Chapter 227: Is it Love or Gratitude? (2)
If Gong Yimo appeared in the palace again, based on how much the Emperor doted on her, she could definitely escape any calamity. Perhaps, she might even profit from this disaster and once again, become a princess.
But what would happen to her son who is in love with his biological sister? What would happen to him?
No, no, no. Even if Gong Yimo isn’t the Emperor’s biological daughter, if the Emperor acknowledges her then she can be considered as his real daughter. The entire world would recognize her as the Emperor’s daughter, a princess. They would look upon her as the crown prince’s little sister and never would they consider her as the crown prince’s wife.
Once the Empress recalled how famous and good Gong Yimo’s reputation was, beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead. If Gong Che’s feelings for his sister were known by other people, who knows what misfortune may fall upon Gong Yi Mo. One thing for sure is that the other princes would never let this chance slip by! They had been watching Gong Che like a tiger watching its prey, and once they get ahold of his weakness, they will swallow him whole, leaving nothing behind.
However, there was still a glimmer of hope in the Empress’s heart. She looked at Gong Che with anticipation and asked:
“Che’er, I know that Mo’er treats you very well. You’re very touched by her kindness and feel very grateful to her. Because of this, you developed some good feelings towards her. However, this kind of ‘good feelings’ you have towards her might not necessarily be love……you……”
“I’m certain about my feelings, it’s love.”
Gong Che’s calm voice gradually crushed the last trace of hope in the Empress’s heart.
He looked at the Empress, but his gaze pierced right through her as if he was looking at someone else. Gong Che smiled and softly said:
“That year, when I was accused of embezzlement, none of the civil and military officials had stood on my side. Everyone wanted to destroy you, me, and the Liu Family. Only she had stood by my side just because I had taken care of her. She had repeatedly pleaded for leniency on my behalf in front of Father Emperor. Because of that, her position as the princess was stripped away by Father Emperor.”
“After that incident, we were plotted against repeatedly. When the old cases from the past were taken out for review, your position as the Empress was in imminent danger. But when I begged Father Emperor for leniency on your behalf, he had told me that I was in no position to plead for you because anyone can contend for the position of the Emperor. At that point, I was powerless with no one to depend on. I was completely disheartened by the events that had happened, but it was Mo’er who had comforted me and gave me advice. She had opened up a whole new world for me!”
“I needed a long time to fix the canal. If it wasn’t for me, Mo’er wouldn’t have been pressed to blackmail other people. She wouldn’t have ended up like this if she didn’t help me. She did all that just so I can quickly finish building the canal and return home to defend my position as the crown prince!”
“In the end, we had dug up that ancient cauldron, making Father Emperor extremely angry. But during that time, I was injured and was at death’s door. If it were not for her who had insisted on removing the blocked waterway so we can travel back to the capital by boat, I’m afraid I would’ve died on the road back! If she didn’t fake her death so she can shoulder all the blame, Father Emperor wouldn’t have felt guilty about it. He wouldn’t let me off the hook. If it weren’t for her……”
The memories of the hardships he faced should’ve been painful because he was at his lowest point at those times. But because she was there for him, each of the hardships he faced wasn’t as painful. Instead, it was sweet and blissful because she was there. What she had done for him proved that it was all worthwhile for him to remember it.
Gong Che felt like his entire heart was surrounded by warm water. The warmth within his heart was about to overflow whenever he thought of her. The happiness he felt at this moment made him sigh.
“If it weren’t for her…I wouldn’t be here today. My heart is made of flesh so it’s impossible for me not to feel touched by her actions. I had long tried to resist these feelings for her. I’ve tried to stop looking for her, not speaking to her, and not seeing her!”
He recalled how painful he felt like a knife was slowly being twisted into his heart when had avoided her.
“I had tried……but I failed. It’s impossible for me to not see her, not think about her, and most of all, it’s impossible for me to not love her! If this isn’t considered love, then I would like to ask you, what is considered love? What would be considered as love?!”