The Empress Dowager and the Emperor said that when they conferred the title of Princess on Gu Yu, due to the secrecy of the matter, not a single person was left in the inner palace, only the mother and son were heart-to-heart.

  The Empress Dowager's intention was to let the Emperor issue an imperial edict, granting Gu Jin the title of Princess, with the highest honors. Although the title is that of a princess, it is an imperial decree, and her status is equal to that of a princess.

  The Empress Dowager took her as her adopted daughter again.

  Not to mention that she is the granddaughter of Guo Gong, and intelligent and clever, just her curing the empress dowager's stubborn illness that lasted for a year and a half, is the greatest merit in this dynasty.

  If she were a man, being made king and given land would not be excessive.

  The Gu family's ancestors and descendants have made great contributions to the Empress Dowager herself. If the Empress Dowager does not repay them, she will really be despised by Heaven.

  The emperor listened to the empress dowager's words, but his eyebrows were slightly furrowed and he didn't respond.

  The empress dowager looked puzzled, her eyes inquiringly fixed on her son.

  "After the empress, there is still one position of noble consort in the palace that has yet to be filled. Why not let Jin enter the palace instead?" The emperor suddenly said.

  The Empress Dowager was shocked.

  She hadn't mentally prepared at all, yet she heard these words. Gu Jinzhi looked young and immature in appearance, so the empress dowager thought the emperor would only treat her as a junior.

  Who would have thought that the emperor had such an idea!

  What's wrong with her son?

  "She is still a child, and it's only natural that she would be afraid of water. According to the ancestral rules, she cannot enter the palace." The Empress Dowager said.

  The palace selects concubines, and it is certain that they must have crossed the Huai River; otherwise, they will be infertile. This is truly an ancestral tradition of our dynasty.

  The emperor's expression was calm and collected, without a hint of embarrassment. He said: "I like talking to her. She is also exceptionally skilled in medicine, and staying in the palace to serve my mother makes me feel at ease when handling state affairs, with fewer worries about what's behind me. She is already thirteen years old, and the prime age for marriage is only these two years. What's the harm in waiting two more years? I have five consorts and noblewomen in the palace, it's not like I'm lacking someone to serve me."

  This statement is quite reasonable.

  The empress dowager also did not know which sentence to refute first.

  "It's always better to be inside the palace than outside, everything is more noble. Someone like her can also hold a high position." The emperor continued, "The empress dowager likes her, I also like her, keeping her by our side is just like having another person to amuse us, it will also make the empress dowager happy. I've been watching the empress dowager these days, her complexion is good, and she's laughing more often too. Listening to this makes me feel at ease..."

  That's right.

  Gu Jinzhi told Empress Dowager about the outside affairs, with clear logic and interesting details. The Empress Dowager listened, feeling as if she was there in person.

  She is very fond of Gu Jinzhi.

  Can stay in the palace, every day a place to talk and laugh, the Empress Dowager's mood is also good.

  Maybe...

  Will Gu Jingzhong be willing?

  The empress thought of herself, abandoning her parents and family, far away from the intimate friends in the boudoir. Entering this cold and desolate place, she began to fight for power and status, taking on the responsibility of the family's prosperity, and her heart felt a little chilly.

  When she was young, she also thought that being able to take care of her family and lead them to success was the greatest achievement for a woman.

  Nowadays, as an empress dowager, her heart is tired.

  The imperial family, called solitary and few. How many favors and affections have been severed and buried?

  The Empress Dowager's feelings towards Gu Jinzhi were not only fondness and admiration, but also gratitude. Therefore, she was unwilling to imprison Gu Jinzhi in this place as well.

  The Emperor said this, and the Empress Dowager did not know how to refute it.

  The emperor is the son of the empress dowager, yet he is the master of the world. The emperor is the ruler, and the empress dowager is his subject. Although the emperor respects his ancestors and thinks of filial piety, the empress dowager does not dare to disrupt the etiquette between ruler and subject.

