Lady Tong summoned a servant and whispered a few instructions in his ear. The servant then left upon receiving the order. Soon after, a horse galloped out of the back gate of the Marquis's Mansion, passing through the city gate and heading in the direction of Jinzhou.
Lady Tong's plan was not complicated.
Su Qingyu was hiding in the Prince Qi's Mansion. Since Prince Qi was on bad terms with them, they probably wouldn't be able to see Su Qingyu even if they went there. But as long as they found Su Qingyu's relatives and told them that Su Qingyu had become a concubine of Prince Qi, they would surely seize the opportunity to blackmail her.
However, even if one rode the fastest horse, it would take six or seven days to travel from Jinzhou to Shengjing and back. There were too many variables during this period. But as long as the imposter remained in Shengjing, this plan would work.
Patting Wangyue's hand reassuringly, Lady Tong said, "Don't worry, mother will surely seek justice for you and Yuan'er."
In the study, Marquis Pingyang sat alone, recalling the face he had seen in the Prince Qing's Mansion. The more he thought about it, the more shocked he became.
He was certain that it was the eldest daughter of the Shu family, the leader of the humble - origin scholars, who had married His Majesty when he was still the Prince Shou.
After the death of the former crown prince of the previous dynasty, the Prince Shou ascended to the Eastern Palace with the support of the aristocratic families, and his wife became the crown princess.
But unfortunately, not long after, the crown princess was caught in a room with a guard during a palace banquet. When such a scandal occurred in the royal family, the former emperor was extremely angry and almost executed her on the spot. It was His Majesty's earnest plea that saved her life, and she was sent to the cold palace in the Eastern Palace.
At that time, the former emperor, incited by the aristocratic families, intended to depose the crown princess and have His Majesty marry someone else. But His Majesty always refused.
It wasn't until a fire broke out in the cold palace and the crown princess was buried in the flames that His Majesty, at the request of the court officials, married a woman from the Wang family and took in daughters sent by various aristocratic families as side - concubines and lesser concubines.
When Marquis Pingyang learned that Su Yuanyuan had gone through all that in Qingyi Garden, he immediately thought of this old incident from many years ago and the scene he had accidentally witnessed during the palace banquet.
At the palace banquet twenty - one years ago, he clearly knew that the crown princess had been framed. However, at that time, the major aristocratic families held power in the court, and the former emperor trusted the Wang family especially. Except for the humble - origin scholars, no one dared to plead for her at that palace banquet. Since he was on the same side as the Tong family, he didn't mention what he had seen to anyone and buried it deep in his heart.
Many years later, when he found that her daughter had tried to frame her elder sister at a banquet using the same method, thinking of that palace banquet, he was so angry that he almost lost his mind.
But now, after learning the identity of "Su Qingyu", Marquis Pingyang regretted deeply. He regretted that he hadn't trusted his second daughter more at that time, which had led his second daughter to follow in Shu Moyun's footsteps.
Now that he knew that Shu Moyun was still alive and had given birth to Cang Xuan, and Cang Xuan was so trusted by the emperor, Marquis Pingyang, being smart, caught a glimpse of some clues.
The fire in the cold palace of the Eastern Palace back then was probably not an accident but a deliberate act.
The Wang family suffered a heavy blow during the New Year's Eve palace banquet this time, and Shu Moyun returned to Shengjing with Cang Xuan at this critical moment. All of these were not accidents.
Now the position of the crown prince was vacant. Except for Prince Qi, the Tong, Liu, and Xue families were all eyeing that position. But they didn't know that the one most likely to ascend to the position of the crown prince was not Prince Jin, but - Cang Xuan.
Marquis Pingyang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Lady Tong came from the Tong family. Logically, they should stand behind Prince Jin and become his backing. But Shu Moyun had taken in his daughter, provided a place for Wangyue to live, and taught her the ways of the world. For Wangyue, she was like half a mother. The Marquis of Pingyang's Mansion must not forget this kindness.
When he opened his eyes again, Marquis Pingyang's gaze was firm. He had already made a choice in his heart.
...
