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

"Master, Aunt Zhichun from Fengyi Palace is here."

"please come in."

Gu Youning narrowed his eyes slightly.

"This servant pays respects to Concubine Gu. The Empress said that the Queen Mother is in much better spirits this morning. She would like to invite Concubine Gu and the First Prince to visit the Queen Mother after breakfast. With the First Prince present, the Queen Mother's illness may heal faster."

Zhichun bowed respectfully to Gu Youning and said with a smile on his face.

"Please ask Miss Zhichun to tell Her Majesty that the eldest prince and I will settle down early and wait for Her Majesty's call."

This was really a timely help, and the smile on Gu Youning's face was particularly natural.

The more the Queen does now, the more beneficial it will be to her plan. What she hopes most now is that the Queen will overdo it.

Zhichun retreated respectfully, and when he turned to go out, he caught a glimpse of Tanyin walking into the inner room with a stack of clothes. The warm emerald beaded cloak on the top was the most eye-catching, and the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously.

The Empress's arrangement was indeed perfect. This cloak was both luxurious and comfortable. Concubine Gu would definitely let the Second Prince wear it. However, after wearing this cloak, he could only wear the ivory brocade robe inside, and the colors of the other brocade robes would not match.

In this way, all the clothes of the eldest prince, including those inside and outside, were chosen by Concubine Gu himself, so no one could suspect the empress.

Moreover, she had just heard that the eldest prince had not been able to eat all day. If he was frightened again, his condition would probably get worse.

Gu Youning smiled coldly and watched Zhichun leave Jing'anju contentedly.

"Put this dress somewhere inconspicuous first."

There's another good show to come.

……

Qianming Palace.

There was nothing important in the morning court today, so the emperor returned to Qianzheng Hall very early. Seeing Xiao Shengzi waiting outside the hall with an anxious look on his face, the emperor's expression became slightly gloomy, and his steps unconsciously quickened a lot.

"Your servant pays respects to His Majesty."

"Why are you here so early? Did something happen to Master Gu?"

Cao Zhong, who was following behind the emperor, asked with great discernment.

"Yes……"

Xiao Shengzi nodded, but did not continue speaking immediately.

The emperor glanced at Xiao Shengzi with his stern eyes and strode into the hall.

"Come in and report quickly."

Cao Zhong urged softly before following the Emperor.

"Say, what's going on?"

The emperor's cold gaze was fixed on Xiao Shengzi, who was kneeling in front of the imperial desk.

"Your Majesty, ever since entering Ci'an Palace yesterday, the eldest prince has looked listless and listless, not even having a good meal. Mistress Gu is worried about the eldest prince and has no appetite for food. Moreover, late last night, I heard Concubine Gu whispering to the eldest prince."

"I am worried that the two masters will be hurt if they continue like this, so I sneaked over here to report without telling Master Gu or her maids."

Xiao Shengzi frowned and said with a worried look on his face.

"Why do you feel unwell? Have you seen the imperial physician?"

The emperor asked in a deep voice.

"Imperial Physician Yuan came to take the eldest prince's pulse and he is fine. However, I think that although the eldest prince is young, he is very intelligent. I am afraid that he still remembers what happened in Jing'an Residence last time. Now that he has returned here in just a few days, I am afraid he is a little afraid."

Xiao Shengzi said.

"That's true. Young children are easily frightened. And even though the prince didn't inhale much charcoal gas that day, the imperial physician mentioned that children are fragile and might react more strongly than adults."

Cao Zhong looked at the emperor and added.

"The eldest prince has always been close to the emperor, and he is always very happy every time he sees the emperor. Why don't you go to Ci'an Palace and comfort the eldest prince? Perhaps once the eldest prince is happy, this discomfort will go away."

Cao Zhong suggested in a low voice.

He was not speaking just for Gu Youning and her son. It was because the emperor's face had become even gloomier than ice since he returned from Ci'an Palace last night. Not only did he review memorials until three in the morning, he also couldn't sleep well at night.

At the court this morning, the ministers ignored everything else and only focused on the fact that Gu Youning and the eldest prince had returned to Changchun Palace last time, and the Empress Dowager fell ill a few days later. The emperor was in an even worse mood.

Now that Xiao Shengzi has reported this, if the emperor still refuses to go, not only will those serving him be blamed, but his health will also be damaged.

"Go to Ci'an Palace."

The emperor looked solemn for a while and then stood up from behind the desk.

"The Emperor is arriving at Ci'an Palace."

Cao Zhong shouted happily.

"Breakfast will be served at Jing'an Residence."

When they got outside the hall, Cao Zhong hurriedly gave instructions to his little disciple and then hurried to the imperial carriage.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

When the emperor arrived at Jing'an Residence, Gu Youning and his mother were having breakfast.

"Concubine, please see the emperor."

"Zheng'er pays his respects to the Emperor."

The mother and son stood up and greeted each other with seemingly normal expressions.

"Get up quickly!"

The emperor looked at the mother and son. One had a dark complexion under her eyes, and the other had bloodshot eyes. He felt only distressed, and his previous awkward feelings disappeared.

Walking to the table with the mother and son, the emperor frowned as he looked at the various breakfast items on the table that were almost untouched.

The bowl of shredded chicken porridge in the middle had lost its heat. It was obvious that this breakfast had been served for some time, but Gu Youning and his mother had hardly touched their chopsticks. Even Zheng'er's favorite pastries were neatly arranged on the plate and had not been touched at all.

"Zheng'er, why don't you eat these cakes? Father remembers that these are your favorites."

The emperor sat down at the table and beckoned his son to come to him.

Xiao Yunzheng walked over as obediently as usual, but there was no trace of his usual liveliness on his fair and tender face.

"Is Zheng'er still scared?"

The emperor held his son on his lap, touched the top of his head, and asked softly.

When Xiao Yunzheng heard his father's question, he first looked towards his mother, and then buried his head in the emperor's arms and remained silent.

The emperor looked at his son's adorable appearance, and his frown relaxed a little. He remembered that after the dead fish incident, he came to Jing'an Residence to visit him. Zheng'er said with a righteous look on his face that he was not scared at all, and he was so stubborn. This child really cares about his reputation.

"Zheng'er, tell your father secretly, and don't let your mother know."

The emperor whispered in his son's ear.

"Ah."

A childish groan sounded in his arms.

Seeing the little person in his arms rubbing his face against his clothes and holding him tightly with his hands, the emperor felt soft in his heart and felt even more guilty for not sending him here in person yesterday.

"Don't be afraid, Father is here."

In order to accommodate his son's thoughts, the emperor spoke the last word "afraid" very softly.

"Would your father like to have dinner with you?"

The emperor saw that some life had returned to his son's eyes, so he struck while the iron was hot. He waved his hand to stop Gu Youning who wanted to step forward to speak, and waited patiently for his son to look up and respond.

"These breakfasts are cold and cannot be used by the masters."

"I have already asked someone to prepare the meal."

Cao Zhong hurriedly looked for an opportunity to speak up.

"Your Majesty, the Empress has invited me and Zheng'er to visit the Empress Dowager in the front hall after breakfast. According to the schedule, the Empress will be arriving soon..."

Gu Youning hesitated.

"My mother has been feeling uneasy these past few days and doesn't like to see people. Why would the Queen..."

The emperor frowned unconsciously.