Chapter 317: Brother and Sister

Chapter 317

Song Zhao hesitated with her chopsticks, and her eyes trembled as she blurted out, "What?"

Xiao Jingyan supported his chin, scrutinizing Song Zhao with a contemplative gaze for a while before nodding assuredly, "Hmm, you even spill food while eating. Obviously, we're close."

As he spoke, he pointed to the corner of his lips with a playful smile.

Song Zhao understood and touched the corner of her own lips, removing a few grains of rice that had stuck there while she was eating hastily. She then asked, "Stop teasing me at a time like this. You are the sixth son of the former emperor, born to the esteemed Princess Dowager Jinggui, who was favored among the six palaces. What connection could there be between you and me?"

Xiao Jingyan replied, "I originally intended to keep this to myself. After all, the more people who know, the more dangerous it is for both me and my mother. However, upon further thought, I realized that you and I are like two grasshoppers tied to the same string. If either of us lets slip, neither of us will survive."

He clapped his hands and casually leaned back against the corner of the table, pretending to be at ease. But his attempt at a suave gesture caused the delicate wooden table to mercilessly slip, making him stumble.

It was quite comical, and it brought forth the first smile from Song Zhao in these past few days.

"Don't laugh!" Xiao Jingyan cleared his throat lightly, straightened his clothes, and said earnestly, "You're right, we shouldn't have any connection. But our father... no, I should say our common enemy. He deprived you of the first half of your life and buried the latter half of my mother's life."

This news reached Song Zhao's ears like a thunderbolt, causing her scalp to tingle. She was so shocked that her speech became stuttered.

"Princess Dowager Jinggui... and my father?"

Xiao Jingyan fell silent for a moment, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Then he shook his head with a touch of sorrow and finally revealed the embarrassing past that he had buried in his heart, speaking slowly to Song Zhao.

"In the twenty-fourth year of the Qi Dynasty, during the former emperor's third Southern Tour, the Old Duke of Protector... that is, your grandfather, accompanied him. At that time, Song Shicheng also went along."

This was not surprising, as Song Zhao's grandfather was a meritorious official of the founding dynasty. If it weren't for his grandfather's great achievements during the reign of the former emperor, the emperor wouldn't have allowed the title of Duke of Protector to be passed down for three generations, benefiting the useless Song Shicheng.

Perhaps it was the bond between siblings, their souls connected.

Xiao Jingyan glanced at Song Zhao and understood her confusion. He didn't conceal anything and revealed everything.

"One month after that incident, the empress dowager became pregnant. She didn't know who was in her womb at that time, whether it was the former emperor's or... In any case, life went on in a confused manner, and no one would suspect my identity. Two years later, you, this newborn, arrived at the Marquis of Protecting the Nation's residence. Did your biological mother ever mention to you how dangerous your birth was?"

Song Zhao nodded slightly and recalled, "My mother told me that I was born in May, during late spring in the capital city when the peach blossoms had not yet fully bloomed. The Marquis of Protecting the Nation's residence had planted many peach blossoms as decoration, but I had an adverse reaction to the pollen as soon as I was born, almost succumbing to the illness."

Xiao Jingyan said, "This matter became known in the palace, and the former emperor even sent a court physician out of the palace to treat you, saving your life. Later, when the noble ladies in the palace met me, they all knew about this incident.

The empress dowager only heard a few words and didn't take this matter to heart. She had never been fond of playing with flowers and plants, and I was raised under her care since childhood. There weren't many places in the palace where peach blossoms were planted, so I never came into contact with them as a child.

However, the following year, when the empress dowager took me to Princess Dowager Yu's palace to play with Prince Rui, we passed by the Zhongsi Gate. There was a peach blossom tree planted there by the former emperor himself for Princess Dowager Yu. I was merely passing by, but I suddenly felt short of breath and developed a rash on my face, which triggered the same adverse reaction."

Song Zhao felt a sudden thump in her chest. "You also have an adverse reaction to peach blossoms?"

Xiao Jingyan responded in a muffled voice, "At that time, Mother Empress was in a panic and didn't send for the imperial physician. I was kept in the palace and treated with folk remedies. Fortunately, I have always been healthy, so I recovered within a few days. Later, Mother Empress secretly sent someone to inquire about my condition with several renowned doctors outside the palace, and that's when she learned about my inherited ailment from Song Shicheng."

"From him?" Song Zhao couldn't help but ask, "But I have been living with him for so many years, and I have never seen him having any problems with peach blossoms."

Xiao Jingyan explained, "This is a hereditary weakness passed down from our father. He is a carrier of the condition, but it doesn't manifest in him and is indistinguishable from an ordinary person. However, he can pass on the illness to his offspring. That's why you have it, and I have it, but Song Yue doesn't. The doctors also made it clear that if both parents don't have this hidden condition, most likely their children won't have it either.

After extensive inquiries, Mother Empress finally confirmed my true identity amidst her grief. So, since I was young, she urged me to keep my inherited ailment a secret, not letting anyone know..."

[End of Chapter]