Capítulo 915: Chapter 729: Xiao Leizi’s Origins
Yuan Bao is a swift and efficient person, handling the affairs of the Guo Residence, ensuring not to leave any gossip behind, and then hastily returning to the Heavenly Palace with Princess Liyang.
The Southern Emperor’s Traveling Palace, the Heavenly Palace’s critical location, is inaccessible even to Zhoulin Imperial Capital, yet Yuan Bao passes through without any obstruction, hence he is such a favored figure in front of Zhou Mu and Gu Changsheng.
In a banquet hall of the Heavenly Palace, Gu Changsheng, who has returned from the Imperial Palace, sits at the head, watching his young protege practice calligraphy beside him.
Meanwhile, Zhou Zongbao circles around the vendor selling clay dolls, almost dizzying the vendor with his perplexed expression.
“Young Master professes to love beauties but not kingdoms, who else but me? Never did I expect to meet a like-minded individual today!” Because at home his wife once said she regretted teaching her husband to strive for glory, he truly did not seek high office; such a person, even the well-informed Zhou Zongbao found quite unexpected.
“Master Bao, stop spinning; if you keep turning, I’ll get dizzy.” Borjigin Nian rubbed his eyes still in disbelief, forgetting how many circles he had spun around Wang Man.
The clay doll vendor was genuinely about to faint from the spinning; since entering the Heavenly Palace, he’s been surrounded by wave after wave of people. Initially, he felt fearful and didn’t know where to place his hands and feet, but now he had grown accustomed.
Habits are such terrifying things; in this Heavenly Palace, any female official would strike fear outside, yet here he—a vendor selling clay dolls—was treated as an honored guest…
Wang Man felt that this day was too surreal.
But more surreal was when Yuan Bao arrived with Princess Liyang, Wang Man was truly startled!
“Princess Liyang, Zhou Nuanyang, pays respect to the Southern Emperor, may the Southern Emperor’s grace last for a thousand autumns, and may your beauty remain evergreen.”
Zhou Nuanyang walked gracefully forward, although her attire clashed with the grand opulence of the hall, her demeanor was so flawless, surpassing those vain imitators many times over!
Princess Liyang?
Princess Liyang!
Wang Man stood up from his seat in shock, while Gu Changsheng also stood up from the Dragon and Phoenix Chair in disbelief, his gaze intensely focused on Princess Liyang’s features.
If she heard correctly, the messenger earlier reported that the one to meet was Wang Man’s wife, wasn’t it?
The clay doll vendor Wang Man’s wife is Princess Liyang?
Princess Liyang, the legitimate daughter of Prince Hui from Great Zhou, presumed dead more than three years prior? The same little imperial sister from the evildoer’s mouth?
Yet, how did she come to look like this? So similar to her own Xiao Leizi?
Gu Changsheng finally understood why Zhou Mu was determined to visit that street, and why he showed special regard for this clay doll vendor Wang Man, even promising him lifelong prosperity if Wang Man rejected the offered position!
Turns out, he accepted the commandery princess!
But that’s not the point!
“Princess Liyang, do you have a missing sister in your family?” Noticing Princess Liyang’s age exceeds that of his Xiao Leizi, Gu Changsheng asked woodenly.
“Why does the Southern Emperor ask this?” After being asked this question twice today, Princess Liyang glanced at Yuan Bao standing not far away, puzzled.
At this point, being found by the imperial family is inevitable, there’s no escaping it; Princess Liyang had already come to terms with it.
“Someone, go call Xiao Leizi!” Gu Changsheng frowned without answering, instructing those around him.
The female official responded and left to fetch someone from the kitchen.
Wang Man stared in disbelief, his eyes wide as he looked at the woman standing in the grand hall, though she wore plain attire, every inch of her posture exuded nobility. It was the woman he knew best, yet now seemed so unfamiliar…
“My wife…” Wang Man mumbled.
Princess Liyang’s body stiffened at the words, her face turning pale.
She took a deep breath and turned to look at the man sitting among the guest seats, undeniable concern in her eyes, “I’m sorry, husband, I’ve hidden this from you; I’m not a maid released from a wealthy family, I’m Princess Liyang, appointed by the Great Zhou imperial family, granddaughter of His Majesty, daughter of Prince Hui, sister of Prince Rong, I…”
Wang Man’s face had turned as pale as snow; he was a street vendor selling clay dolls, with no stable property, his home being two straw rooms. Suddenly, a heavenly wife fell into his life, living together for three years, yet he remained unaware that his cherished wife was, in truth, a noble princess; this contrast…
“I’m terribly sorry, terribly sorry, husband, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I simply wished to avoid being embroiled in palace intrigue, a pawn in the power struggle. I just want a peaceful life like ordinary people, a husband farming, a wife weaving, to nurture our children, and live harmoniously forever. I truly didn’t deliberately hide it from you, I…” Princess Liyang spoke as tears welled up in her eyes, anxious to step toward Wang Man, but she held back; she feared rejection…
A noble princess, choosing to humble herself would be one thing, but now she fears her concealment may cost her husband…
Gu Changsheng stood on the high steps of the Nine-Layer Terrace, his eyes flickering as he watched the two below, lost in thought.
