Gu Jizhi looked at Yi Yanhou, and Yi Yanhou immediately pulled his legs in, clearly not wanting to reveal anything unusual.

  She shifted her gaze and stopped looking at him.

  Yi Yanhou let out a sigh of relief.

  Accompanying Yiyuan Hou were his wife, daughter and youngest son.

  His eldest son Ning Xi was sent to the Luoyang Palace in Luzhou during the reign of the previous emperor, where he served as the commander-in-chief of the 600,000 elite soldiers of the Luoyang Palace.

  Normally, Ning Xi didn't dare send letters to the imperial family in the capital, fearing that the Emperor would think that the Prince of Luoyang was secretly colluding with court officials.

  It's been five or six years since I've seen my beloved son.

  "Your Highness, how is Xi Ge'er doing?" Madam Ning couldn't help but ask.

  It's been more than half a year since Prince Luoyang returned to the capital, but they didn't dare go to the Wang Mansion or other residences to ask about his situation.

  The situation in the capital is complex, and the empress dowager always reminds Yiyuanhou Ning Luo to be careful. If he doesn't make a move, he will have all the wealth and glory that should come his way; but if he gets restless and joins the struggle, the empress dowager will not let them off first.

  The Ning family was exceptionally low-key, never wandering around randomly, and for more than half a year, they closed their doors to visitors.

  Zhu Zhongjun didn't know what Xige'er was.

  He didn't dare to make eyes at Gu Jin in the grand hall of the Empress Dowager, so he looked at her with a puzzled expression.

  The empress dowager hugged him and whispered: "Don't you even remember your uncle's nephew? Ning Xi, the commander in your mansion."

  Zhu Zhongjun pouted and said to Mrs. Ning: "Good."

  Madam Ning's eyes were slightly teary as she couldn't help but ask another question: "Didn't Xi Ge'er entrust the prince with any messages for us?"

  The empress dowager coughed.

  Zhu Zhongjun hid in Empress Dowager's arms and didn't answer.

  Yi Yanhou also gave his wife a stern look.

  Mrs. Ning hastily stopped talking, wiped away her tears and forced a smile.

  The atmosphere suddenly turned cold and never warmed up again.

  Mrs. Ning's smile was forced, with a hint of sadness.

  The two children of the Ning family, one a girl wearing a pink satin jacket with a folded lotus pattern, fifteen or sixteen years old, with a high bun and bright eyes; the other a boy wearing a blue silk robe, twelve or thirteen years old, with red lips and white teeth, looking somewhat like the King of Luoyang.

  The two children were very well-behaved and remained silent.

  The empress dowager made an excuse of being tired and let them withdraw.

  When only Gu Jinzhi and Luoyang Wang were left in the great hall, the Empress Dowager let out a soft sigh.

  King Luoyang asked: "Empress Dowager, are you hungry?"

  Gu Jinzhi didn't know how he suddenly remembered this sentence.

  The Empress Dowager was also slightly startled.

  Then Zhu Zhongjun hugged the empress dowager's neck and stuck to her face, saying: "If the Empress Dowager is hungry, I'll accompany the Empress Dowager to eat."

  The empress dowager came back to her senses and burst out laughing.

  He's hungry and wants an excuse to eat something.

  How can it be so interesting?

  The empress pinched his nose and delightedly exclaimed "good" repeatedly.

  With a smile like this, the knot in her heart was gone, and the Empress's mood also improved.

  In the empress dowager's eyes, Luoyang Wang was still that fool. Yet there was a bit of unusual cleverness about him, probably all taught by Gu Jinzi.

  The empress dowager was increasingly pleased with Gu Jin.

  She stood up and pulled Lou Yang Wang, then rushed towards Gu Zhen's beckoning hand: "Let's go, let's go eat!"

  Gu Jin followed behind them, mother and son.

  Her mood was somewhat complicated.

  In his past life, Zhu Zhongjun's relationship with his parents was extremely poor.

