Chapter 181

Chapter 181: Shameless

[Unless Imperial Father carried guilt, and even fear.]

[But what had Imperial Father feared? Was Imperial Father only afraid Sheng Zhi Wan’s cleverness would surpass his own children? That was impossible. Sheng Zhi Wan was only a woman. Even if Sheng Zhi Wan learned the truth one day, Sheng Zhi Wan could not do much, and Sheng Zhi Wan could never overthrow his rule.]

[Then Imperial Father must have feared someone else. Who? Someone on Late Crown Prince’s side? Sheng Zhi Wan felt like Sheng Zhi Wan had almost caught something.]

Empress Dowager’s words cut through Sheng Zhi Wan’s thoughts. “Girl, you already know everything you wanted. Now tell Grandmother. Where did you get this Guardian Blessing Bell?”

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Empress Dowager and said, “What is Grandmother afraid of? Why did Grandmother hate Imperial Father?”

Sheng Zhi Wan had seen the hatred in Grandmother’s eyes. Sheng Zhi Wan did not know who it was aimed at, but under Heaven, who could make Grandmother endure and swallow it down, or rather, who could force Grandmother to endure it, besides Imperial Father?

So Sheng Zhi Wan asked directly, as a test.

Empress Dowager’s pupils shrank. “You foolish girl, what nonsense are you saying? Your Imperial Father is my son. What mother hates her own son?”

That was what Sheng Zhi Wan could not understand the most.

Empress Dowager turned away and snapped, “Enough! If you refuse to tell me, then I will not ask. Leave!”

Sheng Zhi Wan sighed softly, then lowered her voice and told Empress Dowager what the old woman at Azure Cloud Academy had said.

“Grandmother, my mother was not a brothel prostitute.” Sheng Zhi Wan said, “My mother very likely was a Tang Family miss. Imperial Father lied to you about this. Then what about other things, like-”

“Shut up!” Empress Dowager clutched her chest, gasping.

Sheng Zhi Wan reached out, wanting to take Empress Dowager’s pulse.

But Empress Dowager turned away at that moment and called, “Xiu Gu! Send the Princess out of the palace!”

“Grandmother!” Sheng Zhi Wan frowned.

Empress Dowager did not even turn her head back. Empress Dowager walked straight out, and the gold bell was shoved back into Sheng Zhi Wan’s hand.

Sheng Zhi Wan gripped it tightly in silence.

Nanny Xiu said, “Princess, this servant will see you out.”

Sheng Zhi Wan sighed in her heart. Sheng Zhi Wan placed the kneepads she had brought, made from red fox fur, beside the bed, then followed Nanny Xiu out.

Once outside the palace, the carriage rocked as it went farther and farther from the Imperial Palace. Sheng Zhi Wan rubbed the gold bell, and the guesses of so many years were finally confirmed.

It was like the blade hanging above her head finally fell.

No wonder Imperial Father never scolded Sheng Zhi Wan the way he scolded the other princes and princesses. Even Imperial Father’s gaze toward Sheng Zhi Wan had always been different.

Back then, Sheng Zhi Wan had stood among the other princes and princesses, yet Sheng Zhi Wan could still feel Imperial Father’s distance.

So that was why. Imperial Father was not Sheng Zhi Wan’s birth father.

[Then what about her past life? When Sheng Zhi Wan had been stripped of status and made a commoner, had it truly been because Imperial Father feared the military power in Qi Shu Xian’s hands? Or had Imperial Father simply followed the flow.]

[Or perhaps Qi Shu Xian had dared to let Meng Yang grind Sheng Zhi Wan down to death because it had been… Imperial Father’s will?]

The snow outside had stopped, but after snowfall, the cold bit even deeper. Sheng Zhi Wan pulled the cloak tighter around herself, yet Sheng Zhi Wan still felt thin threads of chill crawling in through the seams.

A voice called out from outside as the sound of hooves on snow stopped. “Whoa-”

Ting Lan poked her head out and asked, “Young Master Shang Er?”

A man’s voice came. “Is the Princess inside?”

Sheng Zhi Wan came back to herself and lifted the curtain.

Shang Xing Yu sat on horseback. When Shang Xing Yu saw Sheng Zhi Wan, Shang Xing Yu’s eyes lit up. The smile at the corners of Shang Xing Yu’s eyes spread at once as Shang Xing Yu said, “Gathering Sages Teahouse has new pastries. I bought several extra boxes. I happened to run into Princess, so I wanted to give one box to Princess to try. Would Princess be willing to accept it?”

