The next morning, Gu Qingfeng was blindfolded and taken to a place.
"Who exactly are you?" Feeling a chill, Gu Qingfeng's skin trembled, and he instinctively sensed the danger approaching.
The blindfold was removed, and Gu Qingfeng saw a masked man. Suddenly, as if realizing something, Gu Qingfeng's eyes narrowed sharply. "Are you the King of Da Ning?"
"It is I, the King."
Gu Qingfeng's brain was racing, but he still couldn't figure out what he had done to offend the terrifying Emperor Zhaoyuan.
"Why did you kidnap me?" Gu Qingfeng suppressed his fear. "Although I am imprisoned now, I am still the late emperor's prince. If the world finds out that you have attacked me, it will ruin the relationship between Da Ning and Da Qing."
"Do you think I'm afraid of these things?"
Gu Lin felt a sharp pain in his heart as if it were being squeezed when he thought of Jiang Yu's appearance last night.
"Gu Qingfeng, you're living too comfortably. I can't stand it." Gu Lin smirked, and the look in his eyes was too much for Gu Qingfeng to handle.
As soon as Gu Lin finished speaking, a guard from Lingxiao Pavilion emerged from the shadows and pulled Gu Qingfeng, making a move to walk out.
"We have no grudges against each other, so why are you treating me like this?"
Gu Qingfeng roared desperately, his legs hanging limply, his whole body like a rag doll.
Gu Lin laughed upon hearing this, "You're saying there's no grudge between us?"
"Completely wrong."
Seeing Gu Qingfeng's appearance, Gu Lin slowly walked over. "The grudges between us are too numerous to count. Even your legs were broken because of my schemes."
Gu Lin's voice was soft and slow, but Gu Qingfeng's eyes widened as if he had been hit hard.
"And your father, the Emperor, was also poisoned under my watch by Gu Qingling. Gu Qingling is ruthless, administering the poison every day, as if she's afraid Gu Heng will live too long."
"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, I also had someone heal your birth mother's voice, so that she could tell the truth about what happened back then and send your whole family to hell."
After saying that, Gu Lin reached out and gently patted Gu Qingfeng's face, "Tell me, is there any grudge between us?"
Who exactly are you?!
Gu Qingfeng's eyes were bloodshot. Suddenly learning the truth was hard for him to accept. It turned out that everything was being manipulated by the man in front of him, making them all look like clowns.
"Before you die, I will let you know who I really am."
Gu Lin looked with satisfaction at the fear in Gu Qingfeng's eyes, then waved his hand, "Take him to jail and let him stay there for a month."
Gu Lin still felt that this double torment, both physical and psychological, was not enough.
I thought Gu Qingfeng was the most conscientious of the three ingrates, but I didn't expect him to still try to force Ayu to make a choice. It's true that like father, like son.
Gu Qingfeng's teeth were chattering as he was taken away. Would he even survive to see Yao'er again...?
......
When the news that Gu Qingfeng had been taken away by Gu Lin reached Jiang Yu's ears, Jiang Yu was only stunned for a moment and did not say much. However, when she thought of her time with Gu Lin that night, Jiang Yu lowered her head.
Are we destined to be constantly affected by this dead man, Gu Heng?
She was not willing to accept this.
"Your Highness, Miss Xie is waiting outside Zhaoning Palace." Xie Zhiqing had been released from the palace by Jiang Yu at the beginning of the year. Jiang Yu also provided Xie Zhiqing with a residence so that she could stand on her own in the capital.
Just a few days ago, Xie Zhiqing suddenly found Wanji, who was out on official business, and said that she wanted to go to the palace to see him.
"Bring her in."
Soon after, Xie Zhiqing was brought in. She was wearing a cotton and linen ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and her hair was tied up with a cloth strip. She looked extremely serene.
"This humble woman pays her respects to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Get up." A smile appeared on Jiang Yu's face. She was willing to let Xie Zhiqing leave the palace because she liked Xie Zhiqing as a person, who was resolute and reasonable.
"Your Majesty, I dare to ask, when I was serving by your side before, I heard that you had the intention of opening a girls' school, so I would like to do this for you."
Xie Zhiqing knelt on the ground, her forehead touching the ground, and her heart pounded for a moment.
During her time away from the palace, she saw far too many girls who had no access to education.
"I believe now is the right time."
"Tell me in detail." Jiang Yu wasn't surprised, but she was very interested in Xie Zhiqing's judgment on timing.
"Now that the people of Daqing are united and have great respect for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, opening a girls' school at this time will face the least resistance and will be of greater help to Daqing in the future."
Xie Zhiqing nervously clenched the handkerchief in her hand; this time, she was truly bold.
But she...
Having witnessed firsthand the hardships women face in this world during her months away, she wants to change this situation.
"Your Majesty, women are no less capable than men. They are just confined to the inner quarters and can only scheme about these matters of the household. If given the opportunity, they could be just like General Bai."
"Your Majesty grants your permission."
Jiang Yu's words made Xie Zhiqing freeze, as if she still couldn't believe it.
"I had this intention all along, but I was just thinking about the right person to take on the task," Jiang Yu said with a smile. "Since you have volunteered, I will entrust this matter to you."
"I hereby bestow upon you the title of my personal female attendant."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
......
When Xie Zhiqing left the palace, she happened to run into Kui Ruo, who was about to enter the palace.
"Greetings, Lord Kui."
Seeing this, Wei Ruo nodded almost imperceptibly, "Miss Xie just went to Zhaoning Palace?"
Seeing Kui Ruo ask such a question, Xie Zhiqing frowned. "I wonder what business Lord Kui has with me?"
Why is this person showing unusual concern for the Empress Dowager?
Seeing this, Wei Ruo lowered his eyes. Since the emperor ascended the throne, he had been highly valued and regarded as a trusted minister. Therefore, he was also busy with the emperor.
But the Empress Dowager... had almost no contact with him.
Kui Ruo's hand tightened under his sleeve. He knew this was normal, but he just couldn't suppress his feelings. Just then, the emperor summoned him to the palace, and he ran into Xie Zhiqing again.
That's why I couldn't help but ask about Zhaoning Palace.
"It was my rudeness, Miss Xie. His Majesty has important matters to discuss with me, so I will go to the palace first."
Xie Zhiqing left, completely bewildered. Behind her back, Wei Ruo's lips curled into a self-deprecating yet manic smile.
That's enough, that's enough.
He had no other wish than for His Majesty to live a peaceful and happy life.
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