Ouyang Yue said calmly, "I'm really sorry, but nine out of ten gamblers lose, and I, the princess, have no desire to be associated with the word 'gambling'."
Yu Xiaoyao laughed and said, "Is Princess Consort Chen afraid? It's alright... this bet is extremely interesting."
Ouyang Yue looked at him coldly but remained silent. Perhaps sensing Ouyang Yue's insistence, Yu Xiaoyao fell silent again. After quietly drinking a cup, he suddenly said, "Does Princess Consort Chen know the purpose of the arrival of the First Prince Jiang Qi and the First Princess Jiang Xuan in Da Zhou?"
"I don't know her true purpose, but Jiang Xuan did mention it to me about wanting a family heirloom jade pendant from the Great Gan Empress's family." As she said this, Ouyang's heart stirred.
Yu Xiaoyao smiled gently: "Does Princess Chen really think they traveled all the way to the Great Zhou Dynasty just for a family heirloom jade pendant of the Empress's family? And do you think it's possible for the princes and princesses of the Great Zhou Dynasty to trouble themselves with such a small jade pendant?"
Ouyang Yue looked calmly at Yu Xiaoyao: "What exactly does the Holy King want to say? Let's not beat around the bush, just say it."
"That's straightforward enough." Yu Xiaoyao praised with a smile, but then waved his hand, and Zi San came over to invite Dong Xue and the other two. Dong Xue was unwilling to leave, but Ouyang Yue nodded to her and said, "You two can go out. I'll be fine. Send someone to invite the Prince over and say that the Holy King of Miao Jiang invites him for drinks."
Dongxue understood and turned to follow him out. Yu Xiaoyao looked at Ouyang Yue with a half-smile: "Princess Consort Chen is so distrustful of me, it's truly heartbreaking."
Ouyang Yue's lips curled into a cold smile: "The Holy King of Miao Jiang is not that kind of person. Let's stop with this nonsense and get to the point. Now it's just the two of us."
Yu Xiaoyao's expression gradually darkened. He stood up and poured a cup of wine for him and Ouyang Yue, before slowly saying, "It seems that Princess Consort Chen did not believe their words and even used them to play a trick on them. Not only that, but she also used them to bring the infighting between the first and second branches of the Ning family out into the open. The Ning family is now in complete chaos, and Jiang Xuan has not given up on the information she leaked from there. I think that Ning Shi will be tortured to death in a few days. When they can no longer get the information, they will definitely come after Princess Consort Chen again. At that time, Princess Consort Chen will probably have a headache."
Ouyang Yue remained silent, but she felt that Yu Xiaoyao was going too far in circles and hadn't gotten to the point yet. She was getting a little annoyed. Yu Xiaoyao then said quietly, "According to etiquette, the Empress of the Great Zhou should not have made such a fuss over a jade pendant. Even the Emperor of the Great Gan would not have sent Jiang Qi and Xuan here in person for ordinary matters. The jade pendant is of such great importance that it is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. I believe that Princess Consort Chen is well aware of this."
"Isn't that the jade pendant passed down from the Empress of the Great Gan Dynasty?" Ouyang Yue asked, feigning doubt, while her mind raced.
Yu Xiaoyao sneered, his eyes even carrying a hint of mockery, though it was unclear whether this mockery was directed at Ouyang Yue or the others. He said, "They are not worthy of possessing it. As far as I know, that jade pendant is merely the key to opening one cave. A total of three items are required, and this cave was left behind by a dynasty of Langya Continent. Inside lies a treasure that could overturn the entire continent!"
Ouyang Yue's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Yu Xiaoyao in surprise!
☆、245、To the baby's hidden treasure, a secret delight!
Ouyang Yue was quite surprised. Ever since Princess Shuangxia told her that the jade pendant was her family heirloom but she didn't know its purpose, Ouyang Yue had had her doubts. However, she didn't take it to heart at the time. After all, even Princess Shuangxia didn't know about it after three or four generations of inheritance, so even the ancestors of the Xuanyuan family might not know about it. She didn't pay much attention to it. Who knew that Jiang Xuan would suddenly appear and try to find the jade pendant in various ways.
