Chapter 551 Senior Sister
The throne in the main hall of Qingsheng Palace is inlaid with bright pearls, shining brightly.
Gu Yuanqiong gave up the main seat and chose to sit on the side, reading the newly bought novel with great interest.
The palace was silent, and suddenly a palace attendant came to report: "Your Highness, Lord Beizhao Chengji has arrived."
When Gu Yuanqiong heard this, he immediately put down the script and stood up to greet him.
"Lord Ji has come to visit me, and I am so disrespectful for not being able to greet him from afar."
Ji Feiyan took a few quick steps and walked into the hall, showing a hint of panic.
"No, no, Your Highness, please stay."
The princes and princesses are of the third rank; the Northern Zhaocheng is of the second rank.
Logically, Gu Yuanqiong should salute Ji Feiyan. However, the royal family has other rules. When facing ministers, no matter their rank, the royal family can be exempted from salutes.
When facing the royal family, including the royal family members, the subjects shall follow all etiquette according to the law. Those of higher rank shall be exempted from etiquette; those of lower rank shall politely decline and say hello.
Therefore, Ji Feiyan and Gu Yuanqiong can exempt each other from courtesy.
Gu Yuanqiong gestured for him to come in.
"Master Ji, please take a seat."
Ji Feiyan was even more respectful.
"Your Highness is too polite. I will just sit to the side."
Gu Yuanqiong was respectful, just like he treated his elders in the family.
"Then I'll take the last seat."
Ji Feiyan also declined politely without any neglect.
"I am a humble person, and I thank you for your kindness."
Gu Yuanqiong flattered carefully and cautiously to consolidate the power of Beizhaotai.
"Master Ji, you are a disciple of the Grand Secretary Fang, whose reputation is as great as thunder. You are not inferior to your teacher in the slightest. When we meet, I should be ashamed of myself. How can Master Ji belittle himself?"
He waited for Lord Ji to take his seat first before he sat down.
"Excuse me, Master Ji, what can I do for you?"
Ji Feiyan lowered her eyebrows and answered modestly.
"I have two reasons for visiting Your Highness. One is for Your Highness's overall interests, and the other is for my own personal interests."
Gu Yuanqiong followed suit and declined.
"Master Ji's family affairs are important, please be sure to inform your family of your family affairs first."
Ji Feiyan pursed her lips slightly, her expression gentle.
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."
"My private affairs concern the sect, not the affairs of the Ji Mansion."
There was a hint of worry and sadness on her face.
"Junior sister, she has been missing for two years and her whereabouts are still unknown."
"She is the only child left by my master. I worry about her every day and often stay awake all night."
Gu Yuanqiong's expression followed suit, becoming gloomy and unhappy.
"To be honest, I have already arranged for spies to investigate and search for you."
"I'm sorry, I can't find any clues."
The unfortunate death of her junior sister emerged in her mind unconsciously, and Ji Feiyan suddenly felt unbearable heartache.
"Perhaps, she has already..."
Gu Yuanqiong interrupted her and spoke urgently and warmly to comfort her.
"Master Ji, please don't be depressed. My dear Junior Sister, good people will be blessed by heaven, and I'm sure you will be safe and sound."
"Don't worry. I think the person who kidnapped her must have a high and unpredictable plan, so we have no way to find her. Such a master is rare in the world, and there are only a few in the world. We just need to persevere, and we will find our virtuous sister soon."
Due to etiquette, Ji Feiyan tried her best to hold back her tears.
"Thank you for your enlightenment, Your Highness."
Gu Yuanqiong changed his usual arrogance and imitated Ning Fengzhe, smiling obediently.
"You're welcome. Master Ji, don't worry. After the rain comes the sun. After all the suffering comes happiness. Although Junior Sister has gone through hardships, she will be blessed in the future."
Ji Feiyan's eyes were filled with tears and she smiled back.
"Well, I appreciate your words."
Gu Yuanqiong appropriately changed the subject, trying to make her forget her grief.
