Chapter 473: Secret
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“At that time, because the Eldest Princess denied that she had taken Emperor Taizu’s handwritten letter, the previous Emperor decided to be ruthless. He took advantage of the day the Emperor Taizu’s coffin entered the imperial mausoleum and caught the Eldest Princess off guard. He got the Embroidered Uniform Guards to surround the imperial mausoleum and the palace. He planned to temporarily place the Eldest Princess under house arrest and search the princess’s residence to find the handbook.”
“Unexpectedly, the Mystic Eagle Army appeared!”
Hearing the name of the Mystic Eagle Army, Chu You’s pupils moved, and his thin lips couldn’t help but purse in a straight line.
Legend has it that the Mystic Eagle Army was an extraordinary army in the hands of Emperor Taizu. They were also secret guards. Not only were they all elites among elites, but they also had secret weapons that could fight a hundred people alone.
Emperor Taizu didn’t give the Mystic Eagle Army to the previous Emperor, but he actually gave it to Feng Yang, a woman?!
Even before Xiao Shoufu said anything, Chu You could already guess the outcome of the previous Emperor’s move.
Xiao Shoufu sighed helplessly again. “The appearance of the Mystic Eagle Army reversed the situation. The Embroidered Uniform Guards and the accompanying royal guards retreated step by step. The Eldest Princess led the Mystic Eagle Army all the way to the late Emperor.”
“However, the royal family and the four dukes were all there. They became peacemakers and made the late Emperor swear a heavy oath in front of Emperor Taizu’s tomb that he would never be rude to the Eldest Princess again in this life. He had to be respectful. Otherwise, he would be struck by lightning and be willing… to abdicate.”
The last two words were almost enunciated, and even his voice was a little hoa.r.s.e.
So that was the case! After hearing this, Chu You finally understood. No wonder the late Emperor had always been afraid and resentful of Feng Yang.
Xiao Shoufu picked up the teacup and slowly took two sips of tea, his eyes flickering.
This was originally a power struggle within the royal family, but it gave their family a chance to rise again.
Emperor Taizu didn’t like n.o.ble families and promoted the poor. Hence, when Emperor Taizu was in power, most of the n.o.ble families were suppressed. Only a few people got promoted in order to please Emperor Taizu.
After the late Emperor officially ascended the throne, in order to suppress Feng Yang and stabilize the country, he began to support the aristocratic families. He even married the Yuan family to show his sincerity to the aristocratic families.
20 years. It had taken their family a full 20 years to gain a foothold in the new dynasty and regain their former glory.
They would never let the hard work of the past 20 years be ruined!
Chu You lowered his eyes and pondered. He recalled what Xiao Shoufu had told him about the past, and his face flashed with an uncertain expression.
It was only at this moment that he realized how difficult it had been for his father all these years.
The previous Emperor also wanted to change his position as Crown Prince. There was a fifty-fifty chance of support and opposition in the court. In the past, he felt that the previous Emperor wasn’t as powerful as Emperor Taizu. Now, he realized that the real reason was because of Feng Yang’s objection.
After all, many of the old people who had witnessed the incident in the imperial mausoleum 20 years ago were still alive…
As he thought, Xiao Shoufu’s cold voice entered his ears. “Her Highness is about to die.”
Chu You looked in Xiao Shoufu’s direction again and almost stood up from his chair.
Feng Yang was the Emperor’s greatest supporter. She helped him ascend to the throne, and after his coronation, she continued to a.s.sist him in consolidating his power and maintaining his position as the Emperor.
Once Feng Yang died, the Emperor would lose a huge help.
This would be Chu You’s best chance.
Xiao Shoufu looked at Chu You with a deep gaze and said in an extremely calm voice, “Your Highness, this opportunity won’t come again. You have to consider it carefully.”
“The Emperor is the legitimate son. It’s only right for him to succeed the throne. When he completely stabilizes his power, what chance do you think you have, Your Highness?”
“Your Highness, you and the Emperor have long been irreconcilable. Will the Emperor let you off in the future?”
Xiao Shoufu suddenly stood up from his chair and frowned even more.
He seemed to hesitate for a moment before saying, “Your Highness, aren’t you deeply in love with the Third Miss of the Gu family? Do you want her to suffer with you?”
These two sentences were extremely difficult for Xiao Shoufu to say. He really didn’t understand why Kang w.a.n.g was so obsessed with a woman. However, at this point, he could only try all feasible methods to persuade Kang w.a.n.g.
“…” Chu You felt as if he had been stabbed. His heart ached uncontrollably.
Xiao Shoufu stopped persuading him. After cupping his hands at Chu You, he turned around and left.
Chu You looked at Xiao Shoufu’s departing figure in a daze. He was as motionless as a stone statue.
When the eunuch guarding under the eaves saw Xiao Shoufu leave and enter the hall again, he looked worriedly at the dejected Chu You and called out in a low voice, “Your Highness?”
Chu You acted as if he didn’t hear him and remained motionless.
