Chapter 154: Being Frank

Gu Huaizhi remained silent, fully aware of what Su Wan was asking about.

With the entire family moving to the capital, there were certain matters Su Wan needed to be informed about to take precautions in time.

“Jingyun is the son of the Empress. Shortly after his birth, he was taken away by the Empress’s wet nurse, who was then pursued and fled to Guangling Prefecture.

At that time, my second brother was gravely ill. When our mother took him to the county town, she encountered them. My second brother passed away due to his illness, and the Empress’s wet nurse died from her injuries. My mother took Jingyun in and raised him as her own, seeing him as a form of emotional solace. She loved him no differently than her own son.”

“When Jingyun was two years old, the Regent’s men came looking for us. He gave us two choices: I could acknowledge him as my godfather, or he would take Jingyun away.”

At that time, Gu Huaizhi was only about twelve or thirteen years old—how could he possibly contend with the Regent?

Mother Gu had endured the pain of losing both her husband and her son, leaving her in a fragile mental state for a time. She had poured all her feelings for her second son into Jingyun, and her condition began to improve. If Jingyun were taken away by the Regent, she would likely collapse, no matter how strong she tried to be.

Gu Huaizhi went along with the Regent’s wishes, acknowledging him as his godfather. He left Xinghua Village under the guise of pursuing medical studies and moved into the Regent’s residence, where he received the Regent’s mentorship.

“The Regent observed Jingyun and found him to be exceptionally intelligent, so he chose him as the candidate for the crown prince, intending to overthrow the current Crown Prince and support Jingyun’s ascension. Because of my close relationship with Jingyun, it’s expected that I would wholeheartedly assist him, which is why the Regent accepted me as his godson.”

In just a few words, Gu Huaizhi revealed his relationship with the Regent.

Su Wan was stunned—Gu Jingyun is the Empress’s son??

In the story, Gu Jingyun died.

So, Gu Huaizhi was of no use to the Regent?

Is that why Gu Huaizhi let the identity of Tingyuan die?

“Does the Empress know?”

Gu Huaizhi shook his head. “The Empress never went looking, so she doesn’t know.”

The Empress’s first legitimate son died, and she was unaware of any foul play at the time. Later, when she was pregnant with Jingyun, she discovered that there was an abortion drug in her food. She didn’t make a fuss but secretly investigated, uncovering the truth that the death of her firstborn was not due to illness but was a murder plot.

To protect her second child, the Empress and her close aides devised a plan to swap the real baby. When the true child was born, he was immediately taken out of the palace, and a stillborn was used to pose as the Empress’s child.

Despite their meticulous planning, a single mistake led to the news leaking out, and the wet nurse and Jingyun were pursued and attacked.

The Empress didn’t know whether her child was alive or dead, and she didn’t dare to look for him.

She clung to the hope that as long as she didn’t search for him, the child must still be alive. If she did look for him, even if he were alive, it would only bring disaster upon him.

The Empress didn’t wish for her child to have riches and glory; she only wished for him to grow up safely.

After hearing this, Su Wan couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

If the Empress was so wary, then the one who orchestrated the murder of her child was likely none other than Emperor Jing himself, wasn’t it?

The Empress’s family wielded great power, and the Defender Duke, her maternal family’s head, was her strong backing. The Empress’s firstborn was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, and the momentum to make him the Crown Prince was overwhelming. Whether the choice was to select based on seniority or legitimacy, the Crown Prince would undoubtedly be her firstborn son. To prevent the throne from slipping from his grasp, could Emperor Jing have been so ruthless as to poison his own child?

Su Wan thought about the poison afflicting Emperor Jing. The Regent intended to seize control of the court once Emperor Jing’s poison took effect and then elevate Jingyun to the throne.

“When do you plan to tell the Empress?”

“Once Emperor Jing’s illness becomes critical.”

Su Wan took a deep breath, feeling that the situation was truly messed up.

Gu Jingyun had gone from being a precious golden child to a hot potato.

If she had known about Gu Jingyun’s true background, Su Wan would never have insisted on bringing Mother Gu to the capital.

