Chapter 53 - II
“I was very decisive at that time. If he continues to treat me like this, I will die in front of him.”
Mu Ci’s face looked grim. Unable to shed more tears, a deep exhaustion reflected in his eyes. Even today, reopening those wounds brought back the young man’s helplessness and pain.
Gu Huai poured him a cup of hot milk, embraced him, and let him lean on his shoulders, asking, “What happened next?”
“I thought that was the end, but it turned out to be just the beginning…”
Following that night, the emperor frequently summoned Mu Ci. He would often excuse himself by feigning illness, but it was not a sustainable solution. Even at family banquets, the emperor would frequently gaze at Mu Ci and occasionally utter meaningful words.
Mu Ci could only respond courageously.
To outsiders, it seemed like his father’s concern, but the eldest prince sensed something amiss.
The eldest son never considered the truth; he merely suspected that Mu Ci held the emperor’s secret favor. He thought maybe his seventh brother wasn’t as simple as he appeared—perhaps cunning. How else could he secure the emperor’s favor clandestinely?
During the tumultuous period before the prince’s establishment, the eldest prince had already marked Mu Ci in his heart.
When the dragon robe incident unfolded, Mu Ci suspected his father knew the truth. Unsure of his father’s actions, he feared being subjected to his cruelty, enduring imprisonment and torment from his biological father. So, he dared to do something to escape.
“Did he succeed?” Gu Huai, enraged, wanted to pull the emperor from the grave and lash his corpse, but he could only hold Mu Ci and offer silent comfort.
Mu Ci’s eyes darkened. “A little.”
“What does ‘a little’ mean?”
“I just didn’t make it to the end,” Mu Ci turned away in disgust. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
Gu Huai understood. Recovery required addressing everything, not quitting halfway.
“So, he didn’t really harm you, did he?”
“If he really did, I would already dead by now.”
Gu Huai fell silent for a moment. Even if the emperor didn’t go through with it, there were numerous ways he could torment Mu Ci. Mu Ci’s past casted a significant shadow, and those years likely weren’t easy for him.
“I was very scared at the time,” Mu Ci admitted, feeling a sense of relief. He wanted to express his feelings, “But who could I tell? He’s the emperor, and the entire world belongs to him. I’m just a defenseless child. No one would believe me, even if they did, who would dare to care?”
Mu Ci smiled self-deprecatingly, “Then, when I met Ji Yunshu, I really thought he was a good person… But as you know.”
“Sometimes I wonder if I did something wrong in my past life, enduring pain from various people in this life. Maybe I deserve it? Maybe my birth was a mistake.”
“Mu Ci!” Gu Huai’s voice turned serious. He tightly squeezed Mu Ci’s shoulders and spoke deeply, “Don’t say that. I admit that your father, Ji Yunshu, and even I, we’re all flawed in our loyalty. But you, you’re innocent.”
Surprised, Mu Ci looked at him. Gu Huai took a deep breath, kissed Mu Ci’s forehead, and said, “I didn’t know how much you suffered before. I don’t ask for your forgiveness, but I’ll never repeat the same mistake. I’m willing to protect and care for you, and no one will hurt you.”
A strange emotion stirred in Mu Ci’s heart. It felt warm yet prickly, causing pain and a fullness in his chest.
For the first time, he revealed all the shadows of his youth to someone else, and that person turned out to be Gu Huai. A few months ago, Mu Ci would never have imagined this happening today.
“Okay, stop crying, your eyes can’t bear it,” Gu Huai sighed softly and began wiping Mu Ci’s tears with a wet towel.
Mu Ci, confused, said, “I didn’t cry…”
His voice abruptly halted as he felt hot tears slowly streaming down his cheeks.
Why was he crying?
Mu Ci instinctively raised his hand to wipe his tears, but Gu Huai intercepted his hand midway.
“Don’t use your hands; your eyes could be worsened.” Gu Huai carefully wiped his face with the towel, treating him like a precious treasure.
Mu Ci rarely experienced such cautious care. He remained docile and motionless, allowing Gu Huai to comfort and care for him. Even when Gu Huai lowered his head and kissed the corner of his lips, Mu Ci didn’t shy away.
“If only I had met you earlier, I wouldn’t have let you suffer so much.”
Gu Huai’s voice was soft, yet the profound love in it weighed like a mountain.
Mu Ci’s body trembled, unsure of his thoughts. It was as if his heart betrayed his brain, and his consciousness momentarily vanished. When he regained awareness, he had already reached out and gently embraced Gu Huai.
He had taken the initiative to hug the same Gu Huai who had haunted his nightmares all night and whom he had desperately tried to escape.