The Beauties of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 35

Wanlan felt a burning gaze on her sensitive back and was slightly taken aback. Was Qinlan Palace really so open to anyone coming and going? She stood up and turned around, and was slightly surprised to meet the unfathomable sharp eyes of the person behind her.

"Royal Uncle?" When did he arrive?

Zhao Guangyi stood with his hands behind his back, his handsome features fixed on her. Just as Wanlan suddenly felt uneasy, he spoke up, "Defang has returned to the manor."

"Uh... Oh! I'll go back after I've seen the Empress Dowager."

Wanlan nervously clenched her fists. The person in front of her disliked her. She might have been able to ignore his attitude before, but after the Jiangling incident and the story she had just heard from Yuanniang, she couldn't remain calm towards him.

A person who seems cold and indifferent can have such intense emotions; it's quite contradictory, yet admirable.

"If you want to help Defang, then find out where Xiaoluzi got the token from."

Huh? "Token?" It seems Zehua mentioned the token to her before.

Zhao Guangyi turned his eyes away and explained simply, "The reason why Xiao Luzi was able to bring you out of the palace so easily is because he has the Qin King's personal token. You'd better find out where his token came from."

“I see,” Wanlan nodded in understanding. “Thank you for reminding me, Uncle. I will definitely get to the bottom of this.”

At this point, the two remained silent. Zhao Guangyi stood with his hands behind his back, not leaving, seemingly lost in thought. Wanlan twisted her fingers in increasing distress.

And then... did the Prince of Jin come to her Qinlan Palace just to tell her this?

"you……"

"You are not Princess Deqing."

He suddenly turned to look at her, stopping Wanlan from asking the question she was about to ask, "I'm telling you this because you're not Princess Deqing. Maybe... you can help Defang."

Wanlan stared in astonishment. Why was she so certain of what she said?

"You...believe what I said that day?"

Zhao Guangyi sneered, "It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. I'm absolutely certain that even if Princess Deqing has lost her memory, she could never have said those words just now! A selfish and self-serving woman, even if she were reincarnated, would still not change her nature!"

What were those words just now?

"You heard everything?" When exactly did he arrive? And why did he come?

Zhao Guangyi turned around with a heavy flick of his sleeve. “Since Yuan Niang has told you everything, I’m not afraid that you will know. When Princess Deqing learned about this, she did something completely different. She originally wanted to threaten me like Lady Hua Rui, but unfortunately, I didn’t fall for that at all!”

My heart skipped a beat. "What...threatened you about?"

"I arranged Zhao Dezhao's marriage myself, and Princess Deqing naturally harbored deep resentment. She tried to use this to blackmail me into canceling the marriage. However, when she realized that there was no way to change the situation, she asked the Empress for the title of Princess Qin and then married Defang!"

Wanlan was completely dumbfounded. "Wasn't it... arranged by the Empress Dowager? How come she asked for it herself?"

"Of course not! She only needs to give a slight hint, and everything will fall into place. She thinks that marrying Defang will be a blow to me, but little does she know that Defang's agreement to marry her was entirely my idea!"

Wanlan suddenly slumped into her chair—the truth was presented before her in such an unbearable guise.

No wonder Zehua said their marriage was only because she needed it, and he needed it too. He must have known all along why Princess Deqing married him, and his need… came from Prince Jin, right? But why did Zehua still confide in her even knowing the truth? Did he really think everything could start anew just because he learned of her "amnesia"?

"So that's why you hate me so much..." she murmured.

Zhao Guangyi remained silent for a while, then took a step and said in a low voice, "You should go back to your residence directly. You don't need to go to the Empress's place. You should know that Defang cares about you very much. I hope you won't be influenced by Princess Deqing." He paused, "Also... thank you."

After saying that, he strode away.

Chapter 40, Do Not Lean Alone on the High Tower Under the Bright Moon (3)

As a result, she did indeed go straight back to the Prince of Qin's residence.

When she carried her child and stepped out of Qinlan Palace with Xuan'er, a carriage was already waiting in front of the palace, driven by Lan Wen.

"The prince sent me to fetch the lady."

"Let's go."

Once seated, the carriage leisurely set off. Wanlan lifted the curtain and looked towards the direction of Funing Palace, a slight smile curving her lips: it was truly rare for that arrogant and aloof man to thank her. She didn't know what fate awaited them, given their vastly different social statuses. Historically, Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, didn't establish an empress until the ninth year of the Taiping Xingguo era, eight years after his ascension to the throne. At that time, he was already forty-five years old. So what happened before that, no one knew.

"Madam, has the Prince of Jin made things difficult for you?"

"Hmm?" Wanlan snapped out of her daze and looked at Xuan'er sitting opposite her. "Why is my royal uncle making things difficult for me?"

Xuan'er pursed her lips, her tone somewhat worried, "I heard from Lan Wen that the reason Prince Jin went to Qinlan Palace was because he heard that you didn't go back to your residence but went directly to the palace. Prince Jin seemed very angry, so I was wondering if Prince Jin would make things difficult for you, Madam."

Is that so? It turns out he just wanted to confront me, but he overheard what I said and that's why he changed his attitude.

"Uncle did not make things difficult for me, Xuan'er, don't worry about this unnecessary thing."

Two quarters of an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the Qin Prince's Mansion.

As soon as Wanlan lifted the carriage curtain, she met the gentle, smiling face of the person outside. She smiled back, handed the child to Xuan'er who reached out, and then took Zhao Defang's outstretched hand. With his help, she jumped off the carriage.

"I miss Xu'er," she whispered, explaining her purpose for entering the palace.

Zhao Defang nodded slightly and pulled her up the steps. "I know. It was my oversight. I should have brought you into the palace with me."

Wanlan lowered her head and looked at the steps beneath her feet. When she stepped onto the last step, she suddenly stopped, turned halfway to stand in front of Zhao Defang to block him, and raised her head to meet his questioning gaze.

"Zehua, shouldn't you have something to say to me?"

Zhao Defang paused slightly, then sighed and lowered his eyes, "Wanlan, you just returned to the capital today. Why don't you rest for the night and we can talk about it tomorrow? Whatever you want to know, I will tell you everything."

“Okay!” Wanlan nodded obediently. “You only need to answer one question for me, and I will go to rest now.”

"What's the problem?"