"Hmph, not your child? Back then, De'er took care of you from the time you were pregnant until you were about to give birth. Do you think it's possible that it wasn't his child?" Old Madam Ning's face was filled with murderous intent. She had never liked Ning Caiyue before, and she never expected that that bitch Huang and that bitch Ning Caiyue would humiliate her like this. Did they really think that Ning Taohua was easy to bully? Murderous intent flashed through Old Madam Ning's mind.
Ning Shi felt her scalp tingle from Old Ning Shi's gaze, and was also completely shocked by this series of events. Her voice trembled as she said, "It's true, I'm telling the truth. Ouyang Yue is not my child at all. I... I can't have children at all. How could I give birth? Ouyang Yue was born to a lowly woman that Master secretly brought in. She has nothing to do with me."
Ning Shi was quite frightened, which made Old Ning Shi have to believe the credibility of her words. She couldn't help but look at Ouyang Zhide. At this moment, Ouyang Zhide was calmly looking at Xuan Yuan Chaohua, who was standing upright in the hall. Was the man Yan'er was in love with Xuan Yuan Zheng? It was actually Xuan Yuan Zheng.
Yes, he had wondered before who could win the heart of a woman as wonderful as Yan'er. He had often thought, with a sense of indignation, what kind of man could be more outstanding than him, who could he be, and why Yan hadn't chosen him.
But if it were Xuanyuan Zheng, Xuanyuan Zheng… Ouyang Zhide sighed silently. As a military general, Ouyang Zhide admired two people the most in his life. One was the Ghost-Faced General Xuanyuan Hu, and the other was the first civil general, Xuanyuan Zheng, who was both a skilled warrior and a scholar. Although Xuanyuan Zheng did not have the prestige of Xuanyuan Hu, he was very talented. He also used his talents to create many formations and made significant contributions to the Great Zhou army.
Ouyang Zhide held a special kind of respect for these two men. At this moment, he found it difficult to feel any jealousy. Only a man like this was worthy of Yu'er. It was not unjust for him to lose to Xuanyuan Zheng.
In the main hall, everyone's gaze lingered on Xuan Yuan Chaohua, Ning Shi, and Ouyang Zhide, as if waiting to hear the truth. Xuan Yuan Chaohua glanced indifferently at Ning Shi, a sharp glint in his eyes, then turned to Emperor Mingxian and said, "Uncle, it is true that Yue'er and I are biological siblings, sharing the same father and mother. However, our birth mother is not the lady of the General's Mansion, but someone else entirely. I have been searching for Yue'er for many years and only recently confirmed her identity. With our father deceased, and as the eldest brother, I am responsible for Yue'er's future. I have never heard of these so-called marriage proposals or engagements, and therefore they are not valid. I beg Uncle to make a wise judgment."
Emperor Mingxian suddenly fell silent, quietly looking at Xuanyuan Chaohua, seemingly lost in thought.
The hall erupted in discussion once again. The expressions of Crown Prince Baili Cheng, Fifth Prince Baili Jian, and Ninth Prince Baili Mao all changed, as did those of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, who were sitting high above.
Who is Xuanyuan Chaohua? He is the number one general of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Xuanyuan Hu was arguably the general who contributed the most to the Great Zhou Dynasty, commanding a vast army of exceptionally high-caliber soldiers. There was a saying that when Xuanyuan Hu appeared, the enemy was so terrified they wet their pants. At that time, Xuanyuan Hu controlled half of the Great Zhou Dynasty's military force, enjoying unparalleled power. Although Xuanyuan Hu later died, and Xuanyuan Zheng also passed away young, the number of troops under Xuanyuan Chaohua's command was greatly reduced. However, he still commands a third of the Great Zhou Dynasty's military strength. Such power is something that all the princes would fight tooth and nail for.
Originally, Xuanyuan Chaohua was stationed at the border and did not participate in court affairs, making it extremely difficult for them to win him over. Princess Shuangxia, on the other hand, was of noble birth and possessed a proud and aloof nature, preferring to be alone and rarely even entering the palace. Even those who wished to request an audience were often denied entry. Therefore, Xuanyuan Chaohua was someone many envied, yet equally unattainable for anyone. Now, however, it was suddenly revealed that Ouyang Yue was actually Xuanyuan Chaohua's own sister, his very own sister. Previously, she was unreachable, but now whoever married Ouyang Yue would be directly on their side.
