Women housed outside the imperial estate or in the residences of the wealthy were generally referred to as "outer consorts," and their fates were typically grim.
Even a princess of the Wu clan, upon arriving in Zun Nation, became a caged songbird, living in captivity.
What kind of life was it, being kept in an outer residence? Freedom of movement was restricted, every action was controlled, and one had to be wary of trouble from the noble ladies in the palace.
If one's mood was poor, life would not be good, and how could their health be any better?
Yet, it was at this time that the Wu clan princess became pregnant with the Emperor's child once more.
The late Emperor, already in his forties, naturally cherished this child. However, he did not wish for the child's mother to continue living in the outer residence, without any official status, which would be detrimental to the child.
Thus, the late Emperor planned to bring the Wu clan princess into the palace. However, this matter was met with widespread opposition, not only from the court officials but also from the noble consorts in the inner court.
As the Emperor, he could not disregard the entire court for his personal desires. While the Emperor was in a dilemma, the Empress offered a suggestion: outwardly, they would announce that the Empress was also pregnant. Though it was somewhat embarrassing for an old hen to lay eggs, it was better than for the child to be born without proper lineage and legitimacy.
The Empress at the time, now the Empress Dowager, understandingly appeased the Emperor, suggesting he claim the child as his own. Being born late in life, and as the legitimate heir, the child's status would naturally be noble, and the Wu clan princess could rest assured.
The late Emperor found this idea excellent and conveyed his intentions to the Wu clan princess. The princess, being sensitive, became disheartened upon hearing that her child would not be raised by her, her health and spirit declining.
She knew she would likely never return to the Wu clan, and her child could not be with her. The flame of hope in her heart gradually extinguished. She barely survived the delivery, and her condition deteriorated. Despite all efforts, the child could not be saved. Before the child even reached its first month, the Wu clan princess passed away.
Pitiably, she did not even have a grave when she died. The royal burial grounds would not accommodate a woman of her unknown origin. They were forced to cremate her, and her ashes were kept at Ganzhao Temple.
"I never doubted my own origins. Until the late Emperor passed away, I always believed I was the Empress Dowager's biological son, sharing the same mother as the current Emperor," Qi Yihan shook his head. "It wasn't until one year, when I accidentally overheard a private conversation between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, that I learned I was the son of the Wu clan princess."
Li Man'er felt a pang of sympathy and clasped his hand. "So your personality changed drastically from that point on?"
"I endured for two years. This matter weighed heavily on my heart, becoming a recurring nightmare. It wasn't until two years later, in the military camp, that it erupted. That night, I had a nightmare and woke up in a daze, like I was possessed, and began slashing wildly with my sword," Qi Yihan frowned. "I remember it clearly; it was raining heavily that day."
"Did the Emperor and the Empress Dowager know that you knew your true identity?"
Qi Yihan shook his head. "For so many years, they guarded me and used me, while I, in order not to reveal myself, never visited her at Ganzhao Temple."
Who "her" referred to was self-evident.
Li Man'er asked again, "The蛊 poison on you? Was it administered by the Empress Dowager?"
"The Empress Dowager has an old wet nurse by her side, originally from Miao territory. That 蛊 worm has been with me for many years, and in recent years, it has recurred frequently."
Li Man'er did not quite understand. "Was it to control you? But the symptoms of 蛊 poison are unlike ordinary illnesses. Weren't they afraid you would become suspicious and discover the truth?"
"They believed they understood me."
This sentence carried immense information.
Fearing she wouldn't comprehend, Qi Yihan explained in detail, "The Emperor's children are gradually growing, and the empire is stable. Their vigilance towards me is not as strong as it was in the past few years. They believe that I am a sentimental person and would not harm my own brother or nephews. However, the secrets of the Wu clan hold immense attraction for them."
"The secrets of the Wu clan?"
"The late Emperor spent his entire life trying to pry these secrets from my mother's lips, and the current Emperor, of course, has not given up. The Wu clan is believed to be a race that served gods. They think the secrets of the Wu clan might grant them immortality."
Immortality?
Li Man'er couldn't quite grasp it. "But you were less than a month old when your mother passed away. How could you know the secrets of the Wu clan?"
"It is naturally related to bloodline. When my mother left the Wu clan, there were still a hundred people in their tribe. But later, I heard that a disaster occurred, and not a single one survived. Now, in this world, perhaps only I carry the bloodline of the Wu clan. They are using the matter of the Wu clan's great tomb and its treasures, as well as the mountain's mineral veins, to make me search for the great Wu tomb. They also wish to use my bloodline to uncover the secrets of the Wu clan."
This made everything understandable.
Li Man'er mused that perhaps the Wu people were not wiped out by disaster; they were likely slaughtered because they refused to divulge the secrets of their clan.
The ruthlessness of those in power was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. For the sake of ephemeral immortality, the late Emperor had deceived the Wu clan princess, and the current Emperor had even annihilated the Wu clan!
Li Man'er said, "Let's set this aside for now. What is happening in Mobei?"
"The Emperor has long been aware of Xiao Ruidi's ambition. There are imperial spies in Mobei, and no matter how much the Xiao family tries, they cannot completely conceal Mobei. As soon as Elder General Xiao disappeared, I received the news and began making arrangements in Mobei. Many people were already dissatisfied with Xiao Ruidi's practice of using commerce to support the military, and I secretly won them over. Xiao Qiniang was the same; she became a hidden pawn for revenge long ago, relaying to me events happening within the Xiao family and the prefecture. Now, a small portion of Mobei's troops have defected to my command, and some are loyal to Elder General Xiao. As for the three Xiao brothers, their internal strife is fierce and they counterbalance each other, preventing any significant uprising."
"Xiao Ruqin has a violent temper and no grand ambitions, making him unlikely to achieve much. Xiao Ruoduo is not long for this world, so he cannot contend for results. Even Xiao Ruidi's schemes would be rendered useless as long as Elder General Xiao is alive. It was also your good fortune that you accidentally cured his leg to its current state, slowing his actions and giving us time to rescue Elder General Xiao."
Xiao Ruidi could never have dreamed that Li Man'er would ruin his army of a hundred thousand barbarians in such a short time. What he also couldn't have imagined was that Qi Li, a seemingly brilliant move, was dealt with by Li Man'er before he could even emerge.
Everything seemed like a coincidence, yet also as if it were preordained.
Li Man'er was the one who broke the deadlock.