Chapter 2: 2. Chapter 2: The Second Young Miss Has Returned

Chapter 2: The Second Miss Returns

Ten years later, the Prince Liang's Mansion.

"Second Miss has returned!"

A young maidservant came running in to report the news. Upon hearing this, Princess Consort Liang, née Nie, moved to rise, but her younger sister, Nie Qionghua, pressed her back down with one hand: "She's returned, does that mean you, as her mother, have to personally welcome her?"

Princess Consort Liang thought it made sense and leaned back against the bolster pillow again.

A moment later, the Eldest Princess Zhao Yun'nuan and Zhao Shiqing, who had already changed into mourning garments, walked in together.

A few days prior, Prince Liang had died suddenly after drinking. At that time, Zhao Shiqing was still on White Crane Mountain.

She had been taken to White Crane Mountain by Murong Linglang at the age of six. Although White Crane Mountain was within Liang territory, Zhao Shiqing only returned to the mansion during festivals. Because of this, she hadn't even been able to see her royal father's face one last time.

Seeing Zhao Shiqing, Princess Consort Liang's eyes reddened: "Why did you only return now? Your royal father doted on you in vain."

"Mother Consort, I am unfilial. I returned too late," Zhao Shiqing choked out, unable to continue.

Nie Qionghua at the side let out a cold laugh: "The person is dead. What use is saying these things now?"

Zhao Shiqing glanced at her, her tone flat: "A loose tongue will grow canker sores."

Nie Qionghua flew into a rage: "What did you say?"

This time, Zhao Shiqing didn't even spare her a glance: "If your ears are bad, go see a doctor."

"You—" Nie Qionghua was about to retort, but Princess Consort Liang coughed lightly. Nie Qionghua could only swallow the words at her lips, rolled her eyes at Zhao Shiqing, turned her face away, and refused to look at her.

Princess Consort Liang sighed and said to Zhao Shiqing: "Since you're back, you'll keep vigil for the Prince tonight. It won't be in vain for his doting on you."

Zhao Shiqing replied: "Yes."

Seeing her obedient attitude, Princess Consort Liang's mood finally improved a little: "Go on then. All of you, withdraw."

Leaving Princess Consort Liang's Suining Palace, Zhao Yun'nuan took Zhao Shiqing's hand: "Don't take it to heart. Father passed too suddenly; Mother Consort can't accept it. She's not just like this to you—she's the same with me and Axuan. As for Second Aunt, she's always been this way. No need to lower yourself to her level."

Though she said this, everyone in Prince Liang's Mansion knew that Princess Consort Liang had always been cool toward Second Miss Zhao Shiqing. After all, Second Miss rarely returned. In terms of closeness, she naturally couldn't compare to the children raised at her side. Besides, Second Miss wasn't Princess Consort Liang's biological daughter.

Zhao Shiqing asked: "When is Eldest Brother returning?"

Zhao Yun'nuan said: "The Left Chief Secretary has written a memorial; someone has already been dispatched at six-hundred-li express speed to the capital. If His Majesty still cares for ethics and propriety, he will allow Eldest Brother to return."

The Heir Apparent of Prince Liang, Zhao Tingzhan, and the Eldest Princess Zhao Yun'nuan were dragon-and-phoenix twins. Zhao Tingzhan had been a hostage in the capital since the age of five; it had been fourteen years now. Zhao Shiqing had never even met this eldest brother.

That night, Zhao Yun'nuan and Second Brother Zhao Tingxuan both had to accompany their younger sister in keeping vigil. Knowing they had already kept vigil for several nights, Zhao Shiqing politely declined and went to the mourning hall alone with her maidservant Lingbo.

Gazing at her royal father's coffin, Zhao Shiqing wept like rain.

She didn't blame Princess Consort Liang for her coldness. After all, she was merely an adopted daughter.

