After many years, Nanny Lai’s heart was not without regret.
If she hadn’t left back then, would she not have been separated from the young lady?
Would the young lady not have encountered misfortune?
But if she hadn’t gone to divert the enemies, none of them would have survived. She had no choice at the ti and had gone with the mindset of sacrificing herself to distract them.
She hadn’t expected there to be so many enemies. She led away a part of them, but a small portion still pursued the young lady.
At that ti, the young lady was with Li Niang’s family. Finding Li Niang was equivalent to finding the young lady!
...
Qu Fulan fell silent after hearing Mrs. Li’s words.
Unexpectedly, the original owner was truly a princess.
But it ultimately ca too late. If her true identity had been discovered while the original owner was still alive, would she not have died?
She would have beco a noble princess. The Xiao Family would naturally not dare to bully her, and she wouldn’t have had to live so arduously.
But alas, fate plays tricks on people.
It couldn’t be blad on the original owner having such an ending. After all, in the original story, it was always a tragedy; the original owner was dood to a tragic end.
"This matter is of great importance and must be reported to the Emperor imdiately," Pei Ji’an said.
Mrs. Li didn’t understand, "How is this related to the Emperor? Why report it to the Emperor?"
Indeed, Mrs. Li only knew that Qu Fulan had been left at the temple entrance by Li Niang and knew her biological mother had died. She didn’t know anything else.
But now was not the ti to explain these matters. Pei Ji’an said, "Once we et the Emperor, everything will be clear. Please, Aunt, be a witness and accompany us to see the Emperor."
Mrs. Li felt daunted at the prospect of eting the Emperor but nodded nonetheless, "What about Li Niang..."
"We will set off to find Li Niang right away," Pei Ji’an said.
When it involves the royal lineage, not a single witness can be spared.
But when they reached Li Niang’s bun shop, they heard that she had already been taken away.
"Taken by a very formidable group of soldiers, no one knows what offense she could have committed."
People in the vicinity were discussing.
Just as Qu Fulan and the others were puzzled over who had taken Li Niang, Shi Yi appeared, looking anxious.
"Master, the Emperor went to Li Niang’s residence..."
Pei Ji’an and Qu Fulan were both stunned for a mont, then hurried to Li Niang’s house.
...
"It was I who personally buried her. At that ti, she had a difficult childbirth and bled profusely... She held my hand, seeming to have many things to say, but in the end, she could not utter a word, trembling as she handed this Jade Pendant..."
Every word Li Niang spoke caused the Emperor to sob, and by the end, he was clutching the morial tablet and crying uncontrollably.
Nanny Lai knelt on the ground, also crying without restraint.
She could no longer see her, never see the young lady again...
When Qu Fulan and the others arrived, they saw this scene. She said nothing but stepped forward to kneel before the tablet, bowing her head.
Even though she was not the original owner, having taken her place, she ought to bow to her birth mother.
At this point, the truth of everything had beco clear.
The original owner was without a doubt a princess.
The dead cannot co back to life; after their grief, the Emperor and others took away the morial tablet and ashes.
A few days later, the Emperor proclaid to the world that Princess Mingzhu had returned, posthumously bestowing the title of late Empress on her mother. Though she was not recognized by the royal family before, now that he was Emperor, his acknowledgnt of her identity was enough; their daughter was rightfully Princess Zhuyu.
Regarding Princess Mingzhu’s background, the Emperor also had the Ministry of Rites provide the most reasonable explanation, which was made public, leaving no room for fault.
With this, the Capital City was thoroughly stirred.
The discussions about Princess Zhuyu among the people were very enthusiastic, but with the Ministry of Rites’ guidance, everyone spoke only good things.
But for so who relished speaking ill of others behind their backs, this mont was uncomfortable.
The Young Lady Pei is indeed a princess?
The one they previously resisted was a princess?
Good heavens, what now?
Before they could think of a way, preparations for the banquet to see off the envoys resud, with the Emperor having instructed in advance that not a single person who attended the last ti could be absent.
So accounts needed to be settled.
No one who had resisted Princess Zhuyu attending the banquet or spoken ill of her behind her back would be spared.
Now these people couldn’t even pretend to be sick to avoid it; they attended the banquet with nervous and apprehensive hearts.
Especially Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Xiao, who were the worst, even stumbling as they got off their carriages, overwheld with tension.
During the banquet, the Emperor first praised his daughter publicly, extolling her as unparalleled both in heaven and on earth.
At first, listeners thought it exaggerated, but after hearing the Emperor list her accomplishnts one by one, they didn’t think so anymore.
"You all know the ’Flower Garden Ode’ restaurant, right? But you don’t know it was Princess Zhuyu running it behind the scenes, and she was the first to invent milk tea. And then there’s Journey to the West, which she wrote as inspired by a divine dream..."
As the Emperor bragged about his daughter, he seed like an ordinary proud father, without any trace of his lofty deanor.
Seeing this, the other concubines, princes, and princesses were filled with envy and jealousy, yet they could do nothing about it.
Others, hearing about Princess Zhuyu’s capabilities, couldn’t help but praise her. Although part of it was just echoing what was said, Princess Zhuyu’s abilities were indeed real. Not to ntion, her magic acts left a deep impression on everyone.
After all, without her, they would have been embarrassed by the princesses from other countries.
Truly deserving of being a royal descendant, just a bit more impressive than others.
After heaping praises on his daughter, the Empress turned to criticize those who gossiped behind her back.
"I’ve heard that previously many people opposed Princess Mingzhu attending the banquet; the royal banquet is never dictated by the wives of officials, how outrageous!"
Then, the Chief Eunuch nad the participants one by one, led by Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Zhang, along with other ladies, totaling around ten who were involved in the resistance.
"Mrs. Xiao, Mrs. Zhang, how dare you!" the Emperor reproached angrily.
Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Zhang were so frightened that they imdiately knelt and kowtowed to the Emperor, as did the other involved ladies, all pledging never to do it again.
Their husbands, watching this scene, felt utterly humiliated. To be reprimanded in public by the Emperor, what face was left? In the future, they’d have to keep their heads down even in the presence of their peers.
Xiao Shiqing only then realized what his mother had done, and seeing how illustrious she was now, his feelings were indescribable. No wonder she disliked him so much...
Qu Fulan was aware of Xiao Shiqing’s gaze but pretended not to see it.
Those who truly cared for her would always be there to vent her frustrations and solve all troubles the first mont, like the Emperor and Pei Ji’an. Only Xiao Shiqing, no matter how pleasant his words, was always more trouble than help. For such a person, staying away was best.
After the Emperor fiercely vented for his daughter during the banquet, he wanted to take her to see King Jie. He wanted King Jie to see that his daughter was living well and had nothing to worry about.
But before going, he also needed to discuss it properly with his daughter to get her permission.
"Oh, dear daughter, how about going to a place to et soone with your father?"
"What place and whom to et?" Qu Fulan hadn’t yet adapted to the Emperor calling her ’dear daughter’ every ti, but since he insisted, she couldn’t correct him and just gradually got used to it.
The Emperor clasped his hands inside his sleeves and said leisurely, "The dungeon, to see King Jie." After a pause, he reluctantly added, "Bring along that young lad from the Pei Family too."
That young lad from the Pei Family?
Qu Fulan was montarily confused about who it was.
Even Pei Ji’an beside her was a bit puzzled. Was that young lad from the Pei Family referring to him?
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