In the imperial court, Cen Hai shouted, "If you have something to report, speak up; otherwise, the court is adjourned."
"I have something to report."
"It has been more than a month since the young ladies entered the palace, but the Emperor has not yet summoned them. Since Consort Rong is already six months pregnant, the Emperor should visit other concubines more often to ensure the continuation of the family line."
The number of new concubines entering the palace this time is large, and the forces involved in the previous dynasty are also deeply entrenched. The Liu family is now in a weak position, so naturally no one speaks up for the Liu family.
Immediately, the court officials all chimed in, and they helped Gu Heng and Consort Rong to their feet.
That night, looking at the two stacks of nameplates in the eunuch's hands, Gu Heng lost interest. "Cen Hai, where is Consort An's nameplate?"
After all, she was his cousin, and she had been quite affectionate towards him recently. In addition, he had been given that kind of medicine by Rong'er before, so Gu Heng had started to have some reservations about her.
"Your Majesty, Consort An said she was feeling unwell a few days ago, so her nameplate was taken down, but this servant... this servant noticed that Jing'an Palace did not call for the imperial physician."
Gu Heng's expression hardened. Could this woman be thinking of leaving his harem again? She wouldn't even put up a nameplate.
"Go to Jing'an Palace."
Jiang Yu listened to Wanji's report with a smile, not expecting that Consort An was so quick to understand.
"Your Majesty, this servant has informed all the palace masters that they will come to Zhaoning Palace to pay their respects tomorrow." Wanji was extremely efficient and loyal, and had earned Jiang Yu's deep trust.
"Tomorrow the Imperial Household will invite the Emperor again."
As night gradually fell, Jiang Yu guessed that things must be in complete chaos inside the Lingxi Palace.
[In that case, I will add fuel to the fire.]
"I suddenly feel like going to see the princes and princesses."
......
The next day, Jiang Yu slowly carried the food to the outside of the study. Through the gauze window, she heard the children reading aloud, which gave her the illusion of a peaceful and idyllic life.
All eyes were drawn to Gu Qingyan. Unlike Gu Qingling and Gu Qingfeng, Gu Qingyan had never mentioned needing a study companion.
Master Meng seemed to have a particular fondness for Gu Qingyan, asking him several questions in just a quarter of an hour.
Suddenly, Gu Qingfeng's eyes lit up as he saw Jiang Yu outside the window!
Their eyes met, but Jiang Yu didn't give Gu Qingfeng the cold look he expected. Instead, she nodded at him. This one gesture made Gu Qingfeng so excited that he almost jumped off his chair.
It was during a break that Gu Qingyan realized Jiang Yu had arrived.
"Mother!"
Gu Qingyan ran to Jiang Yu, who immediately opened the food box. "Look, I specially brought your favorites."
Gu Qingling and Gu Qingfeng also came out. Ling Mama, who was behind Jiang Yu, immediately carried a food box in her hand, "Her Majesty thought that His Highness the Crown Prince and the Second Prince must be hungry, so she specially brought some extra food."
The food box was opened, and it still contained all the pastries that Gu Qingyan loved.
Gu Qingling pursed her lips. "Granny, I'm not hungry."
Gu Qingfeng, without saying a word, picked up the pastries and stuffed them into his mouth. He liked anything his mother sent him.
[Gu Qingfeng eats like that without worrying about choking; if he chokes to death, I'll probably be held responsible too.]
Jiang Yu's eyelids twitched. "Granny Ling, pour some tea for the Second Prince."
A huge smile appeared on Gu Qingfeng's face. He knew that as long as he was willing to change, his mother would not hate him.
The two food boxes were quickly emptied, and Master Meng returned to the study after resting. Seeing this, Jiang Yu smiled and handed a handkerchief to Gu Qingyan, "Alright, I've seen you all. I'll go to the Dragon and Phoenix Palace to see the princess."
"No need."
Gu Qingling's somewhat anxious voice rang out, but Jiang Yu feigned shock, "I've been thinking that the princess has been staying in the Dragon and Phoenix Palace for quite some time without seeing anyone. How can this continue?"
"Yao'er had a high fever yesterday. If Your Majesty goes there, I'm afraid you'll catch her illness."
Even Gu Qingfeng realized what was going on. He had been leaving the palace to practice martial arts with the martial arts master as soon as he finished school, and most of the time he stayed outside the palace. Therefore, he knew nothing about Gu Qingyao's affairs.
"Did the imperial physician say how long it would take for this high fever to fully recover?" Jiang Yu continued, following Gu Qingling's words. "I really want to see the princess."
"Three days, just three days."
After Gu Qingling finished speaking, she also felt that it was inappropriate, and her face turned ashen. However, Jiang Yu nodded as if she had not noticed anything. "In that case, I will go to the Dragon and Phoenix Palace to see the princess again in three days."
After saying that, Jiang Yu left with Granny Ling, leaving Gu Qingfeng to keep a close eye on Gu Qingling until Gu Qingling lowered her head guiltily.
Jiang Yu didn't want to give Gu Heng and Consort Rong too much time to react.
[Once the newly arrived concubines have passed Gu Heng's notice, and if he continues to stay overnight at Lingxi Palace for the next two days, I fear memorials impeaching Consort Rong will flood the palace again.]
[Also, why have Gu Heng and Consort Rong stopped mentioning restoring her to the rank of Imperial Concubine?]
As she thought about it, a cold smile appeared on Jiang Yu's face. In the past, she was so weak and easily bullied for the sake of her so-called three children.
The next day, the newly arrived concubines, dressed in their rank-specific attire, came to Zhaoning Palace to pay their respects to Jiang Yu.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
The three bows and three rises were a level of nobility that Consort Rong could never attain.
"Get up, everyone," Jiang Yu said with a smile. "Once you enter the palace, you are all sisters in one family. From now on, your priority should be to produce offspring for the Emperor."
Jiang Yu made some polite remarks, and soon after, Cen Hai's voice rang out; it was Gu Heng who had arrived.
"Your Majesty has truly found some delightful women." Jiang Yu covered her mouth and laughed. Seeing that Gu Heng and Consort Rong both had the same dark circles under their eyes, Jiang Yu felt even more pleased. "I think all of you ladies are one in a million."
Gu Heng forced himself to look at the concubines, knowing that he would be summoning one of them tonight.
But Jiang Yu was going to the Dragon and Phoenix Palace to see Gu Qingyao in three days... Gu Heng couldn't help but glance at Consort Rong sitting there, and could only wait and see how Rong'er would react.
“However, Your Majesty should not neglect your old friends.” Jiang Yu looked at Consort An. “Consort Rong is pregnant and cannot serve Your Majesty, but I think Consort An is capable of all these things.”
These words effectively blocked Gu Heng's path to Lingxi Palace for the past few days.
Consort An's grateful expression contrasted sharply with Consort Rong's pale face, and Jiang Yu leaned back comfortably.
[Gu Heng, Consort Rong, you owe me all of this.]
......
"I really can't eat anymore... Ugh..."
Gu Qingyao was brought out of the dark dungeon, her hands and feet were tied, and she was locked in a small room. Consort Rong personally watched over Gu Qingyao's meals every day.
"Yao'er, eat quickly, eat more, only by eating more can you survive." Consort Rong cried as she uttered the most cruel words, which frightened Gu Qingyao so much that she spat out the food in her mouth.
Consort Rong reached out and stroked Gu Qingyao's face. "If the Empress saw you like this, she would kill you."
"In the entire Daqing, only the Emperor and I will not harm you."
A bronze mirror was handed to Gu Qingyao, and she saw her own face reflected in it.
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