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

"As for evil intentions? Yuan Cai is a clear-headed man with great ambitions. As long as my position in the harem is stable and I am favored by the emperor, he won't have any evil intentions."

After returning to this life, Gu Youning understood that an alliance based on interests is sometimes much more stable than moving people with emotions.

Once Yuan Cai becomes deeply involved with Changchun Palace, he won't be able to have any second thoughts.

Such a smart person should understand that a servant serving two masters will not end well.

But beating is still necessary.

……

As soon as Gu Youning entered the palace, things happened one after another, but in the next few days, the harem was calm.

Since the emperor sent Concubine Zheng back that day, he did not set foot in the harem for five consecutive days.

The greetings in Fengyi Palace were less sarcastic.

However, Concubine Zheng's half-sister Zheng Baolin took three days off in a row, reportedly because she was not feeling well.

That day, Gu Youning took his son, who was now well, to visit the Imperial Garden.

"Mother, is that a katydid?"

Xiao Yunzheng had been staying in Changchun Palace for more than ten days since entering the palace, and he was already bored to death.

If he hadn't been so sensible and afraid of embarrassing his mother, he would have figured it out long ago.

"Yes, mother asked someone to catch it for you."

Gu Youning looked at the big smile on his son's face and knew how to refuse.

"Slave, go right away."

Xiao Shengzi, who was following behind, immediately agreed and went aside with two young eunuchs.

"Master and the eldest prince, why don't you go sit over there in the pavilion, have some cakes, and wait for Xiao Shengzi and the others to catch the katydids."

Tan Yin and He Xian Yu, each carrying a food box, which contained a few plates of cakes and two cups of pear soup warmed with hot water.

Gu Youning agreed.

"Mother, eat first."

"Thank you, Zheng'er."

Gu Youning took a light bite of the date paste and yam cake that was brought to his lips and smiled gently.

"Zheng'er has grown a bit taller these days, so it's time to make him some more clothes."

Gu Youning stroked his son's head gently.

"I will have someone from the Shanggong Bureau come over tomorrow."

Tan Yin quickly agreed.

But Xiao Yunzheng, who was eating cakes, shook his head: "This dress was made by mother herself, Zheng'er can still wear it."

"If you like what I made, I'll make you a new one."

When she was in the Gu Mansion, she and her aunt did not have a rich life, but her aunt always tried her best to save up a dowry for her, so she bribed the maids in the outer courtyard and took on some embroidery and dressmaking work.

She has been influenced by this since she was a child and is quite good at it.

"It takes several days to make a piece of clothing. Zheng'er doesn't want mother to be too tired."

Xiao Yunzheng's black eyes were twinkling with anticipation, but his small brows were slightly wrinkled. His conflicted look made Tan Yin and the others laugh.

"Mom is not tired. Mom loves making clothes for Zheng'er the most."

Gu Youning smiled and took his son into his arms.

She wants to hug her son more while he is still young.

Xiao Yunzheng's ears turned red in his arms.

"Your Highness, I have caught two of them. Please take a look."

Xiao Shengzi carefully lifted the gathered eunuch robe a little.

"Put it on the table."

Gu Youning said with a smile.

When the two girls were fighting on the table, Xiao Yunzheng lay beside the table and stared at them intently.

Gu Youning let him do what he wanted and only fed his son a few sips of pear juice from time to time.

"Mother Gu."

What brought Xiao Yunzheng back to his senses was a voice full of surprise.

Gu Youning's eyes subconsciously flashed with coldness, but when he turned around, his expression was already calm: "The Second Prince is out for a stroll too?"

"Yun'an has been sick for the past few days and felt bored staying in the house, so he wanted to go out for a walk. Unexpectedly, he ran into Mother Gu."

"Thank you, Mother Gu, for comforting Yun An that day."

Xiao Yun'an kept looking at Gu Youning with a pitiful look, which made Gu Youning feel very uncomfortable.

"It's just a matter of one sentence. Second Prince, there's no need to remember it."

Gu Youning's face was very pale.

"Mother, this is..."

Xiao Yunzheng was a smart child. He felt that the child in front of him, who was about his age, was a little too close to his mother.

So he deliberately turned around and leaned into his mother's arms.

"This is the Second Prince, Xiao Yun'an, also your father's son."

"Oh, brother Yun'an is out, why isn't his mother with him?"

The childish words made Xiao Yun'an clench his fists unconsciously.

The look that did not belong to a child became sinister.

Xiao Yunzheng was not scared. Instead, he came out of Gu Youning's arms and used his small body to block Xiao Yun'an's gaze.

No one can hurt his mother.

Gu Youning's eyes also turned cold instantly, because the hatred in Xiao Yun'an's eyes was directed at Zheng'er.

"Zheng'er, the Second Prince is now being kept in the palace of your mother, Concubine He. Your mother, Concubine He, is a kind person. She must have been busy today, so she didn't accompany the Second Prince out."

Gu Youning held his son in his arms again and explained softly.

This sentence really touched Xiao Yun'an's heart.

That stupid and selfish woman is not worthy of being his mother. She is not even close to his mother, the Queen Mother, now Concubine Gu.

But all the kindness of the Queen Mother is now being enjoyed by Xiao Yunzheng, a man destined to die early.

"Brother, are you playing with katydids?"

"This is a waste of time. As princes, we should take the people as our responsibility since childhood. How can we only care about playing around?"

When Xiao Yun'an saw the katydids on the table, joy flashed in his eyes. After he ascended the throne, he was very fond of fighting katydids, and the eunuchs around him were all very proficient in this.

But he suddenly remembered that his mother had scolded him many times for this, and he thought that his mother must not like this.

So he spoke passionately.

This statement really kills two birds with one stone. It can make the Queen Mother disappointed in Xiao Yunzheng, and it can also win favor for himself.

Moreover, Xiao Yunzheng was destined to die young, so if his mother was disappointed in him early, she wouldn't have to be overly sad in the future.

"Isn't the common people under the care of the Emperor? Mother, isn't the Emperor very powerful?"

Xiao Yunzheng's black eyes flashed, and he looked up at his mother with a puzzled look and asked.

"Your father is certainly a powerful man in the world."

Gu Youning meant what he said. Although Xiao Heng had let them down in his previous life, as an emperor, he lived a life worth living. He broke the situation in which the aristocratic families had controlled the government of Dazhao for nearly a hundred years.

Xiao Yun'an's face turned red and white.

He could not refute this, nor did he dare to refute it. Who dared to say that the emperor was not powerful?

After all, he had been the emperor for so many years, so he still had some patience. He saw an innocent smile on his little face again: "What mother said is right. This grasshopper is fun to watch, but it's boring to watch it alone. Why not let Yun An accompany big brother..."

"Mother, Zheng'er feels a little cold and wants to go back to the palace."

Before Xiao Yun'an could finish his words, Gu Youning's waist was hugged.

"Zheng'er, are you cold? Your hands are a little cold."

"Tan Yin, return to the palace."

Of course Gu Youning could see that her son was not really cold, but she was reborn just to pamper her son.

"It's cold outside, the Second Prince should go back early."

As Gu Youning led his son towards the pavilion, he turned around and gave a gentle instruction to Xiao Yunan, who had a grim expression on his face.

"Thank you, Mother, for your concern. If Yun An is free, he will definitely come to Changchun Palace to study with Big Brother."

Xiao Yun'an's face showed joy again.