In the Prince Qing's Mansion, a bird flapped its wings and landed on the window sill.
Su Yuanyuan put down the book in her hand, walked forward, and listened to the bird whispering in her ear. After listening, Su Yuanyuan smiled contentedly and waved her hand to let the bird fly away.
Little Eight asked curiously in her mind, [Little Yuanbao, what did the bird say?]
Su Yuanyuan replied, [The bird said that Sister Wangyue has successfully returned to the Marquis's Mansion and completed the ceremony of returning to her ancestral family. She should be called Su Wangyue now. She still lives in Lingxiao Pavilion. All the things that Li Cuihua used have been cleared out, either thrown away or burned. They must leave no trace.]
[Humph, it should be like this!] Little Eight said angrily. [What about Su Qingyu? Did the Marquis's Mansion just let her go? After knowing what kind of person she is, don't they want to do something?]
Su Yuanyuan said, [Lady Tong has sent someone to Jinzhou to look for Li Cuihua's family.]
[She wants to use Li Cuihua's family to identify Li Cuihua's identity.] Little Eight guessed Lady Tong's intention and sighed. [She finally woke up and knew how to seek justice for her daughter.]
Although this awakening came too late, as Su Yuanyuan had already disappeared from this world. If they did nothing but just enjoyed the warmth of reuniting with their daughter, it would be really heartbreaking.
It would take seven or eight days to travel from Jinzhou to Shengjing and back. She had to keep a close eye on the Prince Qi's Mansion to prevent Li Cuihua from slipping away secretly.
After these two days of development, the existence of Wangyue and the fact that the Marquis of Pingyang's Mansion had come to recognize their daughter today would surely spread to the Prince Qi's Mansion and reach Li Cuihua's ears. Li Cuihua was extremely insidious and cunning, so she had to be on guard.
Thinking of this, Su Yuanyuan waved to the bird on the window sill. The bird jumped onto her shoulder. She took out a handful of millet, stroked the bird's head, whispered something, and after the bird was full, it flew away.
In the Prince Qi's Mansion.
"Chirp chirp -" The bird flapped its wings and landed outside a room in the Prince Qi's Mansion. While preening its feathers, it stared at the courtyard below.
Inside the room, Su Qingyu was rummaging through her things and packing her luggage. Her face was full of panic.
There was no strict isolation in the Prince Qi's Mansion, so news could spread in. And the servants in the Prince Qi's Mansion were very concerned about Princess Fubao. The news that Su Yuanyuan had taken a girl who looked very much like Su Yuanyuan around the city yesterday had reached Su Qingyu's ears early.
Hearing that the girl following Su Yuanyuan was called "Wangyue", Su Qingyu was extremely shocked.
It was already bad enough that the divine doctor from the Apricot Grove was still alive. How could that dead girl also be alive? She had pushed both of them off the cliff. She had even checked the depth to make sure they wouldn't survive! If those two found her and exposed what happened back then, would she still be alive?
This was not the main reason for Su Qingyu to pack up and flee. The real reason was that just now she heard the maid outside say that Marquis Pingyang had gone to the Prince Qing's Mansion to recognize his daughter today! The real legitimate daughter of the Marquis's Mansion had been found and recognized.
They must have learned her identity from Wangyue and also knew where she was!
Maybe they would come to the Prince Qi's Mansion to ask for her soon!
If Prince Qi found out that she was a fake, would he let her live?
Thinking of this, Su Qingyu didn't dare to delay any longer. She quickly returned to her room to pack her luggage.
It was time to run! As long as the green mountains remain, there will always be firewood!
Su Qingyu didn't have much luggage. She only had some medicine bottles she had hidden on her and a few pieces of clothing. So she quickly packed up her things.
She stuffed the luggage under the quilt and sat on the bed, taking a deep breath.
During these days, she had become very familiar with the guard situation in the Prince Qi's Mansion. She knew when the guard was the weakest at night. She just had to endure for a while. When it was late at night, she could escape with her luggage...
Suddenly, a shrill voice sounded outside: "Beauty Su, His Highness has turned over your green card. Please follow this servant to the main hall to serve His Highness."