Moon frost snow

Chapter 196 Understanding the Past

When he was sick, his mother would personally prepare medicine for him. The aroma of the medicine mixed with his mother's care was forever engraved in his memory.

His mother would also teach him how to write and read step by step. Her voice was soft but powerful, and every stroke and every pronunciation contained her deep expectations for him.

Gu Wenbo slowly told He Yue about his mother.

His voice was filled with distant memories, as if every word was dug out bit by bit from the depths of that distant time.

He started by talking about his mother's beauty when she was young, saying that she was like the most beautiful flower in the palace garden, kind and full of wisdom. Her gentleness was like the softest breeze in spring, which could blow into everyone's heart.

He recounted how his mother taught him how to behave in society and how she carefully maintained family harmony in the complex palace. Those meticulous memories flowed from his mouth like a trickle of water.

He Yue listened very carefully, her eyes fixed on Gu Wenbo without blinking, as if she wanted to engrave every word he said into her heart.

Her expression fluctuated as Gu Wenbo told his story, and she smiled from time to time, which was an acknowledgement of the good qualities of Gu Wenbo's mother.

Sometimes he frowned slightly, as if worried about the difficulties they had encountered.

During this process, the only sounds in the house were Gu Wenbo's narration full of memories and He Yue's occasional light breathing. The atmosphere was quiet and harmonious.

After listening to Gu Wenbo's story, He Yue's eyes sparkled with curiosity and sympathy. She blinked gently and asked, "Then why did your mother leave you? Did you know her situation when she left?"

He Yue's question was like a sharp sword, piercing the softest part of Gu Wenbo's heart again.

For Gu Wenbo, this is a painful memory and a secret that he has always buried deep in his heart.

Gu Wenbo's eyes revealed a trace of pain and helplessness, and he slowly said, "That was when I was seven years old. The situation in the palace was complicated and delicate."

"At that time, I was chosen by my father and was about to be appointed Crown Prince. This was a matter of vital importance to the entire palace."

"The Wanfo Temple is a temple with a long history. It is solemn and majestic. On weekdays, it is very popular and is regarded as a sacred place."

"I followed my father to the Wanfo Temple outside the city to offer sacrifices to the heavens. This ceremony symbolizes the heavens' recognition of me and also means that I have taken an important step on the road to becoming the crown prince."

He took a deep breath and continued, "Although my father has a deep love for my mother, it is a sincere and deep feeling, like a trickling stream, which never stops."

"However, due to various reasons, such as the power struggles within the palace, the checks and balances of family power, and the many constraints of feudal ethics, my father was unable to depose Queen Zhao and appoint my mother as queen."

"In that palace environment with its strict hierarchy and strict etiquette, the status of empress was not just a title; it involved a vast family influence and a complex network of political interests."

"So that day, I was the only one who went to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple with my father and the queen."

"Throughout that journey, I was filled with both a naive longing for the future throne of Crown Prince and a sense of loss that my mother couldn't come with me."

"But when we returned to the palace from the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, we were met with shocking news—my mother was missing."

"The palace instantly fell into chaos. Father was extremely anxious and immediately sent many people to search everywhere."

"The guards and maids poured out of the palace like a tide. They conducted a thorough search of the streets and alleys of the capital, the wilderness and forests in the suburbs, and even the surrounding villages, leaving no possible corner untouched."

Gu Wenbo's voice choked a little: "It was probably several months later that someone found my mother's jewelry in a remote valley."

"I recognized that piece of jewelry. It was my mother's favorite piece to wear. Seeing it lying in that overgrown, deserted place, it felt like my heart was struck hard."

"Judging from the condition of the jewelry, I heard she was dead. My father was unwilling to give up and continued to send people to search for her year after year, but after many years, he still couldn't find my mother's body."

"As I grew older, my father perhaps realized that hope was becoming increasingly slim, so he slowly gave up the search and had to accept reality."

He clenched his fists, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes: "Although we all know that it was the Queen who killed my mother, this is almost an open secret in the palace."

"The Queen has always been jealous of my mother's favor from my father, and if my mother were to be made Queen, it would be a huge threat to her position."

"But she refused to admit it. She handled all the affairs in the palace perfectly, leaving no evidence behind. We couldn't do anything to her."

"In this palace, it's impossible to convict someone without evidence. Even if everyone knows the truth, they can only watch her get away with it."

He Yue gently picked up the kettle beside her and poured another glass of water for Gu Wenbo.

The clear water slowly flowed into the cup, making a slight sound, which seemed particularly clear in this slightly heavy atmosphere.

After pouring the water, He Yue did not stop exploring the matter. Her eyes were filled with concentration and persistence as she continued to ask, "Do you know if your mother was in good health before she disappeared? Was she feeling unwell? Or was she abnormal?"

At this time, He Yue was like a persistent puzzle solver, trying to find some answers from these details.

Gu Wenbo did not doubt what He Yue asked. His eyes showed trust and honesty.

In his heart, He Yue was like a ray of light in the darkness, giving him hope to rediscover the truth behind his mother's disappearance.

Although the topic was full of pain and sadness, he still seriously recalled what happened before his mother disappeared.

His thoughts were like a hand groping in the mist of time, trying to grasp those distant and vague fragments of memory.

He tried hard to recall every detail, every expression, every movement of his mother before she disappeared.

However, because he was young at the time and had limited knowledge, and because so many years had passed by like flowing water, many memories had become blurred, like a painting washed by rain, with only some faint traces left.

He frowned, with a hint of helplessness and confusion in his eyes.

He couldn't imagine anything unusual.

For a seven-year-old child, the world at that time was full of ignorance and innocence.