On the other side, the imperial palace.
"Ling'er, how is your hand healing?" Gu Heng helped the heavily pregnant Consort Yi into the Dragon and Phoenix Palace. Consort Yi was holding a food box, her face radiating maternal glow.
"His Majesty is so worried about His Highness, he comes to see him every day and he still can't get enough of him!"
"Thank you, Father. My hand can move again now." Gu Qingling glanced at Consort Yi, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. She had only gained the Emperor's favor by resembling Consort Rong.
He also betrayed that woman.
Gu Heng was overjoyed upon hearing this, "That divine physician's medical skills are indeed superb, I will personally bestow honors upon him!"
“Father, the divine physician dislikes being involved in worldly affairs. He only did this because he finds me pleasing to the eye. Let’s not bother him any further.” Gu Qingling still cannot lift a sword with both hands. “I’m just worried that I won’t be able to bring glory to Father during the autumn hunt next month.”
"Ling'er, there's no need to worry."
Gu Heng was visibly delighted. "Minister Zhang recommended a valiant general to me, and I intend to have him make his debut at the autumn hunt."
Gu Qingling felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this. Did her father mean that someone else would bring him glory...?
"Then I will congratulate Father Emperor in advance."
Consort Yi placed the specially prepared pastries in front of Gu Qingling. A few moments later, Gu Qingling suddenly kicked the table over.
"I can't eat anything by myself right now."
Gu Heng instinctively wanted to get angry, but he suppressed his anger when he saw Gu Qingling's hand. "Consort Yi is six months pregnant, you should also be careful."
"My mother is currently running a fever, and Father Emperor hasn't allowed me to visit her at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence, has he?"
"you!"
Gu Heng was about to step forward to reprimand Gu Qingling, but was stopped by Consort Yi, who said, "Your Majesty, His Highness is young and is just too worried about the Empress."
"I don't need your fake kindness!"
Gu Heng stormed off, and Consort Yi's eyes were filled with tears.
"Why does Your Highness insist on going against the Emperor?" Xu Dong asked anxiously, also puzzled.
"Consort Yi betrayed my mother."
Gu Qingling's eyes were unfathomable. If he allowed Consort Yi to gain power, should he call Consort Yi... Consort Yi's mother in the future?
What if Consort Yi's baby is a prince...?
"How is that woman?"
Gu Qingling lay back on the bed and asked in a muffled voice.
"Your Highness, the Third Prince returned to the palace soon, so it seems Her Majesty is alright." Xu Dong sighed, "Even if Your Highness is very concerned about Her Majesty, she wouldn't know."
"There's no need for her to know."
......
"Granny, how long have I been asleep?"
A languid voice sounded, and the bed curtains were lifted by a pair of delicate hands, revealing a noticeable flush on Jiang Yu's face.
"Your Majesty, the sun is already high in the sky outside." Granny Ling brought Jiang Yu another bowl of medicinal soup. Jiang Yu closed her eyes, ate some candied fruit with her mouth, and finished the medicine before quickly continuing, "Where is Huo Xiang?"
She remembered falling asleep to Huo Xiang's flute music.
"This...this servant doesn't know where Mr. Huo has gone." Ling Mama stayed by Jiang Yu's bedside for a day and a night, and had no energy to pay attention to Gu Lin's whereabouts.
"I would like to visit the Wutong Courtyard."
Jiang Yu leaned against the bedside and said, "I've been lying down for too long. If I don't get up and move around, I'll feel really uncomfortable."
"Ai."
Wutong Courtyard was a "forbidden area" of the Dingyuan Marquis's residence, the courtyard of the old Marquis and his wife.
"You all wait outside the courtyard. I will go in alone."
Because the old Marquis disliked extravagance, the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion had very few servants to begin with. After Jiang Yu entered the palace to become empress and Jiang He led troops to war, the mansion became like an empty shell.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, I was surprised to find that the courtyard, which I had expected to be somewhat messy, had clearly been cleaned.
Seeing this, Ling Shan, who was hiding in the shadows, became anxious and didn't sleep for two nights in a row. His master had specially given him a sedative...
But Ling Hai grabbed Ling Shan and shook his head in acknowledgment.
Jiang Yu unconsciously slowed her footsteps. She heard even breathing and her eyes sharpened. There was someone in the room!
Jiang Yu held the short blade in her hand and approached the bed step by step.
A man was lying on the bed, his back to Jiang Yu, and the few strands of silver hair in his hair stung Jiang Yu's eyes.
As she got closer and saw what the man was holding, the short blade fell to the ground with a thud, and Jiang Yu's breath caught in her throat for a few seconds.
"My lord, the lady of the house said that you have to hold onto your money pouch even when you sleep."
"Nonsense!" The old Marquis was so angry that his beard stood on end. Seeing that Jiang Yu and Jiang He were laughing so hard they couldn't stand up straight, the old Marquis stomped his foot hard. "Your Highness, what I'm holding isn't a money bag, it's military rations!"
"I can only sleep soundly when I'm clutching it."
Familiar memories flooded back, and Jiang Yu trembled. "Gu Lin?"
With no response in sight, Jiang Yu continued calling out tirelessly. Apart from her and her brother, only Gu Lin knew about their father's habit.
"Hmm...Your Majesty?"
Gu Lin turned his face to Jiang Yu, watching helplessly as the light in Jiang Yu's eyes gradually faded.
"What are you doing here?" Jiang Yu took a step back. Why was it Huo Xiang instead of Gu Lin?
"Your Majesty...where is this?" Gu Lin pretended to be panicked and got up. Whenever he closed his eyes, all he could see in his mind was the image of A Yu reading the imperial edict ordering his death.
He couldn't fall asleep at all, so he thought of this place, where the old Marquis had told him that this would help him sleep soundly.
"This is the Wutong Courtyard, the courtyard of my parents."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was in a daze and fell asleep as soon as I walked in."
"Then why are you holding a money bag in your hand?" Jiang Yu persisted. "Who exactly are you?"
"I am... I am Huo Xiang."
Even her back view is so similar to his, so why is her face completely different?
Jiang Yu regained her senses and her face turned cold.
"I will spare your life this time, but if there is a next time, I will never let you go."
Halfway there, Jiang Yu suddenly stopped in her tracks.
As she turned to charge back, she bumped right into Gu Lin.
"Why has your hair turned white here?" Jiang Yu asked, her heart filled with indescribable bitterness. "I remember you didn't have white hair before."
"I've always had them, but I hid them when I wore them in my hair before."
Gu Lin twitched the corner of his mouth and reached out to touch his temples. He was in his prime, but he already had gray hair.
Watching Jiang Yu's departing figure once again, Ling Hai's eyes were filled with anguish. "Madam, you are only a hair's breadth away from the truth..."
......
"Granny, I have a feeling that something is wrong."
Jiang Yu's expression was full of struggle. "Do you think it's possible for a person's appearance to change after experiencing a change in their life?"
"This servant does not know either."
"Let Wanji inquire and see if there are any other ways to change one's appearance besides facial skin."
Jiang Yu's eyes gradually hardened. "We must be quick."
This Huo Xiang felt so familiar to her.
Even seeing the scars on his body and the gray hair on his head would make her feel heartbroken and shed tears.
Who exactly is he?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com