Chapter 808: Princess 375 (third update) Chapter 808: Princess 375 (third update) Gu Changqing’s reaction was the same as Gu Chengfeng’s, which was not surprising. After all, the scandal of Empress Jing stealing and burning the imperial edict had caused a huge stir back in the day. Although the Emperor managed to suppress the news, whispers had leaked among the noble families long before.
If Empress Jing had an imperial edict in her possession, the only one Gu Changqing could think of was that very edict.
Gu Changqing said, “Leave the matter of the imperial edict to me. Don’t act rashly. It’s important to deal with her, but…”
Your safety is more important.
Such mushy words were not something Gu Changqing could bring himself to say outright.
The night wind was a bit strong, and a tuft of Gu Jiao’s hair stubbornly stuck up on top of her head.
Gu Changqing raised his hand and gently pressed down the tuft of her hair. As soon as he let go, it sprang back up defiantly!
Gu Changqing suddenly felt like laughing.
He thought of Gu Yan. They truly were twin – even the stubborn tuft of hair on their heads was the same.
He gently rubbed the top of her head, “I’ll take you back.”
Gu Changqing had Gu Jiao leave the Marquis Residence through the main gate this time. He had a carriage prepared for her, having her sit inside, and they left the Dignified Peace Marquis Residence with full propriety.
The carriage stopped in Bishui Alley.
“You go inside first,” Gu Changqing told Gu Jiao.
Suppressing the impulse to steal the imperial edict, Gu Jiao sluggishly entered the house.
Gu Changqing went over to the old Libationer’s place.
The old Libationer was checking the kitchen for sugar-preserves candied fruit. Yes, the candied fruit for his aunt were all personally made by the old Libationer! The taste was better than what you could find on the market! More importantly, they were lower in sugar and healthier!
The old Libationer saw Gu Changqing in the study room.
Gu Changqing stated his purpose.
The old Libationer stroked his beard, “You mean to say… Empress Jing might not have actually burned that imperial edict? That’s peculiar. She and Zhuang Jinse are sworn enemies. If she truly held an edict that could end Zhuang Jinse’s life, why didn’t she use it earlier?”
Gu Changqing said, “Could it be a bargaining chip against the Empress Dowager?”
The old Libationer pondered for a moment, then said, “Why bargain with Zhuang Jinse? Wouldn’t it be better to just kill her? Anything Zhuang Jinse could offer her, His Majesty could also provide. On the contrary, the Empress has significantly reduced His Majesty’s power with her constraints, leading to less for Empress Jing. So, no matter how you look at it, killing Zhuang Jinse would be her best option.”
Gu Changqing asked, “Could it be that the edict didn’t order the Empress Dowager to follow in the burial?”
The old Libationer frowned, “But if it’s not about Zhuang Jinse’s sacrificing her life, what else could it be?”
Gu Changqing expressed his headache, “No third living person has seen that edict; no one knows what’s actually written on it.”
The old Libationer’s eyes brightened, “No, perhaps there is someone who knows.”
Gu Changqing looked at him, puzzled.
The old Libationer: “Princess Ning An.”
The old Libationer said, “She is Empress Jing’s daughter, the person she was the closest to in this world. Perhaps… she has seen that imperial edict!”
Gu Changqing hesitated for a moment, then said, “But she’s far in the borderlands, even if she has seen it, it would take her a long time to return. Sending someone to ask her and waiting for the message would take even longer. Moreover… she might not even tell.”
If Princess Ning An had indeed seen it and still hadn’t mentioned a word about the content of the edict after all this time, there could only be one possibility – she could not mention it.
Gu Changqing sighed, “Is there really no one else who knows the content of the imperial edict?”
“Perhaps… there is one more person,” the old Libationer said.
“Who?” Gu Changqing asked.
The old Libationer looked complicatedly towards the western room next door, “The mother of Xiao Hen, Princess Xinyang.”