Traveling back to ancient times to get rich

Chapter 287 The Truth About Mother

After Gu Mochen recounted everything in detail to the Emperor Emeritus, the Emperor Emeritus finally felt relieved, and a relaxed and relieved smile appeared on his face. Then, the father and son chatted as usual, their conversation gradually expanding from the various interesting events that had occurred in the palace over the past three years to the hilarious and astonishing anecdotes from both inside and outside the capital. The Emperor Emeritus enthusiastically shared his amusing experiences during his travels outside the palace, gesturing wildly and vividly when he got to the exciting parts, making Gu Mochen laugh heartily.

As they chatted amiably, Gu Mochen inadvertently mentioned the Medicine King. His face was filled with gratitude and respect as he sincerely exclaimed, "My master is truly like my maternal grandfather! He cares for me immensely, even more so than his own children. Not only that, he also dotes on my five little devils. He personally and meticulously teaches them. Apart from the highly respected Old Master Lu and the learned Grand Tutor Wu, it's hard to find anyone else in the entire world qualified to teach my five precious children! This is a rule set by my Medicine King grandfather long ago!"

Upon hearing this, the Emperor Emeritus, who had been smiling, suddenly fell silent, his expression turning grave. He hesitated for a moment, as if engaged in a fierce internal struggle. Finally, the Emperor Emeritus seemed to have made up his mind. He slowly stood up, walked unsteadily to Gu Mochen's side, bent down close to his ear, and said in an extremely soft but profound voice, "Mochen, there is something of paramount importance that I have been hiding from you. Now, I feel I can no longer conceal it, so today I must tell you the truth, no matter what."

Seeing this, Gu Mochen felt a sense of foreboding. He looked up at the Emperor Emeritus's unusually serious face and cautiously asked, "Father, what important matter has troubled you so much? Your son is all ears, please speak frankly!"

The Emperor Emeritus took a deep breath and slowly said, "Your mother is not the Empress as publicly known, but my beloved, the only eldest daughter of Medicine King Valley. Back then, I planned to marry her as my Consort, and just as I was about to celebrate, I discovered she was pregnant with you. However, this triggered a pre-existing fetal toxin in her womb, causing her to die after giving birth to you. At that time, the Empress, your nominal mother, caused trouble and killed my seventh son. I then brought this child to see a doctor and unexpectedly discovered you. So I took you back with me, but you also carried the fetal toxin, just like the sickly appearance the Empress had given you." "I truly had no way to cure your congenital poisoning. The Medicine King was also very worried. He told me to bring you back, and then he searched everywhere for medicinal herbs. Later, he found some herbs that could remove the poison, so he brought you back to Yuncheng. Then, he used the medicinal spring there to cure you. When you were 18, the Imperial Observatory said that I had to marry Ye Zhao's daughter to you in order for you to live. Actually, I didn't like her daughter that much, but as long as it could save your life, that was enough. Who would have thought that her family also had Qingchen? Later, after you got married, you recovered, but the medicine that the Medicine King found couldn't be used on you. Therefore, I had to keep this secret until now."

Upon hearing this, Gu Mochen felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He looked at the Emperor Emeritus in disbelief and said, "Father, is what you're saying true? How is this possible?"

Seeing Gu Mochen's shocked expression, the Emperor Emeritus felt a pang of heartache. He said, "Mochen, it's all true. I know this truth is too sudden for you, but I don't want to hide it from you anymore."

Gu Mochen was momentarily at a loss, his heart filled with doubt and shock. He recalled his mother's dislike for him when he was a child, memories that had become somewhat blurred. As a child, he couldn't let go of them, but now he no longer hated the Empress. He wasn't her child after all; his mother had given up her life to give birth to him, and she loved him.

The Emperor Emeritus continued, “Your mother was a highly skilled physician with a kind heart. Back then, she gave up everything in Medicine King Valley to help me, and even gave up her life for you. However, her identity was special, and in order to protect her and you, and so that you could become the legitimate heir, I could only bury this secret deep in my heart.”

Gu Mochen sat there quietly, like a silent statue, listening intently to the Emperor Emeritus recounting his past. As the Emperor Emeritus spoke, secrets buried by the years surged before his eyes like a tide, and the turbulent emotions in his heart gradually calmed down.

Finally, when the Emperor Emeritus finished speaking the last word, Gu Mochen slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the weathered old man before him, and said softly, "Father, I now understand your reasons back then. Although this sudden truth is hard for me to bear at first, please believe me, I will slowly digest and accept it."

Hearing this, the Emperor Emeritus finally felt relieved, and a smile of satisfaction appeared on his face. He nodded slightly and said with emotion, "Mo Chen, I am at ease knowing that you are so understanding and considerate. If your mother knew about this in the afterlife, she would surely be very proud to have such a sensible and filial child as you."

Gu Mochen nodded gently, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes. He then said, "Father, why don't we go to Yuncheng together sometime to visit Mother? There's a blank stele there, and I know where it is. In the past, I would often unconsciously go there and stare at that blank stele in a daze, never imagining that it was actually my biological mother's grave..." At this point, Gu Mochen couldn't help but take a deep breath, as if trying to suppress the increasingly intense longing for his mother in his heart.

At this moment, an image began to involuntarily form in his mind—if his mother were still alive, what a warm and happy life their family would live? Perhaps every morning, he would wake up to his mother's gentle call; perhaps in her spare time, his mother would teach him how to cook delicious dishes; or perhaps as night fell, the family would sit together, happily sharing the little things that had happened throughout the day… However, all of this was ultimately just a beautiful fantasy.