Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 844: Chapter 844: Another trip to the palace!
 

Di Yelei engaged in conversation with Prince Qing while walking into the living room.

He glanced back subtly at Liu Sisi, giving her a meaningful look, and with a slight nod, she accompanied Princess Consort Qing into the flower hall.

“…I’ve long wanted to visit Princess Sister and Old Master Marquis but just couldn’t find the time. Today, fortunately, the weather is fine, so Elder Imperial Brother braved the shame to come and pay a visit, specifically to have a chat with Princess Sister.”

Liu Sisi glanced outside at the weather—it was misty, and a breath turned into a puff of white fog, as if it were about to snow. Was this considered good weather?

Despite her thoughts, she didn’t pay it much mind and continued to make idle talk with the two.

Not long after, Princess Consort Qing, with her arm linked through Liu Sisi’s, smiled warmly, “Princess Sister, I heard that your back garden has some crops planted. I’ve never seen such a thing in all my years, and I’m terribly curious. I wonder if Princess Sister would take Imperial Sister-in-Law for a look?”

Liu Sisi paused briefly, then smiled.

“It’s just something I randomly plant when I have nothing better to do. If Imperial Sister-in-Law doesn’t mind, shall I have Ruyu accompany you for a look?”

Princess Consort Qing was eager to agree, and they quickly made their way to the back garden.

“Everything planted here are vegetables that have very short harvesting times. For instance, this asparagus is simply peas that have been sprouted and then planted again. Once they grow to about the length of a chopstick, they can be cut and harvested…”

Liu Sisi explained casually, and sure enough, she noticed Princess Consort Qing behind her was distracted, her gaze frequently falling on the little maid by her side.

She waved the little maid away: “Imperial Sister-in-Law, you didn’t come today solely to see the fruits and vegetables planted by Ruyu, did you?”

Staring into Liu Sisi’s eyes that seemed to see through the ways of the world, Princess Consort Qing’s cheeks flushed, and she hastily clutched Liu Sisi’s hand.

“Dear sister, you really understand Imperial Sister-in-Law’s heart the best. People, you know, are most carefree when they are girls. Once married, there come all sorts of involvements that one cannot control…” As soon as Princess Consort Qing opened her mouth, she went on and on without end.

Liu Sisi frowned repeatedly: “Imperial Sister-in-Law, there are no outsiders here.”

Princess Consort Qing still wore a smile: “Speaking of it, I’m not afraid to be a joke in the eyes of Princess Sister, but in these years since marrying into Prince Qing’s Mansion, I might not be clear about other matters, yet I’ve heard quite a bit about the royal family’s secrets… Princess Sister, do you know who it was that sent people to assassinate Lin Zhaorong when she accompanied Father Emperor up to Imperial Ancestor’s Temple?”

Liu Sisi’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flash of astonishment quickly passing through them: “What are you trying to say, Imperial Sister-in-Law?”

“Imperial Sister-in-Law wants to tell Princess Sister that back then, Empress Yang grew up alongside Father Emperor, attached at the hip, and she was there with His Majesty as they conquered this great kingdom. Father Emperor isn’t a cold-blooded killer, so why was he so intolerant of Empress Yang alone? Why was it that Father Emperor had to eradicate the Yang Family completely?”

“This… Imperial Sister-in-Law, as children, how can we casually discuss matters of Father Emperor? Besides, Ruyu is just a woman and naturally knows even less about such matters.”

Liu Sisi laughed it off while a hint of wariness flickered in her eyes.

What was Princess Consort Qing’s intent in saying all this?

“Indeed, Ruyu reminds me well, and Imperial Sister-in-Law has been far too reckless, nearly making a grave mistake. I apologize to Princess Sister for this.”

Princess Consort Qing said with a gleeful smile, ready to proceed with the apology right away.

Liu Sisi quickly propped her up: “Such formality from Imperial Sister-in-Law would truly aggrieve Ruyu. We are family, so please never be so formal in the future.”

Princess Consort Qing also stood up in agreement, and after some heartfelt talk, Prince Qing finally took Princess Consort Qing to say their farewells.

Di Yelei watched the departing carriage and took the lead in returning to the study, “How was it? Did Princess Consort Qing say anything to you?”

“She didn’t say much, just chatted for a while.”

Liu Sisi also conveyed the key points of Princess Consort Qing’s words, “What exactly do you think Princess Consort Qing meant by what she said?”

“She mentioned Empress Yang, and also brought up the matter of your birth mother from those years. Could she be trying to tell you that the person who sent the assassin after your birth mother was Empress Yang?” Di Yelei went straight to the point of the conversation.

“I’ve thought the same. My mother was merely a beautiful songstress. Even if she had given birth to a son who ended up in the position of the third rank consort, surely that wouldn’t warrant Empress Yang taking action against my mom, would it?”

Liu Sisi voiced her thoughts, “You must know that while my mother was pregnant with me, Princess Consort Virtue was also with child and gave birth to Prince Qing before me. She could tolerate a Princess Consort giving birth to Prince Qing, who might inherit the throne, so why couldn’t she tolerate a songstress giving birth to a child? Moreover, whether this child was a boy or a girl wasn’t yet known. Was it worth her taking such a big risk, risking the extermination of her clan to assassinate my mother?”

In general, a child born to a songstress would never be in line for the throne!

Di Yelei tilted his head to look at Liu Sisi and narrowed his eyes slightly, “Sisi, have you ever considered a question.”

“What question?”

“Was your mother really a songstress?”

“Of course she was a songstress! Zhao Dun personally told me so. Later, Father Emperor also said…”

“No, no, no, that’s not right. Sisi, don’t just look at the surface of things.”

Di Yelei waved his hand, “I’ve also seen a portrait of your mother. Don’t you think, given your mother’s temperament, that she really doesn’t seem like a songstress? Could such talent and looks truly be nurtured in a mere brothel?”

Not a songstress?

Liu Sisi had never considered this question and was momentarily stunned.

If the Concubine Princess Mother was not a songstress, then why would Father Emperor say she was born from a songstress?

“Perhaps he had his compelling reasons. Also, your foster mother, who is actually your mother’s dowry sister, follows a custom prevalent only among noble families that allow concubine daughters to accompany legitimate daughters in marriage,” Di Yelei continued, seemingly with some reluctance, “Actually, I’d noticed these inconsistencies long ago but didn’t pursue further, considering your birth mother has been dead for many years…”

“You’ve long since noticed something was amiss?”

Liu Sisi’s voice was a bit hoarse as she processed the possibility of her birth mother being from a noble family. So these people were so apprehensive about the child in her womb!

“I did notice,” Di Yelei didn’t deny, “However, today Prince Qing also mentioned that it seems Empress Yang’s madness is worsening.”

Empress Yang, Empress Yang…

That’s right, how could she have forgotten her!

The people who would know the most about her mother’s true identity, aside from Zhao Dun and Zhao Wu from those years, would probably include Empress Yang!

She suddenly stood up from her chair, “Summon someone! Someone hurry and prepare the carriage, I must go to the palace!”

Before, she didn’t know and had been living in haze. Now that she knew, she must uncover the truth. And also find where her mother’s remains were buried so she, as a child, could naturally pay her respects.