Princess Consort Liang's youngest daughter had been abducted by a child trafficker at age five. The mansion dispatched the imperial guards to search everywhere with great fanfare. The trafficker only then realized this little girl was actually the mansion's little princess; once caught, he would likely face death by a thousand cuts.

Knowing that bringing the child made him too conspicuous, the trafficker immediately threw the child into a dry well and fled.

When Prince Liang led the imperial guards following clues to the scene, all they saw was a tiny corpse lying in the dry well.

In the following days, Prince Liang hunted that trafficker everywhere and incidentally caught a batch of traffickers.

One trafficker confessed that a few days prior, outside the city, he had taken a blind girl from a fellow trafficker and sold her to a beggar in the city who specialized in the "cai sheng zhe ge" trade.

So-called "cai sheng zhe ge" meant maiming abducted children and sending them out to beg, to swindle kindhearted people.

Whether in the imperial court or Liang territory, "cai sheng zhe ge" was a capital crime. Therefore, these villains targeted children who were already disabled.

Hearing that someone in the city specialized in this trade, Prince Liang flew into a rage. He personally led men to arrest that evil beggar and rescued four children, one of whom was the blind girl the trafficker mentioned.

The girl was blind, had several broken ribs, and multiple abrasions all over her body—like a torn rag doll fallen apart.

Seeing she bore some resemblance to his own deceased little daughter, Prince Liang felt a stir of compassion.

He brought the girl back to the mansion. Nie took one look and flicked her sleeves, leaving.

This girl was Zhao Shiqing. She didn't remember her surname or given name, nor where her home was. The physician said she had been fed bewildering drugs by traffickers; her young age meant not becoming an idiot was already a stroke of luck.

Fortunately, not long after entering the mansion, her eyesight recovered. Prince Liang was overjoyed and gave her the name Zhao Shiqing. "Qing" meant clouds parting and mist dispersing. The character "Shi" came from a tiny "Shi" character embroidered inside the tattered clothes she wore when rescued.

Zhao was the imperial surname. Not only did Prince Liang let her bear the surname Zhao, he also registered her name with the Imperial Clan Court. Although she had no Princess title, she was a legitimate clanswoman with a clear path.

A year later, Prince Liang hosted his benefactor Murong Xiang and his daughter Murong Linglang at the mansion. Murong Linglang took a fancy to Zhao Shiqing at first sight and insisted on taking her as a disciple. Thus Zhao Shiqing followed Murong Linglang to White Crane Mountain. The mansion sent people with gifts every month, and even White Crane Mountain was recorded under her name.

Over these years, although she only returned to the mansion during festivals, Prince Liang treated her like his own. Her brothers and sisters treated her as a real sister. Even Princess Consort Liang was merely slightly distant toward her, never speaking harshly.

If one asked who in the mansion bore her the most malice, it was Nie Qionghua. This Second Aunt had been widowed young, had poor relations with her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law, and returned to her natal home in a huff. After only a month at her natal home, she stirred up such discord that her father and brothers insisted on sending her to a nunnery. Life in the nunnery was bitter; Nie Qionghua sent word to her sister far away in Liang territory seeking help. Princess Consort Liang, pitying this full-blooded sister, sent people to bring her to Liang.

When Nie Qionghua first arrived in Liang, she also wanted to remarry. After a few matchmaking sessions, none were satisfactory, so she refused to marry again.

Nie Qionghua stayed in Prince Liang's Mansion for a full fifteen years. Usually she stayed by Princess Consort Liang's side. This was a princely mansion with strict rules; over these years, although Nie Qionghua had a sharp tongue and was unlikable, she never openly stirred up trouble.

Zhao Shiqing collected her thoughts, took the joss paper from Lingbo's hand and placed it in the fire basin. In the firelight, she seemed to see her royal father's face again—stern yet kind.

Just then, faint footsteps approached. Zhao Yun'nuan entered the mourning hall. She offered incense before the coffin, then walked to Zhao Shiqing's side and knelt, asking softly: "You've traveled all day; you must be tired. Let me take over. You go sleep."

