The fake daughter of a fallen ghost is reborn

Chapter 315 Why the Holy Will Cannot Be Disobeyed

Xue Zhiyi didn't know how she walked out of the Empress Dowager's bedroom. She only knew that maybe it was just as the Empress Dowager said. This step she took had put her and Huo Wuyou in a situation from which it was difficult to escape.

But she just wanted to keep the person in front of her and protect everything in the present, even if he didn't die a good death one day, she would accept it.

But the war situation on the front line did not improve.

Logically speaking, with the supplies, the war should have gone more smoothly, but the news brought by Yangui was that they had lost contact with the secret agents in Jiangzhou.

The battle report would arrive in three days at the earliest, and Xue Zhiyi became increasingly uneasy.

Xue Zhiyi, whose pregnancy was originally stable, felt extremely tired in the past few days. Her morning sickness, which was not serious, became abnormally more frequent when she was nearly five months pregnant, making her look haggard.

But in the past few days, because the emperor had not attended court for several days, the concubines and court officials who asked to see him only saw an emperor with crooked eyes and a slanted mouth, lying on the bed as if he had suffered a stroke. Gradually, some people began to question whether the emperor's orders came from his mouth since he was in such a state, or whether the Minister of the Central Secretariat Jiang Xu had overstepped his authority.

Especially since Marquis Lin'an had just been severely criticized by the emperor, who suspected him of disobeying the emperor's order and keeping his own troops, while the sister of the Minister of the Central Secretariat was the wife of Marquis Lin'an. It was feared that the two of them were colluding with each other inside and outside the country and had the intention of stealing the country.

The court officials impeached Jiang Xu and demanded that he be removed from office and that the prince be made regent until the emperor recovered.

Therefore, the second prince Gu Shiyun became the only candidate.

The ancestral law only prevents princes with foreign blood from succeeding to the throne, but it never says that they cannot assist in government.

The second prince wanted to see the emperor, and the Palace Guard did not stop him.

When the emperor saw the second prince standing in front of him, hope finally rekindled in his desperate eyes. He let out an obscure whimpering sound from his throat, and his fingers, like dead wood, were grimacing, but he could not move and could only tremble with excitement.

Perhaps it was the first time that he was pushed into this position since he had been neglected since childhood. Gu Shiyun was somewhat at a loss as to what to do. He only asked in a deep voice: "The Minister of the Central Secretariat is like the Marquis of Lin'an, disobeying the will of the emperor and harboring the intention of becoming a regent, right?"

Before Jiang Xu could answer, a woman's voice rang out: "Second Prince, you are worrying too much. It is indeed a time of great trouble. The border war cannot be delayed. If the war is delayed because of your majesty's health, I am sure your majesty would not want to see it."

Gu Shiyun looked back and saw Xue Zhiyi being supported by Chai Yue. His slightly thin face was covered with thick makeup. Although his body felt heavy, he was still smiling.

"The Minister of the Central Secretariat is someone your Majesty trusts, otherwise he would not have been entrusted with such an important task to assist your Majesty in handling government affairs. What we are doing now is just following your Majesty's order before he fell ill. However, a minister is still a minister after all. Unlike Your Highness, who was born as a prince, if he could assist in government affairs, it would naturally be more legitimate and there would be less suspicion in the court."

The second prince looked suspicious: "What do you mean by that?"

But Xue Zhiyi smiled and said, "If Your Highness is willing to follow the advice of the ministers and supervise the country on behalf of Your Majesty, I believe that the Minister of the Central Secretariat, who was born as a minister, will definitely assist him."

Originally he had intended to attack, but when he heard what Xue Zhiyi said, the Second Prince himself did not expect that it would be so smooth. He even wondered if they had some other conspiracy. As long as he dared to nod, he would become the next prince who tried to force the emperor to abdicate and die in this Changsheng Palace.

Suddenly, he came to his senses and said, "Madam Lin'an, may I ask, on what grounds did you make this promise to me on behalf of the Minister of the Central Secretariat?"

Xue Zhiyi continued to smile: "Because I think that the good news that Lin'an Marquis sent back from the front line may be of interest to Your Highness."

As Gu Shiyun was puzzled, a woman wearing a veil was brought in. The familiar figure made Gu Shiyun's breath suffocate. Until the woman lifted the veil, his eyes were shocked...

