"My lord."
Ling Ku knelt before Gu Lin, “As you said, we have searched all the waterways but found nothing, and we have also searched the caves, but we have not found any trace of the Rebel King.”
"only......"
Seeing Ling Ku hesitate, Gu Lin frowned. "But what?"
"My lord, I have also searched the empty house as you instructed. Just like what we found before, there are signs that someone lived there, but no one was seen."
"Have all these houses been searched?"
The contents of the royal ancient books he had been reading flashed through Gu Lin's mind. Suddenly, a glint of light appeared in Gu Lin's eyes. "Could there be some kind of underground passage?"
"I've had that guess too, but I haven't found any entrances in these houses."
Gu Lin lowered his eyes. "The entrance may not be inside the mansion. Ling Hai, go and get the map."
On the map, Gu Lin circled all the suspicious houses.
Then, some things suddenly became clear.
"Go check this area for any entrances, especially the wellheads." Gu Lin smirked. Jing Zhao, you're about to be found by me.
"I'll take care of it right away."
After Ling Ku left, Gu Lin was still staring at the map. These marked houses were all clustered together. If there really was a tunnel, these were just one of its branch exits.
Where is the real tunnel exit?
“Linghai, before I entered the palace, I gave the order to search the palace from top to bottom.”
Upon hearing this, Ling Hai immediately replied, "Your Majesty, there is absolutely no problem in the palace."
Gu Linwei nodded almost imperceptibly. If it wasn't in the palace, where else could it be?
Or is it that there was no tunnel at all?
......
On the other side, Gu Qingyan woke up naturally when it was time for court. After waking up, Gu Qingyan saw the guards kneeling outside the door.
He recognized the man; he was the one assigned to guard Gu Qingfeng and Gu Qingyao.
"What happened to those two?"
"Your Majesty," the guard immediately replied, "they heard the news of the Empress Dowager's fall off the cliff and are threatening to kill themselves to see you."
When the guard mentioned Jiang Yu falling off the cliff, he clearly sensed a murderous intent.
"I understand. Tell them that if they really want to die, I won't stop them."
The guard trembled at the flat tone of his voice and immediately lowered his head.
"By the way, if they really want to die, I can send someone to the place where the Empress Dowager fell off the cliff to die. That would be a token of their goodwill."
When the words reached Gu Qingfeng and Gu Qingyao's ears, Gu Qingyao was extremely excited.
"Fine, let him take me to the place where Mother fell off the cliff. It's better than me staying in this dark and gloomy courtyard, where I can't even do anything about Mother's fall."
Seeing Gu Qingyao's hysterical outburst, the guards didn't know what to do and could only return to the courtyard to stand guard, letting Gu Qingyao frantically pound on the gate.
"Gu Qingyao, have you gone mad?"
Gu Qingfeng's voice rang out, and Gu Qingyao's hand, which was pounding on the courtyard gate, stopped.
"Gu Qingfeng, are you saying I'm crazy?" Gu Qingyao's unfamiliar gaze pierced Gu Qingfeng's heart. Gu Qingyao forced a smile. "Yes, I am crazy."
"My mother's fate is unknown; I'm going mad."
Gu Qingyao walked up to Gu Qingfeng and shook him desperately with both hands, saying, "If it's a matter of life for life, I'd rather die in place of my mother!"
"The Empress Dowager is not dead!"
Gu Qingfeng's eyes were bloodshot. "Yao'er, I demand to see her alive or dead. How can you say that Mother is dead?"
Gu Qingyao fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face.
Her mother was so kind, how could anything have happened to her?
But they said the cliff was so high that there was almost no chance of survival.
The commotion in the courtyard lasted for about an hour before it finally quieted down completely.
Gu Qingyao's voice rang out at the courtyard gate, "Could we set up a small Buddhist shrine here? I want to pray for my mother's well-being."
This was the only useful method she could think of at the moment.
If something really happens to her mother... she will definitely go with her.
A hint of obsession flashed in Gu Qingyao's eyes. In this life, the next life, and the life after that... she would stay by her mother's side to atone for her sins.
......
When the news reached Gu Qingyan's ears, he paused for a moment, then said, "I agree."
They hoped that their prayers would move Heaven and ensure the safety of their mother.
After Gu Qingyan finished processing the memorials, he felt a little dizzy when he stood up. Qin Wei quickly reached out to support him, saying, "Your Majesty works hard every day, so please take care of your health."
Hearing Qin Wei's caring words, Gu Qingyan felt an even stronger pang of sadness in his heart.
"My uncle has been back at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence for several days now, and I haven't gone to see him. Do people outside now think that I have a heart harder than stone?"
Only he himself knew that he dared not.
"It's not that Your Majesty doesn't want to see Marquis Dingyuan, it's just that Your Majesty is afraid to see Marquis Dingyuan seriously injured and unconscious."
Qin Wei's words made Gu Qingyan clench his hands under his sleeves.
"This servant has served Your Majesty for a long time, and Your Majesty's heart is always soft."
Therefore, the young master will not kill innocent people indiscriminately.
As Qin Wei watched that still young figure grow up, he realized that his young master had unknowingly become the ruler of a powerful nation.
"Uncle Qin understands me very well."
Gu Qingyan's mouth was full of bitterness. Could such a person really betray him?
"But today, I wish to visit my uncle."
Qin Wei's eyes narrowed sharply. "This servant will make the arrangements immediately."
One begins to doubt but refuses to believe, while the other knows he is being doubted but deceives himself.
The Marquis of Dingyuan's residence.
Every step Gu Qingyan took toward the bedside was incredibly difficult.
Aside from the time he deliberately injured Jiang He, this was the first time he had seen Jiang He so lifeless.
"Uncle, I'm late."
Gu Qingyan sat down in front of Jiang He's bed and held Jiang He's bloodless hand.
"I didn't mean to not come to see you, I just hate that I couldn't save you." Tears streamed down Gu Qingyan's face. "And, I failed to protect Mother."
They had made a pinky promise to protect their mother together.
Outside, Mei Chu looked at the gloomy sky and sighed inwardly. The Marquis's condition was deteriorating every day, and he probably only had three or four days left to live.
Even Mei Chu, who was used to any grand occasion, couldn't help but feel a little sad.
This man, who may have been the last Marquis of Dingyuan, died while his wife was pregnant and still on the battlefield, and his own sister disappeared without a trace after falling off a cliff.
This is the Jiang family, renowned for its military exploits.
Inside the room, Gu Qingyan lay on Jiang He's body, "Uncle, please don't sleep, I'm really scared."
Soft sobs could be heard, and Gu Qingyan finally didn't have to put on a brave face in front of Jiang He.
"I still remember the first time I met you, you lifted me onto the horse."
"You said I am your nephew."
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