The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

"There's no Grand Princess in the palace?" Shen Tianjiao's expression changed slightly, and she said in a cold voice, "There's only Princess Pingyang in this palace."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I deserve to die." The palace servant kowtowed and admitted his mistake hurriedly.

Shen Tianjiao was too lazy to pay attention to him and ordered: "Although the late emperor ordered her to stay in Anguo Temple for the rest of her life to pray for the country, she is the emperor's aunt after all."

"The Emperor is currently recuperating. I will make the decision on his behalf and have Imperial Physician Zhang examine her condition. If her condition is truly serious, I will allow her to return to the capital temporarily to recuperate."

"I understand." The palace servant who came to report retreated.

Shen Tianjiao was already worried about Shen Tingzhi's mood, and now because of Li Chaohui's incident, she became even more irritated and uneasy.

Xia He knew that she couldn't persuade Shen Tianjiao, so she asked someone to invite Ruan Yuhu over.

"Jiaojiao, I think the weather outside is nice today. Why don't we go out for a walk and take a look at the hustle and bustle of the city outside."

"Ever since I entered the palace, in all these years, I have never set foot outside this palace gate."

"The best years of my life are all buried in this palace."

Ruan Yuhu has not been in a very good mood these days. Every year at this time of year, her mood becomes very depressed.

This season was the beginning of her unfortunate life, carrying too many past events that she could hardly forget.

Shen Tianjiao looked at Ruan Yuhu in astonishment, unable to understand what was wrong with her.

In the past, when Shen Tianjiao left the palace, she also wanted Ruan Yuhu to go with her. After all, after staying in this deep palace for so many years, who wouldn't yearn for the prosperous world outside?

I can't leave the palace, but it's nice to be able to go out for a walk occasionally.

But Ruan Yuhu would refuse every time. She always said that she was old and just wanted to stay quiet and didn't want to move around.

But now she suddenly asked to leave the palace. This is extremely abnormal.

"Okay, let's go out for a walk." Although Shen Tianjiao had some doubts in her heart, she didn't point them out. Who doesn't have some secrets in their heart?

They left as soon as they said they would. Shen Tianjiao changed her clothes and left the palace with Ruan Yuhu.

Shen Tianjiao did not bring Xia He, and Ruan Yuhu did not bring Ju Ruo. They only brought a few secret guards.

As soon as she left the palace, Shen Tianjiao felt Ruan Yuhu's nervousness.

Ever since Shen Tianjiao met Ruan Yuhu, this woman who had experienced two dynasties and countless undercurrents has always shown her strength and fortitude in front of everyone.

As a result, her image in Shen Tianjiao's mind has always been that of a strong person who can remain unmoved even when the sky collapses, and has no weaknesses.

Now seeing her weak side, Shen Tianjiao really couldn't adapt for a while.

Ruan Yuhu had been silent since he got on the carriage, which made the already dull atmosphere even more depressing.

When the carriage left the imperial city and drove into the bustling Chang'an Street, Ruan Yuhu's awkwardness and uneasiness became even more obvious.

Shen Tianjiao held Ruan Yuhu's hand and said, "Aunt, do you want to just stroll around, or is there somewhere you want to go?"

"Let's go to Laurel Square. I want to go there to settle something on my mind." Ruan Yuhu said this, but tears flashed in her eyes unconsciously.

"Okay, then let's go to Laurel Square." Shen Tianjiao was shocked and didn't understand why Ruan Yuhu wanted to go to Laurel Square.

It’s not that Laurel Place is a disgusting place that you shouldn’t go to, but the Laurel Place that was once at its peak has now fallen into decline and become a shelter for all kinds of people and beggars.

Shen Tianjiao really couldn't understand why Ruan Yuhu came to Laurel Square.

Soon the carriage turned around and headed for Laurel Square. Unlike Chang'an Avenue, although Laurel Square was also very lively, the sounds were no longer those of merchants hawking to attract customers, but rather those of quarreling and begging.

Ruan Yuhu seemed to be deaf to the noise. Her eyes were dull as if she was trapped in some memories and couldn't extricate herself.

"Aunt, where are we going in Laurel Square?" Seeing that Ruan Yuhu had been silent, Shen Tianjiao asked.