Baili Cheng and Baili Jian's gazes towards Ouyang Yue grew heated. The power struggle in the court was escalating. Although the Crown Prince held the position, his reputation wasn't as good as Baili Jian's. Two factions were gradually dividing in the court, their strengths roughly equal, neither able to gain the upper hand, resulting in a temporary period of relative peace. However, whoever could marry Ouyang Yue and win over Xuanyuan Chaohua would essentially have secured the throne. Ouyang Yue had now become a crucial figure.
The other high-ranking officials in the main hall also had tears in their eyes. Marrying Ouyang Yue would not only win over Xuanyuan Chaohua, but also make them direct relatives of the emperor. This would be an unparalleled honor for the family. Who wouldn't be tempted?
Even Baili Chen coughed up the wine he was drinking. He hadn't expected this relationship to be so unexpected. No wonder Xuan Yuan Chaohua always looked at Yue'er so strangely; it was the look of someone looking at family. He had really been jealous for no reason back then. Baili Chen felt a bitter taste in his mouth. The main problem was that he and Xuan Yuan Chaohua had been enemies for years. Wouldn't this create another obstacle on his path to winning her heart? Baili Chen wore a bitter expression and couldn't help but tilt his head back and drink a cup of wine in silence.
Emperor Mingxian's gaze swept across Baili Cheng and Baili Jian, causing them both to feel tense and excited before turning to Xuan Yuan Chaohua: "This matter is truly unexpected. I'm a little dizzy just listening to it. It's really too unexpected. As for what Chaohua said, Ouyang Yue's marriage shouldn't be rushed. Let's put it aside for now." Emperor Mingxian's words clearly indicated his intention to arrange Ouyang Yue's marriage.
Xuan Yuan Chaohua's eyes flickered slightly, but she didn't speak. "Chaohua, is this true?" As the eldest princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Princess Shuangxia was naturally required to attend the banquet with the envoys from the four countries present. However, she had never been fond of banquets, so she had been staying quietly since arriving and rarely spoke to anyone. Only now did she exclaim in surprise.
“Grandmother, it’s true.” Xuan Yuan Chaohua said with an even more respectful expression.
Princess Shuangxia gazed intently at Ouyang Yue, then suddenly stood up and said to Emperor Mingxian, "Your Majesty, I have something to attend to and must return to Shuangxia Palace first."
"Please, Your Majesty." Emperor Mingxian had always held Princess Shuangxia in high esteem, and naturally could not stop her at this time. Princess Shuangxia, however, turned to Xuanyuan Chaohua and said, "Chaohua, come with me. Ouyang Yue, you come too." After saying this, she hurriedly left the hall. Everyone understood Princess Shuangxia's thoughts. They probably couldn't completely trust Xuanyuan Chaohua's words. This was her own confirmation, and for every family, there were certain methods to verify the children's identities. In fact, they also hoped to know the truth.
Princess Shuangxia had been favored since birth, and she even helped the late emperor secure his throne. Even Emperor Mingxian had received her favor and held her in high esteem. Her palace, named Shuangxia Palace, was the highest-ranking palace among princesses, only slightly smaller than the Empress's Anle Palace, demonstrating the late emperor's affection for her. Although Princess Shuangxia rarely visited the palace, no one dared neglect her. Palace maids cleaned her palace daily. Princess Shuangxia was visibly excited on the way, and upon arriving at Shuangxia Palace, she ignored the surprised palace maids and led Xuanyuan Chaohua directly into the inner hall.
"You wait inside first, I'll come in shortly. Granny Shan, please take good care of her." Princess Shuangxia gave Ouyang Yue a deep look before leaving with Xuan Yuan Chaohua. This was an inner room within the inner palace, luxuriously decorated and quite spacious. Now, only Ouyang Yue and Granny Shan remained in the room. Granny Shan looked at Ouyang Yue with a complex expression. Ouyang Yue let her scrutinize her, but inwardly she was also curious about the news, which was equally shocking to her.
From the moment Ouyang Zhide revealed her true identity, she wondered who Leng Yuyan, once considered the most beautiful woman in the land, could be. She never imagined someone like Xuan Yuanzheng, because of the Leng family's attitude towards Leng Yuyan. She had always thought he might be a highly talented but unsuccessful youth, and that the Leng family felt her father was unworthy of marrying Leng Yuyan, hence the opposition. She never imagined her biological father would be such an extraordinary figure. The strange things she had found with Xuan Yuanchaohua back then now made perfect sense, leaving her utterly shocked.