“I’ll think this through again. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll arrange for someone to escort Mother, Second Brother, and Third Sister back to Xinghua Village.”

Su Wan raised her hand and tapped her forehead. “No, we made such a big entrance into the capital; it’s likely we’ve already caught the attention of those with ulterior motives. Sending them back now would only backfire.”

“The most dangerous place is also the safest. With the Regent handling the aftermath, even if someone suspects, they won’t be able to find evidence that Jingyun is the prince.”

Gu Huaizhi rubbed his brow. “At most, we have one year. I will ask my mentor to take Jingyun as a student. If he doesn’t show up at the academy, the chances of him being recognized are low.”

Su Wan let out a heavy sigh and said irritably, “You acknowledged the Regent as your godfather; your future is secure. Even at the worst, you could become the Emperor’s mentor. So why did you still choose to take the imperial examination?”

While grinding her teeth, Su Wan thought about how tightly Gu Huaizhi had kept everything under wraps. The family lived frugally, and he refused to improve their living conditions in the slightest—he was overly cautious.

Caution can catch the cicada of a thousand autumns, and careful sailing secures a ship for ten thousand years.

Su Wan could understand; without needing to think much, she knew that Gu Huaizhi’s life over these years had likely been like walking on thin ice.

One wrong step, and it would lead to irreversible disaster.

“The Regent’s position is a double-edged sword. He wields immense power, enough to cover the sky with one hand. But he also has made many enemies, and any move he makes draws attention.

The Regent has gradually been dispersing his power, transferring it into our hands. If Jingyun one day inherits the throne, the Regent plans to retire once his work is done. If I were to wield the Regent’s power, every move I make would be closely watched, making it inconvenient to act freely.”

“The identity of being a godson—I will let it ‘die’ from an illness, thus turning the Regent’s influence from overt to covert.”

Gu Huaizhi smiled slightly. “By presenting myself simply as Gu Huaizhi, I won’t attract too much attention, making it easier for me to act.”

Su Wan was left speechless.

A black sesame-filled rice dumpling.

On the surface, he appeared to be a gentleman—modest, gentle, and harmless, but he could stab you in the back without warning.

Who would ever suspect him?

Just a son of a farming family who entered officialdom relying on a bit of talent and learning.

His wife, though born into a prominent family, had severed ties with them.

He might even be able to infiltrate the enemy ranks!

Gu Huaizhi asked, “Any more questions?”

Su Wan tilted her head to look at him. Gu Huaizhi was dressed in a long robe of sky-blue green, his black hair cascading like a waterfall over his chest, his eyelids lazily drooping. The sunlight bathed his features, making him appear particularly gentle and soft, enticing people to draw closer to him.

She seemed to be bewitched, leaning in towards him as if under a spell.

Gu Huaizhi held a faint smile at the corner of his lips. Her eyes were dark and bright, her fair face soft and gentle, reminiscent of a Persian cat he once saw. He reached out and lightly pinched the back of her neck, not too hard, and a tingling sensation spread through her entire body.

Su Wan jolted, snapping out of her daze instantly. She leaned back, putting some distance between them.

“No questions.”

Gu Huaizhi watched as she moved away, his deep gaze lingering on his fingertips, as if he could still feel the delicate and soft touch.

Su Wan, seemingly distracted throughout the day, kept her hand on the back of her neck, lost in thought about something.

It wasn’t until evening that Su Wan finally returned to her normal state.

She hastily finished her dinner and took Qi Sixth with her to Imperial Doctor Liu’s residence.

The carriage stopped in the alley next to Imperial Doctor Liu’s residence, and Su Wan leaned against the carriage wall, waiting for Luo Cheng.

“Knock, knock—”

The carriage wall was tapped.

“Young lady Su.” Luo Cheng’s rough voice was lowered, but in the quiet of the night, it was especially clear.

Su Wan: “…”

While lifting the curtain, Su Wan stepped out of the carriage.

“Imperial Doctor Liu has just returned home. Let’s go now,” Luo Cheng urged.

“Let’s go.” Su Wan followed Luo Cheng towards the residence.

After being greeted by Imperial Doctor Liu, the two of them smoothly entered the residence, and the butler personally led them to the study.