Gu Qingyan did not return to Zhaoning Palace all night. In her drowsy state, Jiang Yu dreamed of her past life again, this time of the scene after she and Gu Qingyan had both died.
At that time, Jiang He was leading his troops to fight against Da Ning. After learning of Jiang Yu's death, his hair turned white overnight. Da Ning then launched a swift and unstoppable attack on the capital.
The scene shifts, and Jiang He, his eyes bloodshot, questions Gu Qingling about why Jiang Yu's remains weren't buried in the imperial mausoleum. Only after watching Gu Qingling honor Consort Rong as Empress Dowager does Jiang He realize that his belief that being good to Gu Qingling and the others was being good to Jiang Yu was a mistake from the very beginning.
“Father, Mother, your son failed to take good care of my sister.” Standing alone at the grave, Jiang He, a grown man, wept uncontrollably, carrying a wine jug. “I can’t even find my sister’s remains.”
It's a waste that the Jiang family has devoted themselves to serving Daqing and sought out this girl for generations, only to have her defiled by the Daqing royal family. And he even turned against Ayu. He was terribly wrong.
The next morning, the soldiers who rushed over saw Jiang He lying in front of the two graves, having slit his own throat and died.
Jiang Yu woke up in a cold sweat. Hearing the noise, Ling Mama rushed into the inner room. "Is Your Highness having another nightmare?"
The calming incense was lit, and Jiang Yu took deep breaths.
"It's nothing." Jiang Yu reached out and pressed her pounding heart. It turned out that her Jiang family's previous life ended in such a tragic way, with her brother even committing suicide out of remorse.
"I just miss my brother a little."
Jiang He returned in triumph, and Gu Heng, along with Gu Qingling and all the civil and military officials, greeted him at the city gate. As the army drew closer, everyone couldn't help but rub their eyes. Why did the Marquis of Dingyuan, who was leading the army, have a baby on his horse?
"Your subject Jiang He pays respects to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince."
"Your son pays respects to the Emperor and to the Crown Prince."
The uncle and nephew both wore expressions of utter innocence, showing no sign that they had already foreseen the fate of the person before them the day before.
"Why did Yan'er come back with Marquis Dingyuan?" Gu Heng's expression changed almost imperceptibly. The guards of Marquis Dingyuan's mansion were indeed capable, managing to send Gu Qingyan out of the palace right under his nose.
"Father, please don't be offended. This is my first time meeting my uncle. I begged my mother for a long time before she allowed me to leave the palace ahead of time to greet him." Gu Qingyan's words inexplicably touched on Gu Qingling, since Gu Qingling hadn't expected to have to greet him ahead of time.
Jiang He laughed loudly and lifted Gu Qingyan high, hanging him directly on his shoulder. "Your Majesty, may I be granted permission to enter the palace to see the Empress?"
For the first time, Jiang He completely ignored Gu Qingling, not even asking about Gu Qingfeng and Gu Qingyao.
"I have already prepared a banquet in the palace, and am just waiting for the Marquis of Dingyuan to return in triumph."
......
Box after box was carried into Zhaoning Palace. Gu Qingyan curiously opened each box to take a look, and couldn't help but click his tongue. His uncle was really generous.
“Japan may not have much else, but pearls are everywhere.” Jiang He looked at the obviously thinner Jiang Yu and was secretly angry, but he didn’t show it on his face. “You can keep it for Her Majesty to play with, or give it to whomever you like.”
"If those censors find out, they'll impeach my brother again."
Jiang He didn't respond to Jiang Yu's words. Instead, he carefully took out a bag of water chestnut cake wrapped in oil paper from his pocket. "You always say that your mother's water chestnut cake is the best. This water chestnut cake has seven-tenths of the flavor of your mother's. You should try it."
As the delicate and sweet pastry entered her mouth, Jiang Yu couldn't help but shed tears, leaving Jiang He at a loss for what to do.
"Don't cry, Ayu. Your brother is back. No one will dare to bully you from now on."
Jiang Yu nodded vigorously. "Brother, I want to go back to the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion. I want to sit on the swing that Father made for me, and I want to stay in the room that Mother prepared for me."
Having been reborn, the tension that had been constantly on her mind finally eased when she saw Jiang He, and she showed weakness to her closest brother.
"Okay, I'll pick you up and take you home tomorrow."
At the palace banquet, cups were clinked and toasts were exchanged.
Gu Heng looked at the officials who kept toasting Jiang He with gloomy expressions. Jiang He had returned victorious this time, and he had no more titles to bestow.
After several rounds of drinks, Gu Heng feigned drunkenness and said to Jiang He, "Marquis Dingyuan has won a great victory this time. Just tell me what you want, and I will grant it to you."
The previously noisy banquet immediately fell silent as everyone awaited Jiang He's reply.
Jiang He put down his wine cup, walked to Gu Heng and knelt down. "I have been leading troops outside and have not been able to take good care of my family. Now I only have the Empress as my sister. I do not seek fame or fortune, but only ask that Your Majesty grant me permission to bring the Empress and the Third Prince back to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence for a short stay."
"Why bring the Third Prince along? Does the Marquis of Dingyuan look down on my Crown Prince and Second Prince?"
In an instant, Jiang He clearly sensed Gu Heng's killing intent.
Jiang He laughed, "Bringing the Third Prince along is my personal wish. I am like a brother to the Prince of Xiang. Now that the Prince of Xiang's child has been adopted by Your Majesty, I would like to see this son of an old friend more often."
"Hahahaha!" With his killing intent dissipating, Gu Heng smiled and agreed. It was just letting Jiang Yu leave the palace for a while. Compared to giving Jiang He other rewards, Gu Heng felt it was extremely worthwhile.
[My brother has yet to marry, and I imagine many are eyeing the position of Lady of Dingyuan, but he doesn't seem to care much about it. How can I possibly remind him?]
Inside Zhaoning Palace, Jiang Yu, who was packing her luggage and looking troubled, amused Gu Changyan.
[Especially Consort Rong's younger sister, she's like a persistent leech.]
Gu Changyan secretly noted down Jiang Yu's various concerns, and grinned slightly: "Mother, don't worry, I'll take care of it."
......
Inside the Dragon and Phoenix Palace, Gu Qingling returned in a huff. Gu Qingfeng, who had already moved back into the Dragon and Phoenix Palace, immediately looked up upon seeing her and asked, "Well, did Uncle bring me anything?"
“The Marquis of Dingyuan has never even mentioned us.” Gu Qingling tugged at the collar of her robe, trying to calm her restlessness.
"What? In the past, my uncle would always bring me good weapons whenever he came back, and he would also come to the palace to keep me company." Gu Qingfeng still refused to believe Gu Qingling's words, and the doubt in his eyes stung Gu Qingling.
"Why would I lie to you? The Marquis of Dingyuan does not want any rewards. He only asks that the Empress Dowager bring the Third Prince back to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence for a short stay. He has no other requests."
"How could this be?" The light in his eyes gradually faded, and Gu Qingfeng lay helplessly on the bed. Even when he foolishly refused to acknowledge Jiang Yu as his mother, he never refused to acknowledge Yuan Hou as his uncle.
Gu Qingfeng will always have half of the Jiang family blood flowing in his veins; he is a descendant of the Jiang family, known for its generations of loyalty and virtue.
Gu Qingfeng suddenly stood up. "I want to see my father. I want to beg my father to let me go to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence as well."
Seeing Gu Qingfeng running out in a panic, even tripping and falling, Gu Qingling remained silent.
He is the crown prince of Daqing, and he would never do such a groveling and fawning thing.
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