General Qiaxi nodded and looked at Ji Chen beside her: “Is this Ji Xiong’s daughter?”
“Yes.”
Ji Chen was not surprised by his question and bowed: “Junior Ji Chen pays respects to General Qiaxi.”
“Rise.” General Qiaxi had urgent matters to attend to and did not linger, already following the Crown Prince through the Vermilion Bird Gate.
“General Qiaxi, Jiang Shangheng has gone to rescue my mother, so why don’t we go see her first?
General Qiaxi had originally wanted to meet the Rui Prince, but he could be met anytime, and they would have to face him for half a lifetime. Remembering how the wife of his old brother Gu Zhun had suffered for so many years and was now trapped in a dangerous situation by the Rui Prince, and that Jiang Shangheng had already gone to rescue her, he nodded.
Consort Xin was imprisoned in the Cold Palace by the Rui Prince’s people because, to the Rui Prince, she was more of a threat than Crown Prince Yuan Hongyuan. Therefore, two of his most capable deputy generals were left to guard her.
So when Gu Qingtong and others arrived, Jiang Shangheng was subduing the two deputy generals, the scene a tragic sight.
Other soldiers, seeing their leaders captured and the Crown Prince approaching with divine soldier commanders, immediately surrendered their weapons.
“Mother.” Yuan Hongyuan went forward as Consort Xin was being helped out by two palace maids.
Seeing him safe, Consort Xin sighed in relief. She and General Qiaxi were silent, old friends meeting, with thousands of words unable to express decades of bitterness. When she saw Gu Qingtong behind General Qiaxi, her eyes immediately misted over.
Gu Qingtong felt a sourness in her heart and unconsciously gripped Ji Chen’s hand.
Ji Chen comforted her by patting her back and pulled her to kneel together: “Junior Ji Chen and Gu Qingtong pay respects to Consort Xin and the Crown Prince.”
While Gu Qingtong and Ji Chen were kneeling, Jiang Shangheng suddenly knelt down: “Your Highness, my Lady, this time Shangheng and Gu Qingtong went together to summon the divine soldiers and eliminate the Rui Prince’s rebels. I request Your Highness to issue an edict to restore their names.”
Yuan Hongyuan hurried to help him up: “Minister Jiang, please rise. You and Gu Qingtong are all meritorious, and after this is over, I will certainly praise you greatly.”
Jiang Shangheng still would not rise and continued: “Your Highness, this minister needs no reward, only wishes to marry Gu family’s daughter.”
I request Your Highness to grant this.”
Yuan Hongyuan was momentarily speechless, not expecting him to be so eager, and looked helplessly at Consort Xin.
The two ministers behind Yuan Hongyuan reacted first: “Minister Jiang, the Crown Prince and we all know your feelings. The urgent matter now is to check on Shen Yuqing’s situation.”
General Qiaxi reached out and supported his arm: “You need not be anxious. With my help, he cannot snatch her from you.”
Jiang Shangheng stood up, looked back at Gu Qingtong with complex emotions, and nodded to General Qiaxi.
“Your Highness, My Lady, this old minister heard about the Rui Prince’s rebellion and was anxious, but was blocked outside the palace and could not enter. This old minister is late in rescuing, and begs Your Highness’s forgiveness!” As they were speaking, Yan Mang suddenly led a group of people rushing in.
Yuan Hongyuan frowned and remained silent, watching him kneel. Consort Xin gave a cold laugh: “Minister Yan is nearly fifty, and it’s understandable that his legs are not nimble and he arrives late.”
Yan Mang awkwardly prostrated, but his tone was frank: “If My Lady does not blame me, this old minister is grateful.
Before entering the palace, this old minister had already captured the Rui Prince’s outside accomplices, either beheading, killing, binding, or imprisoning, and has cleaned them up. Now, the Crown Prince and My Lady only need to guard against the remaining palace traitors.”
Gu Qingtong listened and laughed inwardly. Yan Mang was preemptive, eliminating all evidence and witnesses of his collusion with the Rui Prince, while presenting himself as a loyal and filial minister.
Yan Mang had extensive connections in the court, and since he had not revealed any flaws, Yuan Hongyuan could do nothing but help him up: “Thank you, Minister Yan.”
“Crown Prince, go with General Qiaxi to see how the Rui Prince is doing. I’ll go check on the former Emperor first,” Consort Xin said lazily, not wanting to deal with these men’s affairs. She waved her hand, “Tongr, while they handle the Rui Prince’s matter, you two stay and accompany me.”
“Yes.” Gu Qingtong followed Consort Xin back to her inner chambers.
The Imperial Palace suffered a calamity, with chaos everywhere. The emperor passed away last night and has not yet been properly laid to rest, still lying in the Hall of Virtuous Governance with no one to claim his body, only Empress Liang and a few maids attending to him.
The Xin Consort’s Ronghua Hall was not far from the Hall of Virtuous Governance. When Gu Qingtong entered the hall, she could still faintly hear Empress Liang’s weeping.
Ji Chen looked curiously in that direction, and the Xin Consort also lingered in the courtyard for a moment. Suddenly, her expression turned cold, and she said to the senior palace maid behind her: “Go tell Liang Zhirou that the Rui Prince has been executed. The former emperor can now rest in peace.”
The Xin Consort turned her head and saw Gu Qingtong’s displeased expression, then smiled faintly and took her hand: “Tong’er, don’t be afraid. What I did today is all to avenge you.”
“To avenge me?”
“Have you forgotten how the Liang family bullied you?”
Gu Qingtong immediately recalled Liang Mou’en and Liang Luoxian, and understood why she was targeting Empress Liang. She shook her head: “I haven’t forgotten.”
“Tong’er, I couldn’t protect you, causing you to suffer hardships outside. From now on, I will slowly help you get revenge.”
“Mother, my adoptive father treated me very well. I didn’t suffer.”
“I’ve heard about Han Yue’an’s treatment of you. But being a trial bride is such a lowly status, with tarnished reputation and facing cold remarks.”
Gu Qingtong, having just arrived not long ago, didn’t feel extremely resentful about the trial bride’s experiences, but Ji Chen’s eyes had turned red.
Seeing this, the Xin Consort sat on the bed and held both their hands: “You are both good girls who have endured much. If Chener has suffered any grievances, tell Xin Auntie, and I will stand up for you.”
Ji Chen knelt down upon hearing this: “Chener begs Xin Consort.”
“Good child, speak up, don’t kneel.”
“Chener only asks to ruin Liang Luoxian’s reputation, have Fan Xifeng torn apart by five horses, and destroy the Liang family of the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion.”
The Xin Consort seemed somewhat surprised by her ruthlessness but nodded: “I will try to fulfill your requests. As for Liang Luoxian, she is after all my niece.”
“But Liang Luoxian has harmed not just me, but Tong’er too. From childhood, her schemes against us never stopped. If not for Ruan Niang’s skills and my vigilance, Tong’er and I might have fallen to her long ago.”
The Xin Consort hesitated, then nodded: “I understand your resentment, but I must also consider old friendships. Let me think about it.”
Ji Chen gritted her teeth: “Your Highness, Liang Luoxian is now causing trouble in the Mansion. I know you value old relationships, so please don’t interfere. Let Ji Chen handle the bad people.”
Gu Qingtong was startled: “Orange, what are you going to do?”
Ji Chen shook her head: “Tong’er, rest assured. I’m just stirring things up. If you want revenge, you can join me.”
In fact, Gu Qingtong had suffered much at Liang Luoxian’s hands and believed in revenge.
