"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
When Jiang Yu arrived at the banquet, Gu Heng and Gu Lin had not yet taken their seats. Everyone stood up to greet Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu gave Gu Qingling a meaningful look. She remembered how Gu Qingling had made things difficult for A Yan during the day.
"It's a family dinner, no need for formalities." Jiang Yu's face was rosy, and her aura was so imposing that it was almost impossible to look directly at her. She held Gu Qingyan's hand and walked over gracefully. For a moment, people felt that this was the real mother and son.
"Is Consort Yi's pregnancy going well recently?"
Upon hearing Jiang Yu's words, Consort Yi's eyes flickered slightly. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am doing well."
“Consort Yi is now the Emperor’s confidante,” a princess from the imperial clan said. “It is also thanks to the Empress’s discerning eye that Consort Yi was added to the list of imperial concubines.”
"That's right. When Her Majesty the Empress heard that Consort Yi was renowned for her good deeds, she specially arranged for her to be brought into the harem on behalf of the Emperor."
As they exchanged words, Consort Yi's smile gradually became strained. Every word reminded her of her commoner origins and how she had only achieved her current status by attaching herself to the Empress.
"Without Your Majesty the Empress, I would not have the good fortune I have today."
Consort Yi stood up and slowly bowed, "Your Majesty's kindness to me is profound, and I will never forget it."
Jiang Yu frowned. Why was Consort Yi speaking so strangely today?
Just then, Cen Hai's shrill voice rang out: "The Emperor has arrived—Emperor Zhaoyuan has arrived—"
Consort Yi did not sit down immediately, but instead looked at Gu Heng with a somewhat aggrieved expression.
"Why is my beloved concubine standing here? Be careful of the baby in your belly." Gu Heng directly instructed Cen Hai to give Consort Yi a seat, "Let Consort Yi sit next to me."
Everyone looked at Jiang Yu with unreadable expressions, only to see that Jiang Yu's gaze was directed behind Gu Heng.
[This person...why does he seem so familiar to me?]
"Your Majesty, this is Emperor Zhaoyuan of Da Ning." Gu Heng reached out to protect Consort Yi's waist and introduced Gu Lin to Jiang Yu.
"Emperor Zhaoyuan, I pay my respects."
Jiang Yu looked directly at Gu Lin, and the icy coldness in Gu Lin's eyes gradually melted away. His A Yu really hadn't changed at all.
"I have long heard that Empress Daqing is the daughter of a military family, and seeing her today, I can confirm that she is indeed extraordinary."
Gu Lin's gaze fell on the familiar hairpin in Jiang Yu's hair, and he was in an unusually good mood. In all these years, he had never been as happy as he was today.
Because it was a family banquet, the atmosphere at the banquet was much better than at noon. The concubines all did their best to impress Gu Hengxi.
"Emperor Zhaoyuan of Da Ning is also here today. If any of you princesses have any talents, please show them to everyone." Gu Heng's intentions were obvious, and the princesses all blushed with embarrassment.
It turns out that the legendary, fearsome ruler of Da Ning is actually quite extraordinary, and his harem is empty. If only I were fortunate enough to become the Empress of Da Ning...
Thinking of this, everyone looked at Gu Lin with even greater eagerness.
"Today I have observed that the Third Prince speaks with great composure, which must be due to the Empress's excellent guidance." Gu Lin raised his wine cup, and upon closer inspection, the cup trembled slightly.
"I haven't had a chance to thank Emperor Zhaoyuan yet." Jiang Yu slowly stood up, pulled Gu Qingyan to Gu Lin's side, and said, "Ayan, thank Emperor Zhaoyuan."
Gu Qingyan clasped his hands together and gave Gu Lin a standard bow of thanks.
Jiang Yu accepted the wine cup handed to her by a palace maid, gently clinked it with Gu Lin's, and then the two drank it down in one gulp.
The three of them standing together were as beautiful as a painting.
"The gift Ayan received today is far too precious; I am somewhat overwhelmed," Jiang Yu said with a polite smile. "My brother will prepare a feast tomorrow, and I humbly request that Emperor Zhaoyuan grace us with his presence."
"Can."
His words were urgent, and Gu Lin desperately suppressed the urge to pull the person in front of him into his arms.
Two hours passed by in Gu Lin's mind.
The princesses who were showing off their talents didn't even get a glance from Gu Lin. Gu Lin's mind was completely on Jiang Yu the whole time, and he even completely ignored Gu Qingyan.
When the banquet ended, Gu Lin was still a little reluctant to leave.
Gu Lin's heart trembled slightly as his hand, hidden beneath his sleeve, caressed the jade pendant. "Ayu, we have a long future ahead of us."
......
"Mother, what secret do you want to tell me?"
Along the palace road, Gu Qingyan's palms were sweaty; he had been restless all night, waiting for this moment.
Just then, Jiang Yu returned to Zhaoning Palace, dismissed everyone, and pulled Gu Qingyan to sit down at the stone table in the courtyard.
The sky was filled with stars, twinkling and shining amazingly.
“Ayan was born from here.” Jiang Yu placed Gu Qingyan’s hand on her abdomen, her eyes red. “Ayan, you are my child.”
There was no empress, no princes, and no heir apparent to the Prince of Xiang.
It's not just a blood connection; it's the child she carried for ten months and risked her life to give birth to.
Gu Qingyan's reaction surprised Jiang Yu. He wrapped his arms around Jiang Yu's waist and pressed his face against her abdomen, asking, "Did you suffer a lot when you gave birth to me, Mother?"
"Ayan...you don't resent me?"
Jiang Yu had imagined many possible reactions from Gu Qingyan, but none of them were like this: her child looked at her with heartache and asked if she had suffered a lot.
In an instant, Jiang Yu burst into tears.
"I asked Granny Ling, and she said my mother bled a lot when she gave birth to me," Gu Qingyan murmured. "She almost died."
When he didn't know he was his mother's child, he could only envy that child.
But when he truly learned and understood, he realized how dangerous his mother had been because of him.
“Before Mother was pregnant with me, she was a carefree girl, and her maternal grandparents and uncles all doted on her. But after she became pregnant with me, she was bedridden and faced death at every turn.” Gu Qingyan looked up at Jiang Yu. “Mother, I have grown up now and I will not let you suffer anymore.”
Jiang Yu stared blankly at Gu Qingyan. At this moment, she was actually grateful to Gu Heng for giving her such a child.
"It's all worth it, no matter how hard or tiring it is, to bring Ayan to life."
Jiang Yu wiped away her tears, "From now on, whatever Ayan wants, Mother will protect you and get it for you. Don't be afraid, Mother will always stand behind you."
Heavens above, how many lifetimes of good fortune did Jiang Yu accumulate to have Ayan as her child?
"How wonderful! She really is Ayan's mother."
In the darkness, a single, glistening tear slid down the corner of her eye and quickly disappeared into the night.
Gu Lin only wanted to see Jiang Yu and her son a little longer, but he happened to stumble upon the scene of the mother and son recognizing each other.
Back in the prepared courtyard, Gu Lin didn't sleep a wink all night.
"Ling Shan, tell those old fogies in the court to put the attack on Daqing on the agenda as soon as possible."
He couldn't wait any longer, and he didn't want to wait any longer.
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