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Inside the room on the other side, Old Marquis and Gu Chengfeng stared at each other.
Gu Chengfeng stood in the center of the room with his head hanging down, looking like a startled little quail caught in the act.
Old Marquis sat boldly in his chair, looking at Gu Chengfeng with a complex expression. He asked, "How did you end up here?"
To understand what was going on, we need to go back to when Gu Chengfeng unexpectedly encountered the Emperor. His chance to escape with Empress Dowager Zhuang was all thanks to Gu Jiao sacrificing herself. Gu Chengfeng ran forward without thinking, even losing his mask along the way. Therefore, when he encountered the Emperor and Old Marquis, Old Marquis immediately recognized him.
Fortunately, at that moment, Gu Chengfeng hadn’t engaged in any combat and only used a bit of qinggong.
Gu Chengfeng stuttered, "I... I was at Bishui Alley. His Majesty came to find the Empress Dowager at Bishui Alley, and I overheard it in the study. I was worried about the Empress Dowager"s safety, so I came out to find her. I... I also want to contribute in any way I can."
It sounded odd that a useless young dandy like him would want to contribute to the rescue of Empress Dowager, so Old Marquis asked again, "The city guards just let you go like that?"
Gu Chengfeng remained composed and said, "I... I showed them the Marquis Ding"an Estate"s token, claiming to be your grandson, and they let me pa.s.s."
Marquis was half doubtful, but more than how he left the capital city, he was more concerned about how Gu Chengfeng knew the Empress Dowager and even seemed to possess martial arts skills.
Gu Chengfeng didn"t know if his grandfather was aware of Empress Dowager Zhuang having wandered among the common people. After all, Empress Dowager Zhuang had publicly claimed to have been recuperating in the temporary imperial residence for the past year.
He worried that he might say something he shouldn"t, so he continued, "What"s so strange about this? I have been inside the imperial palace before! When I went to visit my aunt, Imperial Concubine Shu, I saw the Empress Dowager from a distance several times! Also, I accidentally got lost once, and Empress Dowager instructed someone to guide me back. I never told grandfather this because I know all of you dislike the Empress Dowager."
The first few sentences were something he thought up on his way back while the idea of Empress Dowager guiding him was a spontaneous fabrication.
This perfectly explained why he came out to find the Empress Dowager—— because she had helped him before!
He was simply returning a favor!
Wow, how did he suddenly become so clever!
He truly was amazing!
"As for my martial arts, alas, how could I have any martial arts skills? It"s just a bit of qinggong that I learned from eldest brother!"
The logic was flawless!
He was so clever!
But... Where did this ability to fabricate a little script come from? It felt strangely familiar...
Old Marquis still found it odd, but he couldn"t pinpoint any flaws. He couldn"t just go to Empress Dowager Zhuang to verify it either. Empress Dowager Zhuang didn"t even bother with the Emperor, let alone him.
Sneaking out of the estate late at night would lead to punishment, but considering Gu Chengfeng"s merit in saving the Empress Dowager, Old Marquis allowed him to ride in a carriage back home.
Afterward, Old Marquis went to the Emperor and reported again, reiterating Gu Chengfeng"s explanation. Perhaps he was worried that the Emperor would suspect something, wondering why their child had been hiding his talents and if he was secretly plotting something.
After the incident with Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, Old Marquis clearly felt that the Emperor no longer trusted him as before.
However, the Emperor, still immersed in the immense joy of himself potentially being his imperial mother’s biological son, only praised Gu Chengfeng and even complimented Old Marquis on his excellent guidance.
There was no longer a need for any evidence regarding Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing"s ident.i.ty as a remnant of the previous dynasty. The charges were established, especially considering her theft of the late Emperor"s decree and her plot to harm the Empress Dowager. Her crimes were severe and unforgivable.
If Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing had succeeded in taking Empress Dowager Zhuang to the border, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Empress Dowager"s life would be in danger, the dignity of the imperial family would be compromised, and the morale of the soldiers would plummet. The stability of the State of Zhao would be in unprecedented turmoil.
This time, the Emperor did not show mercy whatsoever.
He entered the room where Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was being held.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing had stopped struggling and sat slumped in the chair, like a body whose soul had been hollowed out.
The Emperor"s gaze swept over her wrist, which had been sc.r.a.ped and bloodied from her struggles. Without saying a word, he gestured for Eunuch Wei to bring something in.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing seemed to have finally regained her senses. She turned her face, tears still fresh on her cheeks, and hoa.r.s.ely said, "Hong"er..."
Disgusted, the Emperor interrupted, "Don"t call Zhen Hong"er. You don"t deserve it."
