Special Thanks to these patrons for their support!
S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]
O R A N G E S T A R
[Debra W] [Fazzienaz] [J Jean] [K.Rom] [Manon]
[Smurfinbatik] [Tori D.] [Ziana K.-P.]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Chlaudette P.] [Jia Y.] [Maria P.] [Mel Melz] [Passerby]
G O L D S T A R
[Cindy] [Nanashi D. Y.] [Nicole] [Reece P.]
R A I N B O W S T A R
[Allie] [Amanda] [Book W.] [Britnae M] [Christigale M.] [Haruka N.] [Kiiayame]
[kuroneko_chan] [Leticia P.] [Lily J.] [Liznel M.] [Michelle K.] [onepiece]
[Philomena N.] [Quae] [Sweetlove]
Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧?≦*)
If Empress Dowager Zhuang wanted to shine, she could make herself look like the sun even if she was wearing a sack. Wherever she stood, her fierce and overwhelming aura would fill the whole room.
"Aijia escaped from Leprosy Mountain and fainted on the roadside. After being rescued, Aijia couldn't remember the past. Aijia's memory was disordered and had mistaken some people’s identity. The Emperor doesn't have to hold on to those who dare not go against Aijia."
This was the first time that Empress Dowager Zhuang admitted having leprosy in front of the Emperor and that she lived among the common people.
In fact, this was a matter that everyone knew, it was just that the two of them were accustomed to displaying their acting skills in the palace.
The Emperor had also thought of bringing this matter up, but Empress Dowager Zhuang pierced through this layer of window paper first.
The Emperor smiled mockingly at himself.
When it came to courage and boldness, he really couldn’t compare to his imperial mother!
Empress Dowager Zhuang went on, "If the Emperor wants to blame someone, it should be himself. If it wasn't for the Emperor infecting Aijia with leprosy, how could so many things get involved with Aijia?"
Another layer of window paper was punctured.
The Emperor clenched his fists in shame and embarrassment.
"What about imperial mother then?" He sneered, "Didn’t imperial mother ever think of killing Zhen?"
Within the palace, he never referred to himself as ‘Zhen’ in front of Empress Dowager Zhuang, but called himself ‘this son’ instead.
But did she think she was the only one who could pierce the window paper?
The Emperor sneered repeatedly, "Imperial mother must have left the palace early in the morning just to confirm my death, right? A pity that last night's assassination was a failure. Is imperial mother disappointed?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't rush to answer his remarks, but asked in return, "Aijia's leprosy was cured, was the Emperor disappointed?"
The Emperor snorted, "Of course Zhen was disappointed, very disappointed!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang responded, "So is Aijia."
Having said that, she went out with a straight face.
"Sure enough, this vicious woman was behind it!" The Emperor was so livid that he threw a punch at the bedpost!
Eunuch Qin also came over today, and he was waiting in the yard with Gu Jiao.
"Eunuch Qin, take a seat." Gu Jiao said, patting the stone bench aside.
Eunuch Qin smiled, "Thank you, Young Miss Gu. This servant prefers to stand."
Gu Jiao didn't make things difficult for him. After a pause, she asked him, "Eunuch Qin, was it really Grandaunt who sent assassins to kill His Majesty last night?"
The voices of the mother and son were neither loud nor soft, and Gu Jiao and Eunuch Qin were able to hear their whole exchange.
Eunuch Qin let out a sigh, "I don't know everything, but... I don't think it's the Empress Dowager."
"Why?" Gu Jiao turned to Eunuch Qin and motioned for him to go on.
Eunuch Qin hesitated, but still decided to tell Gu Jiao.
He said with a sigh, "Empress Dowager promised Princess Ning’an before that she would keep His Majesty alive forever no matter what. Empress Dowager may deal with His Majesty, suppress His Majesty, put His Majesty under house arrest... or even abolish His Majesty from the throne, but it is impossible for her to kill His Majesty."