Outside the palace, Princess Shuangxia immediately pulled Xuanyuan Chaohua aside and said, "Tell me quickly what exactly happened..."
Xuanyuan Chaohua sighed deeply and slowly began to speak…
Meanwhile, in the main hall, the old lady of the Leng family, Madam Xie, was somewhat agitated: "That...that's Yu Yan's daughter? Why didn't Yu Yan say that the man was Xuan Yuan Zheng? If she had said so, why would I have disagreed? She...she..."
Jiang, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Leng family, also came to her senses and couldn't help but comfort her, "Mother, don't get agitated. Your body can't take it. There might be other reasons why my sister-in-law would hide it back then. Please don't be sad."
Sun, the second wife of Leng Yuyan, was the cousin of Consort Sun. She had been at odds with Leng Yuyan since she married into the Leng household. At this moment, she couldn't help but sneer, "If she hadn't been secretly seeing men back then, she probably wouldn't have been afraid of hiding it. After all, it was something that made the Leng household lose face, so how could she dare to say it?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang glared at Sun and said, "Just shut up. Can't you see how agitated Mother is right now?"
Sun snorted and stopped talking. She thought to herself that Leng Yuyan had actually gotten involved with Xuanyuan Zheng. Back then, Xuanyuan Zheng was the dream lover of the young ladies from various noble families in the capital. She was really uncomfortable that Leng Yuyan had hooked up with him.
However, the most somber mood in the Leng household was probably that of Leng Caiwen. Ouyang Yue was actually his aunt's daughter, his cousin? He clenched his fist slightly. When his aunt was expelled from the Leng household back then, the relationship was severed. If Ouyang Yue truly returned to the family, the blame would likely fall on the Leng household. He would rather have no relation to Ouyang Yue than harbor any resentment.
Inside Shuangxia Palace, Ouyang Yue suddenly heard footsteps, the footsteps were somewhat hurried. A moment later, Princess Shuangxia entered with two personal maids. Looking at Ouyang Yue, she became even more excited, muttering to herself, "No wonder, no wonder. I hate causing trouble the most and I dislike meddling in other people's business the most. Back in Ning Mansion, I helped you without hesitation. Is this destiny? Is this fate?"
“I…” Ouyang Yue opened her mouth, but didn’t know what to say.
Princess Shuangxia said, "Tell me again, do you have a birthmark on your shoulder?"
Ouyang Yue was stunned. She did have a birthmark on her shoulder, which she had discovered by chance while taking a bath and hadn't paid much attention to. When Princess Shuangxia saw this, her eyes sparkled even more: "Don't be afraid, show me your shoulder, let me see it quickly."
Ouyang Yue hesitated for a moment, then began to loosen her belt. Granny Shan immediately went to help, then removed only the top of her clothes. On her fair, jade-like skin, a vibrant red maple leaf with distinct lines rested quietly on Ouyang Yue's shoulder. Princess Shuangxia suddenly smiled, her eyes filled with tears: "Yes, that's it. It's the Xuanyuan family's birthmark. Every generation of children has this birthmark on their shoulders. You really are Zheng'er's child, my precious granddaughter." With that, Princess Shuangxia embraced Ouyang Yue tightly, tears streaming down her face.
Ouyang Yue was also affected, and couldn't help but sniffle, her eyes reddening.
When she was first reborn, she immediately faced the schemes and plots of Ouyang Rou and others. Her nominal mother, Ning Shi, constantly belittled and humiliated her. At that time, she had Su'er by her side, which helped her endure the alienation of the unfamiliar environment and the conspiracies. Later, when Ouyang Zhide returned to the capital, she finally felt a sliver of familial affection. However, when she learned that this affection was false, although she was grateful to Ouyang Zhide, she still felt a sense of loss, because her biological mother was deceased, and she had no way of knowing her biological father's name. In a sense, Ouyang Yue longed for familial affection, which is why her attitude towards Leng Caiwen changed somewhat.
She never expected that not long after, she would suddenly have an older brother, learn about her biological father, and also have a grandmother. Moreover, this brother and grandmother were incomparable to that fake Ning Shi; in their eyes, she saw genuine concern and the excitement of seeing family. They were happy to see her. Ouyang Yue couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, feeling regret for her biological father, whom she had only heard of but never met. She hadn't even seen her biological parents.
