He was not the original host of this body, so how could he possibly remember?
Besides, the author had not bothered to describe the original owner’s drowning incident in any detail; it had been brushed over in a single sentence. However, Gu Lingwan now recalled what Xiao Yanming had said by the lotus pond—that he wanted to tell him the truth about that drowning incident. Combined with the words of the fatuous emperor before him, it was certain that there was a hidden plot buried within.
Gu Lingwan pulled his thoughts back and asked Xiao Lanjie, “The Emperor must also be aware that Lingwan suffered a head injury and lost many memories, correct?”
“I have heard as much.” Xiao Lanjie used his jade chopsticks to pile meat onto Gu Lingwan’s plate. “Why isn’t the Princess Consort eating?”
With a fatuous emperor like you staring down at me from above, how am I supposed to eat? Gu Lingwan thought, replying, “The Emperor’s words just now have piqued Lingwan’s deep curiosity.”
Quit playing coy and just spit it out.
Xiao Lanjie wore a gentle, mellow smile. “Forget it. I had better not bring up the past, lest it affect the husband-and-husband affection between you and the Sixth Brother.”
Gu Lingwan raised an eyebrow. Why do I smell a whiff of cattiness? You are clearly trying to bait me into thinking my drowning was related to Xiao the Second.
Xiao Lanjie sighed with emotion and continued, “After all, who among us has never made mistakes?”
Gu Lingwan raised his other eyebrow. You did not name him, yet every word is designed to make me think it was Xiao the Second who pushed me into the water.
Xiao Lanjie observed Gu Lingwan’s expression and added, “The late Emperor had arranged a betrothal by touch. When the Sixth Brother and I found out, even though the Sixth Brother was quite young at the time, his resistance was the greatest.”
Gu Lingwan’s expression remained indifferent. Look at that, the motive for Xiao the Second pushing me into the water is being served up.
Damn it, that is your own biological brother, and you are still trying to sabotage him. Oh, wait, I forgot; sabotaging Xiao the Second is the least of his concerns; with less than three months left, he is the one who gets Xiao the Second killed.
Xiao Lanjie immediately pulled his tone back. “However, seeing you two getting along so harmoniously now, I feel relieved.”
Gu Lingwan smiled. “It is truly the Sixth Prince’s blessing to have such a good older brother as the Emperor.”
In the distance, Xiao Yingxun watched the smile on Gu Lingwan’s face. He is deep in pleasant conversation with the Emperor. Could it be that he knows he only has three months to live and wants to curry favor with the Emperor? After all, it is best to lean against a big tree to stay cool.
Hearing Gu Lingwan’s words, Xiao Lanjie chuckled. “How do I feel like the Princess Consort’s words have an underlying meaning?”
Gu Lingwan replied, “The Emperor must not overthink it. Lingwan’s mind is simple; I would never dare to play tricks in front of the Emperor, nor do I have any other hidden agendas.”
I was too impulsive. Damn this ridiculous sense of justice.
Xiao Lanjie’s lips parted, about to speak, when an attendant approached and whispered a few words in his ear. A moment later, he looked at Gu Lingwan and said, “I have urgent matters to attend to and must take my leave.”
Gu Lingwan stood and bowed. “Lingwan respectfully sees the Emperor off.”
Xiao Lanjie glanced at Gu Lingwan with a playful squint. The moment he turned around, a flicker of dark, frustrated gloom surfaced in his eyes.
Once the man was gone, Gu Lingwan sat back down and let out a long breath, muttering to himself, “I do not believe a single punctuation mark of what he said.”
Just as Gu Lingwan picked up his chopsticks to start eating, someone else sat down beside him. “The Princess Consort was saying he did not believe whom?”
Gu Lingwan froze, turning to look at the person next to him. “Your ears are always sharp, are they not!”
Xiao Yanming said modestly, “You flatter me.”
Gu Lingwan wanted to continue eating, but Xiao Yanming added, “Thank you, Princess Consort, for saving my life. I will never forget your kindness.”
