After Xie Liangchen fell into the water in Dai State, her past mories gradually began to return, including the years she grew up in Yuezhou.
At that ti, she was called Li Suining.
The person who got off the carriage was ng Changshu, the daughter of ng Su, who was the Governor-General and concurrently the Governor of Yuezhou. Governor ng’s mother resided in Yu Yao, and when ng Changshu fell seriously ill while visiting her grandmother in Yu Yao, she was brought to the Li Family for treatnt, staying there for a few days for convenience.
Her adoptive parents, in order to protect Xie Liangchen, did not allow her to et outsiders, thus Xie Liangchen only had a fleeting encounter with ng Changshu. After recovering from her illness, ng Changshu visited the Li Family twice.
The adoptive parents used Xie Liangchen’s frail health as an excuse to prevent her from eting ng Changshu.
After Old Mrs. ng passed away, ng Changshu seldom went to Yu Yao.
Before the epidemic in Yuezhou, ng Changshu even sent a few dical books from the Capital City to the Li Family couple.
In her past life, Xie Liangchen didn’t rember these things and was unaware of her connection with ng Changshu, yet she rembered clearly what happened to ng Changshu later.
ng Changshu married Ji Yuan, who later accomplished much in Jiangnan due to the ng Family. ng Su died at sea, and after ng Changshu suffered a miscarriage, she fell seriously ill and passed away within a few years.
Xie Liangchen knew Ji Yuan all too well. Thinking back, ng Su and ng Changshu’s deaths might not have been that simple. If Ji Yuan had not assud ng Su’s authority so early, Ji Yuan would not have been valued by the Emperor and would not ultimately be tasked with leading troops against Song Xian.
Xie Liangchen and ng Changshu exchanged greetings and imdiately noticed a probing look in ng Changshu’s eyes, shifting from inquisitive to certain, and with a touch of joy.
"Miss ng," Xie Liangchen spoke first.
"Do you rember ?" ng Changshu exclaid with surprise, "Are you really Suining?"
Miss Xu didn’t know what "Suining" ant as ntioned by ng Changshu. The two before her seed both unfamiliar and oddly familiar.
Miss Xu asked, "You two know each other?"
ng Changshu nodded, "We had a fleeting encounter during childhood. At the ti, I didn’t know Suining was her."
Miss Xu grew increasingly confused.
ng Changshu looked at Xie Liangchen. She had heard her grandmother speak of Prince Guangyang’s granddaughter, who was said to have been raised by the Li couple in Yu Yao, fad for their dical knowledge, who caught illness while saving others during the epidemic.
When her grandmother was seriously ill, ng Changshu stayed in Yu Yao to care for her and later suffered from a sudden illness herself, thanking Mr. Li from Yu Yao for providing a good redy. Her grandmother had asked her whether the Li family that treated her was the sa family caring for Prince Guangyang’s descendant.
What an unlikely coincidence, she had thought, yet her father’s letter indicated otherwise, suggesting the epidemic in Yuezhou and Yu Yao was not a natural disaster but the result of foul play likely stemming from Xiao Xingzong. The Huaiji County Magistrate was secretly investigating Liao spies, making it easy for Xiao Xingzong to use the epidemic against them, and Prince Guangyang’s people who secretly helped nearly fell victim as well. After the court knew that Prince Guangyang’s descendants were still alive, they sent people to Yu Yao to investigate.
ng Changshu once interacted with the Li Family couple, leading her father to suspect that the caregivers of Prince Guangyang’s granddaughter could very well be the ones who treated her illness.
ng Changshu had seen the Li family’s young lady, nad Li Suining. After hearing of the Li couple’s passing and that Miss Li was missing, she always worried about Miss Li’s safety.
Could Miss Li really be Prince Guangyang’s descendant? Even if Miss Xu hadn’t sent her an invitation, ng Changshu would et Miss Xie to clarify this matter.
Upon seeing Xie Liangchen, ng Changshu examined her carefully, her features faintly resembling Miss Li’s.
Yet, at that mont, ng Changshu couldn’t be certain until she saw the joyful look in Xie Liangchen’s eyes, confirming she’d not made a mistake.
Who would have thought to et an old acquaintance here after so many years, and that the once Li Suining would now be Xie Liangchen. ng Changshu felt a wave of emotion.
Miss Xu, unaware of the inner details, and ng Changshu unable to explain imdiately, said, "I’ll share with you later when I have ti, sister."
ng Changshu, known as a talented lady since young, might have helped at the poetry gathering if she were familiar with Xie Liangchen, making Miss Xu feel today’s event might take an unexpected turn.
"This is Miss Li, whose father serves as a drafter at the Dragon Pavilion." Without needing Miss Xu to speak, ng Changshu introduced Miss Li to Xie Liangchen.
ng Changshu said, "Miss Li’s given na is Ru Chu, we call her A Chu, similar to my own na, so sotis we don’t know if we’re calling her or ."
As she spoke, the Secretariat’s daughter from the Cao Family arrived.
The two Miss Cao’s imdiately went next to Miss Xu, the young ladies exchanged greetings.
"Is this Miss Xie?" asked the Third Miss Cao in a low voice.
Miss Xu nodded.
The Fifth Miss Cao said, "I was just about to have her clean the carriage, thinking she was a servant here, but fortunately, Sister Xu’s steward reminded she was Miss Xie’s aunt."
"Thanks to Sister Xu’s help, we avoided much trouble."
After these words, Miss Xu felt slightly better.
As more guests arrived, Miss Xu was surrounded by more people, with the ladies sitting and chatting in the flower hall, Mrs. Gao accompanied by several maids offered tea and pastries.
The courtyard suddenly beca lively.
Taking advantage of the lack of attention, ng Changshu drew Xie Liangchen aside to speak: "Back then, Mrs. Li said your body was frail and unfit to et guests, was it because..."
Xie Liangchen nodded, "My adoptive mother was afraid outsiders would learn of my identity."
ng Changshu understood there must have been many untold stories, but every person has sothing that cannot be easily ntioned, so she refrained from probing deeply: "Who would have thought... sigh... Mr. Li and Mrs. Li were good people. They took great care of during my ti in Yu Yao. I heard you were selling dicinal herbs and opened the Familiar dicine Institute in Chen Family Village; it must be because you learned dicine and pharmacology from them."
Xie Liangchen nodded, "In Zhenzhou I also t a teacher who taught diagnosis and dicine making. He was instruntal in establishing the Familiar dicine Institute."
ng Changshu was happy for Xie Liangchen. She glanced back at the flower hall, "What made you think of holding a poetry gathering? You just arrived in the Capital City, unaware of the local situation. All eyes are on you, and so may harbor ulterior motives, which might lead to trouble if not handled well."
Xie Liangchen looked at Miss Xu, "Miss Xu is helping organize it."
ng Changshu sighed inwardly. The Xu Family was the Empress’s maternal family, their intentions couldn’t be questioned lightly, and she hoped Miss Xu truly ant well.
"Sister Chen," Miss Xu suddenly called out, "It’s getting late, shall we begin?"
Xie Liangchen nodded and walked over with ng Changshu.
Miss Xu said, "Let us follow the usual custom, taking turns composing poems, and those deed the best written will be counted at the end to see whose poems are most nurous, what do you think?"
Everyone agreed enthusiastically.
Miss Xu looked at Xie Liangchen, "As the host, why not start with you, Sister Chen?"
All eyes turned to Xie Liangchen.
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