Chapter 270: Chapter 271: Confession

Gu Yifeng listened and smiled faintly. In the darkness, his laughter was low, yet it seemed to have an invisible force directly striking others’ hearts.

“The Eldest Prince dared to brazenly have you kidnapped. I only mentioned it like this in front of the Holy Emperor. The Eldest Prince knows why I did it. Now that the mask is off, it depends on who is superior. Previously, I did not intend to intervene between the Eldest Prince and the Crown Prince, but it seems unavoidable now.”

“It’s all because of me that big brother now has to get involved in such matters.” Lin Youning felt guilty, having lived one lifetime and still causing others such great trouble.

But she also comforted herself. Having offended the Eldest Prince now, if he ascends the throne, he will surely trouble Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. To safeguard everyone’s lives, they must drag the Eldest Prince down and support the Crown Prince’s accession.

However, in her past life, Lin Youning knew the Crown Prince ascended and became a wise ruler. Now, with big brother standing by the Crown Prince’s side, it could be considered a merit of aiding the dragon’s flight; the Emperor should be more satisfied with big brother.

Could this be a blessing in disguise?

Thinking of these things, Lin Youning couldn’t help but worry about her grandfather. After all, he had served under the Eldest Prince. Although he’s no longer with him, can the Crown Prince really not hold him accountable after ascending? After all, her grandfather had already betrayed the Crown Prince.

“This has nothing to do with you. You are merely a catalyst brought into this matter. I believe your grandfather understands this as well.” Gu Yifeng paused, “However, when speaking with your grandfather today, he asked me some questions.”

“What did grandfather ask?”

“I want to know where you heard outsiders discussing your grandfather and Prince Xian Mansion’s affairs, and how you are so sure that the Crown Prince’s side will succeed?” Gu Yifeng’s voice in the dark was light, but it struck Lin Youning’s heart heavily.

“Did grandfather ask big brother this?”

“From your grandfather’s words, I could tell he always thought you heard it from me and then told him.” Gu Yifeng shared his analysis, “In the past, I had no dealings with your grandfather. When I saw the hairpin your brother sent you, I speculated about your background. Yet, since mother did not bring it up and your big brother did not want to discuss it, I said nothing. After all, Chancellor Liu has always been solitary in court, and his mentees are notoriously ruthless, implicating your grandfather with similar reputation. I thought there must be a reason your brother disavowed your grandfather. However, when speaking to your grandfather today, listening to him bring it up himself, it was clear he’s a very serious and rigid person, loyal at heart. Choosing the Eldest Prince must have been out of necessity, though he didn’t say, and I did not ask.”

Lin Youning remained silent. She did not know how to explain it to big brother. Clearly, this matter could not be concealed any longer.

“If you don’t want to say, you don’t have to.” Gu Yifeng added.

Lin Youning understood—big brother was also telling her, if she speaks, then tell the truth, otherwise, do not say anything, lest everything said be lies.

“I had a dream; dreamt I had already lived a lifetime. In the dream, the Crown Prince ascended as Emperor, and I saw grandfather being convicted by the Crown Prince due to choosing the Eldest Prince back then. Many events in the dream coincided with the present happenings, making me question if it was merely a dream or reality. So after recognizing grandfather, I wanted to give him a heads-up. I knew if I said it was a dream, grandfather wouldn’t believe it, so I mentioned hearing it from others, not expecting it to be true.” Lin Youning felt her explanation was neither a lie nor making excuses.

To her, the past life was a dream, or maybe the present is a dream—Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly; who knows which is the dream and which the reality.

Perhaps, that’s how it is.

Gu Yifeng said nothing.

He believed this time Sister Ning did not deceive him. However, such a matter was too astonishing; he never knew that these events had occurred in Sister Ning’s life.

“In your dream, whom did you marry?” Though many questions would follow, Gu Yifeng confessed he most wanted to ask this.

“I married Second Brother.” Lin Youning felt relieved after saying it, “In the dream, I married Second Brother. Only on the wedding night did he stay with me; from then on, he never entered the East Courtyard. I had a son who studied hard and became the top scorer at a very young age. But later, I died early.”

These were matters Lin Youning had never shared before. Since she already told big brother it was something she dreamt, naturally, dreams could encompass anything. Sharing it didn’t worry her about big brother overthinking.

Moreover, speaking of it eased her heart a bit, at least proving Brother Zong truly existed in her life.

“But it’s just a dream. Look at reality; it’s not like that. It’s late; let’s sleep.” Gu Yifeng admittedly felt jealous.

Filled with anger, he wished to tell Sister Ning never to dream such dreams again, for they were married now and would have children in the future.

But he knew he couldn’t do that now; suppressing the jealousy and anger, Gu Yifeng instinctively moved the pillow between them aside, shifting to embrace Sister Ning within the quilt.

“It’s just a dream, though some events overlap with real life. But isn’t it me you’ve married now? You won’t die young like in the dream.” Gu Yifeng spoke, his hand gently tapping her.

Lin Youning buried her head in the quilt, leaning against big brother through it, “Yes, it was just a dream. Now that I’m awake, I’m well.”

Only her Brother Zong would never return. Whenever she recalls her son, Lin Youning feels pained. In the past, she wasn’t a good mother, solely dwelling on her sorrow and rarely considering her son’s feelings. He was independent, handling everything by himself, shouldering the family’s burdens early, even earning top honors as a scholar.

She knew achieving top scores required great unseen effort.

Yet as a mother, she seldom cared for Brother Zong, a regret Lin Youning carries to this day.

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