Haoyue lunged forward, only to be kicked back even faster.
The kick to her chest was so painful that she lay on the ground for a long time, unable to recover.
It really was Gu Yanxi. Haoyue laughed bitterly. Only he would show no mercy when striking a woman. This man had never thought highly of her from start to finish. She had been foolish, thinking she could change her fate by starting with him. Little did she expect this life to be worse than the last. At least in her previous life, she hadn’t been so wretched, at least her hands hadn’t been stained with blood, at least… she had still been Haoyue, not the madwoman she was now.
If only he had rejected all women from the beginning, but he hadn’t. He had fallen for another woman. For her, he was willing to defy the Emperor; for her, he would give up everything. He wasn’t heartless—he was only heartless toward her!
That was why she had been so unwilling, why she had step by step come to this. Her current predicament was all because of those two. How could she accept it?
Struggling to sit up, Haoyue looked at Gu Yanxi. Her vision was still blurry, but she could see his indifference clearly. "I said I was skilled in divination. Did you ever believe me?"
"Never."
Haoyue let out a hollow laugh, unsurprised. The person she had dared to reveal her secrets to didn’t believe her, yet in front of the Emperor, she hadn’t dared to show the slightest hint. Deep down, she knew who could be trusted and who couldn’t.
But she could no longer go on like this. Why should others live in glory and splendor while she suffered?
Staggering to her feet, Haoyue slowly moved toward the light, her expression mocking. "I’m not skilled in divination. I’ve merely lived two lives. In my previous life…" She pointed at the person Chen Qing had casually tossed on the ground. "In my previous life, I was his imperial consort."
Gu Yanxi glanced back. Understanding his meaning, Chen Qing looked at Haoyue and retreated outside to stand guard, inwardly relieved that there was no one else left in the Like Moon Hall.
"What are you afraid of? I’m not even afraid. Even if others find out, I’ll be the one burned as a witch. But… I won’t die alone." Haoyue laughed arrogantly. "It’s only because I’ve lived an extra lifetime that I know the Fourth Prince died, the Fifth Prince was crippled, and the Sixth Prince never lived to this day. I know that Yuan Shifang is from the Chao Li Tribe, that Wu Yong was poisoned and died. I also know that the Hua family, who should have been exiled, all died at Yinshan Pass, leading to uprisings among scholars across the land and turmoil in the court. The Hua family shrank into obscurity, and their eldest daughter remained unknown."
Haoyue tilted her head back and laughed silently. "But because of one extra person, the Emperor died early, the Fifth Prince wasn’t crippled, the Sixth Prince became the Crown Prince, Wu Yong is still alive, the Hua family continues to live safely at Yinshan Pass, and Hua Zhi, a woman, has become the illustrious Grand Tutor. Two lifetimes, completely different paths. Those who should have died are alive, and those who should have lived are dead. Gu Yanxi, do you really think the person you treasure like a pearl is so naturally brilliant that she could accomplish all these things? Perhaps she’s merely benefiting from two lifetimes, or maybe she’s been possessed by some foul spirit. Look at the connections she has now—aren’t you afraid she’ll overthrow the Great Qing Empire?"
Gu Yanxi listened to her quietly until she finished, but his response had nothing to do with her words. "Who gave you the idea to lure the late Emperor into consuming the blood and heart meat of children?"
Haoyue’s smile froze. After all she had said, this was his reaction? Wasn’t he afraid? Didn’t he have any doubts?"How do you know someone else gave me this idea? I hate the emperor, I hate you, I wish I could destroy Daqing—why would I need others to suggest it to me?"
"I only had suspicions before, but now I'm certain."
"So what? Do you really think I'd tell you?"
Gu Yanxi curled his lips coldly, showing no intention of forcing an answer, and turned to leave.
Haoyue, unwilling to give up, raised her voice, "Gu Yanxi, aren't you afraid that Hua Zhi is just wearing the skin of the Hua family's eldest daughter, while inside she's an ugly, disgusting monster?"
Without looking back, Gu Yanxi's voice rang out clear and firm, word by word, "So what? As long as she is Hua Zhi, even if she's a ghost or a demon, I would still love her."
Haoyue's mind went blank. This wasn't the answer she wanted to hear. No, how could such deep affection exist? It couldn't be. What kind of fortune did Hua Zhi cultivate in her past life to deserve Gu Yanxi's profound love and devotion?
"Gu Yanxi, Hua Zhi is just using you! She's using you! Do you think she truly likes you? She's just pretending, all to rescue her Hua family and preserve their wealth and glory. She's using you!"
Gu Yanxi finally stopped walking. Just as Haoyue's heart leaped with joy, thinking her scheme had worked, he slowly turned around, a faint smile even playing on his lips. "I'm grateful I have value to be used. Not to mention being used, even if she wanted my life, I'd willingly offer it with both hands."
"Why deceive yourself like this…"
Gu Yanxi ignored her further. Tossing a pill into the room, he instructed calmly, "Lock them together. Seal the door as before."
Chen Qing stepped forward to carry out the order, picking up the completely collapsed Fourth Prince and throwing him inside. Then, as Haoyue realized the danger and tried to flee, he shoved her far into the room, took the chance to shut the door, and locked it. He personally took up a hammer and nailed the planks back into place one by one.
He recognized the scent of the pill his master had thrown—it was an aphrodisiac. His master's move was ruthless. The Fourth Prince had already been castrated, and now, under the influence of this drug...
Outside the hall, Yu Xiang was waiting.
Without a word, Gu Yanxi followed her silently to the Palace of Blessings and Longevity.
Shaoyao was massaging the Empress Dowager's forehead. Hearing the commotion, she grinned at Yanxi. In her world, there was no such thing as not smiling during a mourning period. Perhaps it was callous, but to her, the only ones who mattered were Yan Ge, then Hua Hua, who was destined to become her sister-in-law, followed by Little Six. The Empress Dowager ranked even further down the list. Everyone else was an outsider, including the late emperor.
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes and sat up with Yu Xiang's support. She beckoned and said, "Come, keep your grandmother company for a while."
Gu Yanxi sat down beside her. Seeing her increasingly frail, bony hands, his heart softened. "Rest well and don't overthink. Whatever has happened will pass."
"I'm not overthinking. It's just that having done too many things with a guilty conscience, I feel unsettled."
"Your decisions were never for your own sake."
"Precisely because I know you understand your grandmother, I feel even more remorseful." The Empress Dowager sighed. "The late emperor said he would only allow you and Hua Zhi to marry after the Crown Prince's wedding. I agreed. As a woman, I understand best that once a woman marries and has children, her life is no longer her own. I'm afraid too—afraid she might develop other thoughts, afraid your heart might stray, and afraid the Crown Prince might grow unnecessarily wary."The Empress Dowager's smile carried a trace of bitterness. "Yan Xi, your wife's family is the Hua family—the foremost among civil officials. Not to mention their generations of contributions, even Hua Zhi's own merits are beyond calculation. If we don't restrain them somewhat, how will the Crown Prince maintain his position in the future? And how should he interact with you?"
"Your grandson understands. I... have already discussed this matter with A Zhi. She said she can wait." Gu Yanxi's voice suddenly grew hoarse. "Grandmother, A Zhi has already done everything within her power. Please don't ask more of her."
The Empress Dowager's lips trembled slightly, and it was a long moment before she responded, "This old one understands."
PS: Revised until nearly breathless—if not for being truly exhausted, I could have continued revising...
OpenNovel