The Emperor and Empress Dowager had a strained relationship. He was worried that Gu Jiao would be implicated and had therefore been very cautious. However, he had still been discovered by Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Out of caution, he arranged for Eunuch Wei to personally escort her out of the palace.
Once out of the palace, Gu Jiao and Monk Xiaojingkong boarded the carriage to return home.
Xiaojingkong's spirits were low, "Jiaojiao, does Grandmother not want us anymore?"
Gu Jiao patted his little shaved head.
She was also not sure.
But it seemed like Grandmother really didn't care about them anymore.
Xiaojingkong climbed onto Gu Jiao's lap, burying himself in her arms for comfort.
Gu Jiao held him, soothingly stroking his thin back until he, devastated and aggrieved, fell asleep.
The coachman was Xiaosanzi.
Whipping the horses, he got the carriage to start moving. But they had hardly gone a few steps when a familiar voice called them to a halt.
"Wait!"
It was Zhuang Yuexi.