Seizing the throne, abolishing the adopted son, the imperial concubine rose to prominence

Gu Youning had already asked Tan Yin to inquire about this matter, but when she saw that Lady Wen had a confessional look on her face, she just nodded slightly.

"At that time, I was the only pregnant woman in the East Palace's backyard. It's no exaggeration to say that I was the center of attention. Even the Emperor treated me with great tenderness and doting. The Empress was even more benevolent and even allowed my mother to send three very experienced maids to the East Palace to take care of me personally."

"I... I was flattered, and with someone trustworthy looking after me, I lowered my guard."

"Until the day before the birth, the three maids all got sick from overeating and were unable to get up from their diarrhoea."

"The midwife who was called in was resentful because she was fined three months' menstrual money by He Zhiyi, which led to her son's hands being chopped off by the gambling house. She forcibly pushed my already-born baby back into my womb, suffocating it to death."

"I even heard the baby crying in a trance."

When Lady Wen said this, her cold and arrogant face was already full of tears.

"He won't blame you."

A gentle voice suddenly sounded in Lady Wen's ears.

She looked up at Gu Youning blankly, but cried even more sadly.

Yes, everyone advised her that the matter was over, but for many nights, her child who was killed by the midwife appeared in her dreams with a purple face, looking at her resentfully.

She wanted to apologize to her child, but every time before she could say anything, she would wake up in shock, and the child in her dream would become a bubble.

This sentence "He won't blame you" seemed to bring out all her pain and grievances

Lady Wen cried heartily, and Gu Youning did not stop her or offer any words of comfort.

Because she knew that Miss Wen just needed to vent her pain.

In her previous life, after Zheng'er died, she resented the emperor and herself, but when she saw Zheng'er's little body being carried away by the palace servants, she couldn't even cry, because she felt that she was not worthy, she was not worthy of being a mother, and she was not worthy of having such a well-behaved and sensible child.

It was more than a quarter of an hour later that Lady Wen's crying slowly subsided.

"Thank you, Miss Tanyin."

Jinqin took the hot handkerchief handed to her by Tanyin and helped her master wash her face with tears in her eyes.

The master has acted arrogantly over the years, but his heart has long been full of holes.

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it."

After crying for a while, the pain and sadness in Lady Wen's eyes faded a lot.

"Since it is such a heart-wrenching thing, why should I endure it?"

Gu Youning shook his head and said softly.

"I was obsessed with it. Thank you for what you said just now."

Lady Wen straightened her expression and continued, "Although I remember that incident with He Zhiyi and have often argued with her over the years, I still have some doubts about the Queen."

"A month before I was due to give birth, the Empress suddenly fell ill, and the internal affairs of the Eastern Palace's backyard were handed over to He Zhiyi, who was the highest-ranking official at the time. Of course, it might just be a coincidence."

"But if He Zhiyi was just a knife back then, then who is the most likely person to have wielded the knife? Since the founding of Dazhao, the mothers of every emperor, without exception, have come from one of the four great families. At that time, Concubine Zheng and Concubine Lu had not yet entered the palace. Even if another woman had taken action, it would have been impossible for her to leave no trace."

A knife? Killing someone with a knife? For some reason, Gu Youning suddenly felt a chill running down his spine.

"This is just my opinion. If you think it makes sense, you can listen to it. But maybe I'm just overthinking it. After all, even the emperor trusts the queen very much."

Lady Wen's words continued to ring in his ears, but Gu Youning felt his mind was in a mess, perhaps because he had too many things to consider recently.

She couldn't help but press her forehead.

"what happened to you?"

"I don't mean to scare you. Even if the Queen has ill intentions towards you and your son, you now have the connections of our Wen family. With your intelligence and abilities, you can do your best to protect yourself in the palace."

Lady Wen was startled by Gu Youning's expression.

"It's okay, I just didn't get enough rest last night and I have a headache."

"I'll keep your words in mind."

Gu Youning suppressed his turbulent thoughts and put down his hand.

"I've delayed you for quite some time. I should return to the palace. I'll help you deliver the letter as soon as possible."

Lady Wen stood up and was about to leave.

Gu Youning was about to stand up to see him off when Lady Wen seemed to remember something and turned around and said, "The eldest prince is back, so don't send any more silver charcoal to me."

"Don't worry, Zheng'er and I have enough here. But you can't stand the cold. Besides, the silver you sent today is enough to buy several large carts..."

"What are you going to buy a few big cars for?"

Gu Youning was joking when a majestic and cheerful voice sounded outside the hall.

"I have seen your Majesty."

Seeing the visitor, they both bowed and saluted.

"No gift."

When the emperor saw Lady Wen, whose eyes were still red, he was visibly stunned: "Lady Wen is here too?"

"Your Majesty, Lady Wen is here to buy Silver Frost Charcoal from me."

Gu Youning spoke before Lady Wen could.

"Buying silver-powder charcoal? Did the Ministry of Internal Affairs deduct the Jifang Pavilion's share?"

The emperor's face turned cold. Because of what happened that year, Concubine Wen was very cold to him, and he never stayed overnight in Jifang Pavilion. Could it be that someone in the palace dared to neglect him?

"Your Majesty has misunderstood. The Ministry of Internal Affairs would never dare to deduct my share. It's just that I am a delicate person and I love to enjoy life, so the charcoal is not enough."

Although Lady Wen continued to speak in accordance with Gu Youning's words, her tone towards the emperor was not very good.

"Since the emperor is here, I will take my leave first."

Lady Wen quickly bowed to the emperor and left.

"Miss Wen is arrogant and her words may be unpleasant to the ear, but she has a good heart. Don't take it to heart."

The emperor looked at Concubine Wen's expression and thought that the two of them were having a disagreement.

"How could that be? I feel very safe and secure being with Lady Wen."

"But it's strange that I just mentioned her sad story. Lady Wen cried for a long time."

Gu Youning sat down on the soft couch next to the emperor and said in annoyance.

"It's all in the past."

A deep sense of guilt flashed across the emperor's eyes, but it was only for a moment.

"She's short of silver charcoal. I've ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to send more over. You don't have to share it with her. It's a cold winter this year. Don't let yourself and Zheng'er get cold."

Gu Youning shook her head. "Your Majesty knows that I am not afraid of the cold. You and the Empress have also deliberately increased the allowance for Changchun Palace. It would be useless to keep all this silver shavings and charcoal. It would be better to let me earn more money."

Gu Youning pointed with his chin at the box on the rosewood table that had not been put away yet.

"You are quite calculating!"

The emperor glanced at it casually, without reaching out to open the box, but smiled and said something.

"Then I'll let you keep this business."

"How are you today, Zheng'er? Are you still feeling bad?"

After joking, the emperor asked about serious matters.

"I still have no appetite for meals, but I can have snacks."

When Gu Youning said this, there was a mischievous smile in his eyes.

Seeing the relaxed smile on the woman's face, the emperor's mind also relaxed unconsciously. He was afraid that the woman would come today with the same worried look as yesterday.

It seems that Ning'er is still willing to believe in herself.

"emperor."

But soon, the smile on Gu Youning's face disappeared and was replaced by deep worry.