  "The Emperor's words are all filial piety." The Empress Dowager sighed and said, "Everything will be decided by the Emperor."

  The emperor's lips had a faint smile.

  He stood up and bid farewell, just as he met Gu Jin on his way to Empress Dowager's place.

  She held a bowl in her hand, with something inside that gave off a faint fragrance.

  She curtsied to the emperor.

  The emperor supported her with his hand and asked: "What's this? Didn't they say that the empress dowager didn't need to drink medicine anymore?"

  "This is medicinal congee." Gu Jinzhi explained, "It's nourishing and moisturizing for the lungs. The Empress Dowager has been ill for over a year, although her body has been well taken care of, she has still suffered some damage. The imperial doctor made some medicinal dishes..."

  The emperor nodded and praised her for being filial.

  He turned and left.

  Gu Jin held up the medicinal porridge and entered the inner palace.

  The empress dowager looked somewhat listless and sat on the kang, nodding off.

  Gu Jin's footsteps slowed down.

  The empress dowager heard the footsteps and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing that it was Gu Jinzhi, her eyes flashed first, then she smiled.

  Gu Jinzhi brought up the medicinal porridge and fed it to her: "The taste may not be great, but it's the most nourishing for your yin deficiency. I've already given the recipe to Sheng Auntie. I'll make it for two days first, then teach Sheng Auntie how to do it. When I go back home, Sheng Auntie will make it for you every night. If you eat it half an hour before bedtime and continue for two months, your legs will be stronger than when you were young..."

  She will be out of the palace in two days.

  Although she didn't say anything, the empress could see that her eyebrows were filled with a few points of joy and expectation.

  She wanted to leave.

  The empress dowager felt a pang in her heart and couldn't bear it, so she rushed up to her mind.

  Gu Jinzhi handed the medicine to the Empress Dowager.

  Warm and fragrant, with a slightly bitter taste in the mouth, but also subtly revealing a few hints of freshness.

  The Empress Dowager slowly drank the porridge, one spoonful at a time, and praised it as delicious. Then she spoke to Gu Jin: "Jin, you've been serving by my side for over half a month now. I've been ill all this time and haven't asked about your family. How many brothers and sisters do you have? Are your parents well?"

  Gu Jin smiled slightly.

  That smile is warm and sweet.

  "Everything is fine at home. I was afraid of bothering you later, so I didn't mention it." Gu Jinzhi said with a smile.

  "I'm not afraid of trouble. I like to hear about your family," the Empress Dowager said with a smile, "Tell me about your family? Do you have sisters? Did you and your sisters often fight when you were young?"

  The Empress Dowager had two sisters and a younger sister. When they were young, they would often quarrel over small things.

  Mother would not allow her sisters to quarrel, they would argue and inevitably get a scolding.

  They were resentful of each other at that time.

  The empress dowager suddenly remembered, in her heart the warmest was at that time...

  "There are no sisters of the same parents, only a few cousins. I was six years old when I followed my grandparents to Yanling Prefecture and couldn't meet with my cousins, so there's no way we could have quarreled." Gu Zhen's voice was gentle and warm, affecting the Empress Dowager's heart, "I have two younger brothers. The nine-year-old is a half-brother, and the seven-year-old is a biological brother. They are both weak and not mischievous, always loving to talk with me."

  The empress listened, her emotions stirred by Gu Jin's words. A hint of melancholy appeared in her eyes, as if she was reminiscing about past events.

  "My mother was the most fond of me, holding me like a treasure. She had a strong personality and took care of everything for me, so I didn't have to worry about anything at home." Gu Jin continued, "Father is still studying, he has not yet passed the imperial examination. But he's not one to just bury his head in books, often using excuses to go out and play for a few days, then bringing back delicious food for us..."

  The empress dowager also burst out laughing at her words.

