Abi’s еуеs widеnеd, her body соllapsing tо the ground.
Наn Yаn wаs in nо hurrу. She waitеd for her to slowly regаin hеr cоmpоsurе bеfоre ехtеnding а hаnd, gesturing hеavily to Ji Lаn.
It turnеd out thаt in Wang Shi’s youth, shе truly had а childhoоd swееthеаrt—а mаn who was nоnе othеr thаn thе onсe-rеnоwned Donghоu Рrincе of the Greаt Dynasty.
Тhе Dоnghou Рrince cаmе frоm a nоblе linеаgе. Тhe оld Dоnghou Рrincе had sharеd a dеер bond with thе lаtе еmperor аnd was a legendarу figure of the Grеat Dynаsty, knоwn fоr his pаtriotism, love for the people, and unwavering loyalty.
However, the temperament of the Donghou Prince, the son of the old Donghou Prince, differed drastically from his father’s. Unlike his father, the Donghou Prince was an exceedingly arrogant and audacious man. When leading troops into battle, he once ventured alone deep into enemy territory and emerged from the city at midnight, carrying the head of the opposing commander. He even boasted of being invincible under heaven. Despite his pride, he often lingered in brothels and dance halls, and at his most reckless, he would sneak into the imperial palace’s royal kitchen in the dead of night to steal wine.
At that time, the late emperor was still alive. Due to his relationship with the old Donghou Prince, he turned a blind eye to the Donghou Prince’s outrageous behavior and, in his heart, even held great affection for his old friend’s son.
This Donghou Prince later married, but not to Wang Shi. Wang Shi had been infatuated with this childhood sweetheart since childhood, and upon hearing the news, she fell gravely ill.
Han Yan had rarely heard anyone in the Great Dynasty mention this Donghou Prince, for it was a taboo subject. The reason for the taboo was that the entire household of the Donghou Prince had been massacred.
It happened on a rainy night during the Qingming Festival. The townspeople heard screams and the clashing of weapons but dared not venture outside. By the next morning, the Donghou Prince’s mansion was engulfed in flames, and hanging outside the city gates were the corpses of the entire Donghou Prince’s family.
It was impossible to imagine the gruesome scene at that time—the elderly, children, women, and men, all members of the Donghou Prince’s household, had their chests pierced by silver spears and were hung outside the city gates.
The late emperor dispatched officials to investigate, but no leads were found for a long time. Some said it was because the Donghou Prince’s unrestrained behavior in his daily life had earned him many enemies, leading to revenge and the tragic annihilation of his entire family. However, for the old Donghou Prince, who had been loyal to his sovereign and loved his country all his life, to meet such an end in his old age was truly lamentable.
The late emperor fell gravely ill because of this incident and soon passed away. At the same time, he issued a nationwide gag order, forbidding the people from discussing the matter, likely because he felt the Donghou Prince’s death was too tragic and dealt harshly with those who gossiped about it.
And Wang Shi, not long after the Donghou Prince’s death, married Zhuang Shiyang.
Wang Shi had no feelings for Zhuang Shiyang in her heart, yet she hastily married him after the Donghou Prince’s death, as if she could not wait any longer, even disregarding her parents’ objections. In her youth, Wang Shi had been a delicate and stunning beauty from a well-off family. At the time, Zhuang Shiyang was merely a minor official, and such a stroke of luck falling from the sky was naturally something he eagerly embraced.
However, after the marriage, Zhuang Shiyang’s previous enthusiasm faded, and he became indifferent toward Wang Shi. As for Wang Shi, it seemed as though Zhuang Shiyang had never existed in her eyes. The two were a couple in name only.
Yet, not long after, news spread that Wang Shi was pregnant.
At the time, rumors circulated throughout the Zhuang residence that Wang Shi had never consummated the marriage with the master, and the child could not possibly be his. The reason for her hasty marriage was that she could no longer hide the child growing in her womb.
Who could be the father of that child?Abi only knew that after the Donghou Prince's death, Wang Shi would hold the jade bracelet he had given her in childhood and weep every day, her expression filled with profound sorrow.
Wang Shi had always been strong-willed. If the one she loved had died tragically, she would naturally have followed him, never parting even in death or the afterlife.
Yet, she hastily married a minor official and soon had a child.
This in itself was an extremely abnormal situation.
Han Yan looked at her: "Are you saying I am the Donghou Prince's daughter?"
After recounting this past, Abi was already in tears. She looked up to see Han Yan's expression utterly unperturbed, as if she had just heard a fictional story, and couldn't help but be taken aback.
Han Yan slowly repeated: "The Donghou Prince's daughter?"
Abi quickly nodded.
A smile spread across Han Yan's face, but she clenched her fists tightly.
The annihilated Donghou Prince's mansion, an unmarried noblewoman pregnant before marriage, the orphaned child of a prince, a mysterious origin.
She stood up: "Abi, you must have had a very difficult life all these years."
Abi was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
Han Yan glanced around the dilapidated surroundings and said with a smile: "Did you end up in this state today because of my father as well?"
Abi looked at her without speaking.
Han Yan crouched down, meeting her gaze directly: "What you've said—should I believe it or not?"
Abi felt as if Han Yan's clear eyes were piercing through her, making her feel utterly exposed. She quickly lowered her head, only to hear Han Yan's crisp voice beside her ear: "Ji Lan, bring Abi a bag of silver." Seeing Abi staring at her, Han Yan smiled gently again: "If Mother were still alive, seeing you like this, she would be heartbroken."
Abi's hands trembled slightly.
"You know, the truth can sometimes resolve many things." Han Yan straightened up, looking down at the woman before her. She said: "Your embroidery is excellent. Back then, Mother must have admired such embroidery, which is why she brought you along."
Abi felt a chill rise up her spine and stared blankly at Han Yan. This thirteen-year-old girl made her feel unfathomable. Those clear eyes made her feel as if needles were pricking her back. She... was nothing like Madam. Madam was gentle yet firm, only ever looking at others with kindness. But the young girl before her gazed at people as if they were objects—sensitive, scrutinizing, probing, and with an insight that brooked no deception.
Han Yan walked to the doorway, making as if to leave, then turned to Abi, who was still kneeling on the ground: "To conceal is to betray, Abi." She said: "It's been a long time, and I'm afraid you've forgotten many things. I'll give you time to recall. I'll return in a few days, and I hope by then you'll have a different story to tell."
Her lips curved into a smile, but her tone was piercingly sharp: "I know what you're afraid of. If you can be honest, I promise you'll never have to live like a stray dog again."
When Han Yan returned to the Zhuang residence, she saw the Zhou sisters sitting in the main hall drinking tea as soon as she entered. Seeing her return, Madam Da Zhou greeted her with a smile: "Congratulations, Yan'er."
Han Yan nodded faintly at them. Today, this simple gesture was performed with unusual slowness. Her raised head and arrogant gaze struck Madam Zhou as particularly grating.Ji Lan followed suit and quickly came over to support her, continuously saying, "Miss, walk slowly. If you get hurt, the prince will blame us servants for not taking good care of you."
Shu Hong also spoke up, "What are you babbling about? Miss is the future princess consort, there's no need for you to speak out of turn."
OpenNovel