The person behind the screen smiled again.
She said, "The world has just been settled; we cannot afford to descend into chaos again. Brotherly bonds must not be doubted."
"That's easy for you to say."
Gu Moran frowned.
That's it?
"That's it."
"Did Liu Xiao hear that?"
"I heard it."
"He really stepped down?"
"Give it up."
Gu Moran raised her eyes, feeling a buzzing in her head.
"This isn't right."
How many people were in the Liu Clan Army at that time, and how many were in the Gu Clan?
" The Liu Clan has 100,000 iron cavalry, and the Gu Clan has 30,000."
Gu Moran sat there, speechless for a long time, completely flustered.
I just want to dunk a 6 with one hand.
The world in this book is truly insane!
Commanding 100,000 iron cavalry, he refused to ascend the throne, all because of a woman, he abdicated?
If this were a male-oriented novel by Tomato in my previous life, wouldn't it be torn to shreds?
My grandma's got some skills!
Could they be playing the role of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang or Dorgon?
The person behind the screen continued speaking.
" The Liu Clan wasn't defeated in battle, nor are they unqualified to sit in that chair."
"It was Liu Xiao who personally abdicated the throne to Gu Yuan."
Later, when Gu Yuan ascended the throne, the Liu Clan became the Grand Tutor's residence.
"During the reign of Emperor Taizu, the Liu Clan enjoyed unparalleled favor and honor. The emperor appointed Liu Xiao to assist in governing, and the Liu Clan had served in the cabinet for generations."
Gu Moran twitched the corner of his mouth slightly.
"But those who abdicated in favor of others will remember it."
The people who got on later will only feel embarrassed.
The person behind the screen remained silent for a moment.
You're smarter than you were when you were a child.
Liu Ruyan spoke again.
"So, our Liu Clan was later wiped out because our ancestor died?"
The person behind the screen did not answer immediately.
The lamp wick on the table had burned out, and the smell of cooking oil was even stronger.
Liu Ruyan took the roll of burlap into her hands.
All I know is that the Liu Clan was accused of treason.
Her finger stopped on the knot.
I was only four years old when the Grand Tutor's family was massacred.
"The people in our building have always forbade me to ask."
Madam Chun turned her head away, not looking at her.
Liu Ruyan's voice was very soft.
"I was sick for three days. When I woke up, someone told me to forget what happened before."
She looked at the person behind the screen.
"Since you knew, why didn't you tell me?"
Two coughs came from behind the screen.
No answer.
Gu Moran turned to look at Madam Chun.
"You've allowed a four-year-old child to live with all this, bearing the title of courtesan, until today?"
Madam Chun lowered her head.
"Your Highness, if you want to live, you must first learn to shut up. It's precisely because of her status as a courtesan that she's able to survive."
Liu Ruyan looked behind the screen.
"I just want to know."
What exactly happened on the night the entire family was massacred?
"Has my Liu Clan ever plotted treason?"
The person behind the screen tapped on the table.
"Let's look at the second one."
Gu Moran reached out and took the paper.
The record above details the political situation after the death of Emperor Taizu.
The former crown prince died suddenly.
Storage space is suspended.
The princes formed factions.
The two brothers, Gu Chengqian and Gu Chengshi, fought the fiercest among themselves.
Gu Moran looked down.
When he saw the name Cui Jingshu, his hand stopped.
"And what about my mother? She and Grand Tutor Liu both chose to support my father?"
"It says here that Liu Huaijin, my father, my uncle, and my mother grew up together and have a close relationship."
Why did you ultimately choose him?
The person behind the screen spoke.
"Because at that time, your father was most like a human being."
Liu Ruyan frowned.
"Most similar?"
"His uncle, Gu Chengqian, dared to kidnap his birth mother, Lady Zheng, and slaughter the entire family of former officials in order to seize the throne."
"At least his father would kneel outside the Liu residence, call Liu Xiao 'teacher,' and beg his brother Liu Huaijin for help."
Gu Moran stared at the paper in her hand, feeling a chill.
I ran through my mind the image of my father's face.
If all of this is true.
It's possible for an emperor to eliminate those who helped him after securing his throne.
The next time, it will probably be when the emperor is even more suspicious.
It's not just about scolding your son for being a scoundrel and keeping an eye on him to test him.
They continued talking behind the screen.
"Back then, Liu Xiao chose him and helped him persuade the current Grand Commandant to open the city gates."
" Liu Huaijin also chose him and helped persuade the current prime minister and others."
" Noble Consort Chen also chose him."
Gu Moran pressed his palm against the corner of the table, and a splinter pierced his flesh.
That slight pain actually made my mind even clearer.
"Let me sort this out."
