Cui Jin raised her eyes and stared into the distance, but there seemed to be nothing in her sight.
The past events kept churning in her mind.
Her eyes gradually lost focus, as deep and lifeless as a dried - up well.
After a moment of silence, she slowly began to tell Ruan Jiu the feuds between her and Gu Kexing over the past twenty - odd years.
"My father was the previous prime minister, and I was the only legitimate daughter of the prime minister's mansion. Gu Kexing was my father's most favored disciple.
Back then, Gu Kexing and I fell in love at first sight. My father thought Gu Kexing's family background was too low and he was not a good match for me. But later, seeing how lovingly he treated me, my father agreed to our marriage and let Gu Kexing become the son - in - law who would live in our family.
Not long after our marriage, I gave birth to Tan'er. He was our first and only son. But Gu Kexing didn't mind at all that Tan'er took the Cui surname instead of his. He still doted on us mother and son.
At that time, my husband loved me, and my son was smart and cute. I once thought I was the happiest woman in the world."
Speaking of this, Cui Jin's eyes softened.
However, Ruan Jiu knew that this softness didn't belong to Gu Kexing.
"However, such days didn't last long."
Cui Jin paused and then continued. The softness in her eyes had disappeared.
"Later, my father fell seriously ill. Gu Kexing knelt by my father's bedside and swore that he would treat me well. So, on his deathbed, my father petitioned the emperor to let Gu Kexing inherit the prime minister's mansion.
But after my father's death, everything changed! Gu Kexing gradually drifted apart from us mother and son. I watched helplessly as he took one concubine after another into the mansion.
During those countless long nights, I lost count of how many times I cried from night till dawn alone."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu couldn't help but sigh that the prime minister's wife used to be a lovelorn woman.
However, even if Gu Kexing had let her down, it shouldn't have made her so resentful that she was willing to drag him to hell with her even at the cost of her own life.
Was it love turning into hatred?
"Fortunately, I had Tan'er by my side. Otherwise, I don't know how I could have survived!
My Tan'er was extremely smart since childhood. He could read at the age of three and write poems at five.
Moreover, he was very sensible. He never mentioned his father in front of me and always tried his best to make me happy.
At that time, I thought that even if Gu Kexing didn't love me, as long as Tan'er was with me, it would be enough.
Until..."
Cui Jin's expression suddenly turned sad. She took a deep breath and said with a sob, "Until Tan'er died!
That day, he sent a servant to tell me that he had written a new poem and wanted to read it to me. I waited and waited in my room, but what I got was the news that he had unfortunately drowned in the pond.
Tan'er was a good swimmer, and the water in the pond was not deep. Even though Tan'er was only an eight - year - old child, it was impossible for him to drown.
So I went to Gu Kexing and asked him to find out the real culprit and avenge Tan'er. He promised, but a few days later, he let a maid in the mansion take the blame.
The maid said that she was dissatisfied with Tan'er's scolding and beating, so she held a grudge and drowned Tan'er in the pond.
He was my own son. How could I not know him! Tan'er was kind - hearted. He wouldn't even step on an ant. How could he scold and beat the maids in the mansion.
Later, I secretly investigated and found out that it was all Zhou Ru's doing! I thought I had treated Zhou Ru well, but she was so cruel to Tan'er!
I took all the evidence to Gu Kexing and wanted him to avenge Tan'er. Unexpectedly, I heard at the study door that it was actually a joint effort of him and Zhou Ru.
It turned out that all of Gu Kexing's kindness to Tan'er before was just an act. He had always been bothered by the fact that Tan'er took the Cui surname. In order to make room for his and Zhou Ru's son, they killed my Tan'er!"
Ruan Jiu couldn't help taking a deep breath.
Gu Kexing was really worse than a beast. Even if Tan'er didn't take his surname, he still had Gu Kexing's blood in him. How could he be so heartless!
No wonder Cui Jin hated him so much.
Tan'er was Cui Jin's only hope in this world!
Cui Jin trembled all over and covered her face, crying bitterly.
It seemed as if she was experiencing the pain of losing her son all over again.
Ruan Jiu bit her lip. She wanted to comfort Cui Jin but didn't know what to say.
"Miss Shen, do you think that's all he has done?" Cui Jin clenched her fists, and boundless hatred flashed in her eyes.
This made Ruan Jiu stunned again. "What else did he do?"
"Not only that, even my father's death was his doing!
Back then, he coveted the power of the Cui family. In order to curry favor with my father, he showed his love for me passionately. And I was so stupid that I thought I had met the right man.
If it weren't for me, my father wouldn't have died unjustly! My Tan'er wouldn't have died in that cold pond! It's all my fault! It's all my fault!"
Cui Jin took all the misfortunes on herself and kept pounding on her chest. Her expression was extremely painful.
Seeing this, Ruan Jiu quickly advised, "It's not your fault! It's just that Gu Kexing hid his true nature so well!"
Cui Jin suddenly grabbed Ruan Jiu's hand tightly. "Miss Shen, as long as I can make Gu Kexing die, I'm willing to do anything!"
Ruan Jiu frowned. "You've been in the prime minister's mansion for many years. You must have had a lot of leverage against Gu Kexing. You could expose his crimes to the emperor yourself. Why tell me?"
Cui Jin replied, "Gu Kexing is extremely discreet in his actions and cruel - hearted. Just like the matter of Chi Wei. After getting rid of one Chi Wei, he would quickly support another one. It's not that easy to deal with him.
Moreover, my father knew that it was Gu Kexing who secretly poisoned him on his deathbed. But in order to protect me, my father made a deal with him with the entire prime minister's mansion.
Now the prime minister's mansion completely belongs to the Gu family. Otherwise, I wouldn't have endured for so many years!"
The hatred of killing one's father and son was too light to be described as "not living under the same sky".
This Cui Jin was really a tough woman. She not only endured for so many years but also pretended to be okay while raising the son of her enemy.
Thinking of this, Ruan Jiu couldn't help asking, "So, is it you who made Gu Kexing childless all these years?"
Cui Jin nodded. The hatred in her eyes flared up again. "He killed my Tan'er. Why does he deserve to have offspring!"
Before, Ruan Jiu was still wondering why Gu Kexing had no other children after the death of the legitimate son of the prime minister's mansion.
Now, she just wanted to praise her for doing a great job.
"Madam Prime Minister..." Ruan Jiu paused and then changed her address. "Madam Cui, I agree to ally with you."
Presumably, Cui Jin didn't like to hear the title "Madam Prime Minister" now.
"Really?" Cui Jin exclaimed.
Ruan Jiu nodded and continued, "But what should we do now?"
Cui Jin had endured in the prime minister's mansion for many years. She must know a lot about Gu Kexing. She just needed someone to help her achieve her goal.
If she could take this opportunity to find the evidence that Gu Kexing framed the Huo family back then, it wouldn't be a bad thing to be Cui Jin's helper.
Hearing this, Cui Jin's eyes sharpened. She said coldly, "I want Zhou Ru to be buried with my Tan'er!"
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips.
Cui Jin was really smart. In order to prevent her from leaving after dealing with Gu Kexing, she first aimed at Zhou Ru.
She planned to defeat them one by one to relieve her hatred.
"However, I'd like to know why you chose me, Madam Cui?"