After marriage, Meng Qin was only kind to her for the first month.
But once the novelty wore off, it became much less popular.
Especially when Meng Qin heard that Xiao Zilan was extremely reluctant to marry him, he became even more angry.
Later, those women were jealous of Xiao Zilan's beauty and fabricated a story that she had a lover in Xiaolin tribe. After marrying to Mengdong, she was still thinking about her lover.
Meng Qin believed it and often beat her to vent his dissatisfaction.
During the next few years that he lived in Mengdong, Xiao Zilan felt like he was in hell.
She was always covered in wounds, and due to poor diet and depressed mood, her once beautiful face became haggard.
She once thought of simply dying to give herself a break, but when she thought of the safety of her mother family, she hesitated.
It would be easy for her to die, but there are many people in her maternal tribe. If she dies, Meng Qin can still harm her maternal tribe.
For many years, she often had dreams at night, dreaming that Meng Qin beat her and attacked her own mother's clan.
Many nights, she woke up from nightmares, covered in cold sweats.
Even after she left Northern Xinjiang, she would still occasionally have nightmares, dreaming that Meng Qin found her.
Now, she heard from her nephew with her own ears that Meng Qin had died on the battlefield, and she instantly felt relieved.
Xiao Zilan excitedly grasped the Second Prince's hand and said in a trembling voice, "He's dead, he's dead, he's finally dead..."
Sang Qi stroked her hair lovingly and said softly, "Princess Zilan, you are truly free now. No one will bully you anymore."
Xiao Zilan cried with joy.
When everyone saw this, they all started crying out of heartache.
Xiao Zilan has suffered a lot over the years.
"Aunt, when we return to Daxia, please come with us." Xia Miaoyuan said seriously.
"Grandfather is now the Great Khan of the entire Northern Frontier. My father has also prepared a large house for your grandparents in the capital. When the time comes, you can live in the Northern Frontier or in Daxia. It's all up to you."
The Second Prince smiled and agreed, "Yes, Miao'er is right. When the time comes, Aunt, you can find another ideal husband. Tell us who you like and ask Father or Grandfather to arrange a marriage for you. As long as he's from Northern Frontier or Daxia, you can choose any one you want."
Xiao Zilan waved his hand and said, "I'll go back to Daxia with you guys, but that's not necessary."
As she spoke, a complicated expression flashed across her face.
What's wrong with my aunt? Is she in a hurry to go back to Northern Xinjiang to see my grandparents?
Xia Miaoyuan felt a little strange, and she said, "If you are anxious to see your grandparents, you can go back to Northern Frontier directly. We can send some imperial guards to escort you back to Northern Frontier."
Xiao Zilan's eyelashes twitched violently. Just now, she discovered that she had actually heard Xia Miaoyuan's thoughts.
When she delivered dinner to Xia Miaoyuan today, she also heard two short sentences from a child's voice, but she thought they were spoken by Xia Miaoyuan.
Just now, she clearly didn't see Xia Miaoyuan's mouth move, but she heard her voice.
Now she was sure that it was her niece's voice.
After calming herself down, she whispered, "I'm fine here. Tell them I'm fine and they don't need to worry about me."
The Second Prince's face was filled with confusion and anger. "Aunt, do you know how worried the family is about you? How could you be like this?"
Xiao Zilan turned his face away and remained silent.
[My aunt must be having some difficulties. What's the reason?] Xia Miaoyuan scratched his head.
Sang Qi stood beside Xiao Zilan, holding her in his arms with a distressed look on his face, and said softly, "Princess Zilan, everyone is thinking about you. Please come back with us."
Xiao Zilan pounded his head even lower and cried, "I can't go back."
Xia Miaoyuan observed the pained expression on Xiao Zilan's face and suddenly thought of something: "Could it be because of the woman's reputation?"
Sang Qi was also a woman and older than Xiao Zilan, so she quickly guessed her concerns.
"Princess Zilan, we women from the Northern Frontier are not particular about trivial matters. If you are concerned about a woman's reputation, you are overthinking it."
Xiao Zilan cried even harder, choking with sobs, "How can I go back? I've been living among the common people for over three years. Even if I go back, my innocence as a woman has been completely lost."
"Besides, I was once Meng Qin's concubine and experienced those shameful things. My body is still covered with scars from those beatings."
"Even if I go back, what will outsiders think of me and say about me?"
Xia Miaoyuan frowned. [Life was really difficult for women in ancient times.]
I remember reading about similar situations in the history books I'd read before. During wartime, concubines, princesses, and even noble ladies would be forced to flee to the countryside, and their fate would be unclear. Regardless of whether they had met with misfortune or not, their innocence would be lost in the eyes of the world.
[When the war ends, even if they return safely, the world will not be able to accommodate them.]
[So my aunt's concerns are understandable.]
[Additionally, she suffered years of domestic violence from Meng Qin, which caused her severe physical and mental damage and led to a deep sense of inferiority.]
My aunt is so pitiful. Her heart must be broken.
Xiao Zilan cried even harder when she heard her niece's heartfelt words. These words really touched her heart.
Everyone persuaded Xiao Zilan for a while before she gradually stopped crying.
Xiao Zilan looked at the copper kettle dripping water and said, "It's getting late now. I have to go back first. We can discuss other things later."
Before leaving, she warned, "Before we have discussed this, please do not take the initiative to tell the prince my identity."
The Second Prince quickly agreed, and Xiao Zilan hurried back.
…
On the other side of the palace is the eldest prince’s bedroom.
Yue Haoyun sent all the maids away, pulled the bed curtains, and fiddled with something on the bed.
Princess Min, with a suspicious look on her face, pulled the maid outside the door and asked, "What is the prince doing in there?"
The little maid shook her head: "I don't know either. The prince just asked us to come out."
Min waved to the maids, signaling them to leave, then she tiptoed open the door of the bedroom and walked in on tiptoe.
She walked gently to the window, hidden in the shadow of the lamp, and looked over with bated breath.
But she couldn't see anything because of the two layers of bed curtains.
She bit her lip, made up her mind, took another step inside, grabbed the bed curtain and pulled it to the side.
Yue Haoyun's frightened voice immediately rang out: "Who is it?"
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