Chapter 142: 113.2

An Junwang snorted coldly, "It’s not like it’s the first day he dreads our Zhuang Family. From the moment he became connected through marriage with Marquis Xuanping, he has been trying every means to contain the Zhuang Family. I'm afraid the Empress Dowager's disease has something to do with His Majesty. Nowadays, the situation in the imperial court is becoming increasingly unfavorable to the Zhuang Family. If the Empress Dowager does not come forward to preside over the situation, I only fear that the Zhuang Family will become the second Liu Family."

In the past, there were four hegemons in the capital: Marquis Xuanping Estate’s Xiao Family, Duke Luo Estate’s Luo Family, Duke Ding Estate’s Liu Family and the Zhuang Family, a family of cabinet ministers.

In fact, His Majesty's birth wasn’t good. His birth mother didn’t even have the qualification to raise him, hence he was brought up by then Imperial Concubine Jing instead.

Empress Dowager Zhuang was childless all her life, and because of the discord between her and the Crown Prince’s maternal family— Liu Family, she fought against the Crown Prince and the Liu Family, and helped the adopted son of Imperial Concubine Jing to the throne.

However, His Majesty was an unfeeling white-eyed wolf[1]. Instead of being grateful to Empress Dowager Zhuang, he feared her after seeing Empress Dowager Zhuang's very powerful and capable methods.

The daughter that the Zhuang Family sent into the palace was supposed to be the Empress, but instead, His Majesty crowned the younger sister of Marquis Xuanping as the Empress in the imperial audience hall, and married his doted Princess Xinyang to Marquis Xuanping in return.

With the support of the Marquis Xuanping Estate, His Majesty had become even more powerful, weakening the power of the Zhuang Family. However, Empress Dowager Zhuang's tactics were still too strong. She still managed to hold down His Majesty every single day, and His majesty was unable to shake the real foundation of the Zhuang Family completely.

But, during this period when the Empress Dowager was supposedly "recovering from her illness in the palace", the Zhuang Family was suppressed by the Marquis Xuanping Estate and was almost out of breath.

If this went on, the Zhuang Family would really be done for.

Therefore, even if the Empress Dowager would fall into great danger as soon as she returned to the capital, the Zhuang Family couldn’t care so much.

"Wu Yang, this is fate."

Going to the State of Chen as a hostage prince was his fate.

Going through fire and water with the Zhuang Family was the Empress Dowager’s fate.

……

Early the next morning, the man in black changed into a guard's attire and took a big box of presents to Qingquan Village.

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

"You are?" Gu Jiao asked.

The man in black revealed a smile and said, "My name is Wu Yang, the imperial bodyguard of An Junwang. Today, I was sent by An Junwang to make amends to Young Miss Gu."

Gu Jiao replied, "Didn't he already come to make amends yesterday?"

Wu Yang said politely, "Junwang was injured yesterday and didn’t manage to finish his words, so he sent me again today."

Gu Jiao simply waited for him to continue speaking.

Wu Yang asked, "Can I... first move these gifts inside for Young Miss Gu?"

Gu Jiao didn't refuse.

Wu Yang carried the big box into the main room, opened it, took out the several brocade boxes inside, and said to Gu Jiao, "Junwang hopes that when Young Miss Gu returns to the capital, she won't tell anyone about my young miss’s rude remarks. My young miss has been spoiled by her family since childhood, and her temper is domineering. My family’s Junwang can only make amends to you. However, my young miss’s family really attach great importance to reputation. If people learn that she is such a bully in public, I’m afraid there will be a lot of criticism in the future. I also ask Young Miss Gu to understand our Junwang's care for her sister."

Basically, he wanted to gag her.

Gu Jiao didn't say anything and just motioned to him to put the things down.

Wu Yang specially picked out two brocade boxes and said to Gu Jiao, "Yesterday, our Junwang scared the little brother and the elderly lady. Junwang told me to personally apologize to them as well."

"Jing Kong went to school, I'm afraid you can't see him. Grandaunt doesn't like to meet strangers, I'll just convey your apologies to her."

