First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

I don't know how long I've been asleep, but night has already fallen, and the maids in the bedchamber have already lit the lamps.

Mu Lingxuan's throat went dry as he stared blankly at the ceiling.

His mind was a little muddled. It was clearly just a dream, but he felt as if he had actually lived through it all.

He blinked, and suddenly recalled the peach blossom banquet that year. After Gu Junxi was abandoned in the peach grove, her attitude towards him suddenly changed when she returned.

She stopped trying to please him, stopped following him around, and even started to despise him, determined to break off the engagement. No matter how much he pressured her, she refused to give in to him.

It was around that time that Gu Junxi's attitude towards Mu Lingye changed, and she took the initiative to say that she wanted to marry Mu Lingye.

In the dream he just had, he remembered that Gu Junxi's remains were finally found in Mu Lingye's mansion, and Mu Lingye had already died of illness by the time they were found.

Gu Junxi's sudden change was so drastic. Could it be that she had that dream beforehand at the Peach Blossom Banquet that year? Moreover, Gu Lichuan and the others had been acting strangely, as if they wanted to say something but then stopped. Could it be that Gu Lichuan and the others had also dreamt about their past lives?

Once you understand one thing, everything becomes clear. Problems that you couldn't figure out before suddenly become crystal clear.

A strong impulse suddenly arose in Mu Lingxuan's heart, an impulse that urged him on.

It made him eager to find Gu Junxi and get to the bottom of things.

The night is dark.

Gu Junxi was about to lie down in bed when the door to the room was suddenly pushed open from the outside without any warning.

Mu Lingxuan suddenly barged in.

Gu Junxi sat up, wrapped in the blanket, and looked coldly at Mu Lingxuan: "What do you want to do?"

Mu Lingxuan came to the bedside, his lips pressed tightly together as he stared intently at Gu Junxi's face. His heart was churning with emotions that he could hardly contain.

"You... more than a year ago, at the Peach Blossom Banquet, did you also have a strange dream like me? In the dream, it was as if we had lived a lifetime together, and you died in the fire during the Buddha's Birthday Festival?"

Gu Junxi's pupils suddenly dilated; she never expected it to be so miraculous.

Following Gu Konghao's awakening of his past life memories, Gu Hanxing, Gu Lichuan, and now even Mu Lingxuan have awakened them.

Perhaps even Heaven felt sorry for her, thinking she was too foolish and pitiful in her past life, and couldn't bear to see her like this. It made Mu Lingxuan and the others remember and atone for the evil deeds they had committed.

Gu Junxi laughed. She didn't deny it; instead, she said retaliatoryly, "This isn't a dream; it really happened in my past life. I died in that fire. The feeling of being burned alive was so incredibly painful."

“I called out to you with all my might, hoping you would turn around and look at me. But you only protected Gu Juntang. Perhaps Heaven took pity on me, because for the first seven days after my death, I floated around you in spirit form.”

"I discovered that Gu Juntang was actually a woman disguised as a man. I discovered that you all knew about it, but you kept it from me like I was a fool. I also saw that even after I died, you thought I deliberately hid it. You are all truly vicious."

Every word Gu Junxi spoke was like a tangible knife, stabbing deeply into Mu Lingxuan's chest.

He thought it was a warning in his dream, but he never expected it to actually happen.

Mu Lingxuan said sadly but hopefully, "No wonder you suddenly don't like me anymore... But why won't you give me a chance? I was just deceived by Gu Juntang."

"The reason I treated you that way was not only because I was deceived by Gu Juntang, but also because I wanted to spite my mother. She always uses me, and I just didn't want her to get her way. I actually have feelings for you, so why don't you try to win her back?"

Gu Junxi sneered, "I'm a human being too. I have self-respect and I get tired. Besides, just because you were deceived, does that give you the right to bully me? You're angry with Consort Li, so why should I become a tool in your struggle? Alright, Mu Lingxuan, there's no point in telling me this now. My feelings for you were worn away long ago in that fire."

Having failed to gain Gu Junxi's pity and forgiveness once again, Gu Junxi's eyes remained as cold as ice, the kind he could never warm.

Mu Lingxuan walked sadly out of the room and out of the courtyard again. Walking through the vast palace, he felt increasingly lonely. He suddenly remembered Gu Juntang's words in his dream, as he died.

She only ever used him. Even their children were illegitimate.

The bastard in my dream looked exactly like Xiaoyue'er.

It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.

Mu Lingxuan paused and walked towards Xiaoyue'er's courtyard.

At this hour, Xiaoyue should have been asleep, being cared for by her wet nurse, but today there were candles lit in the courtyard.

The door to Xiaoyue'er's dormitory was not closed. Standing at the door, you could see a disheveled woman holding Xiaoyue'er and gently comforting her.

Hearing footsteps, she put down Xiaoyue'er and limped over to him.

"Your Highness, I have been missing for so long, and you haven't sent anyone to look for me. How can you be so heartless? Even though you no longer have feelings for me, I am still the mother of your son."

Gu Juntang's eyes were full of calculation.

It is said that those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune.

She believed she was one of those blessed people.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have heard the news that Consort Li was about to become Empress as soon as she returned to the capital.

Next, Mu Lingxuan will become the crown prince, right?

Mu Lingxuan has no women in his backyard, and whether Mu Lingxuan likes it or not, her status will rise accordingly.

Moreover, her master, Qingyanzi, was the most favored person in the eyes of Emperor Sheng, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he could control everything.

A whole host of good days were laid out before her.

She truly regretted going to Su Li in the first place, encountering that crazy woman Su Li, and almost missing out on this chance to win without lifting a finger.

“Your Highness, that Su Li is no good person. That day I originally wanted to help you and my sister get back together, but I didn’t expect to run into that crazy girl Su Li. I hadn’t even exchanged two words with her before she tried to kill me and pushed me into the water. Luckily, my master taught me the art of breath control, otherwise I definitely wouldn’t have survived to come back to see you.”

Thinking to himself, "That bitch Su Li, once she rises to a high position, I'll definitely find a chance to kill her."

She must remain calm this time.

Unexpectedly, before she could finish speaking, Mu Lingxuan suddenly grabbed her by the neck without warning.

Mu Lingxuan's voice was extremely sinister, and his expression was as terrifying as a demon.

This was a sight Gu Juntang had never seen before.

"You wretch, tell me, who gave birth to this bastard child? Who is the adulterer?"

"How do you know?" Gu Juntang was completely bewildered by the pinch. It wasn't that she was stupid, but Mu Lingxuan's question was too certain.

Although Mu Lingxuan asked the question in this way, he still held a sliver of hope in his heart.

There is a difference between the past life and this life.

After all, he had not yet become the crown prince, much less ascend the throne as emperor.

Perhaps Gu Juntang hasn't cheated on him yet.

The result left him utterly disappointed.

Is this his retribution?

Mu Lingxuan's hand, which was gripping Gu Juntang's neck, was trembling.

Gu Juntang noticed Mu Lingxuan's strange expression and belatedly realized that Mu Lingxuan might be bluffing her.

She immediately tried to make amends, saying, "Your Highness, I was confused by your pinching. Little Yue'er is your child! Look how much he looks like you. He's also the first imperial grandson of the Great Sheng Dynasty. His destiny is extremely auspicious, Your Majesty!"

"Shut up!" Hearing Gu Juntang's voice, Mu Lingxuan felt mentally disgusted.