Uncle Fu stepped forward to block him.
"Your Highness, everyone is genuinely doing this for your own good."
"We absolutely mustn't let this escalate."
Gu Moran glanced at him.
"I know."
Uncle Fu did not retire.
Gu Moran softened her tone.
"So for now, I'm just going to the palace. If I made a big fuss and actually led people to investigate the sealed land, that would be considered making a big deal out of it."
Uncle Fu then stepped aside.
The sunlight outside had already surpassed that of the corridor lamps, and the morning breeze swept in from under the corridor.
Gu Moran turned and left the study.
When Gu Moran entered Hanzhang Hall.
Noble Consort Chen was sitting by the window, holding a book of medicinal properties in her hand.
The words "cinnabar" and "sulfur" on the paper were facing the lamplight; the writing was so dark and heavy that it made one's chest feel heavy.
A calming incense stick was burning on the table; the scent was very faint.
Standing half a step behind her, Eunuch Zhang saw Gu Moran enter, first went to add honey water, and then closed the palace door.
Gu Moran bowed.
Your son greets His Majesty the Empress Dowager.
Noble Consort Chen didn't look up; she first placed the medicine booklet under her teacup.
"You're here so early. What is it?"
Gu Moran sat down opposite her.
"Your Majesty, I have come to ask you, Mother, where do the elixirs Father consumes come from?"
Noble Consort Chen said, "The alchemy furnace room."
Gu Moran looked at her.
"The alchemy workshop only manages the furnace, not the route. The medicinal properties record in Mother's possession is even more detailed than that of the Imperial Medical Bureau; there's no need to hide it from me."
Eunuch Zhang lowered his head, his breathing very softly.
Gu Moran continued, "How far have you gotten in investigating the hidden patterns on the Flower-Between Pavilion?"
Noble Consort Chen's fingertip paused on the tea lid for a moment.
Who told you that?
"My mother had the elixir delivered to the Prince's residence. I'm not stupid."
Noble Consort Chen then raised her eyes.
" Flower-Between Pavilion sells information, and it also sells channels. Someone using its services doesn't necessarily mean Flower-Between Pavilion itself did the work."
Gu Moran didn't respond to that question, but instead asked another one.
What about the old case of Liu Huaijin?
Eunuch Zhang's throat moved slightly.
The gentle expression on Noble Consort Chen's face turned slightly cold.
Why did you suddenly bring up this name?
Gu Moran took out the gray ledger from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"He is the father of Liu Ruyan, a concubine in the Prince's household. Can't I be concerned about him?"
The account book fell onto the jade table, and the atmosphere in the hall grew even heavier.
"I've come today not only to inquire about the old cases," he said, glancing at the cover, "But also about this secret ledger of the fiefdom."
Noble Consort Chen's finger stopped.
Eunuch Zhang took a half step forward, then abruptly stopped.
Gu Moran glanced at him.
"Is there something you need, Eunuch Zhang?"
Eunuch Zhang bent over and shook his head.
"Your Highness asked the Empress, and this old servant dares not interrupt."
Gu Moran nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on her.
"It seems Mother Consort is unwilling to speak, then I will ask you."
Eunuch Zhang lowered his head even further.
What was your name before you entered the palace?
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Noble Consort Chen spoke, " Ran'er."
Gu Moran did not back down.
"Mother, is this question so difficult to answer?"
Noble Consort Chen looked at him, and after a moment, slowly said, "Difficult."
Gu Moran pressed his palm against the ledger.
"Then let's choose an easier one."
"Ever since I was granted my fiefdom, I have always been too lazy to deal with those trivial matters."
The salt wells, tea plantations, and river transport in Yi Prefecture have suddenly become more efficient in recent years.
It's not just one place, it's a whole series. Who's behind all this?
Noble Consort Chen said, "This palace..."
Gu Moran looked at her.
When will Mother Consort be in charge of salt administration, tea contracts, and river transport and storage?
Noble Consort Chen picked up the tea but didn't drink it.
"Even women in the imperial harem can keep accounts."
Being good at reading accounts and being able to suppress the powerful clans of Yi Prefecture are two different things.
Gu Moran's voice was not loud.
"Moreover, every time Yi Prefecture replenishes the funds, it's exactly enough to cover the Prince's deficit, not a tael more, not a tael less."
He looked up.
"This isn't a temporary allocation; someone is monitoring the Prince's accounts. They see how I spend the money, and when I'm short, they send more from Yi Prefecture, one payment at a time."
"Mother, you're busy appeasing Father and maneuvering in the harem every day, do you really have the energy for all this?"
Eunuch Zhang whispered, "Your Highness, that silver is clean."
Gu Moran turned to look at him.
I asked if it was clean?
Eunuch Zhang fell silent.
Gu Moran looked back at Noble Consort Chen, speaking very slowly.
"Mother, is there something unspeakable about my origins...?"
Noble Consort Chen slammed her teacup down on the table, splashing tea that dampened a corner of the medicinal properties record.
Eunuch Zhang immediately knelt down.
Your Highness, please be careful with your words.
Gu Moran didn't look at him, but stared at Noble Consort Chen.
Noble Consort Chen's face paled for a moment, but her fingers quickly steadied.
