Yan Zhuxing never expected that the person who fell from the sky and knocked out Yuchi Dun was actually the very person she had protected with her life in her previous life.
It was only later, after becoming a ghost and hearing it from Wen Rushuang and others, that she learned he was Prince Yong’an, the youngest son most beloved by the Emperor and Empress.
The ghost Yan Zhuxing could recognize him, but the current Yan Zhuxing could not.
So she pretended to be frightened and asked, “Who are you?”
Xie Yining pondered for a moment before revealing his true identity.
“Prince Yong’an, Xie Yining.”
“This humble girl greets Prince Yong’an.” She hurriedly bowed.
“No need for formalities.” Xie Yining stared at the young girl before him, his eyes holding a gentleness he himself hadn’t noticed.
What a poor little thing, always being secretly harmed wherever she goes.
If he hadn’t sent people to keep an eye on her, what would she have done encountering such a situation today?
He said calmly, “Later, you just need to tell the Lady of Duke Lieguo that the person is with me. This matter won’t implicate you.”
After speaking, he turned to leave.
“Why are you helping me?”
Xie Yining paused in his steps, turning back to look at her. Yan Zhuxing belatedly realized she had actually voiced her inner thoughts aloud.
Xie Yining gazed at her steadily, then raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Just consider it as me repaying a life debt I owed you in my previous life.”
With that, he ordered his guards to carry away Yuchi Dun.
At that moment, Yan Zhuxing was still somewhat bewildered, but now, she suddenly understood.
A life debt owed in the previous life.
Could it be referring to the time on the battlefield when she shielded him with her body?
Yan Zhuxing abruptly opened her eyes, her heartbeat pounding so loudly it hurt her eardrums. In her daze, she seemed to see the blood-red plum blossom on Xie Yining’s armor amidst broken arrows and the setting sun overlapping with the wound on her own chest.
That’s right.
They had been pierced by the same arrow, dying simultaneously.
If a fake heiress like her, unloved by anyone, could be reborn, why couldn’t Xie Yining, a noble of imperial blood?
The sudden reward from the Empress that day also seemed to have found its reason.
What Battle Formation Dance—it was merely an excuse.
After so many years, how could the Empress suddenly remember her for no reason? Behind this, Prince Yong’an must have played a significant role.
The Lady of Duke Lieguo hurriedly returned to the courtyard in a panic. Seeing her son lying on the bed with a flushed face while a royal physician took his pulse, she was immediately startled.
“Dun’er…” Her legs weakened, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.
“The heir is not in mortal danger. Might I have a word with you in private, madam?” Xie Yining reached out to support her.
Hearing that there was no mortal danger, the Lady of Duke Lieguo let out a long sigh of relief.
She gently brushed off his supporting hand, smoothing the wrinkles on her sleeve. “As Your Highness commands.”
The two walked to an adjoining room to talk, with trusted aides guarding outside the door.
Xie Yining did not beat around the bush, directly laying out the truth in its stark nakedness.
“Someone administered an aphrodisiac to the heir, luring him to the abandoned courtyard of the Weining Marquis Estate, intending to lock him up with the eldest daughter of the Dingyuan Marquisate.”
“From what I know, before the banquet, Zhao Yunfei had a verbal conflict with the eldest daughter of the Dingyuan Marquisate. Then, during the banquet, the eldest daughter’s skirt was stained by a maid, and she was led away to change clothes.”
With each sentence he spoke, the Lady of Duke Lieguo’s face grew paler.
“Does Your Highness have evidence?” She was unwilling to believe that her seemingly obedient and sensible grandniece would dare to plot against her own son.
Xie Yining scoffed with a derisive laugh, “If I were to investigate this matter thoroughly within the inner quarters of the Marquis’s Mansion right now, the Censorate would surely submit a memorial tomorrow accusing me of overstepping my authority.”
“It was my foolishness,” Lady of Duke Lieguo quickly apologized, realizing the impropriety in her words.
Worry had clouded her judgment; with her son in trouble, her mind had momentarily failed to function properly.
She bowed solemnly to Xie Yining. “Thank you, Your Highness, for saving my son.”
“You should not thank me,” Xie Yining replied, leaving only these words behind.
Lady of Duke Lieguo was taken aback for a moment before understanding his meaning—the one to thank was the eldest daughter of the Dingyuan Marquisate.
She had not escalated the matter, preserving the dignity of both the Lieguo Duke’s Mansion and the Weining Marquis Estate.
The thought of her son encountering such a situation in her maiden home filled her with anger. She immediately ordered someone to inform her elder brother and sister-in-law, demanding they provide her with an explanation.
Meanwhile, she remained by her son’s side.
Only when the imperial physician said that sweating after taking the medicine and soaking in a medicinal bath would ensure his recovery did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Zhao Yunfei and Yan Mingyue’s plan had been hastily prepared, leaving many loopholes. Thus, it did not take long for Old Marquis Weining and Old Madam to uncover the misdeeds of their granddaughter.
“Kneel!” The Old Marquis and Old Madam felt utterly humiliated.
Their own granddaughter had dared to target an elder, and with such despicable methods at that.
Zhao Yunfei had not expected the truth to come to light so quickly. Panic-stricken, she looked toward her parents, only to find that their eyes, once filled with affection, were now brimming with disappointment.
“You have no grudge against that Miss Yan. Why would you do something so foolish?!” Old Madam demanded angrily.
Today was her sixtieth birthday, yet such an absurd incident had occurred.
Fortunately, the matter had not escalated, or she truly would have been angered to death.
Zhao Yunfei’s knees struck the blue bricks heavily, the chill seeping through her skirt and piercing her bones. Instinctively, she defended herself, “Grandmother, this matter has nothing to do with me…”
“With witnesses and evidence all in place, how dare you still quibble?” Old Madam, furious, hurled the teacup in her hand toward her.
“Do you think the Marquis’s Mansion is some marketplace where you can play these dirty tricks? If you don’t tell the truth, I will immediately marry you off to Shaoyang and forbid you from ever returning to the capital.”
Hearing this, Zhao Yunfei burst into loud sobs.
“Grandmother, I was wrong. I didn’t mean to,” she wept as she recounted the entire incident.
“I just wanted to help Mingyue vent her anger.”
Old Madam felt her vision darken, growing even angrier upon hearing this.
“You fool! You were being used as a tool without even realizing it, yet you still call her ‘Mingyue sister’ so affectionately. Go and apologize to your aunt. If she does not forgive you, you will be sent to the estate to reflect for three to five years before returning.”
Zhao Yunfei was now completely panicked.
She had never imagined the consequences would be so severe.
Choking back sobs, she squeezed out a tearful voice, “But if Yan Zhuxing and Uncle had succeeded, Uncle would have a wife, wouldn’t he? Hasn’t Aunt always hoped for Uncle to marry and have children?”
Lady of Duke Lieguo walked in just in time to hear these words, her face revealing an expression of disbelief. “How could you utter such shameless words?”