A familiar figure drew Gu Jiangyue's thoughts back to the time when she was still in the Gu Mansion in her past life.
"Jiangyue! Please!"
The heart - wrenching cry of the Grand Matriarch rang out.
In her past life in the Gu Mansion, due to long - term malnutrition, she was thin and short. Even the servants in the mansion could make fun of her. She lived a life worse than that of livestock.
"You want me to save you?"
Gu Jiangyue looked coldly at the Grand Matriarch.
Scenes from her past life flashed before her eyes: the bullying from the sisters in the Gu Mansion, the Grand Matriarch's turning a blind eye, and Xie Chengrui's betrayal... Those who stabbed the deepest were often the closest people around her.
The Grand Matriarch knelt on the ground. The days away from the capital had left her face weather - beaten.
She heard that the emperor had passed away, Xie Jiuan had ascended the throne, and Gu Jiangyue had become the empress admired by all. Unable to resist the temptation, she rushed back.
"Yes, Jiangyue. For the sake of our kinship, please help us!"
Gu Jiangyue closed her eyes, then let out a cold laugh and said,
"Grandmother, why do you think I will help you? Do you think all the humiliation and pain I suffered in the Gu Mansion can be wiped out?"
There was already anger in her voice. The Grand Matriarch was too frightened to speak. Gu Jiangyue continued,
"You weren't there when the young ladies of the Gu Mansion bullied me, nor when the servants insulted me. This time, you brought it upon yourself!"
Gu Jiangyue sat beside Xie Jiuan. Her brows were furrowed, and her eyes were so imposing that no one present dared to speak.
Hearing this, the Grand Matriarch opened her mouth to defend herself, but Xie Jiuan didn't give her a chance.
"Do you want to leave on your own, or do you need us to see you off?"
Xie Jiuan knew Gu Jiangyue's past, so he felt even more heartache for her. Evil people never deserved pity.
The Grand Matriarch shivered at Xie Jiuan's cold expression. She tried to stand up but fell back due to weak legs. She had no choice but to crawl away quickly.
From then on, she would never have the face to face Gu Jiangyue or the people in the capital again.
After getting rid of the people from the Gu family, Gu Jiangyue finally let out a sigh of relief. She took Zhiyuan and went to the back garden.
On the stone bench, Gu Yi and Ji Yunsheng were sitting side by side. As they chatted and laughed, Gu Yi's eyes were full of admiration.
"Sister, you're here!"
Gu Yi noticed Gu Jiangyue's figure and quickly greeted her with a smile.
"Yes. How's your health, Yi'er? Thanks to you this time."
Gu Jiangyue reached out and ruffled Gu Yi's hair, then smiled at Ji Yunsheng beside him.
Even though she had become the empress, Gu Jiangyue felt more relaxed. The path of revenge had to be walked to the end without hesitation, and now she had achieved that.
"Who would have thought he carried the spiritual herb with him? We almost missed it."
Ji Yunsheng crunched on an apple and wrinkled his nose with lingering fear.
"Sister, I'm in good health. Doctor Song has cured my illness. Don't pat my head anymore. What if I don't grow tall in the future?"
Gu Yi rubbed his head, but Ji Yunsheng ruffled it again forcefully.
"Nonsense. If you follow your Brother Yunsheng, you'll also be a great general in the future."
"You'll surely make it, Young Master!"
Zhiyuan beside them highly agreed with this. She nodded heavily at Gu Yi.
Gu Yi even tried to push away Ji Yunsheng's hand on his head, making the bells on Ji Yunsheng jingle. Hearing Zhiyuan's words, Gu Yi also burst into laughter.
"What are you laughing at?"
Xie Jiuan came over upon hearing the sound. Rumors were not true, but after a long time, they could make people suspicious.
Xie Jiuan had been dealing with court affairs these days and had managed to win the acceptance of many old officials, but he still needed to work harder.
He walked to Gu Jiangyue's side, put his arm around her, and then squinted his eyes and said, "What secret are you whispering?"
But when getting along with these old friends, Xie Jiuan was still the same as before.
"We were saying, Brother - in - law, when are you going to marry sister again? I didn't get to see it last time!"
Gu Yi blushed and quickly changed the topic.
He was right. Last time when they got married, to avoid involving Gu Yi, Gu Jiangyue had sent him out of the city first.
"We were just..."
Gu Jiangyue was about to refute when she saw everyone present nodding in unison, acting very convincingly.
"Really? Then I have to prepare quickly so that I can marry Jiangyue earlier."
Xie Jiuan's peach - blossom eyes were as gentle as the spring water in March. His words seemed to be for everyone present, but there was only Gu Jiangyue in his eyes.
The east wind blew down a few flower petals. The sunlight shone through the tree branches, casting a warm and gentle golden glow on them.
With the treacherous officials in power, the country had long lost its former glory. But since Gu Jiangyue liked it, Xie Jiuan made the country regain its splendor.
...
In the following days, Xie Jiuan was dealing with the mess left by Xie Yuwen in the court on one hand, and preparing for his grand wedding with Gu Jiangyue on the other.
After everything was in order, when Xie Jiuan married Gu Jiangyue, all the misunderstandings were cleared up. They were recognized by the people and received the congratulations of all the guests.
The capital was bustling. Everyone knew that Xie Jiuan was going to marry Gu Jiangyue again. He just wanted to give her the best.
The red silk carpet seemed to have no end. The scenery of the whole city paled in comparison. The maids scattered flower petals all over the sky where Gu Jiangyue passed by. The scale was extremely grand.
Xie Jiuan was dressed in red, looking handsome and flamboyant. He leaned over beside Gu Jiangyue's sedan chair and said in a voice only they could hear,
"Jiangyue, I'm here to marry you."
Then he stepped on the stirrup with one foot and mounted the horse smoothly. He walked in front of the sedan chair, paving the way for his bride.
Zhiyuan followed the sedan chair, throwing wedding candies to the passers - by. The common people all craned their necks to see the peerless bride and witness this once - in - a - century grand occasion.
After a day of excitement, this time, Xie Jiuan personally lifted Gu Jiangyue's red veil.
There was a faint smell of alcohol on Xie Jiuan. His hands trembled slightly with excitement.
When he lifted the veil, he saw Gu Jiangyue's peerless beauty. Xie Jiuan said,
"Jiangyue is dignified, gentle, and intelligent. I've admired you for a long time. To have you is truly a blessing for three lifetimes."
Gu Jiangyue had a smile on her lips. They looked into each other's eyes for a moment, then Gu Jiangyue parted her red lips.
"There are thousands of possibilities in this world. Being able to marry you is the best outcome."
After saying that, she put her arms around Xie Jiuan's neck, tilted her head up, and their lips met. Xie Jiuan was also pulled onto the bed by Gu Jiangyue's action, and then they were entangled.
Their heartbeats intertwined in the night, sometimes high - pitched, sometimes low. Their bodies trembled slightly, as if floating in the air. The fragrance of happiness filled the bedside.
Gu Jiangyue didn't need to be the most favored in the harem because Xie Jiuan's harem only had her. Gu Jiangyue was everything to Xie Jiuan.
Xie Jiuan loved her, so her beautiful eyes were more charming than thousands of peach blossoms in spring.
For the rest of their lives, everyone knew that the emperor of the Great Xia was both civil and military, dedicated to governing the country, and the empress was virtuous and kind.
They lived in peace, and the world was in prosperity.