The prince loves me like his life, but I force him to rebel

With a lot of questions in mind, Gu Nianzhi returned to the palace.

Sima Yao has not returned yet.

According to Lin Heng, the emperor followed Concubine De's advice, cancelled the welcoming banquet, went to Renxin Hall to have dinner with Concubine De, and deliberately left Sima Yao behind.

If it were an ordinary family, such a configuration of father, mother and son would make them a happy family of three, and eating together would be a normal thing. But in the imperial family, even such a meal would be over-interpreted by many people.

"I heard that since learning that Consort De had returned to the palace, Empress Xian lost her temper and took it out on the maids. Today, the maids in Yanxi Palace are in bad luck."

Gu Nianzhi sat on the stone bench in the garden, with her elbows on the stone table and her head supported by her hands, listening to Lin Heng.

She wanted to wait for Sima Yao to come back and test his attitude in person.

Even if Cen Yu told Concubine De that he would take care of himself, why didn't Concubine De continue to question him about the lie he had told her?

It's impossible that Cen Yu knew all this and told Concubine De in advance, right?

The more Gu Nianzhi thought about it, the more he felt that Cen Yu was a scary person.

Unfathomable.

What was even more annoying was that, so far, she had no idea what he was going to do.

"Now that the Empress Defei has returned to the palace, our Third Prince will have a good life. With the Empress' help, the Third Prince may be able to compete with the Second Prince."

Lin Heng came over mysteriously and spoke softly.

"Your Majesty will not stay in this palace for long."

As Gu Nianzhi spoke, he scratched the stone table with his fingers.

"Why? Didn't Her Majesty come back to fight for the position of Crown Prince for the Third Prince?" Lin Heng had a look of surprise on his face, as if he had full confidence in his own judgment.

"If even you think so, the Queen and the Second Prince must think so too. It seems that the Third Prince's situation is really not optimistic." Gu Nianzhi stood up, sighed, twisted his aching neck, and walked back and forth in the yard.

The guards sent the slightly tipsy Sima Yao back home.

He was so happy that he drank a lot and even his steps were a little unsteady.

"Mr. Gu, you haven't slept yet?"

A look of surprise appeared on his face.

"Mother said that Mr. Gu is a man of extraordinary strategy and can see the essence of things at a glance. She told me to trust you completely in the future, just like I trust her."

Sima Yao narrowed his eyes, stretched out his hands, and actually came over to hold Gu Nianzhi in his arms.

"What my mother said must be correct. Mr. Gu, you are my good brother."

Lin Heng had previously witnessed Sima Yao forcefully kissing Gu Nian, and this hug startled him, but he did not dare to leave immediately, so he could only step back and turn away.

After patting Gu Nianzhi a few times, Sima Yao loosened his arms and saw Lin Heng again.

He pointed at Lin Heng: "When did you show up?"

Lin Heng had no choice but to reply: "Your Highness, I have been here with Mr. Gu waiting for you."

"Are you waiting for me?" There seemed to be light in Sima Yao's eyes all of a sudden.

He grabbed Gu Nianzhi's shoulders with both hands and stared straight into her eyes: "You're waiting for me? Are you worried about me? Are you missing me?"

As he spoke, Sima Yao actually started laughing like a pervert.

"Nianzhi is waiting for Your Highness. I have something to ask you and something to discuss with you."

Gu Nianzhi brushed Sima Yao's hand off her shoulder and took a half step back, seeming to feel a little disgusted with the drunk Sima Yao.

"But seeing that Your Highness is so drunk, I'd better ask him tomorrow."

"I will help Your Highness go back to his room to rest first." Seeing this, Lin Heng hurried forward and supported Sima Yao, who was a little staggering.

Sima Yao did not appreciate it.

"I haven't seen my mother for almost ten years, but why does she keep talking about Mr. Gu?"

There were already traces of tears in Sima Yao's eyes.

"I am my mother's biological son, born after ten months of pregnancy. Sir, you have only known my mother for a few years. Why..."

Sima Yao felt a lump in his throat and couldn't utter the following words.

Gu Nianzhi finally understood why Sima Yao was drunk.

When wine enters my sad heart, how can I not get drunk?

He thought his mother came back because she was worried about him. Even when things were in a state of panic, he was still extremely happy about his mother's appearance. However, after the meal, his mother kept mentioning an old friend with whom she had only known for a few years.

He thought he had adapted perfectly.

It makes no difference whether there is a mother or not, whether there is love or not.

But when Concubine De appeared before him, the face that had appeared in countless dreams really appeared, and he began to long for the maternal love that he had lacked since childhood.

But Concubine De disappointed him.

"Mr. Gu, can you teach me how to let my mother take a good look at her child?"

A tall and strong man, tears streaming down his face.

Gu Nianzhi felt a pain in his heart.

She helped Sima Yao sit down on the stone bench and told Lin Heng: "Tell someone to make some hangover soup and send it to the Third Prince's room."

Lin Heng seemed to have been pardoned and disappeared in a flash.

Sima Yao and Gu Nianzhi were the only ones left in the garden.

Gu Nianzhi stood beside Sima Yao, watching him cry, and couldn't help but stroke his head gently. She opened and closed her mouth, and didn't know how to start.

Sima Yao was sitting and Gu Nianzhi was standing.

Sima Yao leaned his head against Gu Nianzhi's chest.

Gu Nianzhi panicked at first, but calmed down immediately. Today's chest binder was very tight, and her chest was almost indistinguishable from a man's.

She stroked Sima Yao's hair slowly and said softly, "When Your Majesty left the palace, the Third Prince was just a child. Now that we meet again, he has grown into a tall and strong man. Your Majesty must need some time to adjust to how to get along with you again."

Gu Nianzhi's words seemed to have a soothing power, making Sima Yao's sobbing less intense.

He stretched out his hands and wrapped them around Gu Nianzhi's waist, his head still resting on Gu Nianzhi's chest.

He could clearly hear Gu Nianzhi's heartbeat, beating steadily.

This rhythmic heartbeat seemed to have a magical power that slowly calmed his heart.

"I can receive Her Majesty's love and care, thanks to the Third Prince. Her Majesty often said that you and I are of similar age, and when she saw me, she thought of you, so she couldn't help but treat me better and better."

"I heard that the Queen rushed to the court before the court was dismissed today, not to see the Emperor, but to see you earlier."

Sima Yao recalled that he had indeed met Concubine De on the way to Renxin Hall today.

At that time, Concubine De was in a hurry, because she wanted to see him earlier.

Indeed, the surprise that my mother showed when she saw me could not be faked.

Mr. Gu is right.

Both himself and his mother needed time to get to know each other again and re-establish an intimate relationship that was different from ten years ago.

"Mr. Gu."

"Ok?"

Sima Yao still had his arms around Gu Nianzhi's waist, but he raised his head and looked at Gu Nianzhi's face.

"I have a question for you."