"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have reigned for thirty-seven years, diligently serving my country and showing compassion to my officials. Crown Prince Gu Qingling has rashly sought personal glory and fallen into the hands of the enemy, truly disgracing his ancestors. Therefore, I hereby depose him from his position as Crown Prince. This is my decree."
At the same time, an imperial edict was proclaimed to the world, bestowing the title of Prince Yan upon the third son of the emperor, Gu Qingyan.
"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations!"
Qin Wei dressed Gu Qingyan in the robes symbolizing his status as a prince, and as he adjusted Gu Qingyan's belt, a bitter feeling welled up in Qin Wei's heart.
"Qin Wei, I asked Ling Hai and the others, and they said that you were only fourteen years old when you entered Lingxiao Pavilion."
"Back then, I thought I was about to die. If it weren't for Your Majesty's mercy, I wouldn't be standing in front of Your Highness today."
Qin Wei held a whisk in his hand, his back slightly bent.
Gu Qingyan paused. Back then, Qin Wei was willing to undergo castration in the palace to stay by his side and truly protected him for nearly ten years. Could such a person really be a traitor?
If he were truly a traitor, why did he hesitate to act when he had so many opportunities to kill him?
"Your Highness is now the first prince to be granted the title of king, and his future is sure to be limitless," Qin Wei said softly. "The Emperor will also entrust Da Ning to Your Highness."
Qin Wei's eyes were full of genuine laughter, while Gu Qingyan was even more confused.
"It's time for Your Highness to go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and join the Emperor at the Zhaoning Palace."
Gu Qingyan nodded and gave Qin Wei a deep look.
Zhaoning Palace.
Gu Heng stood outside the gate of Zhaoning Palace with Gu Qingyan. At that moment, Gu Heng felt extremely guilty.
How should he tell the Empress that he wants to exchange Yan'er for Ling'er?
Inside Zhaoning Palace, Jiang Yu had already made ample "preparations".
Jiang Yu deliberately painted her face pale, dipped her fingertips in chili water beforehand, and even had Ling Mama loosen her hair.
I wonder if I can fool Gu Heng today.
Gu Qingyan smiled and followed Gu Heng into Zhaoning Palace.
"The Empress doesn't look well today." Gu Heng said awkwardly, "What is this imperial physician good for?!"
Jiang Yu coughed a few times, then stood up unsteadily. "Why did Your Majesty depose Ling'er from the position of Crown Prince, and why did you bestow the title of Prince Yan upon Ayan?"
He was so happy he wanted to drink and enjoy himself immediately, but he had to put on a sad face.
"Ayu, I..."
Seeing that Gu Heng couldn't bring himself to say it, Gu Qingyan, who was eager to stir up trouble, said, "Mother, I will volunteer to go to Daning to bring back my elder brother."
"What?"
Jiang Yu rolled her eyes, quickly ran her fingertips across the corner of her eye, and stinging tears immediately fell.
This pepper spray really stings the eyes.
"Your Majesty, children speak without thinking, you..."
"I have already agreed." Gu Heng couldn't bear to look at Jiang Yu's expression any longer. "Ling'er is also your child. They are both your flesh and blood. I know you are heartbroken."
【vomit......】
"Don't worry, I will ensure Yan'er's safety."
After saying that, Gu Heng fled Zhaoning Palace as if he were escaping.
Half an incense stick later.
"Pfft—"
Jiang Yu laughed so hard she almost fell over, and Gu Qingyan let her laugh out loud, his eyes full of doting affection.
"Mother, I am now the Prince Yan."
"How was my performance just now?" Ignoring her nausea, Jiang Yu spoke with a self-satisfied air.
The palace servants around him smiled broadly, and Gu Qingyan nodded, "Excellent!"
"I will be leaving the capital soon, Mother, please take good care of yourself."
......
Under Gu Lin's deliberate push, the edict to depose the crown prince quickly reached Gu Qingling's ears.
"What?"
Gu Qingling, who was being used as a punching bag, suddenly sat up. "What did you just say? An edict to depose the Crown Prince?"
Ling Ku deliberately raised his voice and recited the edict deposing the crown prince to Gu Qingling verbatim.
Heaven knows how long it took him to memorize that imperial edict!
A burst of laughter erupted around him. Gu Qingling stood there, stunned. How could this be? How could his father depose him under such circumstances?
"So he was just a deposed crown prince. I thought he would be of great use. Now what makes him any different from those captured soldiers?"
"The Emperor of Daqing is ruthless; he's treating you like a pawn to be discarded."
Various voices reached Gu Qingling's ears, and Gu Qingling roared in despair, "Shut up, all of you!"
"Still alone? He's been crippled, reduced to a commoner!"
With a mouthful of blood stuck in her throat, Gu Qingling was filled with hatred and vomited the blood.
"Behave yourselves, let me go ask the Prime Minister how to deal with this useless... Crown Prince." Ling Ku whistled as he teased Gu Qingling. Seeing the hatred in Gu Qingling's eyes, Ling Ku nodded in satisfaction.
That's right! We should hate the Emperor of Daqing, the more we hate him, the better.
That night, Gu Qingling lay on a straw mat, gnawing on a dry, hard steamed bun.
The soft chirping of crickets came from the courtyard, which annoyed Gu Qingling greatly, but when she heard the name "Daqing," she couldn't help but prick up her ears.
“Prime Minister, I think Gu Qingling is already useless. The Emperor of Daqing is in his prime, and many princes will be born in the future.”
"Exactly. In a few days, let's take Gu Qingling to negotiate with Daqing."
Zhuo Yi sighed deliberately, "What a pity. After being the crown prince for so many years, he has just missed out on the throne."
"If I were him, I would kill the Emperor of Daqing. The Second Prince has a broken leg, and the Third Prince is an adopted son. Only I can be the new emperor!"
"Ling Ku! You speak without thinking, or you'll get a beating."
As the sound faded into the distance, Gu Qingling's heart grew increasingly restless.
What those two said just now... wasn't entirely unreasonable.
On the other side, Ling Ku leaned closer and asked, "Prime Minister, can a few words really make things work?"
“He’s only eleven years old. No matter how cunning he is, he’ll lose his judgment at a time like this.” Zhuo Yi flicked his sleeves. “I heard the young master is only ten years old?”
Upon hearing this, Ling Ku immediately looked around. "Prime Minister, you are the only one in the entire court who knows about this matter. Even within Lingxiao Pavilion, very few people know about it. You must not expose the young master's identity."
"So, the king is unwilling to reveal the young master's identity?"
"His Majesty said that he wanted to take this opportunity to let the young master have a more realistic understanding of the situation in Da Ning."
"I understand. I'd like to see just how the young master the king has conjured up is."
Ling Ku twitched his lips. This old man even accused him of speaking without thinking.
Why don't you look at yourself in the mirror first!
......
On the day Gu Qingyan set off, Jiang Yu fell completely "sick".
Gu Heng didn't dare go to Zhaoning Palace again, and only sent Cen Hai to deliver some precious medicinal herbs.
"Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the Marquis's residence."
Jiang Yu tilted her head in confusion. Why was her brother writing her a letter?
But when she saw the fierce handwriting on the letter, Jiang Yu remained silent for a long time.
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