"Before General Gu returns, you may stay here, Lady. And even after he comes back, you'll always be welcome here."
Xie Jiuan wore a gentle smile as he looked around the room.
Gu Jiangyue was amazed by the furnishings of the room. She liked it very much. After a moment's hesitation, she finally hugged Xie Jiuan and whispered,
"Thank you."
If it weren't for Xie Jiuan, she wouldn't be so at ease now.
Xie Jiuan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes dimmed. He whispered,
"What I said today wasn't from my heart. It was just out of helplessness."
He was referring to the words he had said to her in the Gu Mansion just now. Gu Jiangyue gave a gentle smile.
"I know. I didn't take it seriously."
Xie Jiuan naturally knew that Gu Jiangyue wouldn't mind, but he loved her so much that even the slightest sign of her sadness would make his heart ache.
"Don't worry about the Gu Mansion. Just stay here in peace. I'll protect you all."
Xie Jiuan rubbed Gu Jiangyue's head. Before they could say more, Xie Jiuan heard the sound of the door being pushed open.
"I knew I'd find you here."
Xie Jiuan looked in the direction of the voice and saw the familiar figure of Ji Yunsheng.
Ji Yunsheng's wounds had almost healed. He leaned against the door casually and looked at Gu Jiangyue and Xie Jiuan leisurely. After a long while, he said in a drawn - out tone,
"It seems I came at a bad time."
Xie Jiuan was also a bit surprised to see Ji Yunsheng. Since that sword strike last time, he hadn't seen Ji Yunsheng again. A trace of doubt welled up in Xie Jiuan's heart.
"Why are you here?"
Xie Jiuan hadn't heard any news about Xie Yuwen being in trouble these days, so it seemed that Xie Yuwen was still alive. It was strange for Ji Yunsheng to come to him.
Just as Ji Yunsheng was about to speak, he noticed Gu Jiangyue on one side. He tilted his chin in Gu Jiangyue's direction. Xie Jiuan understood and said,
"Just say it."
Ji Yunsheng nodded, then closed the door. He walked over to them, pulled out a stool, and sat down. Then he said,
"Xie Yuwen is investigating the matter of your mother - concubine. You know the inside story of that year. I guess Xie Yuwen is not as simple as you think. What he wants is not only the Valley of the Medicine King, but also your life and the emperor's."
Ji Yunsheng blurted out all the things he had found out by following Xie Yuwen these days. But these words left Gu Jiangyue completely confused.
"What inside story...?"
Gu Jiangyue wasn't sure if she should ask. Her voice was extremely soft, but Xie Jiuan still noticed it.
"Before my mother - concubine hanged herself in the Cold Palace under the emperor's coercion, Xie Yuwen's mother also died."
Xie Jiuan's voice was cold, and his face showed little emotion, but Gu Jiangyue could still feel the angry aura surrounding him.
Gu Jiangyue had heard about Xie Jiuan's mother - concubine, but she was a bit confused as to why Xie Yuwen would want to kill Xie Jiuan. In Gu Jiangyue's eyes, Xie Yuwen had always been gentle and elegant, and he was the only person Xie Jiuan wanted to get close to in the palace.
"Was her death related to your mother - concubine?"
Gu Jiangyue asked. This was the only hypothesis that made sense.
"She once framed my mother - concubine in order to gain the emperor's favor. After the emperor found out, he executed her. But Xie Yuwen didn't seem to care about it at that time. But now it seems that Xie Yuwen was just biding his time."
Suddenly, Gu Jiangyue seemed to understand everything. Xie Yuwen might have approached Xie Jiuan just for revenge. As a child, he couldn't shake the emperor's position, so he targeted Xie Jiuan.
As he got to know Xie Jiuan better, his hatred gradually became distorted, and he blamed most of it on Xie Jiuan's mother - concubine. But after a long - time of getting along, Xie Yuwen finally felt a twinge of compassion.
But Xie Jiuan's increasing favor in the emperor's eyes was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
"Is Xie Yuwen definitely going to make a move against you this time?"
Gu Jiangyue looked at Xie Jiuan. After so many years of friendship, it turned out that the approach was just for revenge. It was impossible for Xie Jiuan not to be sad, but her mother - concubine was also a victim in this matter.
Ji Yunsheng spoke first. He casually picked up an apple from the table, and a crisp crunching sound rang out.
"There's no need to feel sorry for someone who died out of jealousy. She brought it on herself. Why do you have to take the blame? Xie Yuwen has been investigating you recently. He's probably going to make a move soon. If you show womanly kindness, he'll succeed."
Ji Yunsheng's voice was a bit muffled, but his words made sense. He knew it wouldn't be easy to make Xie Jiuan give up on Xie Yuwen, so he didn't try to persuade him more.
Gu Jiangyue nodded on the side and said,
"Ji Yunsheng is right. It's not your fault."
Xie Jiuan was silent, his eyes filled with a dark and unclear look. Xie Jiuan had grown up in the Cold Palace since childhood. His mother - concubine's death was almost without warning.
In Xie Jiuan's memory, his mother - concubine was an extremely gentle person. Every time he came back from playing outside at night, he could always see a carefully prepared flower on the broken windowsill. But that day, when Xie Jiuan came back, he only saw the withered flower and a cold body hanging from the beam.
Just the night before, she had held Xie Jiuan's hand and whispered,
"In this world, some people are reluctantly attached, while others are eager to say goodbye. But no matter what, you must live well. Even a wandering body can ascend to the throne."
She was born in the lonely autumn, spent her whole life within the palace walls, and left in a romantic spring. Wasn't it a kind of relief?
"Do you really think she only framed your mother - concubine? It was also her doing that your mother - concubine was sent to the Cold Palace."
After finishing the apple, Ji Yunsheng couldn't hold it in any longer. After much thought, he finally told this matter.
Xie Jiuan's originally complex expression changed instantly. He stared at Ji Yunsheng and said,
"Is what you said true?!"
Ji Yunsheng sighed and looked at Xie Jiuan helplessly.
"Only by seeing through the farce can one gain a piece of the world. Why would I lie to you? I heard him say it with my own ears. I thought you already knew. I just found out today that you were also in the dark."
Now the situation was very clear. Xie Yuwen was also involved in the death of Xie Jiuan's mother - concubine, but he was so angry that he wanted to kill Xie Jiuan.
"I've made my decision."
Xie Jiuan's eyes turned cold. His eyes were like the dark pools of the underworld, with a hint of killing intent.
Neither Gu Jiangyue nor Ji Yunsheng said much. Xie Jiuan was not an unreasonable person. He had his own principles.
Even so, Gu Jiangyue still walked up to Xie Jiuan, gently took his hand hanging by his side, and whispered,
"Don't be impulsive. Take your time."
Xie Jiuan didn't say a word. He just remained silent.
Xie Jiuan had spent half his life in disguise, looking for the enemy. In the end, that person was right by his side. The deep affection of the past had become a vain talk. Those who held different paths could not walk together.