Chapter 75 Even though Liang Zhao emphasized it again...
Even after Liang Zhao emphasized it again, Xiao Quexian still couldn't believe it; Qin Ji was actually Prince Cheng. Her mind was buzzing and completely blank.
Didn't she know Qin Ji well enough? Even if they treated each other with cold indifference in their past life, she had been married to Qin Ji for so many years. He had indeed built a very successful business and made connections with several influential people, but until her death, he was just a successful businessman and had never shown any sign of being involved with the royal family.
How could he be the Prince Cheng, who always lived a secluded life and had little presence despite being enfeoffed in Jiangzuo City?
This is utterly absurd and outrageous!
However, Liang Erlang's resolute gaze was like a chisel, shattering her previous understanding.
“These words were spoken by my father himself. He sits in such a position, and it involves the royal family. He would never say such a thing unless he was absolutely certain.” As he said this, Liang Zhao said with a face full of emotion: “No wonder His Highness the Prince has not appeared in public all these years. It turns out he has been using the identity of Qin Ji.”
“That’s not right. Prince Cheng was also at the last flower banquet. You should have met him. Why are you saying this as if neither you nor the Prefect know him?” Xiao Quexian was still trying her best to find a loophole.
Perhaps this is just a misconception or a hoax; even the governor makes mistakes sometimes.
“Prince Cheng has always been averse to meeting outsiders. Although he attended the flower banquet that day, none of us had the chance to pay our respects. As for my father, he did meet His Highness, but he never met Qin Ji. How could he have imagined that they were the same person?”
These past years have certainly been difficult for Prince Cheng. If it weren't for an extremely dangerous life-or-death ordeal in his destiny, he wouldn't have had to conceal his true identity to avoid it, and would have had to rely on his maternal uncle's status...
Last year, wasn't Qin Ji trapped in Yunzhou? It's said that was his life-or-death ordeal. Now that he's returned safely, it means the ordeal is over. That's why he wants to restore his identity now. I heard that your third sister also played a part in it. Rumor has it that they are destined to complement each other. It was your third sister's marriage into the Qin family that diluted the ominous aura of the Prince's life-or-death ordeal..."
Gossip is human nature, and the thought that such strange gossip came from someone close to him made Liang Zhao even more enthusiastic and talk non-stop, spilling out all sorts of seemingly true and false information.
Upon hearing these words, Xiao Quexian felt a surge of complex and indescribable emotions welling up inside her. The marriage she had so desperately wanted to give up, the one she had personally orchestrated to be pushed onto Xiao Yan Hui… was actually this kind of engagement!
Could it be that everything in our past lives was truly because our destinies were incompatible? But if that's the case, why was Qin Ji the one who faced a life-or-death crisis, and why was I the one who died?
"No, that's not right. I was killed by him. Could it be that Qin Ji tricked me into taking the blame?" Amidst the various conflicting reports, Xiao Quexian found the truth.
"Xian'er, Xian'er! Why do you suddenly look so pale?" Liang Zhao, who was speaking with great enthusiasm, had not heard Xiao Quexian's agreement until he turned around and noticed that her expression was not right.
"No, I'm just a little worried about my sister. If Qin Ji is Prince Cheng, I'm afraid our family can't afford to marry him. These past two years..." As she spoke, her eyes reddened, leading Liang Zhao to think about the difficulties she had faced because of the marriage in the past two years.
Liang Zhao's face showed some guilt and tenderness. He held Xiao Quexian's hand tightly and comforted her, "Xian'er, you've had a hard time these past two years, but we've finally overcome our difficulties. In a few more months, hehe, you'll be my wife."
"Being with you brings only happiness; there's no hardship at all. As for my sister, I was just worrying for nothing. She's always been more capable and shrewd than me; I'm sure she can handle it herself," Xiao Quexian said, looking at Liang Zhao with tender admiration.
Liang Zhao patted Xiao Quexian's hand to reassure her: "Xian'er, you really don't need to worry about your sister. Although their statuses are somewhat mismatched, perhaps your third sister and Prince Cheng are truly a match made in heaven. I heard some rumors circulating before, saying that Prince Cheng not only has a life-or-death calamity but is also destined to bring misfortune to his wife, yet he and your third sister have managed to find a mutually supportive relationship, which is a rare and predestined fate."
"I never imagined that I would become brothers-in-law with Prince Cheng." Liang Zhao said this with a joy on his face that was very similar to that of Master Xiao.
He wasn't unaware of the exaggeration in those rumors, but he knew very well the significance of whether his future sister-in-law would be a princess or a concubine. At this moment, regardless of whether these rumors were true or false, he naturally listened to them as if they were true and spread them as if they were true.
Seeing Liang Zhao's smile, Xiao Quexian subconsciously felt that his smile was somewhat irritating, so she secretly looked away.
