Chapter 210 - A Palace Of Paradoxes And Backstabbers

"So, Bà, you're saying that it is your wife's way of seeking revenge of this ex-lover of yours?" Zhenyi asked the question as a joke but she surprised herself by meaning it. 

Xin Yichen sighed softly. "Stop talking like it. You make it sound like she was an extremely vengeful soul." 

"Wasn't she?" retorted Zhenyi. 

Although Zhenyi's comment was displeasing to both of them, they couldn't refute her words. 

Xin patted the place near him and asked her to sit there. When she sat near him, he went on to explain to her.  "Princess, your mother has spent the first fifteen years of her life locked in a palace surrounded by paradoxes and backstabbers. She used to say that the people who pretend to be loyal to her were actually scheming to get rid of her, once given the chance."

He seemed to have paused for a moment and his eyes turned almost watery as he remembered Tang Reine's sweet face. This lane of memories was not easy for him to walk. 

He added in a bittersweet voice, "She had a very hard life, and so, it was quite difficult for her to trust anyone. You're just like her and so is Ryuu. She would rather kill a person mercilessly than leave the serpent to bite her in the future. The streak of vengeance that everyone says she carried, was actually her way of protecting herself and the people she loves. Including all of us." 

This Zhenyi could understand. To rule an empire such as the Tang empire, one needs to be cruel and vicious. The Tang empire was not a family with royal connections and old money only, it was something very complicated and significant that all the members of the Tang family were ready to kill the current head to get hold of its vast fortunes. 

Thus, it was not a hidden secret that there were people scheming to kill her. 

So, Zhenyi didn't say anything at all because she knew her father was right to some extent. Also, he wouldn't allow anyone to badmouth his late wife. Not even his precious daughter. 

However, Tang Yuzhang couldn't stay quiet. He still couldn't get one the fact that his mistress had played him this time. It was not something abnormal, but still...

"Master Yichen, you're trying to say that this marriage is not out of revenge but for some other reason?" questioned Tang Yuzhang as he turned to Xin Yichen. 

Xin Yichen nodded. He couldn't agree anymore. Indeed, his wife must have plotted something many years ago and today, they were experiencing the consequences of her scheming and plotting. 

"Tang Yuzhang, you were the closest to her. You know your mistress might sound unreasonable but she had an eye for unforeseen

future." 

It was funny how Xin Yichen turned to Tang Reine's side after narrating the story of their past endeavors when he was the one who was the most furious with his wife. 

'Sigh. How love screws one's mind and body!' Zhenyi said to herself. 'You better stay away from this deadly virus they call it love.' 

Only if Long Jie could hear her thoughts….

If he could, he would have committed suicide thrice till now. 

Pushing down all of her thoughts, Zhenyi veered to lay down all of her concerns to her father, but she realized later that it was a mistake on her part. 

"Bà, could it be that the reason mom died was related to all of this mess? And, this surprising wedding between the two families related to people she hates the most, is her way of alarming us. Maybe she wants us to dig into the real reason for it."

Xin Yichen felt shivers down his spine as he heard what Zhenyi said. He looked at her distrustfully. Did she remember everything? No, it couldn't be. He couldn't let her remember everything about that unfortunate accident. He still remembered how Zhenyi tried to take her own life after she came back home. 

She wasn't able to get over the fact that she had caused the death of her mother and unborn sister. When it was not the case. How could he blame his daughter for something she was not responsible for? 

That's why he let her forget everything. Perhaps, it was for the best. 

But now...did she remember. 

He looked at her in anguish and turned down her words as he said,  "Zhenyi, your mom died in an accident there is no way she would be related to all of this." He paused and said much to her disappointment. "You're just thinking too much."

She smiled bitterly. 'Just how long Bà you're gonna hide it from me?'

But she said instead, "Accidents just don't happen, Bà. She was Tang Reine, not an ordinary citizen who died in an accident." 

"Princess, you're talking too much." Of course, Xin Yichen refuted her words. How could he not? 

"You don't have to lie, Bà." Zhenyi had almost spoken the truth about her remembering the truth but she didn't say it now. 

'One day, Bà, you have to accept it.' 

"Zhenyi--"

Before Xin Yichen could say any further, Tang Yuzhang decided to intervene.  "Master Yichen, I think Miss Xin has a point. In my opinion, we should let this wedding take its own course."

Let the wedding take its course? Woah. It had to be a joke. But jokes on you Xins, if you think it was just a simple wedding function. A certain queen of serpents was looking for a moment to hiss you anytime. 

"Master Yuzhang, you must remember if this wedding happens and Ming Xuiying becomes Ryuu's wife, she will be one of us," said Zhenyi meaningfully. Who knew if she ended up becoming Ryuu's wife and what if she had ill intentions? And there was a rule among these families that they couldn't kill the one belonging to their family. "  We would have to protect her from every danger no matter how much we don't want her in our family. She will be one of us and all of you know what it means." 

Xin Yichen sighed and said," Let Ryuu be the judge of it. If he agrees to marry her, the wedding will happen and if he doesn't,  then it won't." 

"Then, we all know the answer to it. Ryuu will never agree to marry anyone." 

However, they didn't know how wrong they would be proven this time.

One thing had to notice here, both father and daughter pair failed to notice a strange expression on Tang Yuzhang's face. There was a certainty in his eyes about a certain matter. And only, Lord knew for now what it was. And sure enough, it had to be baffling and astonishing.