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Gu Changqing appeared composed on the surface, but every inch of his being was permeated with a chilling coldness.
His mother was a spy from the previous dynasty.
His mother... was a spy from the previous dynasty!
He knew that his grandfather wouldn't deceive him about such matters. Still, a voice echoed in his mind: Perhaps his grandfather was just mistaken.
However, why did he feel a piercing pain in his chest?
"What do you want to do when you grow up?"
"I don't know, what does Mother want me to do?"
"Mother hopes you become a man as formidable as your grandfather."
"Then I'll join the military when I grow up. I want to fight in battles like my grandfather, protect the country and the people!"
"Mother's Qing'er is truly remarkable."
The tender voice and loving expression of his mother were still vivid in his mind, as if it happened just yesterday.
It was just that now he couldn't distinguish whether her words back then were filled with maternal affection or ambition.
The next words were difficult for Old Marquis to articulate. Yet, if he didn't say them now, he feared he might not have the chance or the courage to say them later.
He spoke, "In these troubled times, I know you won't let your grievances against me create disagreements in our actions during battles. But I still want to make it crystal clear. I didn't kill your mother."
Old Marquis’s own heart wasn't at peace either.
No matter how many years had passed, whenever he recalled Ling shi's matters, turmoil surged within his heart uncontrollably.
Old Marquis continued in a strained voice, "During the time your mother was ill, it was a period when she had close dealings with the remnants of the previous dynasty. I inadvertently found a letter she didn’t have time to destroy, learning of her secretive communication. I didn't know who she was in contact with at the time, but the letters were full of inquiries about the Gu Family Army. I grew suspicious and had the dark guards keep an eye on her. Intercepting several letters, I eventually found out her true identity."
"You're a general of the court, and you should understand the consequences for a family like ours if someone turns out to be a spy from the previous dynasty. For the sake of ensuring our safety, I decided to secretly eliminate her. But when I looked at you... and your two younger brothers, I changed my mind. I decided to confront her face to face."
Only, he didn't expect Concubine Ling to witness that confrontation.
Old Marquis continued, "I went to see your mother, threw the intercepted letters in front of her, demanding an explanation. She didn't try to make excuses and admitted it on the spot. She confessed that she was a spy from the previous dynasty, and her purpose for infiltrating the Marquis Ding'an Estate was initially to harm me, but since I wasn't often present, she couldn't find an opportunity.”
“Later, she gave birth to you. Seeing how much I cherished you, the remnants of the previous dynasty conceived another plan and decided to have you inherit the Gu Family Army. You indeed lived up to expectations, gaining my full trust and expectations. However, situations are ever-changing. The appetite of the remnants of the previous dynasty grew day by day, and they were no longer satisfied with just seizing the Gu Family Army. They set their sights on you."
Gu Changqing's gaze flickered slightly.
"You have two younger brothers. In truth, either of them could inherit the Gu Family Army. But what they need is a puppet heir." Old Marquis spoke, his gaze suddenly carrying a chill. "They want to take you away and groom you into the finest death warrior... Your mother didn't agree."
Gu Changqing clenched his fists, veins slowly bulging on his forehead.
Old Marquis continued solemnly, "Your mother knew their methods, and she knew the fate of those who betrayed them. To protect you from being taken away and to prevent herself from becoming a tool for those people to threaten the three of you, she... killed the remnants of the previous dynasty who came to take you away, then chose to end her own life."
As Gu Changqing listened, his body began to tremble slightly.
Old Marquis looked at him, a pang of pain crossing his heart. He sighed, saying, "There's no impenetrable wall in this world, but sometimes, we have no choice but to take a leap of faith."
Ling shi had no choice but to die, just as he had no choice but to hide the truth from His Majesty.
When the Emperor conspired with him to pretend to disband the Gu Family Army to lower Empress Dowager Zhuang's guard, he actually felt relieved. He thought it might be a good thing for Gu Changqing not to inherit the Gu Family Army.
If he didn't take that position, he wouldn’t be targeted so easily.
Yet, things went against his wishes. Gu Changqing, as the commander, led the hundred thousand Gu Family Army to the borderlands.
The methods the remnants of the previous dynasty used on traitors were cruel and horrifying. Old Marquis couldn't imagine what they would do to get back on Ling shi's son.
He would rather Gu Changqing had never come to the borderlands. He would rather die here himself. He would rather hand over the Gu Family Army to Tang Yueshan, led by him alone, than watch Gu Changqing expose himself to the remnants of the previous dynasty.
Old Marquis had these sentiments because he temporarily didn't know that his other grandson and Gu Jiao had also arrived at the borderlands. They were also children of the Marquis Ding’an Estate, and the remnants of the previous dynasty wouldn't spare them either.
However, their greatest hatred was still directed towards Gu Changqing.
He should have been their death warrior, but he turned into their enemy!
On the other side of the room, Gu Chengfeng was utterly dumbfounded.
The impact he received was greater than Gu Changqing's.
Firstly, he didn't know his eldest brother was here. If his eldest brother could come all the way to the distant Prefect's Mansion to visit their grandfather, why didn't he visit him in the infirmary camp?
Next was the death of Ling shi. Initially, he thought his mother had been angered to death by Yao shi's actions. Later, the injustice against Yao Shi was finally cleared, and he believed his mother had genuinely passed away due to illness.
But now, he was being told that his mother was forced to commit suicide?
Moreover, if his mother was a spy from the previous dynasty. Then, did that mean he was... partially a spy too?!
When Gu Jiao heard this, she combined it with her previous dream, and many puzzles suddenly made sense to her. No wonder she felt like the remnants of the previous dynasty were taking revenge on the Gu Family. It turned out they were punishing Ling shi's betrayal.
First, they beheaded Gu Chengfeng and Old Marquis, then they obliterated the Gu Family Army and crippled Gu Changqing's legs, ensuring no peace for Ling shi in the afterlife.
Take a look at what became of the son you refuse to surrender! Take a look at how all the Gu Family troops you failed to seize for us have turned into lifeless corpses!
If they couldn't obtain it, destroy it! Utterly twisted!
Tang Yueshan was the last person to remove his ear from the wall.
Honestly, he was also quite shocked.
He never expected the Marquis Ding'an Estate, which appeared so proper and orderly, to hide such a big mess!
What about the illicit relationship between him and his sister-in-law?!
What about Tang Ming being wanton and unruly outside?!
Bringing a spy into the family and giving birth to three little spies, what a heinous sin!
Tang Yueshan suddenly felt his image had never been so glorious! All thanks to his colleagues for the contrast!
After the shock, Tang Yueshan started planning something in his mind.
How many merits could he earn by reporting one, two, or even three spies from the previous dynasty to Empress Dowager Zhuang and the Emperor?
As soon as this thought flashed across his mind, Tang Yueshan felt a chill on his forehead. Regaining his senses, he focused and saw Gu Jiao holding a huge syringe in front of him.
He was startled, his body trembling, "What are you doing?!"
Gu Jiao pushed the syringe slightly with her thumb, "Injecting you. To mute you!"
Tang Yueshan: "...!!"
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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