Song Tangning did not expect Xiao Yan to comfort her. She was momentarily stunned before she whispered, “I’m not blaming myself for that.” Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, “Then what is it?” Tangning opened her mouth, unsure how to explain it to him.
She was only thinking that in her previous life, when her aunt had a falling out with the Song family, she was already pregnant. When she had fought fiercely against the Song family and even helped her aunt run around for help, the child in her womb was already nearly three months old. By the time her aunt “died” from illness, the child was nearly eight months along.
At that stage, her pregnancy should have been obvious and impossible to hide. However, neither Xie Yin nor the Cheng royal family, nor even the people from the Song family ever mentioned that she was pregnant before her death.
How did her aunt really die?
What happened to the child in her womb?
Did that child die alongside her aunt, or did it survive? If it survived, where did it go?
Song Tangning always felt that during the time she was confined in the back courtyard of the Song family, many things happened outside that she didn’t know about. Every time she peeled back a layer, it felt like there was an even deeper layer hidden beneath it. She wanted to sort through the threads but only found her mind in a tangle, making her feel restless.
At that moment, someone suddenly pressed down lightly on her head.
“Don’t overthink it; be careful not to get a headache.” Tangning looked up at the person beside her, remembering the mysterious death of Princess Cheng and the discordant deep feelings of King Cheng. She moved her lips and said, “Brother…”
“Hmm?” Song Tangning hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but had reservations.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan didn’t rush her; he simply looked at her with great patience. His cold, pale face held a hint of indulgence, and when he tilted his head slightly, his jawline created a sharp, cold contour.
After a moment of silence, under his gaze, Tangning finally spoke softly, “I had a dream. I dreamed that my aunt suddenly fell seriously ill and soon passed away.”
“After my aunt left, King Cheng hurriedly buried her. No one saw her body, and no one knew what illness she actually had. The dream was extremely chaotic; I didn’t even get to see my aunt for the last time. I only knew that after my aunt passed away, King Cheng didn’t seem too heartbroken. Not long after, he married a new princess and seemed to be even more affectionate with her than he was with my aunt while she was alive.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan appeared thoughtful. “So that’s why you’re probing King Cheng with the matters of the Song family?”
Tangning lightly replied, “Mm,” avoiding the scrutiny of the person beside her as she spoke. “I’ve been troubled by that dream. I don’t understand why my aunt, who was clearly healthy, would suddenly pass away. I don’t understand how King Cheng and my aunt had such deep feelings for each other but he hadn’t looked at any other woman over the years. Yet, in the dream, why did he seem so callous, even quickly seeking a new love after my aunt was gone?”
“I originally thought it was just a dream and felt it was ridiculous to suspect King Cheng over a dream. But I couldn’t help but want to test him, hoping it would ease my mind. Who would have thought that King Cheng actually deceived my aunt?” Tangning spoke in a very low voice, and the confusion in her tone was genuine.
“He acted with such sincerity in front of my aunt, able to deceive her while being affectionate with her. His feelings for her didn’t seem false at all. Over the years, he hadn’t shown any interest in other women. Even when the old princess made things difficult for my aunt, he would stand up for her.”
“But…” Tangning pressed her lips tightly together, momentarily at a loss for words to describe her feelings about King Cheng.
It wasn’t that the matters of the Song family made her biased against King Cheng; it was that she had personally witnessed him lying in front of Princess Cheng, filled with true feelings while not uttering a single true word. His demeanor, as if wearing a false mask, made it hard for her to believe his feelings for Princess Cheng were genuine.
Xiao Yan’s gaze darkened. “Are you suspecting that King Cheng’s feelings for your aunt over the years were all just an act?”
Tangning pinched her palm. “Do you think my thoughts are absurd, Brother…”
“Not necessarily,” Xiao Yan replied calmly. “I have seen people who excel at acting, able to make a performance seem real to everyone. I’ve also seen individuals who maintain a lie for decades, deceiving others and even themselves.”
“There is indeed something strange about the relationship between King Cheng and your aunt. However, if he was entirely putting on a facade, if his deep feelings for your aunt were also an act, then the reason he could maintain it unchanged for over ten years is probably worth pondering.”
Tangning couldn’t help but look up. “Then what do you think the reason is? Could it be that he has ulterior motives?”
“How would I know? I’m not a deity.” Seeing the girl’s eyes dim as she hung her head, he changed the subject. “However, while I may not be a deity, I can certainly investigate King Cheng’s past.”
Song Tangning instantly lifted her head, her eyes filled with surprise. “Really?”
Xiao Yan replied, “Really. Before His Majesty ascended the throne, King Cheng was also a well-known figure in the capital. The late emperor even proposed a marriage for him, yet he only fell in love at first sight with your aunt. Their love story was known throughout the capital at the time, so it wouldn’t be hard to investigate.”
Song Tangning hesitated. “But if he really has ulterior motives, why would it be so easy to find out?”
Xiao Yan responded, “If he has ulterior motives, it’s impossible for there to be no trace. There are more than a few people in the capital who are familiar with King Cheng, and there are also those who hold grudges against him. If you want to know about his past before he was with your aunt, asking a few more people will surely reveal one or two who are in the know.”
“Even if King Cheng is truly disguising himself regarding the matter with Princess Cheng, this ‘deep feeling’ of his cannot possibly be without reason. Figuring out King Cheng’s situation before he met Princess Cheng will naturally clarify whether he fell in love with her at first sight or if he had been scheming from the start.”
“Some things, once done, will leave traces. If that’s your only concern, you need not worry; I can help you investigate.” Seeing the girl’s face brighten and her eyes sparkle, he smiled. “Are you happy?”
Tangning’s eyes were bright and sparkling as she was about to speak when her smile suddenly froze on her face.
“Next time you want me to help with something, just tell me directly. No need to play these little tricks on me.”
“Brother…” Tangning’s face was stiff as she wanted to deny it but met Xiao Yan’s gaze that seemed to see right through her.
All her justifications stuck in her throat, her spine straightened, and her face gradually flushed.
“The things I taught you, you should learn to use on me first.” Xiao Yan flicked her forehead with his finger, and when he saw her cover her head in pain, he turned to Jinyun beside him.
“Did you hear what Miss Song instructed? Go investigate King Cheng’s past; examine everything related to him thoroughly. Dig three feet into the ground if you must to uncover his secrets. Otherwise, be careful of making Miss Song angry.”
Jinyun suppressed a laugh. “Rest assured, Lady Song. I’ll go right away.”
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You can read ahead to chapterr 142 here
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