"Your Majesty, the Pei family's power has greatly diminished since the internal strife a few years ago, and now it is considered to be at a lower-middle level among the major families."
Jiang He explained the affairs of the major families to Gu Qingyan in detail, and Gu Qingyan listened attentively.
"Pei Zhi is the successor chosen by the head of the Pei family. It is quite rare to see the head of the Pei family willing to abandon several adult children."
Gu Qingyan's face also showed a hint of sarcasm upon hearing this, "Back then, when the head of the Pei family was critically ill, his children were only concerned with vying for power, while Pei Zhi tried every means to save him. Humans are not plants or trees, so it is only natural that Pei Zhi was chosen."
"What does His Majesty think of Pei Zhi?"
Jiang He glanced at Gu Qingyan. The two children were the same age, yet both were precocious.
"He's a formidable rival."
Gu Qingyan's four words left Jiang He somewhat amused and exasperated: "What? This young girl is about your age, and you still consider her a formidable rival?"
"Uncle, she might not have completely ignored me as a formidable rival."
Gu Qingyan lowered his eyes. He could tell that from the first moment she saw him, Pei Zhi had been scrutinizing him, the kind of scrutiny one would give an enemy.
"You'll have plenty of opportunities to face off in the future."
Seeing that there was no one else in the carriage, Jiang He reached out and rubbed Gu Qingyan's head. "Now that the rebel king is dead and the traitor has been eliminated, Ayan, you've done a good job."
Gu Qingyan nodded upon hearing this, "My aunt should be back soon."
Gradually, the atmosphere inside the carriage became quiet. Yingzhi, who was standing outside the carriage, sighed silently in his heart. The Emperor and the Marquis must be missing the Empress Dowager again.
With a heart as kind as the Empress Dowager, Heaven will surely not allow anything to truly happen to her.
......
On the other side.
Since they weren't in a rush on their way back, the Pei father and daughter leisurely "took the opportunity" to observe the local customs and culture of Daqing.
"Ah Zhi, do you think someone might be following us around here?"
The head of the Pei family spoke half-jokingly, glancing back at the carriage full of goods. This little emperor of Daqing is really interesting.
They appeared warm and friendly on the surface, but in reality, even though they had been away from the capital for so long, there were still people secretly following them.
I'm afraid I'll have to follow them until the moment they leave Daqing.
"Hasn't Father already noticed?"
Pei Zhi, unfazed, ran to the carriage and took out some food. "But the pastries in Daqing, the capital, are really delicious. Father, have the kitchen at home research them too."
"Azhi, what do you think of Daqing now?"
"Prospering steadily."
While eating pastries, Pei Zhi revealed the most crucial point: "There was a former official in the Daqing court named Min Fu, but he is now dead."
"It is clear that Gu Qingyan has almost no tolerance for aristocratic families."
Upon hearing this, the head of the Pei family finally smiled. It seemed that Azhi had thoroughly figured out Daqing in the past few days.
“However, we don’t need to worry too much in advance.” The head of the Pei family patted Pei Zhi on the shoulder. “As he grows up, Zhi, you are growing up too.”
After saying that, a cold glint appeared in the eyes of the Pei family patriarch. Did he despise aristocratic families? He was afraid that the most powerful aristocratic family would be the Jiang family, and that Gu Qingyan's maternal family would be the only one.
However, it will take several years for Gu Qingyan to grow up.
So there's plenty of time ahead.
......
The Imperial Palace of Daning.
Zhuo Yi and Chang Wuyou stood outside the hall, looking at each other. Ling Hai expressionlessly took out an imperial edict and handed it to Zhuo Yi.
A few breaths later, Zhuo Yi tossed the imperial edict to Chang Wuyou as if it were a hot potato.
"Where is the king?" Zhuo Yi's voice was clearly cracking.
"The king has already left."
"What?!" Upon hearing the "bad news" after just returning to Daning, Zhuo Yi was so shocked that he could hardly breathe.
What kind of situation is this?
The rebel king was killed, and the situation inside and outside the Great Ning court was stabilized, but the king ran away? He even left behind a decree of abdication and just left?
"Does Protector Ling know where the King has gone?" Chang Wuyou asked immediately. "If Protector Ling has any news, please inform Prime Minister Zhuo."
"The king did not tell anyone where he went."
Ling Hai clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhuo Yi and Chang Wuyou, and said, "I shall take my leave."
Zhuo Yi and Chang Wuyou were left unsure of what to do.
"Fine, hurry up and send someone to Daqing to request an audience with the Daqing Emperor."
Zhuo Yi sighed heavily. This abdication edict was meant for the young prince, but given the current situation...
Chang Wuyou stared intently at the bright yellow in his hand, as if recalling something, his eyes flickering slightly.
"Prime Minister Zhuo, do you think that if the king had other paths to choose from back then, would he have chosen to become the king of Da Ning?"
Although the words were spoken softly, they struck Zhuo Yi like a thunderbolt.
He sent people to Daqing more than once to inquire about the past of the Prince of Xiang, and the replies he received were all that the Prince of Xiang was free-spirited, unwilling to be restrained, and indifferent to power.
Zhuo Yi twitched the corner of his mouth. In fact, from the moment he heard the words "indifferent to power," he had vaguely guessed that this day would come.
"This time, I'm afraid both the court officials and the common people have caused the king distress."
"Zhuo Yi, this war is almost over now."
Chang Wuyou looked up at the sky, which was beginning to clear, and thought, "But the only one who is nowhere to be found is the king's wife."
Let the king go find someone.
......
The abdication edict was sent to Daqing by express courier, and Da Ning also learned of Gu Lin's departure. In an instant, a great unease completely enveloped Da Ning.
But no one dared to cause trouble at this time.
Gu Lin's methods in eliminating Jing Zhao were too ruthless; to this day, the corpses of Jing Zhao and his men are still hanging high at the city gate.
It inspires fear in those who see it.
Daqing Imperial Palace.
When Gu Qingyan saw the abdication edict before him, his eyes turned completely red.
"I hate my father."
Gu Qingyan grabbed the imperial edict in front of him, intending to throw it on the ground, but his hand, suspended high in the air, gripped the edict tightly. He looked at Jiang He sitting to the side and sniffed.
"Uncle, how could he just leave me like this?"
Gu Qingyan felt like an abandoned cub, "I'm all alone again..."
Jiang He slowly stood up, his expression serious: "Ayan, when your father and mother asked you if you were willing to become the ruler of the world, how did you answer them?"
Gu Qingyan's tears flowed even more profusely. "I said I was willing."
Jiang He pulled Gu Qingyan into his arms. "Your father has gone to find your mother. He will return once he finds her."
"Ayan, be good, we'll wait for them to come back."
If it weren't for killing Jing Zhao and exposing Qin Wei, Gu Lin probably wouldn't have left the cliff.
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