"Go to the residence of Mr. Gu Yuanzhen, the former chief academic officer of the Imperial College." Ruan Yuhu's voice was shaking when he said this.

Shen Tianjiao was stunned for a moment, but then regained her composure and said, "Okay, let's go to Lord Gu's house."

When the carriage stopped, Ruan Yuhu suddenly felt weak all over and didn't even have the strength to stand up.

It was Shen Tianjiao who helped her up, "Auntie, do you want to go in?"

"Well, Jiaojiao, I'm going to the Gu Mansion. You don't have to follow me. I'll tell you the reason later."

Ruan Yuhu was already trying hard to keep herself together at this time. For so many years, she had never thought that one day she would be able to come back again.

"Okay, be careful, auntie."

Shen Tianjiao saw that Ruan Yuhu was trying hard to stay strong, so she did not offer to accompany Ruan Yuhu in.

Ruan Yuhu insisted on coming here today, so there must be something in this Gu Mansion that she cannot bear to give up. Some things can only be faced alone, and others cannot replace or participate in them.

"Yeah." Ruan Yuhu nodded, walked over tremblingly, pushed open the dilapidated door and went in.

Shen Tianjiao watched Ruan Yuhu walk in and asked, "Whose house is next to the Gu Mansion?"

"My lord, next to the Gu Mansion is the residence of the former Minister of Rites Su Lin." The secret guard on the side answered.

"The residence of former Minister of Rites Su Lin?" Shen Tianjiao frowned. Ruan Yuhu had always wanted to kill the Su family.

For this reason, she even detained Su Wenzhi to threaten Su Chang. Unfortunately, things did not go as she wished. In order to protect his Su family, Su Chang took the initiative to have his own grandson poisoned.

So what is the relationship between the former Minister of Rites Su Lin and the current Duke of Tang Su Chang?

What kind of conflict does my aunt have with the Su family that has reached the point where they have to fight to the death?

And what is the relationship between her and the Gu Mansion where her aunt is now?

Judging from how Ruan Yuhu looked in the carriage just now, the Gu Mansion must hold a very important position in her heart.

Shen Tianjiao's mind is now full of question marks. This matter is too complicated and too time-consuming to analyze.

"Master, this former Imperial College chief priest, Mr. Gu Yuanzhen, and that former Minister of Rites, Mr. Su Lin, are in-laws."

"Moreover, both of them were executed for plotting treason and assassinating the late emperor."

As secret guards, there was nothing big or small that happened in the capital that they didn't know about.

The conspiracy of Gu Yuanzhen and Su Lin to rebel shocked the whole country. At that time, people died almost every day in the capital.

The two masterminds and their families were killed in an even more brutal manner. All 518 people in the two mansions were killed in their own yards without exception.

Ever since that incident, Laurel Lane has changed from a gathering place for officials to the dilapidated state it is today.

Shen Tianjiao was not born yet when that incident happened, so she had no idea about the tragic events that had happened here.

She had once heard someone mention the downfall of Laurel Fong.

These things that seem to have nothing to do with Ruan Yuhu are now strung together, giving people a feeling that is both outrageous and harmonious.

As Shen Tianjiao was thinking about this, a bold idea suddenly popped up and emerged in her mind.

Could it be that Ruan Yuhu was the one who slipped through the net of the Gu family or the Su family?

When this idea popped into her mind, Shen Tianjiao was scared.

But if that's the case, then everything seems to make sense.

Ruan Yuhu has lived in the deep palace for a long time and has nothing to do with the Su family, but why does she hate the Su family so much that she is determined to destroy them?

If Ruan Yuhu is the daughter of the Gu family, and the conspiracy between the two families was framed, and the mastermind was Su Chang, then everything can be explained.

Thinking of this, Shen Tianjiao couldn't help but shudder. If things were really as she guessed, then this Aunt Ruan was really too extraordinary.

All the members of her family were killed, but she was able to enter the palace on her own and serve the late emperor for many years. Not only did she gain the late emperor's absolute trust, but he also arranged her affairs after her death. This is simply terrifyingly powerful.

The Gu and Su families were plotting treason, and the person they wanted to kill was the late emperor. So after the matter was exposed, the person who ordered the execution of the two families could only be the late emperor.

