In her past life, she trusted Jiang Tan’er and became a sharp blade that helped topple the Xie family.
Now that she could start over, how could she possibly repeat the same mistake?
Jiang Tan’er’s heart skipped a beat, and her breathing grew quieter. “Sister A-Yin… what do you mean by that… I don’t understand.”
Before Songyin died, she had known Jiang Tan’er for many years. Even though she had been naive and inexperienced in human affairs and unaware of the dangers of people’s hearts when she first started out, after all those years, she had come to understand that Jiang Tan’er was not as pure and flawless as she had once believed. However, by then, she was mostly trapped by circumstances and found it difficult to break free.
So now, as soon as she saw Jiang Tan’er’s expression, she could conclude that Jiang Tan’er already knew about the connection between the Xie family and her.
Even earlier than what was written in the book.
And that book stated: The Seventh Prince traced clues to the Xie family but suggested that Jiang Tan’er hide the truth from her. Jiang Tan’er ultimately agreed to this suggestion, thinking it was “for her sake.”
There were some differences between the plot and reality.
“For the past two years, I’ve helped you with pharmaceuticals, saved people for you, and even when you asked me for those harmful drugs, I didn’t refuse. My only request has always been for you and the Seventh Prince to help me find my family. It’s been three months since we arrived in the capital—do you have any news?” Songyin pressed on aggressively, continuing her questioning.
Jiang Tan’er instinctively took a step back, her face still stinging.
“Who told you something? A-Yin, I would never harm you. If I say there’s no news, there’s none!” Jiang Tan’er insisted stubbornly.
Jiang Tan’er’s face flushed red with frustration, her eyes filled with grievance, as if everything she did was for Songyin’s sake.
“What about the Xie family?” Songyin did not hold back.
Jiang Tan’er’s eyes welled up with tears, feeling that Songyin had suddenly changed.
In the past, A-Yin had a gentle and kind personality. Whatever she said, A-Yin believed her, always tolerant and gentle.
Why had she suddenly become so overbearing? Jiang Tan’er didn’t like it!
“I know the Xie family once had a biological daughter, but I heard something happened to her during the escape. The Xie lady and her child both died, so how could it be you? A-Yin, you’re overthinking it!” Jiang Tan’er blurted out, no longer holding back.
Most people in the capital didn’t know about this.
Seventeen years ago, the Xie family hadn’t yet risen to prominence and were even worse off than ordinary families.
It wasn’t until fifteen years ago, when the emperor ascended the throne, that the Xie family soared to prominence overnight, becoming the current Marquis of Xuan Su. However, they only received a title and rewards, with no special favor from the emperor.
Jiang Tan’er spoke with conviction, afraid that Songyin wouldn’t believe her.
Jiang Tan’er looked as if she would tear out her own heart to prove her point.
Watching her put on such an earnest performance, Songyin found it somewhat laughable.
From the very beginning, this person before her had been hypocritical.
“Jiang Tan’er, whether I am a daughter of the Xie family is not for you to decide. Your self-righteousness is truly disgusting. From today onward, stay away from me. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee that the next time I see you, your mouth will still be as eloquent as before!” Songyin looked at her coldly, filled with disgust.
She had shared clues about her background with Jiang Tan’er.
When she was five years old, the trafficker who had raised her could no longer make ends meet and sold her off.
When she was sold, the trafficker, burdened by conscience, told the truth: she had been seized by a man during their flight from disaster. Originally intended for sustenance, the man suddenly died, and the woman dared not act, so she waited for the child to perish on her own. By chance, they encountered the government distributing food and resettling refugees, allocating houses and land based on the number of people, regardless of gender or age. Thus, her life was spared.
But by the time she was five, they truly could no longer support her, so they returned her swaddling clothes to her.
She had already been taken away by the trafficker and couldn’t keep the item herself, so she only salvaged the embroidered pattern from it, carrying it with her.
The Xie family had always believed the child was dead.
After all, in such circumstances, how could an infant survive? Thus, they never publicized the matter nor searched for the child.
For Jiang Tan’er to learn the truth before the Seventh Prince, the only possibility was that she had seen something resembling that embroidered pattern on a member of the Xie family.
Seeing Songyin remain cold and indifferent, Jiang Tan’er grew even more anxious and angry.
“Ayin, do you still want to poison me into silence? I only said this for your own good. Fine, fine, you’re still injured, so I won’t argue with you about what you said. Even if you want to quarrel with me, let’s go home first. I’m truly worried about you!” With that, Jiang Tan’er pulled her along without waiting for a reply. “Besides, that Xie family is no good. Today, they dared to injure someone with a sword—and it was you! You still need to treat the Old Imperial Uncle’s injuries! I will definitely have the Prince seek justice for you!”
Songyin pulled her arm free.
“We were merely strangers who happened to meet. You’ve already meddled enough in my affairs, so there’s no need for you to trouble yourself further from now on! If I continue to receive your ‘care,’ I fear I’ll end up like Miss Xie, stripped of everything by your schemes.” Suppressing the urge to kill, Songyin spoke coldly.
Jiang Tan’er was angry—truly angry.
Songyin was simply ungrateful!
“You really won’t come back with me!? You have no family or friends. Where will you go? To the Xie family? You think you’re the Xie family’s daughter, so you look down on me, a commoner? Sister Ayin, I never knew you were this kind of person—willing to abandon our two years of friendship for the sake of power and status!” Jiang Tan’er shouted angrily, tears streaming down her face.
She didn’t understand what was so great about the Xie family!
The Marquis Xie lost his wife early in life and remarried after rising to prominence!
That Xie family daughter wasn’t even the Marquis Xie’s biological child—she was a stepdaughter, yet she was treated as a treasure and entered the Xie family registry!
At the last poetry gathering, Xie Jiling, the eldest son of the Xie family, personally escorted Miss Xie home. Jiang Tan’er saw the crude and worn pouch hanging from Xie Jiling’s waist, embroidered with a small wildflower pattern identical to the tattered cloth in Songyin’s possession!
Later, she accidentally bumped into Xie Jiling, and the pouch fell into her hands. She took it back and examined it carefully—it was indeed the same.
And yesterday, when she met Miss Xie at the tavern, after apologizing, they chatted for a while. Miss Xie also spoke of the Xie family’s past, which matched everything Songyin had said.
But even if Songyin were the Xie family’s daughter, so what?
The Xie family’s matriarch was a stepmother—where in the world does a stepmother truly care for the children of the first wife?
Songyin had interacted with very few people since childhood and was not guarded against others. That stepdaughter of the Xie family was a woman skilled at putting on an act. If Songyin returned to the Xie family, her life would surely be difficult!
She had gone to such lengths to consider Songyin’s feelings, but what about Songyin?
How could she so maliciously misinterpret her good intentions!
Jiang Tan’er waited for Songyin to yield. She knew exactly what kind of person Songyin was—knowledgeable in many ways, yet utterly clueless when it came to dealing with people. Having grown up without anyone to rely on, Songyin cared more than anything about the bonds between people!