Chapter 141: Sometimes A Startling Dream

The group returned to the capital city without further incident, arriving at night.

The Jiang family had already sent someone to meet them at the city gate.

It was Jiang Boyou himself who came.

His daughter had inexplicably gotten involved in such a dispute and returned safely. Upon seeing Xie Wei, he couldn’t help but repeat the words of gratitude from his letter before hurriedly having the servants take Jiang Xuening back home.

The capital had already celebrated the New Year, and on the first day of the new year, there were even lively lantern festivals at night.

The bustling streets were lined with shops.

Everything was familiar, but as Jiang Xuening sat in the carriage and looked out, it all felt somewhat strange, far less vivid than the wild mountains and rivers she had seen outside.

That brief, dream-like adventure had come to an end.

The high walls of the Jiang residence, nestled among the grand mansions of the wealthy, were unremarkable, exuding a rigid and dogmatic atmosphere. Festive lanterns still hung at the entrance. If she hadn’t experienced it herself, one would never know from the outside that this family had lost their daughter in the past few days.

As soon as Jiang Xuening turned into the backyard, she heard Madam Meng crying.

Jiang Xuehui was comforting her.

“Has she ever truly regarded me as her mother? Since bringing her back to the capital, I have tried to mend our relationship. Why else would I force her to learn the qin and study? But what about her? She can’t tolerate anyone, mistreats the servants, and even you. Both of you are my flesh and blood. If you were both equally good, how could I not want to treat you both fairly?”

The crying was filled with frustration.

“But she was deliberately taught by that wretched woman Wanniang to anger me, to spite me, to take revenge on me! Her mind is twisted, and she can’t even present herself as a proper lady. She complains that I don’t take her to socialize with the noble ladies of the capital, but doesn’t she see that taking such an unrefined country girl out would ruin our family’s reputation? Even if I had the thickest skin, I couldn’t withstand the gossip!”

Jiang Xuehui seemed to have heard this many times before and sighed deeply, saying, “Mother, my sister was raised by Wanniang since she was young and only brought back to the capital at fourteen. Even if you disapprove, it takes time to change some habits. It’s only been a little over four years. Besides, since she entered the palace, I’ve seen her improve a lot. She must have suffered a lot outside this time. After all, she is your flesh and blood. If you continue to be harsh, won’t you push her back to her old ways?”

Madam Meng said, “Does she even seem like my own daughter?”

Jiang Xuehui was silent for a moment, then sighed, “It’s the New Year, and nothing major happened. I think my sister will be much quieter now that she’s back. Why scold her? If you make her angry, she is not an ordinary person.”

Madam Meng was silent for a while.

Jiang Xuening stood outside the courtyard wall, listening, and thought that Jiang Xuehui was indeed skilled at persuading Madam Meng.

She lifted her foot, intending to go in and pay her respects.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, a laugh, whether of sorrow or joy, came from inside: “Sometimes I wish I never knew she was my own daughter…”

Outside the corridor, the wisteria trellis was only a cold outline in the winter.

A few patches of snow lay on top.

Jiang Xuening looked up and felt all the sounds around her fade away. Jiang Xuehui seemed to say something else, but she didn’t hear it clearly.

After a while, footsteps approached.

Jiang Xuehui, thinking her father had gone to fetch Jiang Xuening and would return soon, guessed that Jiang Xuening wouldn’t want to see her mother, so she found an excuse to leave Madam Meng.

But she didn’t expect to see Jiang Xuening standing by the wall as soon as she left the courtyard.

In that moment, facing each other, Jiang Xuehui felt that the beautiful face half-hidden in the darkness had an indescribable pallor, like a frost flower under the moon.

However, Jiang Xuening actually smiled at her.

She saw her turn to leave.

For some reason, Jiang Xuehui felt a sudden unease and called out hesitantly, “Sister.”

Jiang Xuening stopped and looked back at her, “Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing…”

Usually eloquent and sociable, Jiang Xuehui found herself at a loss for words. After a long time, she slowly said, “Her Highness misses you very much and has asked about you several times. He also sent many gifts during the New Year, which I had placed in your room.”

Jiang Xuening blinked, thought of Shen Zhiyi, and smiled silently, replying faintly, “I know.”

*

Late at night, the entire capital was gradually falling into slumber.

However, with the return of Xie Wei and his group, countless people were jolted awake from their nightmares.

The news quickly spread to the palace.

As Empress Dowager Xiao grew older, she began to sleep less. She was talking to Xiao Shu, who was kneeling beside her and copying scriptures, about the matter of the princess’s marriage alliance: “What does Zhiyi know about the importance of things? It seems she wants to create a rift with me. Although she doesn’t say it, she even ignores her once close brother. But matters of the state cannot be swayed by a young girl’s whims.”

With the fall of the Yan family, the military was unstable.

The Tatars, those bloodthirsty barbarians, naturally eyed them covetously.

However, in the vast Daqian dynasty, how could there be no one other than the Yan family capable of replacing Yan Mu as a general? It just required some time.

Agreeing to their request for a marriage alliance was a temporary measure.

Once the vacancy left by the Yan family was filled by new generals, the Tatars could be driven back beyond Yanmen Pass, forcing them to bow to Daqian once more.

