Traveling through time and space

"That won't do. This princess likes men, not women." While the master and servants were joking, Gu Yuanyuan appeared in her yard with everyone.

"Princess, you're back." Dongmei was the first to discover Gu Yuanyuan.

"You've all been working hard these past few days. Go back and get some rest." Gu Yuanyuan was also exhausted. She entered the room, and Xia Mei, who was lying on the bed, also stood up. The two of them quickly changed the bedding. Gu Yuanyuan waved them off and went to bed without a care in the world. She had been out for two days and three nights without closing a wink. She was truly exhausted. When she woke up again, she didn't know what time it was, and there was no noise. "Someone come here." Gu Yuanyuan stretched comfortably and called out to someone outside.

"Your servant greets the princess," with all kinds of formalities.

"What time is it?" The person on the bed stood up and dressed quickly.

"Princess, it's noon." Dongmei replied.

"What happened in the palace? How is the Queen's funeral going? Has anyone come from the palace?"

"Princess, have something to eat first, then talk," Nanny Shang brought over a tray with Gu Yuanyuan's favorite coriander and lean meat porridge and a plate of stir-fried shrimps on it.

"Princess, these are the invitations that the palace has received over the past two days from visitors to the hospital." Gu Yuanyuan didn't accept them. Instead, she took the chopsticks and started eating, motioning for her to continue. "The Queen's funeral was handled very sloppily. I heard people outside are talking about it."

"Yesterday, while I was in the kitchen, I heard someone say that Concubine An was definitely going to become the empress. I heard that the An family had started to make contacts everywhere, and the An and Gao families were also mentioned in the invitations to visit the princess's residence."

"Whose family is the Gao family?" Gu Yuanyuan was a person who didn't remember much, but the name sounded familiar to her.

"They're the maternal family of Zhao Songping, the head of the Imperial Hospital. The Gao family primarily deals in grain. I heard they have businesses not only in Qingyang but also in various countries."

After hearing Nanny Shang talking about the Gao family's property, Gu Yuanyuan's vision was opened up. Yes, she couldn't just do business in Qingyang, she could also go to other countries to buy things. Thinking of this, Gu Yuanyuan had an idea in her mind. She would buy some for herself when she had time. Ling Yu was the first choice, but Feng Yan was also an option.

"Princess, the two young masters from the Princess's Mansion are here too. I told you that the princess has rested and is not suitable to meet guests." Dongmei's words reminded Gu Yuanyuan.

"Dongmei, go to the Princess's residence in person and tell her that I'm feeling better and have gotten up. Please let the Princess' mother rest assured."

"Princess, I have also inquired about the affairs of Li Shanchang's family. I heard it from the academy. It is said that..." The little Maozi hesitated to speak.

"Just say whatever you hear."

"I heard that several of the children of Li Beishanzhang are not the headmasters."

"No way, that master's wife is a very dignified woman," this was Gu Yuanyuan's true thought.

"I heard that Shanzhang Li and that woman came to Qingyang twenty years ago. At that time, Shanzhang was just an ordinary person. Later, he worked his way up to become a teacher in the academy and became Shanzhang in ten years. I have inquired a lot and everyone said the same thing.

"How did this get leaked?"

"There are all sorts of theories. Some say it was his eldest daughter-in-law's family who spread the story. Some say it was a close friend of the headmaster. Some say it was the biological father of his children who came looking for him. There are all sorts of rumors out there."

"Chunmei, go quietly to the headmaster's house to find Xiao Min and ask him how he's doing lately. Is there anything he needs help with?"

"Princess, the Sixth Concubine came yesterday afternoon and I served her tea. She said that the Emperor has been staying in Fengtai Palace after court these past two days and he doesn't look very good." Dongmei muttered.

"Dongmei, change into plain clothes. This princess wants to go to the palace. Now that you are feeling better, it's time to go to the palace to see your father."

"Yes, Princess, I will help you change your clothes right away. Please take care of yourself." The people in the room said it seriously. After they had packed up and went out and got in the car, Gu Yuanyuan remembered that she had forgotten to check on the children. She was an unqualified mother.

"Princess, please go slowly. You are not well yet, so you go to see the emperor." As soon as she stepped out of the palace gate, Nanny Shang reminded her. Gu Yuanyuan suppressed her laughter and got into the car.

"Have all the members of the delegation left?" Gu Yuanyuan asked Xiao Maozi.

"I heard that after paying their respects to the Queen, everyone passed away. A lot has happened in Qingyang recently. Prince De passed away, the Crown Prince passed away, and now the Queen is gone too." The little Maozi sighed and nodded while talking to himself.