From the moment Jiang Xuan began talking about the jade pendant, Ouyang Yue didn't believe a single word she said. This proved enough that her grandmother's claim that the jade pendant was an heirloom of the Xuanyuan family was not just hearsay; it was likely a genuine artifact. Ouyang Yue had tried her best to find out more, but according to her observation, Jiang Xuan didn't seem to know either. Perhaps only the Emperor and Empress knew about this. She was still thinking about how to explain herself when Yu Xiaoyao brought such big news: a treasure that could overturn the continent! What could it be?
Ouyang Yue showed only a moment of surprise, then sneered: "What does the Holy King mean by saying this to me? Besides, if people who are capable of great deeds are not trustworthy, is the Holy King trustworthy? Furthermore, if such a treasure existed on the Langya Continent, would it have been kept until now? From the historical records passed down, the various countries on the Langya Continent have undergone many changes. This thing would probably have been lost long ago, wouldn't it?"
Yu Xiaoyao calmly looked at Ouyang Yue: "That's true. However, as I said, this thing requires three items to activate. I didn't know what they were, but I discovered by chance that this jade pendant has this effect."
"Oh? From what I'm saying, the Holy King actually saw this jade pendant. Where is it now?" Ouyang Yue raised an eyebrow, still looking somewhat skeptical as she asked.
Yu Xiaoyao smiled meaningfully and said, "Lady Xuanyuan, Leng Yuyan, once carried it with her."
"Ah!" Ouyang Yue exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening slightly. "Doesn't that mean what Princess Jiang Xuan said is true, and that the jade pendant really did belong to the Empress's family?"
Yu Xiaoyao frowned slightly, staring intently at Ouyang Yue. Seeing that her expression didn't seem like she was lying, he felt a slight pang in his heart and said, "Wrong. That thing has never been needed by the Empress Da Gan's clan."
"Could it be from the Leng family? It was worn by Mother back then," Ouyang Yue asked nervously.
Yu Xiaoyao pondered: "Lady Xuanyuan did take it with her back then, and some people did see it. However, I don't know where it ended up. It's possible that Lady Xuanyuan was taken away when she was being chased by bandits."
Ouyang Yue remained silent, then sighed deeply, "Wouldn't that be a great pity?" She then looked at Yu Xiaoyao, "The Holy King hasn't said yet, how could this jade pendant be related to the safety of Langya Continent, and what treasure is involved inside?"
Yu Xiaoyao took a sip of wine, his eyes narrowing slightly, a shimmering light seemingly within them. Combined with the alluring totem on his cheek, it exuded an eerie charm. Even Ouyang Yue was momentarily stunned before regaining her composure. Yu Xiaoyao smiled and said, "As far as I know, this should be a great treasure hidden by the founding of the Li Kingdom to prepare for potential crises in the future. However, it's a secret, known only to the emperor of each generation. At the time, the Li Kingdom was prosperous and didn't need these treasures, so they were gradually forgotten by successive emperors. Later, as the Li Kingdom grew older, the emperors indulged in pleasure, leading to widespread suffering and the rise of..." The righteous army, engaged in years of war, had emptied the treasury of the Li Kingdom. The current emperor had long forgotten about the treasure, and didn't even know if his predecessor had remembered it and passed it down. However, he was fortunate enough to discover the treasure by chance in the former emperor's notes—a stroke of good luck. So, the Li emperor sent people to search for the treasure. Although he sent trusted confidants who had died in battle, some observant individuals discovered the plot and even learned of it from one of the assassins. The story gradually spread. However, in the end, all the countries that sent people searched found nothing. As time passed, everyone believed it was just a lie by the Li Kingdom to confuse the public and deceive the world.
Ouyang Yue said indifferently, "If it is a lie, why should the Holy King believe it? At least I have never heard of this matter before. I think if it were true, it would have been spread for so long that there should have been some clues. In the end, it was forgotten. So it should not be true."
