Chapter 259: It’s Over

“Ah—” Lady Liu screamed, hastily clutching her clothes to cover herself.

She felt as though she had fallen into an icy abyss.

Only two words echoed in her mind—it’s over.

Xu Chou was full of tricks, and during their encounters, she had quite enjoyed herself. Since Gu Qingsong never touched her, she hadn’t stopped Xu Chou from leaving marks, as long as they didn’t appear on her neck.

But who could have predicted this…

“Your Highness…” Lady Liu met Gu Qingsong’s ferocious, almost predatory glare and was so terrified she didn’t dare utter another word.

The sight of the red marks on her body enraged Gu Qingsong, his eyes turning bloodshot. The letter had accused her of being unfaithful, secretly meeting a man in a small courtyard on Huaxi Alley.

What’s more, the letter mentioned that the man bore an uncanny resemblance to him.

Gu Qingsong immediately thought of the person who had been impersonating him.

“Guards! Take the person impersonating me and throw him into the secret prison for interrogation!” Gu Qingsong roared in fury, his face dark with anger. “As for Lady Liu, who has violated her marital vows and consorted with another, imprison her as well. For every interrogation where the truth is not revealed, cut off one of Lady Liu’s fingers.”

“No! Your Highness! Please, no!” Lady Liu was terrified beyond belief, kneeling before Gu Qingsong and begging for mercy. “I was forced! Your Highness, he threatened to expose everything if I didn’t submit to him. I was scared and had no choice but to comply!”

“Take her away!” Gu Qingsong ordered coldly, not sparing her even a glance.

“Zhen’er… mmph… mmph…” Lady Liu’s mouth was gagged as the guards dragged her away.

Outside, Xu Chou, detained by Mo Yuan, vaguely heard the commotion inside. When he saw Lady Liu’s disheveled state, her scattered clothes, and the marks on her exposed skin, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck him. If this scandal were exposed, what would happen to Zhen’er?

The next moment, guards restrained him as well and dragged him away along with Lady Liu.

The courtyard instantly fell silent.

Inside the room, the atmosphere was heavy.

Gu Yunzhen lay weakly on the bed. He had heard everything from start to finish, his tears soaking the pillow. He bit his lip tightly, not daring to make a sound.

But he had seen it all he saw his mother consort lunging at his elder brother with a dagger.

Mother had done something that betrayed Father, and now Father intended to punish her.

Gu Yunzhen knew that Mother was in the wrong, but she had always been good to him, and he didn’t want to lose her.

“Father King, please don’t harm Mother. You can send her to a temple to become a nun. Zhen’er doesn’t want to lose her,” Gu Yunzhen pleaded, kneeling on the bed and begging on Lady Liu’s behalf.

Gu Qingsong looked at the weak and pale Gu Yunzhen, whose tear-filled eyes, red from crying, were still trying to protect his mother. A flicker of softness stirred in his heart.

He handed the longsword to a guard and strode to the bedside. His rough fingers wiped away the tears in Gu Yunzhen’s eyes. “Zhen’er, when someone makes a mistake, they must face the consequences.”

He turned his head slightly to look at Gu Huaizhi, speaking in a low voice, “You don’t want to lose your mother, but she made your elder brother lose his father. Do you still wish to plead for her?”

Gu Yunzhen nodded, tears welling up in his eyes.

“No,” Gu Qingsong said firmly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Gu Yunzhen’s tears streamed down his face as he stubbornly looked at Gu Qingsong, hoping he would relent.

Gu Qingsong turned his head away, avoiding his son’s pleading gaze. He gave instructions to the trembling maid nearby: “Take good care of Zhen’er.”

“Y-yes,” the maid replied, her voice shaking.

Then, with a commanding tone, Gu Qingsong ordered, “Investigate Lady Liu’s lover.”

The guards obeyed the order and left.

Gu Qingsong glanced at Gu Yunzhen, who had burrowed under the blanket, muffled sobs coming from within. Hardening his heart, he chose not to intervene and instead turned to Gu Huaizhi. “I need to speak with you. Come to the study with me.”

“Clean up your own mess first,” Gu Huaizhi replied, giving him a cold look before glancing at the small lump under the blanket on the bed. He then took Su Wan’s hand and led her out of the room. “Mother is doing well.”