Chapter 137 The Seventh Prince's Background
Xie Mianmian grimaced and rubbed her lower back. Why did she feel so much better after being beaten up? It was as if she had been massaged by Xiao Gua.
She shook her head and ran to the cherry tomato tree. Her chubby little hands were very quick; with a twist on the stem, she could easily pick the round, juicy little fruit perfectly.
Xie Mianmian was like a happy little farmer, harvesting the fruits of summer, her front teeth almost falling out of their sockets.
On the contrary, the Seventh Prince, standing to the side, was absent-minded, casually fiddling with the fruit, showing no enthusiasm whatsoever.
After a long pause, he said to the old woman washing vegetables not far away, "Aunt Lan, don't you really want to... go back to your hometown? As the saying goes, fallen leaves return to their roots..."
Aunt Lan paused, took her hand out of the cool well water, and shook it off. "Your Highness, you know everything?"
The seventh prince nodded silently.
Aunt Lan sighed and continued washing the bok choy, removing all the mud from it.
“I have long regarded this place as my home. You see, I am very happy living here. I am self-sufficient and I love this kind of rural life. It is busy and fulfilling.”
“I am very old, nearing seventy. Those old folks from the Western Barbarians are probably all dead by now, and the rest won’t remember me. Going back would be pointless, so I might as well stay here and keep an eye on Your Highness. I’m quite content.”
Moreover, she did not have any pleasant memories of the Western Barbarians before marrying the former emperor.
Holding a huge cherry tomato in her hand, Xie Mianmian excitedly joined the conversation, "Does anyone remember Aunt Lan? Didn't the Westerners want to take Aunt Lan back today?"
The Seventh Prince said in a deep voice, "So, the Fifth Prince of the Western Barbarians is my birth mother's son..."
“He is Xiao Yao’s younger brother, born of the same parents. Speaking of which, the Fifth Prince is His Highness’s maternal uncle,” Aunt Lan said.
Xiao Yao was the nickname of the seventh prince's birth mother.
The seventh prince recalled the contents of the note. His birth mother was the third princess of the Western Barbarians. Ten years ago, she was married into the Great Zhou Dynasty and married his father. Eight years ago, she gave birth to him and then disappeared from the palace.
The palace said that the Third Princess died in childbirth, resulting in the deaths of both mother and child.
In reality, he was adopted by a concubine while still an infant, and after the concubine died, he was fostered by the Empress.
Moreover, his private treasury contained his birth mother's dowry, which had not been embezzled. So, what exactly happened back then?
The Seventh Prince rubbed his throbbing temples. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask Aunt Lan if his birth mother had really died in childbirth.
Aunt Lan seemed to know what he wanted to ask. She said, "I don't know about what happened back then. Xiao Yao was very unhappy for the first two years after she married into the family. She often came to chat with me, her aunt. But I haven't seen her since she became pregnant."
Aunt Lan stared blankly into the void, trying to recall her ambitious niece who was imprisoned in the palace. She sighed deeply.
She thought she would never tell anyone about this past until her death, but who knew that it would still be found out, and by the poor, innocent seventh prince.
The Seventh Prince took the small tomato king that Xie Mianmian handed him. It was indeed very large, but it was somewhat deformed, as if two fruits had grown together.
He frowned, suddenly remembering the night he stayed in the side hall, when someone hung a portrait of his birth mother above his bed.
What exactly did that person intend to do?
He now knows his true identity, but it won't affect anything, and he won't make any changes.
The seventh prince then thought of that portrait. Its size was unusual, as it was the same size as the portraits of the emperor and empress.
This is completely illogical. No painter in the palace would dare to do this unless it was authorized by the Emperor…
Xie Mianmian, like a little bee, picked a basket full of bright red cherry tomatoes, then obediently squatted in front of the wooden basin, carefully washing each one.
As she washed the fruit, she patted the small fruits that were half-floating on the surface of the water off the surface one by one, letting the cool well water flow through her fingertips, having a great time.
Aunt Lan, carrying a vegetable basket, shuffled into the kitchen and began cooking.
Xie Mianmian couldn't resist sneaking a bite; the sweet and sour juice splattered between her teeth, almost spilling the red liquid onto the Seventh Prince's silver-white brocade robe.
"Seventh Prince, what should we do next? Mianmian thinks we should go to His Highness the Crown Prince and collect evidence of his crimes!"
The Seventh Prince remained silent. Did Xie Mianmian's suspicions mean that the crime would be established immediately? Would the Crown Prince really find evidence of guilt?
Soon, Aunt Lan had prepared two dishes and a soup: scrambled eggs with tomatoes, smashed cucumber (which Mianmian loves), and bok choy and egg drop soup.
Aunt Lan raised a flock of chickens. If she hadn't grown attached to them over time, she would have killed them and made a stewed chicken. She would have given Xie Mianmian the tenderest chicken leg.
"Please don't find our food too simple or unappetizing."
“Aunt Lan, please don’t say such things,” the Seventh Prince said. He suddenly realized that he was the son of Aunt Lan’s little niece, so what should he call her?
This grand family title stumped even the usually clever Seventh Prince.
Looking at his conflicted little face, Aunt Lan said, "Your Highness, please just call me Aunt Lan."
"Aunt Lan, this scrambled eggs is so delicious." Xie Mianmian picked up another piece with her chopsticks, and a series of sweet words made Aunt Lan feel like a flower in full bloom.
After eating and drinking her fill, Xie Mianmian lay on the recliner surrounded by her cats, holding a bowl of cherry tomatoes in her arms, and gradually drifted off to sleep.
"Sizzle!"
Suddenly, a cacophony of noise, almost enough to send a person into a frenzy, shoved Xie Mianmian into the air. Startled, she opened her eyes and saw a cat with a squeaking cicada in its mouth, perched right in front of her.
Xie Mianmian almost tumbled off the recliner. "What are you doing?"
Just because you say "Cicada-catching" doesn't mean you'll actually catch a cicada to scare people!
The tabby cat sat innocently to the side, "Don't you like the gift for Mianmian?"
Seeing that Xie Mianmian didn't speak, the tabby cat became angry and started punching the fat orange cat next to it for no reason.
The Seventh Prince walked over and said, "If you're awake, then leave."
"Are we going to see His Highness the Crown Prince?"
He nodded. Whether it was true or not, there had to be a conclusion. If he couldn't find evidence, he could rest easy. If he did find it...
He will not tolerate this; he will put righteousness above family ties.
After saying goodbye to Aunt Lan and the group of kittens, they arrived at the East Palace.
"I heard that the Crown Prince went to discuss important matters with the Fifth Prince and will not be back all day today."
The Seventh Prince led Xie Mianmian into the East Palace with great swagger. Not only did no one stop them, but even the palace servants respectfully stepped aside.
As she passed through the garden, the various little birds there, upon seeing Xie Mianmian arrive, seemed to have a glint of tears in their eyes.
They all flew over, chirping excitedly, complaining to Xie Mianmian.
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