Da Qin Shi had always been close to Consort An. Now that Consort An said so, she followed along, and the two walked hand in hand to the Old Madam's courtyard.
"Mother." Consort An saw Old Madam Gu, her eyes brimming with tears.
"This humble subject, Gu Shi, pays her respects to Your Ladyship." Old Madam Gu trembled, about to bow to Consort An.
Consort An immediately knelt on the ground. "Mother, we are in the Gu family now. I am merely your daughter."
When the mother and daughter met in the palace, with many eyes and ears, they naturally could not neglect propriety and etiquette.
Now, with no one else in the room but their trusted confidantes, Consort An naturally cast aside the imperial rules.
"Why are you all standing there? Hurry and help Her Ladyship up!" Old Madam Gu urged.
Da Qin Shi quickly helped Consort An up.
"My child, I've missed you so much," Old Madam Gu choked out.
"Mother, I've missed you too." Consort An personally helped Old Madam Gu sit down, leaning her head gently on the Old Madam's shoulder, just as she had before her marriage.
"You all wait outside. I want to speak with Her Ladyship alone," Old Madam Gu dismissed the servants in the room.
Da Qin Shi was about to leave as well, but Old Madam Gu stopped her. "A'le has always been close to you, so you stay here too."
Qin Shi then sat down beside them.
"Why did His Majesty suddenly allow the imperial consorts to return home for a visit?" Old Madam Gu asked.
"Originally, only I was allowed to return home. His Majesty considered that if only I returned, it would be too conspicuous," Consort An said.
Although Old Madam Gu's health was not as good as before, her mind was still sharp. It was impossible that she had returned home for a visit simply because she missed her family; there must be something else.
"A'le, whatever it is, just say it," Old Madam Gu said.
"Mother, this matter cannot be kept secret," Consort An lowered her voice. "His Majesty wants me to return and persuade my elder brother."
"What has Chang Wei done?" Old Madam Gu tightly grasped Consort An's hand.
"His Majesty has no plans to establish a crown prince for the time being. Both my elder brother and Si Ya have taken sides," Consort An said.
Her own grandson was a prince, and in the eyes of outsiders, their Gu family was aligned with the First Prince. Now that her daughter said this, it meant that her son and grandson had chosen another prince.
"Absurd! Utterly foolish!" Old Madam Gu slammed the table in anger. "Is it the Second Prince or the Third Prince?"
Consort An shook her head. "Neither."
"Could it be that he intends to support an underage prince?" Old Madam Gu exclaimed in shock.
"Not an underage one, but His Majesty's bloodline that has been living in exile. Although it has not been publicly announced, if there are no accidents, there should be no problem with the bloodline," Consort An said.
"Does he… does he have intentions of rebellion?" Old Madam Gu's voice trembled.
"My elder brother likely believes that this prince has no supporting forces behind him. Once this prince succeeds, his only reliance will be the Gu family," Consort An said.
"Foolish! Relying solely on the Gu family, what can be accomplished? Moreover, His Majesty is in his prime and is a rare wise ruler," Old Madam Gu said angrily.
"Si Ya is also involved, so the Du family must be…" Consort An said.
"What is His Majesty's intention?" Old Madam Gu asked.
"If my elder brother pulls back from the brink, the Gu family will remain the Gu family," Consort An said. "His Majesty had great affection for that prince early on. Now that he knows of the prince's ambition, His Majesty is very heartbroken."
The implication was that Emperor Chongwen was about to act against his own son, and naturally, he would not show any leniency towards the Gu family.
"Because of my lifelong bond with His Majesty, he has permitted me to return home to persuade my elder brother," Consort An said.