When Feng Jing heard her question, he slowly said: "Today, Feng Cheng and I went to a riding class together. The Grand Tutor wanted us to try riding our own horses. I picked a Baise horse and Feng Cheng picked the largest Ili horse. Then he laughed at my horse for being too small and said that I didn't dare to ride a big horse. I was angry at the time and stole his horse to ride. I didn't think that the horse would suddenly go crazy and throw me off."
When Gu Yan heard him say this, her body slowly cooled down. Her eyes seemed to be covered with a thin layer of ice. Her fingertips trembled and she didn't dare to think too deeply.
At their age, they were proud and arrogant. How could they stand being mocked and taunted? They would definitely snatch the biggest horse to ride. If that horse had been tampered with in advance, Second Prince Feng Cheng would not be able to escape responsibility. They were clearly eleven or twelve years old children. How could they be so scheming? And Imperial Concubine Shu would definitely be involved.
"Older Cousin, Older Cousin." Feng Jing saw that she was silent for a long time and pulled on her sleeve to call out to her.
Gu Yan came back to her senses and comforted him with a smile. After talking for a while, Feng Jing slowly fell asleep again.
Gu Yan let the imperial physician in to take Feng Jing's pulse. She stood up and left the room.
At some point, the Empress was the only one left in the room. She tiredly leaned on the couch with one hand on her forehead as if she had fallen asleep.
Gu Yan came out. Seeing that she had fallen asleep, she prepared to leave. She didn't expect that she would raise her head and ask her: "Is Jing 'er feeling better?"
Gu Yan saw that she was awake, so she walked to her side and said: "Much better. He just woke up and talked to me for a while. Now he's asleep again. The imperial physician has taken his pulse. The fever has already subsided."
When the Empress heard this, she let out a long sigh of relief.
Gu Yan saw that her face was full of fatigue. She couldn't help but say: "The imperial physician said that it's fine. Aunt, you shouldn't worry too much and harm your phoenix body."
The Empress gently shook her head and said: "Do you think that I'm worried about Jing 'er's injury? I'm worried that these thieves won't be able to hold themselves back so soon and will make a move on Jing'er. Ting'er, what do you think I should do? "
She hadn't called her Ting 'er for a long time. Now, she sounded tired and worried, which made Gu Yan's heart ache.
She reached out and gently rubbed the Empress's temples while saying, "Aunt, you don't have to worry. Father is in the court. No one can shake Jing 'er's position."
The Empress gently closed her eyes and said, "Brother is indeed Jing 'er's protection, but Ting' er, you are wrong. There is only one person in this court who can touch Jing 'er."
Hearing this, Gu Yan's hand stopped moving. He was thinking about who she was talking about. Although Prime Minister Zuo was not on good terms with his father, he was born in a poor family. His family's power was not comparable to the Gu family. It was still far from enough to touch the Crown Prince. Except for Prime Minister Zuo, who else in the court could touch the Crown Prince, unless …
This thought flashed through Gu Yan's mind, but she forcefully suppressed it. She felt that it was simply impossible. Before she could recover from her thoughts, she heard the Empress sigh and say, "The Emperor has always been dissatisfied with Jing 'er. I don't know how he will feel about this change."
Gu Yan was stunned and said in disbelief, "The Emperor … is dissatisfied with Jing 'er?"
The Empress said, "The Gu family's power is overwhelming. The Emperor will not let the Gu family monopolize the power. I'm afraid that he has long wanted to touch the Gu family. But now that the Gu family is flourishing, he can't do it for the time being. Starting with you, the Emperor has been slowly implementing his plan. Otherwise, why would he let you marry into the Hokuin, far away from your family? "
Gu Yan heard this and was stunned for a moment. She had never thought so deeply. She only felt that Yi Ling's marriage proposal made the Emperor have no choice but to make this decision. She didn't expect that it would be exactly what the Emperor wanted.
If Gu Yan were to marry the son of another influential family in Jiangdu, the two families would join forces and make the Gu family even more powerful. Now that this path was cut off, it was the same as cutting off one of the Gu family's arms.
The Emperor was actually so scheming.
Gu Yan couldn't help but smile. So everything had started even before she had thought of it. She had been part of the conspiracy all along.
"This time, Jing 'er was lucky to be unharmed. If something had happened, I'm afraid that everything would have gone according to the Emperor's wishes." The Empress' tone revealed a deep sense of fear.
Gu Yan reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, softly comforting her, "With Father around, the position of Crown Prince can only belong to Jing 'er. Aunt, don't be afraid. I just don't know how the Emperor will deal with this matter. "
"The palace attendant in charge of feeding the horses in the Imperial Horse Directorate committed suicide after Jing 'er's accident. Although the Emperor has ordered a thorough investigation, the dead tell no tales. I'm afraid that this matter will be left unsettled."
Gu Yan didn't expect that such a serious matter as the Crown Prince's injury would be resolved with the death of a palace attendant.
Her heart turned cold as she asked, "Then what about Feng Cheng and Consort Shu? At this time, they must be involved. Jing 'er just said that Feng Cheng provoked him, which was why he went to ride that horse. How old is Feng Cheng? How could he know this? It must be related to Consort Shu."
The Empress slowly shook her head and said, "The Emperor only ordered them to be grounded to reflect on their mistakes. This matter was due to my carelessness. I won't let it happen again! "
Gu Yan was silent. She didn't expect Jing 'er and Feng Cheng to be embroiled in this power struggle at such a young age. It was like walking on thin ice.
— — —
By the time the lotus flowers in Bie Garden withered, it was already autumn. Gu Yan's wedding date was approaching. Ever since Feng Jing's accident, she had moved back home. Every day, she would go to the palace to pay respects and accompany Feng Jing.
In addition, there was an endless stream of palace attendants from the Clothing Bureau who came to try on the wedding dress and phoenix coronet every day.
Gu Yan let them do as they pleased and didn't care if the wedding dress looked good or not. On the other hand, A Nuo looked left and right. If she was slightly dissatisfied, she would have the Clothing Bureau change it, striving to make it perfect.
Time flew by as she bustled about. In the blink of an eye, it was the day she left for Hokuin.
The Prime Minister's residence was decorated with red silk. The bright red 'xi' character made the entire autumn day seem joyful.
From midnight, Gu Yan was served by mamas to dress and make up. The wedding dress, phoenix coronet, and makeup could not be missed out on any of the complicated procedures.
The sun had just risen when she boarded the wedding carriage and entered the palace to bid farewell to the Emperor and Empress.
In the Taiji Palace, there were hundreds of officials dressed in court robes. The Emperor and Empress sat in their high seats.
Colorful banners fluttered in the wind as the sound of ceremonial music filled the main hall.
Gu Yan was wearing a red wedding dress. The train of the dress was several zhang long. It was supported on the white marble steps like the rosy clouds after the rain.
Step by step, she ascended the high platform and bowed in front of the Emperor and Empress.
The Empress' eyes were filled with tears. She personally helped Gu Yan up and reminded her of the precepts.
The Emperor bestowed a large reward as a princess's wedding gift. Then, he personally held Gu Yan's hand and sent her off.
All the officials congratulated her. Amidst the hubbub, the Anqing Emperor led her out of the Taiji Palace. The rites of honor were incessant. However, Gu Yan only heard the Anqing Emperor whisper in her ear: "Pingyang, remember what zhen said to you."
Gu Yan didn't stop walking. She smiled and whispered: "Pingyang remembers."
"That's good. Yi Ling has already agreed to zhen's conditions. Whether he can return to Nan Hua or not will depend on you." The Emperor's gaze was looking into the distance, but his mouth was speaking to her.
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