Extending her arm and slightly tightening it, Ouyang Yue nestled on Princess Shuangxia's shoulder, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears welling in her eyes.
Princess Shuangxia gently patted Ouyang Yue's back, saying, "My good child, you've suffered so much these past years." Back then, Princess Shuangxia had only helped Ouyang Yue casually at the Ning Mansion, never even considering they would meet again, and hadn't given it much thought. She never imagined their relationship would turn out this way. Now, thinking back, the schemes and plots her sisters had used to ruin Ouyang Yue's reputation and nearly kill her were truly ruthless. Although Ouyang Yue had escaped, it was clear she had endured a terrible ordeal in the General's Mansion.
A year ago, Ouyang Yue was forced to leave the capital, a scandal known to all. At the time, Princess Shuangxia only sighed softly upon hearing the news. Now, thinking back, she felt a deep pang of sympathy for Ouyang Yue. What suffering her precious granddaughter had endured all these years, struggling to survive in the cracks of the household, was probably only the tip of the iceberg. With a heavy heart, Princess Shuangxia patted Ouyang Yue's back repeatedly, calling her her darling.
Ouyang Yue's heart gradually melted. She had heard that Xuanyuan Zheng was not Princess Shuangxia's biological son, but Princess Shuangxia was willing to educate him with all her heart, and even she, a junior from a different generation, was so fond of him. Princess Shuangxia was a person who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. How could she not like her?
"Tell me quickly how you've been all these years. Who in the manor has treated you badly? Grandmother will send someone to take her away immediately." After a while, Princess Shuangxia's emotions calmed down a bit, and she pulled Ouyang Yue and asked hurriedly.
Seeing Princess Shuangxia's sullen face, Ouyang Yue couldn't help but smile and say, "Grand...Grandmother, it's nothing. I'm doing well. I'm sorry to have worried you." Having just been recognized as a relative, Ouyang Yue's way of addressing her was rather awkward.
"You're such a sensible child, you're doing quite well. I've seen it all with my own eyes, and you're still yelling at me for being happy." Princess Shuangxia said with a stern face, but there was a hint of doting smile in her eyes.
Ouyang Yue smiled faintly: "Even if something happens, I can handle it. Look at me now, I'm sitting right in front of you, not hurt anywhere, and I've even acknowledged you."
Princess Shuangxia shook her head and smiled: "You silly girl, alright, this isn't the place to talk. Come on, I'll take you back to the princess's residence. We can have a proper chat there. Your brother is still waiting outside. He's even more eager to recognize you than I am to do so." Earlier, Princess Shuangxia was in a hurry to see the birthmark on Ouyang Yue's body, so it was naturally inconvenient for Xuanyuan Chaohua to come in.
The two rolled up their sleeves and went out, where Xuanyuan Chaohua greeted them: "Grandmother, how is it?"
Princess Shuangxia nodded slightly, and Xuanyuan Chaohua grabbed Ouyang Yue and hugged her tightly: "Sister, I've finally found you."
"Alright, don't get too excited. You're going to strangle Yue'er. Let go now." Princess Shuangxia gave Xuanyuan Chaohua a light punch on the back. Xuanyuan Chaohua blushed slightly and released her grip. Princess Shuangxia smiled and said, "Let's go back to the princess's residence first. We can have a long talk there."
The three nodded and started to leave, but Granny Shan hesitated and said, "Princess, you're still attending the banquet. Leaving like this might be..."
Princess Shuangxia was taken aback and said, "Then go and tell the Emperor that I've taken Yue'er and Chaohua back to the Princess's residence and won't be returning to the banquet." Granny Shan hesitated, as it wasn't appropriate to leave like this, but seeing the excitement on the faces of the three of them, who seemed to have a lot to say, she smiled slightly and went to the main hall to report.
The people in the hall were somewhat distracted. They had finally waited for Granny Shan, only to be told that Princess Shuangxia had left with her entourage. A sense of disappointment crept in, but at the same time, they understood. It seemed that Ouyang Yue was indeed Princess Shuangxia's granddaughter and Xuan Yuan Chaohua's younger sister. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone directly to the princess's residence after the examination and recognition of kinship; this clearly showed acceptance of Ouyang Yue. The people in the hall had different thoughts. Ouyang Yue had gone from an ordinary daughter of an official to the most beautiful woman in the land, and now she was a member of the imperial family, far surpassing the noble ladies in the hall in terms of status.
