Chapter 76: Chapter 41: Asking about Feelings
It wasn’t his political enemy! Not his nesis!
The one who wanted to poison him was actually his own birth mother!
To cut off his chance of finding an antidote, she didn’t hesitate to call up her own father to the Capital City, and after he refused to go, to kill him!
The forr Eastern Palace’s Crown Princess Consort! Madam Zheng!
Zhou Mu’s own mother! Could there really be a mother in this world who would go to such lengths to take her own son’s life?
“Zhou Mu, why?” Gu Changsheng suddenly felt that Zhou Mu was sowhat pitiable. Although the untily death of his grandfather was mostly connected to him, he was only fourteen at the ti. To be treated like this by his own mother, how heartbreaking must it have been?
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Zhou Mu unconsciously hugged the body in his arms a bit tighter and spoke in a muffled voice, “Back then, I shattered the Northern Desert, trampled over the Mongol tribes, and drove them three thousand li beyond the border. Such military exploits were unprecedented and unparalleled, able to summon the sun and the moon, able to comfort our ancestors!”
Zhou Mu glanced at the person in his arms and continued, “On the day when the troops returned to the Court, the Imperial Grandfather personally welcod outside of the Capital City at Ten Miles Long Pavilion. All the civil and military officials were there, not a single one absent, including my Father King and Royal Mother, who also stood in the welcoming line.”
“Three days later, at the morning court session, the then Chancellor Du Mingli petitioned to appoint as the Elder Legitimate Imperial Grandson, and to grant the seal of assistance for the Crown Prince. Du Mingli was a trusted minister of the Imperial Grandfather.”
“That night, the Eastern Palace held a water banquet for . My Father King, the then Crown Prince, pushed into the blazing fire with his own hands. It was Yuan Bao who desperately dragged , poisoned, out…”
“It was also that night when my Father King perished in the fire. The Imperial Grandfather was enraged, demoted to this place of Liuzhou, and declared beforehand that he would never see again for all eternity.”
Gu Changsheng unconsciously snuggled deeper into the man’s embrace, circling his lean waist tightly with her hand…
“Gu Changsheng, it was I who set the Taiji Hall of the Eastern Palace ablaze, it was I who personally secured the door lock…”
“Zhou Mu, this is not your fault. The Imperial Family is known for its heartlessness…” Gu Changsheng slowly raised her hand to cover his expressionless, handso face. That night, when the inn caught fire, she wondered what could leave such a deep scar on the heart of a man as strong as steel. Now she understood – to be thrown into a pit of fire by his own father and then to push his own father into such a pit!
What could she say to that…
“No, Gu Changsheng, I am sorry. It was my inconsideration upon first arriving in Liuzhou that led to your grandfather dying a wrongful death. The summons for your grandfather to the Capital City were initiated by my Royal Mother. However, after his refusal to co, even though his reasons were so noble and righteous, he still showed disdain for imperial authority. It was the command of the Imperial Grandfather…”
Gu Changsheng was taken aback. She had thought it was his birth mother, Madam Zheng! She had not expected it to be the highly revered Emperor! Of course, the sanctity of imperial power could not be violated, and her grandfather had used such a reason to make the Court retract its request for him to co to the Capital City. Though the Court seed to acquiesce for the sake of the people, how could they allow soone who had slapped them in the face and muzzled them to continue living a carefree life?
Without his grandfather’s death, the Emperor’s wrath could not be appeased!
Without his grandfather’s death, the Emperor’s majesty could not be showcased!
This is the fate of those who follow , who prosper, and those who oppose , who perish!
This was the first ti Gu Changsheng profoundly realized the arbitrariness and tyranny of imperial power, the first ti she deeply understood the chasm between officials and the common people, how vast it was, reaching beyond a thousand miles!
“Gu Changsheng, I am sorry. When I first ca to Liuzhou, I didn’t consider all aspects, which led to your grandfather’s tragic death.”
“What about ? Why am I unhard? Surely my grandfather alone would not be enough to calm the Emperor’s anger, right? Doesn’t an Emperor enjoy exterminating the nine familial exterminations at the drop of a hat? How is it that I am still alive and well, even having married into Li Mansion?” Gu Changsheng asked Zhou Mu with confusion.
The death of his grandfather was clear for anyone with eyes to see. She vividly rembered Lady Li’s undisguised disgust and hatred – how could a descendant of soone who had offended the supre respect of all under heaven possibly live peacefully and marry into Li Mansion, which had once been at the rank of Marquis?
This made no sense at all!
“It was ! By the ti I realized, your grandfather was already beyond help with dicines and stones. I promised him that I would find a good place for you. Your grandfather indeed had a life-saving connection with the Old Grand Master of Li Mansion and an agreent akin to a marriage alliance. Therefore, I went to the Capital City privately, found him at the brink of death, and asked him to fulfill the promise to marry you into the family, and in return, I promised him a century of prosperity for the Wang family…”
Gu Changsheng instantly understood, and the realization made her furious!
“So, it’s your fault that I married into Li Mansion, into that den of wolves!” Gu Changsheng lashed out, kicking at Zhou Mu’s long leg.
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