Chapter 31
Gu Yanshang raised his hand to touch Lin Jinxuan's face, but pulled it back halfway. He saw the resistance in Lin Jinxuan's eyes; though so close, Lin Jinxuan seemed worlds apart, unreachable. "Even if you don't like me, it doesn't matter. That imperial marriage is between you and me; I got it!" Hearing Lin Jinxuan's resistance, Gu Yanshang felt a sharp, piercing pain in his heart. No matter what he did, it couldn't compare to Gu Jing'an. But from this day forward, regardless of whether Gu Jing'an loved him or not, Lin Jinxuan would always be his. Lin Jinxuan didn't understand why Gu Yanshang liked him so much.
Gu Jing'an was solely focused on bringing down Gu Yanshang, and Lin Jinxuan was his pawn. He knew that Lin Jinxuan was Gu Yanshang's Achilles' heel, but he hadn't expected Gu Yanshang to so quickly ask the Emperor to grant them a marriage. However, he figured Lin Jinxuan wouldn't accept so easily. He needed to determine if Lin Jinxuan could still be of use to him; if not, then he would be ruthless.
Gu Jing'an looked in the mirror, admiring his own face. After all, he was an old friend of Lin Jinxuan. However, he had mistaken this face for his own. It was never him who had saved him, but Gu Yanshang. But why would he tell him the truth? He quite liked Lin Jinxuan's wholehearted trust in him, his willingness to expose his most vulnerable side to him. He enjoyed it. Before his demotion, he had cultivated some shadow guards to do things for him, unnoticed by the emperor. The You Palace had been completely replaced with his own people. This cage was now a palace he could leave whenever he wanted. He had one of the shadow guards secretly deliver a letter, telling him that it was Gu Yanshang who had wiped out his entire family, and that if he wanted revenge, he should listen to him. The so-called evidence was also delivered to Lin Jinxuan, who was also instructed to place it in a corner of Gu Yanshang's study. Gu Yanshang did not notice these actions. Perhaps he thought Gu Jing'an was no longer a threat. He was focused on preparing for the wedding ceremony. During this time, Lin Jinxuan did not cause any trouble, seemingly accepting this absurd wedding with equanimity.
Lin Jinxuan prepared the items as requested by Gu Jing'an and placed them in Gu Yanshang's study. Gu Yanshang had never been wary of him and was completely devoted to him. Lin Jinxuan felt a little guilty, but thinking that Gu Yanshang was just a passerby, he hardened his heart and completed the arrangement. Gu Yanshang was unaware that he had been placed on a chessboard, waiting for Lin Jinxuan to make his move. Gu Jing'an was also waiting.
Soon, the procession stretched for miles, the hall filled with the red bridal procession. Gu Yanshang had been preparing for a long time, wanting to give Lin Jinxuan a grand and solemn wedding, so that he wouldn't be looked down upon. The people along the way all praised him. Gu Yanshang didn't use the usual wedding sedan chair because he knew Lin Jinxuan was a man, and using the normal wedding procession would make him feel wronged or humiliated. He should be respected. The two of them wore wedding clothes and rode horses together.
"The newlyweds enter the hall and pay homage to Heaven and Earth!" the master of ceremonies shouted. The emperor, who was also attending the wedding, smiled as he watched the newlyweds in the hall. Unexpectedly, a man suddenly jumped out and shouted that he was innocent. The hall was in an uproar. The emperor was also displeased, but he still said, "What injustice? It's not too late to talk about it after the ceremony is over!" The man said that Gu Yanshang had murdered the entire Lin family in order to seize power.
Gu Yanshang, the one accused, remained calm and composed. The emperor glanced at Gu Yanshang, then turned to the person who had made the accusation and asked, "Who are you? What evidence do you have? If you have none, do you know the consequences?"
"I was once a servant of the Lin family. I survived by sheer luck and have held on until now. I don't want my young master to marry this hypocritical scoundrel. I have evidence, Your Majesty. This jade pendant was left behind after this hypocrite wiped out the entire Lin family. Your Majesty, please return it to the souls of the deceased Lin family!" The emperor nodded in acknowledgment. Gu Yanshang stared intently at the jade pendant, for it seemed that this pendant had been given to a child who had fled for his life. The child's whereabouts were unknown, and the jade pendant had also disappeared without a trace.
The emperor knew it was his jade pendant and asked again. Gu Yanshang did not deny it. The people who were crying and complaining heard this and became agitated, saying that he had already admitted it and should be dealt with according to the law. The emperor did not speak, but only ordered a thorough investigation.
Gu Zhihua was nearly driven mad with worry upon hearing this. They had finally gotten married, and now this mess had to happen. "Tell me, how could it be such a coincidence? The lost item has returned, yet she's framing my brother! This must be the work of the person behind that incident, and it's definitely related to Gu Jing'an!" Lin Jinxuan felt the jade pendant looked familiar, and his expression darkened at Gu Zhihua's words mentioning Gu Jing'an. Gu Yanshang calmed Zhihua down. "Why are you still so calm? Aren't you afraid this matter is related to your sweetheart?" Only Gu Yanshang's indifferent gaze answered her.
Lin Jinxuan recalled a few days ago when he suddenly caught a cold and had a persistent high fever. Gu Yanshang took care of him tirelessly, and Yan Yunqing's spirit watched his every move. He instinctively wanted to get closer to Gu Yanshang. He didn't know why he hated Gu Jing'an, even though Gu Jing'an was the one he was looking for. Unable to understand, he returned to Lin Jinxuan's body and accepted Gu Yanshang's kindness. He felt inexplicably guilty, but—he killed my parents. The situation was hopeless, and the die was cast.
The emperor then sent people to thoroughly investigate Gu Yanshang's study, finding conclusive evidence. Furthermore, they unexpectedly discovered Gu Yanshang's intention to rebel. Gu Yanshang smiled faintly at Lin Jinxuan. Meanwhile, the case of Gu Jing'an was found to be a false accusation by Gu Yanshang. After investigation, the Prince Xian was found innocent, and His Majesty restored his title and freedom. Gu Yanshang was sent to the secluded palace to await his fate. Everyone cheered; the regent, who had controlled the court for many years, had finally fallen. Gu Zhihua looked at the faces of the ministers in the court. With the regent gone, power was fragmented, and everyone could get a share—who wouldn't be happy?
Gu Zhihua went to the secluded palace to visit Gu Yanshang. "I never thought my words would come true. I don't know what's so good about him that made you risk your life to save him. You've fallen on him so many times, yet you still believe in him. I think you've raised an ingrate!" Gu Yanshang just sat there silently, listening to Zhihua talk about matters of the court. When Zhihua got emotional, he would comfort her and tell her not to worry.
Gu Jing'an also arrived, but he brought Lin Jinxuan with him. Lin Jinxuan looked at Gu Yanshang's cold eyes and felt inexplicably guilty, but then regained his composure. "How was it staying in this secluded palace? Even if you force it, what's the use? He likes me, and you'll never be able to beat me!" Gu Jing'an looked at his dejected appearance with a hint of smugness. Gu Yanshang stared at Lin Jinxuan, as if trying to see through him.
Gu Jing'an didn't care. He brought Lin Jinxuan over just to show off. He had finally brought Gu Yanshang down because he knew that the person Lin Jinxuan was looking for wasn't him, but Gu Yanshang. As Gu Yanshang watched them leave, his soul awakened. He wanted to give up because he was too tired. He could never see himself, even if he gave everything to love him.
Gu Jing'an thought everything was foolproof, but little did he know that he had already stepped into someone else's game.
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