The farce that had unfolded outside the Ninth Princess’s residence spread like wildfire. In particular, Duke Anguo had been beaten by the two granddaughters he himself had claimed, and Xi Qingyue had publicly berated him in front of everyone. He had lost every bit of dignity.
Many of the common people mocked and despised Xi Daniu. By association, the Crown Prince’s Consort’s reputation was also ruined.
The entire Duke Anguo’s residence became the subject of endless gossip. Some said Xi Daniu had abandoned his wife and daughters. Others said the Crown Prince’s Consort had shamelessly become a concubine. Still others accused Duke Anguo of putting on airs. There were all kinds of rumors, and the entire ducal estate had been pushed into the eye of the storm.
When the people of the Grand Tutor’s residence learned of the relationship between Duke Anguo and Xi Qingyue, every one of them gnashed their teeth in hatred. They wished they could flatten the entire ducal estate.
In the palace, Consort De was so furious that she smashed everything in the hall into pieces, yet still felt no relief.
“My son died, and we haven’t even found a clue about the murderer. But my nephew and my father were both killed by those two sisters. Why haven’t they been arrested? What is the Jingzhao Prefecture doing? Are the Imperial Guards nothing more than decorations? And the Ministry of Justice—aren’t they always eager to claim credit for handling cases? Why aren’t they going to arrest those women?”
The more she spoke, the more vicious her gaze became. She wished she could leave the palace that very moment and execute the sisters, Xi Qingyue and Xi Weilan, on the spot.
“Your Highness, please calm down. Your health is the most important thing,” the nanny beside her urged anxiously, afraid that Consort De might faint from anger again.
Consort De let out a cold laugh. “Calm down? How do you expect me to calm down? My entire family has been slaughtered, yet His Majesty remains unmoved. He keeps claiming that he loves me, but it turns out it was all a lie. I’m going to write a letter to my elder brother. He’s still fighting Beiyue at the border. If my son cannot sit on this throne, then no one else will!”
The nanny was horrified. Her mistress had actually said such treasonous things. It seemed she truly had been driven mad with rage. Was she planning to rebel?
Consort De did exactly as she said. She immediately had ink, brush, and paper prepared and began writing her letter.
At the same time, at the Duke Anguo’s residence…
Inside the Jingyi Pavilion, Bai Ruoshu stood beside the bed with an ashen expression. Lying on the bed was Xi Daniu, whose legs had been crippled.
She looked down at the immobile man and let out a cold laugh.
“Song Wenliang—no, that’s right, you’re Xi Daniu now. You know better than anyone what really happened. Your Song family truly doesn’t take me seriously. Even if you wanted to acknowledge the children, you could have done it quietly. I never stopped you from bringing them back. But instead, you made a huge spectacle of it and let everyone know. Now I’m the one being called a shameless mistress who threw herself at a married man. And you’ve even lost your memory? Ask yourself honestly—who is the person who truly suffered from amnesia?”
As old matters resurfaced, Bai Ruoshu found it increasingly difficult to suppress her anger.
She had thought she would gradually forget some of the things that had upset her, but the gossip outside had brought everything rushing back. Standing beside the bed, she sank into memories of the past.
Four years ago, she had been the eldest daughter of the Minister of Revenue’s household. Her aunt was Consort Bai in the palace, the consort who had given birth to the earliest-born prince. Her cousin, the First Prince, had been the first prince to be granted the title of king—Prince Kang.
Originally, her parents and her aunt had planned to strengthen the bond between their families by arranging a marriage between the two young people. But just as the idea had been raised, something happened to her.
During the Lantern Festival, she had been abducted without warning. Several old women drugged her unconscious, placed her in a carriage, and took her out of the city, traveling north.
She had tried to escape, but unfortunately struck her head and injured it badly. As a result, she lost all her memories.
Those women had originally planned to deliver her to the border between the two countries. But seeing that she had become slow-witted and had lost her memory, they decided to take the easy way out and abandoned her in a small county town.