Ouyang Rou's face was contorted with resentment and jealousy. She had originally wanted to see Ouyang Yue ruined, but her plan had instead led to Ouyang Yue acknowledging her family. If she had once hoped to compete with Ouyang Yue, now the two were worlds apart. Why was fate so unfair? Why did all the good things happen to Ouyang Yue, while she had to suffer so much? She refused to accept it!
The Huang couple exchanged a glance. This Ouyang Yue was indeed Xuan Yuan Chaohua's younger sister! This was an incredible identity. Even though Xuan Yuan Chaohua had previously disapproved of Ouyang Yue's marriage to Huang Yu, they were now determined to make it happen, even at the risk of offending him. With Xuan Yuan Chaohua as their backer, not only Huang Qi, but Huang Yu would also rise rapidly in his career. Ouyang Yue was destined to be a member of the Huang family. Huang Yu was equally stunned, but finally, his eyes hardened, and a determined look flashed across his face.
The following day, Princess Shuangxia arrived at the palace early to request an audience with Emperor Mingxian.
"Your Majesty, it's been a long time since you've been to the palace. Why are you in such a hurry today? I wonder what brings you here?" Emperor Mingxian's smile held a deeper meaning. Princess Shuangxia had just recognized her granddaughter; wasn't this the time to cultivate their relationship?
Princess Shuangxia said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I have indeed come here with a request."
"Why are you being so polite with me, Your Majesty? Is there anything you can't say? If it's within my power, please speak freely." Emperor Mingxian smiled broadly, but something flashed across his eyes.
Princess Shuangxia paused for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, I came to the palace today to ask for a reward for Yue'er. I wish to request the title of princess for her."
Emperor Mingxian paused for a moment. Princesses like Baili Jing were entitled to their titles because they were the emperor's daughters. Other princesses and their ranks were granted only if they made contributions to the court or by imperial decree personally issued by the Empress Dowager. They were not given casually. Princess Shuangxia immediately said, "Your Majesty, Yue'er has been living away from home for many years. I haven't seen her for over ten years. I don't know how much suffering she has endured. As her grandmother, I feel indebted to her. All I can do is swallow my pride and come to Your Majesty to ask for a higher rank. What else can Your Majesty do for her?"
Upon seeing this, Emperor Mingxian immediately said, "Your Majesty is going too far. Yue'er is also my niece. According to the rules, she should be a princess. Considering that she and Your Majesty recognized each other more than ten years later, it is only right that I bestow upon her the title of princess. I am just thinking about what title to give her."
Princess Shuangxia smiled and said, "Then I thank Your Majesty. However, there is something else I need to tell Your Majesty first."
"Oh, is there anything else, Your Highness?"
Princess Shuangxia's eyes flashed, and she looked at the Emperor with composure, saying, "Regarding Yue'er's marriage..."
☆、149, on-site service!
Upon hearing this, Emperor Mingxian's eyes narrowed slightly. Princess Shuangxia then changed the subject: "Has Your Majesty ever heard of Yue'er's betrothal since childhood?"
Emperor Mingxian was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Betrothed since childhood..." Then he thought for a moment and said, "It seems to be Hong Yicheng, the eldest son of Hong Wantang, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince."
Princess Shuangxia's face darkened as she said, "Indeed, but a year ago, Hong Wancheng believed a few unfounded rumors and came to Yue'er's door to break off the engagement. Does His Majesty know about this?"
Emperor Mingxian raised an eyebrow: "After hearing what the Imperial Aunt said, I finally understand. I had some doubts in the main hall before, and thought that I had really remembered wrong. It turns out that Yue'er really broke off her engagement with Hong Yicheng, and that's why she got engaged to Huang Yu."
Princess Shuangxia snorted coldly: "I do not recognize this marriage. Does Your Majesty think this marriage is acceptable?" Huang Yu's behavior in the main hall was something that even ordinary people would look down on, and his aggressive attitude disgusted Princess Shuangxia even more. Even if Ouyang Yue were to marry him, Princess Shuangxia would probably personally go to ask for a letter of divorce, let alone before the marriage was even finalized.
