Granny Zeng smiled and agreed, "That's right, the Princess is a very interesting and lovely girl, even this old servant likes her very much."
Wen Nongnong pretended to be shy and said, "If Mother and Granny Zeng keep praising me, I'm afraid I'll grow a tail."
The two elderly people were taken aback at first, but after they understood, they couldn't help but laugh.
The Empress Dowager patted her head and smiled broadly.
After a moment, the laughter subsided, and she said meaningfully, "No need for a tail. I do hope that you will have good news about your belly soon."
Wen Nong Nong felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this.
She and Gu Linchao haven't taken that step yet, so how can she get pregnant?
However, in front of her elders, she still showed a shy demeanor and did not respond to their words.
The Empress Dowager was even more delighted upon seeing this.
Nong Nong is a good girl, and even though the two haven't consummated their marriage yet, it doesn't affect anything.
If she hadn't been worried that her body wouldn't last much longer and that she wouldn't be able to witness the birth of Chao'er's child, she wouldn't have been in such a hurry, nor would she have made so many fuss.
After Granny Zeng served tea and snacks, the Empress Dowager took Wen Nong Nong's hand and sat down on the soft couch by the window.
"What does Nong Nong think of Chao'er?" she suddenly asked.
Wen Nongnong was taken aback, but without thinking, she said, "Your Highness is a very good person."
The Empress Dowager's wrinkles deepened, and she said meaningfully, "How would you like it?"
Wen Nongnong counted on her fingers the merits of Gu Linchao, "The prince cares deeply about the country and its people, he is righteous and selfless, of noble character, and treats his soldiers very well. Although he is a member of the royal family, he does not have the bad habits of a spoiled brat. He is very frugal and does not like waste and extravagance. He may seem cold, but he has a kind and warm heart. He treats me very well and can indulge my little temper..."
At this point, Wen Nongnong paused for a moment.
Gu Linchao has so many good qualities.
Without realizing it, she had memorized all his good points, which is why she could speak of them so readily.
The Empress Dowager smiled broadly upon hearing this, "So Chao'er is so beloved in Nong Nong's heart."
Wen Nongnong came to her senses, blushing slightly with embarrassment, but still nodded and said, "The prince is indeed very good." So good that she had unknowingly become captivated by him.
"It seems that Nong Nong really likes Chao'er." The Empress Dowager was extremely satisfied.
Wen Nongnong's face flushed.
She could act silly in front of Gu Linchao normally, but when it came to elders, even someone as shameless as her couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
Although she really liked Gu Linchao.
I like him so much that I'm willing to spend my whole life with him.
The Empress Dowager suddenly sighed, "But even though the dynasty is so prosperous now, Chao'er suffered too much hardship in his childhood..."
Wen Nongnong paused for a moment, then, seeing the sorrowful look on her face, her heart tightened. She took her hand and comforted her, "That's all in the past, Empress Dowager, don't think too much about it."
The Empress Dowager grasped her hand in return, patted the back of her hand gently, and shook her head, saying, "But I will never let go of that matter until I die. If it weren't for my negligence back then, Chao'er wouldn't have had to suffer like that. For many years, I have been filled with self-blame and unable to forgive myself."
Wen Nongnong sensed that what the Empress Dowager had said was definitely related to what the Prince Ju had said back at the Prince Ju's residence, and perhaps it was even the same thing.
She was actually very curious about what Gu Linchao had gone through back then, but she didn't ask the question.
The truth behind the things that the Empress Dowager blamed so much must have been extremely cruel, and she might not have dared to hear it.
But the Empress Dowager brought this up suddenly because she intended to tell her.
"...On the Lantern Festival when Chao'er was seven years old, I took Crown Prince Jiande and Chao'er out of the palace to enjoy the lanterns. However, we were attacked by assassins on the way. All the guards who came with me were killed. The assassins also set fire to the lantern festival and created chaos."
"Prince Jiande was injured by falling logs while trying to save me. I was frantic with worry, and with people fleeing everywhere, I was preoccupied with Prince Jiande's injury. I knew Chao'er was scared, but I didn't have time to pay attention to him. When I turned around, I realized he was gone..."
At this point, tears welled up in the Empress Dowager's eyes.
Wen Nongnong's heart sank upon hearing this, and she couldn't help but ask, "And then what happened? Did they find the prince?"
The Empress Dowager said painfully, "The late Emperor sent many people to search for him, but they couldn't find any trace of Chao'er. I even thought he had been murdered. It wasn't until a year later, when the people sent by Crown Prince Jiande found him in Juezhou, that things changed. But when Crown Prince Jiande arrived, Chao'er was being treated inhumanely. He almost... almost..."
The Empress Dowager choked up and couldn't continue speaking.
Wen Nongnong's heart tightened, and recalling what the King Jue had said, her expression turned very ugly.
Sure enough, the Empress Dowager gritted her teeth and said angrily, "That beast actually fed Chao'er the bone-dissolving incense, almost killing him... He was only eight years old at the time, how dare they?"
Wen Nongnong clenched her fingers. Sure enough, Gu Linchao had been poisoned by the Bone-Dispelling Incense before, but she never expected it to happen at such a young age. Those people were truly heartless and insane.
At this moment, her hand tightened as the Empress Dowager gripped it tightly. "Not only that, but that year, Chao'er survived by begging. He, a prince, had fallen to such a state..."
"Nongnong, do you know that Chao'er is very intelligent? He has exceptional talent; he learns everything quickly and is greatly favored by the late emperor. The late emperor even gave him the name 'Linchao,' which shows his high hopes for him. However, after returning from Juezhou, although the late emperor still loves him, he has changed his mind."
Wen Nongnong felt a chill. Yes, "Linchao" means the emperor ruling from behind the throne. So the late emperor's original choice for successor was Gu Linchao?
However, after Gu Linchao experienced those things, the late emperor changed his mind.
Did the late emperor feel that Gu Linchao had already been tainted and was therefore unworthy to be emperor again?
She suddenly realized that this matter was not so simple.
"Mother, was the Crown Prince Jiande established later?" she suddenly asked.
The Empress Dowager was still immersed in grief and did not think carefully about her words. She simply nodded and said, "Yes."
Wen Nongnong clenched her handkerchief tightly; an idea was about to surface in her mind.
Could it be that Gu Linchao's disappearance, his eventual exile to Juezhou, and his eventual abandonment by the late emperor were all part of a conspiracy by Crown Prince Jiande?
He was jealous of Gu Linchao. Only by getting rid of Gu Linchao could he rightfully obtain the position of crown prince. So he secretly plotted all of this.
If this is indeed the case, then the Crown Prince of Jiande is a truly dark and terrifying person.
To plot against one's own younger brother is already a heinous and inhuman act.
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