She said in a low voice, “How could I not know that the calming incense had a problem? He gave it to me that day, so I lit it. I kept lighting it, and over time, I got used to it. I became addicted, and there was no way to quit.”
An Ningxiang’s expression shifted from calm to shock as she looked at Tang Guo in disbelief.
The Imperial Concubine knew from the beginning???
And she still willingly lit it???
A chill ran through An Ningxiang’s entire body. She couldn’t understand why Tang Guo would pretend not to know if she was already aware.
“As for what you said, that the man during the day and the man at night are not the same person,” Tang Guo said with a faint smile, looking at An Ningxiang before turning her gaze to Xuanyuan Mo. Her eyes were filled with mockery. “Do you really believe there could be two people who are completely identical in appearance, behavior, personality, and even the smallest habits?”
Xuanyuan Mo’s heart sank. Instinctively, he took a step back, feeling his blood run cold. He opened his mouth, wanting to say, “No, it’s not like that. It’s really not. Listen to me, let me explain… No, we can actually start over. This time, I’ll take it seriously. I promise I won’t hurt you again, not even a little. I’ll take care of you, cherish you, and fulfill all the promises I made before.”
To love her, to pamper her, to protect her, to put her first…
But this time, he finally noticed something: the love in the Imperial Concubine’s eyes when she looked at him, he didn’t know when it had disappeared. It was completely gone, not a trace remaining.
This realization sent waves of panic through him. He felt lost, as if he wanted to dig a hole in the ground and hide away.
“From the very first night, I knew you weren’t the same person.”
When Tang Guo calmly said those words, Xuanyuan Mo’s mind exploded. Any lingering hope he had was instantly shattered.
She had known from the very beginning!
Now that he thought back, she had asked him countless times, “Ah Mo, have you ever truly loved me?”
He didn’t know how many times she had asked this question, he had never kept track.
Every time, his answer had been the same: “Of course.” Those two simple words had always been enough to dismiss her.
When she lowered her head, smiled, and said, “I understand,” what was she truly thinking? She must have been thinking that he was lying to her, deceiving her, and her heart must have hurt deeply.
When he was preparing to make someone Empress, she had said those words to him. She said she wasn’t afraid of being scorned by others. As long as he was unwilling to establish an Empress, she was willing to step forward and endure all the abuse, no matter how much there was.
Could that have been the last chance she gave him?
He also remembered that she hadn’t called him “Ah Mo” in a long time. She only addressed him as “Your Majesty” now.
The more he thought about it, the paler Xuanyuan Mo’s face became. He stumbled back several steps before finally speaking, “Imperial Concubine, no… Guo’er.” It was a name he had longed to call her.
But the woman merely smiled and shook her head. “Since everything has been laid out, I also have something to announce to you.”
An Ningxiang and Xuanyuan Mo both felt a sinking feeling in their hearts. Whatever she was about to announce, it was surely not going to be good news.
“Xuanyuan Mo, the person you gave to me,” Tang Guo said, her previously indifferent smile turning bold and carefree. Paired with her exquisitely beautiful face, she looked like an enchanting demon. “I am very satisfied with Xuanyuan Mie. What I want to announce today is that, from now on, he is mine.”
An Ningxiang’s eyes widened. This… this was completely different from what she had expected. The Imperial Concubine, who had just been looking so desolate, had now completely changed her expression. Why did she suddenly look so cheerful? Was this a dream, or was she imagining things?
“Guo’er, I…”
Tang Guo’s gaze swept lightly over Xuanyuan Mo’s face before settling on the figure behind him. “Ah Mie, since you’re here, why don’t you show yourself? Or are you really planning to give me away?”
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