Gu Mingxiu lay in the dark room, her waist wound festered and oozing pus, emitting a foul odor.

It's been two years, two whole years since I was banished to this dilapidated estate. The once esteemed Jingguo Gongfu, where I held a prominent position, is now devoid of even a single servant to bring me tea or water. Let alone seeking medical attention for my ailments, no one even bothers to check if I'm alive or dead.

Today, unexpectedly, someone lifted the hemp curtain and came in, holding a white ceramic jar.

That man's palace was long and covered in smoke, an outer layer of white, thin silk embroidered with fox fur. He was already a mother, yet he could perfectly blend the allure of womanhood with the innocence and purity of youth. It is no wonder Ye Kang fell for her, even losing his life for it.

It seemed she hadn't expected the house to smell so bad. Zi covered her nose with a handkerchief and walked forward slowly, frowning. She called out in a soft voice, "Sister..."

Gu Mingxiu had no more strength left and dazedly shifted her gaze to the clay jar in her hand.

This type of pottery urn is generally used as an ashes container.

Less than half a year after Ye Kang's death, his mother-in-law passed away from grief, and the situation of Jingguogong continued to worsen...

In the Jingguo Gong Mansion, some died, others scattered. No matter how much they tried to cover it up, a distinguished duke's mansion couldn't possibly be cremated, and even less so with such a cheap urn for the ashes!

Who is in the pottery jar?

Suddenly, a wave of panic washed over me! My eyes were glued to the white clay pot, unable to look away.

Gu Lanhui looked ashamed: "Sister, it's my fault. I failed to protect Yanxiu..."

"What happened to Yanxiu?" Gu Mingxiu's heart pounded in her chest, her eyes wide with alarm.

Gu Lanhui took a handkerchief to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said, "She contracted the plague. Several imperial physicians had examined her, but the medicine didn't work. She couldn't be saved. It happened a month ago."

His son, a boy who was less than three years old ——

When Ye Kang was exiled, his mother-in-law poured all her resentment onto Gu Mingxiu and snatched away the infant Yan Xiu from the border, forbidding them from seeing each other.

Within two months, Ye Kang fled back to Beijing and was caught by the Dali Temple for murdering his own brother. He was immediately sentenced to death!

Having suddenly lost two sons, the grandmother couldn't bear it and passed away soon after.

After the grandmother passed away, the child was raised by Gu Lanhui, claiming to be the child's aunt, who would surely treat her well.

Kindness?

It has not even been two years since the child passed away.

Gu Lanhui, you are so cruel, even a two-year-old child is not spared!

Overwhelming grief, like a giant hand, clamped down on Gu Mingxiu's throat, suffocating her. She couldn't breathe, let alone resist. All she could do was stare fixedly at the tiny urn containing ashes.

>Ianxiu, my child...

A mouthful of black blood spurted out, and the seriously ill Gu Mingxiu desperately wanted to hold the tiny urn in her arms. But as soon as she sat up, she was too weak to lie down again. Her glazed eyes stared fixedly at Gu Lanhui.

"Aren't you heartbroken? Angry? Hate me?" Gu Lanhui recoiled two steps in disgust, the self-blame and sadness vanishing instantly: "Gu Mingshu, this is all your own doing. Who else is to blame?"

Self-inflicted?

Yes!

She insists on marrying Ye Kang.

Originally, Princess Fukang had someone find a young man born on the third of May and aged fifteen to be married as a consort for her seriously ill son.

Gu Mingxiu was born on the third day of May, and Gu Lanhui was only three hours younger, also born on the same day.

The elder sister-in-law of the Duke of Yu married Princess Fukang and persuaded her father to give up one son, so that he could move from the position of county magistrate of Huizhou to a higher one.

Mother Lu naturally wouldn't want to see Gu Mingxiu marry a sickly and feeble man. But how could the son of Princess Fukang marry a concubine?

However, Gu Lanhui had a different idea; she wanted to get married.

