Chapter 237

Huai An was stunned, "My Lady, your health is weak—"

Gu Ying did not give Huai An a chance to persuade her, her eyes were serious and solemn, "I am his wife. No matter what he is like, I have to see it with my own eyes to feel at ease."

The words that filled Huai An's mouth were blocked in his throat. Seeing the determined expression on his lady's face, he had no choice but to agree. He turned around to arrange the trip to Yueyang.

Gu Ying meant what she said, she immediately asked Yin Lan to prepare her luggage.

Ning Si had wanted to persuade her again, but whatever she said was stuck in her heart by Gu Ying's words.

"If Prince Duan was in danger now, could Ning Si still wait so calmly in Bianjing?"

Ning Si was silenced, "I—"

Gu Ying pulled her mouth slightly, smiled helplessly and said, "Since this is the case, Ning Si should not stop me anymore. I am determined to go. I must go to Yueyang before I can rest assured."

Ning Si sighed. Knowing that she couldn’t persuade Gu Ying, she simply asked Qing Yun to prepare her courtesy visit preparations as well and sent a message back to the Minister’s Mansion, preparing to go to Yueyang with Gu Ying without telling anyone else.

"You..." Although Gu Ying was moved, she was more worried, "Why are you going with me? Yueyang is very dangerous now, just stay in Bianjing and wait for me to come back."

Ning Si smiled bitterly, "Has Ying forgotten? My hometown was in Yueyang. I lived at my grandmother's house until I was ten years old. No one here is more familiar with Yueyang than me."

Gu Ying was still hesitating. Yueyang was the most dangerous place now with its ever-changing disaster situation.

She didn’t want Ning Si to take the risk and go together.

So Ning Si said, "When I came back from Yueyang, I took the official road. At that time, the snow disaster was not serious yet. Now the heavy snow has blocked the mountains and it is afraid that the official road is not accessible. If we have to wait for the official road to reopen, who knows when that will happen. But I know there is another way to get to Yueyang. Ying, do you believe me or not?"

Gu Ying looked very tangled, "But if you go with me, what about Prince Duan—"

Ning Si smiled bitterly, "Although I have provoked Prince Duan as Ying said, His Highness still does not have any clear response to me. I actually... am not sure if His Highness really likes me..." He has a deep mind this time, keeps everything in his heart, and I don't know what to do with him." It is said that the emperor's mind is hard to predict. He is the heir of the Dong Li Imperial Family. Who knows if he will become the lord of this world in the future... I don't dare to be self-righteous and self-indulgent. So I thought, take this opportunity to let us calm down between each other. When I come back from Yueyang, if His Highness still treats me so ambiguously, then I will reject this marriage."

Gu Ying grabbed Ning Si's little hand, "Ning Si, don't say that." Prince Duan would not possibly not love Ning Si. Even if he could ascend the throne in this life, he would surely marry Ning Si.

Ning Si blinked with red eyes and squeezed Gu Ying’s hand hard. She looked like nothing had happened, "Don't worry, I'm not as fragile as you think. I will take you to Yueyang to find the Eldest Prince."

Gu Ying's voice was hoarse for a while, "Okay."

...

After settling this matter, Gu Ying claimed to the outside world that she had fallen ill after hearing the bad news of the Eldest Prince and could not get up. Then she prepared to sneak to Yueyang secretly.

First, it could confuse Jiang Yin and Prince Shu. Second, it could avoid a lot of dissuasion and trouble.

So except for Ning Si, she didn't tell anyone else.

The Eldest Prince was the pillar of the Duke’s Mansion. Although the Duke did not love this son, now that something had happened to him, it concerned the safety and survival of the entire Duke’s Mansion.

He naturally shuttled back and forth to the palace every day, asking His Majesty to send someone to find him.

His Majesty felt extremely distressed in his heart. In front of the ministers, he covered his face and cried bitterly, ordering heavy money to comfort the Qilin Army's family members, and building a Qilin Monument outside Bianjing City to show condolences.

The Qilin Army was his heartache, and now it was wiped out overnight. He was also a little emotional for a while. It was fine that the Qilin Army was gone. Dong Li still had four major garrisons that could guard Bianjing.

But Zhao Changdu was an outstanding general of a century.

The Old Duke was still at the border resisting the invasion of the Qiang Tribe.

He could not chill the Old Duke's heart at this time.

Therefore, first, he sent someone to appease the Duke’s Mansion, and even let the Empress personally visit the Duke’s Mansion to see Gu Ying.

Then he sent an imperial envoy to Yueyang, first to find the whereabouts of the Eldest Prince, and second to continue with the disaster relief efforts and appease the disaster victims.

At this time, Prince Shu and Prince Duan took the initiative to stand up.

"Father, your son is willing to go to Yueyang."

"Your son too!" Seeing that even Prince Duan, the weak crown prince, stood up, Prince Shu hurriedly said, "Father, your son is stronger than the imperial brother. This trip to Yueyang is full of dangers. It is better to let your son go."

When Emperor Tianqi looked at Prince Shu, there was a hint of gratification on his face.

Prince Duan's eyebrows slightly contracted, and the corners of his mouth tensed slightly. In his heart, he felt worthless for both himself and his mother. In Father’s heart, there were only Concubine Wan and Prince Shu.

No matter what he did, his father would never see him after all.

He didn't say anything more, put his hands down in front of him, lowered his head and listened to the arrangements of the person on the dragon chair.

After thinking twice, Emperor Tianqi still handed over this matter to Prince Shu. After all, Prince Duan was a sickly crown prince. Going to Yueyang would probably be useless, and might even drag down the imperial envoy.

Prince Duan was indeed disappointed as expected and pulled at the corner of his mouth.

At the moment, Prince Shu bent his lips meaningfully at his eldest imperial brother.

How could a feeble crown prince compete with him for the crown prince’s position?

When he came back from Yueyang, it would be the time of Li Hao’s death.

Prince Duan still looked gentle and harmless. It’s just that his body was emaciated, pale and slender, too weak to wear clothes. He lowered his face expressionlessly, and no one could see through what he was thinking in his heart.

...

Gu Ying lay in bed, for the first time in her room, she had an audience with the Empress of Dong Li.

For a woman, it was simply a great honor.

If it wasn't for the Eldest Prince's accident, how could she receive such treatment?

The wives and young ladies of Bianjing's powerful circles had spread the news everywhere, saying that she climbed onto the Eldest Prince and got a good life.

But Gu Ying felt it was ironic.

The royal family was accustomed to these superficial skills. If His Majesty really trusted and valued the Duke’s Mansion, valued the Eldest Prince, how could he refuse to delegate power to the Eldest Prince and deliberately suppress the Qilin Army?

It was feared that ordering the Qilin Army to go to Yueyang this time was also deliberately taking the opportunity to eliminate the hidden danger of the Qilin Army and break the Eldest Prince’s arm.

And disguised it beautifully as heartache and grief, building monuments and distributing relief money. When the money came down later, I wonder how many coins could reach the hands of the Qilin Army's family after layer by layer exploitation.

Thinking of this, Gu Ying was even less interested. She leaned weakly on the pillow, respectfully greeted the Empress.

The Empress let her dispense the formalities. So she didn't get out of bed.

The Empress was ordered by His Majesty to come and comfort Gu Ying. Seeing Gu Ying's emaciated appearance overnight, her heart was also extremely sorrowful.

After all, the two were newlyweds who had just married for a few months, but now they were separated, not to mention this happening. Which new wife could be fine after experiencing this?

The Eldest Prince was talented and brilliant. If he fell one day, who in Bianjing would not feel regret?