Gan Qiongying patted Li Hua's stiff back and said, "But I really abandoned you, not just because I saw you kill someone."

Gan Qiongying said, "What I am about to say may seem absurd to you, but every word I say is true and I am not lying."

“I am not Princess Duanrong,” Gan Qiongying said. “What I told you last night about being resurrected was not to deceive you, but it was true.”

“You are very perceptive and should be able to notice the difference between my attitude towards you before and after, as well as the complete difference in my actions before and after.”

“I possess all of Princess Duanrong’s memories, so I can portray her without any obstacles.”

“I didn’t see you as a substitute for Zhongli Zhengzhen at the time; I had no hostility towards you from the very beginning.”

“I used to be just a commoner, but suddenly I became a princess. My words and actions are all measured. I didn’t save you immediately because I was in trouble myself and dared not behave differently from the real Princess Duanrong.”

Li Hua was held in Gan Qiongying's arms the whole time. The two of them looked at each other without any awkwardness. On the contrary, they were so close together that every time Gan Qiongying spoke, the vibration of her chest would be transmitted to Li Hua.

This makes it easier for people to accept.

"And this world is actually a book."

"Have you ever read those storybooks? They're the ones that sell like hotcakes in the market. You must have been involved in that industry before. Those storybooks have incredibly absurd content, and they even come with some very lifelike illustrations..."

"I have read your stories in my world."

At this point, Gan Qiongying released Li Hua, slowly squatted down in front of his knees, placed her hands on his knees, tilted her head slightly and stared at him blankly, saying, "And you are the one who laughs last in this storybook."

"You are the male lead."

Li Hua's brows were furrowed tightly, her teeth were clenched and tense, and the curve of her profile was sharp and thin.

If anyone else dared to say such things in front of him, Li Hua would not only spare them the crime of spreading rumors and bewitching the crown prince, but he would also kick them aside and never listen to another word of their nonsense.

It just so happens that it was Gan Qiongying who said these things.

There was no trace of lying in Gan Qiongying's eyes when she looked at him.

Gan Qiongying said: "In the book, you manipulated Zhongli Zhengzhen, married Wen Xueling, and used Wen Xueling to restrain the Regent and the Prince of Li. There is also a clan prince you may not know, but who is very important in the Jinchuan clan."

"In the story, you use a certain fragrance... to have Wen Xueling bewitch those people."

"They helped you conquer the world, and you became the king of two countries. The reason I am wary of you is because, in the storybook, you killed the fleeing Princess Duanrong and the Emperor of Nanzhao."

"You set fire to the emperor of Nanzhao and burned him to death, and dragged Princess Duanrong to her death on horseback, leaving her without a complete corpse."

The suspicion in Li Hua's eyes was replaced by shock. Upon hearing this, his expression changed abruptly. He thought of the recurring dreams he had when he was injured!

For nearly a year, Li Hua would have that dream from time to time. He always felt that it was because of his anger at Gan Qiongying's abandonment that he subconsciously did such a terrible thing.

Li Hua was deeply tormented by this, because he had no intention of killing Gan Qiongying. Every time he dreamed of killing her, his heart ached as if it were being torn apart when he woke up.

How could he be so heartless?

But that absurd dream completely overlapped with what Gan Qiongying was saying now!

Seeing Li Hua's expression change drastically, Gan Qiongying immediately grabbed Li Hua's hands, pressed them against her face, and said, "I didn't lie, and I didn't try to deceive you. You have to believe me."

"And since I became Princess Duanrong, I have not only inherited her thoughts and body, but also her memories and a part of her emotions."

“She regarded Gan Lin as her life, as something more important than her life. I promised her... to find a way for Gan Lin to survive.”

"And when I entered the palace... Do you remember the first time I entered the palace? I fell seriously ill as soon as I came out of the palace."

“That time, the Empress Dowager wanted to use the nourishing soup to poison me, but Gan Lin drank the poison for me. He drank the poison for me.”

"After he drank the poison for me, he sent me out of the palace. It was only then that I realized that we were not strangers, but rather like grasshoppers on the same rope, relying on each other's lives to keep each other safe."

"At that time, I didn't know you were the male protagonist of this book. I only knew you were my prince consort. My gentle, wealthy, best at making money, and most adorable prince consort."

"Because in the storybook, you were tortured to death by Princess Duanrong, then faked your death to escape, and came back to control everyone's fate."

“But I have become Princess Duanrong. I can’t possibly torture you to death. I love you so much. I can’t bear to see you suffer any harm.”

“I started plotting to take both of you away. I would rather you never have to go through that pain in your life than have to seek revenge.”

"Gan Lin was not only poisoned by the Empress Dowager for my safety, but also bitten by insects by the Regent. Gan Lin's body was covered with wounds, layer upon layer, densely packed!"

"He is clinging to life for my sake, how can I abandon him?"

“But when I was about to take you away…” Gan Qiongying’s tears welled up as she said this.

The sadness and helplessness she had kept bottled up inside for so long, which she had never shown to anyone, now poured out in tears as she knelt on Li Hua's lap.

"I suddenly realized that even though I didn't kill you, you still replaced Zhongli Zhengzhen. And you usually act so gentle and mild, but the coldness and efficiency you showed when you killed someone with a knife matched the memory of Princess Duanrong and the terrifying male protagonist who controlled everything in this book."

"I really didn't know what to do at the time. I can trust you, of course I trust you!"

“But how can I risk Ganlin? My life was given to me by Princess Duanrong, I was lucky to have it, but Ganlin was something Princess Duanrong risked her life for.”

"I plan to send Gan Lin away first, and then come back to explain everything to you."

"I had everything planned out, but plans can't keep up with changes, and I was on my way..."

Gan Qiongying paused slightly at this point, gripped Li Hua's hand tightly, lowered her head and said, "I fell seriously ill during the journey due to the bumpy ride and anxiety."

"This serious illness prevented me from returning to keep my appointment in time. I had expected to be able to return within two months. It's all my fault for miscalculating and being arrogant."

Gan Qiongying was telling the truth, but she embellished some parts slightly. For example, she said that she didn't start out because of lust, but because of greed.

But aside from that, Gan Qiongying had nothing to hide, showing utmost sincerity. Moreover, her words of longing were as sweet as honey, and her love talk almost overwhelmed Li Hua.

"Later I sent you a letter, and I didn't lie to you. Every word in that letter came from the bottom of my heart. Did you read it carefully?"

Li Hua read those letters, full of sour words, thousands and hundreds of times.

Upon hearing Gan Qiongying's question, he immediately closed his eyes, afraid that Gan Qiongying would see the violent tremor in his eyes.