Yu Xiaoyao nodded slightly: "Of course, to a normal person, this couldn't possibly be true. But at the time, the news spread so widely that everyone who heard about it wanted to find treasure and gain some benefits. But only the truly powerful and influential knew the secret behind it."
"Oh," Ouyang Yue replied indifferently.
Yu Xiaoyao said frankly, "In the end, the Li Kingdom was overthrown by the rebel army. The Li Kingdom emperor, along with his personal guards, originally intended to use the token to search for treasure, restore the country's prestige, and seize control of the government. However, they were attacked and killed by the new dynasty. The Li Kingdom emperor escaped, and not only that, the token on his person was also stolen."
Ouyang Yue couldn't help but chuckle: "The more the Holy King talks, the more mysterious and contradictory it seems. If the token was stolen, how did the treasure end up here? This story is quite interesting."
Ignoring Ouyang Yue's mockery, Yu Xiaoyao continued, "Because there isn't just one token, there are three in total. Only when these three tokens are put together can they become the true key to unlocking the treasure. As far as I know, one of them is a jade pendant, which was once worn by Lady Xuanyuan."
Ouyang Yue was taken aback: "It's not that I don't trust the Holy King, but this matter is really strange in every way, which makes people have to be on guard. Moreover, I have never heard of my mother having this matter. The Holy King also said that this thing could not possibly belong to the Empress's maternal family, which makes me even more confused."
Yu Xiaoyao narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Has Princess Consort Chen really never seen this jade pendant before?"
Ouyang Yue shook her head: "Whether the Holy King is joking with me, I don't know yet."
Yu Xiaoyao's smile slowly curved upwards: "So now Princess Chen knows that the treasure hidden when the Li Kingdom was founded was twice the size of the original Li Kingdom's treasury. The Li Kingdom was a historically renowned powerful nation and one of the three longest-lasting dynasties in history. In my opinion, this treasure is far more than the combined treasuries of the Great Zhou and the Great Gan. Princess Chen, do you think this treasure has the power to overturn the continent? With this money to recruit soldiers and horses, becoming the number one power on the Langya Continent is just around the corner."
Ouyang Yue sneered, "I never imagined that the Holy King had such ambitions. It's a pity that I, the Queen Consort, am just a woman. Otherwise, seeing the Holy King's great talent and ambition, I might have been tempted to help him."
Yu Xiaoyao smiled and said, "It's not too late now."
Ouyang Yue's sarcasm deepened, but Yu Xiaoyao remained unfazed, saying, "It's only a matter of time before Princess Chen and I cooperate. Do you believe it or not?"
Ouyang Yue remained calm and composed, looking at Yu Xiaoyao with equanimity: "I must thank the Holy King for telling me so much. It's just a pity that I don't know where Mother's jade pendant is now. According to the Holy King, Da Gan is eager to find this jade pendant, which is also because he knows this news."
"I suppose so." Yu Xiaoyao nodded lightly, but Ouyang Yue didn't think so. How could it be such a coincidence? Da Gan was just about to look for this jade pendant when Yu Xiaoyao came to talk about it. Perhaps this person wasn't telling the whole truth. She then narrowed her eyes and said, "Alright, the Holy King has answered this question for me. Shouldn't the Holy King answer the question for me next?"
"Princess Consort Chen, please speak freely."
Ouyang Yue paused and said, "Your Majesty must know about Fenyan's death. She was your person, and you brought her into the palace as a concubine. I'm afraid you didn't have good intentions. Putting that aside for now, when Fenyan followed Rui Yuhuan into the General's Mansion under the name Fen Die, I found it very strange. Rui Yuhuan's father's death was not normal, as if he was possessed. Later, after Rui Yuhuan's accident, I discovered that she knew Gu magic. At that time, I suspected her relationship with Miao Jiang. Now, Your Majesty, can you tell me?"