It was really hard for Ruan Yuhu to stay by her enemy's side and endure for so many years in order to get revenge.

If you think about it carefully, the death of the late emperor may not be so simple.

The late emperor was an extremely cautious person. Yang Guifei's daughter had been dead for many years, and all the evidence must have been destroyed. The truth would be difficult to find out.

But many years later, the truth was discovered by Yang Guifei.

At that time, Yang Guifei had been out of favor for many years. If no one had given her the opportunity, it would have been difficult for her to get close to the late emperor.

If I'm not mistaken, the truth of the matter and the opportunity to murder the late emperor should have been provided by Ruan Yuhu.

He sent his enemy to hell with his own hands, but was able to clear himself of the crime completely without arousing anyone's suspicion. His methods and scheming were unmatched by ordinary people.

While admiring Ruan Yuhu's strength, Shen Tianjiao also felt inexplicably distressed for her.

In order to seek revenge, a weak woman lurked beside her enemy, forcing herself to smile at him every day and even devoting herself to him. How did Ruan Yuhu get through those days?

"After the people from the Gu and Su mansions were killed, where were their bodies buried?"

Perhaps because of the same experience in her previous life, Shen Tianjiao felt a little reluctant and thought that if the bodies of those people were left unburied, she could bury them for them to comfort the deceased.

"When these two families were executed, because there were so many of them and many court officials lived nearby, they were ordered to be buried on the spot."

"Master, does this matter require further investigation?"

As expected, he was a secret guard who had been with Shen Tianjiao for many years. He knew what he should do without Shen Tianjiao saying anything.

"No need." Shen Tianjiao shook her head. Ruan Yuhu would tell her the truth in person. It was just a matter of time. Why rush?

"I'm afraid the situation here won't end so soon. Let's go back to the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion. Leave some people here to guard and pay attention to the movements inside to protect my aunt."

As long as Ruan Yuhu has secret guards here, there will be no problem. Shen Tianjiao is still worried about her second brother who had gone with so many soldiers.

Shen Tianjiao couldn't calm down unless she went back and asked clearly.

The further Ruan Yuhu walked into the Gu Mansion, the more she felt like her energy was drained and she was about to faint at any moment.

Although the Gu Mansion had been in decline for many years, it was where she grew up and a place she was very familiar with. No matter what it looked like now, she would be able to recognize it.

The familiar scenes before her made her unable to suppress the grief in her heart any longer. It had been twenty-five years since she had walked this road home.

When she saw the huge tomb in the main courtyard, Ruan Yuhu completely collapsed. She rushed over and burst into tears.

Buried here are her parents, brother, sister-in-law, and younger siblings.

There were also servants and distant relatives who accompanied their family.

Of course, the most important person to her is also here, her husband Su Tinglan.

In front of these relatives of hers, Ruan Yuhu cried heart-wrenchingly without any restraint.

Her tears had dried up many years ago, and she thought she would never cry again, but who would have thought that she could cry so freely today?

"Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Brother, Sister, Lan, I'm here to see you."

"After all these years, I finally have the chance to meet you."

"Su Chang is our only enemy now. Once we get rid of him, our family will be reunited."

"Then I will appear before you and apologize to you."

Shen Tianjiao hurried back to the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion and asked Chunchao when she saw him, "Where on earth did the Second Young Master go?"

Chunchao was confused by the question, "Didn't the second young master go to Fu Sheng Ru Meng? He went there yesterday and never came back."

"Yu Sheng did come back once, but she didn't say anything. She just came back and took Hu Xiao away."

"I haven't even seen him. I heard this from the servant who serves the Second Young Master."

Shen Tianjiao felt extremely overwhelmed. Her second brother was really used to being left alone outside, doing whatever he wanted. This bad habit must not be tolerated and must be corrected.

"Go, go to Fu Sheng Ru Meng and ask Sui Liang where the Second Young Master has gone."

Not knowing where Shen Tingzhi had gone, Shen Tianjiao could never calm down.

Now the forces from all sides are still lingering around, and she has not yet eliminated them all. It is not yet a time when it is absolutely safe, and it is not yet a time when she can do whatever she wants.

Seeing Shen Tianjiao getting anxious, Chunchao also panicked and realized the seriousness of the problem.