Finally, after seeing off the messenger, Su Yun'er asked, "Mother, what's wrong?" "Yun'er, I remember in the plays there was something about the crime of deceiving the emperor, isn't there?"
Seeing Su Yun'er nod, Old Madam Chen looked even more worried, "What if the Emperor finds out? Will he be beheaded?"
Su Yun'er was both amused and exasperated: "Mother, you've never even seen the emperor, how could you possibly be deceiving him? Don't scare yourself."
However, the safety of Su Yun'er was not improved at all. Old Mrs. Chen was worried every day, and sometimes when she saw Su Yun'er and Gu Jingheng, she would hesitate to speak.
Old Mrs. Chen's behavior reminded Su Yun'er of He Liu's childbirth.
That time, when Lin Moniang, Aunt Song, and others gathered together to discuss matters such as childbirth, Old Lady Chen appeared flustered. When they teased her, saying that she herself had given birth and yet still didn't know anything about childbirth, Old Lady Chen showed the same expression.
When certain things came together, a rather absurd conjecture appeared in Su Yun'er's mind.
Isn't Old Lady Chen Gu Jingheng's biological mother?
While feeling that it was a melodramatic story, Su Yun'er also felt that Old Mrs. Chen was really quite timid. Even the villagers of Daliushu Village had never mentioned that Old Mrs. Chen and her son were not related by blood, which showed that no outsiders knew about this matter. She didn't need to be so nervous.
However, Su Yun'er did not intend to tell anyone about this speculation, including Gu Jingheng.
Since Gu Jingheng and Old Lady Chen reunited, everyone could sense the change in Gu Jingheng's emotions. He used to be all alone, but now he has found his mother, wife, and children and has his own family. Why should he so cruelly take away this sense of happiness?
Before the emperor's banquet, Su Yun'er met with the seventh prince's mother, Consort Qi.
The seventh prince, named Gu Chengzhou, has now been granted the title of Prince An.
On this day, Prince An sent an invitation to Gu Jingheng, who then brought Su Yun'er along. Since Su Yun'er would be residing in Beidu permanently, and needed to cultivate connections with various people, Gu Jingheng frequently took her to banquets after returning to Beidu. Upon arriving at Prince An's residence, they were surprised to find Consort Qi also there.
Consort Qi was the birth mother of Prince An. In the past, a son's status depended on his mother, but now a mother's status depended on her son. The emperor favored her, so he granted Consort Qi permission to stay at Prince An's residence for a while.
Upon seeing Consort Qi, Su Yun'er felt that she looked familiar. While chatting idly, she kept thinking about why Consort Qi looked familiar. It wasn't until she saw Gu Jingheng holding a teacup and smiling faintly that Su Yun'er suddenly realized the reason: Consort Qi and Gu Jingheng had similar features.
Seeing Consort Qi's affectionate manner towards Gu Jingheng again, Su Yun'er's melodramatic speculation from a few days ago took on a new twist: Could Gu Jingheng be Consort Qi's child?
Before she could figure out what was going on, a servant came to report, "Prince Shou has come to visit." "The Imperial Uncle is here?" Upon hearing this, Prince An immediately got up to greet him. But when Su Yun'er saw Prince Shou, her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Gu Jingheng and Prince Shou are remarkably alike. Even Prince Shou himself has noticed this.
Unlike the others who were having a pleasant conversation, Su Yun'er felt uneasy, her mind pounding with this thought: Could Gu Jingheng be the child of Prince Shou and Consort Qi?
During the meal, Consort Qi dined alone with Su Yun'er in her own courtyard.
Although Consort Qi possessed royal dignity, her words and attitude were very kind. Su Yun'er gradually relaxed her tense nerves. However, just when Su Yun'er thought that the meal would end in such a gentle atmosphere, Old Madam Chen suddenly arrived.
She didn't come on her own; she was invited by Consort Qi.
Consort Qi looked at Su Yun'er with shock and confusion, smiled and said, "You and General Gu are not at home. Wouldn't it be boring to leave the old lady alone? Why don't you come with us and have some fun?"
When Old Madam Chen met the Imperial Concubine in the palace, she was very nervous. Although Gu Jingheng had arranged for someone to teach them etiquette and manners as soon as they arrived in Beidu, Old Madam Chen still made several mistakes due to her nervousness. Fortunately, the Imperial Concubine did not reprimand her.
Su Yun'er's mood turned heavy again. She kept her eyes on the Imperial Concubine and Old Madam Chen and didn't taste the exquisite food in front of her at all.
As expected, Consort Qi had a purpose in summoning Old Madam Chen.
Consort Qi, using the excuse that she had something to bestow upon Old Madam Chen, called Old Madam Chen into the inner room. Immediately, a maid came forward and invited Su Yun'er into the courtyard, ostensibly to admire the flowers and scenery, but in reality, she did not want Su Yun'er to hear the conversation between Consort Qi and Old Madam Chen.
Su Yun'er waited alone in the courtyard, her heart pounding and her mind blank.
After an unknown amount of time, Old Madam Chen emerged, led by her nanny, her face streaked with tears. Su Yun'er immediately went to greet her, her gaze quickly sweeping over Old Madam Chen. Seeing nothing amiss, it seemed the Imperial Concubine hadn't treated Old Madam Chen harshly. Old Madam Chen's eyes were red, she waved her hand, and said nothing.
Two maids followed, carrying two trays on which were some jewels, said to be gifts from the Imperial Concubine.
Su Yun'er and Old Madam Chen left first, and Gu Jingheng did not return until evening. Su Yun'er could tell at a glance that Gu Jingheng was acting strangely and seemed to be preoccupied with something on his mind.
"What exactly did Prince An and Prince Shou say to you today? What happened?" Su Yun'er asked anxiously.
"Yun'er, you've probably already guessed it, haven't you?"
A few days ago, Su Yun'er often seemed lost in thought. Today, after seeing Consort Qi and Prince Shou, she also looked preoccupied. Knowing Su Yun'er well, Gu Jingheng guessed that she must have found out something and was preoccupied, which was why it showed on her face. Although she tried to hide it very carefully, as husband and wife who were together day and night, Gu Jingheng could always guess what was going on.
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