"You insolent brat, shut up! You are my son!"
"He is also His Majesty's son."
Gu Moran went over the sentence in her mind.
Too.
The word "also" is somewhat redundant.
He didn't press further, but instead smiled.
"Mother, I haven't been sleeping well lately; I keep having nightmares."
Noble Consort Chen's eyes held a mixture of anger and exhaustion.
If you can't sleep, go find Shen Ling'er.
Gu Moran said, "I keep dreaming about my childhood. It seems like the Grand Tutor Liu Huaijin even held me in his arms back then. What exactly happened in that old case of his family's massacre?"
Noble Consort Chen did not answer immediately.
Eunuch Zhang knelt on the ground, his back hunched low.
Gu Moran looked at him.
"Speak, Eunuch Zhang?"
Eunuch Zhang said in a deep voice, "Grand Tutor Liu Huaijin committed a crime sixteen years ago, and the entire Liu Clan was convicted."
Gu Moran asked, "What crime was committed?"
Eunuch Zhang raised his eyes, glanced at Noble Consort Chen, and then lowered them again.
Noble Consort Chen said, "His Majesty believes that his achievements overshadow his own and that he harbors rebellious intentions."
Gu Moran raised an eyebrow.
"True treason?"
This time, Noble Consort Chen closed her eyes and did not reply.
Only the incense and steaming tea remained in the hall.
Gu Moran put the account book back into his arms and stood up.
"Alright, I understand."
Noble Consort Chen frowned.
"What do you understand?"
"I understand, Mother doesn't want to say too much today."
Noble Consort Chen looked at him, her voice lowering.
" Ran'er, there are some things that knowing now will only cause trouble, and might even lead to your death."
Gu Moran looked up.
"So, if I don't know, I'll live longer?"
These words left Noble Consort Chen speechless.
Eunuch Zhang leaned forward, his voice hoarse.
"Your Highness, the Empress has protected you for twenty years."
Gu Moran looked at him.
That's why I asked, why can't you just give me a straight answer?
Eunuch Zhang closed his eyes and kowtowed again.
"The old slave is guilty."
Gu Moran stood still, not pressing any further forward.
"I know you all have your reasons."
"But you can't keep treating me like a child."
Noble Consort Chen stood up, walked to him, and straightened his collar.
Her fingertips lingered on her neckline for a moment.
"I cannot speak of this matter now."
Gu Moran's brow twitched.
Noble Consort Chen looked up at him, her voice very soft.
"If we were to rashly bring up that incident from back then, the consequences would be unimaginable."
She paused.
"If you really want to know, give me some time, okay?"
Gu Moran looked at her but didn't reply immediately.
Noble Consort Chen added, "Don't be so quick to ask. Your father is still watching, and the palace isn't the place to talk like this."
Gu Moran lowered his head, having confirmed that he was indeed not a prince.
His voice softened.
"Your subject has remembered."
Noble Consort Chen's eyes reddened slightly, but she still didn't let the tears fall.
"Remember, you are my son."
Gu Moran at her.
"Very well, I will remember."
Noble Consort Chen paused, but her fingers did not loosen their grip on his collar.
Just write it down.
Gu Moran took a step back and bowed again.
"Your subject takes his leave."
When he turned around, Eunuch Zhang was still kneeling.
As Gu Moran reached the entrance of the palace, he paused for a moment without turning around.
" Eunuch Zhang."
Eunuch Zhang looked up.
Gu Moran looked at the light outside the window, her voice flat.
"The honey water tastes very good."
Eunuch Zhang knelt even lower.
"If Your Highness likes it, this old servant will keep more on hand."
Gu Moran in agreement and stepped out of the Hanzhang Hall.
The moment the palace doors closed, Noble Consort Chen stood rooted to the spot, her fingertips still resting on where he had been standing on his collar.
Eunuch Zhang whispered, "Your Highness, His Highness is suspicious."
Noble Consort Chen looked out the window.
He'll get suspicious sooner or later.
Eunuch Zhang said, "If this continues, we probably won't be able to keep it from Miss Liu for long."
Noble Consort Chen closed her eyes briefly, and when she spoke again, her voice was soft and deep.
"Go and find a way to arrange for me to meet your benefactor."
Eunuch Zhang's throat tightened.
"Yes."
Noble Consort Chen pressed her fingertips against the windowsill, slowly tightening her grip.
"I haven't discussed this matter with him, so I can't make the decision for him. Let's meet first and then see how things go."
Eunuch Zhang bowed and agreed.
"This old servant understands."
Noble Consort Chen did not reply, but looked in the direction of the Hall of Supreme Ultimate.
As soon as Gu Moran stepped out of the palace gate, she bumped into a familiar figure.
The woman was wearing a light red gauze dress, her hair was loosely tied up, and delicate tassels hung by her ears. She even walked very lightly.
The fragrance of osmanthus wafted over first.
Gu Moran paused, his gaze sweeping across her face.
The eyebrows, eyes, nose, and lip color were all drawn to resemble Liu Ruyan's face.
Gu Moli looked up and saw him, lowering her voice even further.
"Greetings to Your Highness."
Gu Moran didn't move, his throat bobbing slightly.
" Gu Moli, why are you dressed up like Liu Ruyan?"