Her gaze lingered on a point in the void, and the turmoil in her heart was something only she could understand—it was regret.
I didn’t feel anything before, but now regret is overwhelming me like a tidal wave – a prince, that’s a prince!
Compared to the prestige of being a princess consort, this marriage, which had been meticulously planned and was finally on the verge of being perfect, suddenly seemed utterly bleak and even... ridiculously laughable!
She recalled Qin Ji's handsome yet aloof face, and then looked at Liang Zhao's gentle, smiling expression.
No, I shouldn't think like that. Liang Zhao is the right man for her.
She was simply unwilling to accept it, unwilling to have no more chances to trample Xiao Yanhui underfoot. No one knew how many times she had dreamed of seeing Xiao Yanhui again after marriage, how many times she had imagined a merchant's wife kneeling and bowing to him. But now... it seemed impossible.
Xiao Quexian gritted her teeth: "How come she's so lucky? How come she gets all the good things?"
At this moment, she really wished that the rumors about Qin Ji being a jinx to his wives were true.
Because of the revelation of Qin Ji's identity, some people were overjoyed while others were filled with resentment. If Xiao Yan Hui had the choice to choose between Qin Ji and Prince Cheng, she really wouldn't choose Prince Cheng.
Qin Ji is so good. The Qin and Xiao families are well-matched. Although he is the eldest son of a concubine, he has a high status and property in the family. His father-in-law, Mr. Qin, is fair and generous in his daily life. His mother-in-law is gentle and kind. His sisters-in-law are also easy to get along with. There is also a younger brother-in-law in the family who has just passed the great hurdle of the imperial examination. The whole family not only has a good atmosphere, but also has money and a promising future.
But what about Prince Cheng? His father-in-law, the emperor, whom he has never met but whose thoughts are unfathomable; his mother-in-law, who is half-mad and half-foolish and lives in seclusion; a group of brothers who wish they could stab each other in the back; and then there's the ensuing struggle for identity and power, where one wrong move could cost him his life.
Those are all things for the future. The current problem is that she needs to visit Qin Ji's biological mother.
Deep within the Qin Manor, a secluded yet elegant courtyard seems to be isolated from the world.
In winter, the chirping of insects and birds is sparse, making this place exceptionally quiet. A faint medicinal fragrance permeates the air, mixed with the scent of wood, creating an atmosphere as if forgotten by time.
Qin Ji stopped outside the moon gate, his steps halting. Although he tried to maintain a gentle expression, his taut jawline and slightly averted gaze betrayed his true feelings.
He whispered to Xiao Yan, "My aunt's mood is unpredictable. I won't go in yet. If she sees me... she often reacts strongly."
Xiao Yan noticed that Qin Ji only used the word "mother" when he first spoke of the women in the courtyard, and afterwards he consistently used the term "aunt." It seems that in ancient times, these blood-related parents didn't really hold much emotional weight for him.
Even today, it was someone from this courtyard who specifically sent word that they wanted to see their daughter-in-law. Otherwise, she, as a daughter-in-law, might never have met her proper mother-in-law in her entire life.
To be fair, Xiao Yan didn't have a good impression of this mother-in-law. After all, she was someone who would show anger and resentment towards a young child. What kind of good person was she?
But, after all, they are elders.
Sighing inwardly, Xiao Yan took a step forward. But after only one step, Qin Ji grabbed her hand again: "If she wants to see you, then let her see you. Don't force her to do anything else. If things don't look right, just come out."
Xiao Yan nodded to indicate that she understood, and then entered the courtyard alone. A nanny was quietly waiting there in front of her.
The old woman simply bowed and didn't speak, but gestured for Xiao Yan to follow her.
As expected, the courtyard was well-maintained. From the houses and plants to the furniture visible through the windowpanes and the occasional well-behaved and respectful maids and servants, everything showed that this aunt had been well taken care of.
This was a courtyard that couldn't be described as old and decayed in any way, but as Xiao Yan Hui walked along, she always felt that there was an old and decaying aura in the courtyard.
That feeling of tension yet lack of vitality was everywhere in this courtyard.
"Miss, this servant brings the eldest mistress in." Finally arriving at the main room, the old nanny spoke for the first time. She looked stern, but her voice was surprisingly gentle.
There was no reply from inside the room, and the old woman didn't wait, gently pushing the door open on her own.
The room was dimly lit, the window was half-open, and the curtains were drawn. A woman dressed in a simple palace dress, with long, neatly combed hair that was completely loose, sat in front of an embroidery frame by the window.
Her profile was slender and frail. She slowly turned her head when she heard the door open.
It was a face that still retained most of its former beauty, but its eyes were empty and unfocused, lacking any sparkle.
When she saw Xiao Yan Hui, she was taken aback for a moment, then a girlish, innocent curiosity appeared on her face. She then asked in a soft voice, "Who are you? Are you a new palace maid? You are very pretty."
