Lan Linxue remained motionless upon hearing Lan Shanyang's words, as if her very soul had left the scene.
Lan Shanyang sat quietly next to her son, not caring about Lan Linxue's behavior. She seemed to have let go of all the burdens she had carried for so many years, quietly talking about her innermost thoughts and the pain she had been hiding all these years.
"I've only known about your mother being alive for a few years. In the first few years, like you, I thought your mother had already become a wandering ghost, waiting for me to see her and apologize to her."
You can't blame her for this.
You know better than I do what things were like in the palace back then. The fact that my son and I are still alive today is truly a blessing from heaven, that Hu Tianyong didn't succeed.
Your mother had already witnessed all of this in secret. She knew that with my strength back then, protecting you had already exhausted me. If she were to find out that you were still alive, she would inevitably lose control of her emotions and desperately try to bring you back.
So she kept enduring, waiting until you were old enough to be able to tell which bite was poison and which bite was life-saving food before she came out to meet me.
Son, I know it's so hard for you to accept everything that happened today. But you know, when your mother stood before me again, it was even harder for me to accept than for you. I was angry, wronged, hurt, and humiliated. But none of those feelings could compare to the genuine happiness I felt when I hugged your mother.
What does suffering and hardship matter? She's still alive, she still has the chance to hear me say sorry again, she still has the chance to give me another chance. As long as I'm alive, as long as I can see her again, what do all these other things matter?
When I learned that your mother was still alive, I wanted to tell you, but she disagreed.
She felt you were still too young then, and hadn't learned to hide your emotions. Although you were beginning to learn to conceal many of your thoughts and secrets, it wasn't enough for you to put on an act in front of the cunning and shrewd Hu Tianyong. And doing so would only bring you danger.
That's why we've been so careful to keep it from you all these years!
Lan Linxue heard every word Lan Shanyang said clearly. But he didn't want to move or think, because it was too tiring, so tiring that he wanted to collapse at any moment and never get up again.
"You said your mother doesn't want you anymore. You're so wrong."
Son, let me tell you, your mother not only watches over you all the time, but she also loves you madly.
In the very first year, she truly did never show up in order to hide herself. But have you ever considered that while you only lost your mother, she lost everything she loved?
Her husband, son, clansmen, and even herself had become wandering ghosts, living a life worse than death. Have you ever wondered how she survived in such despair?
If it weren't for the desire for revenge and the longing to see you one last time, you might not be suffering at all today. But I swear to you, you will never know that there was once a woman in this world who loved you so much that she was willing to die for you.
Once she was able to see you the following year, she kept a close eye on you, seeing every change and every bit of growth you underwent..."
"But I've never seen her! Not even once!"
Lan Linxue's cold voice rang out, hoarse and carrying a pain that seemed to pierce through hell.
Lan Shanyang smiled helplessly: "If she wanted to hide herself, let alone you, even if she walked right past me, I wouldn't know it was her! So, not only do you not know she's still alive, but when would I, her husband, know she's still alive!"
She didn't want us to notice because she didn't want her situation to torment us, her son and me, over and over again.
"Hmph, you think your Qin Kou'er is someone who can cause all sorts of trouble, but let me tell you, compared to your mother, she's infinitely more obedient!"
Qin Kou'er was eavesdropping outside the door, separated from Lan Shanyang and his son only by a door.
Upon hearing Lan Shanyang say this, he unconsciously nodded.
That's what she thought too; compared to Qin Meiying, all her actions were really childish.
Upon hearing the name Qin Kou'er, Lan Linxue's expression seemed to soften slightly. She gently turned her head and looked at Lan Shanyang with a blank expression: "My wife is better than yours!"
Lan Shanyang was relieved to see that her son had finally acknowledged her. Although she was very unhappy with what he had said, it was still better than him breaking down in silence. She turned her head and gave a bitter smile: "Yes! Every wife in the world is more foolish and more obedient than your mother. But, all of them combined, none of them would even give me a second glance!"
After saying that, Lan Shanyang didn't look at Lan Linxue, but continued looking ahead and said, "After you grow up, your mother and I will meet again. I originally planned to avenge your mother then, wipe out all these people in one fell swoop, and let your mother return to our side as soon as possible. But your mother absolutely disagreed."
She said the time was not yet right.
At that moment, all I wanted was for her to come back; I couldn't think about timing or anything like that. So I threatened to fight. Later, your mother had her first major outburst against me, almost burning down the entire palace and then taking you with her to commit suicide.
Lan Linxue moved her eyes and turned to look at Lan Shanyang after hearing what he said.
"What are you looking at? You think your hanging and hunger strike is anything new? Humph, let me tell you, when your mother said she was going to take you to your death, she really did rush into your room, grabbed something to set on fire, and just took you to your death! And let me tell you, all these years, your mother has never gone back on her word, so I was really scared to death."
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