Yu Xiaoyao did not refuse to answer, but nodded and said, "Yes! It was I who sent Rui Yuhuan and Fenyan to the General's Mansion back then, for your sake, Princess Consort Chen. I met your mother, Madam Xuanyuan, when I was young, and that's when I learned about this jade pendant. Later, Madam Xuanyuan moved around and lived in the General's Mansion. Naturally, I was curious and sent Rui Yuhuan to check, which is how I was able to confirm your identity."
Ouyang Yue sneered: "Oh, just to inquire about my whereabouts? I live in the General's Mansion. With the Holy King's status and strength, it wouldn't be difficult for him to investigate. Why would he need to harm a loyal official of the Great Zhou and then send a treacherous orphan girl to the General's Mansion for refuge? This reason is hardly convincing. I have a feeling that the Holy King's purpose is not that simple."
Yu Xiaoyao smiled faintly: "Whether it's simple or complicated, with Princess Chen's intelligence, she'll figure it out sooner or later. Why rush it? Princess Chen only needs to know that I will not harm you." As he spoke, he slightly raised his eyes to look at Ouyang Yue. Yu Xiaoyao's eyes were very beautiful, not possessing the characteristics of either men or women. They were a kind of pure beauty, yet they were also somewhat otherworldly to his face. When he looked at you, you felt as if your soul would be stolen away. Ouyang Yue felt this way at that moment, and for a moment she was dazed, and her hand was already in Yu Xiaoyao's grasp.
Yu Xiaoyao smiled with narrowed eyes: "Princess Consort Chen, if I had come to the Great Zhou earlier, you would probably not be Princess Consort Chen now, but Princess Consort Sheng."
Ouyang Yue's expression suddenly jolted, and she abruptly pulled her hand back, her face darkening. "Holy King, please have some self-respect." She stood up and turned to leave, but Yu Xiaoyao wore a strange smile, saying only, "Xuanyuan Yue, you cannot escape my grasp. Even if you bear a child for Baili Chen, you will eventually come obediently to my side. You probably don't know, but the Holy Kings of Miao Jiang are chosen only by their virgin sons. Eighty percent of the Holy Sons are chosen, not the Holy King's own flesh and blood. However, above the Holy King of Miao Jiang is another title: Gu King. Anyone who unites with the Gu King, regardless of gender, will undergo a blood transfusion. At that time, their partners will become blood relatives, meaning they are destined to live and die together. They will then give birth to the true Gu King of Miao Jiang, and the person who united with him will never again harbor the slightest thought of betrayal. No matter how much this person loved their family and loved ones in life, if these people become enemies of the Gu King of Miao Jiang, he will kill them with his own hands."
Yu Xiaoyao chuckled softly: "And the lover in my legend is you!"
Ouyang Yue's body suddenly trembled, and her heart skipped a beat. It was as if something was out of her control. She felt a surge of unease: "Blood transfusion? Ridiculous. Could that be some kind of curse? You are truly laughable. Do you only deserve to win people's hearts with such evil tricks? You are supposed to be the King of Miao Jiang, yet you are so despicable that you have to rely on such methods to gain people's loyalty. Could those maids have used such methods?"
Yu Xiaoyao wasn't angry at all, but there was a glint of light in his eyes, and the totem on his face seemed to fly up, making his eyes even more deep and unfathomable: "They are not worthy. Each generation of Gu King can only use this method once, which means that there is only one person who can truly stay with him for a lifetime."
Ouyang Yue sneered: "Holy King is considered the supreme king of Miao territory. Why is he belittling himself like this? I, the princess, have been married before and had someone else in my heart. In my opinion, Holy King is a very proud person. To share a wife with another man, Holy King is not afraid of becoming a laughing stock in the world. It's truly rare. However, I cannot accept this sentiment. I will never fall in love with you."
Yu Xiaoyao gently stroked the totem on his cheek and laughed: "You took the Heavenly Snow Lotus, didn't you?"
