A "snap" sound rang out.
A very obvious handprint appeared on Gu Lin's face. Jiang Yu used a lot of force, so much so that her palms were red and trembling uncontrollably.
"Why?"
Why is Gu Lin Ayan's biological father? And what about Gu Heng? What is she to him?
"Gu Heng has always known that I have feelings for you."
A burning pain shot through his face, but Gu Lin felt a sense of lightness throughout his body. Now, he had finally told A Yu everything, and this time, he could leave with peace of mind.
"So back then, he imprisoned me in the palace's dark dungeon, making me watch you and him get married, and even told me that the day of the wedding would be my death day."
The memory of that extremely painful period still made Gu Lin's heart pound.
“I thought he was sincere towards you, but he wants a death row inmate to consummate the marriage with you until you give birth to your child.” Gu Lin’s expression became agitated. “Ayu, I can’t accept this. I would rather that person be me.”
“I made a deal with Gu Heng using the Imperial Seal of the State, took a deadly poison, and entered Zhaoning Palace.”
So that night, it was me.
After saying that, Gu Lin closed his eyes weakly. He was afraid... afraid to see Jiang Yu's disgusted expression.
No matter how many reasons he had, he still hurt Ayu in the end...
"What about the Princess Consort of Xiang who died by hitting her head against a pillar?"
Jiang Yu clenched her handkerchief tightly. Gu Lin's words completely overturned Jiang Yu's understanding of things over the years.
Her so-called husband, from the very beginning, did not show her even the most basic respect as a husband and wife.
“When Ayan was born, it was during the most difficult period of my life. I sent almost all the people in Lingxiao Pavilion to rescue Ayan.”
Gu Lin's expression began to show signs of pain, and large beads of sweat started to appear on his forehead.
“His life was precarious, and I couldn’t protect Ayan. Because of the difficult childbirth, Ayan was extremely weak at the time, and I could only send him back to the palace so that he could receive the best treatment.”
"So Ling Hui confirmed A Yan's identity by hitting the pillar, making Gu Heng think that it was my remnant force desperately trying to preserve my last bloodline."
"And so, Ayan became the heir apparent of the King of Xiang."
Jiang Yu burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face. What a ridiculous joke!
Why didn't you tell me back then?
Jiang Yu's head was buzzing, and her vision was blurring in waves. "I was made to treat Gu Qingling and the other two as my own children, and I was made a laughingstock by Gu Heng and Consort Rong."
Gu Lin's breathing grew weaker and weaker; he felt his last breath slipping away.
Gu Lin reached out his hand again, and this time, he slowly touched Jiang Yu's face.
Gu Lin gently wiped away the marks on her face. "Ayu, don't cry."
"I was afraid, afraid that if I told you the truth directly, I wouldn't have the ability to protect you and Ayan, so I kept waiting." A metallic taste rose in his throat, and Gu Lin's speech began to become somewhat intermittent.
"I...was terribly wrong."
The image of Jiang Yu's tragic death in his dream appeared before Gu Lin's eyes, and Gu Lin even shed tears of blood.
"The year before you died tragically in my dream... Gu Heng sent Gu Qingling to poison Ayan... Ayan. I won't live to see that day." Gu Lin's vision began to darken, and his bloodshot eyes throbbed with pain. "I'm leaving it to you, Ayu."
"After I die... support Ayan to become the new ruler of Da Ning, forget about me, and live a good life with Ayan."
With that, Gu Lin slammed his hand heavily onto the bed, and Jiang Yu's pupils constricted sharply. "Gu Lin?"
"Gu Lin!"
Jiang Yu felt as if she had been violently struck, and she blankly reached out to check Gu Lin's breath.
Thankfully... there's still a breath left.
But Gu Lin's body began to grow cold rapidly.
Jiang Yu had no time to think about those grudges and right and wrong; she just kept rubbing Gu Lin's hands, trying to warm him up.
"Gu Lin, wake up, please wake up."
Jiang Yu's cries gradually spread out, and everyone rushed to the courtyard, even Gu Qingyan... ran out of the palace.
No matter how Jiang Yu called out, the person on the bed could no longer give any response.
The crying grew fainter and fainter, and a few breaths later, the door creaked open.
Upon seeing Jiang Yu, Ling Hai and the others knelt down with utmost respect, for she was the Queen Consort of their Great Ning Kingdom.
"Ayan, come in."
Gu Qingyan walked mechanically. Inside the room, the smell of blood filled him with fear.
"Kneel down and kowtow to your father."
Jiang Yu's voice rang out again, and Gu Qingyan suddenly felt an urge to cry.
“He still has a breath left, Ayan, talk to him a little longer.”
"Father."
Gu Qingyan knelt beside Gu Lin's bed, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Father, don't die, open your eyes and look at me." Gu Qingyan reached out to wipe away Gu Lin's blood and tears, but the more he wiped, the more crimson blood stained his hands.
Jiang Yu felt a sudden darkness before her eyes and bit her tongue to stay awake.
Stepping out of the house again, Jiang Yu went straight to Mei Chu. "Since you have earned his trust, you must be a highly skilled doctor. Doctor Mei, please think of another way."
Mei Chu lowered his head helplessly, "Madam, I am incompetent..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu revealed a smile that was more like a grimace. How could this be? How could he just leave her like this after telling her so many truths all at once?
Gu Qingyan's sobs weighed heavily on everyone's hearts. Jiang Yu felt extremely flustered and subconsciously reached for the jade pendant at her waist.
[The jade pendant! The jade pendant just fell and shattered...]
Jiang Yu rushed into the room. On the ground, the jade pendant that Gu Lin had cherished for more than ten years was broken in two and lay quietly.
Jiang Yu reached out to touch the jade pendant, and the sharp edge immediately cut her hand.
Blood dripped onto the jade pendant, but Jiang Yu, as if she felt no pain, picked it up and pieced the two halves back together.
She understood that if it weren't for her, Gu Lin would have been able to protect himself and leave while he was imprisoned in the palace.
"If it is truly meant to be returned to its rightful owner, this jade pendant should rightfully belong to you."
Jiang Yu placed the two halves of the jade pendant in Gu Lin's palm, but Gu Lin was too weak to hold them.
Jiang Yu's hands trembled violently as she gripped Gu Lin's hand so he could hold the jade pendant tightly. As they rubbed together, the jade pendant scratched a bloody mark on the back of Gu Lin's hand, which was covered in bluish-black marks.
A few breaths later, Gu Qingyan stopped crying as if he had seen something, only staring wide-eyed and sobbing in disbelief.
He saw it; his mother's blood dripped onto the wound on his father's hand...
The dark green flower... is missing one of its petals.
This discovery made Gu Qingyan so excited that he almost lost his voice. He grabbed Jiang Yu's hand and gestured for her to look at the back of Gu Lin's hand.
The air seemed to freeze. Jiang Yu, without changing her expression, bit her finger and dripped the blood directly onto the bloodstain on the back of Gu Lin's hand.
The bluish-black color first became clearer, and then disappeared in an instant.
"Thank God."
Jiang Yu's legs went weak and she collapsed by the bed, muttering the same sentence over and over again.
Gu Qingyan, almost frantically, ran into the courtyard and dragged Mei Chu inside, pointing to the nearly half-disappeared bluish-black mark on Gu Lin's hand, "Save...can he be saved..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com