His heart hurt very much, but he knew very well that he had to choose between the throne and Gu Yunrong.
He couldn’t bear to part with the throne.
Ever since he was four or five years old, the late Emperor had held him on his knees and told him lovingly, “You’er, you’ll inherit everything from me.”
Over the years, his faith had been rock-solid. He’d never doubted it.
If he chose the throne, he would have to give up Rong’er. He would have to be separated from her forever…
As soon as this thought surfaced in his mind, he felt empty and uncomfortable.
Thud! Thud!
Chu You’s heart sped up and contracted violently.
He couldn’t help but look pained. He raised his hand and grabbed the lapel of his left chest.
Thump thump thump!
His heart beat faster and faster, and his heart hurt even more. It was as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart in the palm…
Veins popped out on his forehead, and his face was almost ferocious. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
“Your Highness, what’s wrong?” The eunuch looked at Chu You worriedly and asked. He was at a loss. “I’ll summon the imperial physician now…”
Before he could finish speaking, he saw that Chu You had already collapsed from the chair while clutching his chest in pain…
“Your Highness!”
The eunuch’s sharp shout almost overturned the roof.
Kang w.a.n.g, Chu You, suddenly fell ill.
For a few days in a row, not only did Kang w.a.n.g’s Mansion invite a few imperial physicians, but they also came and went to invite a few doctors from the capital.
This matter wasn’t a secret. Gu Yanfei had also heard about it and didn’t care.
Gu Yanfei had been very free these few days. She stayed in the Gu residence all day long. Not only did she copy the Ksitigarbha Sutra, but she also personally made some paper money and folded some paper ingots.
In a few days, it will be the death anniversary of her father, Gu Ce.
After a person died, if nothing unexpected happened, they would enter the cycle of reincarnation. Their father should have already entered the cycle of reincarnation and started a new life.
In order to acc.u.mulate merit for his next life, Gu Yanfei specially wrote charms on paper money and paper ingots. She also got someone to go to Wuliang Temple in advance to make an appointment, planning to do a ritual for Gu Ce.
It had been almost nine years since her father, Gu Ce’s death.
Back then, Gu Ce was charged with the crime of “surrendering to the enemy and betraying the country”. The common people, unaware of the truth, berated him, making him a target of public criticism. Although the late Emperor spared their t.i.tle thanks to Gu Yunrong saving Kang w.a.n.g, the Gu Mansion was still penalized with the confiscation of their hereditary farmland, and the manor was shunned by various offices in the capital.
At this time in her previous life, Gu Yanfei also thought that her father had defected to the enemy and betrayed the country. She felt humiliated to have such a father.
However, after her eldest brother, Gu Yuan, was injured, he lost his job. When he stayed in the residence all day, he told her a lot about his father when he was alive. He also told her a lot about what his father had taught him since he was young.
In Big Brother’s words, their father, Gu Ce, was an indomitable person.
Big Brother had never believed that his father would defect to the enemy.
At that time, Gu Yanfei’s original thoughts had also wavered. She believed in her brother, so she was willing to believe in the n.o.ble father that her brother mentioned.
However, after her brother died, her world collapsed.
At that time, it didn’t matter what kind of person her father was…
A gust of wind suddenly blew in from outside the window, blowing up the paper money that Gu Yanfei had just written the charm.
“Be careful!”
Gu Yunzhen, who had just entered the house, strode forward and grabbed the piece of paper money that had almost been blown away by the wind.
Gu Yunzhen carefully placed the paper money into the box. She didn’t know how to write charms, so she could only help Gu Yanfei fold paper ingots.
“Second Sister, I’ll go with you tomorrow,” Gu Yunzhen said.
Gu Yanfei hummed softly and continued folding the paper ingots.
Gu Yunzhen slowly folded the gold foil. Every step was so careful and prudent, as if this was nothing more important.
The house was silent for a while. Occasionally, a cat meowed in the distance.
After a while, Gu Yunzhen’s gentle voice slowly sounded, breaking the silence in the room. “Uncle is a very gentle person. He’s very amiable to us juniors.”
“When I was two years old, Uncle returned to the capital to report his work. He even brought me and Big Brother to play everywhere in the capital.”
On the day of the Qixi Festival, he personally helped us hang lanterns and took us to the Lantern Festival…”
Although Gu Yunzhen was only two years old at the time, this scene was forever engraved in her heart.
She gradually grew up and had always envied her brother for having a father like Uncle. Her father wouldn’t carry his child like Uncle, her father wouldn’t often bring his child out to play like Uncle, and her father wouldn’t personally enlighten his child like Uncle…
However…
Gu Yunzhen stopped folding the paper and turned to look at Gu Yanfei’s beautiful side profile. The young girl’s fair skin was like fragile petals in the warm light that would be blown away by the wind.
However, her Second Sister had never met Uncle and had never interacted with him.
Gu Yunzhen really felt a little upset. It was sour and astringent.
Even if she punished Mother Su, the regret in her Second Sister’s heart could never be made up for..