After my luck was stolen, I led my whole family to defy fate and change our destiny.

Chapter 161 It turns out

Everyone turned to look at Chunhe.

What exactly is Sister Chunhe saying?

Lin Xiaoxiao is a woman. How can a woman like another woman?

If Chunhe hadn't been a frequent reader of storybooks, she wouldn't have thought of this.

"Madam, leave quickly! Don't stay here! Lin Xiaoxiao has improper thoughts about you!"

"So that's why Lin Xiaoxiao used to love dressing the same way as you, even her jewelry had a similar feel to yours. Now I know what it meant."

Chunhe touched her arm, which had some goosebumps.

"Does Lin Xiaoxiao really like my mother? No wonder she was so protective of her reputation before. I didn't believe Wang Fugui when he told me, but if she likes my mother, why would she harm our Gu family?"

When her daughter confirmed that Lin Xiaoxiao liked her, Su Xiuran almost lost her balance and took a step back.

Lin Xiaoxiao subconsciously reached out a hand to help, then quickly pulled it back.

Douzhu quickly helped Su Xiuran up, while Chunhe stood between Lin Xiaoxiao and Su Xiuran.

"See? You're a wolf in sheep's clothing. With me here, you won't get a chance to touch my wife."

As he spoke, he stepped forward and gave Lin Xiaoxiao a push.

Lin Xiaoxiao's face grew paler and paler, and she was pushed so hard that she sat down on her bottom.

Even being caught sneaking out of the cold palace wasn't this embarrassing and awkward.

Gu Yu'an, now holding an official position, was waiting to leave the palace with his mother, but instead, he bumped into Lin Xiaoxiao.

He was afraid Su Xiuran would feel uncomfortable knowing these things: "Mother, why don't you rest over here, and Chunhe and I will ask here?"

Brother, don't worry about me, don't worry about me!

Su Xiuran took two steps back: "Go ahead and ask."

"Ha, do you think I'll tell you just because you ask?"

Gu Yu'an: "Even if you don't say it, we all know how you feel about my mother."

Lin Xiaoxiao gripped her skirt tightly and remained silent.

"You are not leaving the Cold Palace today. Even if you have something shady to help you, you will not get out."

Lin Xiaoxiao was startled: "What do you know?"

Gu Yu'an shook his head: "I don't know the specifics, but I do know that the Sixth Prince's magical artifact is very powerful."

Lin Xiaoxiao asked through her mind, "System, can you handle this?"

The system did not respond.

System: The host is too incompetent and has applied to leave.

[Waaaaah, Big Brother is so smart! He finally realized Lin Xiaoxiao has an outside helper—her system, a system that can absorb people's luck!]

The system didn't respond at all, it seems that Chu Jingyan's magical artifact is really powerful.

Lin Xiaoxiao was dejected; it seemed she had really failed this time.

It's better that she knows. Carrying such a secret must be exhausting for her. She's afraid that person will find out, but she's also afraid that person won't find out.

Lin Xiaoxiao straightened her clothes: "You're right, so what?"

Upon hearing her admission, Gu Yu'an's expression turned strange: "If that's the case, why did you harm the Gu family, the Su family, and my mother?"

“I didn’t really want to hurt your mother, but who told you to always be so high and mighty while I was stuck in the mud? She’s the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s mansion and the wife of the Minister’s mansion. Only when she’s brought down from her pedestal and I pull her out will she be able to rely on me and understand that I am her only one.”

Gu Yu'an frowned, his tone revealing undisguised disgust: "But didn't you ever think that my mother would be implicated?"

“I had planned to switch your mother out long ago. I told her I wanted to be the light in her darkness, just like she reached out to me and became my light back then.”

"I really love her."

Gu Yu'an felt a chill: "How dare you say that? This is jealousy, not love."

Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head frantically: "No, no, it's not jealousy, it's love, it's love!"

【Yue～】

Lin Xiaoxiao's love is terrifying; loving her means destroying her.

"Don't compare me to my mother. My mother is kind, while you are a demon. How can a demon dare to dream of becoming someone else's light? Never!"

Gu Yu'an turned around and helped Su Xiuran up: "Mother, let's go, there's nothing to ask."

"it is good"

The sound of caning echoed behind her as Lin Xiaoxiao collapsed into a pool of blood, clutching a hairpin tightly in her hand—the first gift Su Xiuran had given her…

In a blur, I heard Chunhe say that she liked it when the lady didn't become a female official in power or a local tycoon to protect her.

They even tried to frame the lady; seeing her heartbroken, they're such ingrates!

Was she really wrong?

The next day at noon.

Gu Hanyue knelt down and fed Gu Minghai his last meal before his execution: "Second brother, eat more, lest you starve to death."

Gu Hanyue wiped away her tears while feeding him.

Gu Minghai shook his head: "I won't eat. Second brother is leaving. Take care of yourself."

The officer slammed his gavel: "Alright, the prisoner's family members may leave."

"Waaaaah, brother... brother..."

Gu Hanyue was forcibly taken away by the officials.

Gu Minghai looked into the distance; the sunlight was a bit dazzling, but he spotted Gu Mingtang at a glance.

He was in a daze. He remembered how he used to play as a child, playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football) in the back garden in the dead of winter. Madam Gu Chenshi forbade him to go out in such cold weather, but he insisted on going out anyway.

While Madam Gu was asleep, he quietly led his men out to play in the back garden.

In winter, the snow was thick and the roads were slippery. The ball kicked over by the servant was a bit high. He stepped back to catch the ball, but accidentally fell into the lake.

With a loud "bang," a hole was smashed into the ice on the lake.

"Help, help me, it's so...so...so cold!"

The servants around were terrified and panicked, crying out, "Second Young Master, Second Young Master, come quickly and save them!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Young Master has jumped! Young Master, come up quickly!"

Without hesitation, Gu Mingtang jumped down and pulled Gu Minghai up.

The servant draped a coat over Gu Mingtang, who was still shivering from the cold: "Brother...brother, you...achoo...you...achoo...are you alright?"

"B-Big brother, I...I'm alright, thank you."

"Silly younger brother"

When others praised Gu Mingtang, he would proudly pat his chest and say, "That's my brother."

He would also secretly watch his brother practice calligraphy outside the study like a little fanboy.

He used to admire and love his brother so much, so when did things change?

Perhaps it was Gu Chenshi's relentless suppression, or perhaps he was brainwashed, or perhaps Gu Mingtang always treated him like a child, but... no matter what, he regretted it.

It was only in the prison cell that he truly understood that he was indeed no match for Gu Mingtang.

He also understood why Gu Mingtang had never asked for permission to inherit the title, why he hadn't been allowed to stay in the center of power, and why he had opposed Gu Mingtang's reckless behavior with Lin Xiaoxiao.

It was to protect him, to help him find someone who truly loved him, but alas... it's a pity he realized it too late.

If he could do it all over again, he would not listen to Gu Chenshi's instigation.

He just wanted to be the silly younger brother that Gu Mingtang used to talk about when he was a child.

Gu Minghai slightly parted his lips as he looked towards Gu Mingtang.

Gu Mingtang turned and left, and Gu Yu'an chased after him: "Dad, did you hear what Gu Minghai said just now?"

"How could I hear you from so far away?"

"Too"

A complex look flashed in Gu Minghai's eyes. He understood what Gu Minghai was saying; he was right.

"Big brother, I was wrong."