Gu Yanxi returned to the palace, but suddenly stopped outside the imperial study. He closed his eyes and told himself not to be impatient. The three-foot-thick ice did not form overnight, and it will take more than one day to solve it.
"Yan Xi?"
Gu Yanxi pushed the door open and walked in. The emperor, who was covered in golden needles, smiled when he saw him. "I knew it was you when I heard your footsteps."
Gu Yanxi suddenly understood what Ah Zhi said. He felt sorry for his family members who were right in front of him. How much more distressed would Ah Zhi feel when the Hua family was exiled thousands of miles away? Ah Zhi was not born with this talent, nor was she born to be so outstanding. It was because of the fertile soil of the Hua family that she grew into the thriving appearance she is today.
She must be resentful in her heart, resentful of the emperor, and even resentful of all people with the surname Gu.
Looking down at Shaoyao who was carefully inserting the needle into the emperor's chest with medicine, it was probably not all. She felt sorry for Shaoyao so much that she didn't even have time to blame her.
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, "What happened?"
Gu Yanxi collected her thoughts and said, "The boss is restless."
"If he really doesn't want to live anymore, just grant his wish."
"I am thinking about changing the method."
Facing the look from his uncle, the emperor, Gu Yanxi said, "Exile him, exile without any privileges."
The emperor sneered, "Do you think he will really work honestly when he is outside? If he goes to another place, he can still make a comeback by using the blood I gave him. As long as he still has the surname Gu, this is the inevitable result."
"So, what about taking away his last name?"
The emperor was startled, squinted his eyes and thought for a moment, "Draft an edict to deprive Gu Chengde of his surname and exile..."
The emperor was confused, so he simply closed his eyes and said, "Choose a place. The harder the better."
"yes."
Shaoyao began to withdraw the needles. Looking at the color of the needle tip, she frowned slightly. The effect was worse than she expected.
"Brother Yan, when will the master arrive?"
"About ten days, what?"
The brother and sister looked at each other, Shaoyao rolled up the needle and said, "I'm short of one herb, the stock is at Master's."
Upon hearing this, the emperor said, "There are many precious medicinal herbs in the inner storehouse. They are just there on weekdays. Lai Fu, take Shao Yao and pick some. Take whatever you like."
"Unlimited quantity?"
“No limit.”
Shaoyao, who hadn't had any delicious food for a day, finally looked a little happy. She quickly packed up her things and followed Lai Fu to the warehouse.
"Yan Xi."
"Yes, uncle." Gu Yanxi stepped forward and helped the man sit up, then straightened his clothes.
"You will be in charge of the government for a while starting tomorrow. Things are very chaotic here." The emperor nodded with a wry smile. It had only been less than two months since he started eating this medicine, but it had such powerful effects. He couldn't imagine whether he would go straight to see his ancestors if he continued to eat it for another two months.
In the past, Gu Yanxi would have tried every possible way to refuse, as he did not want to become the target of public criticism. But now, after hearing what Azhi said, he agreed with such frankness that even the emperor was surprised.
“It’s rare.”
"You wouldn't have asked for this if you really couldn't handle it."
The emperor smiled bitterly again. Today, when he was discussing matters in the imperial study, he had said the beginning but forgotten the end several times. Those cunning old ministers might have discovered something. Instead of trying hard to hold on, it would be better to release Yan Xi to calm him down. The Seven Stars Division of the Daqing Dynasty has always been very powerful.
"You should take good care of yourself. I will take care of the affairs of the court."
The emperor stood up and patted him on the shoulder. "Go and have a rest. You will be busy tomorrow."
"yes."
Not long after sending the emperor back to Haoyue Palace, Gu Yanxi waited for Shaoyao in his room.
"Brother Yan, you also know that in terms of medical skills, this set of golden needles is my most powerful skill. Even Wu Yong's poison can be cured with one needle. But I gave the emperor two needles today and there was no effect."
"Not at all?"
"Very faint, almost nothing."
Gu Yanxi's heart sank, "Is there any other way?"
Shaoyao didn't say yes or no, she just said, "I have to wait for the master to come."
"I'll write to him and urge him to do so." Gu Yanxi lowered her voice, "What will be the worst outcome?"
“It affects lifespan.”
This result is indeed bad. Gu Yanxi poured a cup of cold tea and drank it, "Think of another way."
Shaoyao nodded. After all, her surname was Gu and she had no choice but to fulfill her responsibility in this regard.
The next day, a wide chair was added under the dragon throne. Gu Yanxi, as the leader of the Seven Stars Division, presided over the court to listen to government affairs, and everyone in the court was shocked.
Gu Yanxi pretended not to see him and sat down on the wide chair. He did not say "If you have something to report, please report it. If not, please leave the court." He announced his first decree, "The day after tomorrow will be the execution day. The third prince Gu Chengwen will be the supervising officer, and the Minister of Justice Zheng Han will also be there to supervise the execution."
Gu Chengwen, who was suddenly named, looked up in astonishment. Not all of the thirty-two people were the eldest prince's men. Some of them had defected to him. He was going to be the executioner...
Gu Chengwen immediately stepped out and bowed, saying, "Father, before you..."
"I'm not discussing this with you. This is an order. Third Prince just needs to follow it." No one could see the expression on Gu Yanxi's face through his mask. The ministers could only see the Third Prince responding with a green face and returning to his original position.
"The eldest prince, Gu Chengde, will be stripped of his surname and exiled to Yinshan Pass."
As soon as these words were spoken, there were cries of surprise everywhere. They had thought that being demoted to a commoner and confined to the prince's mansion was already the heaviest punishment for the prince, but they had never expected that now he would be stripped of his surname and exiled thousands of miles away!
This is the prince! Does the emperor know
Gu Yanxi's sight fell on the second prince Gu Cheng'an, whose expression changed slightly. Although the eldest prince could never satisfy the emperor, he was not a fool. Throwing him to Yinshan Pass might not mean that nothing could be discovered. Once again, it could make the water more muddy. He wanted to see what tricks the second prince had.
If the second brother really attacked the eldest brother, Gu Yanxi raised the corners of his lips slightly, he would avenge him after the eldest brother died.
Inside the Fushou Palace, the emperor and the empress dowager sat opposite each other.
Looking at her eldest son who was getting older and older, the Queen Mother felt upset. "Look at you. In the end, you let your own son scheme against you."
The emperor could only smile bitterly.
Knowing that he was upset, the Queen Mother stopped bothering him and asked, "I heard that you asked Yan Xi to be the regent for you?"
"Who else can take on this mess except him? The second son, or the third or fourth son?" The emperor shook his head, "It would be great if Yan Xi was my son."
"If it were true, your son wouldn't necessarily grow up like this now. People are pushed around. Different positions push different people, and different things happen to them, so they grow up differently."
The Queen Mother sighed, "I won't ask you what you are thinking about. It is not something I can control. I am just reminding you that if you look at all the people with the surname Gu, there is probably only one person, Yan Xi, who will be sincere and caring to you. Don't let him make you feel cold."
"My son knows. Don't worry. I can't bear to part with him either."