Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 1091: Chapter 1092 Original Words

As soon as she retreated into the yard, the old woman attempted to close the courtyard gate, her expression particularly panicked.

But Meng Zhuqing wouldn’t possibly allow her to shut it and held the gate open for Xiao Changyi to enter the courtyard.

Gong Juechen followed into the courtyard as well.

It was only then that Meng Zhuqing stopped obstructing the door and even helped to close the courtyard gate.

”Come inside,” Xiao Changyi led the way into the house. It wasn’t good to talk outside, better to do so inside.

Gong Juechen gracefully followed Xiao Changyi into the house.

The old woman seemed at a loss but, in the end, plucked up the courage to enter the house as well.

Meng Zhuqing finally entered the room.

Inside, there were very few possessions, indicating that this household was quite poor. Xiao Changyi and Gong Juechen sat beside an old square table. Conveniently, there were two long benches by the table, and Xiao Changyi and Gong Juechen each took one.

Upon seeing the old woman come in, Xiao Changyi looked towards Gong Juechen.

With an air of resignation, Gong Juechen stood up, took off his upper garment, and showed the old woman the birthmark on his lower back.

As soon as the old woman saw the birthmark, tears flooded her eyes again, ”Young Master... it really is you... truly you...”

Suddenly, the old woman straightened her expression, knelt before Gong Juechen, and paid him a grand salute, ”This servant Ling’er pays respect to the Young Master.”

Gong Juechen didn’t tell the old woman to get up. He simply put his clothes back on and then sat back down on the long bench, as if Ling’er was not speaking to him at all.

Xiao Changyi glanced at Gong Juechen before asking, ”You used to be a close maid of Consort Han and you also knew that this young master was still alive. You must know why Consort Han thought the Emperor wanted to kill your young master, right?”

The old woman didn’t respond and just looked to Gong Juechen for a cue, with a look suggesting ’I’ll speak if you let me; I’ll keep silent if you don’t.’

Gong Juechen found this amusing, ”Why are you looking at me? If you know, then simply answer his question.” He paused for a moment, ”Actually, I’m rather curious myself. Speak.”

The old woman then responded, ”I remember, on that day, my mistress had prepared lotus jade dew soup, hoping to bring it to the Emperor. I accompanied her and just so happened to overhear the Emperor saying he would kill all the Princes except for the Crown Prince, so no one could compete with the Crown Prince for his position.”

Gong Juechen had harbored some doubts about whether this old woman truly was a maid to his imperial consort mother, but hearing her words, he believed her. She was indeed his mother’s maid.

This was because his master had told him the same thing—that his mother had been taking lotus jade dew soup to Su Haoyu when she inadvertently uncovered this great secret.

Convinced that this was indeed his mother’s maid Ling’er, Gong Juechen looked triumphantly at Xiao Changyi as if to say ’See, that’s how it is. It’s Su Haoyu who wants to kill all his sons except for Su Chengyu, removing any threats to Su Chengyu so that he can securely be the Crown Prince and succeed to the throne.’

Xiao Changyi furrowed his brow slightly before asking again, ”What were the exact words of the Emperor at the time? Do you still remember?”

The old woman replied, ”I remember.”

Xiao Changyi said, ”Please repeat them for us to hear.”

The old woman immediately protested, ”I dare not!”

Gong Juechen spoke leisurely, ”Just repeat them, we won’t reveal what you say.”

Upon hearing these words from her Young Master, Gong Juechen, the old woman summoned her courage and said, ”The Emperor spoke as follows, ’I will kill them all, leaving only Chengyu as my son. I’d like to see—with only Chengyu as my son—who else could compete with Chengyu for the position of the Crown Prince!’”