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It was a dark and windy night.
Due to a series of ongoing battles, the capital had plunged into a tense and vigilant state. Yuan Tang had been hiding and evading in the capital for several days, like a mouse scurrying through the streets. Having lived for so many years, he had never been in such a sorry state.
When Gu Jiao told him that his imperial uncle, Bo Qinw.a.n.g, was planning a rebellion, he didn"t believe it. After all, Bo Qinw.a.n.g was the beloved legitimate son of the late Emperor. Back when his imperial father was still the Crown Prince of the State of Chen, he had committed a serious crime. It was his imperial uncle, Bo Qinw.a.n.g, who worked tirelessly to clear his imperial father"s name and save his position as the Crown Prince.
With such an uncle as Bo Qinw.a.n.g, how could one not trust him?
As for the matter of his maternal family, the Rong Family...
The daughter of the Rong Family was his mother, who held the prestigious t.i.tle of Imperial Consort in the State of Chen. She was second to none in the harem, and everyone else was beneath her. Yuan Tang was just waiting for the day when she was officially named Empress, becoming the mother of the nation.
Bo Qinw.a.n.g and the Rong Family had no marital ties. Had the Rong Family lost their minds? Why would they support an outsider instead of their own daughter and grandson?
Yuan Tang believed that Gu Jiao must be mistaken or deliberately trying to sow discord between him and Bo Qinw.a.n.g.
But he had always been vigilant about the movements of the imperial family of the State of Zhao, and it wasn"t until the Emperor ordered his arrest that he realized the gravity of the situation.
He fled ahead of the arrest order.
Just a few days after his escape, news came from the border that the State of Chen"s army was advancing, and the State of Zhao had lost three cities.
It was at that moment that he finally understood that Gu Jiao wasn’t lying to him. His imperial uncle, Bo Qinw.a.n.g, had indeed rebelled!
The Emperor was still trying to capture him, probably thinking that by doing so, he could use him as leverage against the State of Chen. But Gu Jiao was right. It wasn"t his imperial father who was violating the alliance agreements between the two countries but his imperial uncle, Bo Qinw.a.n.g.
Therefore, even if they killed him, his imperial uncle wouldn"t bat an eye.
At this point, it was a checkmate for him.
He wondered about his imperial father"s situation.
For Bo Qinw.a.n.g to dare to do such a thing, he must have control over the court, and he might even have put his imperial father under house arrest.
With these thoughts, Yuan Tang"s face turned ice-cold.
"Go and search over there!"
The voice of the imperial guards could be heard not far away.
This situation, where he could be exposed at any moment, had occurred countless times, and Yuan Tang had gradually grown numb to it from his initial indignation.
But he didn"t dare to let his guard down.
Otherwise, if he were caught, he would lose his life. His imperial uncle wouldn"t save him, and the State of Zhao wouldn"t spare him. He was someone both sides wanted to eliminate.
Yuan Tang swiftly crossed through a nearby alley. As soon as he stepped onto a main street, he was blocked by Liu Yisheng.
Liu Yisheng, who had hired a carriage, pulled back the curtain and said, "Come with me!"
However, Yuan Tang didn"t approach. Instead, he looked at Liu Yisheng with a complex expression. Footsteps were gradually approaching from behind, and without turning back, he disappeared into the night.
He couldn"t jeopardize his cousin.
Even if he had to die, he would rather die alone in the State of Zhao.
On the other side, the news of the loss of three cities on the border and the capture of Old Marquis had reached the Marquis Ding"an Estate.
"What did you say? Father was captured on the border?!"
In the study, Marquis Gu looked at Huang Zhong in disbelief and said, "Are you sure you didn"t misunderstand something? Wasn"t my father going on a leisure trip in the mountains? How did he end up at the border? That"s a harsh and frigid place!"
Huang Zhong, feeling helpless, replied, "It"s absolutely true, Lord Marquis! The remnants of the previous dynasty colluded with the State of Chen"s army at the border, even willing to cede territory and betray the country by bringing them close to the border. The news of the Old Marquis"s capture has already spread throughout the palace!"