Ouyang Yue was taken aback. Yu Xiaoyao said calmly, "Baili Chen has been ill since birth, and his symptoms are somewhat similar to those of the Gu poison from Miao territory. It's not surprising that I know about it. There are only three ways to cure Gu poison: one is to have someone from Miao territory who understands Gu poison; two is to use a rare substance like the Tianshan Snow Lotus as a medicinal ingredient; and three is for the person who cast the Gu poison to die. Obviously, the first and third possibilities are unlikely. And the Tianshan Snow Lotus was the one I placed in Tianshan. Baili Chen owes me a life. Do you believe I can take it back anytime?"
Ouyang Yue squinted at Yu Xiaoyao, her body already radiating killing intent, but Yu Xiaoyao laughed even more heartily: "I like what makes you different from other women. When the time is right, I will come to marry you."
Ouyang Yue's eyes grew colder and more somber: "Why does Your Majesty speak so affectionately? You just want to hear more about Mother and the jade pendant from me. Whether you believe it or not, I know nothing about these things. No matter how much effort and time you expend, you won't gain anything. It would be better to start with Da Gan. When Mother was being chased by bandits at the border, Da Gan bordered Da Zhou, and they had their own border troops guarding the area. Since they know about this jade pendant, they probably can't determine whether the bandits were real or fake. Since the key to unlocking it requires three things, it's possible that Da Gan isn't using this jade pendant as a catalyst to unlock the other two. Your Majesty is well aware of this. Asking me for the treasure is useless; it would be better to control Da Gan. Perhaps in the end, the entire treasure will belong to Your Majesty."
Yu Xiaoyao said in a very soft voice, "You have mocked me time and time again. I will not hold it against you, but don't even think about plotting against me."
Ouyang Yue sneered: "Oh, if I, the princess, can really scheme against the Holy King, that would be the happiest thing for me."
Yu Xiaoyao stared intently at Ouyang Yue and said, "If you really want to, it wouldn't be difficult for me to stir up endless internal strife and chaos in the Great Gan."
Ouyang Yue suddenly felt uncomfortable under his gaze and turned to walk towards the door, her steps seemingly a little awkward. Yu Xiaoyao smiled seductively: "Once you give birth to the child and have nothing to worry about, I won't let you go again." Gently touching the totem on his cheek, Yu Xiaoyao smiled with an unusually bewitching charm.
There's one thing Yu Xiaoyao never mentioned: although a Gu King could exchange blood with their partner to achieve a deeper connection, nine out of ten, or even more, Gu Kings would never do it. This is because exchanging blood would also divide the Gu King's power in half. The person whose blood is exchanged would also gain the spirituality to communicate with the Gu worms. This spirituality isn't magical; it comes from growing up with the Gu worms, many of whom are fed human blood. This bloodline, to some extent, can be called a token. Any Gu worm that has been fed by this bloodline will instinctively feel close to it. And the purer the bloodline, the better. Although exchanging blood could make a partner's heart connect and prevent betrayal, this era is male-dominated. If a woman marries a man, she will inevitably have to consider his needs in every way. Why would she do something so thankless? No Gu King has ever done this.
Yu Xiaoyao smiled slightly. There were few things in this world that could arouse his interest. Ouyang Yue, such a proud woman, looking at him with deep affection as she moved beneath him, now that he thought about it, it actually made his heart flutter.
As for Baili Chen, hehe!
When Ouyang Yue rushed out of the room, she saw Zi San, Zi Er, and Dong Xue standing outside. Dong Xue was stunned when she saw Ouyang Yue come out, but immediately followed her out. Just as Ouyang Yue jumped into the restaurant room, Baili Chen rushed over on horseback. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Ouyang Yue safe and sound: "Wife, let's go back to the manor first."
Ouyang Yue nodded, but the expression on her face was somewhat inscrutable. Baili Chen handed the horse over to someone to lead, and accompanied Ouyang Yue back to the mansion in a carriage. As soon as they arrived at the mansion, Ouyang Yue went to her inner room, took out a jade pendant from a mechanism on the bed, and then held it up to the white jade bracelet on her wrist for a while. Baili Chen looked at her with a puzzled look: "What is my wife doing? Is there some special meaning behind this jade pendant and bracelet?"
