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Upon seeing his elder brother, Gu Chengfeng wasted no time and quickly put on his mask, using his qinggong to run away!
Gu Changqing furrowed his brow, "Who?"
However, Gu Chengfeng had already disappeared without a trace.
"Did a person pass by here just now?" Gu Changqing asked.
Gu Jiao spread her hands, "I don’t think so..."
That guy wasn’t a person, he wasn’t human.
She meant it that way!
Gu Changqing withdrew his gaze from scanning the surroundings and fixed his gaze at Gu Jiao with confusion, "Why did you come here so late? Where are you going dressed in your night clothes?"
Gu Jiao hesitated, "Well..."
Gu Changqing asked, "Are you here to find me?"
Gu Jiao thought for a moment before responding, "That’s fine too."
Gu Changqing: ...What does that mean? Is it a yes or no?
"I want to steal an imperial decree." Gu Jiao stated frankly. Since they had already bumped into each other, there was no point in pretending she was just out for a walk—— no one would believe it anyway.
Gu Changqing was taken aback, "What imperial decree? Why do you want to steal it?"
Gu Jiao calmly replied, "Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing has an imperial decree in her possession, and I want to steal it."
Gu Changqing looked at Gu Jiao suspiciously, "How do you know she has an imperial decree? Did you investigate her... Did you steal something from her before?!"
Gu Jiao blinked innocently with her eyes.
Gu Changqing took a sharp breath, "You're crazy! She has the Dragon Shadow Guard by her side. Approaching her would be a death sentence!"
Gu Jiao blinked and remained silent.
Gu Changqing suddenly couldn't stay angry. No, he was still angry, "It's too dangerous. Don't do such things alone in the future."
Of course, he had no idea that Gu Jiao had enlisted Gu Chengfeng's help.
Gu Changqing asked, "When did you go?"
Gu Jiao pondered for a moment, "The day before yesterday?"
Gu Changqing furrowed his brow, "Did you alarm her?"
Gu Jiao nodded, "Yeah."
Gu Changqing took another sharp breath. Did this girl even know what she was doing? Not only did she alarm Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing but also managed to escape unscathed. Should he say she was lucky or that she had good fortune?
Moreover, it had only been a few days, and she dared to go again?
Was this girl’s courage made of iron?
Gu Changqing didn't know what to say anymore.
He rubbed his forehead and said, "It's too dangerous to steal the imperial decree now, and she might have already transferred it... Do you know what kind of imperial decree it is?"
Gu Jiao shook her head, "I didn't have a chance to see it."
Gu Changqing pondered and said, "Could it be the imperial decree issued by the late Emperor before his death, instructing Empress Dowager Zhuang to be buried with him?"
Gu Changqing's reaction was similar to Gu Chengfeng's, which was not surprising. After all, when Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing stole the imperial decree and burned it, it caused a sensation. Although the news was suppressed by the Emperor, rumors had already spread among the powerful families.
If Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing had an imperial decree in her possession, the only one Gu Changqing could think of was that particular imperial decree.
Gu Changqing said, "Leave the matter of the imperial decree to me. You shouldn't act rashly for now. Dealing with her is important, but..."
Your safety was even more important.
Gu Changqing couldn't bring himself to say such cheesy words.
The night breeze was a bit strong, and a tuft of Gu Jiao's stray hair stood up.
Gu Changqing raised his hand and gently pressed down her stray hair, but as soon as he released his hand, it stubbornly stood up again!
Gu Changqing suddenly felt like laughing.
He was reminded of Gu Yan. They truly deserved to be called twins, even their stubborn stray hair was the same.
He lightly stroked her head, "I'll escort you back."
Gu Jiao replied, "Okay."
Gu Changqing escorted Gu Jiao out of the Marquis Ding'an Estate through the main gate. He had arranged for a carriage and asked Gu Jiao to board it, then they left the Marquis Ding'an Estate in a dignified manner.
The carriage stopped at Bishui Alley.
"You go inside first." Gu Changqing said to Gu Jiao.
Suppressing her urge to go and steal the imperial decree, Gu Jiao entered the house slowly.
Gu Changqing went to see Old Chief.
Old Chief was in the kitchen at this moment, making candied fruits. That’s right, every day, he personally made candied fruits for Grandaunt! They tasted better than the ones available in the market! More importantly, they had less sugar and were healthier!
Old Chief met Gu Changqing in the study.
Gu Changqing explained his purpose.
Old Chief stroked his beard, "Are you saying... Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing might not have burned that imperial decree after all? That's strange. She and Zhuang Jinse were at odds. If she really had an imperial decree that ordered Zhuang Jinse's death, why didn't she bring it out earlier?"
Gu Changqing asked, "Can it be used as leverage against the Empress Dowager?"
Old Chief pondered for a moment and said, "What’s the point of using it as leverage against Zhuang Jinse? It would be better to just kill her, wouldn't it? What Zhuang Jinse can give her, the Emperor can give her as well. On the contrary, because of Zhuang Jinse's restrictions, the Emperor's power has greatly diminished, and what he can give her has also decreased. So no matter how you look at it, killing Zhuang Jinse is her best choice."
Gu Changqing asked, "Could it be that the imperial decree doesn't mention having Empress Dowager buried with the late Emperor?"
Old Chief frowned, "But if it's not about having Zhuang Jinse buried, then what could it be?"
Gu Changqing felt a headache coming, "No living person has seen the content of that imperial decree. No one knows what it says."
Old Chief's eyes lit up, "No, perhaps there is one person who knows."
Gu Changqing looked at him in confusion.
Old Chief said, "Princess Ning'an."
Gu Changqing asked, "Her?"
Old Chief explained, "She is Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's daughter and the person closest to her in the world. Perhaps... She has seen that imperial decree!"
Gu Changqing hesitated for a moment before speaking, "But she is far away at the border. Even if she has seen it, it will take a long time for her to come back. Sending someone to ask her and getting a response will also take a while. Besides... She might not necessarily speak."
If Princess Ning'an had really seen it and remained silent about the content of the decree for so long, there was only one possibility—— she couldn’t mention it.
Gu Changqing sighed, "So, is there no one else who knows the content of the decree?"
"Perhaps... There is one more." Old Chief said.
"Who?" Gu Changqing asked.
Old Chief looked at the adjacent room with a complicated expression, "Xiao Heng's mother, Princess Xinyang."
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