Consort Rong didn't realize at first that Gu Heng's emotions were off. She thought that Gu Heng was thinking about how good she was to her, so she became even more agitated.
"Your Majesty hasn't visited me and the children in a long time," Consort Rong said cautiously as she pulled Gu Heng into the inner room.
As she had done many times before, Consort Rong told Gu Heng about how she had saved his life. After hearing it so many times, Consort Rong truly believed that she was the one who had saved Gu Heng.
"At that time, I was delivering a water jug to Your Majesty, and I searched for Your Majesty for a long time but could not find you." Consort Rong's eyes were full of sweetness. "When I finally saw Your Majesty's back, I just happened to see that Your Majesty's horse was startled."
In the past, when Consort Rong talked about this, Gu Heng would affectionately pull her into his arms. The horse was startled and threw him to the ground. He lost consciousness the moment his head hit the ground.
At the time, in order to assassinate him, the guards in the vicinity were all transferred away, and Gu Heng would break out in a cold sweat whenever he thought of the scene.
"Just then, I saw an arrow flying towards Your Majesty from the shadows. Without thinking, I stepped in front of Your Majesty to shield you. Fortunately, the arrow grazed my arm, and my cries for help attracted the guards."
After she finished speaking, Consort Rong realized something was wrong. Gu Heng's expression remained unchanged throughout, and he showed no intimacy with her whatsoever.
Consort Rong's smile began to falter. "Your Majesty, I have finished speaking."
"Now that Rong'er has finished speaking, I shall take my leave."
Gu Heng left without saying a word, his mind filled with the story Gu Qingyan had told him about how Jiang Yu had saved her.
"Yan'er, can you tell your father how your mother saved your father back then?"
Gu Qingyan couldn't help but laugh when he heard this, "The Empress Dowager said it's very simple."
"The Empress Dowager was leaning against an old tree, basking in the sun. The arrow was blinding in the sunlight. When she realized it, she glanced at the Emperor and saw him. She kicked a stone and tripped the Emperor's horse, thus saving the Emperor from disaster."
A bitter smile appeared on Gu Heng's lips; he knew that Gu Qingyan was telling the truth.
The subsequent investigation revealed that his horse was startled by a stone, and it turned out that the stone had saved his life.
What about all those years of favoritism he showed to Consort Rong?
Gu Heng felt everything go black before his eyes, and he simply collapsed.
......
"Rong'er, tomorrow is my wedding day, but believe me, you have always been the only one in my heart." The day before the wedding, Gu Heng carried Consort Rong to the bridal chamber that had been prepared. "Today is my wedding day."
Gu Heng felt as if he were being crushed by a huge boulder, unable to breathe, and scenes from the past kept flashing through his mind.
"Tomorrow His Majesty will still consummate his marriage with the Empress, and the Empress will bear him legitimate sons and princesses. But I... I cannot do that..."
Gu Heng, who was deeply in love with Consort Rong, could not bear to see the beauty shed tears. In the heat of the moment, Gu Heng made a decision that he would regret for the rest of his life.
"Rong'er, rest assured, I will not touch Jiang Yu. I will make your child a legitimate prince or princess, who will inherit the entire Great Meng Dynasty in the future, and I will honor you as Empress Dowager."
That night, the two were locked in a passionate embrace, and she became pregnant with Gu Qingling's child.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." The entire Imperial Hospital was on guard outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The sudden fainting of the emperor caused quite a stir in both the court and the harem.
Jiang He immediately mobilized troops to guard the palace, and several important officials also rushed into the palace. The concubines in the harem were all in danger and hoped that Gu Heng would wake up soon.
[Gu Heng fainted?]
Inside Zhaoning Palace, Jiang Yu sneered upon hearing the news of Gu Heng's fainting. Was he unable to accept the truth?
"Your Highness, does our Zhaoning Palace need...?"
"There's no need to do anything yet. Go to the Imperial Study and tell the princes to stand guard outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony after their studies."
[Gu Heng went to Lingxi Palace after leaving the training ground, presumably to confirm that Consort Rong had deceived him for so many years, making him seem like a fool.]
To Jiang Yu's surprise, Gu Heng remained unconscious for a full day and night, and only uttered two sentences after waking up.
"Seal off Lingxi Palace and forbid anyone from entering or leaving."
"Go to Zhaoning Palace and invite the Empress over."
Gu Heng drove all the palace servants out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Jiang Yu stood outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, this was the first time she had stepped into the Hall of Supreme Harmony in more than ten years since she entered the palace.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
Gu Heng looked at Jiang Yu kneeling on the ground, his lips trembling, "Why didn't you tell me all these years that it was you who saved me back then?"
Good heavens, what has he done?!
Under the covers, Gu Heng's fingernails were digging into his palms. He had hurt Jiang Yu so badly. If Jiang Yu knew the truth one day, would she want to kill him?
"Your Majesty is too kind; it was just a small favor."
Jiang Yu looked up at Gu Heng, the husband she had begged for her entire life in her previous life. She begged him to look at her more, she begged him to treat her child well, but in the end, the last decree he left for Gu Qingling was to establish Consort Rong as Empress Dowager.
"Just a small favor? Cough...cough cough..."
Gu Heng felt like he was coughing up his internal organs. Looking at Jiang Yu's expressionless face, Gu Heng finally realized the more serious situation. "If you tell me, I will treat you well."
"When Your Majesty married me as Empress, didn't you intend to treat me well?" Jiang Yu's gaze made Gu Heng feel somewhat exposed. "After marrying into the palace, I gave birth to two sons and a daughter, and now I have adopted Ayan. I am already content."
[Satisfied? I wish you and Consort Rong would go to hell together.]
Gu Heng suddenly laughed, a laugh that looked more like a grimace.
He clearly remembered that when Jiang Yu looked at him before, her eyes were filled with light.
Only he knows how much effort he put into marrying Jiang Yu. He had just married the most important person in his life, but things turned out differently than expected, leading to the current situation.
"Empress, please give me another chance. I will treat you well and watch our children grow up together."
For a moment, Jiang Yu felt an urge to vomit.
"Your Majesty's words are somewhat beyond my comprehension." Jiang Yu stood up and distanced herself from Gu Heng. "Your Majesty is unwell and needs your care. I will arrange for the concubines in the harem to attend to you when I return. Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself."
Jiang Yu had been gone for a long time before Cen Hai cautiously entered. He had been standing at the doorway and had overheard the entire conversation between the Emperor and Empress.
"Cen Hai, do you think the Empress is blaming me? She knows I mistook Consort Rong for her." Gu Heng's face was ashen and lifeless.
"Your Majesty, this servant believes that Her Majesty is unaware of this matter. No one has mentioned to Her Majesty the reason why you favor Consort Rong, which is why Her Majesty did not understand your words just now."
"really?"
Gu Heng's heart trembled slightly. Did Jiang Yu really not know?
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