With Gu Heng and Gu Qingling in charge of the court, Liu Feng was ultimately sentenced to exile in Jiangnan.
What kind of crime is this exile to Jiangnan? He clearly enjoyed a life of luxury there. Yet, even though everyone in the court felt aggrieved, they ultimately dared not truly stand against Gu Heng.
After all, apart from the Marquis of Dingyuan who was stationed at the border, who didn't know that the Empress was bedridden and that Consort Rong held a position equivalent to the Empress? The princes and princesses all respected Consort Rong immensely.
"I have something else to tell you all. I am concerned that the Prince of Xiang, Gu Qingyan, is all alone. After discussing with the Empress, we have decided to bring Gu Qingyan into the palace to be raised and registered under the Empress's name as the Third Prince."
Gu Heng's words completely confirmed Gu Qingyan's future identity, and Jiang Yu, upon receiving the news, was finally relieved.
For several days in a row, Jiang Yu did not step out of Zhaoning Palace.
"Your Majesty, the prescriptions have all been changed according to your instructions." Having become a doctor through long illness in her previous life, Jiang Yu personally revised the prescriptions for her and Gu Qingyan.
My illness has persisted for nearly ten years without a full recovery, and I fear the prescriptions from the Imperial Medical Academy may also be problematic. Now, Zhaoning Palace is beset by wolves in front and tigers behind; it is truly a perilous place.
As Gu Qingyan practiced calligraphy with his head down, a dark glint flashed in his eyes. During the few days he had spent in Zhaoning Palace, he was certain that he could hear his mother's thoughts. However, he was still ill and not yet strong enough to protect her.
He needs to grow up quickly.
“Ayan’s calligraphy truly has some of the spirit of King Xiang.”
Jiang Yu's voice rang out, and Gu Qingyan's hand holding the pen paused slightly. Whenever he felt lonely in the Prince of Xiang's mansion, he would run to the study to copy his father's handwriting and imagine his father teaching him to write.
"Is Mother also familiar with Father...King Xiang?" Gu Qingyan asked softly.
“My father once told me that the Prince of Xiang was a brilliant and talented general.” Jiang Yu’s eyes also lit up. “Back then, whenever he had time, he would run to the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence to ask my father for martial arts lessons.”
[But in the very year I married into the palace, Prince Xiang was ordered to lead troops into battle. The next news that came back was the devastating news of his death on the battlefield. A year later, a woman returned to the capital alone, carrying Ayan, and committed suicide by running into a pillar in front of Prince Xiang's memorial tablet.]
Over the years, Jiang Yu has taken good care of Gu Qingyan, probably because she felt that the son of an old friend would always have some of the old friend's demeanor.
"If Ayan starts running and practicing martial arts every morning from now on, can he become a general like the Prince of Xiang?" Gu Qingyan raised his head, his eyes full of caution.
For a moment, Jiang Yu was in a daze, as if she could see through Gu Qingyan the young man whose smile was brighter than the sun.
Jiang Yu suddenly felt a pang of envy; his son shouldn't be living so cautiously.
“Of course.” Jiang Yu reached out and tapped Gu Qingyan’s nose. “Ayan, take care of your health first, and then I will find you a martial arts tutor, or wait until your uncle finishes fighting the war and let him teach you personally.”
"In the future, I will definitely earn my own fame and success to support my mother."
Jiang Yu smiled. She believed that her Ayan was the kind of child who would repay even the smallest kindness with boundless gratitude.
......
"Your Highness, Your Highness." Granny Ling rushed into the room and whispered in Jiang Yu's ear, "Lord Liu was killed on his way to exile in Jiangnan."
Liu Feng? Killed?
Faced with a situation that was completely different from what she had experienced in her previous life, Jiang Yu stared in astonishment.
"The messenger said he died by swallowing gold, and after his death, he was made to look like he was kneeling in the capital." Granny Ling said, still feeling a little uneasy. "The strangest thing is that Lord Liu's right cheek was slashed with a cross by a sharp blade."