Ouyang Yue handed the jade pendant to Baili Chen and said, "I just met the Miao Jiang Holy King. Do you know what he said to me? I don't know where he heard the news from, but he told me that this jade pendant, along with two other items, together form the key to unlocking the treasure of the Li Kingdom."
"Treasure?!" Baili Chen was shocked; he had never even considered this possibility.
In fact, the treasures hidden by various countries on the Langya Continent are not limited to a single one, but some have already been unearthed by predecessors. When the Great Zhou Dynasty was first established, its national strength and finances were weak. They even robbed the tombs of royal families and high-ranking officials from previous dynasties for their wealth, which shows how difficult the Great Zhou Dynasty was at that time. The Great Zhou Dynasty also tried to find some so-called treasures. Although they made some gains, compared with the manpower and resources spent on sending troops, those treasures seemed somewhat useless and did not help much. However, the Great Zhou Dynasty did not give up such opportunities to find treasures. However, there were many others who shared the same idea as the Great Zhou Dynasty. In addition, there have always been people in every dynasty who search for small treasures. Now, there are very few places on the Langya Continent where there are real treasures. The enthusiasm for treasure hunting in the past has long since faded.
Bai Lichen knew about Li Dynasty. It was one of the most prestigious kingdoms on the Langya Continent. Even after its destruction, it still had a rich cultural heritage that was talked about. Moreover, Li Dynasty's wealth was rarely matched by other kingdoms. The treasures hidden when Li Dynasty was founded were obviously not some insignificant treasures, even without detailed descriptions. No wonder Daqian Kingdom cared so much about them.
"Is this jade pendant one of them?" Baili Chen couldn't help but sigh. He never expected that the Xuanyuan family would have such a family heirloom. In some ways, this jade pendant is even more important than the Xuanyuan family's tiger tally. If there were enough treasures, it would be possible to train another Xuanyuan family.
Ouyang Yue sat on the bed and touched the bracelet on her wrist: "Husband, it's not just that. I've had a vague feeling before that this white jade bracelet passed down by my mother seems to have some kind of spiritual connection with this jade pendant. When the two are together, I always feel something is off. Before, I just thought I was being paranoid, and I couldn't find any common ground between the two. Now, after listening to what the Miao Jiang Holy King said, I vaguely feel that the connection between this white jade bracelet and this jade pendant might mean that this white jade bracelet is another key."
Baili Chen was also startled. He walked over and examined the bracelet on Ouyang Yue's wrist for a long time. It was left by Empress Bai, said to be a family heirloom of the Bai family. When Empress Bai gave birth to the Third Prince Baili Zhi, Baili Cheng had already been named Crown Prince. Even if Empress Bai had wanted to change the Crown Prince after giving birth to Baili Zhi, it would have been unlikely. However, given the relationship between Empress Bai and Emperor Mingxian, she dared to think about it. No matter how gentle and magnanimous Empress Bai was, she would not disdain to fight for the man she loved, even though she would not give up her rights. When Empress Lin gave birth to Baili Cheng, she was named Crown Prince. Although it was Emperor Mingxian's momentary joy, the ins and outs were not for outsiders to know. Without the Empress Dowager's intervention, even if Baili Cheng was the eldest son, he would not have been chosen as Crown Prince. At that time, Empress Lin was only a concubine. How could she be qualified to compete with Empress Bai?
However, the Bai family had already begun to show signs of decline at that time. If Empress Bai were to quarrel with the Empress Dowager in the palace again, she would be lowered in status, which would not only put Emperor Mingxian in a difficult position but also be of no benefit to herself. Empress Bai did not contend for the position of Crown Prince at that time, but she was extremely strict after giving birth to Baili Zhi. Baili Zhi could be said to have lived in a state of constant study since childhood, with no time to play at all. Emperor Mingxian naturally understood the reason behind this, so when Empress Bai entrusted her son to him on her deathbed, Emperor Mingxian naturally agreed to Empress Bai's request and would make Baili Zhi a person of high status.
