Chapter 246 Life Story
This spring day.
Jiangzhou is calm.
The capital city is in turmoil.
King Jing felt that the baby's corpse in the pine and cypress forest was most likely related to Lu Qingyao, so he sent people to investigate thoroughly overnight.
It was discovered that Lu Qingyao had indeed given birth to a daughter three years ago, and less than two months after the birth of the child, the Lu family encountered an unexpected change, and then rumors that were unfavorable to her spread.
She took her three children to Jiangzhou.
However, they encountered several attacks along the way. Thanks to the desperate protection of the family servants, the mother and her children were able to arrive in Jiangzhou safely.
King Jing looked at the two paintings spread out on the table.
On the left is a portrait of the eldest sister when she was young. In the painting, the little girl is nestling obediently in her mother's arms.
The imperial sister is the first child of the emperor and the empress, so she is treated like a jewel in the sky. Every year on her birthday, painters are asked to paint her.
The sister in this painting is exactly the same age as Miaomiao is now.
The painting on the right was painted by Jiang Ziyan for Princess Rong'an and Miaomiao. He found many excuses to borrow it from the princess.
I didn't notice it before, but now I compare the two together.
They really look alike.
Especially those phoenix eyes, which are exactly the same as her sister's when she was young.
There is no coincidence in the world. It is such a coincidence that he wants to get close to Miaomiao.
Perhaps, this is due to blood ties.
When Shi Shu came in, he found King Jing staring at the portrait in a trance.
He called out, "Master, there's a letter."
I have been extremely busy these days, and as soon as I got the news, I rushed back to report.
King Jing raised his eyes and asked, "What's going on?"
"Master, our men searched the pine and cypress forests thoroughly and finally found a monk in a nearby temple who recognized this hat. He told me that three years ago, a woman came to him with two half-grown boys and a stillborn baby, asking him to pray for the babies' souls."
"Are you sure it's the Lu family mother and son?"
"The monk said yes. He remembered it very clearly. He said that the mother and her sons looked like the ladies and sons of a wealthy family, yet they were traveling alone, without even a maid or servant to serve them. That's why he remembered it so clearly."
King Jing was one step closer to finding his niece. He paced back and forth in the room excitedly. Suddenly he stopped and asked Shi Shu, "Is there any news from Jiangzhou? Can the baby be found?"
As long as it is confirmed that the swaddling clothes sewn by her sister are in Lu Qingyao's hands, Miaomiao's life experience will be self-evident.
"I just got the news that the clothes that Miss Miaomiao wears on a daily basis are almost all made by the mother and daughter of the Jiang family's eldest wife. Madam Lu also makes some occasionally, and most of the stitches like that are made by her."
"It's just that the little princess's swaddling clothes have not been found yet. No one dares to enter their garden. The secret guards have been discovered by Xiuxiu and Madam Lu several times."
This girl Xiuxiu, not to mention her elbows, even she belongs to the Lu family.
He devoted all his attention to the mother and son of the Lu family and almost cut off all contact with them.
If they count on her to be an insider, she will probably be sold out to them in no time.
So he didn't tell Xiuxiu anything about this.
King Jing was surprised and asked, "How could they be so powerful?"
"It wasn't them, it was the white wolf. The wolf's sense of smell and hearing are extremely sensitive. As soon as the secret guards entered Miaomiao's courtyard, it started howling. But the strange thing is, no matter how it howled, it always attracted Madam Lu and Xiuxiu."
Fortunately, the secret guards had all met Xiuxiu before, otherwise there would probably have been several fights.
King Jing: ...
"A bunch of good-for-nothings, they're helpless against a wolf. What's the point of me keeping them?"
"Your Highness, calm down!" Shi Shu lowered his head and dared not say anything more.
He had seen that wolf before. It was different from ordinary wolves, bigger and more spiritual.
If it were an ordinary wolf, it would be fine. There are many ways to deal with it.
But the white wolf was the little girl's favorite pet, and she treasured it like her eye. She shared everything with the little wolf, and turned a normal wolf into a wolf that ate both meat and vegetables.
Even if the secret guards had thousands of ways to deal with wolves, they could not use them on it.
"Master, the only thing we can do is ask the secret guards to feed the white wolf more meat and see if it can compromise." Shi Shu said helplessly.
King Jing: ...
It was useless to feed it more meat. He had tried to bribe it in order to see Xue'er.
However, it was the ungrateful one being howled at the top of its lungs.
He wasn't really annoyed, he lowered his eyes to look at the portrait, "Shi Shu, do you think they look alike?"