Gu Lingwan stopped his chopsticks. “The Eleventh Prince is only ‘never forgetting’ it?”
Xiao Yanming was stunned and asked, “How would you like me to repay you?”
“Marry me.” Gu Lingwan let out a giggle. “Look how scared you are; your face turned white.” He only liked women, but he would not mind marrying a wife, having kids, and living a happy, peaceful little life.
Xiao Yingxun watched Gu Lingwan, who was full of smiles. He is winning over the Eleventh Prince again!
After being teased, Xiao Yanming laughed somewhat unnaturally. “The Princess Consort is reckless with his words; he dares to make any joke. If the Sixth Brother heard, he might think something is going on between us.”
Gu Lingwan always forgot he was technically married. He nodded happily. “Exactly, so let us not meet behind the Prince’s back anymore. You should clear out.” Please leave so I can eat; I am starving.
“Has the Princess Consort forgotten what I told you by the lotus pond?”
Damn it, he is hooking my curiosity again. He wanted to know the truth behind the original owner’s drowning. Gu Lingwan finally put down his chopsticks. “What is the truth about my drowning?”
Xiao Yanming replied, “It was the Prince who, while you were not looking, knocked you unconscious and pushed you into the pond, intending to drown you.”
Gu Lingwan frowned. So it really was him! But…
“The Prince and the Emperor are twins; they look almost exactly the same. How are you so sure it was the Prince who knocked me out and pushed me?”
Xiao Yanming explained, “Even though they are twins, they never wear the same clothes or hair accessories, so how could I mistake them?” He paused and added, “I told you this, Princess Consort, because you saved me, and I could not let you be kept in the dark. Otherwise, I would never have shared this secret I have held for years.”
In truth, Xiao Lanjie had indeed cleverly imitated Xiao Yingxun’s attire back then, but he never would have guessed that Xiao Yanming was secretly tailing him and saw him change back into his own clothes. He had originally intended to wait for the Prince to drown and then report the murder to the late Emperor, but the Prince had been rescued. Fortunately, he had not had the chance to report him back then; he had been too young and his ideas too naive. How could he have toppled them with just that one incident?
Gu Lingwan was silent for a moment. “Are you not worried I will tell the Prince?”
Xiao Yanming glanced at Xiao Yingxun in the distance. “I would have been worried before, but not now. The Princess Consort has become smart and is no longer as foolish as before. You know how to weigh the pros and cons.”
Gu Lingwan rolled his eyes. “You really do know how to talk.” He also glanced at Xiao Yingxun. “I will not tell the Prince about this.” He added, “And I will not be ‘foolish’ enough to believe something based on one person’s word.” Actually, I am not smart now, either; I am just a lazy salted fish.
“My apologies, my choice of words was improper.” Xiao Yanming explained, “The Princess Consort is wise.”
Having said all this, even if Gu Lingwan did not fully believe him, a rift had been created between the couple—which was precisely his method of revenge. He would not let Xiao Yingxun have an easy life. Furthermore, even if the Princess Consort told him, it would be hard to implicate himself; it would only sow discord between the brothers. He was still getting his revenge.
Seeing that the food on the table was getting cold—and cold meat dishes were not tasty—Gu Lingwan asked Xiao Yanming, “Does the Eleventh Prince have anything else to discuss?”
As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks.
The person before him was indirectly ordering him to leave. Xiao Yanming had achieved his purpose. “Nothing else. The Princess Consort should dine; I shall head over there.”
With that, he rose and left.
Finally, I can eat! Gu Lingwan picked up a chicken leg from the plate, mouth wide open, when someone sat down in the chair beside him.
I am so annoyed! Who is it now? Gu Lingwan froze, turning his head. It is Xiao the Second, the one who wants to kill me!
He is still convinced by the lies of Xiao Lanjie and Xiao Yanming, he is just too stubborn to admit it to Xiao Yanming.
Xiao Yingxun frowned imperceptibly, thinking to himself: What is he babbling about now? When did I ever say I wanted to kill him?