  Every time Gu Jinyi went back to eat, her mother-in-law's cold and icy demeanor made it difficult for her to swallow anything. Later, when her mother-in-law fell ill, Gu Jinyi was the one who cured her, and she gradually warmed up to Gu Jinyi.

  But she still didn't like Zhu Zhongjun.

  The mother and son were so awkward that Gu Jin once suspected that Zhu Zhongjun was not her biological child.

  Grandma didn't like Zhu Zhongjun, and Zhu Zhongjun didn't like Grandma either. As soon as they met, the atmosphere between mother and son became so chilly that it could freeze into ice, making everyone around them feel awkward.

  Now he is willing to curry favor with the empress dowager...

  The Empress Dowager also loved Zhu Zhongjun very much.

  In the side hall, some snacks were served, and the Empress Dowager also accompanied her. After eating half a bowl of stewed mutton milk, her mood had greatly improved.

  She wanted to pour out her emotions, but didn't dare to say it, and smiled as she watched Zhu Zhongjun gobble down his food, the empress's face was all smiles.

  Gu Jinzhi thought of his son eating when he was a child, and his mood was also pleasant.

  Later, however, his son and Zhu Zhongjun had a falling out, and he refused to return to China.

  Every year, Gu Zhen always makes time to visit his son and daughter-in-law, grandson and granddaughter.

  Recalling past events, I used to hate Zhu Zhongjun so much that I wanted to die. Now, how come I suddenly feel that he is also very pitiful? The high-ranking official position and wealth gained from betraying his friends and family, are they really what he wants?

  With a change of identity and a change of perspective, Gu Jing's heart softened a bit.

  In the palace, Zhu Zhongjun pretended to be a fool, and he did it very happily and skillfully, making the Empress Dowager extremely pleased.

  Then, I also met with His Majesty the Emperor.

  It is said that Zhu Zhongjun always lived in the Gu residence, and Empress Dowager did not mind, smiling and saying: "Xiaoqi takes care of you every day, and Mother will be at ease. You must listen to Xiaoqi's words, if there is anything disobedient, Mother will punish you!"

  Zhu Zhongjun leaned against her body and smiled without answering.

  The Empress Dowager smiled again, and the Emperor also smiled.

  The atmosphere is harmonious and joyful.

  When Gu Yu and Zhu Zhongjun left the palace, Empress Dowager said to the Emperor: "Their marriage, when will it be?"

  There was a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone.

  She certainly knew what the emperor meant.

  Some things, Empress Dowager didn't want to bother with, but she was looking forward to Prince Luoyang getting married soon, so that Gu Jin could officially take care of the household chores for him.

  The emperor thought for a moment, then said: "In April, the imperial edict will be issued, and all marriages in the country will be suspended for half a year. This means that it won't be until October. The Imperial Observatory is still working on combining their birth dates to select the most auspicious day. Jin Er will only turn 14 next year, and 15 the following year. After the Mid-Autumn Festival next year, there should be a good day for the wedding."

  It looks like it's going to drag on for another two years now.

  The empress dowager slightly closed her eyes and didn't say anything else.

  She knew that the Emperor's detailed account meant he had given it careful consideration.

  "…Adding the past half year, the Emperor wants to keep Zhonglin in the capital for three years. Will there be any changes on his side?" The Empress Dowager asked.

  She knew that the emperor was going to arrest Nan Chang Wang Zhonglin.

  But didn't want to cause panic among other princes and nobles.

  "It's good that something has happened, I'm afraid he won't do anything. He's made a move, and now I have an excuse." The emperor smiled and said, "Don't worry, Empress Dowager. Zhongjun is still young, they're just playing together, what's the harm in a few years? I've personally issued an imperial edict, are you afraid that the daughter-in-law will run away?"

  The empress dowager smiled slightly.

  On the return carriage. Zhu Zhongjun leaned against the pillow, very focused on biting the lotus seed cake that the Empress Dowager had brought back for him.

  Gu Jinzhi asked him: "Didn't you eat your fill in the palace?"

  Zhu Zhongjun shook his head and said, "I'm full, but this is really delicious!" Then he stuffed it into Gu Jin's mouth.

  Gu Jin had no choice but to take a small bite.

