In the following days, Jiang Yu made almost every preparation she could think of, and even arranged guards at every stop along the way to Heng County. Jiang He went to the palace every day to discuss the plan with Jiang Yu.
Gu Heng thought that Jiang Yu would beg him not to let Gu Qingyan go to Heng County after she learned the news, but Gu Heng never saw Jiang Yu once.
"Your Majesty, I heard that the Second Prince was imprisoned by the Emperor because he also wanted to go to Heng County."
Jiang Yu nodded symbolically upon hearing this; she had no time to concern herself with the feud between Gu Heng and Gu Qingfeng.
Gu Heng and Gu Qingling's intentions in sending Ayan to Heng County are obvious. How could Gu Heng possibly bear to let Gu Qingfeng go?
But to Jiang Yu's utter surprise, something unexpected really happened to Gu Qingfeng.
"Let me out! Let me out now!"
Inside a room in the Dragon and Phoenix Palace, Gu Qingfeng pounded on the door, but the guards outside remained unmoved. They had received a double imperial edict from the Emperor and the Crown Prince, forbidding the Second Prince from leaving.
Gu Qingyao would stand quietly not far from the house every day, watching. Not long ago, she had also cried for help in the same way.
As the day of Gu Qingyan's departure drew ever closer, Gu Qingfeng turned his gaze to the only window in the room, which was noticeably higher than the ground.
Gu Qingfeng piled up almost everything in the room he could use to stand on tiptoe, then wobbled up to the window, intending to jump out as night fell.
"Gu Qingfeng!"
Gu Qingling's voice suddenly rang out, and Gu Qingfeng, who happened to be peering through the window, froze.
"Do you value Gu Qingyan so much that you're willing to put yourself in danger to go with him?"
Gu Qingling's eyes were filled with confusion. He didn't understand why Gu Qingfeng was so determined to go to Heng County.
"Brother, why do you still want Gu Qingyan to go? Knowing that this trip is fraught with danger, are you still going to push him out as a sacrifice?" Gu Qingfeng looked at Gu Qingling with such a cold gaze for the first time. "I don't understand you anymore, brother."
Why did his elder brother become like this?
Gu Qingling's face turned ashen at Gu Qingfeng's words, his mind filled with rage. "Gu Qingfeng, I am the Crown Prince. If I say you are not allowed to go, then you are not allowed to go."
So this is what my mother meant when she said there was a distinction between ruler and subject.
What if I insist on going?
As soon as Gu Qingfeng finished speaking, arrows appeared from the shadows, gleaming coldly in the night, all aimed directly at Gu Qingfeng.
"Gu Qingfeng, can you please stop being so unreasonable? Are you trying to show the world how much I fear death? Both princes have gone, leaving only me, the crown prince, in the palace. Can't you think about my feelings?"
Seeing Gu Qingling's earnest and earnest expression, Gu Qingfeng suddenly burst into laughter.
His own elder brother was commanding so many people to point arrows at him. If he insisted on going, would his brother really kill him?
With blood rushing to his head, Gu Qingfeng seemed determined to jump out of the window again, showing no sign of wavering despite Gu Qingling's attempts to dissuade him, directly challenging Gu Qingling's authority as the Crown Prince.
Gu Qingling's eyes turned red with anger, and she raised the sword in her hand and shot it towards Gu Qingfeng's left arm.
Over the years, he has spoiled his younger brother too much, spoiling him to the point of being arrogant and ignorant, and not knowing how to plan for him at all.
If that's the case, he should be taught a lesson.
The arrow pierced the air, and Gu Qingfeng dodged to the side, but in the next instant, he fell headlong to the ground. The moment he made contact with the ground, a sharp pain shot through his groin.
"Quickly summon the imperial physician!" Gu Qingling's pupils constricted sharply, and she immediately ran towards Gu Qingfeng.
......
"Mother, everything that needs to be prepared has been prepared." On the other side, Zhaoning Palace was still brightly lit, and Jiang Yu was giving Gu Qingyan a crash course on all the relevant past events of Heng County. "I have memorized everything that needs to be memorized."
[It's good that Ayan is going to Hengxian now. I can stay in the palace to deal with Consort Rong's matter. Seeing that Consort Rong's belly is getting bigger every day, I guess there will be more troubles waiting for me before she gives birth.]
Jiang Yu nodded. "Remember this: no matter what, you must come back alive."
[Ayan is naturally intelligent, yet he is always cautious and careful for my sake, afraid of causing me even the slightest trouble. This trip to Hengxian is a rare opportunity for Ayan.]
Gu Qingyan's heart trembled slightly; so his mother knew everything...
"Don't worry, Mother, I understand."
Just as Jiang Yu was about to give Gu Qingyan a few more instructions, Wan Ji rushed into the room, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince has broken his leg."
"Did you break your leg?"
[Wasn't Gu Qingfeng being kept safe and sound? How could he have broken his leg? Could the guards have just watched him fall?]
"Your Majesty, I heard that he had a dispute with His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness shot an arrow at the Second Prince's left arm, and the Second Prince fell out of the high window while trying to dodge the arrow."
Hearing Wanji's words, Jiang Yu was momentarily stunned.
[Gu Qingling shot an arrow at Gu Qingfeng? Has Gu Qingling gone mad?]
Jiang Yu and Gu Qingyan exchanged a glance, and a few seconds later, the lights in Zhaoning Palace were turned off.
Zhaoning Palace absolutely must not get involved in this kind of sibling rivalry.
At the same time, in Yucheng, the capital of Daning.
"My lord, news has come from Daqing that the Third Prince has been dispatched to Heng County to investigate the disappearance of women in Heng County."
The streets were bustling with activity, but no one knew that the emperor of Da Ning was sitting in the private room of the teahouse.
"Tch, Gu Heng actually has the nerve to send a child to a place like Heng County." When he was out, Gu Lin's mask and scars disappeared at the same time. If he deliberately concealed his aura after disguising himself, he would be no different from an ordinary person.
"The lady did not object; on the contrary, she was willing to let the Third Prince go to Heng County."
The subordinate's words clearly pleased Gu Lin, and the tea in the cup was warm and fragrant.
"Gu Lin, will you go to the battlefield like my parents in the future?" The little girl with her hair in a bun looked up, her almond eyes slightly moist, clearly missing the Marquis of Dingyuan and his wife who were fighting on the front lines.
"Does Ayu think I should go to the battlefield in the future?" Gu Lin asked, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, before leaping down from the tree branch.
“Of course you should go!” The little girl sniffed her red nose. “Even commoners of low rank dare not forget their country’s worries, let alone you, a prince of Daqing. If you act like a coward, I will pretend I don’t know you.”
"If I don't go to the battlefield, wouldn't all the skills your father taught me be useless?"
Thinking of Jiang Yu's former aggressive self, Gu Lin's eyes were filled with a rare smile. After all these years, she is still the same as before.
"By my order, change course and go to Heng County first."
The cups and saucers were placed on the table, and the next second the private room was empty.
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