Chapter 76: Dig deep to get to the bottom of it!
Song Tangning didn't expect Xiao Yan to comfort her. She was stunned for a moment before she whispered, "I'm not blaming myself for this."
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow: "What is that?"
Tang Ning opened his mouth, not knowing how to explain to him.
She was just thinking that in her previous life, her aunt was already pregnant when she was fighting with the Song family for her. When she was fighting with the Song family and even helping her run around in every way, the baby in her belly was almost three months old. Calculating the time, the baby was almost eight months old when her aunt "died of illness".
She should have been pregnant by then and it would have been impossible to hide it, but neither Xie Yin nor the people from Prince Cheng's Mansion, even the people from the Song family, said that she died of illness. From beginning to end, no one mentioned that she was pregnant before her death.
How did my aunt die?
Where is the baby in her belly?
Did the child die with his aunt, or did he survive? If so, where did he go?
Song Tangning always felt that during the time she was locked up in the backyard by the Song family, many things happened outside that she didn't know about. Every time she uncovered a layer, it seemed like there was a deeper layer hidden underneath. She wanted to sort out the clues but her mind was a mess, making her uneasy.
At this moment, someone suddenly pressed down on my head.
"Don't overthink it, or you'll get a headache."
Tang Ning looked up at the person beside her, thinking of the inexplicable death of Princess Cheng and the disconcerting affection of Prince Cheng. She moved her lips: "Brother..."
"Um?"
Song Tangning hesitated, as if he wanted to say something, but was hesitant.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan did not urge her, but just looked at her very patiently. There was a hint of relaxation on his cold white face, and when he tilted his head slightly, his jaw showed a cold and elegant outline.
Song Tangning was silent for a moment before she whispered under his gaze, "I had a dream. I dreamed that my aunt suddenly fell seriously ill and passed away not long after."
"After my aunt passed away, Prince Cheng hurriedly buried her. No one has ever seen her body, and no one knows what illness she had. The dream was extremely chaotic, and even I didn't get to see my aunt for the last time. I only know that Prince Cheng wasn't overly sad after she passed away. Not long after, he married a new princess, and their love for each other was even greater than when my aunt was alive."
Xiao Yan was thoughtful after hearing this: "So that's why you're using the Song family's affairs to test Prince Cheng?"
Song Tangning hummed softly, avoiding the people around him and looking at them. "That dream has disturbed me. I don't know why my aunt, who was apparently in good health, suddenly passed away. I also don't understand why Prince Cheng and my aunt were so deeply in love, never even looking at other women in all these years, but why he in the dream was so heartless, even finding a new love so soon after my aunt passed away."
"I originally thought it was just a dream, and I thought it was ridiculous for me to suspect Prince Cheng based on a dream. But I couldn't help but want to test him. I originally wanted to reassure myself, but who would have thought that Prince Cheng actually lied to my aunt."
Tang Ning spoke in a very low voice, and the confusion in his tone was not fake.
"He acted so genuinely in front of my aunt, able to deceive her while remaining calm and affectionate with her. His feelings for her were impeccable, and he had never been with anyone else in all these years. Even when the old concubine gave my aunt a hard time, he would stand up for her."
"But……"
Tang Ning pursed her lips tightly, not knowing what words to use to describe the feeling that Prince Cheng gave her.
It wasn't because of the Song family's affairs that made her prejudiced against Prince Cheng, but because she had witnessed Prince Cheng lying in front of Princess Cheng. He was full of true feelings but didn't say a single word of truth. He looked like he was wearing a mask, making it hard to believe that his feelings for Princess Cheng were real.
Xiao Yan's eyes darkened upon hearing this: "Are you suspecting that Prince Cheng's relationship with your aunt all these years was just a show?"
Tang Ning pinched his palm: "Brother, do you think my idea is ridiculous..."
"Not really." Xiao Yan's expression was calm. "I've seen people who are good at acting, who can make everyone believe it's real. I've also seen people who can maintain a lie for decades, deceiving others and themselves."
"There is indeed something strange going on between Prince Cheng and your aunt. But if he is truly faking it all, and his deep affection for your aunt is just an act, then the reason why he has been able to maintain this attitude for over ten years is probably something to ponder."
Tang Ning couldn't help but look up: "Then what do you think is his reason? Does he really have other intentions?"
"How would I know? I'm not a god."
Seeing the little girl's eyes dimmed and her head drooped, he changed the subject: "Although I'm not a god, I can still investigate King Cheng's past."
Song Tangning looked up instantly with a look of surprise: "Really?"
Xiao Yan said, "Indeed, before Your Majesty ascended the throne, Prince Cheng was also a very famous figure in the capital. At that time, the late emperor had arranged a marriage for him, but he fell in love with your aunt at first sight. This story of his and your aunt's love was well known in the capital at the time, so it wouldn't be difficult to investigate."
Song Tangning hesitated: "But if he really had other intentions, how could it be so easy for people to find out?"
Xiao Yan said, "If he has other intentions, there's no way he wouldn't leave no trace. There are more than one or two people in the capital who are familiar with Prince Cheng, and there are even more who have grudges against him. If you want to know what happened before he got together with your aunt, just ask a few people and there will definitely be one or two who know."
Even if Prince Cheng was really pretending about Princess Cheng, his "deep affection" could not be without reason. If we find out what happened to Prince Cheng before he met Princess Cheng, we will naturally understand whether he fell in love with her at first sight and was determined to marry her, or whether he had been plotting for her for a long time.
"Some things, once done, will leave traces. If you're only worried about that, there's no need to worry. I can help you check it out."
Seeing the little girl looking up with joy, her eyes shining and slightly curved, he raised his lips and said, "Are you happy?"
Tang Ning's eyes sparkled and just as she was about to speak, her smile froze on her face.
"Next time you want me to help you with something, just tell me directly. There's no need to play tricks on me."
"Brother..."
Tang Ning's face was stiff and he wanted to say that he didn't, but then he met Xiao Yan's gaze that seemed to see through everything.
All the words she wanted to say in defense were stuck in her throat, her back tensed, and her face turned red.
"What I taught you, you should learn to use on me first."
Xiao Yan flicked his finger towards her forehead. Seeing her covering her head in pain, he turned to Jinyun beside him and said:
"Did you hear Miss Song's instructions? Go investigate King Cheng's past. Everything related to him must be thoroughly investigated. Even if you have to dig deep underground, you must uncover his secrets. Otherwise, Miss Song will be angry."
Jinyun suppressed his laughter and said, "Don't worry, Madam Song. I'll go right away."
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