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

After hearing what Xiao Zuozi said, he hurriedly handed the mud he had just picked up to Yuan Cai.

"Doctor Yuan, please take a look at this mud lump to see if it's causing frequent headaches or worsening them."

"Yes."

Seeing Gu Youning's face as gloomy as water, Yuan Cai didn't dare to neglect it. He quickly crushed the mud in his palm and examined it carefully. He then asked Xiao Zuozi to get some water to dissolve it. He tossed and turned for a full quarter of an hour, and Tan Yin's face was filled with anxiety. Yuan Cai then bowed to Gu Youning and said, "This mud has been soaked in medicine. It is excellent nutrition for flowers, but it is extremely harmful to people with headaches. If you come into contact with it for a long time, it will only aggravate the frequency of headaches, and even make each attack more unbearable than the last."

Yuan Cai thought about what Tan Yin had asked him yesterday. He was a very smart man and he quickly figured out that this matter might be related to the Queen Mother.

Tan Yin's expression also changed slightly, but Gu Youning breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the cause was found, there would always be a chance to resolve it.

However, if Concubine Zheng's plan was to succeed, it wouldn't just rely on this. Gu Youning closed his eyes and said, "Xiao Zuozi, take Imperial Physician Yuan to the side hall where the Fourth Miss lives and take a good look at everything inside."

"Please ask Imperial Physician Yuan to check the side hall to see if there is anything to relieve headaches."

She was determined and didn't believe that she couldn't find any clues.

After Yuan Cai left, Gu Youning said to Tan Yin, "Go to the back hall and bring the eldest prince over. Ask Xianyu and the prince's attendants to come over as well."

She was pressed for time. She had to finish the investigation before Gu Youxin came back, and she also had to explain to Zheng'er and the palace maids.

Not long after, Tan Yin and Xian Yin brought Xiao Yunzheng into the inner hall.

"Zheng'er, come here to mother."

Gu Youning's eyes were filled with tears when she saw her son's small figure, but she knew that there was no time for her to cry.

"Mother, did something happen?"

Xiao Yunzheng was very smart. When Tan Yin went to the back hall, her face was solemn. Although his mother was smiling as usual, he still felt the stiffness and tension in that smile.

"Zheng'er, today at Ci'an Palace..."

Gu Youning did not rush to comfort his son, but instead told his son everything about Ci'an Palace in detail.

"Zheng'er understands. Auntie doesn't like mother and wants to take this opportunity to harm me, so she separated Zheng'er from mother."

After listening to this, Xiao Yunzheng lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up and said to his mother.

"Don't worry, mother. Zheng'er will definitely protect himself and won't make mother sad."

"I will protect the eldest prince with my life and will never let him be harmed by anyone."

Xianyu, who was standing beside him, also knelt heavily on the ground and made a solemn promise.

After hearing what her son and Xianyin said, Gu Youning couldn't hold back the tears in her eyes and hugged her son tightly: "I'm sorry, it's my fault that I'm useless."

She could take the risk herself, but Zheng'er was her lifeblood, another gift from God. If she lost her son again this time, she would never have another chance.

"Don't cry, mother. Zheng'er is very smart, much more capable than your aunt. He won't be harmed by bad people so easily."

"Didn't mother teach Zheng'er a lot of things? Zheng'er remembers them all."

Xiao Yunzheng hugged his mother back. He was not afraid, but he was reluctant to be separated from his mother, so his voice was a little muffled.

"Zheng'er, Mother knows you are very smart, even smarter than Mother, but you must promise Mother that after you go to Ci'an Palace, you must prioritize protecting yourself. Mother will find a way to take care of the rest."

"Mother promises you that she will take you back soon."

Gu Youning remembered the last time his son went to Gu Youxin to ask questions, and gave her a worried reminder.

"Zheng'er knows. Zheng'er is still too young to fight those bad guys. Zheng'er will wait obediently in Ci'an Palace for mother to come pick me up."

"Zheng'er believes in mother's ability."

Xiao Yunzheng nodded obediently in his mother's arms.

Gu Youning felt relieved and gave his son a few more instructions before asking Xianyu to call in the palace maids waiting outside.

There are four palace maids and four eunuchs serving the prince, but apart from Xianyu, there are only two palace maids and two eunuchs who can serve Xiao Yunzheng closely. These four palace maids were carefully selected by Gu Youning. Not only did she let Tanyin and Xianyin test them one by one, but she also used her aunt's connections to carefully check their backgrounds. Especially the two eunuchs, they had some martial arts skills and one of them was also a water boy.

Gu Youning repeated the matter of going to Ci'an Palace. His voice wasn't harsh, but there was still a mix of softness and hardness in his words: "As long as you take good care of the eldest prince, I will not treat you unfairly. I won't say any more about the common prosperity and common suffering. You should understand that if anything happens to the eldest prince, even I may not be able to protect you in front of the emperor."

"This servant/slave will do his best to protect the eldest prince."

The palace maids in Changchun Palace all knew that their master was a man of his word and generous. He was never stingy in rewarding anyone who made a contribution.

Serving the master loyally is their duty, and they can also receive generous rewards for their hard work. This makes their lives easier in the palace, and they can even send some money home.

Even if such a master has a bad temper and is punished, they are willing to serve him. Moreover, Master Gu is never harsh to his subordinates and rewards and punishes them moderately.

Anyone with a clear mind will not easily have second thoughts.

"Xianyu, take them and pack clothes and other belongings for the eldest prince first."

Gu Youning carefully observed the expressions of these palace servants and did not notice anything unusual on their faces, so he asked them to pack up their things first.

Since they had to go to Ci'an Palace, Gu Youning had no intention of deliberately delaying the time, which would only displease the empress dowager and would be disadvantageous to Zheng'er.

Not long after the palace servants left, Yuan Cai came in.

"Jieyu, Miss Gu's clothes have all been scented with camphor..."

"Camphor? But last time, Imperial Physician Yuan said there was nothing wrong with this camphor."

Gu Youning was puzzled. That day, Gu Youxin brought back the reward from Concubine Zheng in a swaggering manner. Gu Youning had always been wary of Concubine Zheng, so he would naturally ask someone to check for the camphor.

"The camphor that Miss Tanyin showed me last time was indeed fine, but now this dress smells like datura."

Gu Youning's face changed. Datura was a medicinal herb introduced from Dayong. Although it was called a medicinal herb, it was extremely toxic. She remembered that this medicine was banned in the palace.

"The amount of datura powder on this dress isn't large, so it won't be life-threatening. But it is poisonous after all, and prolonged contact with it will inevitably harm your body."

"The fourth girl didn't take it orally, she just inhaled some. If she takes medicine and recuperates now, she won't be in any trouble in the future."

Seeing the surprise and doubt on Gu Youning's face, Yuan Cai explained a few more words.

"So this mandala can relieve the Queen Mother's headache?"

Gu Youxin brought this upon herself, so naturally she didn't care about her life or death.

"Based on my humble understanding, this is indeed the case. Medical classics also record that this medicine can be used to relieve pain, and it is very effective... However, it should not be used excessively, otherwise it will only worsen the condition."

When Yuan Cai said this, he carefully looked at Gu Youning's expression.