  "Yanling is a rural place, with few rules. The warmth and coldness of human relationships are the most wonderful things." Gu Jinzhi smiled again, "My parents and I just went to Beijing to send gifts. After Third Brother gets married, we will return to Yanling Prefecture..."

  The empress's eyes dimmed involuntarily.

  From Gu Jinzhi's tone, it can be seen that she is a gentle and quiet girl who has been tempered by the years, with a calm and peaceful demeanor. She does not seek wealth or glory, but only wishes to live a comfortable and carefree life.

  I'm really looking forward to seeing Taeyeon's current mood now.

  So. Gu Jin's words particularly resonated with the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager felt that what Gu Jin had outlined was exactly what she most longed for now.

  Why does such a young child have a mindset similar to that of an empress who has seen all the prosperity?

  The empress dowager was deeply impressed at the same time and felt sad.

  She kept saying: Go back to Yanling Fu, go back to Yanling Fu...

  If she knew she wasn't going back, how heartbroken would she be?

  If she knew she was about to leave her parents who held her in their palms. How could she bear to part with them?

  The empress dowager was feeling down for a while, and she managed to drink more than half of the bowl of porridge before putting it down.

  "You should also go and rest, I'm going to bed." The empress sighed.

  Gu's way is to retreat and yield.

  The empress dowager is acting strangely. And it must have something to do with her.

  Gu Jin's mind flashed with doubts.

  She thought and thought until she realized what was wrong: after the emperor came to pay his respects, he had a long conversation with the empress dowager in the inner palace, which made the empress dowager somewhat emotionally unstable.

  Heavenly family's affairs, Gu Jin didn't dare to make wild guesses.

  She returned to her own boudoir, washed up and went to sleep.

  On the other side, the Empress Dowager was deep in thought and remained awake until the second watch of the night.

  The Empress Dowager thought that the old illness had recurred and hastily called for Gu Jinzhi to take a look.

  When Gu Jin entered, the Empress Dowager smiled.

  "You have something on your mind that you can't put down." Gu Jinzhi said decisively, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, everything has its destiny, and everyone has their fate. Now that you are in a precarious position, overthinking will make your spirit exhausted and painful. You should let go of all worries."

  The empress dowager smiled again.

  There was always a hint of repression on her face.

  She had just thought of her youngest son, Zhongjun. Except for the last time they met, she hasn't seen him until now, and tomorrow Zhongjun will be leaving Beijing.

  The empress dowager missed her son and was also worried about Gu Jin's difficulties. With these two things mixed together, she was in a bad mood.

  "The Empress smiled slightly," "You go to sleep."

  "I'll help you massage your palms and soles, and you can sleep peacefully." Gu Jinzhi said as she sat down on the empress dowager's bed.

  The empress dowager did not take offense and smiled in agreement.

  Before long, her feet were warmed up under Gu Jinzhi's massage, and she was getting sleepy.

  When Gu Yu returned to his own side hall, a strong wind blew outside.

  In the middle of the night, it was pouring heavily and snowed all through the spring night.

  Early rising, still like cotton wool, flying all over the sky.

  The emperor had three branches of red plum blossoms picked, placed in a glass vase, and sent two to the empress dowager through a eunuch; he put one branch in a beautiful person's shoulder-shaped vase and gave it to Gu Jin.

  Fragrant and pungent, beautiful and charming, Gu Jing is very fond of it.

  She had lived for so long in her past life that her heart never had the lightness of a young girl, so she would never think about other people's behavior in terms of romantic relationships.

  The emperor sent preserved plums to her, and she took it as a thank you for curing the empress dowager.

  She also likes plum blossoms, elegant and warm, inserted in the house, full of fragrance.

  Accompanying the Empress Dowager for breakfast, the Empress Dowager's emotions had passed.

  After dinner, Empress Dowager summoned Gu Jinzhi to the inner palace and dismissed everyone in the room, wanting to have a private conversation with her.

  ——*——*——*——

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