Zhao Shiqing shook her head: "I want to keep Father company a while longer."

Zhao Yun'nuan didn't persuade further, silently burning paper money beside her.

Zhao Shiqing lowered her voice and asked: "Sister, how exactly did Father die? Was a coroner summoned to examine the body?"

Zhao Yun'nuan jerked her head up: "You also suspect Father's cause of death?"

She said "also."

"Sister, you suspect it too? Then was there an autopsy? Father hasn't drunk alcohol for many years. Why would he die suddenly from drinking?"

Zhao Shiqing knew excessive drinking could kill, but ever since one incident where drinking caused a mistake, Prince Liang had stopped drinking entirely. Even during New Year's, he substituted tea for wine.

Zhao Yun'nuan sighed, leaned close to Zhao Shiqing's ear, and spoke in a voice only the two could hear: "In fact, Father did drink that day.

That day, Princess Jiayi and her husband, the Prince Consort Xiao, returned to Liang to visit relatives. Before leaving, Father hosted a banquet to see them off. The wine was brought by them—brewed by Prince Consort Xiao's mother herself. So Father only had a small cup.

At the time, Mother Consort, Axuan, and I were all present. Father fell ill after returning to his study following the banquet—about an hour later. From onset to his last breath, it took less than the time to drink a cup of tea. Physician Han didn't arrive in time before he passed.

Physician Han and Coroner Zhang both examined him. They unanimously concluded Father died of a heart ailment triggered by drinking."

Zhao Shiqing looked at Zhao Yun'nuan. The sisters faced each other, seeing their own reflections in each other's eyes.

"Sister, I know there's a drug that can induce heart failure. The former Wu Prince's heir died this way. Sister, you know this too, don't you?"

Zhao Yun'nuan didn't speak. That was tacit admission.

After the founding Emperor of Yong established the dynasty, he named a Crown Prince and granted eight fiefs to his other six sons and two kings of different surnames—historically known as the Eight Great Kings.

The Eight Great Kings' titles were hereditary and perpetual. It had been 120 years. The current rulers of these fiefs, including Prince Liang, were all descendants of the Eight Great Kings.

After granting the fiefs, the founding Emperor had each king send their eldest son or grandson to the capital to study.

It was called study, but in reality they were hostages. However, the founding Emperor still loved his descendants. Most of these heirs returned home after coming of age to learn to manage their fiefs at their fathers' sides.

But during the Retired Emperor's regency, this unwritten rule was broken. At that time, the Wu Prince's heir had already come of age and should have returned to Wu territory. Yet the Retired Emperor bestowed his empress's niece, Lady Wang, as his wife, making them marry in the capital.

Lady Wang gave birth to a "premature" but healthy baby boy just seven months after marriage. Soon after, the Wu Prince's heir died suddenly of a heart ailment after drinking.

The Wu Prince flew into a rage and personally led five thousand personal guards to the capital. Lady Wang took all the blame, admitting she had an affair before marriage and, after giving birth, poisoned her husband when he grew suspicious.

The matter ended with Lady Wang handed over to the Wu Prince for disposal, Empress Wang deposed, the Wang clan's men exiled, and women sent to the Teaching Workshop.

Although no one dared question the Retired Emperor, Lady Wang's frequent palace visits to accompany the Empress before marriage were no secret. The Retired Emperor lost all face.

Though the court officially claimed the Wu Prince's heir died of a heart ailment after drinking, with Lady Wang's confession, his death by poisoning became an open secret.

"Hush—watch out for eavesdroppers." Zhao Yun'nuan lowered her voice.

Emperor Yongjia was suspicious by nature. Who could guarantee there weren't his spies in Prince Liang's Mansion?

Besides, it wasn't only the Wu Prince's heir who died of a heart ailment after drinking—there was also Emperor Xiaokang!

The sisters fell silent again. In the vast mourning hall, only the crackling of flames could be heard.

