When Lan Xin was first released from the dungeon, she thought that the emperor had finally forgiven her. However, after the conversation between Lan Miao and her mother just now, she realized how terribly wrong she was.
It turned out... it was all just a misunderstanding on her part.
But she herself had to pay a lifelong price for this misunderstanding.
If the news that she had been detained in the palace were to spread, not only would she be unable to get married, but her elder brothers and sisters in the mansion would also be disgraced. It seemed that the only option left for her was to marry far away.
"... I'll marry."
Lan Xin gritted her teeth and held back her sobs.
Seeing that her daughter finally understood the gravity of the situation, Lady Qin felt a bit relieved. This was her beloved daughter whom she had doted on. Naturally, she was reluctant to let her marry far away, but there was simply no other way.
She even had to be grateful to Lan Miao for giving Lan Xin a way out.
"Lan Miao, I was rude last time. Fortunately, you're magnanimous. I'm counting on you regarding Xin'er's matter. Please don't let this slip out," Lady Qin said with a flushed face, clearly lowering her stance.
"Of course."
Lan Miao took a few sips of the tea in front of her and her eyes flickered slightly. She twirled the white porcelain cup gently with her fingers, looking as if she didn't really care.
"I've heard what I wanted to know. I won't keep you any longer. Go back to the mansion and have a good rest."
Lan Miao's tone was flat. She was basically seeing them off.
She was really annoyed by Lan Xin's crying. When she took care of Xue'er before, she never found a child's crying annoying.
But Lan Xin's wailing was even more irritating than a child's.
"Alright, then we won't stay any longer."
Lady Qin naturally understood Lan Miao's intention. She got up, pulled Lan Xin's hand, and bowed to Lan Miao several times.
When they were leaving, Lady Qin was quite curious about the relationship between Lan Miao and the emperor. Lan Miao hadn't officially entered the palace, nor did she have a palace of her own, yet the emperor would listen to her. Although Lady Qin was curious, she didn't dare to ask too much. She already had a deep respect for Lan Miao.
Lan Xin kept her head down all the time. She was too embarrassed to look up even when leaving. She hid behind Lady Qin and shuffled out slowly.
After Han Bi saw them off, the emperor's men came to invite Lan Miao over again.
It was as if the emperor was afraid that she would disappear if she wasn't in front of him for a moment.
Lan Miao took a short break and then had to follow them.
In the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
When Lan Miao entered, she saw the emperor sitting on the pear - wood couch under the half - window in the back hall, reading memorials. His posture was leisurely, and his robe was loosely tied with a cyan belt. One could faintly glimpse his strong body inside.
His eyes were lowered, and his thick black eyelashes seemed to cover all his emotions, making him look cold and profound.
Lan Miao stepped forward and saluted.
"My concubine greets Your Majesty."
When the emperor looked up again, there was a strong look of joy in his eyes. It seemed that the faint sense of aloofness from before had disappeared after seeing Lan Miao.
He said happily, "My lady, come here quickly."
As soon as Lan Miao walked up to him, he pulled her into his arms. The emperor buried his head in her neck and sniffed her smooth and shiny hair, which had a refreshing fragrance that made him intoxicated.
"Have they left?"
"Yes... Thank you, Your Majesty, for your magnanimity in forgiving Lan Xin's audacity. After all, she misunderstood that Your Majesty was interested in her, which was why she dared to follow Your Majesty," Lan Miao said slowly as she fiddled with the teacup on the small table.
The emperor let out a soft laugh. After that, he reached out and pinched Lan Miao's earlobe, and casually asked,
"My lady, didn't your younger sister mention that she left something with me?"
Lan Miao's heart sank suddenly.
"What is it?"
The emperor took out the jade pendant that had fallen from Lan Xin's body from his sleeve. He held the red string of the jade pendant between his two fingers, and the jade pendant slowly hung down and swayed gently.
The surface of the jade was extremely smooth.
It was almost identical to the jade pendant she had lost five years ago, except that it had no patterns on it.
Lan Miao's pupils suddenly shrank.
She slowly turned her head and stared at the emperor without blinking.
"This jade pendant looks so familiar. It seems to be extremely similar to the one Your Majesty has always worn," Lan Miao said with a calm expression, no different from usual.
But the emperor already knew the truth by now. He found it very interesting to watch his lady pretending. She really showed no sign when she lied.
"Indeed. I also think these two jade pendants look very alike," the emperor said as he slowly took out another jade pendant from his sleeve.
The two jade pendants side by side really looked like a pair.
"Could there be some connection between Lan Xin and the person Your Majesty met that night five years ago?" Lan Miao asked with a puzzled look on her face. She thought for a while and then shook her head. "But I've never heard that the Lan Mansion has any connection with any foreign tribes. Has Your Majesty interrogated Lan Xin carefully?"
There was obvious confusion in her tone.
The emperor stared at her, smiling inwardly.
His lady was really good at pretending.
Fortunately, that silly girl Lan Xin had secretly discovered that there were different patterns on his lady's jade pendant. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to play this game.
And Lan Miao really didn't know that Lan Xin had once peeked at her carving the jade.
When they were in the Lan Mansion, they had always kept out of each other's way. Lan Miao mostly avoided her.
"I've asked her. She said this jade pendant was given to her by your father. Both your father and she were completely unaware. It seems there's no connection," the emperor also started pretending. The two of them were acting in front of each other.
Lan Miao blinked her eyes in confusion at this moment. She took the jade pendant from the emperor's hand and tapped it carefully. Her brows instantly knitted together.
"So it's this jade pendant?"
"Oh? My lady also recognizes it?"
The emperor calmly continued to act along with Lan Miao.
"It's true that Lan Xin's jade pendant was given by our father. Father should have given one to me back then too, but I lost it a few years ago. I just couldn't remember it for a moment. It was only after Your Majesty mentioned it that I recalled it," Lan Miao still had a thoughtful look on her face. "My jade pendant was the same as Lan Xin's, with no patterns on it. It seems I can't help Your Majesty."
Lan Miao looked confused and a bit anxious.
The emperor carefully studied her expression. There was nothing suspicious about it. If he wasn't sure that his lady was the person from that night, he might have been deceived by her all along.
Recalling the times when he had tried to test his lady before, she had always managed to disguise herself.
Her acting was truly flawless, and every word she said was reasonable.
Yes, no wonder she was the one he was in love with.
The emperor looked at Lan Miao with a probing look in his eyes. There was a deep smile in his eyes, as if he wanted to stare a hole through her.
Lan Miao gently turned her head away. "What? Why is Your Majesty staring at me all the time? Is there something on my face?"
Her fair cheeks flushed a light pink. Her eyes were shy and charming.
The emperor unconsciously put down the two jade pendants in his hand. He bent his finger and tilted Lan Miao's chin.
He tapped on her rosy lips.
"It seems my lady has some connection with this jade pendant after all."
Lan Miao's heart sank suddenly.
Had the emperor discovered something?