Xuan Di, faced with dramatic changes and the pain of childbirth, tragically died during a difficult delivery. When the empress arrived, she found only Xuan Di’s cold corpse. With one body and two lives lost, the ambitious empress was left to grapple with her loss.
The King of Yue, upon hearing the news, immediately raised an army and attacked the capital, easily capturing the empress’s followers. The empress committed suicide on the night of the King of Yue’s arrival. With no children left by Xuan Di and the empress, the King of Yue, being the female emperor’s biological brother, was supported by the ministers and succeeded to the throne, becoming Emperor Hong of Nan Rui.
I want to argue, but I can’t think of any reason. After over twenty years, I suddenly learn that I might not be my parents’ biological daughter, stated with such certainty, creating an unreal feeling, as if I’m watching a story that belongs to someone else.
“If the lady is indeed the Grand Princess, then everything makes sense. You and the Fifth Princess are cousins, so it’s naturally possible to look alike. Before the Ninth Princess married into Xiliang, she confirmed this fact to me.”
The Ninth Princess? What does she have to do with this?
Xia Zhiyuan pointed at the blood-stained handkerchief. “The yahua pattern on this handkerchief comes from a phoenix black gold token, the symbol of the Southern Rui imperial power and an important sacrificial object. Before the Proclamation Emperor’s death, he ordered a nursemaid to leave with the black gold token and the princess to prevent it from falling into the empress’s hands. The Hongdi drew the pattern from memory and sent it to his father, so I have seen it.”
I recalled An Jin’s strange expression when I gave him the handkerchief and his odd instruction.
Do not embroider anymore.
Could that be what he meant? The secret he was hiding about me?
“And the Ninth Princess?” I asked.
Xia Zhiyuan smiled. “According to her, she saw a phoenix black gold token at the Third Prince Xia Zhichun’s place. To know how Xia Zhichun obtained it, you can ask your parents.”
In any case, the nursemaid who passed away entrusted the lady, an infant, to your parents. Whether she told them the truth remains unknown.
“Did Mother embroider this yahua pattern because she saw this black gold token?”
“Even if Your Highness is telling the truth and I am a princess brought home by my parents, why reveal this now? Are you planning to send me back to Southern Rui for a reward?”
Xia Zhiyuan waved his hand. “My lady is mistaken. I hope to cooperate with you.”
“Cooperate? How?” I let out a cold laugh. “Even if I’m truly that princess, what can I do?”
Xia Zhiyuan looked at me intently. After a long moment, he said, “According to my information, Hongdi greatly valued etiquette and filial piety. Do you know why he wanted to make the Proclamation Emperor’s child the Grand Princess?”
I shook my head.
He smiled mysteriously. “He once said that once the Grand Princess is found, he would return the throne to the Proclamation Emperor’s bloodline, meaning this Grand Princess would become the new empress of Southern Rui.”
I stared at him blankly.
Empress?
Xia Zhiyuan thoughtfully poured me a cup of tea, handed it to me, and patted my shoulder. “Now, my lady should understand.”
As long as you cooperate with me to resist Xiliang, I can ensure your safe passage to Southern Rui, where you can recognize your ancestors and inherit the position of empress.”
“You’re joking, right?” My hand shook so hard I almost spilled my tea. Yesterday, I was just an ordinary lady, painting, walking dogs, and playing with birds. Today, I’ve become the future empress of Southern Rui?
If his words are true—that I am not my parents’ biological child but the daughter of Emperor Xuan and the ruthless empress—shock coursed through me, but I remained clear-headed. With An Jin absent, I had to rely on myself to analyze and make judgments. I realized why An Jin had encouraged me to participate more in the secret department’s affairs, reducing my dependence on him.
Whether I am a biological daughter is not important; they have been my parents all my life. I cannot let them suffer harm, as the Eastern Palace and Qi Emperor are threatening me by targeting this psychological weakness. Although An Jin’s whereabouts are unknown, he must have his own plans, even if he cannot share them with me yet.
Since that’s the case, I must protect our family and help him.
Thinking back, many questions have been answered: why An Jin was nervous when the Eastern Palace approached me, why they tried to pull me to their side, and why the Qi Emperor gave the sterility wine intended for me. The An family, being the secret department of Qi Kingdom, posed a threat if I—an outsider from Nan Rui—had a child with An Jin. If our child took over the secret department and united with Nan Rui, it would be disastrous for Qi Kingdom. However, the Qi Emperor did not expect that An Jin would ultimately drink the sterility wine instead.
When did An Jin learn about my origins? What role did the Third Prince Xia Zhichun play in this?
My mother, big brother, and Miao Yin awaited me in the courtyard. Upon seeing me unharmed, they relaxed.
I took out the blood-stained silk handkerchief embroidered with yao flowers and handed it to my mother.
Her expression changed dramatically as she grabbed the handkerchief: “This—isn’t this the one my son-in-law carried?” She wailed loudly, pulling me into her embrace: “My poor son-in-law… my poor daughter…”
Big brother and Miao Yin looked at me with heavy expressions. “My brother-in-law, he—”
I shook my head.
“He’s just missing; nothing will happen.”
Big brother and Miao Yin’s expressions grew sorrowful. My mother patted my shoulder, “A Yao, if you want to cry, just cry! Don’t hold it in, it’s not good for you.”
They thought An Jin had met with misfortune and believed I was deeply hurt. I smiled bitterly: “Mother, I want to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“Where did you see this handkerchief’s yao flower pattern?”
My mother paused, her expression stiffening. After a long while, she stammered: “I—I thought of it myself.” My big brother looked guilty, frequently glancing at our mother.
Something was clearly wrong. Observing their expressions confirmed my suspicions.
“I already know about what happened back then,” I sighed, looking at my big brother. “I didn’t expect you would hide this from me too.”
My big brother’s face changed dramatically. “A Yao, I’ve always treated you like a real sister, don’t you know that?” My mother glared at him. “You child, how can you be so foolish?”
My brother, six years older, clearly knew the truth. This test revealed it.
My heart felt empty, and I steadied myself, struggling to describe my feelings.
So I really was not my parents’ biological daughter.
Miao Yin looked at us in shock. “What… is going on?”
“You should just tell her,” my father said as he walked out from inside the room, stroking his beard. “The wrong things you’ve done, the child will eventually know.”
My mother lowered her head, wiping tears from her eyes.
Twenty years ago, my parents lived in Yao Town. My father, a scholar, was focused on preparing for the triennial imperial examination, while my mother ran a small grocery store to support the family. They had one son, my big brother Xiao Wang.
One day, a middle-aged woman moved in next door, raising a female infant alone and rarely interacting with neighbors. My mother, with a lively personality, occasionally visited and gradually became friends with the woman.