When Xi Daniu found her, she was curled up in a corner of an alley while a group of beggars beat her because she had picked up a steamed bun.
She had been grateful to Xi Daniu. He had saved her when she was at her most miserable and in desperate need of help, preventing her situation from becoming even worse. But at the same time, Xi Daniu had taken advantage of her vulnerability.
At the time, her head injury had affected her intelligence. Xi Daniu cared for her with gentleness and patience, causing her to become dependent on him. More importantly, while they were both drunk, Xi Daniu had slept with her.
Back then, she had obeyed his every word and felt no resistance toward him.
By the time she had fully recovered her mind and memories, everything had already happened, and she was heavily pregnant.
Her feelings for Xi Daniu were complicated. There was gratitude, love, and even hatred among them. In the end, however, she had chosen to forgive him. She did not want her child to be born without a father, and Xi Daniu had truly saved her and treated her well. At that time, she had not known that he already had a wife and daughters.
When the people from the Minister’s residence came to take her home, they noticed that Xi Daniu’s appearance resembled Duke Anguo’s and began to suspect that he was connected to the ducal family. Thus, they did not stop the two of them from returning to the capital together.
The result was a happy one for everyone. The Minister of Revenue’s residence had found their missing daughter and gained a son-in-law, while the Duke Anguo’s residence had recovered the son they had lost many years ago.
As for the suffering Bai Ruoshu had endured, very few people knew about it, and she had been unwilling to let certain matters come to light. She had merely claimed that she had fallen in love with Xi Daniu after he rescued her and that the two of them had eventually become husband and wife. But deep in her heart, a knot still remained.
Now, hearing the people outside curse and insult her, she had been unable to swallow her anger. That was why she had come to Xi Daniu and mocked him.
“Ruoshu, I’m sorry. Back then, I simply liked you too much. I fell for you the moment I saw you. Aren’t things fine between us now? We even have Qian’er. He is the only heir to the ducal estate,” Xi Daniu said from the bed. Though he could not move, he hurriedly tried to soothe her when he saw her anger.
Bai Ruoshu stared at him for a long time without speaking. Sometimes, she could not tell whether the devotion in this man’s eyes was genuine or merely an act. Had he ever been this gentle with the wife and daughters he had left behind at home?
At that thought, she turned and walked out without saying a word. She intended to meet the two sisters in person.
The ducal estate and those two children had a grudge between them, but there were some matters she needed to make clear. She would not bear blame for things that were not her responsibility.
Xi Qingyue was surprised when she received Bai Ruoshu’s calling card. She did not think there was anything for her to discuss with the Crown Prince’s Consort, but she agreed to the meeting anyway.
She wanted to see exactly what this Crown Prince’s Consort was planning.
Lu Qianning did not stop her. She knew Xi Qingyue was capable of handling matters herself. And even if she could not, Lu Qianning would be there to support her.
An hour later, Bai Ruoshu left the ducal estate discreetly and arrived at the princess’s residence.
She was led to Brightmoon Hall, the reception hall of the princess’s residence.
She did not have to wait long before Xi Qingyue and Xi Weilan arrived. Lu Qianning came with them, carrying Xi Weilan in her arms.
“Your Highness, this subject’s wife pays her respects to the princess!” Bai Ruoshu said, bowing respectfully.
“There’s no need for formalities. Sit down and talk. I’m only here to accompany Weilan. You two can discuss whatever you need to discuss.”
As she spoke, she carried Xi Weilan over to a chair and sat down.
Bai Ruoshu did not stand on ceremony either. After taking her seat, she began studying the sisters. This was her first time seeing them. Neither of them resembled Xi Daniu in the slightest. Perhaps they took after their mother.
The sisters also looked at Bai Ruoshu curiously.
Xi Qingyue was puzzled. This woman’s appearance and bearing were both extraordinary. She did not look like some simpering little white lotus. How had she ended up shamelessly throwing herself at a married man several years ago?