Xiao Shu, having grown up in a noble family, was well aware of the importance of state affairs.

But hearing the Empress Dowager speak like this, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

She paused her writing and hesitated before saying, “But Your Highness, she is your own flesh and blood. This journey to the distant desert, among the fierce barbarians, who knows when she will return.”

The Empress Dowager actually laughed, her eyes crinkling with rare kindness.

But the kinder she appeared, the clearer the coldness in her eyes.

Leaning on the chaise longue, she said calmly, “There is a saying, ‘In the royal family, there are no fathers and sons.’ Shu’er, you will also enter the royal family in the future, so you should remember this clearly.”

Xiao Shu’s heart first tightened, then she caught the underlying meaning of the Empress Dowager’s words and felt a rare moment of nervousness.

But as she thought about it, a shadow crossed her mind.

She said, “It seems that His Highness Prince Linzi prefers Jiang Xuehui.”

The Empress Dowager waved her hand confidently, “Don’t worry, with me here.”

With the Empress Dowager’s assurance, there should be no mistakes.

But Xiao Shu was not one to rejoice prematurely. Until things were settled, anything could happen. So she did not show much joy, only smiling and thanking her aunt.

Seeing the late hour, the palace attendants prepared to help the Empress Dowager to bed.

But at that moment, urgent footsteps sounded outside.

The chief eunuch ran towards the bedroom with a face full of joy, “Make way, make way, there’s great news, wonderful news!”

The Empress Dowager stopped, raising an eyebrow in surprise, and looked towards the door, asking, “What news?”

Xiao Shu was also very curious.

The eunuch, sweating from running, knelt on the ground, his face beaming with joy, “Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Duke returned to the capital half an hour ago, safe and sound, with a great victory! He sent someone to deliver the news, saying that the heir of Dingfei, who had been missing for twenty years, has returned! He’s alive and well!”

Dingfei…

The Empress Dowager’s mind buzzed, and she swayed, almost unable to stand, asking in a daze, “What did you say?”

The eunuch, thinking she was too happy, repeated louder and clearer, “He’s back! The Duke’s legitimate bloodline, the emperor’s savior from years ago, the heir of Dingfei, has returned whole and healthy! They say he not only resembles the Duke in his youth but also looks like Lady Yan. Handsome and elegant, very charming!”

The Empress Dowager’s eyelids twitched wildly, and she felt her vision darken.

Her legs went weak, and she took several steps back.

Raising her hand, she tried to say something, but her face turned pale, and with a thud, she collapsed!

The entire palace was stunned for a moment before shouting, “Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager!”

Xiao Shu was also in turmoil, almost watching the Empress Dowager collapse without reaching out to help. Seeing the chaotic scene, she stood aside, her expression dazed and incredulous.

Alive…

How could the child of both the Xiao and Yan families still be alive?

If it really was, if it really was…

Xiao Shu shivered, looking up at the dark sky outside the bustling and fearful Kunning Palace. There wasn’t a single star, and the cold night wind made her shiver uncontrollably!

*

Next to the former Marquis Yongyi’s residence, which had been sealed by the government, was Xie Wei’s residence.

Inside Zhuoqin Hall, the lights were bright.

Lu Xian, dressed in a scholar’s long robe, paced back and forth in the hall, from left to right and then from right to left, occasionally glancing outside, clearly having waited for a long time.

It was almost midnight when sounds were finally heard outside.

Xie Wei had finally returned.

Seeing the figure approaching from the corridor, Lu Xian, rarely impatient, took a step forward and urgently asked, “How did it go?”

Xie Wei glanced at him, frowning slightly, “Almost.”

Ever since he knew that Zhang Zhe was involved in this matter, Xie Wei had not immediately removed this stumbling block, which made Lu Xian increasingly anxious. This anxiety was not about the matter itself but more about the increasingly strange behavior of Xie Wei.

Hearing the word “almost,” he nearly exploded.

Lu Xian was direct, “Did you kill Zhang Zhe?”

Xie Wei replied, “No.”

Lu Xian’s eyelid twitched, “Why not?”

Xie Wei entered the room, opened a hidden compartment on the bookshelf, took out a seal pouch from his sleeve, and placed it inside along with a small book seal, replying calmly, “Too many eyes, it might give others leverage.”

“Bullshit!”

Lu Xian couldn’t hold back and cursed.

“If you were determined to get rid of him, there are a thousand and one ways to do it without anyone knowing! Besides, you had Xiao Yuan, that fool, with you this time, perfect for taking the blame! How could you miss such a good opportunity? Is this still you, Xie Ju’an—”

He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

Looking at the hidden compartment Xie Wei had just closed, Lu Xian had a bad feeling, “What’s that important thing?”

Xie Wei said, “Just a little trinket from a student for his teacher.”

Lü Xian stared at him, “Jiang Xuening?”

Xie Wei responded with a “Hmm.”

Lu Xian was silent for a long time, looking at Xie Wei, sensing an unprecedented danger, and then spoke with a hint of warning, “Do you really know what you’re doing—”

“I know.”

Xie Wei rarely interrupted him, then looked back at Lu Xian, not avoiding his serious and solemn gaze, and even repeated calmly to make sure he understood his implication—

“Lu Xian, I know.”

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