Chapter 170

Chapter 170: Not a Palace Maid

Sheng Zhi Wan waited quietly in the hall for the time it takes to finish a cup of tea. Soon, an elderly man with gray robes and hair half-silvered slowly walked in.

She motioned An Zhi and the others to stand guard outside.

The door was left open, yet the moment the attendants stepped away, the elderly man’s dignified expression changed into excitement. “Princess, have you composed any new chess puzzles lately? There’s one puzzle I’ve been stuck on for ages. Princess, please help!”

He eagerly drew out a paper from his book.

Liu Shang stumbled in surprise, wondering if she’d heard correctly.

[Did Grand Scholar Du really just ask Princess to help him with chess?!]

But Liu Shang didn’t dare eavesdrop on her mistress’s conversation, so she stepped even further away.

Sheng Zhi Wan knew Grand Scholar Du’s personality well. Back then, she’d convinced him to take Qi Shu Lang as his student using a difficult chess puzzle.

But today she had other matters, so she gently pushed away the puzzle.

“Master Du, have you heard that Qi Shu Lang has been expelled from the Academy?”

Grand Scholar Du sighed, as if expecting her question. “I planned to send word to you after today’s classes. The boy was always somewhat arrogant, yet I never imagined he’d bully a poorer student.”

Grand Scholar Du explained the morning’s events.

The Azure Cloud Academy did not sort students by wealth or rank, but by academic progress and potential to pass imperial examinations.

Qi Shu Lang, hailing from Duke Qi’s household and tutored privately by Grand Scholar Du, had advanced rapidly into the competitive Class C. In that same class was a poor student named Tang Si Yu.

Tang Si Yu and Qi Shu Lang were of similar age. Usually, Qi Shu Lang outperformed Tang Si Yu, but during last month’s exam, Tang Si Yu surpassed Qi Shu Lang, greatly displeasing him.

Upon discovering that Tang Si Yu’s only relative, his grandmother, regularly delivered vegetables to the Academy’s kitchen, Qi Shu Lang waited along her route early that morning to cause trouble.

The confrontation ended badly—the elderly woman, terrified, fell down a flight of stone steps and remained unconscious even now.

“The physician said her health was already poor from old injuries. Even without the fall, she wouldn’t have lasted long,” Grand Scholar Du shook his head sadly. “Still, the Academy can’t tolerate Qi Shu Lang’s heartless behavior. He must go.”

Sheng Zhi Wan frowned thoughtfully.

At this moment, a student hurried toward them but was stopped by Liu Shang. After exchanging words, Liu Shang quickly approached them.

“Princess, Grand Scholar Du! A student outside urgently seeks Master Du, saying Auntie Tao’s condition has worsened.”

Liu Shang didn’t know Auntie Tao’s identity and simply relayed the message.

Grand Scholar Du stood immediately. Sheng Zhi Wan guessed this Auntie Tao must be Tang Si Yu’s grandmother.

“Qi Shu Lang entered the Academy because of my recommendation. I’ll come along too,” she said calmly. Perhaps she could help.

They quickly reached the small lodging behind the Academy.

Even before entering, quiet sobs from a young boy could be heard. The physician emerged from the room, shaking his head gravely.

Sheng Zhi Wan entered behind Grand Scholar Du.

A slender boy knelt beside the bed, clutching the elderly woman’s hand tightly, pressing the rough hand against his cheek.

“Grandmother, please don’t go! You promised you’d see me pass the exams and become an official…”

The old woman’s eyes were cloudy. She tried speaking, but her words remained trapped inside. Her gaze wandered, finally landing on Grand Scholar Du before freezing suddenly upon Sheng Zhi Wan’s face.

She weakly reached out a trembling hand.

Sheng Zhi Wan hesitated, then stepped forward.

“Princess…” Ting Lan whispered nervously, alarmed. Approaching someone on the verge of death was unlucky.

“Wait outside,” Sheng Zhi Wan said firmly. She sensed the woman had something important to say.

Ting Lan was pulled out by An Zhi. Liu Shang respectfully guided Grand Scholar Du away before he could react.

The old woman’s gaze grew brighter with each step Sheng Zhi Wan took, like a candle burning brightest just before it extinguishes.

“Si Yu…you must leave too!” the woman gasped.

Though reluctant, the boy obeyed his grandmother, stepping out slowly with frequent glances backward.

Once alone, the old woman lifted her head slightly, desperately trying to see Sheng Zhi Wan more clearly.

Sheng Zhi Wan frowned deeply.

“Just like her…so much like her…Young Lady!” the old woman rasped, smiling weakly.

“Like whom?” Sheng Zhi Wan stepped closer.

Suddenly, the old woman grabbed her hand. Sheng Zhi Wan nearly pulled away, startled by the prickling pain on her skin, but before she could, the old woman tugged up her right sleeve.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s heart jolted.

A pale, crescent-shaped birthmark appeared clearly on her inner arm.

The old woman stared, wide-eyed.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s throat was dry.

This woman clearly knew her! Or at least, she knew something. Otherwise, how could she know exactly where her birthmark was?

“Who are you?” Sheng Zhi Wan pulled back her arm sharply. “How did you know about my birthmark?”

The old woman collapsed back onto the bed without Sheng Zhi Wan’s support, yet she began to laugh weakly, tears soon mingling with her laughter.

“You are indeed her child… Young Lady’s child! Is Young Lady still alive?” Her gaze pleaded desperately.

Sheng Zhi Wan was not gentle-hearted by nature, yet the woman’s look touched something hidden deep within her.

She tightened her lips. “My birth mother died when I was born.”

“Your Highness?!” The old woman gasped at the title.

“I am Princess Qing Ning. My birth mother was merely a palace maid. Who exactly are you?”

“No! That’s impossible! Young Lady wasn’t a palace maid—never!” The old woman shook her head stubbornly. “She was from the Tang family in Lin Prefecture—Tang Ming Yu…”

“That day…” The old woman trembled violently, haunted by dark memories. “That day, masked assassins stormed the Tang residence, cutting down everyone—seventy-two people. Only I survived because Young Lady hid me in a water vat. The rest…they all lost their heads. Even the eldest young mistress’s newborn wasn’t spared…”

Sheng Zhi Wan steadied the trembling woman gently. “Then your Young Lady…did she die too?”

“No! Young Lady vanished!” The old woman clutched Sheng Zhi Wan again. “She must have survived to give birth to you! You are her daughter!”

“I am Princess Qing Ning,” Sheng Zhi Wan insisted.

“No, you are Young Lady’s child. That birthmark proves it—only those from the Tang family have it,” the old woman said fervently.

Suddenly recalling something, she said, “Yes! Young Lady left something with me!”

Her shaking hand fumbled within her clothes until, finally, she pulled out a worn silk pouch.