"Yes, in my opinion, Miaomiao's phoenix eyes look very much like the eldest princess. Not only like the eldest princess, but also like you." Shi Shu looked at the person in the painting and sighed from the bottom of his heart.
But he was also puzzled. Why hadn't he noticed such an obvious feature before?
Perhaps there is no comparison, but anyone who sees this comparison will say they look alike.
The little girl looks not 100% like the young Princess Yuqing, but at least 50% or 60% similar.
The reason why no one found out.
Perhaps Princess Yuqing changed too much after growing up, or perhaps no one dared to think that way.
After all, the Jiang family and Princess Yuqing have no connection at all.
"What about other parts? Who does she resemble?" King Jing frowned in thought, "Who do you think her father is?
There are many young men who like my sister, but she seems to be indifferent to everyone and it is hard to tell who she treats differently.
He really couldn't understand why there was someone in Daliang whom the eldest princess loved but couldn't get, and who was willing to give birth to a child for him.
I wonder if something happened during the year he disappeared?
Shi Shu shook his head, "This... this old slave can't tell."
The eldest princess deliberately concealed the truth, so even if he saw it, he wouldn't dare to say it.
The eldest princess is of very noble status, so she would never let others know who she truly loves.
But... there is no trace to follow.
All I can say is that the bond between blood relatives is very wonderful, and there will be a day when we can return to our roots.
"Forget it. One day, sister will tell it herself. Don't tell her about Miaomiao for now. If she asks, just say you are still investigating." King Jing put away the two paintings and asked someone to return them to Princess Yuqing and County Lord Rong'an.
Although he was determined on Miaomiao in his heart.
But from the evidence, it can only be confirmed that Lu Qingyao's biological daughter died young and Miaomiao is her adopted daughter.
As to whether it is my sister's daughter, we still need to find her swaddling clothes.
I didn't tell my sister because I was afraid that she would become too concerned and rush to Jiangzhou to see the child, disturbing the peace of Lu and her child.
Shi Shu pursed his lips and continued to report: "Master, there is another thing. Princess Jiayue's biological mother has surfaced. She is the concubine daughter of Madam Cao's distant cousin. She went to the princess's mansion yesterday to ask for her..."
"You want someone? You want Jiayue?"
"Yes, she announced to the public that she was Princess Jiayue's biological mother and the prince consort's concubine, and she wanted the princess back."
"How did the princess deal with the mother and daughter?"
Although the child was not lovable, he was at least raised by his sister for three years, and although he didn't live as luxuriously as before.
But it wouldn't cost her life.
However, on the second day, news came from the princess's mansion that Princess Jiayue had died due to her serious injuries.
…
The Princess's Mansion.
Princess Yuqing looked down at the woman on the ground.
Lin, the cousin of Prince Consort Cao.
Her appearance couldn't be more ordinary. If she didn't look like Jiayue, she wouldn't even look at her if she was thrown into a crowd.
Her clothes and hair accessories were extremely luxurious. One or two pieces of jewelry on her bun were even gifts from her to Madam Cao.
It seems that the mother and son of the Cao family treat her quite well.
However, Princess Yuqing was curious about how this woman could be willing to let her daughter recognize her as her mother?
She asked coldly, "You said you wanted to take back Cao Jiayue as Cao Chong's concubine?"
"Yes, Your Highness, please help me. I will take Jiayue away and will not let her be an eyesore in front of you, Princess." The woman knelt on the ground, stealing glances at Princess Yuqing from time to time.
I want to see how stunning this beauty, as everyone talks about her, is, and why my cousin Cao is so worried about her and refuses to take her into his house.
He only gave her some gold and silver jewelry to get rid of her.
As soon as he raised his eyes, he met Princess Yuqing's sharp gaze.
After just one glance, she felt ashamed and dared not look again.
She guessed why her cousin Cao died, and she hated Princess Yuqing for being so cold-blooded. She was afraid...
She was afraid that Princess Yuqing would do something bad to Jiayue.
Although they have been mother and daughter for more than three years, she even killed her cousin Cao, so she may not show mercy to Jiayue.
That's why she took the initiative and spread those rumors.
She had previously heard from Prince Consort Cao that the Crown Prince's health was not good and the position of heir was very likely to change hands.
At this critical juncture, she was certain that the eldest princess would be afraid of what others would say and would consider the Cao family and keep them mother and daughter.
As for cousin Cao’s property.
Although Princess Yuqing is Cousin Cao's legal wife and also a noble princess, it is probably impossible for her to adopt a clan member's child and raise him in her lap like an ordinary widow.
Maybe she will remarry.
Jiayue is Cousin Cao’s only child. If the family property is not left to Jiayue, who else can it be left to?
