Part 3
“The Princess said privately that since Second Miss He was brought into the palace by the Empress Dowager, there would be no place for Her Majesty the Empress. Moreover, Second Miss He is His Majesty’s cousin, a perfect match for His Majesty. If not for the Grand Princess strongly recommending Her Majesty back then, Second Miss He would have been the best candidate for Crown Princess. Her Majesty has annoyed His Majesty and has no children to rely on; it won’t be long before she is deposed.”
“Linchuan said this?” Gu Zhen asked indifferently.
His face showed no change, and his expression was as usual, but a layer of cold sweat quietly seeped from his palms. His whole body felt as if it had been scorched by fire; the hand holding the paper trembled, unable to muster a shred of strength.
“The maid said that some of these words were spoken by the Princess in private, and some were inadvertently mentioned to others.”
Gu Zhen looked cold. The ringing in his ears started again, disturbing his peace.
“She is… truly Zhen’s good sister.”
No wonder, no wonder Yiyi despaired later. No wonder she wouldn’t believe his words no matter what. No wonder she wouldn’t let go of the grudge in her heart.
Those words, every single one, didn’t seem to be heard by the ears but seemed to turn into iron nails, firmly nailed into the tip of his heart. With every hammer blow, it was a piercing pain. The sharp iron nails slowly drilled deep into his heart, and traces of blood seeped out, flowing all over the ground.
It turned out it wasn’t just about the time she pleaded for Zhao Chen.
It was, but not entirely.
The bits and pieces of these few years finally converged into a sea, and his cold rebuke that day was the last drop of water, turning into a stormy sea crashing down on her.
And he was still blaming her for loving to get angry, loving to make a fuss, and loving to throw tantrums.
Gu Zhen had never felt like today, feeling a fire burning in his heart, giving birth to a desire to burn everything down.
He gripped the armrest of the bench, veins popping out. After slowing down for a long while, he said: “Find a few people to teach her rules. By the way… regarding the withdrawal of the marriage between the Cui family and the Zhao family, did she have a hand in it?”
“This slave does not know the specific details, but the Eldest Princess does not seem to have been involved.” Wu Mao shook his head. After hesitating for a moment, he added, “However, the Eldest Princess seems to have a good relationship with the daughter of the Cui family these days; the two interact often.”
Gu Zhen tapped lightly on the armrest a few times and mused: “Take her to Yufa Temple to cultivate for a few days.”
Thinking of the grievances Yiyi had suffered, Gu Zhen felt a wave of anger spreading from his body, and his voice turned completely cold: “Since she loves to interfere in Zhen’s family affairs so much, Zhen will also manage hers. Strip her of all her tax income (shiyi). When she corrects herself, Zhen will consider restoring it.”
Wu Mao was startled, his body swayed, and he almost fell to the ground.
Even when Grand Princess Runan annoyed His Majesty like that, only most of her tax income was cut, not all of it. Counting up to now, no princess in this dynasty had been stripped of her tax income, except for those who were ordered to commit suicide.
Today could be counted as a rare instance of His Majesty’s anger over the years, resulting in such a heavy punishment.
“Go.” Gu Zhen waved his hand, ordering Wu Mao to withdraw.
After the hall returned to silence, he raised his hand to cover his face, leaned back on the couch, and suddenly started laughing.
Laughing and laughing, his eyes suddenly felt sour, and his body trembled slightly.
More than two years. Clearly there were so many chances, so many possibilities. He only now understood his own heart, only now realized in a trance that he had fallen for the Empress.
Only just remembered to back her up.
But she had suffered so much bullying; how could his single sentence of backing her up in the future solve it?
In the past, how could he… how could he treat her like that?
Leaning on the couch for a long time, Gu Zhen suddenly stood up and walked out.
His steps were a little staggering. The attendant hurriedly asked: “Where is Your Majesty going?”
Gu Zhen did not speak.
There was only one thought in his mind: to go to Jiao Fang Palace to see her. He wanted to see her. He wanted to tell her he was wrong, wanted her to turn back and look at him again.
Gu Zhen looked dazed, his fingertips digging into his flesh, a piercing pain.
He missed her.
Missed her smile, her soft whispers, her brows and eyes when she shyly lowered her head, the breakfast and snacks she made.
And missed the person whose heart and eyes were filled with him in the past.
Zhao Yiyi punished all the Six Bureaus, leaving only a few in their original positions, demoting all the rest to ordinary palace maids.
Since the day Gu Zhen gave her pointers on palace affairs, she had wanted to deal with this group of people. Yesterday’s reward feast was an excellent opportunity.
“Elder Sister.” Zhao Duanduan got angrier the more she thought about it, saying indignantly, “These female officials were too excessive. Not taking Elder Sister seriously like this—they should have been severely punished long ago.”
Zhao Yiyi smiled helplessly and reached out to pinch her nose: “Alright, why are you angrier than me?”
Zhao Duanduan huffed twice: “I just can’t stand it. Who told them to be so bad? Really.”
The sky grew darker. After writing a few scrolls of calligraphy, Zhao Yiyi lost interest, put down the brush to wash up, and curled up in the quilt to sleep.
Gu Zhen sat by the bed, separated by the bed curtains, staring at her slender figure for a long time. He reached out several times, but withdrew his hand again.
A bitter smile hung on his lips. His fists were clenched tightly on his knees, his body slightly tense. From the iron nails remaining in his heart, blood flowed out silk by silk.
Just look. Just looking is enough.
She definitely didn’t want to see him, so he shouldn’t annoy her anymore.
Thinking this, he ultimately made no other move, just staring at her blankly.
Until deep into the night, a soft voice suddenly asked: “Did Your Majesty come to seek this consort to condemn me?”
Feeling a slight bitterness in his heart, Gu Zhen knew she was talking about her demotion of the female officials today. He shook his head gently and said: “Yiyi, Zhen just came to see you. I have no other meaning.”
Zhao Yiyi propped herself up on the edge of the bed and said warmly: “Since Your Majesty has seen, then please leave.”
Gu Zhen’s throat felt dry. He gently grasped her sleeve and softened his voice to ask: “Yiyi, Zhen just wants to look at you. Zhen won’t do anything else. I just want to look at you here, alright?”
📖 Advance Access: Complete Novel
- Option 1: Note your email on PayPal/Ko-fi.
- Option 2: Email proof to beezzzreads@gmail.com.
- Option 3: Comment below.
Recommended Reads
![Those Years When the Son of Destiny Was Severely Scammed [Quick Transmigration]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/QUICK-TRANSMIGRATION1-214x300.jpg)