"Since she was a demon empress, she should not be buried in the imperial mausoleum after her death. Instead, she should be wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into a mass grave."
Outside the Cold Palace, Gu Qingling casually gave orders, which made Consort Rong's smile widen even more.
A figure darted out from the shadows and knelt before Gu Qingling.
"Your Majesty, my aunt is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Dingyuan and your birth mother. How can her body be left to rot in the wilderness? We beg you to issue an edict to bury my aunt in the imperial mausoleum."
Gu Qingyan kept kowtowing, and the ground was already stained with blood.
"You're just a member of the imperial clan, how dare you interfere with my elder brother's actions?" Gu Qingyao rebuked, hands on her hips, while Gu Qingfeng kicked the frail Gu Qingyan away.
“I lost both my father and mother at birth and was physically weak. If it weren’t for my aunt’s kindness and protection, which gave me the dignity of a member of the royal family, I wouldn’t be alive today.” Gu Qingyan’s eyes were bloodshot. “If I were to stand by and watch my aunt’s body exposed in the wilderness, I would go to hell even after I die.”
The next second, the Imperial Guards' swords were pointed at Gu Qingyan.
"My aunt took the blame for the Emperor's death and became a demon empress, and now she's ended up like this. Does she want the world to know that this emperor is an ungrateful wretch?"
Gu Qingyan laughed loudly, letting the swords pierce him. He was already like a drifting duckweed, so he might as well go with his aunt.
"Your Majesty, there is indeed a suitable candidate."
Prince Yu's voice brought Jiang Yu back to her senses, and Jiang Yu's hands under her sleeves slowly clenched into fists.
“The heir of the Prince of Xiang, Gu Qingyan, is only one year younger than His Highness the Crown Prince. I have heard that His Highness has taken good care of him before.” Prince Yu finally saw through Jiang Yu’s determination and did not hesitate. “The Prince of Xiang and his wife have both died, and now only Gu Qingyan remains in the Prince of Xiang’s mansion.”
Jiang Yu breathed a sigh of relief, suppressing her surging tears. "I saw that the Prince of Xiang, like myself, has been bedridden for many years, so I had to instruct people to take good care of him."
"inappropriate!"
Gu Heng suddenly spoke up, his unusual reaction drawing the attention of the others. "You are the Empress, how can you just adopt a member of the imperial family?"
Even Gu Qingling, who was kneeling on the ground, looked at Jiang Yu in disbelief. Did this woman really want to adopt someone else's child?
"Your Majesty has already conceded. If Your Majesty still does not agree, I request to be deposed as Empress and return to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence to live alone."
Jiang Yu looked indifferently at Gu Heng, her nominal husband, the person she had only shared a bed with for one night.
Gu Heng's eyes gradually sharpened. "Does the Empress truly intend to adopt Gu Qingyan?"
“Either you adopt Gu Qingyan to me, or you adopt the three Crown Princes to Consort Rong.” Jiang Yu was equally adamant.
The atmosphere became tense. Gu Heng's gaze was fixed on Jiang Yu, as if he wanted to see through her completely. The emperor and empress were at each other's throats, and the people around them dared not utter a sound.
Half an incense stick later, Gu Heng smiled strangely, "In that case, I will agree to the Empress's request."
After hearing Gu Heng's affirmative reply, Jiang Yu finally relaxed and fell into a coma.
The child who died while collecting her body, she would risk her life in this life to protect him and ensure his healthy growth.
Jiang Yu was unconscious for a full day and night. When she woke up, a thin, cat-like boy was kneeling beside her bed.
"Mother, it's time to take your medicine."
For some reason, upon hearing Gu Qingyan address her as "Mother," Jiang Yu felt an absurd sense of fulfillment in her life.
Seeing that Jiang Yu didn't respond for a long time, Gu Qingyan lowered his head somewhat awkwardly, "Aunt, they told me to call you Mother..."
"Call me Empress Dowager. From this day forward, you are the Third Prince of Daqing, my child."
I will do everything in my power to protect you as you grow up, to ensure you receive an education and learn martial arts, so that you can one day earn a high position and live a carefree life.
Gu Qingyan shuddered violently, large tears sliding down his cheeks. His hands trembled as he reached for his ears. Was he hallucinating...?
The next second, a pair of gentle hands covered Gu Qingyan's head. Jiang Yu had never smiled so happily since she entered the palace. "My Ayan is so handsome, Granny. Do you think his eyes and brows are somewhat similar to mine?"
Ling, the old nanny standing to the side, wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. "Your Majesty is right. It is destined that the Third Prince and Your Majesty are destined to be together."
"From now on, with Ayan by my side, we can live our lives behind closed doors in Zhaoning Palace."
Those so-called blood relatives and so-called marital bonds will have no further connection with her in this life.
......
Consort Rong enjoyed the Emperor's favor, and Lingxi Palace was practically Gu Heng's sleeping quarters.
“Mother Rong, I could not persuade you to protect Lord Liu.”
Gu Qingling became extremely obedient when she was with Consort Rong, her face full of guilt, showing none of the fierce and aggressive demeanor she displayed in front of Jiang Yu.
Consort Rong was seen weeping, her face streaked with tears. Gu Heng tenderly embraced her, gently coaxing her, "Rong'er, I will find a way to make Liu Feng's sentence lighter, exiling him to a prosperous place, and then finding a pretext to transfer him back to the capital in a few years."
"I know my status is lowly, and I am fortunate to serve by Your Majesty's side. It is my fault for not restraining my brother, which has caused Your Majesty a great deal of trouble." Consort Rong sobbed uncontrollably. "I am ashamed before Your Majesty."
"Rong'er, I will always protect you." Gu Heng's eyes were gentle. "Back then, during the autumn hunt, I was being chased and killed. If it weren't for you risking your life to save me, I wouldn't be alive today."
Consort Rong, née Liu, was a palace maid who served Gu Heng before he ascended the throne. After he ascended the throne, she was favored by Gu Heng and was directly promoted to Consort. As the saying goes, when one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven, and the Liu family also rises in status.
Looking at Gu Heng and Consort Rong's affectionate appearance, Gu Qingling inexplicably thought of Jiang Yu's cold face in Zhaoning Palace. Jiang Yu had never treated him like this before; she had always longed to see him every day.
"Father, what about Mother's adoption of Gu Qingyan...?"
"What?!"
Before Gu Qingling could finish speaking, Consort Rong suddenly looked up at Gu Heng, her eyes filled with indescribable panic, "Your Majesty, has the Empress adopted Gu Qingyan?"
"Rong'er, listen to me." Gu Heng hugged Consort Rong tightly. "There was an accident at Zhaoning Palace, so Prince Yu took it upon himself to have Gu Qingyan adopted by the Empress and recorded him as the third prince according to the order of birth."
"Don't worry, Consort Rong," Gu Qingling reassured her. "Everyone knows that Gu Qingyan is not the Emperor's child, but merely the nominal Third Prince."
Consort Rong remained stunned, as if she had been frightened, and kept murmuring Gu Qingyan's name.
Gu Qingyan... why Gu Qingyan of all people...?
"Rong'er, the most urgent matter is to deal with your brother's affairs. I will settle this matter at the morning court tomorrow and let your brother go to his place of exile as soon as possible so that he can fade out of everyone's sight."
“But Gu Qingyan…” Consort Rong had a bad feeling.
Gu Heng's expression turned slightly somber. "Even if he is now the Third Prince, it doesn't change the fact that he is the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Xiang. I will absolutely not allow any other situation to occur!"
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