"Royal brother." The woman's voice was choked with sobs.

No matter how strong Gu Ruxuan was, she was still young after all. After going through so many things, once she returned to her hometown and stood in front of her relatives, she could no longer control herself and threw herself into Gu Shiyun's arms and burst into tears.

"...You're back?" Looking at Gu Ruxuan's wrists, which were so thin that their joints were clearly visible! And the scars on them, which were alternating between old and new, Gu Shiyun's eyes were red. "Sister, you've suffered. It's because my brother is useless."

On the side, Xue Zhiyi explained: "Some time ago, Lin'an Hou captured a Beidi general alive, used the general as a hostage, exchanged for Princess Pingzhang, and sent someone to secretly escort the princess back to the capital."

Holding Gu Ruxuan in his arms, Gu Shiyun's expression towards Xue Zhiyi became a little friendlier, but he still did not let down his guard: "Madam Lin'an said this to me, is she trying to use Ruxuan's life to get me to give in?"

Upon hearing this, the emperor let out another anxious whimper.

Xue Zhiyi just shook his head and said, "Princess Pingzhang's contribution to Dayong is immeasurable. It is the duty of Marquis Lin'an to welcome the princess back to the court. How can the princess be a bargaining chip? But, doesn't the Second Prince want to know what happened before and after Princess Pingzhang returned to the court?"

Gu Shiyun was stunned, and then he heard Xue Zhiyi continue: "General Shen attacked head-on, and Marquis Lin'an outflanked from behind, besieging the Northern Di people in the city, successfully recaptured Yunqiao County of Jiangzhou occupied by the Northern Di people, and captured the generals in the city alive in exchange for Princess Pingzhang. Yunqiao County is the key pass of Dayong. Next, as long as we occupy Yunqiao County and continue to attack, we can counterattack the Northern Di and regain the lost territory. The Northern Di people naturally want to take back Yunqiao County. It can be said that whether we can defend the city is related to Dayong's turning the tide of the war and turning defeat into victory. But at this moment, His Majesty wants to summon Marquis Lin'an back to the capital."

Looking at the emperor who was lying on the bed and wanted to deny everything, Gu Shiyun remained silent.

"So the Marquis of Lin'an took the pressure and argued the key to the war situation, hoping to get some leniency from His Majesty, but what he got was the charge of keeping the army for his own benefit. Just now, the Second Prince asked if the Minister of the Central Secretariat wanted to go against His Majesty's will like the Marquis of Lin'an. So, Your Highness, do you still think that the Marquis of Lin'an really wants to keep the army for his own benefit? And is the Minister of the Central Secretariat really doing this for his own selfish interests?"

Looking at Gu Ruxuan who was sobbing, Gu Shiyun remained silent, his brows seemed to be shaken.

Xue Zhiyi's voice was soft and gentle, "Second Prince, Princess Pingzhang and Concubine Li must be very worried about their separation. If one day I can go to the fiefdom with you, it will be much better than being trapped in the palace."

Gu Shiyun's eyebrows jumped: "Although my mother has been moved out of the cold palace, she is still under house arrest in the palace by the emperor's order. This is against the emperor's will."

"Princess Pingzhang's return to the court is against the emperor's will." Xue Zhiyi reminded in a gentle voice.

He glanced at the emperor on the bed again. At this moment, his face was almost pleading. Gu Shiyun just looked at him thoughtfully for a long time before he said, "Why should I believe you?"

Xue Zhiyi only said: "Your Highness may not believe it, but according to what the ministers said, I will take the position of regent that belongs to Your Highness. But I ask Your Highness to support the war with all his strength for the sake of Princess Pingzhang, and not put the people in danger because of suspicion."

Gu Shiyun narrowed his eyes slightly: "So, if I am the regent and cannot do what you wish, will I end up like my father?"

Xue Zhiyi's smile deepened and he remained silent.

In fact, now, the Palace Front Department and the Cavalry Battalion are both in the hands of Shen Qingwei. As long as Shen Qingwei and Huo Wuyou are still on the front line, they are an alliance of interests, and Huajing is controlled by them.

Gu Shiyun felt a chill. The gentle and smiling woman in front of him actually made him feel scared.

Facing the twelve points of face she handed over and the steps that suited his wishes, Gu Shiyun nodded: "As long as you keep your promise, I will let you do what you want."