Was that…
Xie Jianing?
Xiao Zhen stared, shocked, at that half-hidden face, almost thinking it was a trick of his eyes.
He leapt to a closer rooftop, wanting to see more clearly, but the woman in Daoist robes had already turned and entered the courtyard.
The back door was tightly closed, leaving only the swaying shadows of trees on the ground.
Xiao Zhen stayed motionless on the rooftop for a long time.
He could hardly believe his own eyes.
In that fleeting glimpse, that half-blushed face, the slightly lowered eyes…even the blue Daoist robe, the way the black hair and hair ribbon were stirred by the wind—everything was exactly as he remembered from his first encounter with Xie Jianing.
He had first seen Xie Jianing dressed just like that, in a Daoist temple.
That night, she’d snuck a sip of osmanthus wine, her whole face flushed as she leaned toward him in surprise and asked, “Who are you? How did you get so badly hurt?!”
At that time, he knew very well that she was Xie Jianing, the only Yong’an Marquis Manor legitimate daughter Song Jie had ever made an exception to keep by his side.
So he had deliberately collapsed right on the path she had to take to return to her room…
But Xie Jianing had been missing for years now, not a word or trace.
If she had returned, the entire Yong’an Marquis Manor would have proclaimed it to the world; there was no way he wouldn’t have heard.
Even more impossible was meeting Xie Jianing at the back gate of the Pei Family.
The Yong’an Marquis Manor had long since broken off their childhood betrothal with the Pei Family, looking down on the fallen Yongyi Earl’s household.
That absolutely couldn’t be Xie Jianing.
Could it be that illegitimate daughter, the one who resembled Xie Jianing?
Did she marry Pei Shilin in Xie Jianing’s stead?
Xiao Zhen couldn’t recall that illegitimate daughter’s name, only that he’d seen her once at the Lady Dowager of Yong’an Marquis Manor’s funeral.
She’d been in mourning clothes, crying in the garden; when she heard his footsteps, she’d looked up in panic, her face streaked with tears, then scrambled to kneel and salute him.
That face did have some resemblance to Xie Jianing, but the eyes, the bearing—completely different.
At the very least, Xie Jianing would never kneel to him.
Even after learning he was the Imperial Prince Xiao Zhen, Xie Jianing would still lift her chin and say, “Even if you are an imperial prince, I’m still your savior.”
Xie Jianing was a girl raised with all the affection and pride in the world.
She would never bow and scrape for anyone.
Xiao Zhen simply couldn’t connect the tear-streaked face in mourning with the proud Xie Jianing.
Even as a counterfeit, that girl was not worthy.
But just now, that half-face in the moonlight…it looked too much like Xie Jianing, even the faint smile at the corner of her lips.
Who on earth was it?
Xiao Zhen wondered if his eyes were playing tricks, but it was hard to believe it was just the Yong’an Marquis Manor’s illegitimate daughter.
Besides, this woman had come out from Song Family Manor.
Surely Song Jie wouldn’t use such a poor imitation to replace Xie Jianing?
Xiao Zhen was too full of doubts.
He leapt down from the rooftop and ordered his shadow guard, “Go find out immediately who the woman who just entered the Pei Family was.”
Tonight, he had to know who she was.
How could she come and go so freely from Song Jie’s manor, and then enter the Pei Family’s gate?
“Miss.”
Someone suddenly stood up from the stone steps.
Xie Yushu had just helped Jin Ye into her own courtyard, when this unexpected voice startled her.
She looked carefully and saw it was Xiao Dao.
He was leaning on his crutch, standing under the dusty corridor lamp, his bright black eyes looking at her.
“You’re back.”
“Why aren’t you asleep?”
Xie Yushu had told everyone before she left to go to bed and not to wait up for her.
“It’s already the third watch.”
“I’m not sleepy.”
Xiao Dao came up to her, catching the scent of medicine and blood on her, his brows furrowing.
“Miss, are you hurt? You smell of blood.”
Xie Yushu raised her sleeve in surprise.
“What a sharp nose you have!”
Her nails and sleeve were stained with a lot of Song Jie’s blood and ointment.
Xiao Dao reached out and grabbed her fingers.
“Miss, did you hurt your hand?”
“What are you doing!”
Jin Ye quickly pried his hand away, glaring.
“You can’t be pulling and tugging at the Missus. What if someone sees? Don’t you know the rules?”
Xiao Dao drew his hand back, pursing his lips, looking confused and a little dissatisfied at Jin Ye’s scolding.
He really didn’t seem to understand these rules about propriety between men and women.
“It’s fine.”
Xie Yushu patted Jin Ye’s hand, signaling her not to worry, then stretched her blood-stained hand under Xiao Dao’s nose.
