After arranging everything, Gu Yanxi changed into mourning clothes and knelt in front of the mourning hall. He didn't even notice that the person kneeling next to him was his father, Prince Ling.
Prince Ling had not seen his eldest son for a long time, and had not been so close to him for a long time. He felt a little dazed. The child who would expect his praise back then was now taller than him and had become the regent of Daqing, second only to the emperor.
"Father..."
Prince Ling came back to his senses and lowered his head to ask subconsciously, "But where do you feel uncomfortable? Father will take you to see the imperial physician now."
The boy, who looked no more than seven or eight years old, knelt weakly beside Prince Ling, with a cushion on the ground. He carefully hid the jealousy in his eyes, shook his head at his father, glanced at Gu Yanxi, and whispered, "Son... I haven't seen my elder brother for several years."
Prince Ling couldn't help but glance at his eldest son. Under normal circumstances, he would have fulfilled his youngest son's wish, but not now. He could make any fuss at home, even if the whole city knew that they were not getting along. Who would come to him to inquire about it? But this was in front of his brother's mourning hall. If he dared to make a fuss, not only would his mother not be able to get through, but even Yan Xi would probably not give him the slightest bit of face.
Having lived to this day, he would not be so ignorant.
Patting his youngest son on the shoulder and pulling his cloak closer, Prince Ling said gently, "After this matter is over, father will let your eldest brother come to see you."
Unwilling to accept that he had failed this time, Prince Ling's second son, Gu Yanze, spoke docilely, lowered his head and coughed loudly. When he put down his hand that was covering his mouth, his palm was already bright red.
"Ze'er!" Prince Ling quickly picked up his son and went to find the imperial physician. Gu Yanze kept glancing at Gu Yanxi, but he was disappointed to find that even though he made such a big noise, the man still didn't turn around to look at him. He will always remember that time a few years ago because he said he almost forgot what his eldest brother looked like, and the angry and aggrieved look on his face when his father went to the emperor to ask for an order to invite someone to him. That was how his eldest brother should look.
He stopped coughing, raised his tearful eyes and said, "This is an old problem. There is no need to see a doctor. It is just the same. I want to be here to guard the emperor's casket like my elder brother. Father, can I change seats with you? I want to be closer to my elder brother."
Before Prince Ling could say anything, a cold voice came from behind him, "I'll have someone prepare a coffin, why don't you lie in it?"
The sound of chanting seemed to pause, and someone in front had secretly turned back.
Shaoyao, who entered the palace slowly, approached slowly, looking down at Gu Yanze with cold eyes. She had always wanted to kill him, and the thought became stronger every time she saw him. Other children might be innocent, but this definitely did not include Gu Yanning, whose eyes and eyebrows showed evil.
"Do you want to get out by yourself, or should I help you get out?"
This was the first time that Prince Ling saw his daughter without the horrible scar on her face. In the few times they met before, she would take off her veil and deliberately show him her torn face. Now she was finally healed, and as a father, he was naturally happy for her.
But before he could even get his smile back to his face, he was completely wiped out by these words. Prince Ling frowned, "We are brothers after all. What are you talking about? We are in front of the Emperor's spirit. Are you trying to show off?"
"My own brother? Him?" Shaoyao expressed her disdain vividly. She walked past the two of them, picked up a handful of incense and inserted it into the incense burner, then knelt down and kowtowed three times and nine times. She couldn't say she was very sad, but she felt desolate. When she imagined the future, the late emperor had a place. She thought that she would be the first female general of the Daqing Dynasty and fight for her monarch to build the country. Whenever she talked about this, the late emperor would always laugh heartily. Over the years, his rewards to her were no less than any other princess.
He was clearly a wise ruler at that time. Shaoyao raised her head and looked through the curling green smoke for a moment, then stood up and returned to Brother Yan. Looking at Prince Ling and his son who were standing still, she grinned with a fake smile, but the smile did not reach her eyes. "Want me to see you off?"
"Peony." Gu Yanxi took a ball of Putian and threw it at her feet, "Kneel down."
Prince Ling looked at his eldest son in disbelief. Was he teaching Shaoyao a lesson for him? How could this be
Shaoyao was always obedient in front of her brother. She snorted coldly, turned around and knelt down obediently. At this time, Gu Yanxi looked over with a cold expression, as if he was just facing a stranger. "Since the young master is ill, go see the imperial physician to avoid affecting others. Someone, come."
The chief of the First Division of the Seven Mansions stepped forward and said, "I am here."
"Please ask Prince Ling and his son to go to the Imperial Hospital."
"Yes." The head of the First Department clasped his fists and bowed, "Prince Ling, please."
Prince Ling had a gloomy face. What was he expecting just now? Given the eldest son's attitude towards him, how could he possibly side with him in teaching Shaoyao a lesson!
"Being the regent is indeed very impressive. What? If I don't leave, are you going to attack me?"
"Father, Father, please don't be angry. Big brother definitely didn't mean that." Gu Yanze advised while coughing. His words were clear and not delayed by the cough at all. His lowered head concealed the smugness in his expression very well.
How could he have everything he wanted? A healthy body, skills that were repeatedly praised by the late emperor, overwhelming power, the affection of beautiful women... He already had so much, so he couldn't have a complete family. The Ling Palace was his, and no one could take it away.
As I thought about this, the fake cough turned into a real cough, and I couldn't stop coughing.
Prince Ling quickly patted his youngest son's back, his anger rising even more. "Gu Yanxi, Ze'er is your brother no matter what. Why do you have to treat him like this?"
Gu Yanxi didn't even want to look at him for one more second. He turned around and knelt straight. He was afraid that looking at him a few more times would rekindle his thoughts of killing his father.
The head of the First Department understood and immediately bowed and invited, "Prince Ling, please."
"How can this be possible..."
The head of the first department smiled, but his attitude was extremely tough, and he looked like he was ready to step forward to help. The leader had given the order, and even if they were asked to knock the man down right now, they would dare to do so!
"Gu Yanxi!"
"It's so noisy in front of the mourning hall. How disgraceful." The Queen Mother was carried over, with a look of anger on her face. It would have been fine if she didn't try every means to ease the relationship with Yan Xi, but she wanted to make the relationship worse!
Prince Ling was always a rude person, especially in front of his mother. "Mother, it's not that I want to make a scene, it's just that he is so unbecoming."
"I heard your voice from a distance, but I didn't hear Yan Xi's."
"Mother..."
"Take him to the Imperial Hospital. Didn't you see he was coughing up blood?"
Prince Ling looked down and saw that he was not coughing up blood. He did not need anyone to urge him and quickly picked the man up and ran out.
On his father's shoulder, Gu Yanze looked at the man who had never looked him in the eye. He had been able to hold back before, but now he suddenly coughed up tears.
PS: Don’t rush me, I want to be as natural as possible before entering the next plot.