Were they really keeping a tight guard?

Originally, Wu Yang only believed it by thirty percent, but now it had become fifty percent. He got up and said, "Excuse me, Young Miss Gu, may I borrow your latrine?"

Gu Jiao cast him a look and answered, "Go ahead."

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Wu Yang then went to the latrine while keeping a normal expression.

Wu Yang was stalling for time. He must see the Empress Dowager today no matter what.

Luckily for him, the elderly woman had a nightmare today, so she got out of bed and went out to get some fresh air in the backyard. She happened to be seen by Wu Yang on the way.

Wu Yang was An Junwang's confidant. He had met the Empress Dowager with An Junwang many times in the past. He knew the Empress Dowager very well, unlike Marquis Gu, who had only met her twice in a short time, and one of those two times, he only managed to see her back too.

Despite the fact that the person in front of him was dressed as an elderly woman from the countryside, with a calm and relaxed attitude and an aura far from that of the ruthless Empress Dowager, Wu Yang could still recognize her as Empress Dowager Zhuang.

In particular, the Empress Dowager had a mole on her right earlobe, just as this elderly woman. Wu Yang was sure he hadn’t made a mistake.

Wu Yang was excited and immediately strode forward!

The elderly woman, who just had a nightmare, still had a lingering fear at the moment. As a result, a seven-foot-tall man suddenly appeared out of thin air in the backyard, giving her so much fright!

"Who are you?!" She asked fiercely.

Wu Yang was stunned for a moment before answering, "This humble one is Wu Yang!"

"What five goats or six goats[2], I’ve never heard of you! Go, go away!" The elderly woman waved him away in distraught, "JiaoJiao! Why are there strangers at home again?"

Gu Jiao put down the brocade box in her hands and came over, looked at Wu Yang, and then said to the elderly woman, "He’s the imperial bodyguard of the prince that came yesterday, he paid a visit to deliver apology gifts."

The elderly woman raised an eyebrow and said, "He’s here to send stuff?"

Gu Jiao nodded, "Yes."

The elderly woman went to the main hall and rummaged through the porcelain, jade artifacts and teas, and said with a look of disgust, "There’s not even a piece of osmanthus cake, there’s no sincerity at all, humph!"

Wu Yang was shocked. What's going on? This Empress Dowager was different from the one he knew!

"I want to eat eggs in sweet soup!" The elderly woman told Gu Jiao.

"Good." Gu Jiao agreed. Anyway, she could just lessen the sweetness of the soup.

"Give him a bowl of it too!" The elderly woman said solemnly, "With so many gifts, we must at least offer him a meal!"

"Alright." Gu Jiao nodded and went to the kitchen to cook two bowls of egg in sweet soup, one bowl of half sugar and another bowl with less sugar.

The elderly woman said generously, "JiaoJiao, go ahead and do your work, I'll entertain the guest!"

Wu Yang gave the Empress Dowager a thumbs-up in his head. First, she kept the two of them alone together under the pretext of eating eggs in sweet soup. Then, she thought of a way to send the Gu Family girl away. She was indeed the wise and mighty Empress Dowager, so quick-witted ah!

Gu Jiao picked up the shoulder pole and buckets and headed to the village entrance to fetch water.

At this moment, there was no third person in the room. The elderly woman instantly had an excited look on her face.

Wu Yang felt excited too.

A person of great wisdom often appeared slow-witted. The Empress Dowager was actually putting on an act earlier! The Empress Dowager should be acknowledging him now!

"Be quick! JiaoJiao will be back soon!"

RightRightRight! They must be quick!

Wu Yang nodded hard as though he was pounding garlic. As a result, he saw the elderly woman switching their bowls of egg in sweet soup, then she picked up her spoon and ate with great joy, no longer paying him attention!

Wu Yang：“…”

1. ↑ — Ungrateful person / thankless wretch. 2. ↑ — The Wu(伍) in Wu Yang's has the same pronunciation as Wu(五) as in Five. Same goes for the Yang(杨) in his name, which sounds the same as the Yang(羊) in touyang(头羊) that means goat, etc.

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