"Wow--"
Jiang Yao suddenly burst into tears, her little face turning red from holding back her sobs.
Gu Lin jumped up from his chair and took Jiang Yao from Gu Qingyan's arms. "Yao Yao, be good, don't be afraid."
"Uncle, they are so fierce, so incredibly fierce."
As soon as Jiang Yao said this, the eyes of the court officials sitting below changed one by one. They had watched Princess Fu'an grow up together, and even the Emperor Emeritus had to coax her gently.
The arrival of your aristocratic family has frightened the young princess to tears.
Sensing the change in atmosphere, and seeing that Gu Qingyan remained silent and only stared coldly at them, Qin Zheng felt somewhat embarrassed.
"Young Master Qin is too kind. We are here today to celebrate Emperor Yu's birthday."
Pei Zhi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, our Pei family has specially sent a thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum, as well as some other elixirs and medicines. Please accept them."
Gu Qingyan then turned his gaze to Pei Zhi. After four years apart, Pei Zhi's appearance in Gu Qingyan's memory had become somewhat blurry.
"Someone, please have a seat."
Each of the five great families presented their congratulatory gifts, and Gu Qingyan's expression only began to improve when he saw that Jiang Yao had been appeased.
"Since you're here, you're guests. Let the Right Prime Minister show you around the capital of Dayu during this time."
As soon as Gu Qingyan finished speaking, Wei Ruo stood up and nodded slightly to the five people.
The singing and dancing continued, and Jiang Yao nestled in Gu Lin's arms, sobbing and looking utterly dejected, which broke Gu Qingyan's heart.
"What does this Emperor Yu mean? I think he doesn't take our five great families seriously at all."
Qin Zheng spoke angrily, having been pampered since childhood, he could not bear such humiliation.
"Young Master Qin," Pei Zhi's voice already carried a hint of impatience, "we've come uninvited, and in front of the entire court, do you expect the Emperor of Yu to grovel before you?"
"If that's the case, wouldn't Dayu be losing to our aristocratic families before even fighting?"
Such a fool, and Father actually favors a marriage alliance with the Qin family.
"This person should not be underestimated."
It was Sun Cai who spoke. The Sun family was skilled in making incense, and the incense they produced could bring them countless gold and silver treasures.
Upon hearing this, Pei Zhi twitched the corners of her mouth. Gu Qingyan had really changed a lot.
Four years ago, he was a young emperor who deliberately concealed his talents, but today, his eyes reveal a hint of arrogance that looks down upon the world.
During the conversation, only Yunmo remained silent.
"Yunmo, what's wrong?"
Pei Zhi was the first to notice Yun Mo's unusual behavior and asked softly.
The young master of the Yun family is kind-hearted, so among these people, Pei Zhi is closer to Yun Mo.
"N-nothing...it's nothing..."
Yunmo lowered his head and took a big gulp of tea. Why did this little princess of Dayu look so much like the one who lived in the Tea Flower Pavilion?
Gu Lin silently observed everyone's reactions, and finally, he gave Yun Mo a deep look.
......
"Uncle!"
Gu Lin arrived at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence with a large bag of food. Jiang Yao, who had been quietly staying in Bai Qian's arms, immediately couldn't stay still and jumped to the ground to run towards Gu Lin.
"Your Majesty, please stop indulging her. She's already completely out of control. What will become of her in the future?"
Bai Qian personally got up to pour water for Gu Lin. During the day, Bai Qian was almost always in the military camp, and she would only come back at night.
"Mother is talking badly about Yao Yao again, how shameful!"
Jiang Yao sat contentedly to the side, holding the food, while Jiang He, having received the news, also rushed over.
"But have you discovered anything suspicious?"
“Right now, Ayan is still talking to the five of them.” Gu Lin took a sip of tea. “Yaoyao suffered a great injustice today.”
"What's wrong?" Bai Qian froze. "What happened to Yao Yao?"
"Axi, Yaoyao cried today. Young Master Qin spoke to the Emperor in a rather harsh tone, and Yaoyao was frightened and cried."
Before Bai Qian could even breathe a sigh of relief, Gu Lin's voice rang out again, "We have to thank Yao Yao for everything today."
Why?
Now, neither Jiang He nor Bai Qian knew what Gu Lin was trying to tell them.
"Did you notice the expressions on those five people's faces when Yao Yao started crying? That must have been the first time they had ever seen Yao Yao."
Gu Lin recalled the events carefully, and Jiang He also began to recall the banquet from the daytime.
When the young master of the Qin family saw Yao Yao, a look of disgust flashed in his eyes.
When the young master of the Sun family saw Yao Yao, his eyes showed the same disgust as the young master of the Qin family.
The young master of the Gong family showed no expression.
The young master of the Pei family looked on with curiosity.
A look of shock flashed across the eyes of the young master of the Yun family.
"You suspect the Yun family?" Jiang He reacted quickly. He had also noticed that Yun Mo's expression was a bit strange; a moment of stiffness couldn't lie.
Gu Lin nodded. "Yao Yao looks very much like A Yu. If you see Yao Yao and your expression is different, then it is very likely that you have seen A Yu before."
"The possibility of the Gong family is not low either," Jiang He added. The Qin family and the Sun family can almost be ruled out as suspects, as for the Pei family, back then, the Pei father and daughter were able to travel thousands of miles to save him, so it was impossible for them to be distracted and take Ayu away.
Gu Lin nodded. "I will keep them in the capital for a month. We will focus on investigating the Gong family and the Yun family."
When Gu Qingyan returned that night, he already smelled of alcohol.
"Father?"
Gu Qingyan looked at Gu Lin waiting in the courtyard and smiled sheepishly, "That Qin Zheng is so mean, he kept trying to get me drunk."
"I've prepared a hangover soup for you, and a bowl of longevity noodles."
"Longevity noodles?"
Gu Qingyan sat up straight with a somersault, but then suddenly pouted, "It's been four years already, and Mother still hasn't cooked longevity noodles for me."
Tears streamed down Gu Qingyan's face as Gu Lin frantically wiped them away.
"Ayan, you can't cry on your birthday. Once we find your mother, she will cook for you every year on your birthday."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyan hugged Gu Lin's waist and, fueled by alcohol, burst into tears.
But I can't find her.
Time flies so fast. Sometimes he is afraid that he will forget what his mother looks like, so he can only stay in Zhaoning Palace every day and look at his mother's portrait.
"I have worked very hard in handling state affairs, and as my mother said, I have kept the people in my heart. For the past four years, not a single day has passed without my anxiety." Gu Qingyan cried, his whole body trembling. "I just want to ask my mother, have I become the wise ruler in her eyes? Have I not let down the blood she shed?"
But I can't find her.
Countless grievances boiled down to one sentence: he couldn't even find where his mother was.
"We're almost there, we'll find it soon."
Gu Lin's eyes also reddened. He gently patted Gu Qingyan's shoulder. Wasn't he also searching desperately and blaming himself every day?
Gu Lin raised his head and looked at the moon in the sky.
The full moon was especially beautiful that night.
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