No one knows what Jiang Yu and Jiang He said that day. All that is known is that when Jiang He left, he accidentally tripped and fell in the courtyard of Zhaoning Palace.
"My lord!"
The palace servants of Zhaoning Palace were anxious to help Jiang He up, but they saw Jiang He wave his hand and stagger to his feet.
"Take good care of Her Majesty."
After leaving Zhaoning Palace, Jiang He regained his composure and strode towards Taihe Hall.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince."
Jiang He returned after running two horses to their deaths, but was forced to stay in the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence for several days. The army had already been reorganized and was just waiting for Gu Heng's order to set off immediately.
"Get up quickly." Gu Heng smiled kindly, and Gu Qingling personally came over to bring Jiang He a seat. "Uncle, sit down and talk."
As the father and son sang in unison, Jiang He's heart sank deeper and deeper.
"That's right. After Da Ning captured Heng County, he delayed attacking Da Qing. I wanted to take this opportunity to train the young people in the court."
Gu Heng paused for a moment, then said, "After all, I only have one Marquis of Dingyuan, and I must send him out at the most critical moment."
"Does Your Majesty have a suitable candidate in mind?"
"Zhao Song, a general of the elite cavalry, a third-rank official."
Jiang He found it extremely ironic. He had traveled thousands of miles back, only to find that his superior was sending a cowardly general with no experience as a commander to lead the expedition.
"I obey the order."
Jiang He's compliance surprised both Gu Heng and Gu Qingling. Gu Heng awkwardly changed the subject, "I heard that you left behind a woman surnamed Xie when you were in Yuzhou?"
"Do you have feelings for her?"
A flame suddenly ignited in Gu Heng's eyes. A Lady of Dingyuan, who had no family background, would be of no benefit to him.
"I brought her into my life because I saw that she had a pitiful background."
Seeing that Jiang He did not respond, Gu Heng knew that Jiang He had already made a great concession today, so he did not continue to make things difficult for her.
When they came out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the sun was already setting. Jiang He and Gu Qingling walked one after the other.
"uncle."
Gu Qingling's voice broke the silence between the two, "Today... it was all Father Emperor's decision, and I cannot persuade Father Emperor."
"Your Highness is very grateful for your kindness."
Jiang He twitched the corner of his mouth. If this father and son were to raise the next Marquis of Dingyuan, what good would his fate be?
But Ayu said we have to wait and be patient.
......
As the days passed by, and there was still no sign of Ling Hai, Mei Chu and Ling Shan were extremely anxious.
A knock sounded at the door, and Mei Chu jumped in surprise.
Ling Hai appeared before the two men in a disheveled state, with Master Jingyuan nowhere to be seen behind him.
Where is Master Jingyuan?
Ling Hai's brows were furrowed with gloom, and Mei Chu and Ling Shan subconsciously sensed that something was wrong.
“I searched the entire Ling Mountain, but I couldn’t find any trace of Master Jingyuan.” Ling Hai’s tone was heavy. “I only found a note left by Master Jingyuan in the courtyard.”
"What note?"
"Master Jingyuan said that he received a hint from Buddha to go into seclusion for a year."
Thud—
Ling Shan slammed his fist against the wall, blood trickling down the corner. "What about our master? What is our master going to do?"
Just then, the knocking sounded again.
The wooden door creaked open, and Mei Chu's eyes narrowed sharply. The person who came in was Jiang He.
Is Gu Lin here with you?
Jiang He went straight for the vital point, her heart pounding with panic. "Dr. Mei, is Gu Lin here with you?"
Was he seriously injured?
Mei Chu's breath hitched. Master Jingyuan had been in seclusion for a year, and the Lord could not wait any longer.
If that's true... then His Majesty must want to stay with his wife, his young mistress, and the Marquis of Dingyuan, right?
A few breaths later.
Jiang He looked at the unconscious person lying on the bed. The Marquis of Dingyuan, who was not afraid of countless open and hidden attacks on the battlefield, had tears in his eyes at this moment.
"How can his poison be cured?"
The only response Jiang He received was endless silence.
The silence made Jiang He uncomfortable.
“I will take him back to the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence.” Jiang He quickly wiped his eyes. “Doctor Mei will also go, and become the Marquis’s physician.”
This person, who was suffering from a deadly poison with almost no cure, was his close friend.
He paid the ultimate price for his sister.
"Twenty days left."
Mei Chu uttered this seemingly nonsensical remark, but Jiang He's face turned even paler. Only twenty days left...?
Gu Lin was taken back to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence by Jiang He and settled in Jiang He's own courtyard.
Gu Heng took away Jiang He's military power, so Jiang He stayed in the mansion every day, guarding Gu Lin closely.
until......
"My lord, Miss Xie requests an audience."
Jiang He nodded silently and continued to apply the ointment to Gu Lin's various scars until it was all covered. Only then did Jiang He tuck the blanket around Gu Lin.
After staring at Gu Lin for a while, Jiang He patted Gu Lin's hand:
"In a few days, in a few days Ayu will be back."
......
"My lord." Since returning to the capital with Jiang He, Xie Zhiqing has been staying quietly in the guest courtyard.
This was the first time Xie Zhiqing had stepped out of the courtyard.
"You've wanted to follow me from the very beginning, what exactly is your purpose?"
As the killing intent surged, Jiang He's eyes locked onto Xie Zhiqing, who almost instantly knelt down, pleading, "This humble woman only begs the Marquis to grant me a way out."
A way out?
Jiang He smiled silently, his path to survival still uncertain.
"The one who died in Yuzhou, wasn't your father?"
Jiang He's patience had completely vanished. "I have no time to play games with you here. Guards, take him away and interrogate him severely."
Xie Zhiqing was being dragged along by two burly men. In desperation, she cried out, "Wait! I have been wronged!"
"Daqing has a law that allows those with grievances to strike the petition drum to appeal their case," Jiang He said indifferently. "Is Miss Xie afraid that she won't survive the subsequent punishment after striking the drum?"
Upon hearing this, the light in Xie Zhiqing's eyes slowly disappeared. The yellowed petition hidden in front of her chest felt faintly hot, but then turned ice-cold in the next second.
"I understand."
Xie Zhiqing stopped struggling. She should have realized long ago that for a nobody like her, clearing her parents' name was harder than climbing to heaven.
She shouldn't have let her illusions return because of what happened in Hengxian.
Xie Zhiqing thought she would really be taken to the bloody dark dungeon, but when she realized that she had been sent back to the guest courtyard, her eyes reddened.
With trembling hands, he took out the petition and placed it on his chest.
Father, Mother, your daughter can avenge you.
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