It was a stroke of luck that on his way to the capital, Gu's father happened upon a fire. He had the opportunity to save Lady Jingguo Gong, the elderly wife of the Marquis of Jingguo. Lady Jingguo Gong took an instant liking to Gu Mingshu and betrothed her to Ye Kang.

Ke Ye Kang likes Gu Lan Hui and is determined to break off the engagement and find someone else. He even threatens to take his own life. An's family feels sorry for their son, and Gu's father only cares about marrying into the Jingguo Duke's mansion; he doesn't mind who his daughter marries as long as it secures the alliance.

Gu Mingxiu was unwilling to give up. Such a prestigious and wealthy family, with a husband who was a healthy and handsome prince! Who wouldn't want this?

She had cried, made a scene, thrown a tantrum, played hard to get, and even threatened suicide. She tried every trick in the book until finally, she got her wish and married into the Prince Jing's mansion, becoming his wife.

Ke Gu Lanhui, however, failed to marry into the Fokan Princess's mansion but instead married Ye Kang's younger brother.

Goodbye, my love. Yet again, it's a case of being close but not together. Ye Kang's old feelings have clearly rekindled, and he frequently meets with Gu Lanhui in private...

If there had not been a great commotion, that would have made it known to the whole household, causing Ye Kang to lose face and forcing Jing Guo Gong to step down, he would not have been driven out of the house.

If she hadn't been so competitive and obsessed with outdoing Lan Hui in everything, like that reckless and irresponsible playboy Ye Kang, she wouldn't have married him.

Gu Lanhui makes a good point, who would blame anyone?

“Don’t look at me like that. For the sake of our sisterhood, I’ve done you a favor by sending Yi-xiu over so that you and your son can reunite.” Gu Lanhui sneered with a smile, taking step after step toward them.

Yannxiu--

Gu Mingxiu's tears flowed freely! With great difficulty, she opened her arms wide, wanting to catch him.

Children are the only hope for Gou Yancan, but now there is only a jar of ashes.

"Bang!" Gu Lanhui's hand suddenly loosened, and the urn fell to the ground, scattering the grayish-white ashes everywhere.

Oops, sorry, my hand!

"Ian - Xiu -"

Gu Mingxiu's soul and body were shattered, she vomited continuously. With endless grief and hatred, she swallowed her last breath, dying with unclosed eyes!

He died filled with resentment, yet he did not drink the Meng Po soup nor cross the Nai He Bridge. His soul wandered aimlessly with nowhere to return.

In Huzhou in May, the rain fell continuously, drumming incessantly. The house was misty and damp, with a heavy air clinging to everything. Outside, there seemed to be sobbing and hushed voices trying to console someone. The sounds were muffled, as if afraid of disturbing anyone. My head felt foggy and I could barely make out what was being said. A gust of wind carrying the scent of rain blew in, making Gu Mingxiu sneeze involuntarily!

A cry abruptly stopped. Someone lifted the curtain and came in: "Miss, are you awake?"

Gu Mingxiu suddenly opened her eyes. The thin cotton curtain, the dark lacquered bed, the ornate two-tiered treasure chest beside it, and the worried face of her nanny Jing'er all seemed both familiar and distant!

"Is this... your private room in Huzhou? Didn't Jingniang die of illness three years ago?"

Astonished, I tried to call out: "Mother Jing?"

A warm hand was quickly withdrawn from her forehead, and Jing's mother touched her own brow and said: "I don't have a fever. Could it be that you had a nightmare?"

Gu Mingxiu bit her arm fiercely, it hurt so much! It wasn't a dream, she had been reborn.

"What are you doing?" Mother Jing grabbed his arm, her sleeve brushing up to reveal eight tooth marks on her alabaster wrist.

Busy took out the ointment from the Eight Treasures Box, and while applying it, he advised: "The second young lady has been kneeling outside for an hour already, but no matter how much persuasion, she won't get up. Even if you have a great deal of anger, you can't let it go on like this now. We can't let the master see this, and then say that you are bullying…"

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?