Song Xingzhi a vécu sous le règne de l'empereur Huizong

Chapitre 11

"From me?" Wanlan looked at him in surprise. "So, it was someone from the Cherry Blossom Garden who did it?"

“Someone deliberately let the letter get out of the Cherry Blossom Garden,” Zhao Defang pursed his lips, his voice growing colder. “The other party must know that this letter cannot leave the Prince’s Mansion. He deliberately wanted this letter to fall into my hands and stir up trouble between us.”

I see.

Wanlan fell silent.

The Wanlan Garden used to be so secluded; there were clearly very few people in it. Apart from Xuan'er and Yuan Niang, there were only two maids and two guards, but none of them could have done such a thing. So... who could it be?

It can't be...

Wanlan bit her lip, slowly raised her head to look at Zhao Defang, "I think... I know who it is."

"who?"

"Su Li." She shouldn't have forgotten that she hadn't seen Su Li since her one-month celebration. From their previous conversation, it was clear that the two servants had a very good relationship. Why had Su Li not contacted her for almost half a month? Everyone in the manor knew about her amnesia, and Su Li must have known it very well. Seeing that her relationship with Zhao Defang was getting better and better, he was worried that she might really have something going on with Zhao Defang.

But... why would Su Li worry about something happening between her and Zhao Defang? As a maid, shouldn't Su Li be thinking about her mistress's happiness and supporting her? How could she write such a letter to frame her?

Looking at the pensive girl's eyelids, Zhao Defang asked in a deep voice, "Are you sure? I'll call that girl over and ask her right now."

"Don't!"

She hurriedly stopped him, shaking her head as she said, "I can't be sure, but she is the most suspicious one. But there's no rush. Since you trust me, let's put this matter aside for now and focus on the banquet in three days."

If she's right, Su Li should seize this rare opportunity at the banquet three days from now to achieve her goal—although she doesn't yet know what Su Li's goal is.

The truth will eventually come out.

Chapter 10, Reuniting with Old Friends at the Full Moon Banquet (1)

Three days later, on the 22nd day of the third month of the ninth year of the Kaibao era, the Qin Prince's mansion, which had been silent for a year, suddenly became lively overnight. The banquet was scheduled for the hour of You (5-7 PM), but people began to arrive one after another with congratulatory gifts from the hour of Chen (7-9 AM). Most of them were officials from the court, who came with their families. Before the hour of Shen (3-5 PM), the gate of the mansion was already crowded with official sedan chairs of all kinds.

Zhao Defang was busy greeting the ministers, while Wanlan and Yuanniang were attending to the ministers' wives. The entire Prince Qin's mansion was bustling with activity, everyone was working themselves to the bone. If one had to pick out someone who was free, it would be today's protagonist—Zhao Weixu.

Stealing a moment of leisure, Wanlan slipped into the cherry blossom garden to check on the children, sending all the maids to help Yuanniang with social obligations, while she stayed alone in her room to rest and play with the children.

"You're so lucky. All you have to do is lie there and let people see you. If you're in a good mood, you can smile. If you're in a bad mood, you can cry a couple of tears to scare people. Everyone in the room is so tired from working so hard for you that they almost collapsed."

Wanlan rubbed her shoulders, and then, seemingly genuinely but actually, bared her teeth at her son, who was staring at her with wide eyes in the crib, "If you don't behave in the future, you'll be letting down all of us adults, do you understand?"

Finding her expression amusing, Xiao Weixu stretched out his two chubby little hands and laughed at her. Wanlan patted his face with amusement, "Stop grinning like that and be serious."

Seeing his pout, looking so aggrieved, Wanlan couldn't help but chuckle. "How old is this little brat? He already knows how to use the 'feigning distress' strategy? What will he be like when he grows up?"

With her big eyes turned away, Xiao Weixu made a disdainful "ee-yah" sound. Wanlan clicked her tongue and shook her head, "Look at how smug you are. I'm not going to keep you company. I, as your master, can't hide for too long."