At the time, Baili Chen was a sickly infant, seemingly on the verge of death. Empress Bai probably knew that even if Baili Chen were truly determined, he would not be able to ascend the throne. She entrusted him with a few words and insisted on giving him the white jade bracelet passed down from the Bai family head. Logically, this was a treasure passed down from the Bai family head, something that should be passed down only to sons. It's unclear what the Bai family head was thinking at the time. The white jade bracelet entered the palace with Empress Bai's dowry, and later Empress Bai secretly had it gilded. In her last words, she said that the bracelet would definitely be given to a destined person, Baili Chen's future wife, and that she should keep it safe.
Of course, these words were relayed by Emperor Mingxian and Baili Zhi.
Originally, Ouyang Yue harbored some resentment towards her mother, whom she had only heard of but never seen. Although she could now guess the reason for Emperor Mingxian's different treatment of Bai Shichen and Baili Zhi—it sounded ridiculous, but people are often so ridiculous—they would hurt important people for an utterly absurd reason. There were even news reports of modern-day mothers strangling their sons; often, it was just a bad mood or a husband's lack of affection that could lead to such cruelty. She didn't understand all of Emperor Mingxian's actions, but they were real. She felt that most people born into royalty seemed to have a distorted side, like Baili Chen's unconditional, selfless, and devoted admiration for his elder brother, Baili Zhi—she considered that a kind of distortion.
However, she initially thought that this abnormality was also caused by the White Empress's dying words. If the White Empress had only entrusted the young emperor to the throne and had no intention of supporting Baili Zhi to become emperor, Emperor Mingxian might not have treated Baili Chen so badly.
However, Ouyang Yue realized that she might have been wrong. Most mothers in the world treat their children very well and love them dearly. Those who beat and scold their children are a minority. When Empress Bai had a difficult childbirth, she didn't have much contact with Baili Chen. At that time, she was very weak. But she later heard from Baili Chen and the old nannies in the palace that before Empress Bai died, she kept Baili Chen by her side every day because of his illness. At that time, Empress Bai probably knew that her days were numbered. She must have given more care and worry to this child she couldn't let go of. But in the end, she just died like that, leaving behind only a nice white jade bracelet. How ridiculous it sounds.
However, upon learning the jade bracelet's possible true identity, Ouyang Yue suddenly understood the reasoning. Sibling rivalry was commonplace in the palace; the coldness of kinship within its walls was cruel. Even among wealthy families and ordinary citizens, fights and intrigues frequently erupted over inheritance. Empress Bai couldn't know what would happen to her after her death. She gave Baili Chen this jade bracelet, likely knowing its secret. Whether Emperor Mingxian knew this secret was uncertain. It concerned a treasure that could shake the world; would he seize it? Ouyang Yue believed for the time being that Emperor Mingxian didn't know, or if he did, he wouldn't know such details. However, Empress Bai probably feared that knowing the bracelet's secret might lead Baili Chen to inappropriate thoughts and cause fratricide. But even if Empress Bai wanted to say something, what could an infant like Baili Chen possibly know? This secret was meant to be taken to his grave; perhaps only by fate would Baili Chen discover it.
Undoubtedly, this was Baili Chen's last resort for survival. Even if Baili Zhi intended to kill him, with these treasures, Baili Chen would at least have enough wealth to establish his own small kingdom. Such shrewdness was truly admirable. Although Empress Bai didn't say it aloud, she had probably carefully considered the future of her two sons. This woman seemed to have nothing to fight for, but judging from Emperor Mingxian's treatment of Baili Zhi, Ouyang Yue knew that the most intelligent woman in the palace was probably Empress Bai. She hadn't fought for anything, but in reality, she had won everything.
