Even though Gu Liyue pleaded for mercy, Gu Zhongxian didn't stop. In the end, it was the Marquis of Gu who scolded him to stop.
"Alright, alright. The thing has already happened. Even if you beat Zhi'er to death, it won't help. Sister-in-law, go quickly and pack things up for Zhi'er. I'll take him into the palace now and let him go to the Shoukang Palace to plead guilty."
The Marquis of Gu took Gu Chengzhi into the palace. The Marquis was invited by the emperor and sat in the Hall of Diligent Government for a whole night, while Gu Chengzhi knelt in front of the Shoukang Palace for the entire night.
The next day, there was still no news. The entire Gu family was extremely anxious.
The old master of the Gu family pondered for a long time before saying in a deep voice, "Forget it. If he doesn't come back by noon, I'll enter the palace to plead guilty to the emperor. Anyway, this unfilial descendant is still my grandson. I think the emperor will still give me this little bit of face."
Gu Liyue was extremely worried. She didn't understand why the Princess Yunxi, who was usually fine, had caused such a big scene this time.
Mrs. Qin explained to Gu Liyue, "Don't think that the Prince of Qingling is just a county prince. He has been on the border all his life. He originally had two sons, but they both died in battle. Now he has no male heirs, only Lu Yunxi, his daughter. The emperor pities Lu Yunxi, and since she grew up in front of the empress dowager, she is like the empress dowager's own granddaughter..."
Gu Liyue finally understood why Lu Yunxi, although just a princess, was more favored than the princesses in the palace. After hearing that all her brothers were dead, she felt even more pity for her.
Just then, someone from the palace came, with a straight face, announcing the empress dowager's imperial edict, saying that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager wanted Gu Liyue to enter the palace to serve.
The Gu family was even more flustered. Was Her Majesty the Empress Dowager angry? Punishing Gu Chengzhi alone wasn't enough, and she still wanted to take Gu Liyue as a scapegoat?
The old lady of the Gu family quickly got up. "Hurry, hurry. Go and get my imperial robe. I'll enter the palace with Liyue."
She was old and in poor health. She rarely went out these days. Except for palace banquets and banquets among the old ladies, she basically didn't go out at other times.
Gu Liyue held the old lady back. "Grandmother, we don't know what's going on yet. Grandmother, don't be in a hurry. Maybe Her Majesty the Empress Dowager just wants to ask me some questions."
The old lady of the Gu family wouldn't listen. She insisted on changing into her imperial robe, leaning on a walking stick, and going out with Gu Liyue. "This is the trouble caused by your fourth brother. It has nothing to do with you. If Her Majesty is angry and wants to blame someone, she can't blame you. You just came back to my side. How could I let you enter the palace alone? Liyue, don't worry. I'll go with you. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and I were friends when we were young. She won't make things too difficult for you."
Although they said so, this time Lu Yunxi was so abnormal. No one knew what would happen under the empress dowager's furious rage.
Before they could go out, Lu Jinchen came. He had his hair tied up with a golden crown and was wearing a purple-golden long robe, which made him look even more elegant and handsome. He was usually very busy and didn't have many opportunities to meet Gu Liyue. Even when they met, they rarely had a chance to talk.
Gu Liyue couldn't take her eyes off him for a long time. It was only when Mrs. Qin pulled her that she blushed and lowered her head. She deeply felt that in such a situation in the family, she was still so naive and was stunned by her husband.
Fortunately, Mrs. Qin was an experienced person. After pulling Gu Liyue away, she didn't mention it again. She quickly stepped forward to greet Lu Jinchen and briefly told him what had happened. "Prince, you and Chengzhi have always had a good relationship. They entered the palace yesterday, and neither his uncle nor he has sent any news. We're really worried..."
Lu Jinchen smiled slightly and explained, "Madam, don't be in a hurry. The marquis was summoned into the palace. Because of the border defense affairs, the emperor wanted to ask for his opinion. There were several other officials besides him. As for Chengzhi... After all, it was the trouble he caused. He has to suffer some hardships."
Hearing this, the old lady quickly said, "If that's the case, why... Why does Liyue have to enter the palace? Liyue is not very familiar with the palace. She..."
Lu Jinchen nodded. "I came here just for this. Old lady, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager pities Yunxi. She wants Miss Gu to enter the palace to accompany Yunxi."
The old lady felt a little relieved. She asked again, "Is she just going to accompany the princess? How is the princess?"
Since he came in, Lu Jinchen hadn't looked directly at Gu Liyue. Now he finally looked up at her and smiled slightly. Then he said, "I should also enter the palace to see the imperial grandmother. I'll take Miss Gu with me."
The old lady was overjoyed. Lu Jinchen was the empress dowager's own grandson. The empress dowager pitied him for losing his mother since childhood. She loved him the most and indulged him a lot. If he entered the palace with them, it was thought that even if the empress dowager was angry, she would calm down because of him.
Gu Liyue lowered her head. Under the old lady's earnest exhortations, she followed Lu Jinchen out. She was very nervous sitting in the carriage. The last time she entered the palace was for a palace banquet. She wasn't very afraid because she was with her family. But this time, she was alone.
People said that a single look from a noble in the palace could take someone's life. Of course, now that she was a noble lady, she wouldn't be harmed, but she didn't know how to bear the empress dowager's furious rage.
However, there was Lu Jinchen.
Gu Liyue gently lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out. She saw Lu Jinchen, who was riding on a horse, turning his head to look at her. It seemed that he was full of affection, but when he was in her house just now, he didn't even give her a single look.
She gave him a coquettish look and closed the carriage door, which made him laugh softly outside.
Gu Liyue's face turned even redder. This person was so shameless.
Lu Jinchen got closer and asked, "Liyue, are you peeping at me?"
Gu Liyue couldn't help spitting. She quickly covered her mouth and didn't dare to make a sound.
Whether it was intentional or not, Lu Jinchen would talk from time to time outside. His low voice was a bit hoarse. He didn't seem to be afraid of being heard by others. He just said things like he hadn't seen her for a long time and missed her very much.
It wasn't until they arrived at the palace gate that Lu Jinchen's voice returned to normal. "Liyue, don't be afraid. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is very easy to get along with. I'll go with you, and no one will do you any harm."
Gu Liyue belatedly realized that the love words Lu Jinchen said along the way were all to make her stop thinking about entering the palace. If she didn't think about it, she wouldn't be nervous.
On a street some distance away from the palace, Qi Manyan had a veil on her head, and her face was full of malice. Just now, she saw him riding on a horse, slowly walking beside another woman's carriage. He whispered softly, and his face was full of tenderness.
That was a tenderness she had never seen before. Clearly, they had grown up together since childhood. Clearly... She had known him first.
The maid replaced the teacup for her. "Miss, it's time to go back to the mansion."
Qi Manyan took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "Did you see that? Brother Jinchen came back just now and couldn't wait to go and see her... Tell me, what's so good about her? Why is Brother Jinchen so infatuated with her when he sees her? Brother Jinchen has never... never been so nice to anyone before."
The maid said softly, "Miss, as long as you're willing, the position of the prince's wife will surely be yours."
Qi Manyan pushed the teacup hard, and it fell to the ground. "The position of the prince's wife is naturally mine, but the prince should be Lu Jinchen!"