Chapter 42 The Truth
Xie Qingran simply sat there, showing little expression after hearing these words. She knew very well that the reason Wang was acting this way was because she had already investigated the truth but did not intend to seek justice for herself; this was merely compensation after feeling guilty.
Meeting Xie Qingran's calm and clear eyes, Wang, who had been so self-righteous, suddenly felt a little guilty.
She frowned deeply, looking at Xie Qingran with some dissatisfaction.
"I'm talking to you, why aren't you saying anything?"
Xie Qingran, forcing herself to stand up despite her frail body, bowed respectfully and said, "Yes, thank you for your concern, Mother."
"you!"
Wang was speechless for a moment. Ever since this daughter came back, there had always been a distance between them. Wang knew very well that this was her biological daughter, but she always had a cold and indifferent attitude, as if the whole family owed her something!
Although Xie Hanyue is not her biological daughter, she grew up at home from a young age. She giggled in her arms when she was an infant, and as she grew up, she became even more obedient and well-behaved, and extremely lovable.
Compared to this, it was really difficult for Wang to feel any affection for her biological daughter.
She sighed helplessly, shook her head, and said softly, "Qingran, why are you like this?"
"How is our daughter?" Xie Qingran looked up at Wang Shi with a puzzled expression, completely unaware that she had done anything wrong.
Wang was too embarrassed to say these words to her daughter's face, so with no other choice, she could only turn around and stride outside.
Granny Qian stepped forward, bowed to Xie Qingran, and smiled with her eyes crinkling: "Does Miss still remember me? When I was little, I was always by your side."
Xie Qingran naturally remembered that before she went to the manor, Granny Qian had been by her side as she grew up, and it could be said that she was genuinely good to her.
However, after so many years, Xie Qingran couldn't be sure if this person was still on her side, so she simply nodded lightly: "Of course I remember, thank you for your hard work, Granny."
"What hardship is there for me? It is the young lady who has suffered."
"Miss is still ill and needs to rest properly. I'll go to the small kitchen and make you something nice to eat."
Granny Qian helped Xie Qingran lie down, her eyes slightly moist.
"You are the only legitimate daughter of the Xie family, yet you have suffered so much at home. It breaks my heart to see you like this."
Granny Qian couldn't help but speak her mind.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he regretted it and belatedly covered his mouth. He glanced apologetically at Xie Qingran, and after confirming that Xie Qingran did not take his words to heart, he bowed and turned to leave.
Based on what she just saw, Xie Qingran could basically confirm that Granny Qian was still the same as before, but she couldn't completely trust her. She couldn't tell whether Granny Qian was sincere or had learned to act after being in the mansion for so long!
"Young Miss, now our courtyard is in great condition everywhere. You are truly amazing."
Baozhu walked over and handed the bird's nest in her hand to Xie Qingran, her eyes crinkling with a smile that revealed a hint of pride.
Xie Qingran glanced at the bird's nest in her hand, but didn't eat it. She simply placed it gently on the table and said calmly, "This is just the beginning. There's still a long way to go."
Xie Hanyue's real backer is not the Wang family at all, but...
Fengyang Palace.
"Your Highness, you must do justice for me!"
"Ever since my sister returned, she has been targeting me and making things difficult for me at every turn. I can hardly live anymore. Now the whole capital is full of gossip about me. Everyone says I am cruel. How can I go out in public?"
Xie Hanyue knelt before the Imperial Concubine, weeping with tears streaming down her face.
Seeing this, the Imperial Concubine looked distressed and hurriedly instructed Yinshuang, who was beside her, to help the person up.
"Speak slowly, child. Why are you crying?"
"You've been in the Xie family for so many years, have the Xie family treated you badly? Didn't your father protect you?"
The Imperial Concubine held Xie Hanyue's hand with heartache, her eyebrows furrowing tightly as she looked at the red marks on her wrist.
Yinshuang quickly brought over the ointment, while the Imperial Concubine personally applied the medicine to Xie Hanyue.
"Father and Mother are naturally very good to me, but my elder sister is about to marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's family, and she is becoming more and more arrogant and domineering at home. In front of all the young ladies in the city, she made me lose face and framed me!"
"Your Majesty, a woman's reputation is of utmost importance. If this is the case, I truly cannot go on living."
Xie Hanyue spoke and cried at the same time, her tears falling like beads from a broken string, each one hitting the heart of the Imperial Concubine.
The Imperial Concubine took a handkerchief and gently wiped away Xie Hanyue's tears. She gritted her teeth and said, "My personal nanny has been disciplining her for over ten years, yet she's still so ignorant. It seems I haven't taught her enough! Nanny Zhao, you go home with Yue'er right now and teach this Miss Xie proper manners!"
"yes!"
Granny Zhao agreed and bowed.
Finally, Xie Hanyue felt a little better. She leaned on the Consort's shoulder and sobbed softly, saying, "Thanks to Your Majesty's kindness, otherwise I really wouldn't know what to do."
"The Seventh Prince has arrived!"
A voice announced something from outside the door, and then the Seventh Prince, Zhou Huai'an, strode in.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty!"
Zhou Huai'an entered the room, bowed respectfully, and smiled when his gaze fell upon Xie Hanyue.
"Is Hanyue here too?"
The Imperial Concubine nodded slightly: "Have you finished your homework for today? What brings you here?"
"Your Majesty, I miss you, so I came to pay my respects. I will have to study hard when I get back." Zhou Huai'an smiled gently and spoke respectfully.
The mother and son were polite to each other, but lacked intimacy.
"Why is Hanyue crying so pitifully? Has something bothered you?"
Zhou Huai'an looked at Xie Hanyue with a puzzled expression, then frowned slightly and asked.
Xie Hanyue immediately stood up and bowed to Zhou Huai'an: "Thank you for your concern, Seventh Prince. It's just a small matter between sisters, nothing to mention. Since the Seventh Prince is here, I will take my leave now!"
"It's almost dark outside, I'll take you back!" Zhou Huai'an bowed to the Imperial Concubine, then turned and followed Xie Hanyue out.
Zhou Huai'an had honed his ability to read people's expressions in the palace, so he knew very well that Xie Hanyue was favored by the Imperial Concubine. Therefore, a marriage alliance with Xie Hanyue would be a good choice.
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