Chapter 163 - 113: Recognition (Second Update) Part 2

The Prince of An County grew increasingly suspicious of Marquis Gu.

Marquis Gu was the brother of Lady Shu, and Lady Shu belonged to His Majesty.

Marquis Gu did not stay at the villa for such a long time in previous years. Would his decision to stay this year be related to the Empress Dowager?

More and more clues pieced together painted a “reasonable” truth.

The Prince of An County called the man in black into his room.

After listening to the Prince of An County’s deduction, the man in black inquired, perplexed, “But if she indeed is the Empress Dowager, why wouldn’t she recognize you? According to your theory, she didn’t see clearly who you were when she knocked you out, but she should have seen clearly after you fainted.”

The Prince of An County, lost in thought, replied, “This point is clear to me, hence I need to confirm once again. I have already visited once, another visit would raise suspicions. Tomorrow you go, say… apologize for these two misunderstandings. Hope that both families can resolve their past grudges. Also hope that once she arrives at the capital, she won’t mention anything about my sister’s bullying, so to not ruin my sister’s reputation.”

The man in black: “Yes.”

The Prince of An County: “You must meet the Empress Dowager and inform her about the situation in the capital.”

The man in black saluted: “Yes, sir!”

However, … “Thinking of something, the man in black, frowning, stated, “If the other party is indeed the Empress Dowager, what does the Prince plan to do?”

The Prince of An County coldly replied: “What else can be done? Of course, bring her back to the capital. We can’t let her fall into anyone else’s hands. Regardless of whether that person is His Majesty or anyone else.”

The man in black hesitated for a moment, then said, “The current capital city may not be very safe. The cause of the Empress Dowager’s leprosy remains a mystery. His Majesty concealed the Empress Dowager’s condition, proclaiming that she is recuperating from a sudden serious illness at the royal villa. If we take the Empress Dowager back like this, won’t we be telling His Majesty that we know everything? And we did so silently, secretly taking the Empress Dowager back! Won’t His Majesty think we harbor disloyal intentions?”

The Prince of An County snorted coldly: “Is it the first day he’s wary of us Zhuang clan? From the moment he formed an alliance with the Marquis of Xuanping, he had been trying to restrain the Zhuang clan. The Empress Dowager’s illness, I’m afraid it’s related to His Majesty. The current court situation is increasingly unfavorable for the Zhuang clan. If the Empress Dowager doesn’t manage the situation, the Zhuang clan might end up like the Liu family.”

In the past, there were four hegemonic families in the capital: the Xiao family of the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence, the Luo family of the Duke Luo residence, the Liu family of the Duke Liu residence, and the Zhuang family of the Prime Minister.

Actually, the background of this emperor wasn’t that good. His birth mother did not even have the right to raise him. He was brought up under Lady Jing’s care.

Empress Dowager Zhuang did not have a son, and she didn’t get along with the mother clan of the crown prince, Liu. So she brought down the crown prince and the Liu family, and placed Lady Jing’s adopted son on the throne.

However, this emperor was an ungrateful wolf. He was not only ungrateful to Empress Dowager Zhuang, but also developed fears for her after experiencing her ability to manipulate situations.

The daughter the Zhuang family sent into the palace should have been the queen, but he established the sister of Marquis Xuanping as the queen in Jinluan Hall and even married his most beloved Princess Xinyang to Marquis Xuanping.

Under the support of Marquis Xuanping, the emperor, like a tiger adding wings, had weakened much of the Zhuang family’s power. However, the tactics of Empress Dowager Zhuang were too strong. As long as she kept the emperor under pressure, the emperor could not shake the Zhuang family’s foundations.

During the time when the Empress Dowager was “recuperating from her illness at the royal villa”, the Zhuang clan was being heavily suppressed by Marquis Xuanping.

If it continued like this, the Zhuang family would be ruined.

So, even if the Empress Dowager would face great danger upon returning to the capital, the Zhuang family could not spare any more considerations.

“Wuyang, that’s our fate.”

Going to the State of Chen as a captive, that was his fate.

Going through fire and water for the Zhuang family, it was also the Empress Dowager’s fate.

The next day, early in the morning, the man in black changed into a guard’s attire, brought a large box of gifts, and headed to Qingquan Village.

Gu Yan and others had gone to school, and it was Gu Jiao who opened the door for him.

“Who are you?” Gu Jiao asked.

He saluted and smiled: “My name is Wuyang, I am a guard of the Prince of An County, I am here today on the prince’s orders to apologize to Miss Gu.”