"Be quiet for a moment. This princess has something to ask you. Have you properly sorted out the maids and servants in the mansion these past few days? How is Mr. Cai's work going? Has he come to the princess's mansion in the past two days?"

"He comes here every day before returning home, saying he has something to report to the princess."

"Xiao Maozi, go tell the gatekeeper in person to have the Second Young Master come over tomorrow morning," Gu Yuanyuan instructed. "Also, send the three young masters to Bianyuan tonight."

"Yes, Princess." Gu Yuanyuan watched Xiao Maozi get out of the car and let Zhou Chun go.

"Greetings, Imperial Sister." When they arrived at the palace gate, Dongmei got out of the car first and helped Gu Yuanyuan get out, and then they met an acquaintance.

Gu Yuanyuan got out of the car in a daze. Nanny Shang whispered in the back that this was the eighteenth princess Gu Yusan. Gu Yuanyuan nodded at her listlessly. The people following behind saluted and everyone entered the palace. "Princess, this Eighteenth is the emperor's most miserable daughter." Nanny Shang muttered. Gu Yuanyuan glanced at her. "The emperor has not given her any title or expression so far. At her age, it is time for her to get married, but the emperor seems to have forgotten them, mother and daughter." Gu Yuanyuan glared at her. It was better not to talk about these gossips.

"Your servant greets the legitimate princess. I am late, please forgive me." Xiao Xiangzi came trotting with a group of people, carrying a sedan chair.

"It's not your responsibility," Gu Yuanyuan was helped by everyone to sit on the sedan chair. Seeing someone coming to salute, Gu Yuanyuan nodded weakly in return.

"Your servant greets the princess." When they arrived at the gate of Fengtai Palace, Zhang Wei stepped forward to salute. Gu Yuanyuan raised his hand slightly and entered the courtyard. Eunuch Shen came forward to greet him. Gu Yuanyuan nodded and entered the hall where his father was sitting.

"Eunuch Shen, go out and guard the door." Gu Yuanyuan stood up after entering the house and instructed Eunuch Shen.

"Yes, Princess, I'll take my leave." Eunuch Shen closed the door from the outside.

"Is the matter settled?" The emperor pointed to the chair opposite and motioned Gu Yuanyuan to sit down.

"Of course it's done. Yuanyuan is capable of doing three things at once." Gu Yuanyuan sat down and told her father everything she had seen and heard in Fengyan as a joke. Her father was also stunned by what he heard.

"Every family has its own problems." After being happy, the emperor also sighed.

"Yes, Father, Feng Yan has been dealt with for the time being. He will not fight Qing Yang again in the short term."

"Your Majesty, it's getting dark. Would you like to have the meal served?"

"Is it over there?"

"Not yet. Tomorrow is the last day, and there are still some things to do. In half a day tomorrow, it will be completely over."

"Okay, after this is over, find an excuse to remove all that white stuff. It's annoying to see."

"Your Majesty, someone from Yingyue Pavilion just reported back, saying that Noble Lady Yue will launch an attack in the next few days."

"Okay, let's use this as an excuse. The palace hasn't had any new people for a long time, so we need to make some good arrangements."

"Your Majesty, several gentlemen have arrived and request to see you." Eunuch Zhang came in and stood at the door.

"No, I'm not feeling well. See you another day."

"Your Majesty, Concubine An is here and wants to ask for instructions on something." Eunuch Zhang came back.

"Your Majesty, perhaps the Imperial Concubine has something to ask for instructions. Could you please see her?" Gu Yuanyuan was curious. What were these mother and son planning to do? Gu Yuanyuan sat sideways on the chair and was surprised to find that her father was doing the same.

"Your Majesty, I greet the Emperor and the Princess." Noble Concubine An took the lead, and several princes and princesses also greeted each other when they entered the room.

Gu Yuanyuan struggled to get up, "Yuanyuan, you are not feeling well, don't get up." Gu Yuanyuan followed her father's voice, just moved, and sat down again.

"My lords, my royal brothers and sisters, Yuanyuan is unwell and cannot stand to greet you."

"Since the princess is not feeling well, why don't you rest well in the mansion? Why are you running here? You are disturbing the emperor's rest. Princess, you should go back and rest early."

"Empress An, are you asking this question to me in a condemning tone?" Gu Yuanyuan felt unhappy.

"Imperial sister, my mother's original intention was to care for you. Your health is not good, so you should have a good rest."

"Royal sister, your sister went to the princess's residence to see you yesterday. I heard that you were still resting. She has been worried about you for the past two days." The sixth brother seemed to want to help.