Emperor Mingxian, somewhat puzzled by Princess Shuangxia's sudden mention of Hong Yicheng, asked, "What does Your Majesty mean?"
"Your Majesty, Yue'er's life has been hard since she was little. She has never seen her biological parents since she was old enough to understand. Although she has grown up, her marriage has been full of twists and turns, and neither of her previous marriages were suitable matches. As her grandmother, it breaks my heart to see her like this. So, there is no rush for Yue'er's marriage. I only recently recognized her as my granddaughter, and I don't plan to let her get married until I have raised her by my side for a few years. What do you think, Your Majesty?" Princess Shuangxia said meaningfully.
Emperor Mingxian paused for a moment and said, "I can understand that the Imperial Aunt feels sorry for Yue'er and wants to keep Yue'er for a few more years. However, Yue'er is almost of marriageable age, and I should also consider her opinion when the time comes."
Princess Shuangxia's wise expression flashed, and she nodded slightly, saying, "What the Emperor says is true. Yue'er should also choose her future husband herself. Yue'er is now a noble royal princess. First, a mere tutor to the Crown Prince, a boy with no official rank, broke off the engagement. Now she's encountered such a good-for-nothing scoundrel who's trying to take advantage of her. Yue'er really needs to keep her eyes wide open and watch carefully. No matter what, she can't be used and humiliated. I would never let Yue'er marry into a family like Huang Yu's."
Emperor Mingxian smiled and said, "Your Highness is right. As for Yue'er's rank, I still need to think about it. An imperial decree will be issued tomorrow. I'm sorry to have troubled Your Highness to make this trip." But then he changed the subject and couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness has now confirmed that Ouyang Yue is indeed a descendant of the Xuanyuan family? But why has she remained outside and not yet reunited with Chaohua?"
Princess Shuangshuang sighed, "Does Your Majesty think Yue'er resembles anyone?"
Emperor Mingxian nodded: "I have met Ouyang Yue a few times, but I only recently discovered that she bears a striking resemblance to Leng Yuyan, the most beautiful woman in the land back then. Could it be..."
"Your Majesty is right. Chaohua and Yue'er's biological mother is Leng Yuyan. Your Majesty still remembers when Leng Yuyan suddenly disappeared from the capital. Back then, Leng Yuyan had just won the title of the most beautiful woman in Langya Continent, and suitors flocked to her door, practically breaking down the threshold of the Leng family mansion. At that time, the Leng family was already looking for a husband for Leng Yuyan and had selected several families. However, this woman was too talented and proud. At that time, Leng Yuyan didn't like any of them. It wasn't that she wanted to climb the social ladder, but rather that she didn't want to get married. But the Leng family pressed her hard, and Leng Yuyan bluntly stated that she had someone she liked, which caused the relationship with the Leng family to become increasingly strained, and in the end, she ran away from home." Princess Shuangxia couldn't help but sigh as she said this.
Emperor Mingxian was somewhat surprised. Leng Yuyan's behavior was contrary to the traditional virtues of a noble lady in the Great Zhou Dynasty. She actually ran away from home because she was unhappy with her marriage: "The person she likes is my cousin."
Princess Shuangxia sighed softly: "At the time, Leng Yuyan was just talking nonsense. However, she is clever and capable. To escape the Leng family's pursuit, she ran directly to the border. She disguised herself as a man and followed a merchant caravan, but was attacked by refugees. Fortunately, Zheng'er rescued her. Your Majesty, you can probably imagine what happened next. One was unable to return home, and the other was young and impetuous. They secretly got married at the border, and not long after, they had Chaohua. Zheng'er was afraid that I would object, so he only told me after he and Leng Yuyan had Chaohua. The deed was done, what could I say? However, I resented him. He only told me when there was no room for change. I didn't care about Chaohua's mother at the time, but who knew that so many unexpected things would happen later?"
Emperor Mingxian narrowed his eyes and said, "But why did Leng Yuyan suddenly return to the capital back then?"
