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

"That's a good reason. I believe even those gossipy women in the harem won't be able to say anything more."

"I'll ask Madam Cen to arrange it right away."

After saying this, Lady Wen left in a hurry not long after.

She was an impatient person to begin with, and she had thought about Gu Youning returning to the palace countless times, so early the next morning, just after lunch, Gu Youning was invited to Empress Dowager Cui's bedroom.

"I pay my respects to the Queen Mother and the Emperor."

What surprised Gu Youning was that in addition to Qin Tinglu who was standing beside him with a bow, the emperor was also there.

"No gift."

When the emperor saw that Gu Youning was walking without any problems and looked in good spirits, his brows softened unconsciously.

"Mother, since the Astronomical Bureau said that Zheng'er staying here is not good for your health, I will have Concubine Gu and her son pack up and return to Changchun Palace today. They will not stay here to disturb you."

The emperor looked at the empress dowager, whose face was becoming increasingly gray, as she leaned against the soft pillow.

"The emperor has the final say on this matter."

Empress Dowager Cui didn't even glance at Gu Youning and waved her hand casually.

"What about what my son just mentioned?"

The emperor asked again.

"Shouchang has indeed gone too far this time and offended General Shen. We must do as the Emperor says. General Shen is a pillar of the country. The Emperor must appease him and not let him down."

"My son knows."

A hint of joy flashed across the emperor's brow.

Gu Youning's eyes flickered slightly. The emperor was preparing to take action against Princess Shouchang.

What a coincidence, she just happened to have made an appointment with Yulian today.

"This servant serves tea to His Majesty."

At this time, the tea-serving maid from Ci'an Palace walked towards the bed with her head slightly lowered.

"Thank you, Queen Mother."

Gu Youning took the teacup, but before she even opened the lid, she heard a clang, followed by the sound of her knees hitting the ground. "This servant deserves death. Please spare my life, Your Majesty."

Gu Youning looked up and saw that the emperor's clothes on his chest were all wet and stained with tea leaves. At his feet was a palace maid kneeling and kowtowing to apologize.

"How reckless! You'll have to pay for scalding the Holy Chariot with your own lives."

Sun Angong scolded harshly.

"I didn't sleep well last night, and I lost my focus just now. I won't do it again. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

The palace maid looked terrified.

"Your Majesty, please take off your outer garments quickly."

Gu Youning put down the teacup in his hand and walked to the emperor with a worried look on his face. He watched Cao Zhong help the emperor take off his outer clothes. The tea was about eight or nine points hot.

"Fortunately, the emperor is wearing warm clothes today."

Gu Youning breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the emperor's inner garment was not wet.

"I'm fine."

The emperor looked at Gu Youning with a soothing look.

"I have been ill these past few days, and you have become even more disrespectful. You even dare to act frivolously in front of the emperor. Go and receive thirty lashes."

Queen Mother Cui, who was leaning on the bed, also had an angry look on her face.

"Mother, I haven't done anything wrong. Please don't punish me. I won't disturb your rest."

The emperor stood in front of the bed, his expression respectful and filial.

"The Emperor is kind and benevolent. However, it's been cold these past few days, so please don't freeze yourself. I have some of your brother's robes in the palace that he hasn't worn yet. Go and change into one."

"Thank you, Mother, for your concern."

The emperor smiled and agreed.

However, Gu Youning felt that the empress dowager was a little too kind to the emperor today.

"I will help the emperor change his clothes."

Gu Youning spoke subconsciously.

"No need for that. Since Junior Supervisor Qin said the eldest prince is no longer fit to stay in Ci'an Palace, Consort Gu should go back and pack her things early and leave with the emperor later."

But Queen Mother Cui frowned and stopped her.

"Yes."

Gu Youning looked at the emperor worriedly and had to agree.

"Master, what are you worried about?"

On the way back to the back hall, Tan Yin saw her master frowning and asked softly.

"Don't you think the Queen Mother is a little strange?"

Gu Youning asked.

