When Gu Heng appeared in front of Jiang Yu again, he was so thin that his jawline was clearly visible.
"Ayu, I think there might be some misunderstanding between us."
Gu Heng revealed a fawning smile. In order to lower Jiang Yu's guard, Gu Heng deliberately chose to come during the day.
"Your Majesty and I have no misunderstandings." Jiang Yu stared at Gu Heng and continued slowly, "It's just that I keep having dreams about my father and mother lately, and I don't know why."
A strange look flashed across Gu Heng's face, but Jiang Yu caught it clearly.
[It has been fifteen years since my father and mother died in the battle between Da Meng and Da Ning in Lingzhou.]
"I haven't taken good care of you all these years. I imagine your father and mother would blame me if they knew this in the afterlife." Gu Heng looked at Jiang Yu, who had been the apple of his eye since birth and was pampered by the Marquis of Dingyuan's family.
But he was just an illegitimate eldest son of the emperor.
In order to marry Jiang Yu and gain the power of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, he had no choice but to endure humiliation and flatter the Marquis of Dingyuan. Therefore, he has harbored resentment towards Jiang Yu for many years.
Jiang Yu's life was too smooth in the first half of her life, so smooth that Gu Heng was a little jealous.
"I truly regret it, and not just because I learned of your life-saving grace back then." Gu Heng's heart seemed to be tightly gripped. "I have completely figured it out. You are the one who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me."
All the advice Jiang Yu had given him before was actually correct.
"Your Majesty is joking." Jiang Yu scoffed, unwilling to continue dealing with Gu Heng. "Since Your Majesty is so busy with court affairs, you should prioritize matters of state."
After Gu Heng left, Ling Mama spoke with some difficulty, "Your Highness, won't the Emperor...?"
"The past ten years are over, and there's no need to change anything in the future."
Jiang Yu's lips curled slightly. The Jiang Yu who longed for Gu Heng's response was long dead.
In this lifetime, all I want is to see Gu Heng end up abandoned by everyone.
......
A group of refugees arrived in the capital; they looked no different from other displaced people.
The guards at the city gates of the capital didn't spare any extra attention, and the five people from Heng County entered the capital smoothly.
Early morning.
"If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court may adjourn."
Recently, scandals have been exposed one after another in the court. The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is reprimanded by Gu Heng almost every day. Seeing Gu Heng's attempt to smooth things over, the officials gradually realized what was going on, and those matters that should have been reported to the emperor were tacitly put aside.
As a result, no one submitted a memorial during the morning court session, and Gu Heng finally nodded in satisfaction.
He didn't keep these officials around just to create trouble for himself every day.
But just as the officials were leaving the court and walking towards the palace gate, the Dengwen Drum, which stood outside the palace gate, was struck.
"Bang—bang—bang—"
Each sound struck the heart of every civil and military official.
In the hundreds of years since the founding of the Daqing Dynasty, this is only the second time someone has sounded the Dengwen Drum.
"I have a grievance. Over the past three years, hundreds of women in Heng County have mysteriously disappeared. The government is incompetent and only knows how to oppress the people, preventing us from coming to the capital to appeal for justice. I beg Your Majesty to reveal the truth about Heng County."
Those who beat the drum to appeal for justice had to pass through a board of nails. The guards escorted two people who were beating the drum through the board of nails. In less than half an incense stick's time, the two people died. The petition written in blood was presented to Gu Heng by the guards.
At the same time.
In three noisy locations in the bustling city, the remaining three residents of Heng County shouted loudly, telling everyone about their grievances.
When the authorities sent people to arrest them, they all laid out the complaint in front of them and committed suicide.
Soon, just like in the previous life, the matter of Hengxian spread rapidly throughout the capital.
"Your Majesty, this servant is incompetent." Wanji knelt before Jiang Yu. "This servant had already arranged for doctors to be waiting in the shadows, but we still couldn't save those people."
Those people, with a death wish, took their own lives.
"I understand."
Jiang Yu's eyes reddened slightly. She couldn't stop these people from dying. They had traveled all the way from Hengxian to the capital to expose the things that happened in Hengxian with their lives. She couldn't let them return empty-handed.
"How is the Emperor doing now?"
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is currently in the Hall of Supreme Harmony discussing with his senior ministers how to handle this matter."
Gu Heng won't really handle this matter; he'll just think these five people are audacious. In my past life, Gu Heng used me as a scapegoat. I wonder how he'll handle this situation without my cooperation.
"If there is any disturbance at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, you must inform me immediately."
......
The Hall of Supreme Harmony.
As Gu Heng listened to some of his ministers passionately demanding a thorough investigation, he pressed his temples weakly.
What kind of place is Hengxian? It's located at the border of Daqing and Daning. It's usually a chaotic place that's hard to manage. Every official who has come back has submitted a memorial saying that the people there are not enlightened.
He wouldn't be surprised if any trouble happened in a place like this.
"Since you ministers all wish to thoroughly investigate this matter, who is willing to go to Heng County?"
Gu Heng's words silenced everyone. They could talk about it, but that didn't mean they wanted to go to a poor, remote place like Heng County.
"Your Majesty, if this matter is not thoroughly investigated, it may damage the people's morale," Jiang He spoke up. "If Your Majesty trusts me..."
Before Jiang He could finish speaking, Gu Heng interrupted, "If you go to Heng County, and the surrounding countries get wind of it and take the opportunity to attack Daqing, wouldn't that cause even more trouble?"
"In my opinion, this matter should be investigated by the magistrate of Heng County. If the magistrate cannot find the answer, it should be reported up the chain of command to the Court of Judicial Review." Gu Heng's words clearly showed his dissatisfaction with the behavior of those five people. The sounding of the petition drum often signifies the incompetence of those in power.
"Your Majesty is right, but now everyone in the capital knows about what happened in Heng County..."
Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, a dark glint flashed in Gu Qingling's eyes. "Father, I believe that the court must send someone to this matter to demonstrate the importance that Father attaches to Heng County."
"Oh? Does Ling'er have a suitable candidate in mind?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingling suppressed his joy and said in a sanctimonious tone, "I think Third Brother can go."
"The Third Prince is too young to go."
Jiang He immediately retorted, "Your Majesty, the Third Prince cannot go."
“Yan’er is my and the Empress’s child. It’s not a bad thing for him to go and gain some experience.” Gu Heng gave Gu Qingling a deep look. “Marquis Dingyuan, don’t worry. I will send people to protect Yan’er.”
For a moment, everyone was at a loss. What was the reason for sending a prince who was only ten years old?
Only Gu Qingling allowed the murderous intent deep within her heart to grow wildly.
Gu Qingyan, you'd better not come back.
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