"What rank is she? I've never seen you before," Gu Heng asked in confusion, confirming that he had never heard of her.
Tu Tong said, "I am just a concubine. I was presented to the Emperor by the Governor of Xiangzhou. When I entered the palace that day, I had the honor of seeing the Emperor once, but the Emperor is busy with affairs of state and I am afraid he does not remember."
Upon hearing her say that, Gu Heng suddenly remembered, "So you're one of Yang Huanyu's people."
Tu Tong said urgently, "This concubine, this concubine is not anyone's person, this concubine is... the Emperor's person." As she finished speaking, she lowered her head shyly, revealing a section of her fair and smooth neck.
Gu Heng paused, his expression softening, "I'll go to your palace later."
Upon hearing this, Tu Tong bit her lip shyly, "This concubine awaits Your Majesty."
Gu Heng's gaze deepened.
After Gu Heng left, Tu Tong's shy demeanor vanished, and her eyes flickered.
Thanks to her daily wanderings in the Imperial Garden, she finally got her chance today.
only……
If she hadn't misheard, the Emperor had called her Imperial Aunt, right?
Imperial Aunt?
She frowned slightly, and then, as if remembering something, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.
Throughout the entire world, the Emperor only calls one person "Imperial Aunt."
That person was none other than the Regent's Consort, Wen Nongnong.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but raise her hand and touch her cheek.
No wonder Yang Huanyu initially wanted to offer her to the Regent, but the Regent, being an upright man, refused to accept her and instead reprimanded Yang Huanyu. Only then did Yang Huanyu change his mind and send her to the palace.
Yang Huanyu had almost given up on her, thinking she had no future, but unexpectedly, she finally caught the emperor's attention.
However, the Emperor seems to have ulterior motives towards the Regent's Consort.
Tu Tong squinted her eyes.
...
Huangming Temple.
Physician Lin stayed at Huangming Temple for a day. After Gu Linchao's injuries stabilized, he returned home first.
Before leaving, he said to Wen Nongnong, "I have heard of the poison that the prince has been poisoned with before, but I have never encountered it before. I will go back and look through the medical books to see if I can find a way to detoxify it."
"Thank you very much, Physician Lin," Wen Nongnong said sincerely.
Physician Lin waved his hand, "Your Highness, please don't thank me. I've watched the Prince grow up, and I will do my best to find an antidote. Alright, Your Highness, please go back. No need to see me off. I'll be leaving now."
"Physician Lin, please be careful on your journey." Wen Nongnong stopped outside the courtyard gate.
After watching Physician Lin leave, Wen Nongnong was about to go inside when she suddenly heard a loud "bang" from inside.
Startled, she rushed inside.
Inside the room, Gu Linchao slumped to the ground, next to a chair he had carefully kicked over. The loud bang must have come from the chair falling over.
Seeing this, Wen Nongnong's heart clenched, and she quickly went over to help him up.
"How is Your Highness? Did you hurt yourself in the fall?"
Gu Linchao was silent for a moment before shaking his head, "No."
Wen Nong Nong carefully examined his face and saw that his expression was as cold as ever. For a moment, she couldn't quite figure out what he was thinking.
She helped him sit down on the edge of the bed, then knelt down to straighten his disheveled robe and asked softly, "Your Highness, if you wish to do anything, you can call me."
Gu Linchao groped and pulled her up, saying gently, "I want to try if I can go out of the room alone."
Upon hearing this, Wen Nongnong immediately said, "But Your Highness's injuries are not fully healed yet. There's really no need to rush. At least wait until the wounds have healed before practicing."
Gu Linchao nodded, "Nongnong is right. Then I'll practice again once my wound has healed."
Seeing that he didn't seem sad, Wen Nongnong felt even sadder for some reason.
She held his hand tightly. "Your Highness, don't worry. I will always be by your side. You can't see for now, so let me be your eyes. Wherever you go, I will go with you."
"I know." Gu Linchao patted her head, paused, and said, "Nongnong, don't worry about me, I'm fine."
Upon hearing this, Wen Nongnong stared at him intently, making sure he was serious, before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
She got up and sat down next to him. "I wonder if your movements just now aggravated your wound. Let me check it for you."
"Mm," Gu Linchao replied.
Wen Nongnong pulled open his shirt and saw that the wound was fine and had not reopened, which put her mind at ease.
At this time, in the imperial palace.
Since Gu Heng was confined to the side hall, Wen Ruyi has gone from being tormented at the beginning to facing reality and has become much calmer.
Her belly was gradually swelling, and its outline could be vaguely seen.
That day, she stood under the eaves, gently stroking her belly, and whispered, "My child, you must be born safely, so that I may gain status through your child..."
Thinking of that scene, a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Although she was confined to her quarters by Gu Heng, she still had someone to rely on.
The child in her belly is Gu Heng's first child.
When she gives birth to a prince, she will surely regain favor.
Just as Wen Ruyi was feeling smug, a palace maid strode in from outside, her face looking rather unpleasant.
"He Xiang, what's wrong?" Wen Ru noticed and asked casually.
He Xiang was a palace maid she had recruited after moving into this side hall. She was honest and simple-minded, but very reliable.
He Xiang took a few steps closer, her face showing hesitation, "Consort..."
"Speak freely," Wen Ruyi said encouragingly, looking at her.
Upon seeing this, He Xiang told her the news she had just heard from outside.
"...I heard that the Emperor summoned Consort Tu to his bedchamber for two consecutive days. Now the whole harem is buzzing with the news. Consort Tu may become the second concubine to be deeply favored after you."
Upon hearing this, Wen Ruyi's carefully maintained composure crumbled immediately.
"When did a concubine named Tu appear in this harem?" she asked, clutching her handkerchief.
He Xiang said, "This Consort Tu hasn't been in the palace for long. I heard she was presented by a local official. Originally, the Emperor didn't pay much attention to her, but the other day, he saw her playing in the water in the Imperial Garden, and suddenly she caught his eye. The Emperor has summoned her to his bedchamber for the past two days..."
Wen Ruyi felt a surge of jealousy and hatred.
Gu Heng was so quickly attracted to another woman that he summoned Consort Tu to his bedchamber for two consecutive days. He liked her that much.
No, she can't stay locked up in this side hall any longer. She has to get out, otherwise, after she gives birth, Gu Heng will probably forget all his feelings for her.
At that time, where would she find a place in the harem? What would she have to fight against Wen Nongnong?
Thinking about it, she whispered a few words to He Xiang.
He Xiang was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, but nodded nonetheless.
Now, not only Wen Ruyi is anxious, but Guo Yuzhen is too.
Feeling troubled, she couldn't help but go to Atuo Jianghua's palace.
Seeing that she still had the mood to play shuttlecock with the palace servants, he was about to vomit blood. "What time is it? You still have the mood to play here?"
Atuo Jianghua was somewhat surprised by her arrival, and raised an eyebrow as she glanced at her, "What are you doing in my palace? Are we that familiar?"
Guo Yuzhen choked for a moment, then said arrogantly, "Of course I came to see if you were hiding in your bedchamber crying."
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