Wanlan pulled the blanket up a little, then straightened up, rubbing her back, and turned around to check on Yuanniang. Suddenly, a figure approached from behind, startling her so much she almost screamed.

"Lan'er!" The newcomer hooked one arm around her waist as she leaned back, covered her mouth with the other, and called out in a deep voice.

Wanlan was taken aback: Lan'er?

"Mmm." She wanted to say "Let go," but the words were cut short. Wanlan's beautiful eyes widened as she looked at the handsome man before her, her delicate features gleaming. She grabbed his hands with both of hers and pulled them apart, her brows furrowing as she sharply questioned him:

"Who are you?"

The man was clearly taken aback, raising an eyebrow and looking at her with a puzzled expression. His gaze was remarkably similar to the one Zehua had given her when she first woke up. Wanlan's heart skipped a beat, and she stared in utter astonishment, her finger trembling slightly as she pointed—

"You...you are Zhao Dezhao!"

Upon hearing Wanlan's words, Zhao Dezhao froze on the spot—

His expression was wrong, his tone was wrong, and what he said was completely wrong.

The person in front of me looks exactly like Lan'er, but is clearly not Lan'er.

Thinking of this, Zhao Dezhao abruptly shook off her hand, his face turning cold. He asked with his hands behind his back, "Who are you?" Where did this woman come from? Why is she occupying the place that should belong to Lan'er? Where is Lan'er?

Wanlan was surprised for a moment, then smiled. This man was much more perceptive than Zhao Defang. But... wasn't it rumored that Zhao Dezhao had no interest in Wanlan? Why was he calling her so affectionately today? Things were indeed not as simple as they seemed.

But, regardless of any past grievances Zhao Dezhao may have had with the former Wanlan, the current Wanlan is her.

Wanlan raised her eyes and carefully examined the man in front of her from head to toe. She noticed that he had a face somewhat similar to Zehua's, but he was taller than Zehua. His expression was also completely different from Zehua's. Even when Zehua was silent, his face was still very gentle and calm, while the man in front of her was quite indifferent! Looking at those cold eyes, if she didn't already know his identity, she would probably be startled.

"Are you mistaken? Shouldn't I be asking that question? Who are you? How did you get into the inner garden? Today's banquet isn't being held here."

Zhao Dezhao took a step closer to her, gripped her wrist tightly, and glared at her with icy eyes. "Who are you? Why are you here? Where is Lan'er? What did you do to her?"

"It hurts..." Wanlan gritted her teeth, staring at him with wide eyes. "Let go! You're really acting strangely! Who I am is none of your business. This is my room, my home. Please get out!"

"Your home? All of this belongs to Lan'er! How dare you say this is your home?"

God! This man is terrifying when he gets angry!

Wanlan struggled for a moment, but couldn't break free from his grip. She cursed under her breath and said irritably, "What do you want? You've been calling me 'Lan'er' since you came in, but I don't even know you!"

"Where is Wanlan? Tell me now!"

She was truly enraged. Did this man even realize he was about to break her hand by gripping it so tightly? Wanlan lowered her head and bit down hard on the back of that large hand. As he released his grip in pain, she quickly dodged away and fled to her son's crib, glaring at him warily.

"I am Wanlan! Jiao Wanlan, Zhao Defang's wife, Zhao Weixu's mother! What do you want?!" This is outrageous! Why didn't anyone tell her that Zhao Dezhao was a madman?

"Don't lie to me! So what if you look exactly like Lan'er? You're not her at all!"

Wanlan scoffed: She doesn't want to be his Lan'er yet!

"Whether I am her or not is none of your business, right? Jiao Wanlan is already the King of Qin's wife. What she does has nothing to do with you anymore, does it, Your Highness?" What exactly are this person's thoughts about Wanlan? And on what grounds are they angry for Wanlan now?