With the emperor and empress who know the truth, this life will surely not be like the previous one.
What would you like to eat?
Yan Xiu instructed the palace servants to bring the freshest fruits of the season, and she personally peeled and fed them to the children.
The heat on Yu Zhi's face never subsided.
The Empress is... too enthusiastic.
Is it because he can't see Xixi that he's directing all his enthusiasm towards himself?
This pent-up maternal love, unleashed all at once after eighteen years, was truly... truly...
She tasted the sweet, fresh fruit, and her eyes curved into an arch – it really was delicious.
...
That's absolutely terrible.
The fourth young lady sighed countless times, and even the jade and agate were tired of hearing it.
Before long, the carrier pigeons arrived.
Wei Pingxi hurriedly untied the paper strip tied to the pigeon's leg.
—The Old Ancestor of Suspended Yin was in hiding. The Empress and the Imperial Guards welcomed him into the palace, and he was unharmed.
All is well.
She breathed a sigh of relief and slumped into her seat.
"All of you, get out."
"Yes, Miss."
Jade and Agate could tell she was in a bad mood, so they went out one after the other.
The door was tightly closed.
She unfolded the note again; it was black and white, but this time her attention was on the previous line.
"hateful!"
The few words on the note turned to dust in an instant, scattered by the wind.
Anger, sorrow, bitterness, heartache, and confusion—too many heavy emotions pressed down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.
She instinctively wanted to bury her face in Yu Zhi's soft chest, but suddenly realized: he was already gone.
In the vast Jingzhe Courtyard and the grand Marquis's mansion, Wei Pingxi had no relatives or friends.
"I have no relatives or friends here..."
She suddenly began to dislike that delicate and timid woman.
They just left, not even leaving her a dog.
"This is Ah Yao?"
The Empress looked at the dog that had been brought out from the daughter's courtyard and found it quite pleasing to the eye.
Ah Yao is a good dog. The basic requirement for being a good dog is to be able to read people's expressions and know who you can mess with and who you can't.
The Empress, whom no one dared to offend, received a flurry of flattery from the good dog, who rewarded her with some meat and bones. Ah Yao was so pleased that he wanted to circle around the Empress for the rest of his life.
Yu Zhi patted the dog's head. Every time she patted A Yao's head and then touched the Fourth Miss's sleeve, she would always get a clear look of disdain from her. But now, she couldn't even hear that lighthearted disdain anymore.
She was lost in thought, staring blankly out the window.
Yan Xiu stayed with her silently.
The two of them stood there in a daze for a while. Yu Zhi became embarrassed and started telling her what the Empress wanted to hear.
She is so understanding and kind that it truly makes one feel sorry for her.
I must have suffered a lot in the past.
Children who are spoiled and pampered always think they are the center of the world, so how can they be so sensitive and perceptive?
...
Back in the secret room, Gu Chenzi vented his anger, though not too much, at the air.
Knowing that she had failed to kill Yu Zhi, Yan Qing smiled as she looked at the person in the painting, too lazy to pay her any attention.
"Miss Wei is cunning. This trick not only fooled you but also intimidated me. She's quite remarkable for her age. Guess what she'll do next?"
Gu Chenzi vented her frustrations at length, but no one paid any attention, leaving her feeling like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat. Just think of her status!
The Old Ancestor of Suspended Yin, the greatest master in the world, was living in seclusion in a secret room in the Marquis's mansion, devising strategies for his lover. Yet, he received not a single word of comfort, and his words were ignored.
She suppressed her anger; if it were anyone else, she would have slapped them to death!
"Miss Yan Er!"
Yan Qing lazily moved her eyelids: "You mean she'll take advantage of my trust and affection to sow discord between us?"
Gu Chenzi was taken aback, his anger subsiding slightly: "It's good that you know."
"I have no idea."
"..."
She gently stroked the eyebrows and eyes of the person in the painting, her tone filled with longing: "She was raised by me, and none of you understand her. For eighteen years in the Wei family, she was ignored and feared. No one treated her like family, except me."
"Do you understand? Only me."
She naturally held the word "mother" in high esteem and reverence. "Mother" was sacred in her heart. Perhaps I was an unclean woman in her eyes, but what did it matter to her whether a woman was good or bad?