“Mother, why does this aunt look so much like Aunt Lei? Is she Aunt Lei’s family?” The young protege bit the penholder, tugged his mother’s sleeve, and softly asked.
“I didn’t know. Your Uncle Wood found them and brought them back. I originally thought that maybe he just appreciated talent. But now it seems, I was right at the time, your Uncle Wood has ulterior motives,” Gu Changsheng shook her head and spoke softly.
The evildoer at her house isn’t someone who would waste his energy nurturing people. There is likely only one possibility: he originally went for Princess Liyang!
And this Princess Liyang, with her Xiao Leizi at home…
Gu Changsheng suddenly widened her eyes as she realized something. It suddenly dawned on her, the words Xiao Leizi recited three times a day, her mother…
My mother says… My mother says…
The words that hung on Xiao Leizi’s lips all day long had once become Gu Changsheng’s nightmare. From Xiao Leizi’s words, Gu Changsheng vaguely understood that Xiao Leizi’s mother was a person of sensibility and understanding. She had initially thought Xiao Leizi’s mother might be some fallen young lady…
Now it seems, her guess back then wasn’t groundless!
Gu Changsheng suddenly had an epiphany!
Recalling that day when Zhou Mu, after encountering the peddler selling clay dolls, rarely brought up childhood memories, she originally thought her evildoer was in a good mood to stroll. But now thinking about it, it wasn’t so!
Things in this world that look similar aren’t entirely absent, but Gu Changsheng does not believe in pure coincidence!
Yuan Bao looked at his wife with a meaningful glance, his eyes clearly conveying he was also quite shocked indeed!
Gu Changsheng had actually crammed a lot about the Great Zhou Royal Clan’s people, knowing Princess Liyang’s identity, and naturally understanding the identity of the imperial aunt in the evildoer’s mouth…
The Eldest Princess Jinyang, who once had a poignant romantic encounter with Fat Du’s father, Elder Du, and the Eldest Princess Jinyang who died unexpectedly before her political marriage!
This…
Gu Changsheng suddenly felt a bit of a headache!
No wonder last life in Shandong, there was a warlord with so many children he couldn’t even count or recognize them all. Damn, this Imperial Family is truly like a pot of porridge, so messy, so messy!
She needs to carefully sort this out!
“My dear, now that you’re with the Southern Emperor, how can you still lack proper decorum? There are outsiders here, how can you be winking and rubbing your head?” Xiao Leizi walked in from the back hall carrying a tray, looking at his wife with disapproval. “My mother said, ‘Reside long in the fragrant room, and you shall embody its aroma.’ You’ve been with the Southern Emperor for so long, why haven’t I smelled any imperial fragrance?”
Xiao Leizi had just missed encountering the female officials she went to meet. She had newly made some pastries and quickly brought them over, learning her wife was entertaining guests.
Anyway, any guests entertained by his wife are surely not outsiders, and those older companions dare not talk of decorum in front of his wife. They’ve gotten used to it, still acting as if they’re in Liuzhou City.
“Xiao Leizi… your mother…” Gu Changsheng paused the hand rubbing her forehead.
Princess Liyang, upon seeing someone speak to the Southern Emperor in such a manner, stopped conversing with her husband and looked over here. With just one glance, Princess Liyang was stunned.
The girl coming over, with fair peach blossom cheeks, looks very much like someone she used to know!
“My dear, she?” Wang Man was also stunned. This girl indeed looks like his wife. Seeing his wife’s expression, she seemed unrecognizable.
Gu Changsheng watched her Xiao Leizi place the tray properly, then step forward to lower her hand from her head. She looked at Princess Liyang standing on the throne and then at her Xiao Leizi, and stammered, “Xiao Leizi, it’s your mother giving me headaches…”
Residing long in the fragrant room, if she gets startled a few more times, she reckons she won’t have any imperial aura left!
“My mother?” Xiao Leizi was puzzled, thinking his wife was acting up again, smiled, and turned to the person on the throne to offer a courtesy. “I beg your pardon, my Lord is quite the carefree person. Sir repeatedly reminded us to be mindful. If we neglect you, please do not blame us.”
Blame the Southern Emperor? Are you out of your mind?
Gu Changsheng sniffed at this, maintaining her non-violent, non-cooperative stance toward her foster father’s relentless quest to educate her as a qualified Southern Emperor!
However he pleases, let the old man do as he wishes!
“Your mother is the imperial aunt of my Palace…”
Before Xiao Leizi could rise from his courtesy, he heard a voice full of doubt from the throne.
Xiao Leizi was stunned, seeing the speaker’s appearance, he was also taken aback.
As their eyes met, both were momentarily bewildered.
“Your mother is the legitimate daughter of The Current Emperor, the Eldest Princess Jinyang, my imperial aunt!” Princess Liyang stepped forward in excitement, her eyes filled with a hint of undisguisable joy, “I understand now! I finally understand! Sixteen years ago, why did the imperial aunt feign death and leave the palace? It was because of you! Because of you!”