Xiao Yan Hui raised an eyebrow slightly, but didn't say anything more about her current state. She simply replied politely in a soft voice, "Mother, my surname is Xiao, my name is Yan Hui, and I am..."
Xiao Yan's self-introduction suddenly stalled; she hesitated over which title to use to refer to Qin Ji.
Qin Ji? Li Hui? Or His Highness Prince Cheng?
After a pause, she finally used the name Qin Ji: "I am Qin Ji's wife, your daughter-in-law."
"Daughter-in-law?" The woman tilted her head, as if trying to understand the word. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she clapped her hands and laughed. "Ah, that's right. My brother told me that Ji'er has taken a new wife, but you are not my daughter-in-law. You are my niece-in-law. You should call me aunt. This silly girl, how could you get that wrong?"
Although she said that Xiao Yan had used the wrong form of address, she clearly did not mean to blame her; her tone even carried a hint of doting affection.
"Come here, let me see you." She smiled brightly and warmly extended her hand, and grabbed Xiao Yan's arm as she walked over.
Xiao Yan felt a chill to her touch; her hand, held by Xiao Yan, felt as if it were encased in ice.
"Granny, go and fetch a hand warmer, and add some more charcoal to the fire in the room," Xiao Yan said directly to the nanny who had been like a shadow since she entered the room.
The background noise is my aunt rambling on about the fun she had while boating on the lake last year.
Of course, she didn't leave this courtyard last year either. The last year she mentioned was probably a year in her memory when the peach blossoms were in full bloom and she was young, before she met that person.
But this false harmony did not last long.
"Oh, right, I should give you a gift when we first meet." My aunt suddenly remembered this, so she got up lightly and walked a few steps to the dressing table.
"Miss, let me help you with that." The old woman hurriedly stepped forward, but she was a step too late.
Seeing the two of them act like this, Xiao Yan could almost predict what would happen next.
Sure enough, when her aunt's gaze fell on herself in the bronze mirror, she seemed to remember something, and her face suddenly darkened.
She whirled around, staring intently at Xiao Yan Hui, her eyes turning venomous and sharp: "You are Li Hui's new bride, why doesn't he come? Why doesn't Li Hui come?"
Almost without a transition, the sweet, innocent expression that had just graced her face vanished completely, replaced by a look of utter madness: "They're all the same, none of them came to see me... I'll beat you to death, you useless thing! It's all because you were born unlucky, it's all your fault that he left..."
The dressing table was knocked over with a crash, and the old woman skillfully dodged it. Then she turned into a shadow once again, watching quietly as the woman vented her anger by smashing things from the dressing table to the tea table, and after smashing the tea table, she went to tear down the tapestries and curtains in the room.
Even though Xiao Yan was somewhat prepared, she was still taken aback.
"Did he go to that bitch again? Why did he betray me? Why did he abandon me in this cold, indifferent place, ignoring me completely... What am I to him? What am I to him?"
She began to tear at the nearly finished mandarin ducks playing in the water on the embroidery frame, but because she lacked the strength, she could only manage to tear the silk threads into a mess. At this point, her accusation had turned into a vague, hateful sob, and her body trembled slightly from agitation and weakness.
Xiao Yan Hui stood quietly to the side without taking any action. The old woman had obviously served her for many years, so imitating her reaction at this moment would be the most correct thing to do.
Finally, the person who had been venting her anger seemed to have exhausted all her strength. She huddled in a corner, her eyes becoming empty and blank again, even showing a hint of cowardice and fear.
She curled up, hugging her arms and sobbing softly, "Why won't you come to see me? Didn't you say you would always love me?"
Suddenly, she raised her head again, her gaze focusing on Xiao Yan Hui once more, this time with a strange scrutiny and malicious mockery: "Where did he pick you up from? Heh... heh heh... you'll end up like him... once he gets tired of you, you'll rot here like me."
Her voice was hoarse, carrying a curse-like pleasure.
......
Under the eaves outside the room, after everyone had finished their crazy antics and fallen asleep from exhaustion, the two of them quietly emerged.
“The young lady has been doing quite well these past few days. Yesterday, she heard that you were going to the capital in a few months, so she was thinking of seeing you, Madam, no matter what. Who would have thought that today…” the nanny explained stiffly.
Who would have thought that she wouldn't even have a moment of lucidity today? Xiao Yan Hui witnessed both her foolish and insane states. She should have sympathized with her, but the information she gleaned from those chaotic fragments of speech left Xiao Yan Hui with little sympathy.
In the end, she could only sigh and say, "I'll come to visit you again when I have the chance."
Watching Xiao Yan turn and leave, the old woman gave her a cold look at her back before turning back into her room.
A voice faintly came from inside: "Young lady, take a pill first and then go to sleep. You will be better tomorrow."
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