Ye Wanmian's words were like thunderclaps, exploding in Xiao Jingcheng's ears. The sound made his ears ring and left his mind a blank.
Two years ago, the Ye family's young lady seducing the crown prince...
These words combined were like a rope with a hook, fishing out a tiny, long - forgotten memory from the vast ocean of his recollection, a memory he had never really cared about.
Two years ago, at the Spring Banquet, he was annoyed by the court affairs and heavy schoolwork. At the invitation of the Sixth Princess, he attended the Spring Banquet hosted by the Eldest Princess for the first time.
At that banquet, he received a love letter from a woman.
The letter was full of her admiration for him. Every line was filled with a young girl's shyness, but the woman didn't reveal her identity. Suspecting it was a prank, he asked Bu Hua to investigate.
After the investigation, it was found that the handwriting was that of Ye Wanmian, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Ye family. Bu Hua also confirmed that the letter paper and ink were bought by Ye Wanmian's maid. Thus, the mystery of the love letter was solved.
Xiao Jingcheng rarely left the palace, but as the crown prince, he had heard about the Ye family. He knew that during that period, there was a big news in the Ye family about the wrong - swapped daughters.
Ye Wanmian was not the biological daughter of Imperial Censor Ye. Instead, she was the girl that Lady Ye had wrongly taken from the countryside many years ago.
Everyone in the capital knew that Lady Ye was the cousin of the Noble Consort. Naturally, the sons and daughters of the Ye family were related to Xiao Yixuan. He had previously heard that the Noble Consort intended to betroth the eldest legitimate daughter of the Ye family to Xiao Yixuan to strengthen the family bond.
Since there was another eldest legitimate daughter in the Ye family, the one who should marry Xiao Yixuan was naturally Ye Wanxing, the real eldest legitimate daughter of the Ye family.
The intention behind the love letter he received from "Ye Wanmian" at that time was self - evident.
If she could get close to him, Ye Wanmian could rise to prominence overnight.
The memory from two years ago became clearer. Xiao Jingcheng also remembered what he had done after finding out who wrote the letter.
In front of all the guests at the Spring Banquet, he made the love letter public. He rebuked Ye Wanmian, the fake young lady of the Ye family, saying that she was just a country woman and still dared to dream of climbing up the social ladder. He completely trampled on her dignity...
This was just an accidental episode in his busy life. After that, he never paid attention to the fake young lady of the Ye family again, nor did he inquire about her.
But just now, he heard her say that because of this incident, the Ye family forced her to marry an old man as a second wife?!
In his ears, came the girl's gritted - teeth, hate - filled voice: "The Ye family raised me. To appease the crown prince's anger, sacrificing me was nothing. It was my duty and responsibility to preserve the Ye family's reputation and status."
"But I never had the thought of seducing the crown prince. That letter was not written by me."
That letter was not written by me...
Xiao Jingcheng shivered and came back to his senses from the memory. He didn't dare to turn around to look at the expression on the girl's face behind him.
But he didn't know what he was afraid of.
Xiao Yixuan sighed. "I also believe that the letter was not written by you. I'm most familiar with your handwriting. Although the handwriting on the letter was very similar to yours, there were still some slight differences."
"It's a pity that I was ill and couldn't attend the banquet that day. Otherwise, I would have cleared your name on the spot."
"When I fully recovered and could leave the mansion, I heard the news that you had married far away in Xuanzhou. I was worried that you would suffer there, so I specially sent someone to Xuanzhou. But when they got there, you were nowhere to be found..."
Ye Wanmian was a bit surprised when she heard Xiao Yixuan's words. "You sent someone to Xuanzhou?"
"Even if you're not of the Ye family's blood, you've called me cousin for sixteen years. How could I ignore you?" Xiao Yixuan's voice was extremely gentle, so gentle that Xiao Jingcheng felt nauseous.
"How did you escape from Xuanzhou back then?"
Although Ye Wanmian had recognized Xiao Yixuan, she didn't want to discuss too much about that year with him. She stopped him with just one sentence: "I endured countless hardships and barely survived."
"And now you..."
Ye Wanmian interrupted him. "I'm very satisfied with my current life. I don't want to get involved in the disputes in the capital anymore. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll probably be a real country woman in Dongli Town."
"I also hope that Your Highness will keep your promise and don't tell others about my existence. Here, I'm not Ye Wanmian, the young lady of the Ye family in the capital, but Jiang Mian, a widow who lost her husband."
She had even changed her surname. It seemed that she had no affection or trust for the Ye family anymore.
"However, Your Highness came here tonight. It shouldn't just be to confirm my identity and recognize me, right?" The girl's voice came from the opposite side. Because of the yellow dog standing between them, Xiao Yixuan still couldn't see Ye Wanmian's expression, but this didn't stop him from showing an appreciative smile.
This girl was still as smart as ever.
"Mian'er should also know why we came to Dongli Town. To be honest, what was lost in Liuxiang Tower tonight was the boots the crown prince was wearing when he was attacked and disappeared. General Bu found those boots by the river in Dongli Town. It's the only clue we have to find the crown prince's whereabouts."
Ye Wanmian was shocked.
The boots the crown prince was wearing before his disappearance? No wonder they had come for a search tonight in such a grand manner. It turned out that what was lost was such an important item.
She immediately frowned and was about to say something when Xiao Yixuan spoke first. "Of course, I know this has nothing to do with you. You would never be the one who stole the boots."
"However... Mian'er, you've been living in Dongli Town. Have you heard any rumors about the crown prince, or any clues that seem strange to you?"
So he came tonight to get information from her.
Ye Wanmian didn't really have any expectations for Xiao Yixuan. So when she confirmed that he had a purpose for coming, she wasn't that sad. Instead, she said:
"I don't know. He made my life so miserable. Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with me. A scourge like him deserves whatever happens to him."
Xiao Jingcheng, who was standing on the table, stiffened. Usually, if he heard her say such things, he would argue with her for a while. But now, he just found it harsh and his heart felt like it was blocked by a big stone. He could hardly breathe.
Neither Ye Wanmian nor Xiao Jingcheng noticed that after hearing these words, Xiao Yixuan's lips curled up slightly.
"Since Your Highness is here, I also have something to ask you." Ye Wanmian quietly grabbed her sleeve and asked the question that had been in her heart since she saw Xiao Yixuan.
"Why did those two from the Ye family come to Dongli Town?"