"Why send Gu Qingyan to Heng County?"
After everyone dispersed, Gu Heng finally took a serious look at Gu Qingling, the son he had placed high hopes on since birth.
"I just feel that if my third brother weren't by Mother's side, would I be able to get closer to Mother?" Gu Qingling was still young, and her expression was somewhat uneasy in front of Gu Heng.
"I understand your thoughts." After a few breaths, Gu Heng slowly spoke, "But you shouldn't be in such a hurry. This matter doesn't need to be decided today."
"Why not wait a few days until it's absolutely necessary to send someone, and then find a suitable reason?"
Gu Heng understood Gu Qingling's hostility towards Gu Qingyan, but Gu Qingling's recklessness displeased him.
"I know I was wrong." Gu Qingling lowered her head in shame. "I shouldn't have lost my temper."
"Ling'er, have you ever thought about how you're going to explain to your mother after you rushed Yan'er out like this?"
When the news reached Zhaoning Palace, Jiang Yu's reaction surprised everyone.
Without any sign of distress, Jiang Yu calmly instructed the kitchen to prepare a meal that Gu Qingyan would like, and then sat in the courtyard waiting for Gu Qingyan to return.
As the sun set, Gu Qingyan's figure appeared in Jiang Yu's sight. A short while later, Gu Qingling, Gu Qingfeng, and Gu Qingyao also silently arrived outside the gate of Zhaoning Palace.
Everyone was curious about Jiang Yu's reaction.
“This table is full of your favorite foods.” Jiang Yu said as she served food to Gu Qingyan, asking about his studies during the day.
"Does Mother know that Father has agreed to let me go to Heng County?"
Gu Qingyan couldn't help but ask first.
"Then Ayan, tell your mother what you think?" Jiang Yu put down her chopsticks and looked at Gu Qingyan gently.
Gu Qingyan's expression also became serious. "I want to go, but I'm a little scared."
"Although Hengxian is located on the border, its people are still subjects of Daqing. As a prince of Daqing, it is your duty to investigate the truth and enable them to live a peaceful life."
As Gu Qingyan listened to Jiang Yu's words, his eyes welled up with tears. He had worried that his mother might have different ideas from his.
"So when you told your mother you were willing to go, she was very happy."
At the same time, Gu Qingling's expression turned ugly outside Zhaoning Palace. Gu Qingfeng seemed thoughtful, while Gu Qingyao looked at Gu Qingling with a hint of mockery. In that dream, the Empress Dowager wanted Gu Qingling to go, but Gu Qingling dared not.
Gu Qingling is a coward.
If this trip to Hengxian can uncover the truth, it will be a great service to Daqing, and Yan'er will have an extra layer of protection when facing Gu Qingling and the others in the future.
"But not to mention the long journey, we don't know how many people's interests will be involved in the Hengxian incident. Your mother is worried about you."
Jiang Yu ruffled Gu Qingyan's hair. "I haven't celebrated your tenth birthday yet!"
Gu Qingyan grinned, showing his bright white teeth; he was genuinely happy.
[The Marquis of Dingyuan's residence will protect Ayan's safety, which will put my mind at ease.]
Perhaps fearing that Gu Qingyan's idea was just a spur-of-the-moment decision and that he didn't truly understand the importance of the matter, Jiang Yu finally couldn't help but explain the matter to Gu Qingyan in detail.
“Women in Daqing can manage household chores, support their husbands and raise their children. Women in Hengxian are disappearing one after another. If this continues, Hengxian will become sparsely populated and eventually turn into wasteland.” Gu Qingyan’s eyes gradually filled with admiration. “Also, there are many reasons for the disappearance of women. Most of them are related to officials and corruption. We must be careful.”
"If Mother were a man, she would certainly be no less than Uncle."
Gu Qingyan put his arm around Jiang Yu's arm. "I am very happy that you have given me this opportunity, elder brother."
[Silly child, Gu Qingling probably hopes something happens to you, otherwise why wouldn't he go for such a good opportunity?]
Outside the palace gates, Gu Qingling's face flushed red, and Gu Qingyao walked away with a half-smile. Gu Qingfeng gave Gu Qingling a deep look before turning and walking towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
......
"Father, I also want to go to Heng County."
Gu Qingfeng laid out all his demands at once. Gu Heng was stunned in disbelief for a moment, then continued to look down at the memorial, "No."
"If my third brother can go, why can't I?" Gu Qingfeng knelt down immediately. "My third brother was adopted by the Empress Dowager. I am the Empress Dowager's child, a rightful prince. It is more appropriate for me to go than for my third brother."
"I told you you're not allowed to go, so you'd better stay in the capital and behave yourself."
Gu Heng thought Gu Qingfeng would continue to be stubborn, but he didn't hear the familiar sound. He couldn't help but look up and met Gu Qingfeng's eyes.
"So Father Emperor knew that going to Heng County was fraught with danger, but he still agreed to my eldest brother's suggestion and let my third brother, who is a year younger than me, go to Heng County alone?"
Gu Qingfeng's beliefs are slowly crumbling. How could his respected father and elder brother do such a thing?
"Gu Qingfeng, who gave you permission to speak to me like that?" Gu Heng suddenly stood up, sweeping all the memorials on the table onto the floor, panting heavily with anger.
Gu Qingfeng remained unyielding, his hands clenched into fists. "Gu Qingyan is my younger brother. I can't watch him go to Hengxian alone. As long as I, Gu Qingfeng, am alive, I will go with him."
After saying that, Gu Qingfeng ran out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Tears streamed down Gu Qingfeng's face; he still couldn't accept Gu Heng and Gu Qingling as they were.
"Second Brother."
Gu Qingyao's voice rang out, and Gu Qingfeng quickly wiped his eyes, "Why is Yao'er here?"
"Did Second Brother go to beg Father to go to Heng County with Third Brother?" Facing Gu Qingfeng, Gu Qingyao put away her aloofness. "Father will not agree to your going."
Gu Qingfeng only hugged Gu Qingyao and said, "Yao'er, don't worry, your second brother will protect your third brother for Mother."
He simply understood that if Gu Qingyan were to perish on this trip, would his mother forgive his father and elder brother? Probably not in this lifetime.
Late at night, Jiang Yu quietly went to Gu Qingyan's room.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jiang Yu looked at Gu Qingyan's sleeping face by the dim candlelight.
Hengxian is too close to Daning. The ruler of Daning is ruthless and kills without blinking an eye. Ayan's journey will likely be fraught with danger.
Jiang Yu reached out and traced Gu Qingyan's eyebrows and eyes. Ever since she adopted Gu Qingyan, she knew that Gu Qingyan's eyebrows and eyes were very similar to hers.
A true man should always do the right thing in this world. I will take care of everything else for Ayan.
Jiang Yu sat for a full half hour before returning to her study to continue arranging and preparing for Gu Qingyan's trip to Heng County.
What Jiang Yu didn't know was that after she left, Gu Qingyan opened his eyes and they shone as brightly as the stars in the sky.
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