Making a cross on the right cheek of a serious offender is a unique law of Da Ning...
"What's the Emperor's doing?" Jiang Yu came back to her senses and felt a surge of pleasure. Liu Feng deserved to die! Letting the embezzler of military funds die by swallowing gold, if she were to find out who did it, she would definitely reward them with a generous gift.
"Although the Emperor was furious, he did not issue any orders. We heard from Lingxi Palace that Consort Rong had fainted, and the court and the harem were in chaos."
The unexpected good news brought a touch of color to Jiang Yu's face. "Granny, go and warm a pot of wine for me."
[Since the new ruler of Da Ning changed his kingdom six years ago, the new ruler has been brave, ruthless, and skilled in warfare, leading Da Ning to continuously annex neighboring small states. Gu Heng, fearing repercussions, naturally did not want to turn against Da Ning. Moreover, Consort Rong only had one brother, Liu Feng, and there was bound to be more trouble to come.]
"Mother, your health is not yet fully recovered, you cannot drink alcohol."
Gu Qingyan's eyes revealed a helpless expression. Hearing Gu Qingyan speak, Ling Mama breathed a sigh of relief. In the future, with the Third Prince taking care of the Empress, there would be no need for them to painstakingly persuade her.
"Such a good thing would be better with good wine..." Jiang Yu's voice trailed off under Gu Qingyan's gaze, sounding inexplicably less confident.
Why does Ayan's way of stopping me from drinking sound so much like my brother's?
"I will not drink it."
Jiang Yu gave up, hanging her head resignedly as she looked at the two portions of Chinese medicine simmering in the stove.
Unlike the peaceful and serene Zhaoning Palace, Lingxi Palace was in complete chaos.
Consort Rong remained unconscious and had not yet woken up. Gu Heng summoned important officials to an emergency meeting in the Taihe Hall, leaving only Gu Qingling and her two siblings anxiously waiting in the Lingxi Palace.
"Second brother, why hasn't Mother Rong woken up yet?" Gu Qingyao's voice was already tinged with sobs. The palace servants of Lingxi Palace were walking back and forth, completely ignoring the three siblings for the first time.
"The imperial physician said that Consort Rong's mother was suddenly struck by the terrible news, and Father is already discussing how to seek justice for Lord Liu." Gu Qingfeng comforted Gu Qingyao, while Gu Qingling sat silently, her mind filled with Jiang Yu's face.
"Big brother."
"Big brother."
Gu Qingling snapped back to reality, her face stiff as she walked out of Lingxi Palace. Gu Qingfeng and Gu Qingyao quickly followed behind her. "Big brother, where are you going?"
"Go to Zhaoning Palace."
Gu Qingling found a reasonable excuse for himself: "Last time, I seemed to be able to hear the Empress Dowager's inner voice, so I wanted to go to Zhaoning Palace to confirm it again."
"Hearing what Mother Empress is thinking?" Gu Qingfeng and Gu Qingyao frowned simultaneously. "Brother, are you perhaps worried that Consort Rong is losing her mind?"
"If you also want to go, then follow me." Gu Qingling tried hard to calm his pounding heart. For some reason, ever since the day Jiang Yu wanted to register him under Consort Rong's name, his heart had never been at peace.
The three siblings stood outside the gate of Zhaoning Palace. Through the gate, they could smell the medicine that used to make them nauseous.
"Ayan, the medicine is ready." Jiang Yu's voice, tinged with laughter, rang out. "I specially put in a piece of maltose to make sure it won't be too bitter for my Ayan."
"Mother, Granny Ling has already told me that it is clearly you who is most afraid of hardship."
A burst of laughter erupted. Gu Qingling felt a cool sensation in the corner of her eye. She casually wiped her eyes with her sleeve and then knocked on the gate of Zhaoning Palace.
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