"Master Ji, what do you mean by my overall situation?"
Ji Feiyan adjusted her breathing and calmed down as quickly as possible.
"I have a foolish question, and it may be abrupt, Your Highness, please forgive me."
Gu Yuanqiong is gentle and elegant.
"Master Ji, please feel free to speak."
Ji Feiyan spoke softly.
"Your Highness, don't you think that the emperor's feelings for you are illusory and not like true fatherly love?"
It came without any reason and suddenly, Gu Yuanqiong was caught off guard and his eyes froze.
"It must be because of the royal family. Father is so busy with the court that he inevitably neglects the affections of his family."
Ji Feiyan looked at him solemnly and spoke sincerely.
"Why deceive yourself? Your Highness has a discerning eye and can see that the Emperor loves the three siblings of the Zhuang family and is considerate and thoughtful."
"It is conceivable that the emperor is not a heartless person."
Gu Yuanqiong's face was calm, but his pupils were trembling with a hint of worry.
"In the early years, the Zhuang clan was indebted to my father."
"This is not kinship, but gratitude. Father's treatment is certainly different."
Ji Feiyan sighed silently and stopped immediately.
"Your Highness is determined and stubborn? Then I will not persuade you any more."
Gu Yuanqiong was startled.
"Please be patient and give me more advice."
When they were talking to each other sincerely, his eyes were wandering and his heart was worried and uneasy.
"It happened suddenly, and it impacted many old memories. Don't be fooled by my calm appearance. In fact, my heart was almost shattered."
"I wonder if Master Ji can empathize with you? If someone were to suddenly tell you that you are not your father's biological daughter, how would you feel?"
Ji Feiyan felt guilty.
"sorry."
Gu Yuanqiong was filled with melancholy.
"Lord Ji said good things and did nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize."
Following His Highness' orders, Ji Feiyan continued to speak.
"Your Highness understands the Emperor's plan for the country, but you haven't thought about it deeply."
"When the situation changes, if one of you kills King Di Jin, the emperor will have to cut ties with you and even purge the flatterers if he wants to silence the public."
"Based on this, it is not difficult to conclude that you are not his biological children, and he has enough witnesses and evidence. By then, the facts will be clear and everyone will see that your evil deeds have nothing to do with his character. In addition, he has the will of the previous emperor, so he can make decisions in the temple and enjoy the throne, which is justified."
"What do you think, Your Highness?"
Gu Yuanqiong understood everything after hearing these valuable advice and combined it with his past experiences.
"Master Ji is right."
"It turns out that even if I get rid of Fang Zhixuan and Zhuang Shao, I will not be the crown prince, let alone inherit the throne."
"If I knew nothing and followed his will, I would become a discarded child of my father in the end."
Ji Feiyan's words were powerful and logical.
"Your Highness wants to rule the country, why not make your own plans? Once the turning point comes, the great event will be accomplished."
"Throughout the ages, only subjects and people have entrusted their future to the hands of others; as for rulers, their fate has always been their own."
While giving advice, she never forgets her responsibility.
"Also, Fang Zhixuan must not be let off. He used the excuse of passing off fake goods as genuine goods to save his own honor, disregarding the safety of his relatives. He has lost all conscience and is an unforgivable criminal."
"Will Your Highness ignore the hatred of our Master?"
Suddenly there was a sense of intimidation, and Gu Yuanqiong reacted immediately, showing an expression of deep disgust.
"I admire Lord Fang's talent and regard him as a role model. I vow to help him avenge his grievances and will do my utmost to fulfill my duty."
Seeing through it but not saying it out loud, Ji Feiyan smiled.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"I have found out that the secrets of the life stories of the princes and princesses are hidden in the Bronze Platform. Your Highness, as a living being, is very likely to be trapped in it by the Emperor. I have a humble plan to help Your Highness clear the obstacles and sneak into the Bronze Platform. I hope Your Highness will accept it."
Gu Yuanqiong nodded in response.
"Okay, I'll go find out."