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However, the Rong Family had enough of living under others" shadows. Instead of propping someone else up as the Emperor, they decided to seize the throne themselves!
Imperial Consort Rong also had a younger son who wasn’t yet five years old, so Yuan Tang"s death didn"t matter to them. They could just support the five-year-old Ninth Prince to ascend the throne.
Afterwards, they would have the Ninth Prince abdicate in favor of the Rong Family, enabling them to rule the nation.
Bo Qinw.a.n.g"s attempt to negotiate with the Rong Family was like asking the tiger for its skin, and ultimately, he met his demise under Rong Yao"s sword.
After this incident, the State of Chen’s ruler aged ten years overnight and never mentioned the matter of making Imperial Concubine Zhang as the Empress again.
Yuan Tang also didn"t force the Emperor to appoint him as the Crown Prince. Yuan Tang only confidently told the Emperor that he was going to secure the position of Crown Prince, whether the Emperor granted it to him or he took it himself.
The Emperor was poisoned by Bo Qinw.a.n.g and his life was already hanging by a thread. How could he contend with Yuan Tang, who was at the height of his power?
Without any surprises, the next time Yuan Tang visited the State of Zhao, it would be as the Crown Prince of the State of Chen.
After hearing Gu Jiao"s explanation, Old Chief sighed deeply, "Imperial families lack familial bonds, it"s the same for any imperial household. But this Yuan Tang... he"s truly impressive."
Thankfully, he wasn’t an enemy.
Speaking of Yuan Tang, Gu Jiao remembered the item Yuan Tang had asked her to deliver to Liu Yisheng.
"I"ll be going out for a while." Gu Jiao said.
"JiaoJiao, where are you going?" Little Jing Kong, sweating profusely, dashed in.
Looking at his fl.u.s.tered appearance, Gu Jiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Weren"t you training? Have you been eavesdropping on our conversation?"
"I’m not really eavesdropping, your voices were just really loud." Little Jing Kong sheepishly rubbed his hands.
Well, perhaps he had eavesdropped a little.
But it wasn"t intentional, and he couldn"t understand much anyway.
He was just worried that JiaoJiao might suddenly leave without saying anything again.
Now that Gu Jiao had returned, she naturally had to visit Grandaunt in the palace. She had thought it through. After reporting to Grandaunt, she would go to Liu Yisheng’s home and deliver Yuan Tang"s gift.
"JiaoJiao, can I go with you?" Little Jing Kong asked in a cute manner.
"Okay." Gu Jiao ruffled his little mushroom head.
His hair was so soft, and it felt really comfortable to ruffle.
Little Jing Kong leaned his head over, "JiaoJiao, if you like it, you can keep touching it."
It was okay even if his head got ruffled bald.
Xiao Heng walked over leaning on his cane and said nonchalantly, "I happen to have a memorandum to present to His Majesty. Let"s go to the palace together."
Old Chief"s mouth twitched. Presenting a memorandum to the Emperor on New Year"s Eve, could you get any more ridiculous?
Unfortunately, only Old Chief understood court matters. The rest of the family didn"t.
"Why does bad brother-in-law have to go too?" Little Jing Kong suddenly sounded a bit disgruntled.
When the three of them arrived at the carriage, they unexpectedly found three other people already inside: Gu Yan, Gu Xiaoshun, and the three-month-old Gu Xiaobao.
Gu Jiao: "..."
The odd tail grew longer...
Ultimately, Yao shi put a stop to all the little tails, for no other reason than the carriage wasn"t big enough to fit everyone.
It wouldn"t be fair to let one little tail go and not the others, so they decided not to go together at all.
On the other hand, Xiao Heng managed to perfectly avoid being left at home by Yao shi under the pretext of the memorandum.
Four little faces watched expressionlessly as the two people boarded the carriage.
However, what no one expected was that before Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng departed, Grandaunt"s carriage arrived.
Grandaunt hadn"t received news of Gu Jiao"s return. She had come to celebrate the birthdays of Xiao Heng and Little Jing Kong. With Gu Jiao absent, the two little guys must have been quite upset. She used the excuse of feeling unwell to ditch the palace banquet.
"It"s Grandaunt! Grandaunt is here!"
Little Jing Kong"s voice rang out, prompting both Xiao Heng and Gu Jiao to step down from the carriage.
Eunuch Qin also alighted from the carriage. He opened the curtain for Empress Dowager Zhuang, but halfway through, he trembled, and the curtain fell, smacking Empress Dowager Zhuang in the face!
