Chapter 15: The Heart is Deep
Xiao Zhen finally understood. It was just as he had guessed. Nothing was a coincidence. Someone set up a trap, and his careless parents got involved.
"Dad, do you regret it?" Xiao Zhen's voice was cold.
How could Prince Consort Xiao not regret it?
He regretted it so much that his intestines turned green.
I can only blame him for living a life of luxury these past few years, spending every day either drawing eyebrows for the princess in front of the mirror or playing the sweet spot between his wife and son. He...
Prince Consort Xiao didn't know how to describe himself at the moment.
Princess Jiayi didn't dare to go see her son and could only steal a glance at Prince Consort Xiao. Seeing Prince Consort Xiao's handsome face turn pale and red, Princess Jiayi's heart ached.
She quickly put on a pitiful expression and said to Xiao Zhen, "Your father didn't do it on purpose. It's all because those evil people are too cunning. Your father is a kind and upright person. He didn't know that people's hearts are so unpredictable. Don't you agree, son?"
Xiao Zhen: "Mom, please stop pretending in front of me. Arrogance and domineering are your true nature."
Princess Jiayi opened her mouth, then forced an innocent smile and said to Prince Consort Xiao, "Brother Yan, you're well-read. Doesn't it sound derogatory to say you're arrogant and domineering?"
Prince Consort Xiao: "The Chinese language is extensive and profound, and many words have multiple meanings. For example, the word 'arrogant and domineering' is not something that everyone can use, especially peddlers and hawkers."
Princess Jiayi's smile was uglier than her tears: "I understand, my son is praising my elegance and grace."
Xiao Zhen......
Seeing that their son finally stopped scolding them, the couple exchanged glances secretly. Princess Jiayi purred at Prince Consort Xiao, signaling him to speak first.
Prince Consort Xiao had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Ah Zhen, since Miss Zhao Er saved our lives, shouldn't we thank her in person? How about..."
Prince Consort Xiao looked at Xiao Su and said, "A Su, go and invite the eldest princess and the second young lady from Prince Liang's mansion over."
Xiao Su agreed immediately, but did not move. He remembered something and said to Xiao Zhen, "Oh, Zhao Xiaosi said that she wants to repay the life-saving grace by releasing Heshan. She wants to release Heshan."
Xiao Zhen was stunned, somewhat puzzled: "Fanghe Mountain? Is that our Xiao family's property?"
Xiao Su quickly reminded: "Brother, have you forgotten? That year you..."
Xiao Su subconsciously glanced at Prince Consort Xiao and lowered his voice: "It was the year Xiao Yue came. My uncle was afraid that you would be unhappy, so he gave you the mountain to cheer you up."
It turned out to be that mountain.
Xiao Zhen remembered that it was the year when he came back from Wu and found that he had a younger brother at home. At that time, he thought of that dream and was shocked. He stood there in a daze.
Prince Consort Xiao felt guilty and mistakenly thought that his eldest son could not accept this, so he secretly took a land deed and gave him a mountain.
But that mountain was far away in Liangdi, and Xiao Zhen had never been there. After a long time, he even forgot the name of the mountain.
"She wants that mountain? Then give it to her." Xiao Zhen said.
Although his parents were a worry to him, one mountain, even hundreds or thousands of them, could not compare to their lives.
Zhao Shiqing saved his parents, even if Zhao Shiqing asked him to repay them with his life, he would be willing!
But Xiao Su was unwilling: "That won't do, big brother, you don't know, Zhao Xiaosi is a thief. If I hadn't been guarding the mountain for you over the years, Zhao Xiaosi would have robbed the mountain long ago. You can't give it to her easily."
Xiao Zhen: "Is there a mine in that mountain?"
Xiao Su shook his head: "That's not the case."
"Are there any rare treasures?" Xiao Zhen asked again.
Xiao Su still shook his head.
Xiao Zhen: "Then what else can she steal?"
Xiao Su: "They steal mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and all kinds of medicinal herbs and fruits. You don't know that Zhao Xiaosi has a master who loves to study food. In order to find food for her, Zhao Xiaosi often goes to Fanghe Mountain to steal things."
Xiao Zhen......
He waved his hand weakly: "Alright, I got it, go and invite the sisters over."
"Brother, don't be fooled by that female devil. You can't give Fang Heshan to her." Xiao Su warned.
Xiao Zhen nodded: "Okay, I know what I'm doing."
Xiao Su was about to leave when Xiao Zhen stopped him again: "Jiang Ping and the others are still waiting for me outside the villa. Go and tell them that you are safe and ask them to stay calm."
Xiao Su then left, and a moment later, Zhao Yunnuan and Zhao Shiqing walked in one after another.
This was the first time Zhao Shiqing met Princess Jiayi and Prince Consort Xiao.
Although Princess Jiayi is already in her thirties, she looks like a young woman in her prime, with no trace of frost on her delicate face.
Prince Consort Xiao is worthy of being the third place in the imperial examination. Even though he is middle-aged, he is still so handsome that people ignore his age. Even though he is under house arrest here, he does not look shabby at all, and every strand of his hair is exquisite.
On the other hand, as for Xiao Zhen who was sitting below them, forget it. Zhao Shiqing no longer wanted to comment. If she really had to say something, it would be that Xiao Zhen was old and disabled, with a face full of vicissitudes and haggardness, and could be the father of Princess Jiayi and Prince Consort Xiao.
Zhao Shiqing followed behind her sister and paid her respects to Princess Jiayi and Prince Consort Xiao.
Princess Jiayi called the sisters to her side, held their hands one by one, and spoke words of gratitude as if they were free, but every word seemed to be saying to them, you put me under house arrest, but you also saved me, now we are even.
Bullshit about clearing both sides!
Zhao Shiqing rolled his eyes and suddenly said, "Your Highness, did you kill my father?"
Princess Jiayi, who was whining, suddenly burped and quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
Prince Consort Xiao's handsome face also darkened in an instant.
Xiao Zhen just raised his eyebrows slightly and sat aside to watch the show. At this moment, he still needed a handful of melon seeds.
Princess Jiayi sobbed, "I know that everyone in the Liang Palace suspects that I and my husband killed your father. But, swear to God, although I fought with your father, that was twenty years ago. I have long forgotten it. Also, although the Xiao family is from Liang, we have always respected the Liang Palace and have never thought of replacing it. The Xiao family doesn't even have an official, so how could they dream of the throne?"
Zhao Shiqing: This princess has thought a lot and it seems she has prepared this speech long ago.
Of course she knew that the princess and her husband were not the murderers of King Liang, but since she wanted to control them, she had no choice but to hold on to this matter.
"People's hearts are filled with discord. Even brothers can become enemies. What's more, although my father and His Highness both have the surname Zhao, they became separated a hundred years ago. As for the Xiao family, that goes without saying. Don't you have any retainers? Don't say you don't. No one will believe you. You might as well admit it openly."
Xiao Zhen looked at Zhao Shiqing with amusement, then shifted his gaze away from her and turned to look at Princess Jiayi, with a hint of gloating in his expression.
You have nothing to say, I guess. I'll see if you'll learn your lesson this time.
(There is another chapter later)
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