Looking at Ji Zhuo's pained expression, Lin Xihe felt a mix of emotions.
She never imagined that her past with Gu Qinghuai was actually a meticulously planned conspiracy.
And the source of all this was actually a good deed that Ji Zhuo did unintentionally when he was young.
She sighed softly, reached out and stroked Ji Zhuo's cheek, her tone gentle yet firm: "Zhuo, what's done is done, blaming yourself won't change anything. None of this is your fault."
Ji Zhuo raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but didn't know where to begin. Lin Xihe's tolerance and understanding only made him feel more guilty.
He whispered, "Xi'er, I... I never imagined that my negligence would cause you so much pain. If I had known Sun Ningxiang's intentions earlier, I would never have given her the chance to hurt you."
Lin Xihe shook her head and said softly, "You don't have to take all the blame on yourself. How could you have predicted what Sun Ningxiang did?"
"Because of that time, I had Tangbao. You also like Tangbao. Even if it was a conspiracy back then, my daughter is real."
She smiled bitterly to herself. The pain she had endured was over, but she had found some comfort in Tangbao.
Ji Zhuo leaned on Lin Xihe's shoulder and nodded, but couldn't say a word.
Lin Xihe had endured just as much pain as Ji Zhuo had. She gently held Ji Zhuo's hand and said softly, "Zhuo, it's alright, it's all over. I don't blame you, and you shouldn't blame yourself either, okay?"
However, she still had doubts in her heart.
How could Ji Zhuo suddenly know all this after so much time has passed?
"How did you know? You've already arrested her? Where are you hiding her?" Although Lin Xihe was seething with hatred, she was more worried about whether Ji Zhuo's actions would leave any evidence for others.
Ji Zhuo is now under the watchful eyes of many people, and he could easily fall into danger if he is not careful.
After Ji Zhuo calmed down, he recounted the whole story in detail.
At today's flower-viewing banquet, Ji Zhuo inadvertently saw a palace maid acting suspiciously, putting a drug into a drink that was intended for Mu Ruoyan. Knowing that Lin Xihe cared about Mu Ruoyan and didn't want anything to happen to him, Ji Zhuo secretly instructed his guards to inform Mu Ruoyan of this.
Mu Ruoyan pretended to drink the wine, then feigned illness and rested in a side hall.
Soon after, a palace maid came to investigate. Ji Zhuo assumed the maid was sent by His Majesty, but she never expected that the person she reported to was Sun Ningxiang.
Ji Zhuo immediately ordered his men to arrest the palace maid and imprison her in the palace where Mu Ruoyan was temporarily staying, where she was subjected to severe torture.
The palace maid initially gritted her teeth and endured the torment of various poisons brought by Xu Jiu, but finally could not bear it any longer and confessed everything.
Upon hearing this, Ji Zhuo nearly lost control of his emotions. Unable to bear it any longer, he rushed to find Lin Xihe. When he left, Mu Ruoyan was still interrogating the palace maid.
Upon hearing this, Lin Xihe asked in surprise, "He knew you were here?"
"I don't know, but he can probably guess."
No sooner had Ji Zhuo finished speaking than Mu Ruoyan's voice came from outside the door: "Do you still need to guess?"
Lin Xihe was startled and instinctively grabbed Ji Zhuo's hand tightly. She then quickly stood up and shielded Ji Zhuo behind her.
The scene of Mu Ruoyan attacking Ji Zhuo that day is still vivid in her mind, as if it happened yesterday.
Mu Ruoyan's expression at this moment was not as sinister and fierce as expected, but anyone with discerning eyes could see that he was already angry.
He looked at the two people kneeling face to face, embracing each other, and noticed Lin Xihe's subconscious protective gesture. His face instantly darkened like the sky before a storm.
"Lin Xihe, can't you even grasp the proper measure?"
Mu Ruoyan's voice was filled with suppressed anger as she strode forward and, without saying a word, picked Lin Xihe up in her arms, completely ignoring Ji Zhuo, who was still immersed in self-blame.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Xihe was carried to the bed by Mu Ruoyan, who then wrapped her tightly in a blanket.
Seeing this, Lin Xihe quickly explained, "We didn't do anything, don't be angry."
"They're already hugging, what else do they want to do? You're useless, all you can do is put on a pitiful act!" Mu Ruoyan was extremely jealous. At this moment, he sat on the edge of the bed, blocking their view so that Lin Xihe wouldn't see Ji Zhuo.
In fact, Mu Ruoyan's men were not unaware of the palace maid's unusual behavior. However, Ji Zhuo had taken the initiative to inform Xu Jiu about it, and Mu Ruoyan was indebted to him for this favor today.
That's why he didn't draw his sword against Ji Zhuo on the spot.
Furthermore, when Mu Ruoyan saw Ji Zhuo's near-collapse when he learned the truth, she was also moved.
Although he felt that Ji Zhuo was incompetent and couldn't even protect Lin Xihe, he also understood that Ji Zhuo's love for Lin Xihe was deep and intense.
"Why did you say that about him!" Lin Xihe looked at Mu Ruoyan angrily.
"What, you side with him just because he cries?" Mu Ruoyan retorted, full of resentment. She and Lin Xihe glared at each other, neither willing to give in.
At this moment, Ji Zhuo also slowly stood up from the ground.
He ignored Mu Ruoyan and looked straight at Lin Xihe, as if Mu Ruoyan didn't exist at all.
"Xi'er, I don't deserve to have you. But if anyone ever bullies you in the future, even if I have to cross mountains and rivers, even if I have to fight with everything I have, I will never let him get away with it." Ji Zhuo made a promise to Lin Xihe, every word filled with tearing pain.
He finally decided to let go.
In the past, even though he found the struggles very difficult, he never thought of giving up.
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