Shen Mingzhu instinctively frowned and reached out to brush away Xie Lang's hand from her lips. She said coldly, "How can I not go back?" Xie Lang sighed and looked at Shen Mingzhu, saying, "Your Highness, your mother knows about this."
Shen Mingzhu was shocked. Her gaze on Xie Lang was filled with disbelief, and she raised her voice, "What!?"
But... But her mother had a feud with Concubine Wei. Why would she be willing to accept Chaoyan, who was related to Concubine Wei?
Shen Mingzhu suddenly felt utterly confused. She even began to suspect that her mother had been hiding something from her, which was why she said nothing.
But why?
Overnight, Shen Mingzhu suddenly caught a glimpse of the cracks behind the seemingly beautiful past. The relationship between her father and mother was not as harmonious as she had imagined. There even seemed to be some things she didn't know.
Her mother used to have a sworn enemy, Concubine Wei, who was later bestowed death. However, Aunt Chaoyan, who had watched her grow up since childhood, turned out to be a concubine daughter of Concubine Wei's maternal family.
Shen Mingzhu finally thought of something amiss. She said to Xie Lang, "Wait. How can you be sure this is true?"
Hearing this, Xie Lang fell silent for a moment. Then she looked at Shen Mingzhu and said, "Didn't you worry about your mother after you returned to the mansion last time? So I placed a spy in her palace to keep an eye on whether anyone showed disrespect to her."
"Mother... The Empress Dowager's condition fluctuates. But occasionally when she talked to Chaoyan, she revealed this matter in her words." As she said this, Xie Lang couldn't help but frown. She looked at Shen Mingzhu and continued, "I originally thought the Empress Dowager would detest Concubine Wei. But in the end, it seemed not to be the case."
Shen Mingzhu looked at Xie Lang. Seeing her frowning, she reached out to smooth her brows. But seeing that Shen Mingzhu still looked solemn and sighed, she said, "Mother rarely dislikes anyone. At least I've never seen it."
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Shen Mingzhu realized a problem. She looked at Xie Lang and said, "Did Concubine Xie never have a child? Not even get pregnant?"
The late emperor had four daughters and three sons. One of the daughters had died prematurely, and among the sons, the eldest, Shen Mingjia, had passed away. The youngest, Shen Mingyuan, had ascended the throne. The middle one, who was mediocre in ability, had caused some trouble after Shen Mingjia's death and was finally sent by the late emperor to a remote and not very prosperous fief. He had no presence throughout.
Concubine Xie should never have given birth, but she had become a noble concubine. Presumably, she must have been extremely favored at that time, even more than...
Shen Mingzhu took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions in her heart. She said to Xie Lang, "Do you know about these things?"
Xie Lang nodded at Shen Mingzhu. "Yes. She had a miscarriage but didn't give birth to a child. Concubine Xie was promoted to the position of noble concubine because of her accidental miscarriage. So she got such a compensation."
Shen Mingzhu's heart skipped a beat. She still couldn't figure it out. "I always feel something is amiss. But Xie Lang, do you think..."
Shen Mingzhu talked for a long time but still couldn't figure it out. She just felt that something was not right.
Finally, she suddenly sat up straight, with a hint of horror flashing in her eyes.
To become a noble concubine without giving birth was something that had never happened in this dynasty. Her father was an extremely rational person. No matter how much he favored Concubine Xie, he would never have done such a shocking thing. And her mother would never have just watched her father give away the position of noble concubine, which could even divide power, to someone else.
Concubine Xie seemed more like a tool for checks and balances!
Shen Mingzhu was so shocked by this thought that she broke out in a cold sweat. She suddenly gasped sharply. Finally, under Xie Lang's puzzled gaze, she said, "I must be overthinking."
Thinking this way, she instinctively denied her own thought. But her hand tightly clenched, her fingertips turning white, and her face showed a lingering gloom.
Seeing Shen Mingzhu's expression, Xie Lang sighed and continued, "There's also good news."
Shen Mingzhu suddenly turned to look at her. She saw Xie Lang looking at her steadily for a few moments before saying, "The Emperor had a conversation with the Empress Dowager a few days ago. The Empress Dowager was sober, and she didn't have any special reaction after the conversation. She just accepted the Emperor's gift."
As the voice fell, Shen Mingzhu instinctively reached out and pulled Xie Lang's hand into her own. Her two slightly cold hands wrapped around Xie Lang's hand, and then she calmly said, "My hands are a bit cold. Let me warm them up with yours."
Xie Lang almost instinctively withdrew her hand. Her ears suddenly turned completely red, and she even stammered a bit. Avoiding Shen Mingzhu's gaze, she pretended to complain, "Oh, then you... You should tell me next time. If you suddenly reach out like this, what if I instinctively attack you?"
【Aaaaaaaaah——】
【Shen Mingzhu is holding my hand? She must be too sad, so she's holding my hand for comfort! At this moment, I must look reliable so that she'll come to me on her own initiative next time something happens!】
Shen Mingzhu: "..."
It's not actually. She just simply wants to hear your inner thoughts.
Shen Mingzhu looked at Xie Lang, listening to her inner thoughts that didn't match her appearance. Suddenly, she felt a bit guilty and thought she was really a bad person!
But she didn't let go of Xie Lang's hand. She cleared her throat and continued, "Well, I'll pay attention next time."
"What did the Emperor give to mother?"
【Some daily necessities. It's really strange. Oh, right. There were also some night pearls.】
Xie Lang's words were the same as her inner thoughts, which made Shen Mingzhu even more confused.
What on earth was going on? Why did her mother forgive Shen Mingyuan, who had suddenly arranged a marriage for her?
It was getting stranger and stranger. It was simply a complete mystery!
Shen Mingzhu was deep in thought and suddenly forgot that she was still holding Xie Lang's hand. So when she came to her senses, she calmly let go and said to Xie Lang, "Thank you."
Unexpectedly, Xie Lang reached out. By the time Shen Mingzhu reacted, she found that Xie Lang had already held her two hands.
The warmth spread from the back of her hand, warm like a small stove but with a softness that a stove could never have.
Shen Mingzhu instinctively turned to look at Xie Lang and saw her suddenly lean on her shoulder. She said, "Since I've investigated so many things today and made great contributions, Your Highness should give me a reward."
As she said this, there was a hint of a smile in her eyes. She continued, "Then let Your Highness lend me your shoulder to rest for a while. Wake me up when we arrive at the Xie Mansion."
Shen Mingzhu didn't move or answer. She just silently acquiesced to Xie Lang's action and began to daze.
【Shen Mingzhu let me lean on her. Hahaha】
【Sure enough, I knew she really prefers soft tactics to tough ones. Soft tactics are the way to go.】
Shen Mingzhu took a deep breath, suppressing the inexplicable emotions surging in her heart. She even wanted to twist Xie Lang's ears and pull her up.
But thinking about what Xie Lang had done today, Shen Mingzhu still suppressed her emotions and pretended not to hear.
【It seems I've found a way to deal with Shen Mingzhu. The next step is to keep that Lvshu away.】
Shen Mingzhu: "..."