"Your Majesty, the person from Jing'an Palace has sent a message saying that they wish to see you."
The next morning, Jiang Yu's drowsy state was instantly dispelled by Ling Mama's words, and a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.
After returning to Dayu from Luoming, she never took the initiative to summon Gu Heng's concubines, and the people around her were also very tactful in keeping quiet about Gu Heng.
But she knew that unless it was something extremely important, Consort An would never request an audience with her, given her personality.
"Have her come over after I finish my breakfast."
"Your Highness, I'm afraid Consort An won't be able to come..." Ling Mama sighed almost imperceptibly. "Consort An is seriously ill. The imperial physician has already examined her and said that she doesn't have much time left."
"What's wrong? Are you sick?" Jiang Yu sat up straight immediately.
"It's a mental illness."
For a moment, the air in the room seemed to freeze, with only Jiang Yu's hand trembling almost imperceptibly beneath her sleeve.
After an incense stick had burned a while, Jiang Yu turned to Gu Lin beside her and asked, "Has something happened to Gu Qingyao?"
Aside from Gu Qingyao, she couldn't think of anyone who could make Consort An so ill, especially with a heart condition.
Gu Lin grasped Jiang Yu's hand. "On the day A Yan left Qingcheng, Gu Qingyao committed suicide by poisoning herself at the city gate of Qingcheng."
“She said that as a princess of Daqing, she should live and die with Daqing.” Gu Lin pursed his lips. “Ayan did not throw her body into a mass grave.”
"No wonder."
Four years later, Jiang Yu thought that Gu Qingyao was still locked up in a courtyard in the suburbs of Beijing with Gu Qingfeng, and never imagined that Gu Qingyao would die for her country.
"I haven't had a chance to tell you yet." Gu Lin gently patted Jiang Yu's hand. "Ayu, this should be the best ending for Gu Qingyao."
...
Jing'an Palace.
The entire palace was eerily quiet, making Consort An's occasional coughs all the more distinct.
Jiang Yu slowly walked into the inner room. When she stood by Consort An's bedside, even though she was mentally prepared, she couldn't help but widen her eyes.
The woman in front of me was emaciated, looking like an old woman over fifty years old, with terribly dry hair.
In just four years, it has been wasted like this!
"I am guilty of a crime for not being able to rise and pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
Anfei’s extremely hoarse voice rang out. She had hardly spoken to anyone in the past four years, and her voice was already ruined.
"How did you end up looking like this?"
As soon as Jiang Yu finished speaking, Consort An burst into tears.
"Congratulations on the Empress Dowager's wedding! You have finally found your perfect match." As Gu Heng's concubine, Consort An uttered such treasonous words.
"Back then, I followed Your Highness and helped you with your schemes on many occasions. I may not have made any great contributions, but I certainly deserve credit for my hard work..."
Consort An was having some difficulty breathing, but her eyes were fixed on Jiang Yu, full of pleading.
"I know what you want to say."
A bitter taste gradually spread from Jiang Yu's mouth. On the way here, Ling Mama told her that Consort An had shed countless tears over the past four years, to the point that her tears were now tinged with blood.
"I truly treat the princess as my own child."
Consort An almost screamed these words, her strange voice sounding somewhat eerie.
"I have never begged you before, but now I am at my last gasp. I beg you, bury me with the princess." Consort An stretched out her hands, trying to grasp Jiang Yu's sleeves. "The mass grave is too cold, the princess... the princess will be afraid..."
She wanted to stay with the princess.
After saying that, Consort An began to hum a tune she had once hummed to Gu Qingyao. I wonder if the princess felt any pain when she took poison to commit suicide?
"The Emperor did not throw the princess into a mass grave."
Jiang Yu's words stunned Consort An, and her tears flowed even more profusely.
"That is a beautiful place with clear waters and lush mountains. After you die, I will issue an edict to bury you there."
Jiang Yu couldn't explain her feelings at that moment; she only knew that Gu Qingyan had done the right thing.
The princess who died for her country in this life should not have been thrown into a mass grave.
"Go see her...go see the princess..."
Consort An looked pleadingly at Jiang Yu, trying to get a glance from her on behalf of Gu Qingyao, but this time, Jiang Yu did not look at Consort An.
"I will issue an edict to posthumously honor Gu Qingyao and register her under your name, so that future generations will know that she was your princess."
"But I... have no relation to her whatsoever, so naturally I won't go to see her."
The turmoil in Jiang Yu's eyes gradually subsided. Those hurts had truly existed, and when the wind blew, she still felt they were etched into her heart.
This is already her greatest act of compassion.
"But she only wants to be your child..."
Consort An slowly closed her eyes, unaware of the grudges between the princess and the Empress Dowager.
All she knew was that the princess did not want to be her child.
How do you know she doesn't cherish you?
Jiang Yu bent down and tucked the blanket around Consort An. "Hold on for a few more days. I'm not sure if there will be any results, but you should hold on for a few more days."
As Jiang Yu walked out of Jing'an Palace, she felt a deep sense of sorrow. The relationship between her and Gu Qingyao was a broken mirror that could never be mended.
But Consort An did it all for Gu Qingyao…
"Wanji, immediately set off for Qingcheng at full speed."
...
Jiang Yu was listless all day.
"Mother."
Gu Qingyan sat down next to Jiang Yu. "Is Mother feeling uneasy?"
Jiang Yu shook her head. "It's just a different feeling."
When Gu Qingling died, she only felt relief, but Gu Qingyao's death gave her a different feeling.
Perhaps it's because of Consort An...
“That place is wonderful. I suppose she has started a new life.” Gu Qingyan said softly, “And my mother is the kindest person in the world.”
Only with kindness can one have compassion.
"Alright, let's talk about something else." Jiang Yu perked up. "Has Yun Zhi finished making arrangements?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyan quickly replied, "The arrangements are almost complete; we're just waiting for Yunmo."
"Over at Yunmo's place..."
Jiang Yu tapped her fingertips rhythmically on the table, her eyes deep in thought. Gu Qingyan, seeing this, secretly breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged a glance with Gu Lin beside him.
Before long, the father and son huddled together to one side, as if by unspoken agreement.
"Luckily, I was wise back then and buried Gu Qingyao separately. You even said I went to unnecessary trouble." Gu Qingyan revealed a smug expression, making Gu Lin's palms itch.
"When did I say you were being redundant?"
Gu Lin retaliated, and only after seeing Gu Qingyan's angry but speechless expression did he feel a little better.
Gu Lin is no benevolent person; anyone who harms his wife and children must die.
Gu Qingyao is simply special and lucky enough.
"I'll have to handle these kinds of things from now on."
Upon hearing this, Gu Lin could no longer restrain himself and unleashed a palm strike directly at Gu Qingyan.
"Mother, save me!"
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