Yuan Xiao, seeing me motionless, ran circles around my feet and whimpered, tugging at my skirt. When I bent down to stroke its head, our trusting eyes met, and suddenly a flash of insight illuminated the truth.
The princess General Shen spoke of was not the Second Princess Jiang Yunqiao but the parrot’s original owner, the Fifth Princess who married into Xiliang and then eloped. Now everything made sense. No wonder the parrot flew towards me the first time we met and clung to my clothes, refusing to leave.
Now I realize that its cry of “Princess, save Little Yellow” was actually mistaking me for the Fifth Princess. Its constant antagonism towards Yuan Xiao probably stemmed from the belief that Yuan Xiao had stolen the princess’s affection.
If that was the case, could the eloped Fifth Princess actually resemble me?
I recalled our only encounter at night when the princess was dressed as a palace maid. I hadn’t particularly noticed her appearance, but reflecting on it, her body shape and silhouette did seem somewhat similar to mine. Otherwise, the palace maids and matrons wouldn’t have mistaken me for the eloped princess and brought me back.
Everything fell into place, and I was both amused and bewildered by this possible truth. People can look alike, and it’s not strange. Could it be that the Eastern Palace truly loved that princess, and I became her replacement due to our resemblance? No wonder they would stop at nothing to snatch me from An Jin. Could he actually be a devoted lover?
My heart felt complicated. I thought I was a calamitous beauty, but it turned out I was just a substitute. An Jin must have known long ago but didn’t want to discourage me, this naive married woman.
I pulled Yuan Xiao back home with the heart of a frustrated young wife.
Because I was concerned about Father-in-law’s injury, I went to check again and saw Mother-in-law sitting beside his bed, her usually impassive face showing some anxiety.
Mother-in-law, who had always been doted on by Father-in-law, seemed at a loss now that she needed to care for him. Father-in-law comforted her: “It’s just a small injury. I’ll recover soon. Don’t worry.” She nodded and held his hand, unsure of what to say.