Gu Jiao said, “Didn’t he already apologize yesterday?”

Wuyang courteously explained, “Yesterday the Prince was injured and couldn’t finish saying everything. I have been tasked to make another trip today.”

Gu Jiao waited for him to continue.

Wuyang asked, “May I… bring these gifts into the house first?”

Gu Jiao didn’t refuse.

Wuyang brought the large box into the living room, opened the box, took out several large brocade boxes from inside, and said to Gu Jiao, “The Prince hopes that Miss Gu will not mention to anyone the incident of my young mistress’s insolence after returning to the capital. My young mistress has been spoiled at home, and her temperament can be a bit overbearing. Our prince has already apologized to you. However, reputation is incredibly important for a girl. If she is known for bullying, I’m afraid she would attract a lot of criticism in the future. Please understand the filial heart of our prince.”

From the sounds of it, he seemed to want to silence her.

Gu Jiao didn’t say anything, signaling him to just put the things down.

Wuyang specifically selected two silk boxes and said to Gu Jiao, “The prince was worried that he scared the young man and the old woman yesterday. He asked me to apologize to them personally.”

“Jingkong has gone to school, you probably won’t see her. My grand-aunt doesn’t like strangers, I will convey your apology for you,” said Gu Jiao.

Could it be they were really guarding against him?

Wuyang, who initially only believed a little, now believed even more. He stood up and asked, “In that case, I must trouble Miss Gu, may I use your bathroom?”

Gu Jiao glanced at him, “Go ahead.”

Wuyang went to the bathroom as usual.

Wuyang was stalling for time; he had to see the Empress Dowager today.

Luckily for him, the old woman had had a nightmare that had scared her awake. She came out to the courtyard to get some air, and he happened to run into her.

As a close confidant of Prince An, Wuyang had accompanied him to see the Empress Dowager many times. Unlike Marquis Gu, who had only briefly seen her twice, once was just a glimpse of her back.

Although the person in front of him was dressed like a country old woman, with a calm disposition, she appeared a far cry from the vicious Empress Dowager. Yet, Wuyang could still recognize her at a glance!

Especially that mole on her right earlobe, Wuyang was certain he was not mistaken.

Wuyang was excited, and he stepped forward!

The old woman had just had a nightmare and was still feeling anxious when a seven-foot-tall man suddenly appeared in the backyard, giving her a great fright!

“Who are you?” she asked, fiercely.

Wuyang was taken aback, “I’m Wuyang!”

“What five sheep or six sheep, I’ve never heard of you! Go away!” The old woman was upset and waved him off. “Jiaojiao! Why are there strange people in our house again?”

Gu Jiao put down the silk boxes and walked over. After looking at Wuyang, she said to the old woman, “He is the bodyguard of the prince who visited yesterday. He came to apologize.”

The old woman raised her eyebrows, “Did he bring gifts?”

Gu Jiao nodded, “Yes.”

The old woman went to the hall and rummaged through porcelain, jade, and tea leaves, not concealing her contempt, “There’s not even an Osmanthus Cake, insincere, hmph!”

Wuyang was dumbfounded, what situation was this? This Empress Dowager was not what he had imagined!

“I want to eat syrup eggs!” the old woman said to Gu Jiao.

“Alright.” Gu Jiao replied, knowing she didn’t have to add any syrup.

“Make a bowl for him too!” The old woman declared seriously, “He brought so many gifts, you should offer him a meal!”

“Alright.” Gu Jiao nodded and went to the kitchen to prepare two bowls of syrup eggs, half a bowl with normal sugar and another with less sugar.

The old woman graciously commented, “Jiaojiao, you can go do your chores. I can take care of the guest!”

Wuyang gave an internal thumbs up to the Empress Dowager, who used the excuse of eating syrup eggs to make him stay and cleverly sent all the Gu family members out of the way. She was truly a wise and heroic leader!

Gu Jiao picked up the shoulder pole to fetch water from the entrance of the village.

There was no third person in the house, and the old woman’s face suddenly lit up with excitement.

Wuyang was excited too.

The Empress Dowager’s actions just now were definitely a pretense! She was going to acknowledge him!

“Hurry, hurry, hurry! Jiaojiao will be back soon!”

Yes, he had to act fast!

Wuyang nodded vigorously. However, all he saw was the old woman swapping her bowl of syrup egg with his then starting to eat with an inexpressible joy!

Wuyang: “…”