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing laughed self-deprecatingly and looked at the Emperor, saying, "Hong"er, you"re only repulsed because you"ve been drugged. Once the effects wear off, you"ll realize that in your heart, this imperial concubine mother of yours is a hundred or a thousand times more important than Zhuang Jinse!"
The Emperor"s gaze was as cold as the winter wind, "You"re wrong! Whether under the influence of drugs or not, Zhen will never believe in you again, let alone consider you as my real mother!"
"Is that so?" Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing laughed twice, displaying an innocent yet deranged expression. "Then why are you here? Do you want to interrogate me? I"m afraid you"ll be disappointed because I won"t say anything."
The Emperor knew she would react this way. After all, she was a descendant of the death warriors from the previous dynasty and possessed their spirit. He didn"t expect to extract any information from her mouth and simply said, "Zhen came to accompany you on your final journey."
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing"s body tensed slightly.
Eunuch Wei approached, carrying a tray with a bottle of poison and a piece of white silk.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing finally lost her smile, "You"re truly... so heartless... Both you and your father... so heartless... you..."
She didn"t cry loud, but tears streamed down her face.
The Emperor was not at all soft-hearted, "We were mother and son after all. This is the final dignity I can offer you."
"Dignity? You"re killing your own mother... What dignity are you talking about?!" Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing spat out her words, her entire being consumed by madness. "Truly worthy of being your father"s son... You will face retribution... You will face retribution!"
The Emperor wasn"t swayed by a few curses, "Zhen is the Son of Heaven, born in accordance with the will of Heaven..."
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing interrupted him, "Son of Heaven? Hahaha, you seem to have forgotten how you ascended to the throne!"
The Emperor contemplated carefully for a moment, then nodded and said, "You"re right. It was imperial mother who schemed for my ascension. Therefore, I should be grateful to imperial mother. From now on, Zhen won"t do anything to displease her."
With that, he turned and left the room, not sparing another glance at Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing.
……
A major event unfolded in the capital in the eighth month—— Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing pa.s.sed away. Considering her official current ident.i.ty as Venerable Sister Jing An, a senior Buddhist nun, it would be more accurate to say that Venerable Sister Jing An had achieved nirvana.
Venerable Sister Jing An had always projected an image of frailty to the outside world. As a result, Rui w.a.n.gfei had brought physicians from Miraculous Hands Hall to diagnose her twice, and the Emperor had brought her back to the imperial palace for recuperation.
One couldn"t deny that her facade of frailty had been of great help. Almost no one suspected any foul play behind her pa.s.sing. Upon hearing the news, everyone thought, "Ah, her health was already so poor. It"s not surprising she couldn"t make it through this year..."
However, there were still aspects that puzzled people. For example, everyone a.s.sumed that the Emperor would officially restore Venerable Sister Jing An’s status as Imperial Concubine Dowager, posthumously bestowing her the t.i.tle of Empress Dowager, and conduct a burial ceremony befitting an Empress Dowager.
But to everyone"s surprise, the Emperor did not do so.
Venerable Sister Jing An remained as Venerable Sister Jing An until her embalming and burial.
When the news reached Bishui Alley, Gu Jiao, Xiao Liulang, and Gu Chengfeng were present.
"Did His Majesty really..." Gu Chengfeng was shocked. As one of the people who knew about the events of that night, he naturally understood that there was a reason behind Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing’s pa.s.sing. However, he didn"t expect that the Emperor would actually go to such lengths.
Did they feel sympathy?
The answer was no.
That old witch had committed numerous evil deeds, causing havoc in the harem for many years. She had driven a wedge between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, nearly leading to their mutual destruction. Not to mention the innocent Princess Ning"an.
As long as she remained alive, she would always be a huge threat to the imperial court.
The funeral arrangements for Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing were handled entirely by Empress Xiao, and the Emperor did not make an appearance.
The Emperor decided to send someone to the border. He had initially intended to send Gu Changqing since he held a military position and could be deployed openly.
However, Gu Changqing hadn’t returned to the capital yet, and the matter couldn"t be delayed. After careful consideration, the Emperor summoned Tang Yueshan and Old Marquis to the palace.
He entrusted the token that could command the Dragon Shadow Guards to Old Marquis and solemnly said, "Zhen is entrusting this token to you, hoping that you can accomplish three tasks for me. First, retrieve the Dragon Shadow Guards. Second, thoroughly investigate the situation at the border. And third... bring Ning"an back safely!"
Old Marquis never expected that the Emperor would a.s.sign such an important task to him. He was stunned for a moment, then cupped his fist and said, "This subject... will carry out the order!"
The Emperor then turned to Tang Yueshan, "There"s no need for me to explain your task, right?"
Tang Yueshan saluted with a cupped fist, "This official pledge here to fulfill my military obligations. This official won"t rest until all the remnants of the previous dynasty are eliminated!"Raz P."s Thoughts
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