“Gathering Sages Teahouse pastries?” Ting Lan perked up the moment food was mentioned. Ting Lan said eagerly, “They say they only sell to the first thirty people every day, and people start waiting before each batch comes out! If you want to buy a box, you have to line up at least half an hour early.”

“Are they even better than Auntie Wang’s wontons?” Liu Shang swallowed hard.

Ting Lan nodded heavily.

Sheng Zhi Wan let out a soft laugh and said, “Then I will thank Young Master Shang Er for the kind gesture.”

After speaking, Sheng Zhi Wan nodded to Ting Lan.

Only then did Ting Lan climb down from the carriage and take the delicate food box from Shang Xing Yu.

The small box had the mark of Gathering Sages Teahouse printed on it.

Shang Xing Yu handed the pastries to Ting Lan, then urged his horse forward and rode away, as if meeting Sheng Zhi Wan here had truly been pure chance.

Not far away, at the entrance of a wine house, Qi Shu Xian watched the scene. Qi Shu Xian’s fist tightened little by little.

Shang Xing Yu. Again it was Shang Xing Yu!

Sheng Zhi Wan had actually accepted something from Shang Xing Yu in public!

That shameless woman. Without shame. How long had it even been since the divorce? Sheng Zhi Wan already could not endure the loneliness?

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes were dark and fierce, his whole body reeking of wine.

After leaving the Duke Residence, Qi Shu Xian had been stifled and had come here to drink.

Third Prince wanted to burn the cotton, and Qi Shu Xian did not want that. Qi Shu Xian told Meng Yang he was unhappy only because that cotton represented the hope of Mo Bei commoner surviving, not because that cotton belonged to Sheng Zhi Wan.

But was that really true?

Qi Shu Xian did feel sorry for that cotton, and Qi Shu Xian also felt Third Prince should not let countless commoner die just for silver, but… if that cotton had not been Sheng Zhi Wan’s, would Qi Shu Xian still have been so trapped?

Perhaps Qi Shu Xian would have been, but Qi Shu Xian would not have been this stifled.

So stifled that even after making up his mind, Qi Shu Xian still came here to drink himself senseless.

Even just a moment ago, Qi Shu Xian had wanted to use the courage of wine to go find Sheng Zhi Wan and warn Sheng Zhi Wan. Third Prince was working for His Majesty. Sheng Zhi Wan needed to call back the people in Mo Bei, stop opposing Third Prince, and stop ruining His Majesty’s great plan.

Qi Shu Xian had already walked to the door…

Who knew Qi Shu Xian would see this instead?

Qi Shu Xian gave two hollow laughs. Qi Shu Xian stared at the carriage as it went farther away, coldness filling his eyes.

Fine, Sheng Zhi Wan. If Sheng Zhi Wan was heartless, then Qi Shu Xian would not be kind either.

Qi Shu Xian turned around and walked back toward the Duke Residence.

Mo Bei, Ji Zhou Prefecture.

Du Yi Zhi was discussing matters with the section chiefs of the eighteen houses of the Northern Du Branch.

The actions taken by Prefecture Ya Men a few days ago had still left the Northern Du Branch uneasy. They feared that in the next instant, those “horse bandits” who had escaped would rush into their homes.

Du Yi Zhi was there to steady their hearts.

Du Yi Zhi talked at length about the benefits the Northern Du Branch would gain after the cold disaster ended.

The clan alone was not enough. Each house, based on its contribution during the cold disaster, would naturally earn its own credit.

Du Yi Zhi’s words made the section chiefs’ hearts pound, especially the young men they brought with them. Their blood ran hot.

“Yi Zhi Cousin, my family has three brothers and many servants. Wouldn’t it be a waste to only go to the counties below to inform the commoner?”

“I wonder if Yi Zhi Cousin has other tasks to give us?”

“My family too! I have four brothers!”

“Yi Zhi Cousin, I may be young, but I can still work…”

The people of the eighteen houses fought to show themselves, no longer timid and retreating as they had been when they arrived. Du Yi Zhi was very satisfied.

Du Yi Zhi cleared his throat and said, “Uncles and cousins, you have all seen it. Right now, Prefecture Ya Men is working hand in hand with the Southern Du Branch. Why? Because they look down on Du Yi Zhi! They want to use this to force Du Yi Zhi out of Ji Zhou, but they are gravely mistaken!”

Du Yi Zhi’s eyes swept across them. “Because I am not only working for the Princess. I am working for that one!”

Du Yi Zhi pointed toward the sky.

Their eyes turned fever-bright at once.