But the next moment, her hopes were dashed.
I heard Princess Yuqing's sneer and cold voice coming from above.
"Do you think that after you spread those rumors, I will still be so generous as to allow you and your daughter to reunite? Let you take Jiayue to inherit Cao Chong's estate?"
Lin's thoughts were exposed and his face turned pale as paper.
But he still held on, "Then what do you want, Princess? Do you want to bully the weak and kill us orphans and widows? Aren't you afraid of being impeached by the censors, or being criticized by the people of the world?"
Princess Yuqing's eyes darkened slightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "How dare Daliang threaten me like this and plot against me. You and the mother and son of the Cao family are the first."
Lin felt a chill down his spine.
This was her first time threatening a princess, but everyone said that wealth and honor come with risk.
She was willing to take the risk.
If Jiayue's appearance was not so different from Princess Yuqing's, the princess would not have discovered Jiayue's background, and Cousin Cao and Auntie would probably have been able to continue to deceive her.
It can be seen that this princess is not that smart.
Lin kowtowed sincerely, "Your Highness, I know you hate Prince Consort Cao for taking your child, but Jiayue and I are innocent. Besides, Jiayue has been raised by you for three years and has called you mother for three years. She truly treats you as her own mother. If nothing else, just for the sake of your mother-son relationship, please let me take Jiayue away."
innocent?
Princess Yuqing sneered.
When she thought that the daughter she had raised like a pearl and jade all these years was actually someone else's, and that her own daughter was suffering somewhere because of Cao Chong, she wished she could skin Cao Chong alive.
This woman actually dared to run up to her and talk to her about the relationship between mother and son.
"Forget it, you can enter the Cao family's door, and you can take Jiayue away..."
"really?"
Before she could finish her words, Lin interrupted her.
Princess Yuqing changed the subject and said with a smile, "Of course... I will allow you to take Jiayue to stay at the manor for a while. Madam Cao has just fallen seriously ill from grief, so you can go and fulfill your filial duties to her on behalf of me and your husband. You can finally serve Madam Cao day and night. You must be overjoyed, right?"
Go to Zhuangzi?
"Why not go back to Cao's house?" Lin's smile collapsed instantly.
I always feel that the princess has something else to say.
Princess Yuqing curled her lips slightly and said calmly, "I forgot to tell you, I have already announced that Princess Jiayue died from her injuries and followed her husband. From now on, there will be no more Cao Jiayue, only Lin Jiayue."
No more Cao Jiayue!
Lin felt as if a basin of ice water had been poured down on her head. She sat down dejectedly, "How can this be possible?"
"Why do you take away Jiayue's identity and everything she has? Why?"
Princess Yuqing's eyes were cold and stern. "Why do you think that? Because she stole my daughter's life. Because she is your daughter, she doesn't deserve what she has now."
"Take them away and tell the farm steward that I am keeping watch over them. Anyone who dares to let them out will be beheaded."
Lin's face was pale, she didn't expect this result.
He even lost himself in the loss.
As soon as he finished speaking, a maid led Cao Jiayue in.
"Jiayue, is that you?" Lin hugged Cao Jiayue excitedly.
In the past, she only dared to watch from afar and never dared to get close. Now that she was holding him in her arms, it felt very unreal.
She hadn't seen Jiayue for more than half a year since she was taken to Jiangzhou. She looked at her daughter with eyes full of heartache.
Taller, darker, and thinner...
"Go away, who are you?" Cao Jiayue pushed the tearful woman away and ran towards Princess Yuqing.
While running, she shouted: "Mom, Mom, Jiayue misses you so much..."
She came up empty-handed.
Princess Yuqing pushed her away and said, "Lin Jiayue, I am not your mother. The woman down there is your mother. Go find her."
"No, she is not my mother, you are." Cao Jiayue sat on the ground, looking at her mother with tears in her eyes, and then at the woman kneeling below.
Why?
Why didn't her mother want her to be her mother?
"Jiayue, I really am your mother." Lin stepped forward and hugged her daughter tightly.
She has nothing now, only Jiayue. If her daughter no longer recognizes her, what is the point of her living?
Cao Jiayue looked at the ugly and crazy woman in front of her and screamed, "Ugly woman, you are not my mother, let go... let me go..."
"Mother, help me."
Cao Jiayue's heart-wrenching cry did not shake Princess Yuqing's heart.
She asked the maid, "How is the investigation going on with King Jing? Why didn't you come and report?"
"Your Highness, the prince first led people to the pine and cypress forest outside the villa, and then went to the temple. I heard that they are investigating a woman named Lu. That woman is the first wife of Lord Jiang, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites."
…
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