The empress's bedroom is simply and elegantly decorated, revealing a low-key luxury everywhere.

  There is a faint fragrance lingering around.

  Gu Jin sat in front of the Empress Dowager on a small velvet stool, helping the Empress Dowager gently massage her palms. Her hand strength was just right, not too light or too heavy, and the Empress Dowager's whole body gradually felt warm and comfortable.

  There is no one else in the inner chamber.

  The empress dowager did not speak for a long time, as if she had something difficult to say.

  Gu Jinzhi didn't think it was strange either, quietly taking the pulse of the Empress Dowager and waiting for her to speak.

  Her calmness is actually very suitable for palace life. Women in the palace should be tough inside and gentle outside, like Gu Zhi, who doesn't show her emotions on her face, it's quite good.

  The Empress Dowager's heart was slightly relieved.

  She finally said: "Jin Zhi, I've mentioned it before, if you can cure me, I'll reward you heavily."

  Gu Jin smiled and said softly: "The Empress Dowager's good health and longevity is the greatest reward for me..."

  However, she was muttering in her heart that her reward might have changed. Originally, the Empress Dowager had said that if she cured the Empress Dowager, Gu Jin would be made a princess.

  It was said very clearly, the empress dowager couldn't have forgotten it.

  Now she just says, "There is a heavy reward."

  There is a heavy reward, it's just a very vague concept.

  What kind of heavy law is this, without any concrete measurement, the standard is only in one's own heart.

  "Good child!" The empress dowager smiled upon hearing Gu Jin's words, "Your mouth is truly sweet, I love listening to you speak. These past few days, I've been thinking that if I were to leave you, my heart would feel empty..."

  "Ji Zhe also couldn't bear to part with Tai Hou." Gu Ji Zhe said, his hands continuing to knead and press.

  The empress dowager smiled again.

  "...I also told the Emperor, it's hard to part with you. The Emperor said that in the six palaces, according to the ancestral system, there should be two noble consorts, and now one is missing. The Emperor has been on the throne for less than four years, first the Empress passed away, and then I fell seriously ill within a year. The six palaces only have old people brought from the former Crown Prince's mansion, no beautiful women were added, it's very desolate." I said with a smile, my tone full of pride, "I suggested to the Emperor, since the position of First Rank Noble Consort is vacant, why not choose... Zhen'er..."

  Gu Jinzhi heard this and suddenly gripped his hand tightly.

  However, she soon recovered. She exerted even strength to massage the empress dowager.

  The empress dowager thought to herself: Is she willing or unwilling?

  If you are willing, as soon as you enter the palace, you will be a first-rank noble consort. This is an extremely great opportunity to bring glory and honor to your ancestors. To become a first-rank noble consort, it's usually necessary to either give birth to the emperor's son or come from a family of meritorious officials.

  Gu Jin's treatment cured the Empress Dowager, and overnight she rose to prominence. If she was willing, why wouldn't she be overjoyed? Instead, she remained calm as still water.

  If she didn't want to, it would be even more terrifyingly quiet.

  The Empress Dowager couldn't see through Gu Jin's mind anyway.

  "Jingzhi, speak with me in a more familiar tone," Empress Dowager reminded her with a smile.

  Gu Jin smiled lightly: "Empress Dowager, I was able to enter the palace to treat your illness for two reasons. Firstly, my grandfather recommended me, allowing a young child like myself to enter the palace gates; secondly, His Majesty trusted me and did not restrict talent based on age. Otherwise, even if I had the most extraordinary abilities, I would not have been able to serve you filially. If Your Majesty wants to thank me, I am unworthy of such kindness!"

  That's unwillingness.

  The Empress Dowager was slightly startled.

  Not willing, if it were some other little girl, she would have hurried up already.

  The Empress Dowager had been observing Gu Jin for some time and had already anticipated that she would be unwilling.

  "Foolish child, what am I giving you? You just bear with it, what can't be borne?" The Empress Dowager chuckled. She took Gu Jin's humility for granted, "The position of Imperial Noble Consort has been vacant for a long time, and I also look forward to someone coming in, to help the Emperor have children, and also look forward to having a daughter-in-law who understands the cold and warmth, to keep me company."

