coobybook Chapter 111: Some Backbone Has Emerged
Chapter 111: Some Backbone Has Emerged
Seeing that Zhou Hanzhang didn't speak, Gu Qingfeng moved closer to her and said, "You still haven't told me what business you're going to the palace for?"
"Watch out!" Zhou Hanzhang shouted in alarm when he saw the two horses about to collide.
Seeing that they were indeed about to collide, Gu Qingfeng quickly pulled on his horse. "Tell me first, what is it that requires you to go to the palace in the middle of the night?"
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Gu Qingfeng's mind: "Could it be that we're both doing this for the same thing?"
Zhou Hanzhang: ...
"Why don't you come with me to see my sister?" Gu Qingfeng suggested.
Gu Qingfeng originally intended to visit his grandmother, the Empress Dowager, first to ask what had happened.
But now that the Empress has summoned the Gu family father and son to the palace, apart from her own father's disappearance, she can't think of anything else that could have happened. Besides, her grandmother, the Empress Dowager, is old, and it wouldn't be good to disturb her rest in the middle of the night.
When Gu Qingfeng made this suggestion, she didn't hesitate for long and immediately agreed.
This wasn't the first time Zhou Hanzhang had come to the palace at night, but seeing the palace brightly lit than usual, she knew something big must have happened.
She followed Gu Qingfeng to the Empress's residence. Just as she was about to report, Huang, the nanny beside the Empress, came over and said, "Young Master Gu, you've finally arrived. Please come in. The Empress is waiting for you inside."
Zhou Hanzhang was slender and followed behind Gu Qingfeng. The old nanny didn't see her for a moment. At this moment, she walked out from behind Gu Qingfeng and nodded to the old nanny, "Granny Huang".
Only then did Granny Huang notice Zhou Hanzhang and immediately bowed to him, "The young prince has also arrived. That's perfect, our Empress was also thinking of inviting you over."
Zhou Hanzhang's heart skipped a beat; it seemed the matter was indeed related to his father's disappearance.
At this moment, the Empress summoned the Gu family father and son as well, which probably meant that it wasn't just her father who was missing.
A terrible thought flashed through her mind.
Could it be that the Emperor has disappeared?
She didn't dare to think too much and quickly followed Granny Huang inside.
As soon as she entered, she saw her grandmother, the Empress Dowager, sitting at the head of the table, her face pale and filled with worry.
Empress Gu, standing beside her, didn't look much better, but it was clear that she was trying her best to control her expression.
General Gu, his face somber, paced back and forth in the main hall.
Empress Gu whispered to comfort the Empress Dowager, "Mother, don't worry. We don't know how things will turn out yet. Let's not scare ourselves."
She glanced at Gu Qingfeng and Zhou Hanzhang as they entered, and was slightly surprised, but quickly recovered.
"Zhang'er is here too. We were just thinking of sending someone to call you over."
When the Empress Dowager heard Empress Gu's words, she looked up and saw that it was indeed Zhou Hanzhang. She quickly waved her hand and said, "Zhangzhang'er, come here quickly."
Although her unreliable son is often unreliable, she is extremely fond of her granddaughter Zhou Hanzhang.
When Zhou Hanzhang saw the Empress Dowager beckoning, he tried to stand up shakily, so he quickly went over and took her hand.
"Grandmother, how have you been lately? It's all my fault for not visiting you for so long." Zhou Hanzhang said with extreme guilt.
The Empress Dowager's heart softened when she saw Zhou Hanzhang's appearance. "How can you be blamed for this? Blame your father for not bringing you in to see me."
When Zhou Hanzhang's father was mentioned, the Empress Dowager's expression became somewhat dejected.
"You've come to the palace now, surely you've received some news?"
The Empress Dowager didn't say anything, but at this moment, Zhou Hanzhang naturally knew what she was talking about, and she nodded to the Empress Dowager.
“My mother received the message, but she didn’t know the specifics, so I decided to come in and see what had happened.”
Although Gu Qingfeng was usually simple-minded, he wasn't completely so. Upon hearing these words, he realized something was amiss. He first bowed to the Empress Dowager before quietly walking to Empress Gu's side.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
Empress Gu gave him a look, signaling him to remain silent.
Gu Qingfeng felt a bit aggrieved. He was called over in the middle of the night, but then not allowed to speak. What was going on?
However, he was usually timid in front of Empress Gu, and seeing her not-so-pleasant expression, he didn't dare to say anything and could only stand obediently to the side.
The Empress Dowager looked at Zhou Hanzhang, then at General Gu and Gu Qingfeng, before slowly saying, "I have summoned you all here today because a major event has occurred."
Everyone's hearts skipped a beat; the important matter the Empress Dowager spoke of was certainly no small matter.
Zhou Hanzhang thought to himself that something else must have happened besides his father's disappearance.
Although she was anxious, she didn't rush to ask and waited for the Empress Dowager to continue.
General Gu and Gu Qingfeng, however, were getting anxious, wanting to ask but not daring to.
"A few days ago, the emperor took Huai De out, and now they have both disappeared."
These words were like a drop of water falling into boiling oil, instantly frying everyone until they were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
"Isn't His Majesty ill and recuperating in the palace?" Gu Qingfeng asked hurriedly.
General Gu tugged at him, and only then did he realize what was happening.
The Empress Dowager's voice followed, "The two brothers had important business to attend to, but it was a matter of great importance, and they dared not let anyone else know, so they both went out secretly."
The emperor claimed illness and excused himself from the morning court session precisely to prepare for this matter, but now, before the two of them even reached their destination, this has already happened.
It seems the news has leaked... We don't know what the situation is like on their side. The emperor's disappearance is no small matter. The reason I summoned you two here is that I hope you can secretly search for him.
"Right now, besides you few, we really can't trust anyone else."
The Empress Dowager sighed and continued, "Time is of the essence, and we cannot afford to wait any longer. You would better set off now."
"Empress Dowager, may I ask where His Majesty and the others went? By water or by land?"
General Gu was eager to find the person, but he first needed to find out where the emperor had gone and which route he had taken.
"They went to Jiangnan. The emperor didn't tell me the specifics. They probably traveled by land. The emperor has been seasick since childhood and can't travel by boat. Those people probably anticipated this, which is why they ambushed them on the way."
General Gu nodded, and without saying anything else, said to the Empress Dowager and Empress Gu, "Then I will set off now with my son, and we will definitely find His Majesty and Master Zhou. We will not return until we have found them. Empress Dowager and Empress, please rest assured."
The fact that they were summoned here at this time means that we trust them. With General Gu's assurance, although we are still worried, we finally have some peace of mind.