“I am her mother. For the past eighteen years, I have treated her well in every way. I have cared for her and loved her. When she was sick, I stayed up all night to watch over her. When she was hurt, I killed the person who hurt her.”
“I am her support in the Marquis’s mansion, and one day this support will become an unshakable faith.”
"All I want is for her to stay with me for the rest of my life, to make up for me for the rest of my life."
It is only natural that children should pay for their parents' debts.
Emotional debts are still debts.
This was her original intention in switching the children.
Gu Chenzi laughed angrily: "Should I say you're naive or stupid? Second Miss, you said it yourself, 'one day,' but that day hasn't come yet."
"You always say discouraging things."
"Am I discouraged?"
The Martial Arts Master Xuan Yin pointed at himself and said, "Your precious treasure is quite clever. Why did the Empress personally lead the Imperial Guards here? Why does a trip out require such a grand display? Don't you understand yet? They planned this together."
"Since Wei Pingxi dared to ask the Empress for help to save that concubine, it means that she has already become suspicious of you and me."
"What's worse, she knows that Yan Xiu is her biological mother, and she's planning to sow discord between us so she can reap the benefits."
Seeing her doubtful expression, Gu Chenzi added fuel to the fire: "You think she just threw away that concubine? But look where that concubine is, and who she's with."
"She threw away that concubine, and that concubine ended up in a place that you and I can't reach. Isn't that enough to wake you up?"
"She loved that concubine, couldn't bear to part with her, but in the end, the one she gave up was you, the 'mother' who did all the bad things and harbored ill intentions towards her!"
"Shut up...you shut up!"
Madam Wei's face turned deathly pale, and her lips trembled: "What nonsense are you spouting? She's not what you think. I raised her for eighteen years, eighteen years! Do you know what I've been through for those eighteen years?"
"Second Miss..."
Gu Chenzi stepped forward, steadied her shoulders, and comforted her: "I will stand by your side, always. Then you'll know that no matter who else is involved, you only have me."
These words were like a demonic whisper in her ear. Yan Qing pushed her away and gave her a cold look.
...
"What's wrong, Mother? She doesn't look well. Is she feeling unwell?"
Madam Wei was a beat slow to react: "A-Si..."
"I am here."
Wei Pingxi poured her a cup of tea: "Didn't you get enough rest? You look very haggard."
“Haunted? Mother looks very haggard?” She hurriedly reached for the mirror on the dressing table.
The fourth young lady smiled and said, "Mother, shall we go to the palace to visit Aunt?"
"Go to the palace?" Yan Qing put down the mirror and grabbed her hand. "What are you going to the palace for? Do you want to see that concubine again?"
"no……"
"Stay home and be good. I've arranged for all sorts of beauties for you. Once you've recovered a bit more, I'll give them to you. How about that?"
Are those beauties as pretty as you?
Yan Qing said gently, "A-Si, who do you think is the prettiest?"
"Of course, it's my mother."
Wei Pingxi did not hesitate.
Her answer, given without hesitation, pleased Madam Wei. Wei Pingxi chatted with her for half an hour before taking his leave.
Back in Jingzhe Courtyard, she locked herself in an empty room, leaning against the wooden door, her face gradually turning pale.
She gagged twice, then straightened up, the lingering tears in the corners of her eyes reflecting an icy chill.
"Oh, Mother."
"You've really given my son a wonderful surprise..."
She was exhausted and utterly alone. After a long while, she recovered and got up to go find Yao Chenzi with great efficiency.
South of Xuanwu Street, Yao Chenzi was drying herbs in the courtyard.
The bright sunshine at least brought a touch of spring. Yu's mother was oblivious to what was happening outside, and with the Princess in charge, Ji Rong wouldn't allow those voices to reach her ears.
Therefore, this beautiful blind woman was unaware of what had happened in recent days, and only thought that the Empress liked Zhizhi and had invited her to stay in the palace for a few days.
Wei Pingxi leaped into his friend's courtyard, met him, and went straight to the point: "Give me the method your master left to restrain this rebellious disciple. In less than ten days, I will help you get rid of the Suspended Yin Ancestor!"