  The emperor is the golden mouth and jade words said, there is no reason to change.

  Gu Jin had no choice but to enter the palace, even if he was unwilling.

  The Empress Dowager pitied her, but she didn't dare to defy the Emperor's authority for her sake, and could only take the blame upon herself in front of Gu Jin.

  Being able to enter the palace as a noble concubine is a great favor from the emperor, and the Gu family has suddenly risen to prominence among the powerful and aristocratic families.

  Waiting for her to give birth to another prince, the emperor will probably reward her father and brothers, from then on one person's success brings prosperity to the whole family.

  Is this what most people dream of?

  Even if Gu Jin is unwilling, other members of the Gu family will definitely like it very much.

  The corners of Gu Jin's eyes had a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Did the Empress Dowager really think that the Emperor allowed Gu Jin to enter the palace because he had taken a liking to her?

  She is not so naive.

  "Jing has not yet reached the age of hairpinning, Your Majesty!" Gu Jing said with a smile. "My family has several older sisters who are more beautiful and sensible. Your Majesty, why not let them be chosen instead? The Empress Dowager also said she wanted to thank me..."

  Since it's all about thanking her, then just grant her wish.

  She didn't say those words afterwards.

  The empress dowager was however shocked. The empress dowager had truly not expected that Gu Jin would dare to be so presumptuous, and even a bit overbearing, causing the empress dowager to withdraw her decree.

  Is Gu Jingzhou really unaware of the majesty of Tianjia?

  The empress hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do next.

  Just as the atmosphere was a bit awkward, a voice suddenly came from outside: "Your Majesty, King Nanchang and King Luyang have come to see you..."

  The empress dowager was overjoyed and hastily stood up, almost rushing out quickly.

  She took two steps forward and was puzzled again: Didn't the emperor send them back yesterday? Why did they enter the palace today?

  Was it the emperor who detained them, or did they refuse to leave?

  If you really cherish the fraternal affection of childhood and go against the emperor's will, it would be truly foolish!

  The empress's heart gradually cooled down, her footsteps slowed down, and she became a bit weak.

  Gu Jinzhi hurried forward and supported her.

  The empress dowager tightly grasped Gu Jin's hand.

  The two of them came out from the inner hall together.

  The emperor was also present and personally brought the Prince of Luoyang and the Prince of Nanchang to pay their respects to Empress Dowager Cai.

  In the middle of the main hall, wasn't it her day-and-night-thinking young son Zhong Jun, wearing a dark green fox fur robe with a gold-embroidered dragon-patterned jacket and a black waistband?

  The empress dowager's eyes were slightly moist.

  She didn't want to cry out loud, so she tightly grasped Gu Jinzhi's hand.

  Gu Jinzhi also reached out and grasped the Empress Dowager's hand. The Empress Dowager felt a surge of energy coming from his palm, and her heart suddenly calmed down a lot.

  Seeing the Empress Dowager come out, King Luoyang shouted loudly: "Mother, Mother!"

  As she spoke, she was about to pounce on the empress, like a five or six year old child.

  Nanchang Wang, who was standing beside him, quickly grabbed him and whispered in his ear, "First pay respects to the empress dowager, don't be rude."

  Luyang Wang pouted, feeling somewhat disheartened.

  The empress dowager smiled and gave them a kindly smile.

  She first paid homage to the emperor with the ritual of a minister to his sovereign, then sat down on the throne.

  The emperor and two princes paid their respects according to family rituals.

  "Are you telling me to go back to my hometown?" The empress's face turned stern, her eyebrows and eyes severe. "Is the words of the Empress Dowager also useless now?"

  Wang Zhonglin of Nanchang hastily knelt down and kowtowed to the Empress Dowager: "Your Majesty's body is not well, I, your subject, cannot serve you day and night. This is already unfilial. How dare I leave without Your Majesty's recovery?"

  The empress dowager's face sank even deeper: "We are mother and son, but we were born in the imperial family. Princes cannot stay in the capital for a long time, this is the rule. For the sake of the trivial feelings between mother and son, disregarding the greater justice, what kind of reason is this?"