After a long while, Zhao Shiqing spoke again: "The Emperor won't let Eldest Brother return."

Zhao Yun'nuan was startled: "Returning for a parent's funeral is only right and proper. Besides, Father has passed. As heir, Eldest Brother should return to take over the fief."

Zhao Shiqing didn't continue the topic, but she still felt the heir's journey to the funeral would not be smooth.

"Where are Princess Jiayi and Prince Consort Xiao now?" Zhao Shiqing asked.

Zhao Shiqing tossed a few more gold ingots into the fire basin. The flames leaped up, blazing bright, illuminating the surroundings like an illusion.

"That very night Father passed, the Left Chief Secretary settled them at the Wisteria Villa. I heard Prince Consort Xiao fell ill. Princess Jiayi is staying there to nurse him. They won't return to the capital for now."

Zhao Yun'nuan's tone was light, as if the two people soft-detained by the Left Chief Secretary weren't a princess and prince consort, but just an ordinary couple.

Zhao Yun'nuan paused, then continued: "Princess Jiayi's only son, Xiao Zhen, didn't travel with them. Before they left the capital, Xiao Zhen was summoned into the palace by the Emperor to accompany the Crown Prince in his studies."

"Then what about the Xiao clan? Did the Xiao clan send anyone to mourn Father?" Zhao Shiqing asked.

Zhao Yun'nuan shook her head: "No. Perhaps news of Father's passing hasn't reached Clear Spring yet. Or perhaps the Xiao clan's people are still on the way."

Zhao Shiqing stood up: "Regardless of whether the Xiao clan knows, I must make a trip there. Xiao Su of the Xiao clan—I've beaten him before."

In the murderous mourning hall, the young girl's tender voice actually added a touch of amusement.

Zhao Yun'nuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Xiao Su was the Xiao clan's legitimate eldest grandson and the next clan head.

At last year's Lantern Festival, Zhao Shiqing had fought a youth over a lantern. That youth was Xiao Su.

Xiao Su was beaten black and blue but claimed he'd fallen.

The Xiao clan was once a famous military family with illustrious achievements.

Not just in Liang territory, but in the entire Great Yong dynasty, the Xiao clan was a prominent aristocratic family.

Thirty-odd years ago, the Retired Emperor—then Emperor Xuanqing—personally led a campaign and was nearly captured. To protect the Emperor, eight sons of the Xiao clan went to war; only two returned alive, both severely wounded.

From then on, the Xiao clan withdrew from officialdom, returned to their ancestral home Clear Spring, abandoned martial pursuits for literary ones, and multiplied.

Twenty years ago, the Xiao clan's most outstanding member, Xiao Jingyan, went to the capital for the imperial examination and placed third (Tanhua). Before he could take office, he was recruited as a prince consort. From then on, he could only carefully attend to the princess.

Great Yong's prince consorts held third rank, received salary but held no real post. Their duty was simply to stay by the princess's side, gentle and attentive.

The court still had legends of the Xiao clan, but the court no longer had Xiao clan members.

Today, the Clear Spring Xiao clan had many descendants, but among the younger generation, besides Xiao Su and Xiao Zhen far in the capital, all other children were still minors.

"Whether Father was killed by Princess Jiayi and Prince Consort Xiao or not, the Xiao clan cannot stand by idly!"

Neither Princess Jiayi nor Prince Consort Xiao had any motive to murder Prince Liang. So they were merely being used.

Under heaven, those with the guts to kill Prince Liang could be counted on five fingers.

Now that the Xiao clan was involved, they must be pulled in completely!

Zhao Shiqing acted on her words. She took off her mourning clothes, changed into night attire, left the mansion, mounted her horse. A civet cat appeared from nowhere, nimbly leaping into her arms. One person, one horse, one cat vanished into the night. Hooves clattered, breaking the night's silence.

New book launched, seeking monthly tickets, rewards, shares—seeking everything, acting cute and rolling around~

(End of Chapter)