In ancient times, the powerful and wealthy seized power step by step.

Duke Dingguo looked at Gu Zhao, who had once again shaved his head and become a monk, dressed in a monk's robe and chanting scriptures and doing his midday prayers. He was so angry at this rebellious son that he wanted to die.

Gu Zhao returned to the capital two months ago. On the day of his return, he went to the palace to report and met with the Empress Dowager. He didn't even go back to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. Instead, he went directly to Huangjue Temple, shaved his head, and became a monk on the spot. He hasn't been home for two months since then.

Today, the Duke of Dingguo came to Yongfu Manor with a mission. Old Madam Gu specifically ordered the Duke of Dingguo to either bring the person back or not to return.

Influenced by this stubborn and rebellious son, the Duke of Dingguo had nowhere to go home and angrily cursed:

"For the sake of your children's personal feelings, you've committed this disloyal and unfilial act! You've completely disregarded the future of the family! How long are you going to act so impulsively and recklessly?!"

Despite being so sternly reprimanded by his father, Gu Zhao, who was entering the Buddhist order for the second time, remained calm and slowly raised his eyes to glance at the Duke of Dingguo:

"I'm being unreasonable? I'm disloyal and unfilial? Father, over the years, have I wronged the royal family or the Gu family? Over the years, haven't I done enough for the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Duke's Mansion? Isn't that right?"

If Gu Zhao were to get angry and start yelling at him, the Duke of Dingguo could still invoke his father's status to suppress his disrespectful behavior.

But his calm question caught the Duke of Dingguo off guard, leaving him momentarily speechless.

To be fair, this son has sacrificed a great deal for his family and the royal family, so much so that even the Duke of Dingguo doesn't have the confidence to reprimand him further.

The Duke of Dingguo lacked confidence, but Gu Zhao was very confident, and said:

"Father, I have wronged no one. On the contrary, since I entered the palace at the age of eight, nearly sixteen years have passed, and I have done more than enough for the family. Do you agree?"

When the Duke of Dingguo was stumped by the question, his imposing manner weakened.

"Then you shouldn't have done that."

Gu Zhao continued calmly:

"Father, what do you mean by that? I don't ask for much now, just to marry the one I love. She is no ordinary person; she saved the Emperor's life, is a high-ranking official of the third rank, and is a miraculous doctor who quelled the plague in the northern frontier—a rare heroine. It would be my honor to marry such a woman, and I hope my family would share in that honor. Father, I have a clear conscience regarding loyalty and filial piety. Could you please show me some mercy and grant my request?"

The kids are getting older and harder to manage.

The Duke of Dingguo came in a huff, but returned empty-handed, failing to complete his mission. When he got home, he was scolded by Old Madam Gu.

On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, seeing Gu Zhao's empty chair, Old Madam Gu became even angrier and scolded the Duke of Dingguo again.

Gu Zhao not only didn't go back for the Dragon Boat Festival, but three months have passed in the blink of an eye. It's almost been half a year since he left home, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, but he still has no intention of going back.

Perhaps because of their blood ties, Gu Zhao was stubborn, and so was the Empress Dowager. Gu Zhao did not want to go back, and the Empress Dowager did not want to give in either. The two were deadlocked for almost half a year, and neither of them would give in.

On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xiong Kun, on the orders of the Duchess of Dingguo, went to Yongfu Manor to deliver gifts to Gu Zhao. Gu Zhao accepted the gifts and instructed him:

"When you go back to report, choose a time when your grandmother is around, and say that I am sick, that I have been sick for several days, and that I am so sick that I can't even get out of bed."

Xiong Kun understood immediately and made sure to return to report right at mealtime.

Lady Dingguo was having dinner with Old Madam Gu. Because it involved the young master, and worried that the lady might be anxious, the nanny led Xiong Kun inside.

After Xiong Kun finished speaking, upon hearing that Gu Zhao was ill, Old Madam Gu, who had endured this for the past six months, finally couldn't hold back any longer. She even stopped eating and gave the order:

"Bring me my identification token!"

The old lady had a bad back, and getting up so quickly made the Duchess of Dingguo afraid she would break her back, so she quickly supported her and asked:

"Mother, what are you doing with that waist token?"

The usually kind and gentle Old Mrs. Gu was now filled with murderous intent.

"Enter the palace!"

The Empress Dowager is the mother of the emperor and also the mother of all people.

But everyone's mother has her own mother, and she too is subject to oppression from her mother.

When Old Madam Gu stormed all the way to Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager, thinking something terrible had happened, quickly dismissed her attendants and asked:

"Mother, what happened?"

Old Mrs. Gu snorted:

"How dare I be your mother? You are my mother!"

The Empress Dowager was bewildered by this out-of-the-top remark. Since it was her own mother, she couldn't say anything to her and could only try to appease her.

"Mother, why do you say that? What's wrong with me? Why are you so angry?"

Grandma Gu snorted again:

"What's wrong with you? Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is so arrogant, forcing my grandson to become a monk for no reason, and you still ask me what's wrong? You're the Empress Dowager now, you don't care about anyone. If I didn't call you 'Mother,' would you even acknowledge this old woman?"

So that's what it was about. The Empress Dowager was furious and tried to reason with Old Madam Gu.

"Mother, Zhao'er is being silly. You can't let him have his way. He's bewitched right now. Once he calms down, in a year or two, I'll find him a proper daughter from a prestigious family."

Old Mrs. Gu was in a bad mood and had come specifically to cause trouble, so she wouldn't listen to any of this and immediately said:

"You really are my own mother! How old is he now? What child isn't married by this age? What's a little longer? Besides, it's for him to get married, not for you! Of course, he should be allowed to choose someone he likes, not for you to choose someone you like! A noblewoman? In this world, which family is as noble as the Gu family? Do we, a family like ours, have to rely on Zhao'er's marriage to climb the social ladder?"

If it were anyone else, daring to act so wildly in Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager would have had them dragged away long ago.

Unfortunately, it was her own mother. She couldn't be reasoned with, nor could she be hit. The Empress Dowager was completely under her control, her every tactic useless, and she suffered defeat after defeat.

"Mother, that's not how it works."

Old Mrs. Gu had a bad back, and talking for a long time made her tired. Today, she decided to go all out and break the rules, finding a chair to sit down and scolding:

"I don't care about your reasoning, you go and bring her back to me today! I'm not leaving until Zhao'er comes home! I'll come back whenever Zhao'er comes home!"