Under the dim moonlight, Gao Changgong and Bai Lian continued their conversation, and the air was filled with a heavy atmosphere. Bai Lian's voice was soft and firm, as if all the secrets, hidden emotions and protections over the years had finally found an outlet.
"Do you remember when you were seven years old?" Her voice was filled with a hint of soft memories, "That year you fell seriously ill, and the imperial doctors in the palace were helpless. Everyone thought you might not survive that winter, and some people were even ready to welcome your death. No one knew that I sneaked out of the palace and found a folk pharmacist. His medicine saved you, and that's why you saved your life."
Gao Changgong frowned slightly, and this past event had become blurred in his memory. He only remembered that he was almost unconscious at the time and slept for a long time, as if he had brushed past death, but he never knew the truth behind it.
"I have never heard my mother mention this," Gao Changgong whispered, his eyes full of inquiry, "Why did you choose to hide this at the time?"
"Because you must think you are safe," Bai Lian explained, his eyes firm and calm. "Sometimes, knowing too much can make you vulnerable. You were still young, and you didn't need to know all the dangers at that time. As long as you can grow up healthy, that is my biggest task." She continued, with a nostalgic and slightly sad voice: "When you were ten years old, you once practiced riding and shooting at the training ground. That day, it should have been an ordinary training, but you didn't know that the training arrow was actually tampered with and coated with poison. Fortunately, I was prepared and observed in secret. I arranged for a close guard to quickly replace the arrow." Gao Changgong was stunned for a moment. He vaguely remembered the training that day, and it seemed that nothing unusual happened. It turned out that at that moment, his fate was hanging by a thread. He took a deep breath, feeling complicated and heavy in his heart: "Who wants my life?"
Bai Lian shook his head gently: "In the palace, anyone can be a threat to you. You have been given an extraordinary destiny since birth. You are the blood of the royal family and have countless soldiers loyal to you. But at the same time, your status also makes you a threat in the eyes of many people."
Bai Lian continued to recall some seemingly insignificant past events: "Do you still remember the accidental fall from the horse when you were thirteen years old? At that time, you were sent back to the mansion and diagnosed with ordinary falls, but you may not know that the horse did not stumble, but was drugged to deliberately scare you. That time, you almost died."
"You mean... these things are deliberately done by someone?" Gao Changgong's voice became heavy.
Bai Lian nodded: "This is only part of it. There are many undercurrents that you can't detect at all. Because of this, I have been protecting you in secret to ensure that you can get to this point today. But now, the situation has become very dangerous."
Gao Changgong's mood became more and more complicated. He never thought that his life would be surrounded by so many conspiracies and calculations. All the seemingly irrelevant little things in the past actually hid such deep murderous intentions, and Bai Lian always stood behind him and protected him silently. His gratitude to this mysterious woman rose in his heart, but at the same time he was full of doubts and confusion.
"Why have you chosen to hide yourself for so many years?" Gao Changgong asked, with some uncontrollable emotions in his voice.
Bai Lian smiled slightly, and a touch of tenderness flashed in her eyes: "My duty is to protect you, not to interfere with your life. My existence must remain secret. I will only show up when necessary. Now is such a moment."
Gao Changgong was silent for a moment, looking at the darkness in the distance. The various experiences in the past and Bai Lian's narration were intertwined, as if a huge net was slowly tightening. And now, he must make a choice.
"What about now?" Gao Changgong finally broke the silence, his tone low but firm. "What should I do now? What is the most urgent task?"
Bai Lian stared at him with deep eyes: "You can't act rashly now. The emperor is full of fear of you, and rumors are spreading in the court. No matter what you do, it will be misinterpreted or even used. The best choice at this time is to stay at home and don't make yourself the target of public criticism. You must learn to be patient and wait for the situation to become clearer."
Gao Changgong frowned slightly: "Patient?"
"Yes," Bai Lian said firmly, "Sometimes, it is more effective to wait and see than to take the initiative. You should minimize the chances of appearing in the court and the army, leaving the enemy blank time, so that they will lose their composure in speculation."
Her eyes became sharper, and there was a hint of coldness in her voice: "Moreover, you must be especially careful of those around you. Someone is secretly monitoring you, or maybe right next to you. Some people are loyal to you on the surface, but they stand on the side of the emperor behind the scenes, waiting for an opportunity to move."
Gao Changgong's heart sank suddenly. Bai Lian's warning was like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart directly. He suddenly recalled all the recent abnormalities - those once close ministers suddenly became distant, and some generals in the army who should have obeyed him began to become hesitant. He instinctively felt a breath of uneasiness, but it was not until this moment that he realized that the danger might be closer than he thought.
"Traitor?" He repeated in a low voice, with a flash of anger in his eyes.
Bai Lian nodded, with a serious expression: "Yes. You must be careful of their every move. The more people around you, the greater the danger. In the palace, betrayal is the most common thing."
Her tone became heavy, as if pressing on Gao Changgong's shoulders: "Remember, the most deadly threat does not necessarily come from distant enemies, but often from your side. You must stay alert, try to avoid public appearances, keep a low profile, and don't give the enemy any opportunity to take advantage of you."
Gao Changgong lowered his head and took a deep breath. He felt an unprecedented sense of urgency. For many years, he had always thought that he could control the overall situation and protect himself in the vortex of power with his own wisdom and strength. However, the conversation tonight made him realize that he was in a huge conspiracy network, and every decision could be related to life and death.
"I understand," Gao Changgong finally said, with a firm tone, "I will be careful."
Bai Lian nodded gently, with deep concern and worry in her eyes: "No matter what happens, I will always be by your side. But there are some roads that you must walk by yourself."