Chapter 396: Luring the Snake Out of the Cave (3)

Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

“Oh?” A trace of surprise flashed across Lady Wan of Bright Deportment’s eyes.

Although they were biological siblings, Lady Wan of Bright Deportment had lived in the palace for a long time and did not see her brother often. Even if she saw Master Xiao Wu, they would not talk about business matters. Therefore, it was reasonable that Lady Wan of Bright Deportment did not know her relationship with Master Xiao Wu.

“It’s Shopkeeper Cui from the White Jade Restaurant…” Yu Wan told her about Shopkeeper Cui introducing Master Xiao Wu to do business and how the Yu family had entered the Wei Manor to host Old Mrs. Wei’s banquet.

Others who flew up the branch and became a phoenix would put aside the past as soon as possible, but Yu Wan did not humiliate herself with this. When she talked about her past experiences with others, she did not feel embarrassed at all.

Lady Wan of Bright Deportment’s eating of the plum slowed down. Her gaze landed on Yu Wan’s fair face. The facial features of the eighteen-year-old girl gradually grew. She was so beautiful that there was no flaw at all. Every eyebrow seemed to be brimming with youth.

Lady Wan of Bright Deportment had also been this age, but she could never go back.

“Actually, I’ve heard my husband mention Her Highness before,” Yu Wan said with a smile, as if she hadn’t noticed Lady Wan of Bright Deportment sizing her up.

Lady Wan of Bright Deportment nodded. “What… what did the Princely Heir say about me?”

Yu Wan smiled and said, “The Princely Heir said that he saw Her Highness when he was very young. Her Highness even fed him.”

When Yu Wan said this, she sized up Lady Wan of Bright Deportment’s expression without blinking. She did not say which year, but as long as Lady Wan of Bright Deportment had indeed poisoned Yan Jiuchao, it was impossible for her not to feel guilty when she heard this.

However, to Yu Wan’s surprise, there was no strange expression on Lady Wan of Bright Deportment’s face. She only thought for a while in confusion and muttered, “Is that so? I don’t remember when it happened.”

Yu Wan lowered her eyes. Could it be that she was thinking too much? Was Lady Wan of Bright Deportment innocent? Was the culprit someone else?

“You eat too.” Lady Wan of Bright Deportment picked a plum and handed it to Yu Wan.

Yu Wan took it in her hand. Her eyes moved and she smiled. “I went to Grand Marshal Xiao’s manor a few days ago and heard from the servants in the manor that Your Highness had stayed in the manor before.”

She had not heard it from the servants, but from Old Cui. However, Lady Wan of Bright Deportment could not guess it. After all, she had not been in the Xiao Manor for many years and did not know the direction of the Xiao Manor.

Lady Wan of Bright Deportment paused and put down the plum in her hand. “Ah, that was before I entered the palace. It was because Old Mrs. Xiao was lonely that she asked me to stay in the manor to accompany her for a few days.”

“Old Mrs. Xiao likes Your Highness very much. If not for Mother, Your Highness would have already married Grand Marshal Xiao.” Yu Wan had the expression of a young girl asking for gossip.

The villagers were insensible and did not know what to say and what not to say. Moreover, she was at a curious and ignorant age, so it was not strange for her to speak without thinking. If she really caused trouble, she would at most be scolded. Besides, she might not be able to cause trouble.

Lady Wan of Bright Deportment’s eyelashes trembled as she said in amusement, “Who spread these rumors? Although I’ve lived in the Xiao Manor for a period of time, I’ve stayed in Old Mrs. Xiao’s room and I’m not familiar with Grand Marshal Xiao. Don’t believe the rumors. It’s fine if you ruin my reputation, but it’ll be bad if Grand Marshal Xiao and Mrs. Xiao’s residence are in chaos.”

These words were said flawlessly, and her expression was extremely magnanimous. Could it be that the marriage back then was Old Mrs. Xiao’s wishful thinking? Lady Wan of Bright Deportment did not have feelings for Xiao Zhenting?

If Lady Wan of Bright Deportment had no feelings for Xiao Zhenting, then there was no reason for her to harm Yan Jiuchao. As they spoke, the Ninth Princess ran over excitedly, saying that someone was looking for Yu Wan.

Yu Wan walked out to take a look. It was Shangguan Yan.

“Isn’t it all because of Cong’er? He was worried about his new wife and insisted on coming over with an illness. It was such a hot day, I was worried that he would get sick on the way, so I said that I would come. He told me to take good care of Ah Wan, not letting her lose a single hair!”

In the Empress’s meditation room, Shangguan Yan explained why she was here in embarrassment.

Others would not do such a thing. Putting aside romantic feelings, Shangguan Yan was the Empress Dowager’s ex-daughter-in-law. Why did she come here? However, since she was already here, she could not chase her down the mountain. Thinking of Yan Jiuchao’s personality that could give out red eggs in the throne room, the Empress and the Emperor felt that he would do such an embarrassing thing.

The meditation room was full. Just as the Empress was thinking about who to arrange for Shangguan Yan to stay in, Worthy Consort Xu said magnanimously, “Why don’t I move to Consort Zhen’s room and give the meditation room to Mrs. Xiao?”

Among the women, other than Yu Wan who was in the same room as the six-year-old Ninth Princess, the others were all in the same room. It was not good to let Worthy Consort Xu squeeze with others, so Consort Yu and Consort Zhen suggested that the two of them stay in the same room and give the empty meditation room to Shangguan Yan.

The two of them were good sisters in the palace. The Empress nodded in agreement. Shangguan Yan stayed in Consort Yu’s meditation room, which happened to be next door to Yu Wan.

The Emperor chatted with the abbot late and sent Eunuch Wang with news. The abbot would preach the scriptures for the Emperor alone tonight and talk to everyone tomorrow. He definitely had something important to discuss. No one cared how important it was. They only knew that they were all exhausted after climbing all afternoon. They could not ask for anything more than to rest in the meditation room. They thanked the Buddha repeatedly in their hearts and lay on the bed to sleep happily.

Of course, there were also people who could not sleep. For example, the Ninth Princess, who had slept all the way on Fu Ling’s back, and Yu Wan, who did not even pant.

The Ninth Princess could not sit still. This was the first time she left the palace ever since she grew up. The sky outside seemed to be bluer than the palace.

“There’s a garden at the back of the temple. There are some wild fruits inside. If you don’t mind, I’ll go pick them for you,” said a seventeen or eighteen-year-old monk.

The Ninth Princess blinked at Yu Wan. She wanted to pick it herself. Yu Wan also wanted to walk around and held the Ninth Princess’s hand. The Ninth Princess jumped around excitedly!

Yu Wan smiled and said, “Don’t be anxious. I’ll ask Mrs. Xiao if she’s going.”

The Ninth Princess resisted the urge to fly to the garden and obediently waited for Yu Wan to knock on the door next door.

“What’s wrong?” Shangguan Yan opened the door and asked.

Yu Wan said, “The Ninth Princess and I are going to pick fruits. Mom, do you want to come with us?”

Shangguan Yan had come up in a palanquin and had not exhausted her stamina. She was in good spirits now. When she heard that they were picking fruits, she immediately agreed. She left Xingzhu, who was on her last breath, to look after the room and walked towards the courtyard door with Yu Wan.

Coincidentally, Lady Wan of Bright Deportment brought the female envoy out for a walk.

Yu Wan’s eyes moved and she said loudly, “Fu Ling, go to Grand Marshal Xiao’s meditation room. Tell him that my mother and I want to pick fruits and ask him if he wants to go.”