[She became pregnant in her first year in the palace, and after a near-death experience, gave birth safely. I value my three children more than myself.]
Looking at Gu Qingling and the other two standing in front of her, Jiang Yu seemed somewhat dazed.
However, Gu Heng used the excuse that I was too weak to raise the children to take them to Lingxi Palace to be raised by Consort Rong. At that time, I cried day and night, and almost cried myself blind.
Gu Qingling suddenly looked up, and the lips of Gu Qingfeng and Gu Qingyao beside her began to tremble involuntarily. Could they also hear... this woman's innermost thoughts...?
[Gu Qingling is the eldest son and should rightfully inherit the throne, but I cannot bear to see such a young child spending all his time in the study. Besides, Gu Heng is in his prime, and I fear that the Crown Prince's intelligence might arouse Gu Heng's jealousy. I have gone to great lengths to find a renowned tutor to ensure a harmonious relationship between father and son.]
[Gu Qingfeng is the second son, simple-minded and easily swayed. Every time I see him stand up for Consort Rong, I worry terribly about his future. I always think that a prince with military merit will eventually end up wealthy and noble, so I forced him to learn martial arts, hoping to use the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion to protect him.]
[Gu Qingyao is the only princess, yet she has been spoiled and rude by Consort Rong. I cannot protect her forever; the gossip outside the palace can overwhelm anyone. I have summoned a tutor to reprimand her for her rudeness, hoping only that she will not be bullied when I am not around.]
"Mother."
Gu Qingyan's voice interrupted Jiang Yu. Gu Qingyan reached out and carefully wiped away the tears from the corner of Jiang Yu's eyes. "Mother is such a grown woman, yet she cries because of drinking bitter medicine."
Jiang Yu then came to her senses, and tears streamed down her face without her even realizing it.
[So be it. Our kinship was never strong enough. With Ayan by my side from now on, I will not force it.]
Panic flashed across the eyes of Gu Qingling and the other two almost simultaneously. Gu Qingyan frowned slightly, as if he had realized something.
"What are you three doing in my Zhaoning Palace?" Jiang Yu looked at Gu Qingling and the other two without the usual kindness in her eyes, as if she were looking at strangers.
"Now that there is chaos in the harem, it is the Empress's duty to step forward and handle the situation." Gu Qingling forced a smile, her heart sinking to the bottom.
"Trouble in the harem?" Jiang Yu seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. "It's just that Consort Rong is unconscious. How can it be considered a turmoil in the harem? Ling Mama, go to Lingxi Palace to check on Consort Rong for me."
[Consort Rong monopolizes Gu Heng's attention every day, rendering the other concubines in the harem virtually powerless. If Consort Rong remains unconscious for a few more days, the Liu family of the former dynasty might be devoured alive by the families in the capital who have concubines.]
Seeing Gu Qingling staring intently at her, Jiang Yu's face instantly turned icy. "Does the Crown Prince want me to step in and protect Consort Rong?"
"Granny Ling, see the guest out."
Even after being expelled from Zhaoning Palace, Gu Qingling and the other two had not fully grasped the current situation.
"Big brother, Mother said we are... are guests?" Gu Qingyao subconsciously gripped Gu Qingling's sleeve. "Does Mother not want us anymore now that she has Gu Qingyan?"
"Hmph, I never cared about having a mother like her anyway, so this is just as good." Gu Qingfeng lowered his head and kicked the pebbles on the ground, his hands awkwardly clenched into fists under his sleeves.
"No one is allowed to tell anyone that we can hear the Empress Dowager's thoughts."
Gu Qingling felt that she could hardly breathe. Had they wronged Jiang Yu about all those things in the past?
“Mother Rong clearly said that she was the one who didn’t want us first. She must be using this kind of evil magic to deceive us.” Gu Qingfeng tried hard to convince himself. “Just now she also said that there would be changes in the Liu family, and we have to help Mother Rong protect the Liu family.”
"I will personally go to the Liu family's place later."
......
"Mother, my elder brother and the others are, after all, your own flesh and blood." Gu Qingyan watched as the palace servants, under Jiang Yu's command, packed up all the belongings of Gu Qingling and the other two and left Zhaoning Palace. His eyelids twitched violently.
Even if blood ties are broken, the tendons still connect. Besides, judging from the expressions of Gu Qingling and the others just now, they clearly already had regrets but were unaware of them.
Gu Qingyan grew up cautiously and developed an extremely keen ability to read people's expressions and moods.
“Ayan, from now on you should treat them as Consort Rong’s children.” Jiang Yu waved her hand. “Over the years, even a cat I’ve raised would know to be affectionate with me. Why should I put my heart into those three ungrateful wretches?”
That day, Gu Qingling grabbed me by the neck, clearly intending to kill me.
Instantly, a blanket of darkness enveloped Gu Qingyan's eyes. Gu Qingyan went straight to the palace servants to help pack things up, saying, "Since Mother has made up her mind, these things can be thrown away."
It turns out that his mother had suffered so much injustice without his knowledge.
Gu Qingyan sincerely felt that Gu Qingling and the other two were unaware of their good fortune and were indeed unlucky.
Seeing this, Jiang Yu nodded in satisfaction, "After only a few days of training, Ayan's body looks much stronger. I think it won't be long before he can formally learn martial arts."
At this point, Jiang Yu realized that she had forgotten something. "Su Sheng, go and withdraw the secret guards from the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence surrounding the three Crown Princes."
What does it matter to her whether they are blessed or cursed? Why should they need the protection of the Marquis of Dingyuan's secret guards?
Unaware of this, Gu Qingling left the palace with only a few guards from the Eastern Palace. As they approached the Liu residence, the people gathered around, pointing and whispering in the direction of the residence.
"Did you hear that just now? That old master Liu even said that the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince would protect the Liu family!"
"Indeed, that's wishful thinking. His Highness the Crown Prince is the son of the Empress, who is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Dingyuan, a precious jewel raised by a family of military generals. How could His Highness the Crown Prince protect such a filthy scoundrel who embezzles military funds?"
"It's probably because the Empress is sickly and His Highness the Crown Prince is close to Consort Rong that he's so delusional. Little does he know that there's a huge difference between the Empress's children and those born to concubines."
Gu Qingling's face turned ashen. The guards beside her shouted and drove away the onlookers. When they arrived at the Liu residence, they found it in a state of utter disrepair.
"Your Highness, you must do justice for our Liu family!" Old Master Liu knelt on the ground. "These scoundrels in the army want to confiscate our Liu family's property just because Feng'er is dead."
Gu Qingling looked at the leading generals and saw that they were all under the command of the Marquis of Dingyuan. She felt a little more at ease. "Gentlemen, my mother heard that the Liu family is in turmoil and specially ordered me to bring the guards of the Marquis of Dingyuan to guard the Liu family. I ask that you give my mother some face."
One second, two seconds... The Dingyuan Marquis's secret guards, who would usually appear immediately to protect Gu Qingling at the first sign of trouble, were nowhere to be seen.
Gu Qingling seemed to realize something and took a few steps back in disbelief.
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