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

"Father is well-educated and ambitious. If given a chance, he will surely rise to prominence and make a significant contribution to the court."

Although Gu's father, the Deputy Director of the Secretariat, borrowed the power of the Wen family, Gu Youning remembered that the emperor in his previous life had also praised Gu's father for his methodical actions.

Gu Youning signaled Tan Yin to hand the letter he had prepared long ago to Aunt Lan.

"When you return, mother, please give this letter to father secretly. Don't let anyone else know."

"Ning'er, don't worry. Since your father is useful to you, mother will definitely find a way to win his heart and make him devote all his energy to you and the First Prince."

After hearing what her daughter said, Mrs. Lan agreed decisively.

At her age, she has long given up the desire to compete for favor, but since the man is still useful, she cannot let him go.

"I believe in your ability, but now that I am in the palace, you don't have to be so humble in front of your father."

Gu Youning held Aunt Lan's arm, acting like a child.

After she entered the palace in her previous life, the mother and daughter never met each other again. When she moved into Ci'an Palace, her mother had already passed away. It could be said that the mother and daughter were reunited after a long separation.

The mother and daughter talked privately for a while, and Aunt Lan also told her daughter a lot of her thoughts on men.

After hearing this, Gu Youning thought that the older she was, the wiser she was. Although she had lived for many years in her previous life, she did not have enough experience in matters between men and women, so she remembered to be extra careful.

In this way, the mother and daughter did not cry like the others. When Gu Wen was brought into the main hall by the palace maid, the concubine's daughter and Lan looked extremely relaxed and calm.

"These are the rewards given by the Queen Mother. Mother, please take them back."

Without waiting for his stepmother to think about it, Gu Youning pointed at the pile of things beside him and said.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."

Gu Wen turned around and saw these wonderful things that she rarely saw even at her parents' home. Thinking of what her daughter had said in the side hall just now, her heart couldn't help but become lively.

Although he was reluctant to part with Aunt Lan, Gu Youning did not leave the hall to see her off.

Both mother and daughter are clear-headed people. As long as Gu Youning can rise rapidly in the palace, they will eventually live in wealth and honor and spend more time together.

"Go and invite Xiao Shengzi over."

Gu Youning pondered what Aunt Lan had just said and gave Tan Yin an instruction.

"Xiao Shengzi, thanks to you for inviting Lady Wen here in time today, this is a reward for you."

At the master's signal, Tan Yin handed over a bulging purse.

"Serving my master is my duty as a servant. I dare not ask for any reward."

Xiao Shengzi hurriedly knelt on the ground.

"This is the master's grace, take it."

Tan Yin neatly stuffed the purse into Xiao Shengzi's hand.

"The servant thanks the master."

Xiao Shengzi couldn't refuse and hurriedly thanked him.

"Next month is the Queen Mother's birthday banquet. I want to make some jewelry so as not to lose face at the banquet."

Gu Youning asked Tan Yin to help the man up and asked casually.

"This isn't difficult. It's winter clothing season now. My mistress is a third-rank imperial concubine, so she can choose her own clothes and headwear. We can summon the female historians from the Shanggong Bureau. The jewelry and headwear are made by Lan Sizhen. As far as I know, he's a very knowledgeable person."

"However, the amount exceeding the quota needs to be made up by the master himself."

"Of course, the extra rewards from the Emperor and the Empress are not included in these allowances."

Xiao Shengzi spoke very carefully and in detail, and vaguely mentioned that Lan Sizhen had no noble family to rely on.

"I understand. It's all thanks to you. Go down."

Xiao Shengzi's unexpected intelligence and ability made Gu Youning even more suspicious.

"Master, do you think there's something wrong with what Xiao Shengzi said?"

Seeing that his master's eyes lingered at the palace entrance for a long time, Tan Yin felt puzzled and asked.

"nothing."

Gu Youning shook her head. Xiao Shengzi was indeed capable and had no intention of harming her at the moment, but she always felt that there was something between them and she couldn't trust him completely.

"Oh, right, the matter that the master asked me to investigate last time has made some progress. The little palace maid He'er said that Caiyuan also secretly left the palace after the master left. She just returned to the palace not long ago, and she looked a little proud and happy when she came back."

Tan Yin said softly.

"Now that we've found the person, don't alert the enemy. If He'er is useful, let her follow Caiyuan when she goes out again. She doesn't need to follow too closely, as long as we know which palace she is in contact with."

Gu Youning originally wanted to use the stalker in Changchun Palace to set up a trap and let the emperor know that the people in the harem had already laid hands on her and her son.

However, Zheng'er had diarrhea last night. Although the person behind it was vicious, he did her a favor and complied with her original plan.

Naturally, the matter of finding an insider is not so urgent, and it may be of greater use in the future.

"I know. I've known He'er's background for a long time. She has a seriously ill father who needs medicine every day, a mother who died young, and a brother who works as a servant in the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Tan Yin has been extremely cautious since she was reprimanded by her master last time. Catching the traitor is a big deal and she is most afraid of leaking the news. She also tried many ways before deciding on He'er.

Gu Youning nodded, then remembered something and asked, "Did you encounter anything unusual when you went to invite the emperor today?"

The emperor has always been patient, but when he came over just now, he was obviously suppressing his anger, which was very unusual.

"When I arrived at Qianming Palace, I happened to see Eunuch Cao coming from the corridor. After hearing my report and seeing my anxious expression, he took me to the Imperial Court."

"I was waiting outside, but soon after Eunuch Cao entered, I heard screams, followed by the sound of bowls and plates breaking."

"Then two eunuchs dragged out a palace maid who kept begging for mercy, followed by another eunuch carrying a food box."

"After entering, I didn't dare to ask too many questions or look too much, but I also left a trace of it. There was a sweet and greasy fragrance in the inner hall."

Tan Yin thought carefully about what happened at that time and added: "From the look of the palace maid's attire, she doesn't look like someone from the Imperial Court."

Sweet fragrance? Palace maids? The emperor's anger?

It's easy to guess in that direction.

If Tan Yin had arrived later, or had not come to the emperor's presence to ask for an audience today, the palace maid would have probably already done it.

Unfortunately, she was isolated from the news in Changchun Palace in her previous life, and was not aware of whether any palace maids were being conferred titles at that time.

She didn't know about these past events, but...