“It’s not my blood. I’m not hurt.”
Xiao Dao lowered his eyes to look at her hand.
From inside, Xizhi Mammy and Yin Ya came out to greet her.
Her attention shifted to them, and she drew her hand back, walking around Xiao Dao and asking why they weren’t asleep yet.
Xiao Dao sniffed quietly, catching a strong scent of Drake Fragrance in her passing.
That wasn’t a scent she used—whose fragrance had gotten on her?
Xie Yushu was ushered into her room by the group.
Xizhi Mammy had already made her bed and fumigated the canopy with mosquito-repellent incense.
Yin Ya quickly brought over warm water to help her remove her makeup and wash up.
Xie Yushu was so well taken care of that she couldn’t help but want to give them a raise.
Yin Ya also reported to her, “Before Missus returned, Pei Young Master and Pei Eldest Lady hurriedly left the manor. I asked the gatekeeper, and it seems someone from the Prime Minister Manor took them to see Second Young Master.”
She continued, “Oh right, right after Missus left, an old Mama was wandering around our back gate. Guess who it was?”
Before Xie Yushu could answer, she blurted out, “It was your mother, Qiao Bao’er…”
She was cut off by a sharp look from Xizhi Mammy.
“Mind your manners. Missus’s mother is the Marquis Consort of Yong’an.”
Yin Ya quickly shut her mouth.
Xizhi told the two young maids to go rest, staying behind herself to tend to Xie Yushu.
When they had left, Xizhi took out a cloth bundle and handed it to Xie Yushu.
“Tonight, Qiao Concubine had a Mama bring you some things. Luckily, Yin Ya and I were waiting for you at the back gate, or the Young Master and Pei Eldest Lady would have told you not to associate with Qiao Concubine.”
“Don’t call her Qiao Concubine anymore.”
Xie Yushu told Xizhi, “She’s my mother.”
She opened the cloth bundle and saw several newly embroidered handkerchiefs, each stitched with silver-white plum blossoms—because Xie Yushu liked white plum, every handkerchief was hand-embroidered by Qiao Bao’er herself.
Beneath the handkerchiefs was a set of brand new clothes, and inside the clothes, wrapped in a handkerchief, was something else.
Xie Yushu opened it to find—a silver note for a thousand taels.
Xizhi sighed, gently touching the fine fabric of the new clothes with some bitterness.
“Such good material must have been a reward from the Marquis. She couldn’t bear to use it herself, so she made new clothes for you.”
“This silver note, did you have Jin Ye send it to her?”
Xizhi lowered her voice.
“How could she use your money? She had the Mama tell you she’s doing well, not to worry, and not to give her any more money—keep it for yourself.”
Xie Yushu’s heart gave a heavy thump.
Qiao Bao’er had returned the silver note to her again.
“I know you’re a good, filial girl.”
Xizhi smoothed Xie Yushu’s stray hair, her voice sad.
“But think about it, why did Qiao Concubine have the Mama meet you at the back gate? She’s afraid the Pei Family will look down on you or blame you because of her.”
Xie Yushu remembered in the original story, Qiao Bao’er never let Xie Yushu call her ‘Mother’.
After Xie Yushu was taken into the Houfu, Qiao Bao’er rarely visited, fearing her own servant background would bring shame and ridicule to her daughter.
Everyone in the Houfu mocked Xie Yushu and her mother for chasing after wealth and status, willing to do anything to get into the Houfu—a foxy concubine and a scheming illegitimate daughter.
But who would willingly be a servant for life?
Who was born to be a servant?
“Bao’er once worked for me, so I know her character. I know she’d bear any hardship for you.”
Xizhi’s rough hand gently stroked her face.
“You were born from her, and she already feels she owes you. She hopes you’ll be the Marquis Consort’s daughter, and that the Marquis Consort will take care of you for her sake, so the Pei Family won’t bully you.”
Xie Yushu looked up and saw Xizhi’s red eyes.
Her heart ached.
Everyone treated Xie Yushu as a substitute for Xie Jianing, but in Qiao Bao’er’s heart, Yushu was her most precious daughter.
Qiao Bao’er, who couldn’t read, had hired a teacher for her, taught her to read and write, and named her “Yushu”.
Qiao Bao’er, a servant by birth, didn’t hope her daughter would repay her with wealth and status.
She only feared she’d drag her daughter down, bring her trouble and humiliation.
Xie Yushu had never been so cared for.
Her own mother died shortly after she was born, and her father remarried within three months.
She’d been raised by her grandmother, barely seeing her father.
When she finally grew up and made some money, her grandmother passed away before she could enjoy it.
