't outshine everyone else, instantly making those present envious.
Especially the young ladies from prominent families, whose handkerchiefs were all crumpled in their hands.
After all, others may not know the date, but those present know it all too well.
The Empress Dowager has always disliked ostentation, and the reason she has held such grand birthday banquets in the past two years is to select a Crown Princess for the Crown Prince.
Therefore, all the noble ladies put in their best efforts to dress up, hoping to catch the Crown Prince's eye at today's birthday banquet.
But now, out of nowhere, such a beautiful woman has appeared.
Although they all knew that Gu Jingchun was a widow, the Crown Prince would definitely look down on her.
But even so, she still managed to outshine everyone else.
This aroused public dissatisfaction.
"Hmph, this Lady of Yong'an is really laughable. This is the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. Does she think just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can come?"
Another woman, dressed in a long, bright red dress with gold embroidery, snorted softly, her eyes full of mockery.
"How dare she, a widowed woman, attend this banquet? Doesn't she fear that the Empress Dowager will find it unlucky and offend her?"
All of these words reached Gu Jingchun's ears.
Gu Jingchun walked through the crowd with an unperturbed expression, as if he hadn't heard anything.
But Chu Qianlan frowned deeply and subconsciously moved to one side, silently distancing herself from Gu Jingchun.
Gu Jingchun was like a monstrous flood, his face full of disgust.
Gu Jingchun shifted his gaze from Chu Qianlan's disdainful face to the main hall of Shou Kang Palace.
The Empress Dowager, who had shown her great kindness in her past life, was sitting there, and she couldn't wait to pay her respects.
Gu Yunjin noticed the disgust on Chu Qianlan's face and quickly stepped forward to take Chu Qianlan's hand.
"Mother, your hands are so cold, are you feeling cold?"
Gu Yunjin was previously groomed to be the Crown Princess, and the noble ladies of Tiandu all knew that the Emperor had previously intended for the Crown Prince to make the daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an his Crown Princess.
Therefore, at that time, all the noble ladies flocked to curry favor with Gu Yunjin.
Now, everyone knows that Gu Yunjin is not the biological daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an.
The noble ladies naturally knew that Gu Yunjin's marriage partner had changed from the Crown Prince to the mentally challenged Third Prince.
Therefore, she no longer posed a threat to the noble ladies.
Moreover, when they thought about Gu Yunjin's complicated background and her forced marriage to the Third Prince, they all felt sorry for her.
Naturally, her attitude towards her was better.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
