Yue Heng's hand holding the sword trembled violently, and the long sword clattered to the ground. He suddenly looked up, the shock in his eyes almost overflowing. "Your, Your Highness?" A suppressed sob came from under the black iron mask. "Weren't you... already dead in Jingzhou..."
"The King of Hell didn't take me, so I'm back." Wen Qianyue twitched the corner of her mouth, showing a mocking smile. "It's really been hard on you to guard my stupid son who was sold and still helped count the money for so many years."
Her gaze swept across the fine wrinkles left by the years on Yue Heng's face, and complex ripples welled up in her heart.
Although Yue Heng didn't understand why the princess who was supposed to be dead had come back to life, there she was, standing right in front of him, alive and real.
When he informed Xie Yunxiao of the news, the prince was playing with a jade - inlaid dagger. The cold light flashed in his eyes. "Absurd!"
He let out a cold laugh and stabbed the dagger heavily into the table. "My mother has long been buried. Where did this imposter come from?"
When Wen Qianyue was brought to the study, she met her son's hostile gaze head - on. She calmly raised her finger and pointed at the tiger amulet around his neck. "The tiger amulet you're wearing around your neck belongs to my Princess Mansion. There's a character 'Xiao' engraved on the inside. I specially ordered it to be made by the most skilled craftsmen on your hundred - day banquet. It can command the Xie family and the dead soldiers of the Princess Mansion. You held onto it tightly back then and almost bit off the nanny's finger. Why, don't you even recognize the mark on your own body now?"
It was a pity that after her son fell seriously ill, it was snatched by Meng Ruxue and presented to the Crown Prince of the Ling King.
Thinking of this, a cold light flashed in Wen Qianyue's eyes, and her expression turned colder.
"Humph, it's just a trick learned from hearsay." Xie Yunxiao turned his head away, but his Adam's apple rolled uncontrollably.
His fingers dug deeply into his palm, trying his best to hide his inner turmoil.
Those vague memories of his mother now came flooding back like a tide, gradually overlapping with the figure in front of him.
Wen Qianyue suddenly stepped forward and pinched the soft flesh on his face. It was no longer as soft as it was when he was a child.
Xie Yunxiao let out a pained grunt, and his eyes instantly turned red. "You crazy woman! Let go!"
This was her own flesh and blood. Wen Qianyue's heart tightened involuntarily, and a wave of guilt came crashing over her.
Yue Heng sighed silently seeing his prince in such a state.
"Your Highness, this is really the Princess. I won't recognize her wrong."
Yue Heng had been saved by Wen Qianyue since he was a child and trained as a secret guard. He was extremely familiar with the appearance, personality, and habitual actions of the Grand Princess of Changning. He would never make a mistake.
Xie Yunxiao stood up and stared fixedly at the person in front of him, trying to find a flaw in her expression.
But there was none.
Instead, it made him recall his few memories of his mother.
He was too young back then to remember his mother well.
In the long silence, Xie Yunxiao had to admit that he was also a little convinced.
"Are you really...?" His eyes began to sting uncontrollably and slowly welled up with tears. Xie Yunxiao clenched his fists tightly and then slowly loosened them.
Wen Qianyue naturally knew what was on Xie Yunxiao's mind.
She could see the struggle in his heart. He was as stubborn - tempered as someone she couldn't tell.
Wen Qianyue shook her head, walked a few steps towards Xie Yunxiao, and pinched the soft flesh on his arm.
"It's not a dream. Do you believe me now?" Wen Qianyue smiled with her eyebrows and eyes, just like when she used to tease her little son.
Xie Yunxiao: "..."
He covered his arm and stood there stunned, his eyes red. He stubbornly turned his head to look elsewhere.
She wanted to hug Xie Yunxiao, but so many years had passed. The resistance in her son's eyes stabbed deeply into Wen Qianyue's heart.
But it was okay. She now had the opportunity to make up for it.
Yue Heng couldn't help but have slightly moist eyes seeing this scene.
Probably realizing that his behavior and emotions were a bit embarrassing, Xie Yunxiao pushed the person in front of him away uncomfortably and became awkward again.
Wen Qianyue couldn't help but burst out laughing. Then she quickly held it back for fear of angering him and left some face for her son.
It was really a pity that the soft - and - cute little bun had grown into a tall and slender young man. As a mother, Wen Qianyue also wanted to accompany her children growing up, but she had missed decades of her children's lives. She had let them be tortured, manipulated, and schemed against.
"Don't spread the news about me for now." Wen Qianyue whispered her order.
She had to first find out the person behind this elaborate scheme.
The incident in Jingzhou back then was really strange. If it hadn't been for the urgent situation, she wouldn't have lost her life and been manipulated. Since God had given her another chance, it must be because He couldn't stand the villains staying in the world and causing harm to others.
There was a commotion outside. No one knew what was going on. Soon a servant came to report. "Your Highness, General. The maid from the Ice - Clear Courtyard is asking to see you outside. She said that Miss Meng is not feeling well again."
Xie Yunxiao frowned tightly, quickly put on his coat, and rushed out of the door without caring about anything.
Watching her son's hasty departing figure, Wen Qianyue's eyes met Yue Heng's.
Before even entering the Ice - Clear Courtyard, Wen Qianyue could hear the woman's suppressed cries from afar. They were filled with great pain.
Xie Yunxiao looked at Meng Ruxue anxiously, wishing he could take her pain for himself.
Wen Qianyue walked into the room and finally saw the woman who had been playing her son like a fool.
Meng Ruxue was wearing a plain silk dress. Her face was completely bloodless, and her lips were pale and blue. Her black hair was messy but neatly scattered on her shoulders, making her look even more frail.
Although her face was haggard, she was still wearing makeup, obviously having just changed her clothes.
"Axiao, don't worry. It's just some old ailments. The servants are just making a fuss. I'm fine." Although Meng Ruxue was extremely weak herself, she still managed to smile and comfort Xie Yunxiao.
No wonder her son cared so much about her.
Xie Yunxiao's face was full of pain and gratitude.
If it hadn't been for saving him back then, Ruxue wouldn't have suffered from the illness all year round. He really owed her.
It was just that Ruxue was so kind - hearted. Even in such pain, she was still taking care of his feelings.
"I will surely find all the doctors in the world to cure you." Xie Yunxiao tightly held the woman's hand and promised.
The twilight was like thick ink seeping through the window lattice. The copper bells on the eaves tinkled in the night wind.
Suddenly, Meng Ruxue arched her back. Her slender fingers tightly grasped the brocade quilt. Cold sweat trickled down her snow - white neck, shining like pearls in the candlelight. She curled up into a vulnerable arc, like a magnolia petal beaten down by the rainstorm.
"Where's the doctor?"
Xie Yunxiao punched the rosewood carved screen. Sawdust fell rustling.
Under his black brocade robe with cloud patterns, his muscles were knotted. The veins on his neck bulged, looking like a fierce beast trapped in a cage.
The maids carried copper basins and filed in, but he kicked them over with one foot. "Go and hurry them up!"
The bead curtain was suddenly lifted by a delicate finger.
Wen Qianyue leaned against the door frame. The moonlight cast a silver edge on her plain white ru - skirt.
She looked at the girl shivering in pain on the couch and the corner of her mouth curled up in a faint smile. "How about I take a look at her?"
The air suddenly froze. Meng Ruxue raised her wet eyes and, like a frightened fawn, grabbed the corner of Xie Yunxiao's robe. The satin fabric wrinkled in her palm.
Xie Yunxiao subtly blocked in front of the couch. "You?"
This skeptical tone was wrapped in a coldness like a blade.