Empress Dowager Zhuang: "...!!"
Surname Qin!
On such a big day, you dare to slap my face!
Do you and your group of turtles not want to live anymore?
Empress Dowager Zhuang was out for blood today!
"Young, Young Miss Gu!" Eunuch Qin was greatly stunned.
Empress Dowager Zhuang swiftly drew open the curtain, originally br.i.m.m.i.n.g with fury ready to sacrifice Eunuch Qin"s bunch of turtles to the heavens, but upon seeing Gu Jiao, her anger was instantly extinguished.
"Qin Huai." Her gaze fell upon Gu Jiao"s face, calling Eunuch Qin by his full name.
"Ah, Empress Dowager Zhuang!" Eunuch Qin snapped back.
Empress Dowager Zhuang slapped his forehead with a loud smack!
Eunuch Qin: "?!?"
"Does it hurt?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked.
"This, this servant dares not feel the pain." Eunuch Qin replied nervously.
Empress Dowager Zhuang brushed her sleeve and heaved a long sigh, "Then it is painful. Very well, it"s not a dream."
Eunuch Qin: "..."
"Grandaunt." Gu Jiao approached.
Whenever Empress Dowager Zhuang came to Bishui Alley, she always dressed as the old lady, simple and displaying no hint of the luxurious Empress Dowager Zhuang. Even her carriage resembled the carriages of the common people.
The stool was a bit higher, so she required someone to support her.
Eunuch Qin quickly extended his arm.
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at him disdainfully.
Eunuch Qin"s eyes flickered, and he tactfully stepped aside.
Gu Jiao helped Empress Dowager Zhuang alight.
Empress Dowager Zhuang, before entering the courtyard, scrutinized Gu Jiao.
The changes in Gu Jiao were evident. She wasn"t a sheltered young lady and suffered the hardships of life. Despite this, her recent trip to the borderlands had almost made Empress Dowager Zhuang fail to recognize her.
She had become thinner, got a bit tanned, and developed red blood vessels on her cheeks due to the cold. Her lips were also somewhat dry and cracked.
At the most beautiful age for a young girl, Gu Jiao still exuded beauty and vigor in Empress Dowager Zhuang"s eyes, possessing a strength no less than the young men of the State of Zhao.
Empress Dowager Zhuang had rehea.r.s.ed countless scoldings for Gu Jiao upon her return, but when she finally saw her, Empress Dowager Zhuang realized that she couldn"t utter a single word of reproach.
Countless emotions were lodged in her chest. She took a deep breath, held back the moisture in her eyes, and patted Gu Jiao"s hand, "You"re back, that"s all that matters, you"re back..."
Gu Jiao held onto Grandaunt"s hand.
Empress Dowager Zhuang remained silent, just holding onto Gu Jiao"s hand tightly.
As Empress Dowager Zhuang was deeply immersed in her intense emotions over Gu Jiao"s return, another carriage suddenly arrived in the alley.
The curtain was lifted, and a figure exuding majesty stepped out.
He caught sight of Empress Dowager Zhuang at the gate, his expression momentarily stunned, "Imperial mother? Weren"t you recuperating at Renshou Palace? Why did you secretly come to Bishui Alley?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang choked and gave him a sidelong glance, "Didn’t you say you were in seclusion to pray for the soldiers? How come you"re also here in Bishui Alley?"
"Zhen, Zhen is..." The Emperor was about to say he had snuck out for some fresh air, but then he noticed the small figure hidden behind Empress Dowager Zhuang.
He widened his eyes and walked over, "Little miracle physician? You"re back?"
"Yes, I"m back."
"Are you... Are you all right?"
"I"m all right." Gu Jiao said.
Seeing her looking perfectly fine, lively and spirited, the Emperor was very elated and said with great delight, "It’s great that you’re alright! You"re finally back safe and sound. Imperial mother won"t ignore Zhen anymore!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang"s mouth twitched and her face darkened. Didn"t you realize that blaming you for sending JiaoJiao to the borderlands was just an excuse? Aijia simply doesn’t want to deal with you!
The Emperor was completely oblivious to his imperial mother"s displeasure. He was overjoyed. Firstly, his imperial mother would finally talk to him again, and secondly, the little miracle physician had returned safely.
The little miracle physician also played an important role in the victory of the border.
He intended to reward her handsomely!Raz P."s Thoughts
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