She couldn’t help but think, when Qiao Bao’er learned that her daughter had suffered so much, endured so much humiliation, and hanged herself in the bridal chamber, how heartbroken must she have been?
In the original story, Qiao Bao’er’s ending wasn’t even mentioned—she was just an insignificant background character, no one cared if she lived or died.
But now it was different.
She wasn’t just going to live well for Xie Yushu, she was going to make sure Qiao Bao’er lived a good life too—an even better life than the Marquis Consort of Yong’an.
“Mammy, I know you both mean well.”
Xie Yushu held Xizhi’s hand, her voice soft but firm.
“But you see it too, there’s no relying on the Yong’an Marquis Manor. Since we can’t count on them, why should we live looking up to them? My mother is Qiao Bao’er. From now on, I’ll visit her openly and invite her through the front gate of the Pei Family. With me here to back you up, there’s nothing to fear.”
She hugged the choking Xizhi, her mind made up.
She needed more money, lots more, to help Qiao Bao’er and Xizhi both be freed from servitude.
She was going to ask Qiao Bao’er if she wanted to live with her, or keep being a concubine.
That night, only Xie Yushu slept soundly.
Song Jie closed his eyes and immediately smelled Xie Yushu’s scent lingering in the canopy, fuming and unable to sleep all night.
The Pei Family mother and son went to the prison to visit Pei Shibin, and didn’t sleep a wink.
Even Xiao Zhen sat alone in his palace until dawn.
When daylight broke, Song Jie’s people finally sent word: the Emperor was now out of danger.
His shadow guard also reported back about the woman in Daoist robes.
It really was the Yong’an Marquis Manor’s illegitimate daughter, Xie Yushu, who had just married Pei Shilin a few days ago.
So why had she appeared in Song Jie’s tent late at night?
The shadow guard only found out some things about the Pei Family.
Pei Shilin’s younger brother, Pei Shibin, was involved in a murder case and was now locked up in prison.
And that very night, right after Xie Yushu returned to the Pei Family, Pei Shilin and his mother went to the prison to visit Pei Shibin.
Visiting the prison in the middle of the night, and just after Xie Yushu had left the Prime Minister Manor…
Xiao Zhen couldn’t help but suspect—had Xie Yushu gone to the Prime Minister Manor and done something with Song Jie to help her husband save someone?
But what puzzled Xiao Zhen was, how could Xie Yushu “bewitch” Song Jie?
This was Song Jie, after all—countless people had tried to curry favor by sending him peerless beauties, but none had ever entered his manor.
Almost everyone in court thought Song Jie was indifferent to women.
Before tonight, Song Jie had never had any interaction with this unremarkable illegitimate daughter.
What on earth did Xie Yushu have that allowed her into Song Jie’s tent?
Was it just her resemblance to Xie Jianing?
But Song Jie had seen this unremarkable illegitimate daughter before and hadn’t given her a second glance.
So why had she suddenly become Song Jie’s guest?
And right after she’d married…
Xiao Zhen’s mind flashed back to that half-face in the moonlight.
What a pity he hadn’t gotten a better look.
He was too curious.
What did Xie Yushu really look like now?
Did she truly resemble Xie Jianing that much?
Or did she have some other trick?
Suddenly, Xiao Zhen remembered: “Tomorrow is the United Kingdom Duke’s birthday. The Pei Family is also invited, right? Although the Yongyi Earl’s Pei Family has fallen, Pei Heng is the United Kingdom Duke’s favored student, and the Duke would still show some old affection.”
Of this generation, only Pei Heng had made a name for himself in the Pei Family.
Too bad he went missing on the battlefield, his fate unknown.
If the Pei Family isn’t invited to the Duke’s birthday this time, their position in Bianjing will be even more awkward.
“I just wonder if Pei Shilin will bring his new wife to the celebration.”
Xiao Zhen thought about it—
Pei Shilin didn’t seem to like or respect this illegitimate wife much, otherwise he wouldn’t have let her become Song Jie’s tent guest.
The shadow guard added, “I heard that on Wife Returning Day, Pei Shilin and the Pei Family Missus didn’t get along. She left the Yong’an Marquis Manor early without staying for lunch, and Pei Shilin left first, not waiting for his wife to return together.”
To have a falling out on Wife Returning Day—
Pei Shilin clearly didn’t care for his new wife.
Xiao Zhen was actually a bit worried that Pei Shilin wouldn’t want to bring his new wife out in public.
In her dreams, Xie Yushu vaguely heard a “ding” system notification.
She thought she was dreaming about racking up points, but when she woke up the next morning, her Heartthrob Value had increased by one, reaching 8 points.
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