Tan Yin shook her head in confusion.

Gu Youning returned to Jing'anju in a restless mood and asked Tan Yin and Xian Yu to pack their luggage.

He was sitting on a chair outside.

Is the Queen Mother planning to do something? Was that tea really just a careless mistake by the palace maid?

You know, the Queen Mother's health is getting worse and worse. Will she consider Prince Liang in advance?

Zheng'er is still young now, and the emperor must not allow anything to happen, otherwise no matter how many abilities she has, it will be in vain.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Hearing this announcement which was no different from usual, Gu Youning stood up almost immediately.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

Gu Youning was truly anxious and worried. When the emperor saw this, his heart softened. He reached out and embraced the woman who ran to him: "Don't be afraid, I'm fine."

"Is it really okay?"

Gu Youning came out from the emperor's arms, took the emperor's hand and looked at it worriedly.

hiss!

Just as Gu Youning held the emperor's hand, a soft hiss came from above.

Her whole heart trembled. The emperor was indeed injured.

She hurriedly picked up the emperor's hand, put it close to her eyes and looked at it carefully. There was a small blood spot on the index finger and the palm.

Seeing the woman's face becoming increasingly ugly, the emperor quickly said in a gentle voice, "It's okay. It's just that a palace maid was careless and left a needle on her robe that hadn't been removed, and it poked my hand."

The emperor has always been wary of his queen mother, but the embroidery needle was very small. If it wasn't highly poisonous, it would probably be of no use. Besides, he didn't feel unwell at all.

"Imperial Physician Yuan just checked the pulse of this concubine and Zheng'er."

"Tan Yin, go to the side room and ask Imperial Physician Yuan to come over."

"Do not……"

The emperor looked at the woman who was very worried about him, but he didn't stop her in the end. He just wanted to put her at ease.

"How about it?"

As soon as Yuan Cai's hand left the emperor's wrist, Gu Youning couldn't wait to ask.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor's pulse is strong and calm, nothing unusual."

Yuan Cai was surprised to see the usually calm Concubine Gu looking flustered, but the emperor was indeed fine.

"That's good, that's good!"

Only then did Gu Youning calm down, and as his mind relaxed, his whole body softened.

"Ning'er."

The emperor let out a light cry, hugged the person, and pushed Yuan Cai away.

"The emperor is fine, it's really great."

Gu Youning put his arms around the emperor's waist and buried his head tightly in his chest, looking like he had been reborn from a calamity.

"Why are you so scared?"

The emperor stroked the woman's hair, his gentle voice containing a hint of coaxing.

"I just thought it was a coincidence that the teacup fell."

Since this misunderstanding has already happened, Gu Youning couldn't let herself be worried for so long in vain. She said in a voice full of anxiety, "These days, every time these coincidences happen around me, Zheng'er and I will encounter bad things. When the palace maid threw the teacup, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. And the Queen Mother..."

"I am overthinking it. Your Majesty, please don't laugh at me!"

Only then did Gu Youning show some embarrassment on his face and wanted to get up from the emperor's arms.

But the hand on her waist tightened a little: "Ning'er is worried about me. I am so happy that I can't bear to laugh at you."

"It's my fault. I made you live in fear all day long. You were either worried about Zheng'er or worried that something might happen to me..."

After the emperor felt this way, he felt a deep sense of guilt.

"Your Majesty is very good. I am no longer as naive as I used to be, leaving everything to Your Majesty to worry about."

Gu Youning clasped hands with the emperor, leaving the emperor with a gentle and tough profile.

"I know Ning'er has become quite talented recently. Not only does she have beautiful handwriting, but she can also help Zheng'er solve his problems."

The emperor almost always came to Jing'an Residence to visit the mother and son these days. Every time he saw the mother and son discussing academic matters, he would unconsciously join in.

At this moment, he discovered that the woman in his arms was extremely intelligent. Not only could she draw inferences about other situations through analogy, but she could also explain things in a simple and easy-to-understand way.