The Zhong family.
"Father, is that woman really Qi'er?"
Zhong Min was clearly still unable to accept the so-called "facts," her brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly. "I still feel something is not right. Qi'er has already perished in the fire, and now a woman has suddenly appeared claiming to be Qi'er's reincarnation. I'm afraid she's just trying to trick us."
"But she knows so much about Qi'er, some things that others don't know."
Zhong Wuyi's expression wasn't much better. "These past few days, I've frequently sent people to test her. She can even mimic some of Qi'er's unconscious movements."
“I’ve investigated her. She’s an orphan who grew up without parents.”
"orphan?"
Hearing Zhong Wuyi's words, Zhong Min was also unsure of her own thoughts. "Could she really be Qi'er? But what kind of reincarnation is there in this world?"
“I also caught a glimpse of that woman from afar. She has a cold and aloof personality, unlike Qi’er at all.”
Zhong Min pursed her lips. "Father, we gave up on Qi'er back then. Are you now trying to make up for your unhappiness by compensating that woman?"
"I told you, these things must never be mentioned again!"
Upon hearing the word "give up," Zhong Wuyi's eyes narrowed sharply; these were the words he couldn't bear to hear the most these days.
"Father, I have misspoke."
“Fine, let that woman live outside for a year or two. Then we’ll say she’s a concubine’s daughter who has been living away from home and bring her into the mansion.” Zhong Wuyi’s voice also deepened. “No matter what, she knows so much about Qi’er, we can’t let her live outside.”
"I will listen to my father."
After Zhong Min left the house, he sighed heavily. Qi'er's matter had ultimately become an insurmountable obstacle in the hearts of both father and son.
Meanwhile, after Wanji reported the information he had found to Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu's expression immediately darkened.
"Has anything unusual happened with Zhong Qi'er lately?"
"Your Majesty, no."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu spun her prayer beads even faster. Zhong Qi'er had gone to investigate the case of a woman being abducted in disguise, and no one except them knew about it.
So who is this person impersonating Zhong Qier?
How does he know so much about Zhong Qier?
"This roundabout method seems somewhat familiar to me." A cold glint flashed across Jiang Yu's eyes. "Keep an eye on that woman, and investigate the maids who served Zhong Qi'er before. Don't overlook any clues."
"yes."
“The Zhong family is now being targeted,” Jiang Yu murmured softly. “The people behind this are really cunning. The Zhong family is in an awkward position in Dayu, making them a good target for defection.”
"Your Majesty means..."
"This is just my guess; you will have to investigate and verify it yourself."
......
On the other side, after learning about the Zhong family's situation, Gu Qingyan was about to rush to Zhaoning Palace, but he encountered a young eunuch who was rushing over as soon as he stepped out of Taihe Hall.
"What kind of behavior is this, all this panic!"
Yingzhi stepped forward and reprimanded, and the little eunuch knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly to Gu Qingyan, "This servant...this servant is guilty..."
"What happened?" Gu Qingyan frowned subconsciously.
"Your Majesty... News has come from the Marquis of Yongyi's residence that the Marquis of Yongyi is seriously ill."
"What?!" Gu Qingyan trembled upon hearing this. "Prepare a sedan chair immediately. I am going to the Marquis of Yongyi's residence."
Perhaps sensing Gu Qingyan's anxiety, the carriage sped along the way, arriving at the Yongyi Marquis's residence in just half an hour.
"How is the old Marquis?"
"Your Majesty, three days ago the Marquis suddenly tripped and fell while walking. This morning he woke up groggy and couldn't speak clearly." After the servant in the Marquis's mansion finished speaking, Gu Qingyan's aura grew even colder. He had heard Mei Chu say that it was most taboo for elderly people to trip and fall while walking.
Has Mei Chu come to see me?
"Doctor Mei arrived three days ago." The servant trembled involuntarily. "But the Marquis said it was just a minor issue and there was no need to report it to the Emperor and cause him worry."
"I'm going to see the old Marquis."
Gu Qingyan walked straight toward the main courtyard. The layout here was exactly the same as the Yongyi Marquis's mansion in Da Ning back then. Walking here, Gu Qingyan almost immediately recalled the scene when he personally went to Da Ning to summon Gu Qingling.
At that time, Zhuoyi placed him in the residence of Marquis Yongyi, and he followed Marquis Yongyi around completely, obeying Marquis Yongyi's arrangements. That period was also a very happy time.
"emperor."
When Mei Chu saw Gu Qingyan, they exchanged a glance, and Gu Qingyan's heart sank to the bottom.
The fact that Mei Chu could show that kind of look in his eyes means...
"Has the old Marquis woken up?"
"He is awake, but he is sometimes drowsy and sometimes lucid," Mei Chu sighed. "The old Marquis is getting old."
Yes, the old Marquis's sons and grandsons all passed away long ago. If his grandsons were still alive, they would have married and had children long ago.
"I'll go in and see the old Marquis."
Gu Qingyan stepped into the room and saw Zhong Yi sitting on the bed.
“Old Marquis.” Gu Qingyan pursed his lips, sat down on the edge of the bed, and reached out to take Zhong Yi’s wrinkled hands in his.
"The Third Prince?"
Having not been addressed like that in a long time, Gu Qingyan was momentarily at a loss for how to react.
"No, it's Your Highness."
Zhong Yi looked at Gu Qingyan with loving eyes and grasped Gu Qingyan's hand in return, saying, "Your Highness is resolute and determined. You will surely achieve great things in the future and have the demeanor to unify the world."
"Thank you... thank you so much, Your Excellency..."
Gu Qingyan paused. Did the old Marquis already think this way when he learned his true identity back then?
Zhong Yi held Gu Qingyan's hand and chattered on for a long time before suddenly regaining his senses and asked, "Why is the Emperor here?"
"I heard you weren't feeling well, so I came to see you."
“It’s so cold outside, and there are so many affairs in the court. Your Majesty, please don’t waste your energy on an old minister like me.” A look of melancholy flashed across Zhong Yi’s face. “I’m old and useless now. I can no longer help the Dayu and the aristocratic families.”
"What are you saying? Many times I have to ask you how to beat the powerful families so badly they run away in terror!"
Upon hearing Gu Qingyan's words, tears seemed to well up in Zhong Yi's eyes. "I am not fortunate enough to see the day Your Majesty unifies the world."
"Your Majesty, if that day ever comes, I dare to ask that you send someone to my grave to inform me. Then I will die without regret."
"You will not die, I will not allow you to die."
"But I'm old."
Zhong Yi twitched the corner of his mouth. Especially in recent years, he found everything he did particularly difficult. People can't deny getting old.
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