"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has been kneeling outside the palace for two hours straight for the past three days."
Ever since Gu Qingfeng broke his leg, Gu Heng's temper has been so easily ignited that all the palace servants in the Taihe Palace are secretly suffering.
Gu Heng's vermilion brush, which was used to correct the memorials, did not pause for a moment. "Let him kneel outside."
Gu Qingling aimed the arrow at Gu Qingfeng, something Gu Heng could not accept under any circumstances.
Because he was so aware of the cruelty of the struggle for the throne, Gu Heng made Gu Qingling the crown prince early on. However, before Gu Qingling even ascended the throne, the brothers began to fight each other. What if his father, the emperor, blocked Gu Qingling's path?
Could it be that Gu Qingfeng will suffer the same fate?
Gu Heng felt a chill run down his spine and was no longer as tolerant of Gu Qingling as before.
After about an incense stick's time, Gu Heng spoke again, "There hasn't been any movement from the Empress these past few days?"
Deeply disappointed in Gu Qingling, Gu Qingfeng was seriously injured and bedridden, and Gu Qingyao had been spoiled and ruined by Consort Rong...
In the end, Gu Heng realized that only Jiang Yu was the one who truly cared about him.
"Your Majesty, the princess moved to Zhaoning Palace yesterday."
Gu Heng's eyes lit up instantly, and he threw down the vermilion brush in his hand. "Cen Hai, have you found the person I asked you to find before?"
"The person is already at an estate on the outskirts of the capital. Does Your Majesty wish to meet him?"
"Let's go now."
Gu Heng hurriedly left the palace in disguise and arrived at a remote manor on the outskirts of the capital, where a blind old woman was imprisoned.
"Granny Fang."
When the name that hadn't been mentioned in a long time was brought up again, Granny Fang suddenly shuddered.
“You have served the Empress for six years. The Empress made an exception and allowed you to leave the palace because of the sudden change in your family situation.” Gu Heng said somewhat urgently, “Now I want to know more about the Empress, and that’s why I thought of you, Granny Fang.”
"Her Majesty the Empress is kind-hearted; she is the kindest person I have ever met in my life."
Granny Fang roughly understood the current situation. "This old servant's life is worthless, but if Your Majesty insists that this old servant slander the Empress, then just take this old servant's life."
"How dare you! How dare you not answer the Emperor's question?" Cen Hai's sharp voice made Gu Heng frown, but Granny Fang laughed.
"Your Highness was born into nobility, and the late Marquis and his wife raised her to be a person who dares to love and hate." Granny Fang's eyes were empty, but her words carried a hint of sarcasm. "Little did she know that Zhaoning Palace was no different from the Cold Palace."
"presumptuous!"
The guard behind Gu Heng suddenly stepped forward and kicked Granny Fang, causing her to fall to the ground.
“Your Majesty schemes for the Emperor and the young masters every day, yet the Emperor favors Consort Rong alone, and Your Majesty has earned a reputation for being jealous.” Granny Fang struggled to her feet, unable to get up. “Does the Emperor think that all your delicious meals, calming spices, and meticulous arrangements came out of thin air?”
Gu Heng's eyes narrowed sharply, and he took a few steps back in disbelief.
“Even in ordinary families, if a child is raised by a concubine, their future is ruined.” Granny Fang recalled the past with a pain in her heart. “How could Your Highness watch this happen? Those are the children Your Highness carried for ten months and gave birth to.”
"Your Majesty, why can't you turn around and look at our Empress?"
Granny Fang was on the verge of collapse. The Empress was kind and let her leave the palace, giving her enough money to bury her grandson. But when she had finished arranging everything and was about to return to the Empress's side, she was blinded.
"There will never be a better empress in this world than Her Majesty." Granny Fang chuckled wistfully. "The Emperor and the young masters are unaware of their good fortune; one day you will regret it!"
"You lowly servant, you're asking for death!" The guard grabbed Granny Fang by the neck, but Granny Fang did not struggle at all.
"Let go!"
No sooner had Gu Heng's voice rang out than blood began to flow from the corner of Granny Fang's mouth. Gu Heng roared as if he had realized something, "You took poison?"
"Even if I die, I will not become a burden to threaten Your Majesty."
Her mistress has suffered enough; why can't Heaven treat her better?
"Your Majesty...the Empress...did not do anything wrong."
After saying this, Granny Fang breathed her last and died in front of Gu Heng.
......
Delicious food, calming spices, and a well-planned layout.
On the carriage back to the palace, Gu Heng leaned against the soft cushions as if all his strength had been drained. Wasn't all of this done by Consort Rong?
"Your Majesty, I have specifically instructed the kitchen staff that you must take care of yourself as you work so hard for the country."
"I noticed that Your Majesty has not been sleeping well at night these past few days, so I specially went to find some calming spices."
"Your Majesty, I am truly pleased that the Liu family can share your burdens."
Past conversations with Consort Rong surfaced one by one, and Gu Heng's vision blurred. Consort Rong had lied to him again!
"Cen Hai, go to Zhaoning Palace."
Gu Heng clutched his left chest, breathing heavily. He needed to see Jiang Yu immediately. He wanted to hold Jiang Yu in his arms, to meld her into his very bones. He wanted Jiang Yu to truly become his woman.
When the imperial procession arrived at the entrance of Zhaoning Palace, Gu Heng saw Gu Qingyao guarding the gate.
"Your son greets Your Majesty."
Gu Qingyao's gaze was cold. Gu Heng, recalling the events in the dark prison, dared not look directly into Gu Qingyao's eyes.
"I've come to see the Empress." Gu Heng twitched the corner of his mouth and made a move to walk into Zhaoning Palace.
"Father, please wait." Gu Qingyao blocked Gu Heng's way. "The Empress Dowager is unwell. Father, please do not go in, lest you catch her illness."
"Is Ayu sick?"
Gu Heng was unusually worried about Jiang Yu, and Gu Qingyao seemed to have figured something out, with a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth.
"Mother is worried that my third brother will fall ill from worry. I think that if Mother sees Father at this time, it will only worsen her condition. What do you think, Father?"
Gu Qingyao stood gracefully in front of Gu Heng, but Gu Heng felt that the woman in front of him was not the daughter he had always known.
It was he who issued the decree ordering Gu Qingyan to go to Heng County. Now, Ayu certainly doesn't want to see him either, and it might even backfire.
"Father, why don't you go and see Consort Rong? I heard she's had several miscarriages at Lingxi Palace," Gu Qingyao said again. "And Second Brother, Father, you should go and see him too."
Gu Qingyao chuckled inwardly, realizing that Gu Qingling was actually the one most like Gu Heng.
"I understand."
Gu Heng felt uncomfortable under Gu Qingyao's gaze, and all the romantic thoughts in his mind vanished. Gu Heng took a deep breath and said, "You stay in Zhaoning Palace and take good care of your mother."
But the frustration in his heart made Gu Heng reluctant to leave; he longed to see Jiang Yu.
He wanted to ask Jiang Yu about these things in person and then beg her to give him another chance.
"Your son will take good care of Mother."
Gu Qingyao's eyes held a hint of mockery. "Regret it now? Too late."
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