Gu Qingtong called out twice with no response, so she dressed herself, poured some cold tea on the table to moisten her throat, and her mind became clearer.
That dream was somewhat absurd and couldn’t withstand scrutiny, but thoughts during the day lead to dreams at night. Orange and Liang Luoqian would definitely have a major conflict.
“Miss.”
Gu Qingtong opened the door and went out. Sure enough, two black-clothed men were standing at the door. She just nodded.
“Miss, the Pavilion Master and the Young Master sent us two to protect you. If the miss has any orders, please command at any time,” the black-clothed man cupped his fists, seeing her calm expression.
Gu Qingtong thought for a moment: “Where did the Young Master go?”
“The Young Master went to the palace.”
“Where is my adoptive father now?”
“The Pavilion Master went to the palace.”
“To find Consort Xin?”
“Now she’s the Empress Dowager. Miss, you don’t know, the Crown Prince ascended the throne this morning. Consort Xin has become the Empress Dowager from being a Noble Consort.”
Gu Qingtong stared at him in surprise, but then thought it made sense. Yuan Hongren couldn’t delay his ascension any longer, especially since the Rui Prince was dead and no one could stop him. However, Han Yuan’an and Jiang Shangheng had both entered the palace, surely for their strategy.
“Do you know where Ruan Niang is?”
“Ruan Niang also went to the palace.”
“They’ve all gone to the palace…
Gu Qingtong frowned, but after thinking for a while, she realized Ruan Niang had lost control over her and could no longer harm her. However, she was worried about Ji Chen. “Take me back to the Flower and Moon Pavilion.”
The black-clothed men had no objections and bowed to lead her out.
After Gu Qingtong got into the carriage, she headed towards the Southern Capital. The journey was without any unusual occurrences.
Entering the Southern Capital, the streets became more crowded, and many shops were open. Passing by Zhu Qing Yue, she saw a familiar figure – it was actually Yun Leshi, with an anxious and resentful expression. She thought about that dream and initially didn’t want to approach, but with two black-clothed men protecting her, curiosity ultimately prevailed.
“Stop. Protect me as I go to Zhu Qing Yue.”
“Yes.” The black-clothed men obeyed orders and helped her down.
Gu Qingtong entered and saw Yun Leshi go upstairs to a private room. After asking the waiter where he went, she followed, but was suddenly pulled back at the staircase.
“Tong’er, why are you here?” When Gu Qingtong saw Ji Chen, she looked her up and down twice, then let out a sigh of relief, “Thank goodness you’re okay.”
Ji Chen gave her a suspicious look, then pulled her into a nearby private room: “Tong’er, how did you know I was here?”
“Naturally, your good daughter told my sister, and my sister, hearing her talk about you, this distant cousin, wants to strangle you.”
“Orange, what are you doing? So mysterious.”
“Tong’er, come here.” Ji Chen led her to the wall and suddenly opened a small black window. They leaned in close, and the other side was covered with something like glass, but they could just see the scene next door.
“Liang Luoxian and Yun Lushi?”
Ji Chen quickly covered her mouth: “Quiet, although they can’t see us, sound can still pass through.”
Gu Qingtong nodded, and Ji Chen let her go. She looked carefully; Liang Luoxian and Yun Lushi seemed to be confronting each other. In a low voice, she asked, “Orange, what’s going on?”
“I lured Yun Lushi here in your name and then found a way to draw out Liang Luoxian. Right now, although they know they’ve been set up, given Liang Luoxian’s temper, she won’t easily let Yun Lushi leave.”
“But bringing them together privately might not end well for you?”
“Tong’er, don’t worry, just watch,” Ji Chen gestured towards them.
Gu Qingtong listened and watched patiently.
But Liang Luoxi, already pregnant, is still seducing one after another.
“She’s seducing so many precisely because she’s pregnant. Little do they know, they all think the child in her belly is theirs and are helping her. But mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Tong’er, just wait and see.” Ji Chen raised an eyebrow, signaling her to listen to the sounds next door.
Gu Qingtong listened quietly. Liang Muen, hating her, cursed repeatedly, and Liang Luoxi, unable to escape his rough actions, had to endure his demands.
Ji Chen also became increasingly uncomfortable, blushing.
“Cousin, no more, no more, I know I was wrong, please let me go…” Finally, Liang Luoxi urgently begged, but Liang Muen showed no mercy.
“You know you were wrong? A woman like you, who uses any means to achieve her goals, will never know when you’re wrong!” Liang Muen wouldn’t listen to her explanations and continued to torment her mercilessly.
Ji Chen listened and sighed softly: “Tong’er, let’s go. We can hear the result later.”
Gu Qingtong also couldn’t bear the situation and left Zhu Qingyue with Ji Chen, leaving the two to love and fight.
Xie Yan heard she was going to the palace and did not refuse, only calling another carriage and having her change her clothes before leaving with her.
Ji Chen could not keep up, so he followed Yang Mingshan into the Xie residence, patiently waiting.
Xie Yan’s mother was the cousin of Empress Dowager Guo, so she had a close relationship with the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince. Gu Qingtong sat in the carriage and entered the palace without hindrance. When they reached the inner palace entrance, there was no sedan chair, and she had to get down and walk.
Because the former emperor had just passed away, even with the new emperor in power, the palace was still a bleak and desolate scene. Xie Yan, usually playful and cheerful, now had a tense expression. He looked at Gu Qingtong beside him, seemingly more nervous than himself: “Miss Gu, perhaps Shang Heng just wants to see the Empress Dowager. Nothing will happen.”
“But Ruan Niang has also entered the palace.”
As for Jiang Shangheng, who had also rendered great service to the state, he had only been promoted from Pingzhang Affairs to the second-rank General of National Support, two ranks lower than Shen Yuque’s first-rank position.
“Tong’er?”
Gu Qingtong did not expect to encounter Shen Yuque before even seeing Jiang Shangheng.
Shen Yuque stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, glaring at Xie Yan: “Tong’er, why are you in the palace? And with Young Master Xie?”
Xie Yan thought the man looked flirtatious, with more delicate features than a woman, but his gaze was gloomy. Seeing Gu Qingtong at a disadvantage, he felt he needed to protect her for Jiang Shangheng: “Minister Shen, Miss Gu intends to see the Empress Dowager, so I brought her in.”
“See the Empress Dowager?” Shen Yuque looked suspiciously at Xie Yan, then at Gu Qingtong.
“Yes,” Gu Qingtong quickly agreed.
Shen Yuque felt her struggling in his palm and gripped her more tightly: “Tong’er, let me take you.”
“No need, Master. Young Master Xie can accompany me.”
“We are master and disciple. Why be so distant?” Shen Yuque raised an eyebrow and stared at her, then turned to Xie Yan, “Young Master Xie, I will escort my disciple. You can return to the Xie residence.”
“That won’t do. Sending Buddha halfway, since I promised Miss Gu, I should see her to the Empress Dowager.”
“Does Young Master Xie think our department cannot even escort someone?”
“Shen Yuque’s expression turned cold, and he sneered. Two guards immediately appeared and blocked Xie Yan, while he pulled Gu Qingtong towards the inner palace.
