"Yao'er, don't be afraid. As long as we acknowledge our mother, we are her children."
Gu Qingfeng forced himself to sit up and gripped Gu Qingyao's hand tightly. "Yao'er, we owe Mother too much. We must protect her."
The intense pain in his heart made Gu Qingfeng groan involuntarily. He couldn't accept it... he couldn't accept that he wasn't his mother's child.
"Yao'er, be good. Second brother's wound is in too much pain. Go and call the imperial physician."
After comforting Gu Qingyao, Gu Qingfeng had already fallen into a coma by the time the imperial physician arrived.
While unconscious, Gu Qingfeng had the same dream as Gu Qingyao. In the dream, he ruthlessly bullied his mother, reserved all his respect for Consort Rong, and maliciously enjoyed watching his mother struggle in pain.
Scenes drifted by in the dream, page by page. Suddenly, Gu Qingfeng convulsed as if he had seen something he didn't want to see, struggling desperately but unable to escape the scene shift.
He witnessed Gu Qingling order the death of his mother, and he was an observer, even a cheerleader.
They joined forces to prevent the Empress Dowager from being buried in the imperial mausoleum, merely to please Consort Rong's mother.
Then, Gu Qingyan appeared... He sacrificed his own life for his mother.
After regaining consciousness, Gu Qingfeng stared blankly at the bed curtains. He seemed to understand why his mother treated the three of them like dirt, while treating Gu Qingyan like a precious treasure.
He and Yao'er weren't even the Empress's children, yet in his dream he caused the Empress such a terrible tragedy.
Tears mingled with blood streamed down his face. Gu Qingfeng finally understood the sins he had committed. It wasn't a dream; it was what his mother had truly experienced. That's why they could suddenly hear his mother's inner voice.
Because Heaven wants to punish these ungrateful people.
But Yao'er is Consort Rong's child, so what about him? Is he also Consort Rong's child?
The intense nausea made Gu Qingfeng vomit up all the medicine he had taken, until his eyes bulged out. Gu Qingfeng smiled foolishly, realizing that his father and Consort Rong had actually set up such a grand scheme, deceiving everyone into it.
"Second Prince, Second Prince!" Mo Wu, the personal eunuch, ran in upon hearing the commotion. "This servant will go and fetch the imperial physician right away."
"Mo Wu." Gu Qingfeng struggled to sit up. Looking at Gu Qingfeng's bloodshot eyes, Mo Wu knelt down with a thud. Why had his proud master become like this?
"Don't call the imperial physician."
“You must remember what I’m about to say: investigate this matter quietly.” Gu Qingfeng’s fingertips were trembling. “This matter concerns my life, so you must be careful.”
After lying back in bed, Gu Qingfeng didn't sleep a wink all night.
The next day, when Gu Qingyao came to Gu Qingfeng's bedside, Gu Qingfeng smiled and, despite the pain, reached out to rub Gu Qingyao's head. "Yao'er, will you help your second brother find those bad guys?"
"Second brother, but Gu Qingling is the crown prince." Gu Qingyao's eyes were filled with gloom. She had thought of many ways, but in the end she could not get around Gu Qingling's status as the crown prince. To protect the empress, she had to make Gu Qingling lose this support.
"Then let him not be."
Gu Qingfeng spoke the harshest words in the softest voice, "Yao'er, if neither you nor I are the Empress's children, then Gu Qingling is most likely not either."
"Then the only legitimate prince of Daqing is Gu Qingyan."
Gu Qingfeng murmured softly. He was willing to expose this conspiracy with his own body, even at the cost of his life, he would find out everything and drag Gu Qingling into it.
"Yao'er, I can only rest assured when Gu Qingyan becomes the crown prince."
Gu Qingyao looked at Gu Qingfeng in shock. After half an incense stick had burned, Gu Qingyao tilted her head and leaned against Gu Qingfeng's chest. Listening to Gu Qingfeng's strong heartbeat, she finally felt that she was not fighting alone.
"Second brother, I'll go with you."
The brother and sister reached a complete agreement.
......
Zhaoning Palace.
"Your Highness hasn't been eating properly these past few days. If the Third Prince finds out, he'll probably be heartbroken."
For several days in a row, Jiang Yu sat in the courtyard staring blankly at the flowers. Sometimes, Ling Mama had to call Jiang Yu twice before she would respond.
"How is the situation at Lingxi Palace?"
Jiang Yu's face was much paler than it had been a few days ago, and the palace servants in Zhaoning Palace were extremely worried, fearing that Jiang Yu would return to her previous state.
"Recently, those sycophants in the palace have made Lingxi Palace miserable. I heard that Consort Rong has been experiencing abdominal pains every few days." Granny Ling paused, "If this continues, I'm afraid the pregnancy may not be saved."
"Does the Emperor know?" Jiang Yu's expression remained unchanged, as if these things could no longer trigger any emotional fluctuations in her.
"The Taihe Palace said that the Emperor instructed Eunuch Cen not to report to any Lingxi Palace."
With a few sneers, Jiang Yu's face was full of mockery.
"Then let Consort Rong know that no matter how much trouble she causes, the news will not reach the Emperor's ears."
In the afternoon, Jiang Yu was taking a nap.
Gu Qingyao mustered her courage and arrived at Zhaoning Palace. In the sunlight, Jiang Yu had her eyes closed, and she looked sacred and beautiful to Gu Qingyao.
Gu Qingyao gestured for silence, and after hesitating for a long time, Ling Mama silently stood guard to the side.
A little while later, Gu Qingyao brought over a small stool and sat down next to Jiang Yu. Smelling the sweet fragrance emanating from Jiang Yu, Gu Qingyao felt a bit sleepy.
When Jiang Yu opened her eyes, she saw Gu Qingyao. "Why are you here?"
The calm, unwavering voice startled Gu Qingyao awake. "Mother... I've come to see you."
Now that Gu Qingyao and I have talked things out, there's no need for pretense anymore.
"I suppose you won't plead for Consort Rong anymore. Tell me, what do you want me to do?" Jiang Yu seemed unwilling to look at Gu Qingyao any longer, keeping her gaze fixed on the most conspicuous peony in the courtyard.
"I want to stay by your side." Gu Qingyao was so nervous that her breath hitched a few times. "Don't worry, I'll leave as soon as my third brother comes back. I can help you investigate Consort Rong. I can do anything."
“I know I have no right to say such things right now.” Gu Qingyao grasped Jiang Yu’s hand. “Mother, I really can help you. Please let me stay in Zhaoning Palace.”
The tragedy of raising a tiger to one's own detriment will never be repeated.
Jiang Yu smirked, "Gu Qingyao, Consort Rong is your birth mother. If Consort Rong is convicted, what good will happen to you?"
"I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid."
Seeing that Jiang Yu was determined, Gu Qingyao closed her eyes and said the last reason she could think of, "I can... I can stop Father Emperor and not let him step into Zhaoning Palace."
"Granny Ling, prepare a room."
Jiang Yu got up and walked into the house, but suddenly stopped. "Gu Qingyao, you only need to do this one thing. I don't need you to worry about anything else."
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