Wang momo wept bitterly on behalf of her princess before she gathered her courage and announced:
"Princess, since His Majesty has already spoken, we cannot change anything.
Well, what else did you need? Yu Xiaoxiao asked.
Wang momo wiped away her tears and said:
"The Gu clan doesn't have anything right now, so this servant will make sure to prepare a good dowry for the princess."
"That's right," Yu Xiaoxiao hurried to add. "Be well prepared and take what you can with you from here.
When Linglong was on the run, she would still starve to death if she had no money. Yu Xiaoxiao would never have made such a stupid mistake.
Wang momo hit her chest and promised Yu Xiaoxiao:
"Princess need not worry, you still have that servant!
On the other hand, Consort Zhao was brought back to Morning Sky Palace right after the accident. The imperial doctor soon helped her to recover, but she was too weak to utter anything louder than screams and pleas:
"Your Majesty, the honored Empress could not rest in peace!"
Xianzong said:
"What do you think of all this, beloved wife?"
"The Honored Empress once told this consort," Zhao croaked between sobs, "that Her Royal Highness should marry the third son of the Gu clan."
- When did it happen? Xianzong was amazed.
"Before the empress died in childbirth," consort Zhao explained. "But by that time, the Gu clan had already faced disaster. This consort could only assume that the Empress lost her mind for a moment, which is why I didn't say anything to Your Majesty. This wife deserves to die!
Xianzong said:
"In other words, Linglong must get married no matter what?" Otherwise, the empress will not be able to rest in peace?
Consort Zhao burst into sobs.
"Quite right, Your Majesty. Better if Your Majesty issues a decree quickly, this consort is afraid.
Xianzong looked at the sky outside and remembered the sudden lightning strike. He immediately decided:
"Fear not, beloved wife. Zhen will immediately issue a decree.
On the one hand, the imperial physician could not help but worry. The Emperor I swore allegiance to is an idiot. And how can I cure it?!
Meanwhile, officials on the way to the imperial court had not yet had time to report the good news. Gu Xinglan (星星朗), the third son of the Gu clan, was currently lying on a pile of dry straw. His eyes narrowed and his face turned red as the woman stretched across his body gently stroked the scars on his chest.
"Third Young Master," she whispered, "Old Lady told Qinyu to serve you and bear you an heir."
Gu Xinglan let out a low groan with a look of anguish on his face.
Qingyu (青玉) gritted her teeth and put her hand on the man's waist. Pretty soon her fingers moved to unbutton his inner robe. Because of this, Gu Xinglan's body shuddered in response; he bit his tongue to regain his senses and pushed Qingyu aside with heavy breathing.
- Leave!
Qingyu collapsed to the ground before crawling up and lunging at Gu Xinglang again.
"Despite everything, you still need an heir, Third Young Master!"
Gu Xinglan took a deep breath. Qingyu was the head servant of his paternal grandmother. The fact that she could slip into his cell at such a time meant that his family had gone to great lengths to make it possible.
"Third Young Master." Qingyu didn't have time for the usual feminine restraint right now. She leaned in to kiss him, but he turned away and avoided the kiss.
He pushed her aside again and muttered:
- Don't be stupid. I'm going to die, so how are you going to follow me?
"Third Young Master!" Qingyu sat on the dirty, wet floor and cried. "Qinyu is ready, she wants to give the Third Young Master an heir.
Gu Xinglan just sighed. His military exploits were stolen, his entire family was thrown into prison, and his legs were beaten to the state of a cripple. If not for his family and his own character, he would have committed suicide long ago.
"Third Young Master?" Once again, Qinyu approached him from the side.
"Maybe the water has just been drugged?" Gu Xinglan asked.
Qinyu's face flushed before she muttered something in the affirmative.
Gu Xinglan had severe injuries from his recent torture, so the Gu clan didn't dare to give him anything too stimulating. Only a weak aphrodisiac was added to his drink, so after talking with Qinyu, some of its effects had already begun to fade. "You have to leave," he told her. - It's not worth it.
Qingyu hesitated before reaching out to him again. This was done not only for the sake of the birth of the heir Gu Xinglan, but also for herself. The entire Gu clan was thrown into prison along with their servants, but they would end up being sold in the markets. Being an amazingly pretty girl, Qinyu would most likely be sold to a brothel. Her jade arms would become a pillow for thousands of people, so no matter what, she would rather have a child with Gu Xinglan. At least that way, the Gu clan would not ignore her fate in the future.
- Qingyu! Gu Xinglang tossed her hand aside before shouting at the door. "Somebody come, somebody!"
The jailer opened the door and stepped inside. He saw the two defendants partially undressed, but did not finish the matter, and tried to persuade Gu Xinglang in a low voice.
"Third Young Master, the news outside speaks badly of you. This girl was personally sent here by your obedient servant on the orders of Old Madame. You must not disappoint the Old Madame's intentions.
Gu Xinglan realized that this time his military merit was stolen by Zhao Beicheng (赵北城). How will Zhao's father and son be at peace if he does not die?
"I would like to ask you to send her away," Gu Xinglang said to the jailer. "I don't want to do such things.
The jailer just shook his head and sighed. Now there's nothing to be done. He couldn't help the girl to impose herself on the Third Young Master Gu.
At that moment, Chief Eunuch Jing Zhong and Chief Secretary Ying arrived at the Imperial Court Gate along with several others. The courts were under the rule of Zhao's father, so their people naturally blocked the path of Ying Niannyun and his retinue. But Jing Zhong was part of Consort Zhao's faction, so an official rose to greet him as soon as he arrived, ignoring the others.
Jing Zhong formally looked at the imperial decree in his hands and said:
"Officer Lin, His Majesty has a decree. Where are the members of the Gu clan?
In the time it took Jing Zhong and the court official to talk, the attendant Yamen had already rushed to the cell by Gu Xinglan with an urgent message.
"Sir, Chief Eunuch Jing Zhong has come here to issue a decree. His Majesty made the decision for Supreme Commander Gu and the others.
The head jailer stamped his foot. How could Third Young Master Gu leave heirs here along with Qinyu? Now they couldn't finish anything!