"How could this happen?" Marquis Gu slumped into his chair, distraught.
Huang Zhong expressed his concern, "The Empress Dowager is furious and has ordered the shizi to return to the capital immediately. She says it"s to... to reorganize the Gu Family Army and lead the Gu Family Army north to resist the enemy!"
Marquis Gu"s expression changed again, "Changqing is going to the border as well? He…”
He was only twenty-one years old!
He had never been to such a distant battlefield nor experienced such intense warfare. Sending a hundred thousand Gu Family troops north, it seemed like this was going to be a tough battle!
Outside the study, Gu Chengfeng, who had overheard the conversation unintentionally, felt like he was plunged into an ice-cold abyss.
He knew his grandfather had secretly gone to the border on the Emperor"s orders, but he never expected that instead of rescuing Princess Ning"an, his grandfather would get himself captured.
He wasn"t sure who these remnants from the previous dynasty were, but considering the ruthless tactics employed by Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, he could deduce that they were ruthless and unscrupulous. With his grandfather in their hands, his life was most likely in grave danger.
His eldest brother was near Mount Fengdu, and it would take time for him to return to the capital. Rebuilding the Gu Family Army and heading north to the border would also take time. He wasn"t even sure if his grandfather would still be alive by the time his eldest brother arrived.
Furthermore, his grandfather would never let himself become a hindrance to his eldest brother and the Gu Family Army.
If the remnants of the previous dynasty used him to blackmail his eldest brother, his grandfather would choose death over submission.
Gu Chengfeng returned to his own courtyard.
He changed into night clothes, donned a mask, and selected several concealed weapons he had purchased from Thousand Sounds Pavilion.
After completing these preparations, he went to the adjacent room.
At that moment, Gu Chenglin had already gone to bed. Gu Chengfeng approached his younger brother"s bedside, gazing at the peacefully sleeping Gu Chenglin. He tucked him in, ran his fingers through the little bit of hair that had grown, and slipped a silver banknote under his pillow.
"From now on, you"ll have to buy your own hair tonic."
With that, he took a final, reluctant glance at his younger brother. He couldn"t help but envy Gu Yan and the newborn baby. At least they had so many people doting on them, while Gu Chenglin had only him left.
But even he had to leave now.
This time, he wasn"t just going on a simple mission. He was heading to the border, infiltrating enemy lines, and facing an uncertain fate. If he didn"t return——
"If I don"t come back, take care of yourself, do you understand?"
The soundly sleeping Gu Chenglin was unaware of his brother"s departure. He turned over in his sleep, and his peaceful, serene appearance in slumber remained.
Gu Chengfeng finally departed.
He quietly closed the door to his brother"s room, then went to the stable and discreetly rode away on his own father"s prized horse.
Bishui Alley.
The family had spent a busy day, and now they were all retiring to their respective rooms.
Gu Jiao went to the east room to check on the little one. The newborn"s jaundice had already receded, and the wrinkles on his face were gradually smoothing out. He was a white and tender little cutie now.
"JiaoJiao." Little Jing Kong appeared behind her, holding a pillow.
"You"re not asleep yet?" Gu Jiao turned to look at him.
"Mmm, I miss you a little." Little Jing Kong said earnestly.
Gu Jiao smiled and ruffled his small head, "I"ll walk you over."
"Okay!" Little Jing Kong held his little pillow with one hand and held Gu Jiao"s hand with the other as he skipped next door.
He lay down on the soft bed, his big round eyes wide open, and he called obediently, "JiaoJiao."
"Hmm?"
"I"ve tucked myself in."
"That’s a good boy." Gu Jiao touched his forehead. "Now, go to sleep."
Little Jing Kong obediently closed his eyes.
After a while, he opened them again, "JiaoJiao?"
"I"m here."
He closed his eyes once more, rea.s.sured.
His little hand held onto Gu Jiao"s hand and made no concealment of his dependence and neediness.Raz P."s Thoughts
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