Chapter 1002: Chapter 1002 Honesty

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Reaching the study door, Gu Chengrui turned to Gu Chenglin and pointed a finger toward it. “Keep a watchful eye. No one is to enter,” he instructed firmly.

“Understood,” Gu Chenglin replied obediently, taking his position at the door alongside the guards.

Inside the study, Gu Chengrui offered the Emperor a seat. He then retrieved the document containing the bonus agreement from a drawer and presented it to him. “Since you’ve come, it saves me another trip,” he explained. “Please take these back with you.”

“You want to relinquish control of these lucrative ventures?” The Emperor inquired, his surprise evident.

“Indeed,” Gu Chengrui confirmed. “Not only would clinging to these industries prove useless for Gu Chenglin, it could even be detrimental. However, I suggest you retain firm control of sectors like iron and salt production, integrating them into the national treasury if need be.”

The Emperor nodded in agreement. “But before we discuss that further, you haven’t addressed my question. What’s truly ailing you?”

Gu Chengrui understood he couldn’t avoid the truth when the Emperor was serious. “It wouldn’t be entirely accurate to call it an illness,” he began hesitantly after a moment’s pause. “I’m afraid my body won’t hold on for much longer.”

He then proceeded to reveal his and Zhou Ying’s true identities in hushed tones. “Are you trying to pull my leg?” The Emperor responded incredulously. However, a sliver of belief flickered within him.

Firstly, Gu Chengrui’s extraordinary abilities had a clear source. Secondly, they received undeniable assistance from Mother God. Without her timely warnings and deliveries of food and medicinal herbs, his journey wouldn’t have been nearly as smooth—the smallpox outbreak back then could have easily claimed his life.

“I’m not,” Gu Chengrui assured him. “Do you remember the late Emperor? He experienced several episodes of fainting and vomiting blood.”

“Yes,” the Emperor recalled. “His health steadily declined from that point onward.”

Gu Chengrui shook his head. “He suffered the consequences of accepting Zhou Ying’s kowtow. While detrimental to his health, three specific tonics could have remedied the issue. Bluntly speaking, the true culprit behind the former Emperor’s decline was the Heart Devouring Worm planted by King Hui.”

“Why haven’t I been affected then?” The Emperor inquired curiously.

“Have you heard of the Great Emperor Ziwei?” Gu Chengrui asked. “Your past life surpasses ours, thus…”

The revelation left the Emperor speechless. He had never imagined his previous life would hold such a high standard.

“When did you discover this?” He pressed with curiosity.

“Zhou Ying was the first,” Gu Chengrui explained. “While she never fully regained Mother God’s cultivation, fragments of Mother God’s memories surfaced within her. As people began kneeling and offering worship at the Mother God Temple, more and more of these memories returned.”

“So, the food used for disaster relief and the seeds that followed were all acquired by Zhou Ying?”

“Yes,” Gu Chengrui confirmed. “She foresaw a devastating calamity striking these lands a century ago, and so she began preparations. However, the scale of the disaster proved far greater than anticipated. Ultimately, she could only ensure no one starved to death.”

“As for your identity, she discovered it when you offered a sincere prayer. I was the last to recover my memories. After fainting upon the invention of penicillin, my memories flooded back. However, my mortal body couldn’t withstand the surge in soul power. It’s reached its limit.”

“So, these past few years have been dedicated to creating the advancements you wanted to unleash on the world.”

“Precisely,” Gu Chengrui acknowledged. “Unfortunately, time is a precious commodity. Thankfully, some of the foundational knowledge has already been transferred. The future, however, remains veiled by fate.”

The Emperor found himself bewildered yet strangely relieved. However, this revelation only strengthened his resolve to ensure their safety.

After a moment of silence, he rose to his feet and bowed with cupped hands. “Then, congratulations on your recent union.”