Wang Houde and the servants beside him watched in awe.
Who would have thought that the cold-hearted prince could be so sweet-talking, making the princess forget all about the occasion?
Gu Linchao's eyes closed slightly, and a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth betrayed his inner joy.
Wen Nongnong pulled him to sit down to the side, then took the paintings from his hands and looked at them one by one.
In every single one, Gu Linchao painted her very beautifully.
Almost all of them depicted her usual expressions, and they were drawn so vividly that it was clear that Gu Linchao had put a lot of effort into the drawing.
"Your Highness, everything has been packed away," Wang Houde reported a moment later.
Gu Linchao thought of something and instructed, "Don't forget to put away that wolf hair brush on the brush holder."
Wang Houde asked, "Is it the one closer to the right?"
"Mm," Gu Linchao replied.
Wen Nongnong was curious about what kind of wolf hair brush Gu Linchao treasured so much. When she saw the brush in Wang Houde's hand, she suddenly remembered something. "Hey, isn't this the one I bought for you in Tunzhou before?"
Gu Linchao hesitated for a moment before saying, "It is that one."
Wen Nongnong was very happy to hear this; she hadn't expected that he would treasure the pen she gave him so much.
“I’ve kept everything the prince gave me, and I’m taking it all with me to Xiangzhou,” she said quickly, pausing for a moment. “I’m also taking that statue of Guanyin who grants children.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Linchao smiled and squeezed her hand, "That's good."
...
The next day, with everything packed up, the group prepared to set off for Xiangzhou.
Because Gu Linchao had resigned from his position as regent, the plaque above the Prince's residence that used to read "Regent's Residence" was replaced with the three characters "Xiang Prince's Residence".
There were quite a few servants who were willing to go to Xiangzhou with him, but a small number of servants wanted to stay in the capital and continue guarding the Prince's mansion because they did not want to travel such a long distance.
Gu Linchao and Wen Nongnong did not force the servants who did not want to go to Xiangzhou, and left them enough money to live on.
However, even after all the items were loaded onto the carriage, the Empress Dowager's imperial procession did not arrive.
Wen Nongnong was a little worried and said to Wang Houde, "Eunuch Wang, go to the palace gate and see if the Empress Dowager has arrived yet."
"Yes." Wang Houde replied respectfully, but before he could step out of the mansion, Hao Fulu suddenly walked in.
Upon seeing him, Wen Nongnong's heart sank, but she asked calmly, "Why did Steward Hao leave the palace?"
Hao Fulu dared not look her in the eye and lowered his head, saying, "I have come on the Emperor's orders to inform the Prince and Princess of Xiang that the Empress Dowager is old and unwell, and may not be able to travel such a long distance. The Emperor is very worried and has already persuaded her to stay. Once she is better, the Emperor will send someone to escort her to Xiangzhou. The Prince and Princess of Xiang need not worry."
Upon hearing this, Wen Nongnong's expression changed.
The Empress Dowager's health is indeed not very good, but going to Xiangzhou will allow them to take better care of her. Besides, the Empress Dowager was very excited and eager to go to Xiangzhou yesterday, so how could she be so easily persuaded by Gu Heng after just one day?
Gu Heng's actions were clearly intended to use the Empress Dowager to threaten Gu Linchao.
Gu Linchao naturally thought of this as well. He stood up without hesitation and said, "I am about to go to Xiangzhou, and I should go to the palace to pay my respects to the Emperor."
Upon hearing this, Hao Fulu lowered his head even further.
But in his heart he felt that the emperor's method might work.
King Xiang indeed couldn't let go of the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager is getting old, so how can the Prince of Xiang feel at ease going to Xiangzhou?
Wen Nongnong clenched her fingers, but this time, she didn't try to stop Gu Linchao.
She was also worried about leaving the Empress Dowager alone in the palace.
Even if they take her away, they'll have to exchange her for a military tally.
“Your Highness, I’ll go with you.” She immediately stepped forward.
Gu Linchao was about to nod, but thinking of Gu Heng's feelings for her, he frowned and refused, "You stay here and wait for me to come back."
Seeing this, Wen Nongnong didn't insist anymore, "Alright then, Your Highness, please be careful."
"Hmm." Gu Linchao had just taken two steps when Granny Zeng suddenly walked in.
“Your Highness.” Granny Zeng spoke breathlessly, clearly having rushed over. Seeing that Gu Linchao looked like he was about to go out, and glancing at Hao Fulu beside him, she immediately understood what was going on.
She sighed inwardly, "The Empress Dowager sent this old servant to tell the Prince that there is no need to wait for her. She is not in good health and cannot endure the hardship of a long journey. It would be better for her to stay in the palace. At least, the Emperor, her grandson, will take good care of her and will not do anything rebellious."
"Your Highness and Princess Consort don't need to go to the palace to see her. It's more important to get on your way and not waste time."
Hao Fulu's expression changed when he heard the last sentence she said, and he quickly lowered his head again.
"The Empress Dowager said that she has lived to this age and has no regrets. You two don't need to worry about her. She only hopes that you two will have children soon. If you have good news, you must write to inform her." At this point, Granny Zeng suddenly added, "If Your Highness insists on going your own way, you will only be able to see her one last time when you enter the palace later."
Upon hearing this, Gu Linchao's expression changed drastically, and he clenched his fist tightly under his sleeve.
Wen Nong Nong's face also turned pale.
The Empress Dowager threatened suicide, forbidding Gu Linchao from entering the palace to see her, and also forbidding him from exchanging his military tally for her to go to Xiangzhou with him. Otherwise, he would find her corpse when he entered the palace...
Granny Zeng's eyes stung a little, and she hurriedly lowered them. "Alright, this old servant still has to go back to the palace to serve the Empress Dowager. Your Highness and Princess, please take care on your journey to Xiangzhou." As she spoke, she looked coldly at Hao Fulu. "Steward Hao, now that things have been settled, come back to the palace with me."
Hao Fulu sighed inwardly and quickly said, "Alright, please go first, Granny Zeng."
Granny Zeng didn't stay any longer. She took one last look at Gu Linchao and Wen Nongnong, then turned and left.
Hao Fulu bowed to the two men and then left.
After the two left, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat heavy.
Wen Nongnong supported Gu Linchao's hand and saw that his handsome face was pale, so she knew that he must have been shocked by the Empress Dowager's words.
She felt very sorry for him, but at this moment, she, who was usually eloquent, was at a loss for words to comfort him.
Although the Empress Dowager's actions were intended to protect Gu Linchao, her threat of death was extremely cruel to him.
The Empress Dowager had anticipated that Gu Linchao would exchange the military tally for her, so she blocked his path in advance. In order to prevent him from handing over the military tally, she did not hesitate to threaten to kill herself.
Wen Nong Nong knew that the Empress Dowager's actions were out of necessity, because she could not allow Gu Linchao to lose his military seal because of her.
She could understand the Empress Dowager's protectiveness of her son as a mother.
She sighed inwardly and softly comforted him, "Your Highness, don't worry too much. The Empress Dowager has seen all kinds of storms and is the Emperor's own grandmother. The Emperor wouldn't really do anything to her."
That's what they say, but given that Gu Heng resorted to such despicable means to obtain the military tally, it's hard to believe he wouldn't do something even more heinous.
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