Ji Lаn lоoked at Наn Yan's eхpressiоn: "Dоеs thе уоung lady dislikе the Xuan Qing Prince? Вut Нis Highnеss is onе оf thе tоp figurеs in thе сарital..."
Вefore shе сould finish, shе saw Han Yаn glancе at her аnd shаkе hеr hеаd hеlplesslу: "Lеt's not tаlk аbоut liking or disliking. With thе Emреror's aррrovаl, now, whether I wаnt to or not, I must mаrrу."
А sensе of loss filled hеr hеаrt. Hеr оwn mаrriаgе hаd truly bееn deсided just likе that—it seеmed ехtrеmelу hаstу, уet it lackеd the anticipatiоn and shyness shе had felt in hеr prеviоus life whеn marrying Wei Rufeng.
That cup of poisoned wine had indeed taken many things from her.
Shu Hong walked in: "Young lady, the arrangements over there have been made."
Han Yan stood up, looking as if she could not wait another moment: "We will leave the manor now."
What exactly happened on the day she was born—the truth could finally be revealed.
The only surviving maid was named Abi. Back then, she was one of the maids who accompanied Han Yan's mother, Wang Shi, as part of her dowry. Her most outstanding skill was her exquisite embroidery. Wang Shi treated people kindly and got along harmoniously with her maids. However, this Abi was expelled from the manor on the very night Han Yan was born. Pitifully loyal, she never even got to see the young lady who had just come into the world.
Han Yan rode in the carriage, silent the entire way. Her heart was filled with excitement, yet she maintained her rationality to stay clear-headed. She must not act impulsively, or she would lose her judgment. Today, she had to make herself an outsider, viewing every word this Abi said with detachment. Even if Abi was her mother's personal maid, even if Han Yan believed there was more to the story, to Han Yan, this Abi was merely a stranger. One could not even rely on those close to them; placing too much trust in a stranger could be fatal.
The road in the northern part of the city was strewn with rubble and extremely rough. The carriage jolted violently as it traveled. After about half an hour, a dilapidated village appeared ahead. Ji Lan helped Han Yan out of the carriage, while Shu Hong led the way. The coachman waited outside. Shu Hong walked to the last house by the roadside and knocked on the door.
Judging from its appearance alone, it was an extremely rundown dwelling, built only with cheap earthen bricks. The roof was sparsely thatched with straw, and the fence outside looked worn and neglected. Han Yan's heart stirred—this Abi seemed to be living in dire poverty.
After a long while, the door slowly opened. An elderly woman, hunched over, squinted her cloudy eyes to examine them carefully.
Ji Lan smiled at the old woman: "Grandmother, we have something to discuss with you."
The old woman looked at them warily, hesitated for a long time, and finally opened the door to let them in.
The inside of the house was even more dilapidated than the outside, with traces of filth everywhere. The crumbling walls, long neglected, let the wind blow in from outside, making it impossible to keep warm. One leg of the table was missing, and a large pot at the far end was covered in a thin layer of dust, as if rarely used.
In the depths of winter, there was no fire lit in the house. The bed had only a thin quilt—this was the home of an elderly woman living alone. Han Yan's gaze was drawn to something in a basket by the bed. Picking it up, she saw it was a collection of exquisitely embroidered handkerchiefs. The embroidery patterns were intricate, the colors vibrant, and the animals depicted were lifelike—truly a masterpiece of craftsmanship.
Han Yan turned around and looked at the old woman: "Grandmother, do you know a young woman named Abi?"The woman trembled upon hearing Han Yan's words, slowly raising her head, her face turning deathly pale.
Seeing her in this state, Han Yan smiled and said, "I came to find her because of some old matters."
Seeing that the old woman did not respond, Ji Lan stepped forward and scolded, "I know you are Abi. This is the mistress's daughter, the young lady."
The woman was startled and finally raised her head to scrutinize Han Yan carefully. Suddenly, she knelt down. Just as Han Yan reached out to help her up, she saw the woman's mouth moving incessantly with "ah, ah" sounds, her two withered hands flailing wildly.
Han Yan was taken aback and quickly looked at her mouth. Inside the open mouth was a blurry mess—her tongue had been completely torn out by the roots. She was mute!
Shu Hong and Ji Lan were clearly also caught off guard. Han Yan crouched down and helped the woman up. "Abi?"
The woman nodded frantically.
Han Yan felt a pang of sorrow. Her own mother, Wang Shi, though she had not lived well these years and often suffered bullying from Concubine Mei and others, Zhuang Shiyang could not let them appear too destitute on the surface. Their food, clothing, and daily necessities might have been inferior, but they were still passable. Thus, her mother still maintained the elegance of a noble lady, her appearance still remarkable. But this former personal maid of her mother, Abi, who must have been around the same age as her mother, looked so aged, resembling a woman in her seventies or eighties.
Her life must have been extremely difficult.
After a moment of thought, Han Yan said, "Since you cannot speak, just use gestures. Ji Lan will interpret your meaning. If she is correct, nod; if not, shake your head."
The woman nodded.
Han Yan asked, "Who tore out your tongue?"
Both Ji Lan and Shu Hong were stunned. They had assumed Han Yan's first question would be about her own origins, but instead, she asked about Abi's tongue.
Upon hearing this, tears welled up in Abi's eyes. She gestured with both hands, making a motion as if pointing to someone in a high position. Ji Lan said, "The master?"
Abi nodded.
Han Yan asked, "Why did he tear out your tongue?"
Abi then reached out, mimicking the action of taking the hairpin from Han Yan's head. Ji Lan glanced at Han Yan and said, "You took the mistress's hairpin?"
Abi nodded again immediately.
Han Yan said solemnly, "Then, what was the real reason?"
Abi suddenly looked at Han Yan, her eyes filled with uncontrollable astonishment.
Han Yan continued, "Merely taking a hairpin likely wouldn’t warrant such severe punishment. The master was only afraid you might say something inappropriate outside. I suspect my mother must have pleaded with the master on your behalf at the time. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have just lost your tongue—you probably wouldn’t have survived." Her expression remained calm, as if she had seen through everything. "The master wanted to silence you. What was the real reason? What happened on the night I was born?"
Abi was stunned for a long moment before suddenly kowtowing frantically to Han Yan. Her body was extremely frail, and soon, patches of blood appeared on the ground.
Han Yan, however, paid no attention and said indifferently, "Your reluctance to speak is likely due to some fear. But back then, my mother treated you like a sister, risking the master’s displeasure to plead for your life. The life she saved—can’t you even do something for her in return?"Seeing Abi's unsettled expression, Han Yan continued, "Now the concubines in the mansion are growing ambitious, perhaps you are unaware. After giving birth to me, my mother had a younger brother, who is the apple of her eye. Yet now, the concubines in the mansion seek to harm my little brother. Unfortunately, my father has always been cold toward me, and this has affected my brother as well—he seems to be turning a blind eye. As for me, I only want to know the reason my father treats me this way." She looked at Abi, her gaze sharp and piercing, speaking slowly, word by word, "Is it truly because I am not the master's biological daughter?"
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