At midnight, the moonlight was like frost, and the sounds of insects outside were faint. Gu Yichen suddenly woke up from a dream, beads of cold sweat on his forehead. He sat up in a daze, heavy breaths echoing in the empty room. Every long night, he relived the nightmare from ten years ago—a nightmare that haunted him for life and became an inescapable shackles.
He was only ten then. A heavy downpour fell over the capital's An Guo Gong Mansion, shrouding it in blood and despair. He watched as a group of black-clad figures, like ghosts, stormed the estate. His father, Gu Yaoning, covered his family with his own life, still standing despite severe wounds, until he was beheaded. Blood splattered across the courtyard's stone slabs, with the bodies of family members scattered around. His mother's heartbreaking scream echoed in his ears: "Your Majesty, please save us!" Yet, from the palace's high walls, there was no answer. The black-clad figures didn't harm them but vanished swiftly, as if they had never existed.
Ten years have passed, and the wrongful death of his father has yet to be avenged. His father's title and glory were buried with his severed head, and his and his mother's lives were spared only because Emperor Li Hong, recalling their past bond, allowed it.
Since then, his mother was brought back to the palace, where her needs were met, but she lived under a de facto house arrest. He, at just ten, was stripped of all honor and fell from his former life to the cold dust of reality.
Rebuilding the Family Estate
Two years ago, upon turning eighteen, he was allowed to inherit his father's title and part of his estate, a final act of mercy from the Emperor. He arrived at the estate with his companions Yang Chen and Feng Da, finding it dilapidated. Once expansive lands had dwindled into scattered farmland.
The former glory was long gone, and the once-vast fields were left to wither due to neglect. Though this estate was once the foundation of the Gu family's power, the remaining land barely provided a living. To restore its former splendor would require an immense effort.
Gu Yaoning, his father, was once a prominent minister of the Jing Dynasty, skilled in both military and political affairs. He had a deep friendship with Emperor Li Hong. When power shifted, the two stood side by side, fighting for the future of the dynasty. Thanks to his talent, Gu Yaoning was granted the title of "Son-in-law of the Emperor" and married Princess Li Wanru. Though their marriage was seen as perfect in the public eye, it became the root of Gu Yaoning's downfall.
Though Gu Yaoning tried to act carefully in the palace due to his marriage to a royal, he never abandoned his dedication to serving the country. Yet, due to numerous enemies and unseen hands stirring trouble, Gu Yaoning was accused of treason, even though the Emperor trusted him and doubted the allegations. In the end, under pressure, the Emperor had to relent.
Ten years ago, Gu Yaoning was assassinated by unknown black-clad figures, and the Gu family lost all power in a single night. Their wealth and status vanished in an instant.
Mother and Son Separated, Correspondence with the Crown Prince
Gu Yichen sighed deeply, rising to sit in his chair, his fingers unconsciously touching a letter on the desk—a letter from Crown Prince Li Ke.
The Crown Prince had been his closest childhood friend. After the tragedy, although they rarely met, their correspondence had never ceased. In the letters, the Crown Prince always expressed regret and helplessness about Gu Yichen's fate. Gu Yichen, however, took no particular notice, accepting the friendship as a cherished memory of his youth.
His mother, Li Wanru, had not seen him for over half a year since he inherited his title. Though there were occasional updates about her living comfortably in the palace, she had been subtly excluded due to past events. She always advised him not to seek revenge but to live peacefully and maintain the estate.
Gu Yichen glanced at the sword his father had given him, its blade sharp and cold. He muttered softly, "Mother wishes for me to live in peace, but how can I, when some debts still need to be repaid?" His tone was calm, but a fire of resolve burned in his eyes.
Outside the window, the night deepened, but the darkness in his heart had never lifted.