Chapter 76: Chapter 41: Asking about Feelings
It wasn’t his political enemy! Not his nemesis!
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 former 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 somewhat pitiable. Although the untimely death of his grandfather was mostly connected to him, he was only fourteen at the time. To be treated by his own mother, how heartbreaking must it have been?
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 welcomed me 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 me as the Elder Legitimate Imperial Grandson, and to grant me 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 me. My Father King, the then Crown Prince, pushed me into the blazing fire with his own hands. It was Yuan Bao who desperately dragged me, poisoned, out…”
“It was also that night when my Father King perished in the fire. The Imperial Grandfather was enraged, demoted me to this place of Liuzhou, and declared beforehand that he would never see me 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, handsome 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 come, 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 come to the Capital City. Though the Court seemed to acquiesce for the sake of the people, how could they allow someone 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 me, who prosper, and those who oppose me, who perish!
This was the first time Gu Changsheng profoundly realized the arbitrariness and tyranny of imperial power, the first time 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 came to Liuzhou, I didn’t consider all aspects, which led to your grandfather’s tragic death.”
“What about me? Why am I unharmed? 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 remembered Lady Li’s undisguised disgust and hatred – how could a descendant of someone who had offended the supreme 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 me! By the time I realized, your grandfather was already beyond help with medicines 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 agreement 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.