  Soft and sweet, nothing special.

  "Is it delicious?" He asked with a smile, narrowing his eyes.

  Such demeanor is similar to that of the former King of Luoyang.

  He pretended to be silly and gained experience from it.

  "It's okay." Gu Jinzhi nodded.

  Zhu Zhongjun didn't ask further and said: "You were just staring at Ning Xue, is there something wrong with her?"

  Gu Jin nodded and said: "In the Qing Dynasty, a famous doctor said that when people move, sit, and turn, they rely on yang energy. The upper body has five yang energies, and the lower body also has five yang energies."

  Once the loss is severe, for example, losing 50%, with only 25% left in both upper and lower body, one may not feel it themselves, and inexperienced doctors can't detect it either. On the contrary, they don't think there's anything wrong.

  The yang energy in the meridians is insufficient, and the emptiness is severe. The yang energy will also shift and tilt. Without energy, it cannot move. I saw Ning Yu walking, her whole body tilted to the left, her right leg's yang energy shifted to the left, it should be quite inflexible by now. In about half a year, she will likely suffer from right hemiplegia.

  Zhu Zhongjun smiled slightly.

  He said, "After you die, your students will compile and publish the manuscripts of your lifetime. In the preface, there is a sentence that says 'Gu's diagnosis: looking at the shape, knowing where the disease is'. I remember it very clearly, it's not exaggerated at all, it's the most accurate summary of your life. Gu Jinzhao, you have a gift for diagnosing diseases that others can't imagine."

  Observe its shape, know where the disease is located...

  She had also received such high praise throughout her life.

  A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

  "...paralysis has been around since ancient times. But your theory, however, only emerged three or four hundred years later. Being one step ahead is genius, being two steps ahead is madness. You go and tell others, they may not even believe you, why bother doing something that's thankless? It won't bring you any benefits either." said Zhu Zhongjun.

  He does things with a purpose.

  "If he comes to ask for a diagnosis, I will naturally tell him; if he doesn't believe me, I won't force it." said Gu Jin.

  The two of them chatted as they walked back to Yuanbao Alley.

  Zhu Zhongjun ate his fill and didn't even have lunch, directly lying down on the kang in the east wing to sleep.

  The weather is a bit hot, and there's already ice in the house.

  Peony gently fanned him.

  ——*——*——*——

  As she got off the carriage at the side of the Marquis's residence, Ning Xue felt that her right leg was still stiff and sore.

  He tilted slightly as he walked.

  Madam Ning noticed and asked him: "What's wrong? I've seen you walking like this since the 7th or 8th day."

  Ning Xue hurriedly covered her smile.

  He and Xinde's concubine were frolicking in the house, doing some clever tricks.

  That concubine lay on the table, her white and delicate chest, a waist like a water snake, infinite beauty in the spring light.

  Ning Yu looked at him, her heart racing, and when she walked into the room, she lost control of her movements, and her right leg heavily bumped against the edge of the table, bruising a large area.

  This matter, where is he good to take out and talk nonsense?

  Then, his concubine rested her head on his leg and took a nap.

  After that, his leg was somewhat inconvenient.

  He went to ask the imperial physician, and they all said there was no injury. It's normal for the muscles and bones to ache after a fall, just rest and recover for a few days.

  "Last time I was riding a horse outside, it got stuck." Ning Xue lied.

  Madam Ning said, "Today in the Kun Ning Palace, didn't the concubine of Lu Yang Wang keep staring at you with her eyes? Did she see through your intentions? I heard it was her who cured the Empress Dowager's illness, and she has remarkable skills. Tomorrow, go to her place again and ask her."

  The more I think about it, the more reliable it seems. "Luyang Wang is also at her house every day, and I just happen to go ask about Xige's affairs."

  Ning Yu knew that his wife missed their eldest son very much, and he did too.

  Making an excuse to visit Gu Jing and ask about Ning Xi's situation in private, it was also good.

  He nodded in agreement: "Have someone send a notice first."

  ——*——*——

  Thanks for enya2013 and Pele's reward.