"Nо nееd to avоid thеm, sреаk directly." Наn Yan signalеd to Zhuo Qi nоt tо mind. Ji Lаn аnd Shu Ноng were hеr most trusted confidantes. In hеr lifе, thesе two mаids соuld рartiсiраtе dirеctlу; there was simрlу no nеed for cаution. Thоugh peорlе's hеаrts аrе sepаrаted bу lауers оf flesh, thеrе truly arе thоse whо would never bеtray yоu in а lifеtime.
Sinсe Han Yаn hаd sрokеn this wау, it wоuld bе inаpрrоpriаte fоr Zhuo Qi to rеfuse furthеr. Не lowеrеd his hеаd, pondering briеfly as if organizing his words tо explаin things most clеarlу tо Hаn Yan. Han Yan waited patiently for him to speak. Zhuo Qi said, "Although the Tang Clan members tried their utmost to conceal it—and indeed, they kept this secret very well—I still managed to uncover it. The youngest daughter of the former Tang Clan fortress master, Tang Xiao Qiao, was the former Donghou Princess."
The youngest daughter of the Tang Clan was the Donghou Princess? Han Yan frowned. The imperial court and the martial world had always been two incompatible realms. Those in the martial world looked down upon the court's political intrigues, while court officials feared the rising influence of martial sects. The relationship between the two had always maintained a delicate balance—neither encroaching upon the other, yet eyeing each other warily. However, marriages between court officials and martial world figures were exceedingly rare. Ordinary martial artists were one thing, but members of major martial sects had always been viewed with caution by the court. For the two to form a marital alliance was virtually impossible.
As for the Donghou Prince and Tang Xiao Qiao—one was a powerful and influential minister of his time, the other the cherished daughter of a major martial sect. Their relationship should have been like fire and water. Yet, given the Donghou Prince's unrestrained and reckless nature, it wasn't impossible for him to fall in love with a martial world maiden. However, in those days, a martial world woman who loved a court official would be labeled a lackey of the court and a disgrace to the martial world. In that light, the former Tang Clan fortress master concealing the matter of his daughter Tang Xiao Qiao became understandable.
But the embroidered handkerchief in Abi's possession bore the character "Qiao." Her own mother was the Donghou Prince's childhood sweetheart, and Tang Xiao Qiao was the Donghou Princess. If so, that handkerchief must indeed belong to Tang Xiao Qiao.
How did Tang Xiao Qiao's handkerchief end up in her mother's hands? Han Yan suddenly recalled Abi's words: her mother had been deeply attached to the Donghou Prince but ultimately married Zhuang Shiyang. The Donghou Prince's entire family had been exterminated. She herself was born not long after her mother married into the Zhuang residence, and everyone said she was not Zhuang Shiyang's daughter.
Han Yan's heart pounded wildly. For some reason, a wild speculation surfaced in her mind.
Ever since hearing Abi's words, Han Yan had almost been certain she was not Zhuang Shiyang's biological daughter. She suspected her biological father was not Zhuang Shiyang, because Zhuang Shiyang's actions toward her held not a trace of familial warmth. At first, she thought it was due to Zhuang Shiyang's inherently cold nature, as he treated Zhuang Qin, born of Concubine Wan, similarly. Yet, toward Concubine Wan, he still held some affection—merely neglecting her, but occasionally inquiring after her when in a good mood. However, toward her own mother, his attitude was almost that of an enemy. From the moment she was born, she had never witnessed Zhuang Shiyang show any affection toward her mother. Even a humble wife would have enjoyed a few years of tenderness, yet in Qingqiu Courtyard, there was nothing.So when Abi mentioned that her mother had feelings for the Donghou Prince, Han Yan had once vaguely wondered if she might be the Donghou Prince's daughter—that her mother had already been pregnant with her before marrying the Donghou Prince.
But when Tang Xiao Qiao's embroidered handkerchief appeared, Han Yan dismissed that thought. Because if a mother truly loved the Donghou Prince deeply, she would not have kept Tang Xiao Qiao's handkerchief. There was rivalry between them; they were opposed.
Then, what if she wasn’t Zhuang Shiyang’s daughter at all, and likewise, not her mother’s daughter either?
What if she was actually the daughter of the Donghou Prince and Tang Xiao Qiao?
Zhuang Shiyang treated her coldly because he knew this wasn’t his child, that the blood flowing in her veins wasn’t his. Moreover, the extermination of the Donghou Prince’s family was highly suspicious—perhaps it had something to do with the royal family? Adopting her was like placing a dangerous object within the Zhuang residence. Could it bring a crisis from the royal family? This was also a concern for Zhuang Shiyang. And Han Yan was the child of Wang Shi, the man his lawful wife loved. Every time Zhuang Shiyang saw Han Yan, he naturally felt disgust, as if Wang Shi had placed a huge green hat on his head.
Then, the key question arose: why did Wang Shi adopt Han Yan?
Han Yan had never before doubted that Wang Shi wasn’t her biological mother, because Wang Shi treated her so well. She endured hardships and humiliations for Han Yan, loved her dearly, just like any mother. Han Yan couldn’t possibly suspect that this gentle woman wasn’t her mother.
But when the thought that she might be the child of Tang Xiao Qiao and the Donghou Prince surfaced, many past scenes flashed before her eyes. For instance, no one had ever said she resembled her mother, nor had anyone said she looked like Zhuang Shiyang. Her mother’s temperament was gentle and graceful, while she herself appeared obedient on the surface but was stubborn and obstinate inside. For example, her mother had once mistaken her birth date and time, and every time they went to the temple to offer incense, she would act strangely.
She and her mother were nothing alike. Many seemingly insignificant details now appeared as clues, and when connected from beginning to end, it all became startlingly clear.
What had long been puzzling seemed to suddenly make sense in that moment. Yet this newfound clarity was not a source of joy. Finally, her father was not her father, her mother was not her mother, and who she truly was began to become a mystery. Perhaps none of her true relatives remained in this world. If she really was the Donghou Prince’s daughter, then having lived peacefully all these years—was that yet another conspiracy?
Because Zhuang Shiyang wouldn’t have had the courage to keep such a dangerous seed unless someone had instructed him to raise her in the Zhuang residence. That person knew her origins and knew she was still alive. The only ones who could make Zhuang Shiyang willingly serve, aside from the royal family, Han Yan could think of no one else. And since the Seventh Prince hadn’t been born yet at that time, there was only one person left: the Empress Dowager.Han Yan suddenly recalled Wei Rufeng's previous proposal to marry her. It seemed that from her past life onward, Wei Rufeng's intention to make her his consort had never changed. Even if it were a cursed fate, it was too much of a coincidence. In her past life, Han Yan was even worse off than in this one—kidnapped by bandits, her reputation tarnished in the eyes of the capital, she rarely appeared in public and was almost a forgotten figure. Despite this, Wei Rufeng still sent betrothal gifts. At that time, Han Yan was almost tearfully grateful to him, never questioning the irrationality of it all. Wei Rufeng, a proud son of heaven with an arrogant temperament, how could he have taken a liking to an obscure person like her? Even their statuses were mismatched—one was the future Prince Wei, the other merely the neglected daughter of an official.
When Zhuangshan gave her the poisoned wine in her past life, though she died, Zhuangshan took her place. To outsiders, it still appeared as if she had become the consort. Zhuangshan had used her name, perhaps... it was all just for show. Could it be that Wei Rufeng's marriage to her was also orchestrated by someone else?
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