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

Lady Wen shuddered subconsciously and almost dropped the teacup in her hand.

"What do you mean, Concubine Gu?"

Lady Wen realized that she had lost her composure, and raised her chin slightly towards Gu Youning, looking as arrogant as ever, but her eyes were carefully observing the expression on Gu Youning's face.

"Since Lady Wen doesn't intend to give me the jade bracelet, I'll take my leave now."

Gu Youning was about to leave while saying this.

"and many more!"

Lady Wen immediately stood up and blocked the way.

"I do have something else to ask Concubine Gu."

Lady Wen spoke weakly.

"Miss Wen, if you have something to say, just tell me directly. After all, you saved my life. As long as I can help, I will definitely not refuse."

Gu Youning sat down again, with a sincere look on his face.

"Our Wen family was of no help in that matter. Concubine Gu, you don't have to be polite."

"Besides, I'm not asking you to do anything. I just want to cooperate with you... You know, I don't like He Zhiyi. Even though she has been demoted to a talent now, I still don't want to accept it."

When Lady Wen mentioned the word "unwilling", there was deep hatred and sadness in her eyes.

"Miss Wen has been observing me these days, and she should know that I have no intention of making allies in the harem."

"With the emperor's favor and family honor in front of us, there can be no real allies in this palace. The so-called allies are just a competition of who can stab the other faster."

Gu Youning had no intention of delving into other people's resentment. In this world, the only people who caught her eye were those who were dear to her heart and those who were useful to her. Lady Wen was not one of them at the moment.

"You... you actually..."

Lady Wen's eyes widened, and then a look of understanding appeared on her face: "Forget it, how could someone who is taken seriously by the Emperor be such a fool?"

Take it to heart?

Gu Youning subconsciously frowned slightly.

However, thinking that if she slept with the emperor more often in the harem, she would be seen by everyone as being taken seriously by the emperor, she let go of the strange feeling in her heart.

"I'm not those people!"

There was a hint of disgust in Lady Wen's tone.

Seeing that the person next to her was still calm and composed, Lady Wen said directly, "I don't seek the emperor's favor or the family's honor. The Wen family doesn't seek power and influence either. So, for you, I am a much more reliable ally than others."

"As long as you promise to help me deal with He Zhiyi and make her fall into an ocean of suffering, a life worse than death, I will hand over the Wen family's influence in the harem to you."

Lady Wen gritted her teeth.

Hearing this, Gu Youning's eyebrows moved. Although the Wen family no longer had the reputation of being the number one family, it still had a deep foundation.

Although the harem is now dominated by the Cui and Zheng families, if the Wen family's former connections are still there, they are either hidden deep or in inconspicuous places.

In the previous dynasty, the two queens from the Wen family were both virtuous and kind-hearted people. These good relationships will certainly not be severed.

These were exactly the people she needed.

But times have changed. Even if these connections can still be used by the Wen family, their loyalty is questionable.

People who have already had second thoughts are naturally not useful, but being loyal to the Wen family is not entirely a good thing for her.

If she wanted these people loyal to the Wen family to work for her, she had to ensure that Concubine Wen was safe and sound in the palace.

Although Lady Wen is not as brainless and aggressive as she usually appears to be, she is indeed reckless, and it will not be easy to take care of her in the future.

"I need to think about this for a few days."

Before Lady Wen could speak again, Gu Youning continued, "Lady Wen, please think about it carefully."

"Didn't Lady Wen want to know who the people outside were just now? One of them is my legitimate sister, Gu Youxin. My legitimate mother is from a branch of the Wen family. Lady Wen should know this."

Lady Wen, who had just wanted to persuade Gu Youning, looked annoyed when she heard Gu Youning bring up the matter again. She was so overwhelmed by Gu Youning's aura that she even forgot what she was thinking about.

"You just said that power is not what the Wen family seeks, but throughout history, there has never been a family that doesn't love power. Some people love it more clearly and intelligently, like Minister Wen, while others love it more foolishly, like those members of the Wen family who want to restore the glory of Dazhao's first family."

"My younger sister is probably attracted by the Wen family's connections in the palace."

Gu Youning didn't care about Lady Wen's expression, but spoke clearly.

After saying this, without waiting for the surprised Lady Wen to come back to her senses, he took Tan Yin out.

"Master, are you going back to the palace now?"

Tan Yin asked.

"Go to Tingyuxuan."

Gu Youning shook her head. She had to finish the show, and besides, she also wanted to see what Lin Yunv looked like now.

Compared with Lady Wen's Jifang Pavilion, Tingyuxuan can be said to be shabby. There are only a few standard furnishings on the Duobao Pavilion at the entrance. However, the brocade mattresses on the couches and chairs are all new colors and are made of high-quality palace brocade, which was probably a reward from the emperor and empress some time ago.

When Gu Youning thought about where these rewards that represented pity came from, his eyes turned cold.

"I have met my sister."

"Get up quickly. You're not feeling well, so there's no need to be so polite."

Gu Youning waited until Lin Yu-nu completed the ceremony with the help of the palace maids before he stepped forward and said with a smile.

"How is it? What does the imperial physician say? Is it possible for this foot injury to heal as before?"

Gu Youning looked at Lin Yunv's left hand and left foot wrapped in white silk cloth on the bed with a worried look on his face.

"But don't worry. The Empress is always kind and compassionate. She will definitely ask the imperial physician to take good care of you."

Seeing Lin Yunu moving her lips, Gu Youning took the initiative to comfort her.

"Thank you, Sister Gu. I have offended the Queen Mother, and Sister Gu is the only one who is willing to come and see me."

Lin Yunv held onto the bed and almost kowtowed to Gu Youning.

"Master, be careful. Concubine Gu doesn't care about these empty formalities."

Shanhu, Lin Yu's personal maid, supported her master with a look of heartache, but there was a hint of blame in her eyes when she glanced at Gu Youning.

"I've seen the person, so I won't disturb you from recovering. Just take good care of yourself and don't think too much."

Gu Youning seemed not to notice the palace maid's expression. His eyes briefly glanced at the shallow charcoal basin and the three-legged copper incense burner on the small table next to it, then he held Tan Yin's hand and turned to leave.

"Master, Concubine Gu is clearly here to laugh at you, so why are you so grateful to her?"

As soon as Gu Youning left, Shanhu helped Lin Yunv lie down on the bed while complaining in a low voice.

"Nonsense! Sister Gu is not that kind of person. She's just still mad at me about the eldest prince."

There was both regret and sigh in Lin Yunu's tone.

Coral looked at her master's face, which was pale from the cold or pain, and her eyes were slightly red. She wondered how could her master, such a good person, have such bad luck.

If he hadn't fallen, how glorious his master would be now.

"Master, I have sent the clothes and spices you used that day to Fengyi Palace."