  She spoke with a stern tone and expression. However, Gu Jinzhi, who was beside her, saw that her hands were shaking constantly.

  Her heart probably hurts too.

  These words are for the emperor's ears alone.

  The emperor smiled and stepped forward, saying: "Empress Dowager, please calm down. It's my fault for keeping the second and sixth princes here. They were originally supposed to leave yesterday, but I thought of their filial piety and wanted them to see you, so I specially invited them into the palace. If you're angry, scold me."

  The empress dowager listened and her expression immediately improved.

  She smiled and said: "It's me who is muddle-headed, wrongly blaming them brothers. Zhonglin, quickly get up, let mother take a look at you."

  Nanchang Wang finally got up from the ground.

  Throughout the whole process, Louyang King was stupid and didn't kneel down with them. Instead, he stared at Gu Jinzhi beside the Empress Dowager, sizing him up vigorously.

  Nanchang Wang got up and was about to say a few auspicious words when the King of Luyang suddenly shouted loudly: "Little Seven, Little Seven!"

  He recognized Gu Jinzhi.

  Gu Jinzhi raised his eyes and saw a white and handsome face. His unrelated, exquisite and seemingly perfect sculpture, except that between his eyebrows, he didn't see the familiar coldness and calculation of Gu Jinzhi, but instead had an extra share of purity and simplicity.

  The emperor being present, loud and boisterous would be unbecoming of imperial dignity.

  But King Luoyang still shouted.

  He shouted again and pointed directly at Gu Jinzhi, and everyone's eyes fell on Gu Jinzhi.

  The emperor's gaze shifted slightly.

  "Xiao Qi!" Luoyang King still didn't know himself, was overjoyed and wanted to go forward, then pulled Nanchang King to look, "Second brother, it's Xiao Qi!"

  The empress dowager saw him like this and thought that after three years in Luoyang, he had become even more foolish, and her heart ached with sorrow.

  This is her son whom she has doted on and raised with tender loving care...

  But after all, heaven does not follow people's wishes.

  "Sixth Brother, do you know Zhenzhi?" The Emperor asked with a smile.

  The empress dowager also showed a benevolent and puzzled expression, looking at King Luoyang.

  Luoyang Wang nodded repeatedly, then shook his head: "I know Xiaoqi! I saw Xiaoqi when I came to the capital. Mother, mother, I want Xiaoqi!"

  It seems like I've seen a great toy and want to hold it in my arms.

  Children are like this, whatever they see, they like it and want to have it for themselves.

  The Empress Dowager's face changed color slightly.

  Louyang King no longer cared about the Emperor and Empress Dowager, he went forward and pulled Gu Jin's hand, afraid that she would run away again: "Little Seven, come play with me!"

  The emperor looked at him, his eyes flashing slightly, and there was a hint of smile in the depths of his eyes.

  He said to Lu Yang Wang: "Sixth brother, if you like Xia Qi, the emperor will give her to you, is that good?"

  Luyang Wang didn't understand what "bestowed" meant and thought it was like Qianlan, serving him day and night, repeatedly saying yes.

  "After the empress dowager, Jin's achievement this time is great. I have been thinking for two days about how to thank her." The emperor smiled, "Why not make her the Princess of Luoyang?"

  The Empress Dowager was shocked.

  Then she suddenly understood something in her heart.

  The empress dowager secretly smiled to herself: having been ill for so long, she really didn't care about worldly matters and actually thought that the emperor had taken a liking to Gu Jinzhi, and only then did he want to make her his consort...

  But why give it to Zhong Jun?

  The empress dowager's heart sank once again.

  The King of Nanchang standing beside him also had an unpredictable expression.

  ——*——*——*——

  Thank you for the rewards from everyone.

  It's definitely not going to be a palace fight... because 15 classmates won't write palace fight scripts o(╯□╰)o (what a painful realization, tears). To those who get up early to read books and are satisfied, please support with pink tickets. The more pink tickets, the more motivation for 15! Begging for pink tickets!