Chapter 12: The Walking Paper Effigies

Chapter 12: The Walking Paper Effigy

If one were to say Zhao Shiqing’s luck was truly exceptional, it was because before she had even fully steadied herself outside the manor, she saw the very people Zhao Yunnuan had mentioned.

One, two, three, four, five, six—six people in total. The leader was a cripple, skin and bones, wearing clothes that looked far too large for his frame. As the wind blew, his garments billowed, looking as though they might be swept into the nine heavens at any moment.

Most striking of all was his face. Even the paper from Chengxin Hall wasn't this white; there wasn't a trace of color on his entire face except for his eyeballs. Even his lips were white.

Her sister had said this man's eyes were very bright. Bright, my foot! They were blood-red. If eyes could spit fire, this man's eyes would already be raging infernos.

Zhao Shiqing admired her sister; how could she possibly look at that inhuman face and see a resemblance to Consort Xiao!

Although Zhao Shiqing had never met Consort Xiao, someone who could be named the *Tanhua* (third scholar) and marry a princess must certainly be a handsome man. Even if he were old now, he would be an old handsome man.

But the person before her—forget it. To say he looked like a ghost would be inaccurate because Zhao Shiqing had never seen a ghost, but she had seen the paper effigies burned for the dead. This man was a walking paper effigy!

While complaining inwardly, Zhao Shiqing stepped forward to greet them. Regardless, she had to fulfill her duties as a host.

Besides, if this person truly was Xiao Zhen, he would be exactly the pillow the Liang Prince's Mansion needed right now.

To demonstrate her tolerance and friendliness, Zhao Shiqing even made a gesture, signaling the personal guards to sheath their drawn swords.

With a wave of her hand, a small hawk whistled through the air and landed on her left shoulder.

Zhao Shiqing looked at her empty right hand. Huh, it seemed something was missing.

Right, Xiao Su. That fellow Xiao Su must be visiting the Grand Princess and Consort Xiao right now. She had been negligent; she should have brought Xiao Su along.

Forget it, this would have to do. This mediocre entrance was enough to overshadow that paper effigy.

Zhao Shiqing had underestimated herself. The moment the hawk landed on her shoulder, let alone Xiao Zhen, even the personal guards' jaws dropped.

It was nothing new for nobility to play with or raise hawks, but the person before them was a delicate little girl.

Meng Hu, who was responsible for protecting Zhao Shiqing, instinctively rubbed his eyes. Had he really misseen? Was there truly an eagle perched on the Second Miss's shoulder? Though the hawk wasn't large, it was still an eagle.

Regardless, Meng Hu knew Zhao Shiqing, whereas Xiao Zhen, gazing at the young girl not far away, furrowed his brows.

Who is this?

He had seen Zhao Yunnuan today, but this girl was clearly not her. Could she be one of Zhao Yunnuan's subordinates?

Xiao Zhen had arrived at Wisteria Manor this morning. Initially, seeing that the manor was not heavily guarded, he hadn't lingered, and upon entering, he had broken in through the back door. He hadn't expected his timing to be so poor; Zhao Yunnuan had arrived leading the personal guards just as he did. Seeing the unfavorable situation, Jiang Ping and the others had hurried Xiao Zhen away for protection.

Afterward, Li Xi had disguised himself to gather information outside the Liang Prince's Mansion, learning that early this morning, the Grand Princess Zhao Yunnuan had led the personal guards away from the mansion toward Wisteria Manor.

Only then was Xiao Zhen certain that the woman he had clashed with at Wisteria Manor today was his enemy from his previous life, Zhao Yunnuan!

Although the Liang Prince had three children, the Heir was residing in the capital, the second son Zhao Tingxuan was a mere "embroidered pillow" (useless), and the Princess Consort was sickly. After the Liang Prince's death, the one truly in control of the Liang Prince's Mansion was the Grand Princess, Zhao Yunnuan.

In his past life, it wasn't until Zhao Yunnuan married into the capital that the Liang Prince's Mansion truly passed into Zhao Tingxuan's hands.

And in his past life, by the time Xiao Zhen had the power to avenge his parents, Zhao Yunnuan—who had once commanded the Liang armies with unrivaled authority despite being a woman—had already died amidst the infighting of the inner court.

She had died a most pathetic death.

In his past life, he only knew his parents died on the fifteenth of the fourth lunar month, but he didn't know the exact hour. However, when he arrived this morning, he could sense from the atmosphere of the manor that his parents should still have been alive at that time.

Thinking of this, Xiao Zhen could no longer care about his own physical condition. Ignoring the objections of Da Zhuang and the others, he had stubbornly come.

He hadn't expected that before seeing Zhao Yunnuan, he would encounter a strange little girl.

At this moment, the strange girl in Xiao Zhen's eyes had already taken the initiative to greet them: "Greetings, heroes! A pleasure to meet you!"

As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face (though she wasn't actually smiling). Xiao Zhen was prepared to go down with them, but when those fire-spitting eyes met a pair of clear, harmless eyes, it was like punching a bag of cotton. Xiao Zhen suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

While he remained silent, Zhao Shiqing had plenty to say.

Before Xiao Zhen could even examine her closely, her face turned sorrowful.

"Heroes, have you come to offer condolences for my late father? Although the mourning hall is not set up here, I must still thank you all for your thoughtfulness."

As she spoke, Zhao Shiqing bent her knees in a half-bow.

Xiao Zhen: "..."

Zhao Shiqing sniffed. She smelled a strange scent; it should be the smell of medicine, but she wondered what kind of medicine could produce such an odor.

Her sense of smell and taste were both extremely keen, but to Xiao Zhen, this small action of sniffing was merely the prelude to weeping.

Xiao Zhen's brow furrowed even deeper. Who was this woman?

She had just said "my father." Whose father was she referring to?

Condolences, a mourning hall... the only person dead here was the Liang Prince. But the Liang Prince had two sons and one daughter. This girl certainly wasn't Zhao Yunnuan, so who was she?

Xiao Zhen felt somewhat lost. Since he began remembering his past life, despite his efforts to change certain things—such as leaving Mount Shiji early or ensuring Xiao Yue was prepared—some things remained identical to his previous life, such as being rescued from a cliff by the Yao family and the passing of the Liang Prince.

However, the number of the Liang Prince's children should not have changed. In his past life, he had investigated thoroughly: the Liang Prince had no illegitimate children, only two sons and one daughter, all born to Princess Consort Nie.

Had the Liang Prince fathered an extra daughter in this life?

Could she be an illegitimate daughter from an outside mistress, much like Xiao Yue?

It couldn't be helped; before remembering his past life, Xiao Zhen was like most young noblemen in the capital—studying and practicing martial arts. His knowledge of the Liang Prince's Mansion was limited to the Heir, Zhao Tinghan, who was a walking medicine cabinet, spending most of the year bedridden.

Zhao Shiqing, however, had no idea that in a single glance, she had become an "illegitimate daughter" in Xiao Zhen's eyes. She was still wondering why this paper effigy was staring at her so intently; how incredibly rude.

"Hero, sir hero?"

Just as Zhao Shiqing was about to reach out and wave a finger at him, she heard a pleasant voice—so pleasant that it didn't sound like it was coming from the mouth of the paper effigy before her.

"My surname is Xiao. Xiao Zhen."