"In other words, my father relied on the Liu Clan to stabilize the court, on Liu Huaijin to retain old officials, and on bringing my mother into the palace to stabilize the harem."
The person behind the screen let out a cold laugh.
You're wrong about one thing.
"Your mother, back then, had the spirit of a man and would never have deigned to marry anyone."
"She would ride horses and shoot arrows with us, and she would also drink wine and compose poetry."
"What she longed for was to ride across the land, to see all the rivers and mountains of the world."
"But after your father ascended the throne, an imperial edict brought her into the palace."
"She was heartbroken and feared your father would make even more mistakes, so she had no choice but to choose the path of vying for favor in the harem."
"Your name is Moran, which carries within it her long-cherished wish to 'Moran '."
Gu Moran lowered his brows.
His mother had never told him this story before; it was the first time he had heard it.
Liu Ruyan's face paled even more.
She glanced at Gu Moran.
There was worry in that glance.
But she still hardened her heart and spoke up.
"And then what? The second thing the emperor did after ascending the throne was to destroy our Liu Clan?"
Gu Moran first, her voice tinged with helplessness.
"Because the Liu Clan has rendered meritorious service."
Liu Ruyan turned to look at him.
Gu Moran put the paper back on the table.
"Too much merit is a crime in the emperor's eyes."
The person behind the screen gently tapped the table.
"Look at the third one."
Only half a page remained on the third sheet.
The words "secret investigation" were written on it, suggesting it was a fragment of a report that had been copied down.
It says so.
The Emperor has been on the throne for five years.
The former members of the Liu Clan are still living among the common people.
The Grand Tutor's students were spread throughout the Six Ministries.
Some in the old army still remember Liu Xiao.
If the Liu Clan were to ever rebel, no one in the court would be able to control them.
Liu Ruyan stared at those few lines of text for a long time before speaking.
"You think you can wipe out my entire Liu Clan with this?"
Gu Moran raised an eyebrow.
"No empirical evidence?"
"No."
"No letters of treason?"
"No."
"No privately possessed weapons?"
"No."
"No collusion with foreign enemies?"
"No."
"The imperial decree was issued too quickly; your mother was about to give birth to your younger sister."
The night before, the Lady Liu father and son were still feasting with the emperor in the palace, and no one was on guard.
Liu Ruyan braced her hands on the table, her knuckles taut and white.
"So, the truth is, my Liu Clan had no intention of rebellion, and over two hundred people died because of suspicion?"
The person behind the screen remained silent.
Madam Chun unrolled the burlap roll and spread it out in front of her.
A dense string of names pressed down.
The housekeeper, fifty-nine, died in the front yard.
The accountant, forty-one, died in the accounting office.
The groom, twenty-seven, died in the stable.
The wet nurse, thirty-two, was found dead.
Pageboy, eleven...
Each name is followed by its age, place of death, and whether the body was recovered.
Liu Ruyan remained silent.
But there was already fire before them.
She was only four years old that year.
Someone carried her away.
Someone whispered in her ear, "Don't turn around."
She can't remember anything.
I can't even remember who that person was.
Gu Moran pressed his hand down beside the list, not touching her, but simply holding down the corner of the paper to prevent her from tipping over the lamp if her hand trembled.
"If you can't stand it, then stop watching."
Liu Ruyan shook her head.
"I want to see."
Madam Chun opened her mouth.
Liu Ruyan looked up at her.
"When I was four years old, I couldn't remember who they were."
"If you can remember one now, that's one."
After saying that, she lowered her head again.
The wooden window outside was bumped by the wind.
The person behind the screen spoke again.
That's enough.
Liu Ruyan didn't stop.
"I want to see."
There was a moment of silence behind the screen.
"Isn't His Prince Yi going to stop him?"
The more she saw, the deeper her hatred grew.
"You know in your heart who will ultimately bear the brunt of the Liu Clan's vengeance."
[Thanks to 60106022 for the two update reminder tokens, Rong Gongzi for the update reminder token, Wangzhe's Milk Tea, Qixian for the update reminder token, Shangfei for the flower, Tuzun for the love letter, Xunyu for the milk tea, Wsssui for the milk tea, Heiye for the like, Jingtian for the capsule, and other buns for their love and support.]
[This is too difficult. I can only write three chapters today, orz. I had a hard time writing the transition chapters because although I like the fast-paced, righteous, and chivalrous stories in male-oriented novels, I am, after all, a woman. I don't know what reason to give to smoothly portray the male protagonist's change of heart, his determination to cause trouble and conquer the world. I'm afraid I'll write it wrong, that I'll get emotional, after all, the emperor has been quite good to him for the past twenty years. Please, all you great writers, help me! I'm so anxious.]