Chapter 274: Peach Blossom Debt^[1]桃花债 (táo huā zhài), literally translated as “peach blossom debt,” originates from Chinese literature and often symbolizes romantic entanglements or obligations. It refers to the … Continue reading

The man she had searched for so desperately and waited for so foolishly was not dead but instead had been living a life of success and prosperity.

He had achieved fame and glory, a beautiful woman by his side, and a young child at his knee.

The scar on her heart was torn open, and a thorn was driven into it, leaving it bleeding profusely.

It turned out that only she remained in place, struggling bitterly.

She was deeply trapped in remorse and self-blame, unable to extricate herself.

She resented herself for speaking too much, craving something sour. That day, he hadn’t needed to go into the mountains at all. Yet, to pick wild fruits for her, he had carried a machete and entered the mountains.

Day after day, she suffered in torment.

She never expected that the root of everything was simply the peach blossom debt he had incurred outside.

“Mother…” Su Wan used a handkerchief to wipe away Mother Gu’s tears. Her sorrowful and heartbroken expression, as if the faith in her heart had crumbled, made Su Wan’s chest ache with sadness. “Whatever decision you make, we will support you.”

Mother Gu shook her head. At this moment, she couldn’t make a decision. A torrent of emotions surged through her, nearly overwhelming her entirely.

“I need some time to calm down.” 

Mother Gu said in a hoarse voice.

Su Wan nodded and embraced Mother Gu.

Only then did she realize just how much weight Mother Gu had lost over the past six months.

Fortunately, her complexion was still good.

After going through this ordeal, it was hard to tell when she would be able to recover emotionally.

“Guixiang.” 

Gu Qingsong’s hoarse, low voice suddenly broke the silence.

Mother Gu’s heart trembled, and she suddenly lifted her head to look outside the carriage, but a plain blue curtain obscured her view.

Gu Qingsong continued speaking, his voice low and steady: “I know you’re in the carriage. There are some things in my heart I want to say to you. I hope you’ll give me a chance.”

Mother Gu’s fingers clenched into a fist. She hadn’t yet fully processed what Su Wan had told her, and now, faced with the sudden prospect of meeting Gu Qingsong, she felt flustered and at a loss.

“Wanwan!” Mother Gu turned to Su Wan for help. “I don’t want to see him right now…”

Before she could finish speaking, the curtain was lifted, and Gu Qingsong’s face came into view.

Mother Gu stared blankly at Gu Qingsong. The man before her hadn’t changed much from the past—only now he sported a thick beard, his eyes appeared sharper, and the knife scar on the bridge of his nose added a hint of ferocity, making him seem even more unapproachable.

“Guixiang, I’m back,” Gu Qingsong said, staring intently at Mother Gu, his voice strained. “I hope you can forgive me for coming back so late.”

Mother Gu, whose heart had been flustered and thoughts chaotic, suddenly felt an extraordinary sense of calm the moment she saw Gu Qingsong.

She took a deep breath, trying her best to maintain her composure. “There’s no need to talk about forgiveness or not. I just have a few questions I want to ask you.”

“Ask,” he replied.

“After Lady Liu took you to Xiliang, why didn’t you stay when you returned to Great Zhou?”

Gu Qingsong froze, clearly not expecting this question.

At that time, the news of the tragedy had been confirmed. He spent an entire night guarding the grave and then fell ill again. Lady Liu took him back to Xiliang.

Though he regained consciousness during the journey, he was consumed by grief and didn’t have the presence of mind to think about his future path.

Seeing that he couldn’t answer, Mother Gu lowered her gaze and asked, “Did you like Lady Liu?”

“No, I didn’t,” Gu Qingsong replied without hesitation.

“Then after you recovered, why didn’t you leave the Liu family?”

Mother Gu’s questions were sharp. “There are boundaries between men and women. If you had held firm to this line, how could you have fallen into her trap?”

Gu Qingsong was once again stumped by the question. Back then, leaving the Liu family to join the military had, in his mind, been a way to sever ties with them. However, out of gratitude for their kindness, he hadn’t been able to refuse their invitations.

At this moment, Gu Qingsong realized an important truth: Lady Liu’s schemes had succeeded largely because he had given her the opportunity.

He wasn’t entirely innocent; in fact, he deserved it.

“One last question,” Mother Gu said coldly, looking at Gu Qingsong. From the moment she had learned the truth until now, she had never felt as calm as she did at this moment. “If Lady Liu hadn’t betrayed you, and the child truly was your own flesh and blood, what would you have done knowing that we were still alive?”