Stronger by Killing

As the Emperor’s most beloved youngest daughter, she held a noble status and had seen countless dignitaries. She could see the Emperor any time she wished, and had never felt nervous like today.

She had been sharing a carriage with Gu Zhan for some time now, and she found it hard to believe that upon first meeting Gu Zhan, she felt an overwhelming sense of oppression, not because Gu Zhan had unleashed his Martial Arts Will, but due to his sheer personal aura.

She thought carefully and realized that this feeling had only occurred when facing her angry imperial father in childhood. Later, she had always been fearless, relying on her father’s favor.

Originally, upon learning Gu Zhan would take her to the Hu Ben Battalion, she planned in her heart to order Gu Zhan to lead troops to help her father. Yet when she really saw Gu Zhan, she was so nervous she couldn’t speak, staying silent till now, attempting to speak multiple times but recoiling upon meeting his gaze.

Breaking the silence, Gu Zhan suddenly spoke: "Princess Anle..."

"Ah!" Ji Anle was startled, her whole body tensing as she sat upright, but realizing her impertinence, her face flushed, she said: "Gu... Marquis Gu, please... just call me Anle!"

Gu Zhan chuckled lightly and said: "Anle, what exactly is the situation now in the Imperial Palace?"

Ji Anle hastily replied: "I... I don’t know, Marquis Gu, because father is ill, I only visited him a few days ago, but I was chased out by the Empress on the grounds that father needed rest, and while I was visiting father, the Empress was seated beside him.

When a Palace Maid delivered the medicine, the Empress rose to receive it, during which father quietly instructed me to find a way to inform you to leave the Capital City and return to Yunxi quickly. That’s all I know."

Gu Zhan asked: "But at what point did you receive the Military Token?"

Ji Anle said: "The day before father fell ill, he had a dispute with the Crown Prince. I don’t know the specifics, but after that day, when I went to see father, he gave me the Military Token, repeatedly instructing me not to let others know.

At the time, I did not know what had happened, but after leaving the Imperial Palace, I found someone secretly observing me, realizing trouble might be brewing yet unable to think clearly, when I heard of father’s grave illness.

On the day I visited father, he secretly reminded me about the Military Token while instructing me to inform you to leave the capital. It dawned on me that father’s illness was not simple, but I didn’t know what to do until I heard of the Holy Decree summoning you to the Capital City, realizing father might be held under control."

Gu Zhan questioned: "Why reach such a conclusion?"

Ji Anle said: "Because long ago some ministers suggested summoning you to the Capital City, however, father refused, considering Yunzhou still unstable and needing you stationed there. His plan was to summon you several months later.

But now, suddenly summoning you contradicts father’s plans, this Holy Decree definitely poses a problem, for it to defy father’s intentions indicates father likely being controlled.

It was then I thought of the Military Token, but already being surveilled, I had no means to take it to Qixia Mountain, nor trust others. Considering the situation, since the Decree pointed to you, you certainly weren’t harming father.

Lacking means to contact you, I could only reach out to the Gu Family, whose allegiance to you bore no secrecy in the Capital City. Yet being closely watched, if not for Sister Qingcheng’s proactive approach, I wouldn’t have figured a way to contact the Gu Family, nor leave the city."

Gu Zhan nodded subtly, saying: "So, according to you, the Imperial Palace is currently controlled by the Empress and the Crown Prince?"

"And the Empress Dowager," Ji Anle added, "both the Empress Dowager and Empress hail from the Lü Family, and the Empress listens to the Empress Dowager. The Crown Prince, being the Empress’s legitimate son, aligns with them."

Gu Zhan queried: "Then you..."

Ji Anle shook her head, saying: "My mother hailed from a humble background, remaining merely a concubine, possessing no power in the harem."

Gu Zhan slightly nodded, saying: "Then, according to your speculation, the Lü Family and Ji Family controlled Your Majesty."

Ji Anle nodded, saying: "It must be so. Father once told me, though he appears as the supreme Emperor, in reality, there are many matters he cannot control. The Ji Family and Lü Family are the true rulers, yet since our Royal Family is the strongest branch in the Ji Family, father manages to be the Emperor."

Gu Zhan chuckled lightly and said: "You are quite forthcoming, sharing everything."

Ji Anle stammered: "I... I fear..."

"Fear me?" Gu Zhan asked.

Ji Anle nodded, then hastily added: "Though I fear you, I believe you wouldn’t harm me or father, hence I confide in you!"

Gu Zhan smiled slightly, asking: "Then what are your plans now?"

"I don’t know," Ji Anle replied with distress, "I... I have always relied on father to act boldly in the Capital City, but now... now with these happenings, the only thought I have is bringing the Military Token to Qixia Mountain to find the Hu Ben Battalion.