The Empress Dowager was taken aback. Atuo Jianghua said with a smile, "He's hungry. I'll go call the wet nurse in."
The Empress Dowager finally understood. She looked down at the child in her arms and saw that the child was pouting, looking like he was about to cry, which was truly pitiful.
She couldn't help but laugh and said, "Looks like you're really hungry. Go on then."
Atuo Jianghua hurriedly got up and went out.
After the wet nurse fed the little prince, Atuo Jianghua led them back.
...
On the eve of their wedding, Gu Linchao and his entourage finally arrived at the outskirts of the capital.
Zhou Jun, who was waiting there, quickly blocked their way.
"Prince Xiang, my Duke ordered me to wait for you here, and I've finally been able to see you," Zhou Jun said with a sigh of relief.
He was Xiao Yan's trusted bodyguard, so Gu Linchao naturally recognized him.
So seeing him here wasn't too surprising.
"Did your Duke have any instructions for you?" Gu Linchao asked, pulling on the reins and looking down at him.
Zhou Jun was startled by his gaze, and after a long while, he came to his senses and said with great joy, "Your Highness's eyes have recovered?"
"Mm." Gu Linchao nodded.
"That's wonderful! The Duke will be very happy to hear that," Zhou Jun said sincerely.
Gu Linchao's handsome face softened a little.
He did not disclose his regained sight to the public, so few people knew about it, and Xiao Yan and others, who were far away in the capital, had even less knowledge of it.
"Where is your Duke now?" he asked.
Zhou Jun paused, then said in a low voice, "The Duke has been placed under house arrest. He had previously instructed me to wait here for Your Highness and not to enter the city, as the Emperor has planned a banquet that would be detrimental to Your Highness."
Gu Linchao frowned. "Why is your Duke under house arrest?"
Zhou Jun said, "Before the incident, the Duke had already foreseen it. He told me that the Emperor had been having people look for something in Jingci Palace for some time, and if they couldn't find it, he would definitely assume that it was in his possession."
As expected, the Duke's prediction came true. A few days ago, the Emperor, citing the need to protect the Duke's safety, sent men to surround the Duke's residence, and the Duke is now trapped inside.
After hearing this, Gu Linchao asked in a deep voice, "What is Your Majesty looking for?"
Zhou Jun glanced at him, then lowered his head and whispered, "The Duke said it was the late Emperor's last will and testament."
The late emperor's last will and testament?
A look of confusion flashed across Gu Linchao's eyes.
How could he not know about the late emperor's last edict?
Furthermore, what did the late emperor's edict say, and why did it cause Gu Heng to make such a fuss and even place Xiao Yan under house arrest?
He discovered that his mother was hiding some things from him.
Thinking of this, he pursed his lips, a hint of seriousness appearing between his brows.
"Your Highness, please stay at the villa for the next two days. When the time comes tomorrow, Princess Atuo will come out with the Empress Dowager. We can go and meet her then," Zhou Jun said in a low voice.
Gu Linchao snapped out of his daze and asked, puzzled, "Princess Atuo was also involved in this matter?"
Zhou Jun nodded. "Yes, she wants to go back to Xinjiang. Our tunnel has just reached her bedroom. She has already promised the Duke that she will bring the Empress Dowager with her when she comes out of the tunnel."
Upon hearing this, Gu Linchao said nothing more and led his men to Xiao Yan's villa.
He did not travel by official road to the capital this time, so Gu Heng did not receive news of his arrival.
In the imperial study, Gu Heng was very anxious, showing no joy whatsoever at the prospect of marrying the empress.
"There's still no news of Gu Linchao's arrival in the capital?" He looked at Hao Fulu and asked in a deep voice.
Under immense pressure, Hao Fulu replied, "The eunuch who was sent to deliver the imperial edict has returned. He said that he personally handed the edict to Prince Xiang on that day, and that Prince Xiang also said that he would come to the capital to attend the Emperor's wedding."
"Where is Ke Ren?" Gu Heng asked angrily.
Scouts were sent out in waves, but they couldn't find any news about Gu Linchao.
"A spies in Xiangzhou have sent a letter confirming that Gu Linchao has left Xiangzhou. According to the timeline, he should arrive in the next day or two. Your Majesty, why don't you wait a little longer tomorrow?"
"After all, the King of Xiang has poor eyesight, and he might be delayed on the road," Hao Fulu said.
Upon hearing this, Gu Heng's anxiety and worries vanished instantly, and he narrowed his eyes. "What you say makes some sense. Have your men prepare well to ensure everything goes smoothly tomorrow." As long as Gu Linchao shows up at the wedding banquet tomorrow, he will make sure he doesn't leave alive.
"yes."
The following day, Gu Heng got married.
The entire court was celebrating the Emperor and Empress, and the palace was bustling with activity as everyone was busy preparing for their wedding.
At the banquet, halfway through the meal, Atuo Jianghua excused herself by saying she was feeling unwell and handed the young prince over to Guo Yuzhen for care before leaving the table and returning to her palace.
Before returning to her own palace, she made a special detour to Jingci Palace.
The Empress Dowager was unwell and therefore did not attend the banquet.
When she arrived, the Empress Dowager and Granny Zeng were already waiting in front of the palace gate.
Upon seeing her approach, the two understood each other implicitly and left Jingci Palace together, following her to her bedroom.
At this moment, there was no one in Atuo Jianghua's palace; the palace servants and wet nurse had all been sent away under various pretexts.
Compared to the bustling activity in the front hall, this place seemed particularly deserted.
The three of them went in without alerting anyone.
Inside the bedchamber, Atuo Jianghua's two maids had already packed their things and were waiting for them.
As soon as the person returned, the maid immediately moved the stone bricks.
Just as Atuo Jianghua was about to jump down to scout ahead, a dark figure leaped up from the tunnel entrance.
She originally thought it was Zhou Jun who came to pick her up, but to her surprise, it was Si Yi.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