"Husband..." Ouyang Yue thought of these things, and Baili Chen naturally thought of them too. At this moment, he tightly held the jade pendant that Ouyang Yue handed him, and his eyes reddened. Baili Chen had no impression of the White Empress, and his image was probably much more vague than that of the palace maids. He had only heard about his mother's voice and smile. In fact, he had always envied Baili Zhi since he was a child. He had heard about his mother from Baili Zhi. His mother died when he was born, but Baili Zhi had lived with the White Empress for several years and had enjoyed maternal love.
Baili Chen felt a mix of envy and occasional jealousy, but now, looking at the white jade bracelet in Ouyang Yue's hand, he suddenly realized how ridiculous his previous thoughts were. Baili Chen opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word.
Ouyang Yue pulled Baili Chen down to sit, wrapped her arms around his waist, and gently stroked his back to comfort him. Tears welled up in Baili Chen's eyes, and then more and more. The two held each other quietly for a while until Baili Chen's emotions stabilized. He took out his sleeve to check his glasses, and then awkwardly left Ouyang Yue's embrace. He pursed his thin red lips, his brows furrowed, and looked somewhat cold and stern, which made Ouyang Yue laugh.
Baili Chen's eyes flew over, revealing a displeased expression to Ouyang Yue.
Ouyang Yue smiled and reached out to grasp Baili Chen's large hand, which was several sizes bigger than hers: "Mother is truly a good mother."
Seeing that Ouyang Yue didn't mention the embarrassing atmosphere of him crying with emotion earlier, Baili Chen's expression improved. Although he was moved by his mother's consideration for him, he was already married with a wife and children in the future. Such an embarrassing situation was really damaging to a man's image.
Bai Shichen smiled and said, "Of course, otherwise how could she be the most virtuous empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty? With such a good reputation, my mother must have been a good mother. It's a pity she didn't get to see me grow up."
Ouyang Yue gently patted Baili Chen's hand and squinted her eyes, saying, "I think this is also the Empress Dowager's biggest regret."
Baili Chen opened his palm, looking at the exquisitely crafted jade pendant with its carved beams and painted walls. He seemed lost in thought, and after a long while, he said, "We now have two tokens, but we don't know what the third one is."
Ouyang Yue also frowned slightly: "I always felt that the Miao Jiang Holy King knew something, but he didn't say it. He probably doesn't know this third thing."
"But we can't ask."
Yes, she couldn't ask. If she did, the Miao King would surely know that two of the items were in their possession. Moreover, the Miao King's words were a mix of truth and falsehood, leaving Ouyang Yue completely confused. Furthermore, she had always felt a sense of apprehension towards the Miao King, a feeling that he was extremely dangerous. From her past life to this one, even Emperor Mingxian couldn't instill any instinctive fear in Ouyang Yue, yet Yu Xiaoyao could. This made Ouyang Yue very uncomfortable. Thinking of what Yu Xiaoyao had said before, she felt a tightness in her chest.
"What's wrong, my wife? What's troubling you? Although we now have two tokens, these are not meant for worldly use, and we can't go looking for them, otherwise it will surely bring trouble. The jade pendant should be kept secret. This white jade bracelet originally had a connection with the pendant, so if another item appears, the white jade bracelet will probably also have a response. These things can't be forced; let's leave it to fate." Baili Chen wasn't a person who cared about tokens, but this matter was of great importance, and he didn't need these treasures right now. Obtaining them now would not only bring no benefit but might also bring trouble. Baili Chen didn't want to go looking for them, and of course, with such a backer, he wouldn't be foolish enough to give them away.
He gently stroked the jade pendant with his fingertips. The jade bracelets that his mother had left him were his last guarantee. He could not tell anyone about this except Yue'er.
Baili Chen reached out and stroked Ouyang Yue's protruding belly. This was for their future; they couldn't afford to live in the capital without a way out.
As Baili Chen reached out his hand, Ouyang Yue snapped out of her daze, leaning gently against him from behind, trying to shake off the distracting thoughts in her mind. Baili Chen then said, "But why did the Miao Jiang Holy King suddenly bring this up with you? He could have found another reason to ask for the jade pendant, but why did he have to reveal such a major secret?"