Rongfei and the others felt that Gu Qingfeng had changed, but when asked to pinpoint exactly what had changed, they couldn't quite put their finger on it.
After a few days of recuperation, Gu Qingfeng was able to eat normally and maintained his respectful attitude towards everyone, but he was always a little less affectionate. He often stared into the distance in a daze, and no one knew what this unruly and troublesome devil was thinking.
"Your Majesty, the end of the year is approaching, and the selection of concubines for next year should be arranged in advance." Consort Rong felt aggrieved, but in order to regain her status as a Noble Consort as soon as possible, she could only hold her nose and let Jiang Yu lead her by the nose.
"Rong'er, you know my heart, it's all in your Lingxi Palace." Gu Heng directly ordered Cen Hai to bring the memorials to Lingxi Palace for revision, so that he could easily see Consort Gu Rong and Gu Qingfeng.
"If Your Majesty does not select any more women for the imperial concubine selection next year, and no new offspring are born in the harem, then I fear I will be subjected to verbal and written criticism by the censors."
Gu Qingfeng, who was pretending to be asleep with his eyes closed, listened to Rongfei's words and a very faint sneer appeared on his lips.
For so many years, it was always Zhaoning Palace that was criticized by the censors. The Emperor and Consort Rong never worried about that woman. Even he himself thought for many years that the woman wanted to monopolize the Emperor and was unwilling to let the Emperor select concubines.
He really is a fool.
"Rong'er, why don't you stop taking the medicine and give me another child?" Gu Heng's words, whispered in Rongfei's ear, did not reach Gu Qingfeng's ears. He only saw Rongfei's face flushed, and her soft, boneless hands resting on Gu Heng's chest.
"Your Majesty, I have three children to care for, how can I possibly become pregnant again?"
Gu Heng lowered his head and kissed Consort Rong's fingers. "Let the three children be raised in Zhaoning Palace. It will also help them develop a relationship with Jiang Yu. I'm afraid something might go wrong if they stay there too long. As for my beloved consort, give her another child, whether it's a prince or a princess."
Consort Rong giggled and dodged away, glancing a few times in Gu Qingfeng's direction before reaching out and pulling Gu Heng's hand toward the inner chamber of the main hall.
While the other side enjoyed a beautiful night, Gu Qingfeng remained sleepless all night.
The next day, Gu Qingling arrived at Lingxi Palace. Looking at Gu Qingfeng, who had become much thinner in just a few days, Gu Qingling didn't know how to start the conversation. "You went to Zhaoning Palace again that day?"
"Didn't my elder brother insist on going to Zhaoning Palace to find out the truth before?" Gu Qingfeng's eyes were blank. "Elder brother, at that time I felt like I was about to die, but she still drove me away."
The emotions that Gu Qingling had been desperately suppressing surged up again. "From now on, you should consider yourself the child of your father and Consort Rong. There's no need to go to Zhaoning Palace to make a fool of yourself."
“But I am her child, so she should treat me well.”
Gu Qingfeng buried his head in his knees, like an abandoned cub, "Because I am unruly and useless, she doesn't want me anymore."
Gu Qingling took a deep breath, her throat dry. "Not long ago you refuted me, but now it seems you've been bewitched. Don't do this again, or your mother will be heartbroken."
After saying that, Gu Qingling hurriedly left, seemingly trying to avoid something.
Gu Qingfeng was left alone, trembling with sobs. Could you... give him another chance...?
......
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Cen from the Emperor's side has sent word that Marquis Dingyuan has achieved a great victory over the Japanese and will be returning to the capital soon."
Even though she knew from her past life that her brother was about to return to the capital, Jiang Yu was still overjoyed when she heard the definite news. All the palace servants in Zhaoning Palace received half a year's salary as a reward.
Jiang Yu's parents died on the battlefield when she was fifteen. That period was the darkest time in Jiang Yu's life. Her brother took up the spear and took over the place of her parents. Most of the time, Jiang Yu guarded the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion alone. In her correspondence with her brother, she never mentioned the suffering she had endured.
Jiang Yu lived a bright and cheerful life before entering the palace, just to put her parents' spirits at ease.
“Brother has destroyed the Japanese, so there should be no war for a while.” Jiang Yu’s eyebrows were full of joy. “I will take Ayan to stay at the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence for a few days.”
[Also, let your elder brother see if Ayan has any talent for martial arts; it would be best if Ayan could directly become your elder brother's disciple.]
"Mother, may I go too?" Gu Qingyan's hopeful look amused Jiang Yu, who deliberately cleared her throat. "As long as Master Meng releases the people, you can naturally go."
Suddenly, Jiang Yu frowned, as if she had thought of something again.
In her past life, she protected Liu Feng. After her brother returned to the capital, he was furious and severed all ties with her. However, Gu Qingling and the others still pretended to be close to her brother and made him work for them.
Later, without her knowledge, her brother was tricked into marrying a daughter of the Liu family, and the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion had no descendants when she died.
“Ayan, knowing your uncle’s temperament, he will return to the capital the day before the appointed date. Would you like to go to the city gate to greet him on behalf of your mother?” Jiang Yu said softly. “Then, you can deliver a letter to your uncle on behalf of your mother.”
Gu Qingyan nodded heavily, "Mother, rest assured, I will definitely deliver it."
Late at night, under the candlelight, Jiang Yu held a calligraphy brush in her hand. If anyone could see what was written on the paper, they would surely be astonished.
“Brother, the Crown Prince and his companions are all loyal to Lingxi Palace and are of poor character. They are not worthy to be descendants of our Jiang family. Moreover, the Crown Prince even has the intention to kill me. Therefore, I adopted the son of the late King Xiang.”
“You have known the Prince of Xiang since childhood, and you know his character. Ayan is a good boy. From now on, you should treat him as your only nephew.”
Just like when they were children, Jiang Yu poured out all her bitterness to Jiang He as if peeling beans. She didn't want to only tell him good news and not bad news, so that her brother would be deceived and suffer the same fate as in her previous life.
"Brother, you must plan carefully before you act. Don't blindly try to avenge me. Remember! Remember! Remember!"
Even when Jiang Yu handed the letter to Gu Qingyan, she repeatedly instructed him that if Jiang He lost his temper, he must stop him on the spot.
At first, Gu Qingyan did not know what Jiang Yu meant by this, until he stood in front of the tall Jiang He and used all his strength to hug Jiang He's leg, "Uncle, Mother told me that I must stop you."
"My sister is married into the Gu family, so she's not just going to be bullied like this." Despite his fair and handsome appearance, he had the air of a thug from the military when he spoke.
The gleaming knife at Jiang He's waist instantly snapped Gu Qingyan out of his daze. He jerked back and released Jiang He. "Uncle, I know what kind of mistreatment Mother suffered."
After saying that, Jiang He's mania vanished instantly, like the calm before a storm.
Jiang He mounted his horse and then scooped Gu Qingyan up in his arms. "Ayan, right? Your uncle will take you back to the manor. Once we're there, you can talk to your uncle properly. Your uncle will avenge your mother."
The horse galloped past, and Gu Changyan heard the whooshing sound of the wind.
But he still vaguely heard this sentence:
"When your mother was still unmarried, no one dared to bully her."
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