"Third brother, my father and I are not fools. We can tell the good from the bad in your tone."

"Princess, I was wrong," Concubine An knelt down and faced her father.

"It's just your Majesty. Concubine An has been taking care of the late Queen's affairs these days. She is very tired and in a bad mood. The most important point is that now that the late Queen is gone, Concubine An is the most noble woman in the world. Naturally, she can order me around. Moreover, I came at the wrong time and bumped into her by mistake. Naturally, I have to..." Gu Yuanyuan wiped away her non-existent tears.

"Noble Consort An is confined to Qin'an Palace. Without my permission, she is not allowed to leave Qin'an Palace. Concubine Qin of Yue'an Palace will be promoted to Concubine Qin. From now on, Concubine Qin and Concubine Rou of Huiyuxuan will jointly manage the harem."

"Father, my mother is exhausted and confused. Please forgive me."

Everyone was stunned when they heard the Third Prince's words. Several people spoke up to stop him, "Third brother, be careful with your words.

Gu Yuanyuan also heard it, and then a group of people knelt in front of her. Concubine An had already regarded herself as the Queen, otherwise why would the Third Prince call her mother the Queen? Looking at the kneeling, panic-stricken crowd, Gu Yuanyuan had no choice but to stand up and kneel carefully, because she saw that her father was furious. "Father, please calm down." Gu Yuanyuan looked at his third brother, who had his head on the ground. If anything happened to him again, his father would be really heartbroken. In the past few years, the second brother died, the seventh brother died, and the prince died. The pain of seeing the young die was too great. "Father, your third brother is a filial child. He has worked hard for the late Queen's funeral these past few days. Now that it has finally been completed, his body must be extremely tired. Some slips of the tongue are understandable and forgivable." Gu Yuanyuan spoke carefully and sincerely, nodding to his sixth brother beside him, asking him to help him with some supporting work.

"Yes, father, your sister is right. Third brother didn't get enough rest these days, so he made a slip of the tongue. He definitely doesn't have any ill intentions." After two people spoke up, everyone followed suit and explained for the third prince.

The emperor raised his hand weakly, signaling everyone to leave. It was almost dark. "Yuanyuan, have the matters at Prince De's Mansion been handled? And what about the victims?" The emperor was really angry just now, and his voice was a little impetuous.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Yuanyuan has been settled. As for the disaster victims, have Huayi mobilize all the food in the palace and send it to the disaster area. Yuanyuan wants to buy some land after she arrives there."

"The land over there isn't very good, I'm afraid we can't grow much."

"That's fine. We should adapt to local conditions and plant more corn and sweet potatoes. We need to fill our stomachs, and we can't rely on the imperial court to subsidize them forever. Yuanyuan will definitely do his best."

"Okay, Father believes in your ability. When you return, Father will reward you well."

"Thank you, Father." Seeing his father's smile, Gu Yuanyuan felt relieved. "Father, this Noble Consort An doesn't seem to be a quiet person. I really didn't notice it before, but now she has such unrealistic ideas." His father nodded. Gu Yuanyuan stood up to say goodbye. As soon as she walked out of Fengtai Hall, she ran into her third brother who had been waiting there. "Third brother, are you waiting for Yuanyuan?"

"Third brother has made note of what happened today."

"Third brother, it's understandable that you made a slip of the tongue. I just want to tell you one thing. The position of the Queen can only be decided by our father. You and your sons should not challenge our father's bottom line easily. That's all I have to say. Yuanyuan will go ahead." Gu Yuanyuan bowed slightly and turned away without letting him say anything else. However, she could see the anger in her third brother's face at that moment. But she was happy in her heart. The fire had been lit. As for how it would burn, this princess had no time to see. In the next few days, Gu Yuanyuan was busy. After hearing that Second Brother Cai had gathered his family property these days, he was grinning from ear to ear. The few people who learned from the farm were doing quite well. As for the teacher, Gu Yuanyuan was helpless. His two sons were definitely not his sons. He had saved Shen Xia, who was about to commit suicide by jumping into the river with her children. Only his daughter, Li Bojun, was the headmaster's daughter. Gu Yuanyuan also heard that the biological father of the teacher's son was actually a member of the An family, An Shixiao, the current head of the An family. Gu Yuanyuan was a little confused. How was this related to the An family again? Gu Yuanyuan asked someone to deliver a letter first. He would go to see the teacher in the evening. Why not go during the day? Gu Yuanyuan always had a feeling that he had to ask clearly whether these things were true. When it was dark, Gu Yuanyuan led his men from the back, dressed simply, not wanting to go through the trouble.