Part 2
Since the day he punished Consort Dowager He, he had the idea of bringing Nanny Song into the palace.
However, the Empress Dowager hadn’t made any moves recently, so he gradually put the idea to rest. Who knew that Linchuan’s affair at the Silkworm Ceremony would follow immediately? Only then did he make up his mind and ordered He Mingshou to find her.
“Her Ladyship’s temper…” After all, she was the child she had nursed, and now she was the Empress Dowager; Nanny Song naturally couldn’t say much, only replying respectfully: “Your Majesty rest assured. If Her Ladyship makes any moves, this old slave will certainly advise from the side.”
Gu Zhen nodded with satisfaction and said indifferently: “In that case, I will trouble Nanny Song.”
He had someone take Nanny Song to Wanchun Palace, then spoke a few words about government affairs with He Mingshou. In the blink of an eye, it was time for the noon meal.
Today, there was a bowl of red-filament boto (noodle soup) on the dining table.
As soon as he saw that bowl of boto, Gu Zhen felt as if his heart had been fiercely pinched.
In the past, after morning court, she would often have someone send a bowl of boto, accompanied by a few simple side dishes, which would be his breakfast.
He was rarely picky about food, and his breakfast was rarely extravagant; a few items were enough.
Harboring a secret expectation, he reached out with his chopsticks and picked up a little. Tasting it, he thought numbly: It’s not the taste she makes.
Not the things she made, not the things she made with her own hands, only for him to eat. He hadn’t thought deeply before, but now recalling it, he realized in a trance that she hadn’t sent anything to Zichen Palace for a long time.
That day she came to Zichen Palace to beg him seemed to be the last time she made food for him.
Thinking of this, the food on the table became tasteless. Waves of coldness spread from his heart to his limbs, and even his fingertips holding the chopsticks were cold.
Even though it was the turn of spring and summer, even though the noon sun was blazing, even though he wasn’t wearing only a single layer, he couldn’t block this chill.
In the evening, Wu Mao entered, bringing the things found over these days.
Since that day when He Xunling knelt outside Jiao Fang Palace and he witnessed the grievances she suffered with his own eyes, he had ordered people to investigate.
He wanted to settle the account clearly for every grievance she had suffered over these years, no matter where it came from.
That was his beloved, his wife, yet she had suffered countless grievances here with him.
A truth he had understood long ago, yet when it was his turn, he had never taken the Empress’s matters to heart. He only thought that since his harem had no concubines and the Empress was the only one, how could she suffer any anger?
Gu Zhen smiled bitterly and looked up at Wu Mao: “Speak.”
Wu Mao first presented He Taifei’s part: “He Taifei has been by the Empress Dowager’s side all these years. First, she repeatedly mentioned the Grand Princess Runan, causing the Empress Dowager to dislike the Empress. And because… because…” He looked up at the Emperor at this point.
Gu Zhen’s brow sank, and he said coldly: “Continue.”
“And because Her Ladyship has had no children in the years since entering the palace, she was even more loathed by the Empress Dowager.” Wu Mao steeled his heart and continued, “That day when Miss He went to kneel at Jiao Fang Palace, it was also He Taifei who taught her. Later, when Miss He went to the Empress Dowager to complain, it was He Taifei who led her there.”
The Emperor ordered an investigation, but matters spanning these years were generally not easy to investigate clearly.
After struggling for a day or two, Wu Mao thought for a long time and simply started with the palace servants around the Empress Dowager. Those servants, upon being slightly intimidated, didn’t hold back and directly implicated He Taifei.
He Taifei naturally refused to say anything or admit to sowing discord. Wu Mao, finding it troublesome, directly took away several of He Taifei’s close palace maids.
Among the maids, there were naturally timid ones. After just a few questions and a threat or two, they revealed the events of these years completely. Thus, Wu Mao followed this line and investigated all the way down.
Gu Zhen opened his eyes abruptly, his eyes full of hostility, his voice laced with a grim chill as he gritted his teeth: “ Zhen was kind enough to let her stay temporarily in the palace, but instead gave her an opportunity to cause trouble.”
Wu Mao lowered his eyes and remained silent, daring not say a half-sentence, nor dared to respond.
Since the Emperor lived in the East Palace, he had followed by the Emperor’s side. But having followed for so many years, he understood very well that the phrase in books about emotions not showing on one’s face probably described his master.
For so many years, he had never seen His Majesty so angry.
Even when confined by the late Emperor back then, he had only sneered behind his back and respectfully accepted the decree with thanks.
“Since she finds living in this palace unhappy, then Zhen will find another place for her.” Gu Zhen pressed his index finger against his forehead, a sneer hanging on his lips. “Dajiao Temple (Great Horn Temple), or Yufa Temple (Jade Law Temple)? Wu Mao, choose one for Zhen.”
Dajiao Temple was in the southwest corner of Ziwei Palace. It was a place built for alchemy when the late Emperor was obsessed with Buddhism and Daoism. Yufa Temple was also a royal temple, but it was on Mount Beimang, quite remote and secluded.
Peeking at the Emperor’s face, Wu Mao thought that His Majesty hated He Taifei to the extreme this time. After pondering for a moment, he boldly said: “Yufa Temple is quiet and very beautiful. This slave thinks it can certainly wash away the Taifei’s sins.”
But Gu Zhen smiled and said to himself: “ Zhen thinks Dajiao Temple is better. A place where Father practiced cultivation; she can also pray for Father there. Also, strip her of her Taifei title as well. Since she has entered the Daoist gate, what is the use of keeping these empty titles?”
He spoke casually, but Wu Mao felt something was wrong. He braced himself and asked again: “What about the Seventh Prince?”
“Go with her. Father always liked Huang-Lao (Taoism). Because Zhen dislikes Buddhism and Daoism, there have been many criticisms. Let him inherit Father’s mantle.” Gu Zhen smiled faintly, his voice carrying a sense of breezy indifference.
Wu Mao understood then; His Majesty did not intend to let even the Seventh Prince off.
It was also because of the Seventh Prince that His Majesty didn’t want to leave a reputation for mistreating his brothers, which was why he let He Taifei stay in Dajiao Temple within the palace.
After roughly flipping through the submitted news, Gu Zhen lost interest. He closed his eyes, bent one leg, tapped lightly on his knee with his hand, and asked: “Anything else?”
Wu Mao added: “Miss He’s fainting outside Jiao Fang Palace that day was faked.”
“Hmm?” Gu Zhen raised an eyebrow, seemingly unsurprised by this. Staring at the curling mist rising from the Boshan censer, he said casually, “In that case, Zhen expects Miss He is also a filial person. Let her go and accompany her aunt.”
The person was brought into the palace by his Mother after all. After punishing her to kneel for half a day that time, he hadn’t planned to pursue it further for the time being. Who would have thought she actually faked fainting, deliberately ruining Yiyi’s reputation?
This behavior, he could not tolerate.
Wu Mao finished explaining He Xunling’s matter in a low voice and presented the last piece of paper: “This slave just interrogated the Eldest Princess’s maid. This is what that maid confessed.”
Gu Zhen reached out and took it. As soon as his gaze fell on it, his brow jumped uncontrollably, and his expression instantly lowered.
“Second Miss He knows how to flatter people and tries hard to please the Princess, so the Princess has the best relationship with Second Miss He. The Princess said a few times in private that Her Majesty the Empress is not liked by His Majesty, and is not as gentle, generous, and steady as Second Miss He.”
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