Princess Shuangxia sighed, "That child was a filial child. She wanted to secretly pay her respects on the anniversary of the death of the old master of the Leng family, but she discovered she was pregnant halfway there. Unfortunately, she encountered bandits. Being six months pregnant, she couldn't return to the Leng family, and the Leng family wouldn't accept her. Moreover, she and Zheng'er had married secretly, and I couldn't tolerate her either. At that time, Ouyang Zhide happened to pass by and rescued her, so he took her back to the capital. It was also at this time that Zheng'er... Alas, after giving birth to Yue'er, Yuyan was depressed and passed away not long after. At that time, the border was tense, and I was focused on protecting Chaohua and had no time for anything else. Yuyan probably didn't want Yue'er to get involved in more disputes and conflicts, so she concealed the fact that Yue'er's biological father was a secret. It's all thanks to Ouyang Zhide, who is a kind and righteous man, who has guarded Yuyan for so many years and treated Yue'er like his own daughter. I'm still thinking about how to thank him."
Emperor Mingxian listened to Princess Shuangxia's words in silence. Each of her statements, taken individually, was suspicious and illogical, yet when put together, they didn't seem to make any sense. After all, the events of that year had indeed occurred all at once, catching everyone off guard. It's possible that Leng Yuyan had the consideration of protecting Ouyang Yue, which is why she didn't acknowledge her ancestors. As for Leng Yuyan's refusal to return to the Leng family, it might have been partly out of spite. But Emperor Mingxian felt that there seemed to be something Princess Shuangxia hadn't said.
Princess Shuangxia looked at Emperor Mingxian with a calm and loving expression: "Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state, and the Great Zhou Dynasty is prosperous and strong. It is really my fault that I have bothered you with such trivial matters. I will go back first. I still need to prepare some things for Yue'er when I get back to the Princess's residence."
"Please take care, Your Highness."
"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
Emperor Mingxian watched Princess Shuangxia depart into the distance, his eyes narrowing slightly. Princess Shuangxia had made significant contributions to the Great Zhou Dynasty, but she also wielded immense power. While he didn't doubt her loyalty, he couldn't guarantee that her descendants would share her sentiments and remain utterly loyal to the Great Zhou court. The Xuanyuan family had enjoyed glory for far too long, and Ouyang Yue was a potential outlet. If he could control her, he could ensure the Xuanyuan family's loyalty for half a lifetime. But did Princess Shuangxia intend to thwart his plans?
Does he want to keep Ouyang Yue by his side for a few years? Emperor Mingxian's expression was inscrutable, but Ouyang Yue's marriage was indeed full of twists and turns. First, she was jilted by Hong Yicheng, and then she was entangled by a scoundrel like Huang Yu. The marriage certificate was still in his hand. He wanted to see what the imperial aunt planned to do about Ouyang Yue's marriage.
"Your Majesty, news has come from outside that the Third Prince is about to return to the capital," Fu Shun whispered.
Emperor Mingxian was taken aback, a glint flashed in his eyes, and his majestic gaze narrowed: "Oh, the third prince is coming back."
"Yes, it should be within the next few days," Fu Shun replied, bowing his head.
"Hmm, I exiled him to a harsh and cold place back then, and he was gone for several years. Most people couldn't endure that. I'm afraid this kid is holding a grudge against me." Emperor Mingxian's face showed no emotion.
"His Majesty is doing this for the Third Prince's own good, and the Third Prince will surely understand."
Emperor Mingxian suddenly laughed: "You say the third and seventh sons are born of the same mother, how come their personalities are so different? Now that the third son is back, all my sons are gathered together." Emperor Mingxian narrowed his eyes, so deep that it was difficult to discern the emotions in them. Fu Shun looked at Emperor Mingxian's expression, which seemed to be waiting to see a good show, and lowered his head, not daring to speak.
The struggle between the Crown Prince's faction and the Fifth Prince's faction in the capital was already becoming increasingly fierce. Although the Third Prince had made a mistake in the past and had been sent to a harsh and cold place by Emperor Mingxian for many years, his contact with the core of the capital court was almost completely cut off, making it unlikely that he would participate in the conflict between the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince. However, both the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince probably wanted to win over the Third Prince. After all, the Third Prince and the Seventh Prince were born of the same mother and were the son of the former Empress. Compared with the Crown Prince, the Third Prince had an additional kinship status. With his support, it would probably be more advantageous for the princes in the struggle.
Just as Ouyang Yue recognized Xuanyuan Chaohua, the Third Prince returned to the capital. Fu Shun felt a chill in his heart; the capital was probably in chaos!
In the most prestigious room of the Miao Jiang Inn, the Miao Jiang Holy King had a gloomy face. Zi Er and Zi San were kneeling on the ground, their faces filled with fear and unease: "Get out!"