Xia Zhiyuan turned back to me, pointing 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 is also said to be an important sacrificial object of the Southern Rui nation. Before the Proclamation Emperor’s death, to prevent the black gold token from falling into the empress’s hands, he ordered a nursemaid to leave with the black gold token and the princess. The Hongdi once drew the pattern of the black gold token from memory, so I have seen this pattern.”
I suddenly recalled the strange expression on An Jin’s face when I gave him this silk handkerchief.
“Do not embroider anymore.”
Could it be… this is what he meant? The secret he was hiding about me?
Xia Zhiyuan curved his lips. “According to the Ninth Princess, she once saw such a phoenix black gold token at the Third Prince Xia Zhichun’s place. As for how Xia Zhichun obtained this black gold token, the lady only needs to ask her parents to know the full story.”
In any case, the nursemaid who passed away back then entrusted the lady, who was still an infant, to your parents.
“Fine, even if Your Highness is telling the truth, and I’m a child brought home by my parents, a princess or whatever. Why are you telling me all 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 said 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 stared at me for a while, with a strange light in his eyes.
After a long moment, he spoke: “According to the information I’ve obtained, 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 in front of several senior officials that once the Grand Princess is found, he would return the throne to the Proclamation Emperor’s bloodline. This means this Grand Princess would become the new empress of Southern Rui.”
I opened my mouth, staring 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 agree to cooperate with me and jointly resist Xiliang, I can naturally ensure you can safely reach Southern Rui, recognize your ancestors, and inherit the position of empress.”
“You’re actually joking, right?” My hand was shaking so hard I almost spilled half the tea. Yesterday I was just an ordinary lady, and today I’ve become the future empress of Southern Rui?
If his words are true, if I am not my parents’ biological child, if I am truly the daughter of the unfortunate Emperor Xuan and the ruthless empress—
Various shocks came simultaneously, but I became more clear-headed. With An Jin not by my side, I could only rely on myself to rationally analyze and make judgments. I finally understood why An Jin had made me participate more in the secret department’s affairs during the time before his departure, gradually reducing my dependence on him.
Whether I am a biological daughter or not is actually not important. They have been my parents for a lifetime. But precisely because of this, I cannot let them suffer any harm. The Eastern Palace and Qi Emperor are using their safety to threaten me, precisely targeting this psychological weakness.
Although An Jin’s whereabouts are unknown, he must have his own plans, just not yet able to let me know for some reason.
Since that’s the case, I must do my best to protect our family and hopefully help him.
Thinking back, many questions have been explained. Why An Jin was so nervous when the Eastern Palace approached me, why the Eastern Palace repeatedly tried to pull me to his side, why Qi Emperor gave the sterility wine.
That cup of sterility wine was meant for me. The An family is the secret department of Qi Kingdom, and I am a person from Nan Rui Kingdom, who might even be found by the Nan Rui royal family. If we had a child to take over the secret department, and the secret department then united with Nan Rui—for the great Qi Kingdom, it would be a catastrophic disaster.
So when did An Jin know about my origins?
My mother, big brother, and Miao Yin were waiting for me in the courtyard, and seeing me unharmed, they finally relaxed.
I took out the blood-stained silk handkerchief embroidered with yao flowers from my chest and handed it to my mother.
My mother’s expression changed dramatically, grabbing the handkerchief: “This—isn’t this the one my son-in-law carried?” She suddenly 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.
Big brother and Miao Yin’s expressions became even more sorrowful. My mother lovingly patted my shoulder.
It seemed they thought An Jin had met with misfortune and believed I was deeply hurt and unwilling to face reality. 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 stopped wailing, her expression stiffening, and after a long while, she stammered: “I—I thought of it myself.” My big brother’s expression also looked off, constantly glancing at my mother’s face, looking guilty.
Sure enough, something was wrong. I carefully observed my mother and big brother’s expressions, and my heart had already made a judgment.
“I already know about what happened back then,” I sighed, looking at my big brother. “I didn’t expect that even you would hide this from me along with our parents.”
My big brother’s face changed dramatically, hurriedly saying: “A Yao, I’ve always treated you like a real sister, don’t you know that in your heart?” My mother helplessly glared at my big brother. “You child, how can you be so foolish?”
My big brother was six years older than me and was clearly also in the know.
My heart felt empty, and then I steadied myself, unable to describe my feelings.
So I really was not my parents’ biological daughter.
Miao Yin looked at us three in shock. “What… is going on?”
“At this point, you should just tell her,” my father walked out from inside the room, stroking his beard and sighing. “The wrong things you’ve done, the child will eventually know.”
My mother lowered her head, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.
Twenty years ago. At that time, my parents still lived in Yao Town, my father was a scholar, burying himself in study to prepare for the triennial imperial examination. My mother ran a small grocery store in town, doing small business to maintain the family. At that time, they only had one son, my big brother Xiao Wang.
A middle-aged woman moved in next door to our home. This woman was raising a female infant alone, rarely going out, never interacting with neighbors. My mother, born with a lively personality, would occasionally visit and chat. Gradually, they became friends.
The woman only said the infant was her granddaughter, pitying her son and daughter-in-law who died early, leaving only her and this granddaughter dependent on each other. They had encountered a natural disaster and had to move away from their hometown. Not long after, she passed away.
Before dying, she entrusted the female infant and a dark, shiny small token to my mother, repeatedly begging her to take good care of the child and this keepsake.
This female infant was me.
My parents agreed to the woman’s request and brought me home, raising me as their own daughter. Because the small token was engraved with a yao flower, my mother simply named me “Yao”.
