“Thirteen…” Sadness immediately filled his light brown eyes.
“Your Majesty, I am already married. It might be inappropriate to continue using the old form of address,” I said somewhat irritably.
I didn’t expect that Xia Zhiqian’s stories of making things difficult for me had spread far to Xiliang. No wonder even Princess Nan Rui was looking at me a bit strangely…
Yan Huo pondered for a moment, softly asking: “I’ve heard that Lord An has a reputation for being dissolute. Xiao Yao, are you truly doing well?”
“Rumors also say that Lady An is a salty and fierce wife,” I laughed. “You see, rumors are never reliable. An Jin and I grew up together; he’s not that kind of person.”
Yan Huo hesitated slightly. “Xiao Yao, do you truly know An Jin inside and out?”
I nodded without hesitation.
“Many things are not as simple as they appear on the surface,” he furrowed his brow.
“Do you know that all the letters and gifts I sent you after returning to the country were intercepted midway?”
I was stunned.
He continued: “Not only that. After becoming Crown Prince, I tried several times to travel to Yanfeng, but each time, some matters would suddenly arise to obstruct my journey. This is too coincidental and makes me suspect someone wants to prevent me from coming to Yanfeng to find you.”
“You suspect… An Jin?” I laughed in disbelief. “Your Majesty, An Jin is just a small official in the Ministry of Personnel in Qi Kingdom. How could he have such capability?”
Yan Huo looked at me calmly. “Does Xiao Yao not know whether An Jin is just an ordinary official?”
My heart sank, but I clapped and laughed: “Your Majesty’s imagination is truly remarkable.”
Author’s note: They’re all foxes… Poor little Yao Yao.
Chapter Thirty-Three: Princess Suspicions
I quickly turned my head, but there was no sign of the Second Princess around. General Shen tilted his head and patted its wing. Little Yellow lowered its sharp beak and preened the feathers on its chest, casting a glance at Yuan Xiao crouching by my feet with its green bean-like eyes, and smugly flapped its wings. “Stupid dog! Stupid dog!”
Yuan Xiao flew into a rage, letting out a low growl from its throat, but did not pounce again.
It probably learned its lesson, knowing this fellow could fly, and could only resort to strategy, not brute force. As a result, the bird and dog had completely formed a grudge.
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for this sharp-tongued bird. Yuan Xiao was petty and always believed in revenge, holding a grudge for a lifetime. If no opportunity presented itself, so be it, but once a chance arose, it would seek complete retribution.
General Shen was helpless and turned to nod at me: “Sorry. It probably mistook me for the princess.”
I thought I looked nothing like the Second Princess… Before I could react, General Shen had already walked away, with Little Yellow perched on him, its tiny eyes holding a hint of grievance.
Yuan Xiao, seeing me motionless, ran a few circles around my feet and whimpered in confusion, tugging at my skirt. When I bent down and stroked its head with my finger, 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 realized that its cry of “Princess, save Little Yellow” was actually mistaking me for the Fifth Princess and seeking help. Its constant antagonism towards Yuan Xiao was probably because it thought Yuan Xiao had stolen the princess’s affection.
If that was the case, could the eloped Fifth Princess actually look somewhat like me?
With our only encounter being at night, when the princess was dressed as a palace maid, I hadn’t particularly noticed her appearance. But thinking about it now, 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 similar; things can be alike. Could it be that the Eastern Palace truly loved that princess, and I became her replacement due to our slight resemblance? No wonder the Eastern Palace would stop at nothing to snatch me from An Jin. Could he actually be a devoted lover?
My heart suddenly felt complicated. I thought I was a calamitous beauty, but it turned out I was just a fan substitute. An Jin must have known the reason 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 still concerned about Father-in-law’s injury, I went to check again and saw Mother-in-law sitting beside Father-in-law’s bed, her usually impassive face finally showing some anxiety.
Mother-in-law, who had always been doted on by Father-in-law, now seemed at a loss when needing to care for her husband. Father-in-law comforted her: “My dear, it’s just a small injury. I’ll recover soon. Don’t worry.”
Mother-in-law nodded, holding his hand, seemingly unsure what to say to comfort him.
Sweat beaded on Father-in-law’s forehead; his leg injury must be quite painful. Yet he still smiled and patted Mother-in-law’s hand. “Don’t worry, go about your business. Don’t mind me.”
I couldn’t bear to watch anymore and turned to prepare medicine.
When I returned with the medicine, Mother-in-law was gone. Two servants waited outside while Father-in-law was stretching to reach the water cup on the table.
He seemed to have long anticipated my question. “I have only seen that princess once, and perhaps the facial features are somewhat similar, but if looked at carefully, they are not quite alike.” I have always known An Jin’s cautious and meticulous way of speaking. Since even he said this, that princess must be quite similar to me. He studied me for a while, seemingly probing as he asked, “Do you have nothing else to ask me?” I blinked, playing innocent.
“What else should I ask?” An Jin turned away, his gaze wandering, his fingers rubbing the coral button at his waist. This was his habitual gesture when feeling uncomfortable. “Today… didn’t you meet Yan Huo?” I was surprised that he knew so quickly about my meeting with Yan Huo, curious that he knew without showing anger or jealousy, instead looking guilty like a mouse that had stolen oil. He glanced at me and quickly looked away, his composure seeming somewhat deliberate. I understood that it was indeed An Jin who had interfered back then, causing us to lose contact. I had thought he would act nonchalant, but I didn’t expect him to take the initiative to admit it. “I have always said,” he glanced at me again, speaking with a stiff expression, “even if you have someone else in your heart, I will not give up. Now that we are married, even if you regret it, do not let me know.”
Chapter Thirty-Four: Husband’s Knot
I looked at him for a long time. He lightly coughed and changed his sitting posture. “Why… are you looking at me like that?” An Jin, who had always been confident, finally had a moment of unease. The last time he was unsettled was when my mother disciplined him; this time, it was due to his suspicions.
