CH 93.1

Yaoniang believed that according to her sister’s temper, she would definitely be furious, so she felt uneasy.

Huiniang was indeed shocked, but her first reaction was something else. She slapped Yaoniang on the back. The man outside the door took a step, but for some reason, he suddenly stopped.

“Silly lass, why didn’t you listen to what I just said! Yes, Xiaobao is your child but you can’t grow arrogant just because you have his favour! He is not the same as your brother-in-law. Your brother-in-law is only a small constable working for the county magistrate, so even if he wanted to raise a woman, he can’t afford it. But this man is a prince. What kind of woman hasn’t he seen? Now he dotes on you because he likes you. Once someone new and fresh arrives in the manor, with you acting like this, what do you think will happen…”

Huiniang was anxious to death. Her sister was simple-minded, yet her life had so many twists and turns. She felt uneasy even just thinking about it.

“Sister, elder sister, you misunderstood. I’m not… Aiya, Xiaobao is the son of His Highness and the one who took my body that night was His Highness!” 

The room was completely still. The two sisters looked at each other.

After a long time, Huiniang said, “Did you just say that the one who tainted your body was Jin Wang? The evil man who I wished to chop to pieces and had cursed to die without a burial is him?”

Outside the door, the man’s handsome face coloured in embarrassment. He thought to himself that not only did he deserve to be chopped to pieces and die without a burial but his bones also deserved to go rotten with nothing left behind. Whatever he had scolded in the past, were like slaps to his face in the present. Slapping him until he was disoriented and battered out of his wits.

Yaoniang looked at her sister and nodded, “It’s him.”

“Hehe.” Huiniang stopped her dry laughter then frowned and looked at her sister. “You’re serious? It was him?”

Yaoniang nodded.

Huiniang stood up with a rush, “I need an explanation. Why would he, a prince, resort to doing this kind of thing…”

Yaoniang hurriedly grabbed her. Blushing, she said, “Actually, he didn’t do it intentionally. He was poisoned at the time.”

Then Huiniang heard a story from her sister’s mouth that was worthy to be published as a best-selling novel. She had already lived for so long, but she had never heard of such a coincidence.

“Then what about Side Consort Hu and the little princess now?”

“Side Consort Hu is dead. As for the little princess——” Yaoniang paused, “I didn’t ask.”

“Why didn’t you ask? Don’t tell me you plan on raising that bastard child. That woman surnamed Hu took your place, and this bastard occupied the position of my family’s Xiaobao. After entering the manor, that woman surnamed Hu had servants and maids along with a lot of people surrounding her when giving birth. Then there’s you who hid in a tiny room and was terrified of having a difficult childbirth since you didn’t even dare to invite a midwife. Her daughter had four or five wet nurses along with plenty of maids ever since birth. Meanwhile, during your month of confinement, you still had to take care of Xiaobao, so you barely got any sleep. Others would gain rings of fat during confinement, yet you lost so much weight you didn’t even look human…”

Not only did Huiniang become sadder as she talked about this, but Yaoniang also couldn’t help her eyes from reddening.

The expression of the man outside the door remained unchanged, but the big palms in his sleeves were tightly clenched into a fist.

Yaoniang wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. She tugged at her sister who was still filled with indignation and whispered: “Sister, I didn’t… I- I was angry with him these past few days.”

“Angry? What for?” Soon Huiniang understood and glanced at her sister, “It’s normal to be angry. It would be weird if you weren’t.”

Her mouth was parched from talking so much. She took two sips of tea and let out another sigh. “But you must understand that enough is enough. If you go too far, it wouldn’t be good. Don’t try a man’s patience too long, then you’ll truly land yourself in an awkward predicament.”

Yaoniang became interested and leaned forward to ask her sister, “Like how sister treats brother-in-law?”

Huiniang smiled, “Your brother-in-law is a good person who is kind and considerate. Indeed, his family isn’t that great. Neither his mother nor his sister is anything decent. He also has a minor problem himself, but all things considered, he’s alright. He didn’t wash a small number of Hong’er and Ming’er’s diapers. When they cried in the middle of the night for a change of diapers, it’s always him who changed it. During my month of confinement, I couldn’t depend on Mrs. Li, much less Yan’er. He was the only one I could rely on. Just based on this, I will remember his good for a lifetime. He also listens to me and is willing to listen to me. This is enough. After all, there isn’t a perfect man in the world. The quality of our life can only be determined by ourselves”

Yaoniang had no idea what this ‘minor problem’ referred to. She simply regarded it as a matter between the husband and wife.

She suddenly remembered that there was one more thing she had forgotten to tell her sister. “By the way, I forgot to tell you that I’m pregnant.”

“How long have you been pregnant?” This time, it was a pleasant surprise for Huiniang.

“It’s only been a little over three months.”

“You seem to be eating and sleeping well. Does he make any trouble for you?” 

A series of questions were asked and Yaoniang answered them one by one. The two sisters talked for a long time. Only after seeing Yaoniang’s tired expression did Huiniang ask to leave. Yaoniang asked her to stay for a few more days, which she didn’t refuse. Today went by too fast. She had to figure out whether her sister was truly well before she could leave with her mind at peace.

Huiniang returned to the guest house, where Mrs. Li and Yao Cheng were staying, in a heated palanquin. Hong’er and Ming’er had both fallen asleep, so a maid carried them into the bedroom. Mrs. Li and Yao Cheng approached her. Mrs. Li opened her mouth and asked, “Where is my Yan’er?”

“I asked Yaoyao and she said Yan’er never came here.”

Mrs. Li exploded on the spot, “How is that possible? That dead girl told me that she was coming to the palace before she’d left.”

Huiniang said patiently, “But Yan’er isn’t here in the manor now. No one had seen her. Mother, since she wants to mess around, then let her do as she, please. A young girl travelling alone on the road, who knows what kind of misfortune she may have encountered?”

“How is that possible! Back then, Yan’er hired a coachman that I had recommended…”

Huiniang sneered before Mrs. Li finally realized that she had let loose a slip.

“Back then, Brother Cheng and I had asked you. You gritted your teeth and refused to say anything. Brother Cheng went everywhere to look for Yan’er and even asked for people’s help in private. People he didn’t trust, he didn’t dare to ask. Carrying Hong’er, I walked through Linyun County a couple of times, yet you, the mother, watched us exert our efforts without saying anything. Even before arriving here, you still insisted that Yan’er only said a sentence to you…”

Huiniang didn’t want to continue. She glanced at Yao Cheng, turned around and returned to her room.