Old Chief didn't stay after being ordered to step down by Empress Dowager Zhuang, so he didn't hear the conversation between Gu Jiao and Eunuch Qin.
However, he also believed that Zhuang Jinse wasn’t behind last night's assassination.
Not that he was aware of the agreement between Empress Dowager Zhuang and Princess Ning’an, but he simply knew the means of Empress Dowager Zhuang. She usually didn’t make a move, but once she did, it was always a fatal blow. If the assassination was ordered by her, then the Emperor couldn’t have survived.
But one thing was for sure, the culprit knew the whereabouts of the Emperor like the back of their hand. It could be presumed that the other party had planted eyes in the palace.
Old Chief mulled over silently in his room for a while, and after a lot of thinking, he finally decided to apologize and thank Zhuang Jinse.
Apologize because his carelessness exposed this misleading relationship between the two of them in front of the Emperor, which made the already cold relationship between the Emperor and Zhuang Jinse even worse.
And thank her because Zhuang Jinse came forward to speak for him.
Whether the Emperor believed him or not, it no longer mattered to him.
Of course, his heart was still loyal to the Emperor.
He would never betray the Emperor for Zhuang Jinse.
But these were two different things.
That didn’t stop him from apologizing and thanking Zhuang Jinse.
Moreover, being misunderstood by her adopted son, she must be somewhat sad in her heart. After all, it was the person she had once loved dearly.
At this thought, Old Chief felt it more necessary to comfort Zhuang Jinse.
Zhuang Jinse went to the Zhao household next door.
Old Chief made a draft in his mind of how to comfort her in a moment, so as not to make her upset the more he talked.
With this in mind, he entered the Zhao household.
But who could tell him what he was seeing?!
"Two tongs!"
Cross-legged, Empress Dowager Zhuang played leaf cards in a domineering manner!
Just where was the trace of sadness and injustice on her face? Clearly, she was in very high spirits!
Old Chief felt a violent twitch at the corner of his mouth!
Why did he think she would be sad in the first place?
Did this woman even know how to write the word sad?
Empress Dowager Zhuang threw a piece of card chicly, "Surnamed Huo! Give me money!"
Old Chief:“…”
……
The Emperor's wound was in danger of infection at any time, so he had to stay in Bishui Alley for recuperation.
The Emperor asked for Eunuch Wei, and Gu Jiao went to inform Gu Changqing.
Gu Changqing found the unconscious Eunuch Wei in a sewer.
It turned out that last night, Eunuch Wei tried to find the Emperor with his last breath, but the manhole cover he happened to step on flipped over and he fell down.
His injury was also a bit grave.
Since Old Chief had already exposed himself anyway, Gu Jiao simply placed Eunuch Wei next door.
At noon, Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't go back to the palace and stayed at home for lunch.
Little Jing Kong didn't come back home for lunch today while Yao shi and Grannie Fang went to the temple to burn incense. There were only Gu Jiao, Empress Dowager Zhuang, Gu Changqing, the Emperor and Old Chief who had fallen off his horse at home.
The Emperor sustained only one major injury while the rest were all minor injuries. He was still able to eat at the table.
Only in this way, the atmosphere was quite awkward.
The Emperor said coldly, "What are you standing for? Be seated, is Zhen a tyrant? Not even letting his courtiers have a bite of food?"
Old Chief tightened his scalp and sat down.
Gu Changqing also took a seat.
Gu Jiao brought the last pot of corn and keel soup from the kitchen, and then habitually began to serve soup for everyone.
She filled a bowl and suddenly felt something was amiss.
When she raised her head, she saw the Emperor and Grandaunt uniformly staring at her… at the bowl of soup in her hands to be exact!
Gu Jiao: Er...
Raz P.'s Thoughts
To read advance GSPW chapters! Updates 7x a week (daily).
You can read up to 20 advance chapters in our patreon so you should go check it out. ^^
No patreon but want to support us? Then,
OR if you can't support us in money, you can always support us emotionally -just hope into . Hehehe~
Follow current novels on (f)reew𝒆bnovel