"Mother, no matter what happens, I want to face it with you."
Inside Zhaoning Palace, Gu Qingyan has been spending the last few days with Jiang Yu as soon as he finishes school, telling her funny stories to make her happy.
Jiang Yu's complexion had improved considerably, and her overall condition was completely different from a few days ago.
"Ayan, your mother has enough with you." Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes. "As for Gu Qingling and Gu Qingfeng's backgrounds, let's put them aside for now."
Gu Qingyan stared wide-eyed in disbelief, seemingly not understanding why Jiang Yu would put the investigation on hold.
“These past few days, I’ve been thinking about it over and over again, and I feel that the investigation into Gu Qingyao’s matter has gone too smoothly,” Jiang Yu said softly. “It’s as if someone is helping us behind the scenes.”
It's true that Granny Zhao has a gambler son, but Wanji's men found his whereabouts with ease. Now, Gu Heng has sent people to search for him, but they can't find him either. Is this really just a matter of cleaning up the mess?
[While there is a plausible explanation for Zhao Mama's suicide by jumping into the well, it is still too bizarre.]
After regaining her composure, Jiang Yu said, "The truth will not change. We will find it no matter when. Besides, I have already anticipated the worst outcome."
"But I cannot be led by the nose."
For a fleeting moment, Gu Qingyan seemed to see the shadow of a female general in Jiang Yu. It was said that his maternal grandmother was no less skilled in warfare than men; if his mother could also go to the battlefield, she would surely possess the same grace and prowess as his grandmother...
"What are your plans, Mother?"
A sly glint flashed in Jiang Yu's eyes. "As long as I can completely estrange the Emperor and Consort Rong, many things will be exposed on their own."
[I used to think Gu Heng was completely devoted to Consort Rong, but considering what happened with Consort An, it seems he wasn't entirely faithful.]
"Does Mother still remember the autumn hunt of the twenty-third year of Anping?"
Gu Qingyan's somewhat inexplicable words left Jiang Yu puzzled for a moment.
"That year, I had not yet entered the palace. My father and mother passed away that year. After my elder brother finished handling the funeral arrangements, he rushed to the frontier."
Jiang Yu began to recall carefully, "I was the only one who went to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence for the autumn hunt. I happened to witness the Emperor being assassinated, so I boldly stepped in to save him."
At that time, the position of crown prince was vacant, and the struggle for the throne was at its most intense. She could not allow the Marquis of Dingyuan, who held a large army, to have too much interaction with any of the princes. In addition, she did not want to marry into the palace.
Therefore, she never told anyone about this past event.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yu scoffed, "After entering the palace, the emperor doesn't even want to see me. I'm afraid that if I said anything, it would be considered wishful thinking."
"So it turns out Mother once saved Father." Gu Qingyan pretended not to know before. "Has Mother thought about explaining this to Father?"
“What’s the point of talking to him? If he were the kind of person who would repay kindness, I wouldn’t have been on the verge of death several times before.”
Jiang Yu's current dislike for Gu Heng far surpasses that for anyone else. If Gu Heng were truly devoted to Consort Rong, Jiang Yu might still hold him in higher regard, but alas...
Gu Qingyan lowered his head upon hearing this. His mother had never known why his father had favored Consort Rong for so many years.
"Mother, I secretly asked my second brother, and he said that Consort Rong saved Father's life during the autumn hunt in the twenty-third year of Anping. Don't you think there's something fishy about this?"
Jiang Yu was stunned. Rongfei had saved Gu Heng's life.
"I believe that Consort Rong stole the life-saving grace from Mother."
Thud—
Jiang Yu's head felt like it was about to explode; fate had played another cruel joke on her.
But in just half an incense stick's time, Jiang Yu realized what was happening.
"This is a good opportunity."
In any case, it will only be Gu Heng who regrets it, not Jiang Yu.
She wanted to see Gu Heng learn the truth, completely estrange from Consort Rong, and watch them fight amongst themselves to bring up their past sordid affairs. Only then would she feel satisfied.
"Let me think about how to spread this message."
The Imperial Palace of Daning.
"Your Majesty, Marquis Dingyuan has suddenly stopped investigating Gu Qingling and Gu Qingfeng's backgrounds, and things have also come to a standstill in the Daqing Imperial Palace."
The masked man glanced at his subordinate, who immediately knelt on the ground.
"My movements were too exaggerated, and she noticed."
"Your subordinate deserves to die."
The man was seen playing with the jade pendant at his waist with great interest. The pendant had a noticeable defect, and although it was clearly inconsistent with the man's status and position, he regarded it as a treasure and wore it every day.
"I am not worried about those few ants like Gu Qingling now. I think she can guess the truth of what happened back then."
The man's lips curled slightly as he ran his fingertip along the broken part of the jade pendant. "I'm just afraid that Gu Heng will pester her relentlessly, which will upset her."
"I will lead the troops and defeat Daqing right away."
The man's smile widened further. "No rush, I remember Gu Heng's birthday is in July?"
"Yes, my lord."
"When I go to Daqing in July to celebrate his birthday, I will also give him a generous gift."
......
"As long as you give me a way to live, I am willing to follow Your Majesty's lead."
Inside Zhaoning Palace, Consort An knelt before Jiang Yu. Having tasted all the sweetness of regaining favor, how could she accept returning to her previous life?
"Get up quickly. You are the Emperor's cousin, and the Emperor will always remember this blood bond." Jiang Yu's nail guards gleamed coldly. "However, Consort Rong is pregnant with the Emperor's child, so the Emperor will inevitably have to take extra care of her."
"Your Majesty, please show me the way."
She had begged dozens of times, and only today was she finally allowed to enter Zhaoning Palace. She absolutely could not give up this opportunity; she was no longer able to have children, and this was the only path she could take.
Jiang Yu smiled and stood up, slowly walking to Consort An. "You are already very good as you are. There is no need to deliberately imitate Consort Rong. Otherwise, you will only look like a mishmash."
"What does Your Majesty mean?"
"Go ahead and try it, and think about it yourself." Jiang Yu looked at Consort An's face. "The Emperor hates it when people try to create chance encounters in the Imperial Garden, but you succeeded. What made you do it?"
In an instant, a bright light flashed in Consort An's eyes. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I understand."
After Consort An left, Jiang Yu removed her armor. "Consort An alone is not enough. The newly entered concubines have not yet been favored. Wanji, tell your brother to put some pressure on the court."
[I intend to deliver a fatal blow to Gu Heng and Consort Rong when their relationship is at its weakest.]
Otherwise, it would be difficult to quell the hatred in her heart.
Gu Qingyan paused slightly outside the door, glancing up at the azure sky. He knew that once his mother took action, the Daqing palace would descend into chaos.
But even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone those people who had deceived his mother for ten years.
That's really damn good.
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