Page 263

"You and Xiao Qiyuan, both of you are mad."

Xiao Fu detested the look in Qi Zhen's eyes.

In the past, Qi Zhen would often give her this same gaze, as if she were a madwoman, the most pitiful person in the world.

A strange smile tugged at the corners of Xiao Fu's lips. "You call me mad because of my feelings for Crown Prince Brother? Now your own daughter has made the same mistake as I did. Are you going to call her mad too?"

Ripples finally appeared on Qi Zhen's calm facade, her clear eyes flashing with anger, but that anger quickly dissipated. She knew that the angrier she got, the more pleased Xiao Fu would be.

She had meticulously arranged for that child to fall in love with Xiao Yan and marry him, all to provoke her and seek revenge.

Xiao Fu leisurely observed the expressions flitting across Qi Zhen's face.

"You think Xiao Qiyuan doesn't know about your feelings for him?" Qi Zhen shot back. "In his heart, you're nothing but a twisted madwoman." "To waste your entire life avenging a man who never cared for you, Xiao Fu, how tragic," Qi Zhen added.

"Nonsense!" Xiao Fu sneered. "What do you know? When Mother married Father, she was already carrying me. I'm not a descendant of the Xiao family. That's why the previous emperor opposed Father marrying Mother and never favored me. Crown Prince Qiyuan has long known that I'm not a true Xiao!"

That year when both Father and Mother passed away, she was only seven. It was then that Qiyuan, the Crown Prince who was overseeing the defense of Liangzhou, brought her back to the capital.

Emperor Jiande held no affection for Qi Zhen, casting her aside to fend for herself at the Great Mercy Temple. It was only Prince Qiyuan's declaration, "She is my sister," that prevented others from looking down on or mistreating her.

Knowing her love for painting, he sent the most renowned master of colors in the capital to be her tutor. Upon learning of her frail health, he dispatched imperial physicians and gathered rare treasures to restore her vitality.

He indulged her, saying, "You are my sister, free to live as you wish. No one has the right to dictate your life."

He was like a towering tree that shielded her from storms, providing sanctuary when she lost her parents and was rejected by Emperor Jiande. He nourished the soil in which she could continue to thrive.

Qi Zhen had never imagined that Xiao Fu was not of the Xiao family's bloodline.

But what did it matter? Xiao Qiyuan had always treated her feelings with disdain. His kindness was merely a form of atonement.

"When Xiao Qiyuan led troops against the Tatar army in Ganzhou, his eagerness for glory led him into a trap. Your father, the Duke, risked his life to save him, resulting in severe injuries. He didn't die from illness but succumbed to his wounds," Qi Zhen revealed. "Unfortunately, the late emperor wished to conceal Xiao Qiyuan's mistake, even attributing your father's final contribution in battling the Tatars to Xiao Qiyuan. All the good he has done for you was bought with the lives of your father and mother."

It was only on her father's deathbed that Qi Zhen learned this secret.

People often said that Prince Qiyuan resembled Emperor Jiande, and indeed, they were both prone to grandiosity. This very ambition proved fatal for Duke Xin, Xiao Fu's father.

Qi Zhen's words struck Xiao Fu like a boulder, leaving her stunned.

She looked at Nurse An.

But Nurse An shook her head. These secrets were unknown even to the queen; how could Qi Zhen know them?

Xiao Fu declared, "I won't believe you! Father and Prince have already passed away. You can make up whatever story you want, but I won't trust a single word you say!"

Looking at Xiao Fu, Qi Zhen suddenly realized that there was no point in reasoning with a madwoman, especially one who deceived herself.

From her sleeve, she pulled out a pitch-black pill. Upon catching sight of it, Nurse An's expression changed, and she darted forward like lightning, her bony fingers aiming for Qi Zhen's slender neck.

Just as things reached a critical moment, a sharp object pierced through the air, stabbing deeply into Nurse An's palm and pinning her right hand to the wooden pillar beside the Buddhist altar.

In pain, she tried to use her other hand to extract the venomous needle, but two more objects swiftly flew through the broken window, impaling her left arm to another pillar.

Soon, the sound of unhurried footsteps echoed from behind the door curtain.

Nurse An, covered in blood, glared at the curtain with hatred. But when the curtain was drawn back, her face froze, and she stared in disbelief at the man outside, exclaiming, "Young Master!"

The newcomer wore a dark cloak, a black jade crown on his head, and stood tall with a cold and stern appearance.

Who else could it be but Gu Changjin?

At this moment, how could Nanny An not understand that Gu Changjin had joined forces with Empress Qi!

Gu Changjin entered the room as if he hadn't heard anything.

Xiao Fu, who had just moments ago appeared deranged, fell completely silent after his arrival. All her madness and fury seemed to have subsided in an instant.

She stared fixedly at Gu Changjin, and also noticed Heng Ping, Chang Ji, Xuan Ce, and Lin Qingyue, who had been missing for a long time, following behind him.

Lin Qingyue avoided Xiao Fu's gaze and took a half-step back.

Nanny An roared in anger, "You wretch! The princess was afraid you'd be implicated, so she ordered me to send you to the manor. Yet, you repay her kindness with betrayal!"

Tears welled up in Lin Qingyue's eyes. "Auntie, I didn't want this! My mother is in their hands; I only wanted to save her!"

Compared to the furious and contorted face of Nanny An, Xiao Fu appeared much calmer.

She lifted her gaze to look at Gu Changjin and asked softly, "Why?"

This was the child she had nurtured with her own hands, the future emperor she had painstakingly cultivated. She knew very well that even if he had feelings for Rong Shu and didn't wish to harm her, he would never forget the vendetta against his father and would still ally with Qi Zhen.

He wasn't that kind of person.

So why had he forsaken his father's revenge, going so far as to try to eliminate her entirely?

Gu Changjin remained silent, turning his gaze sideways to look at Empress Qi with a gentle voice, "The medicine in Mother's possession is not 'Third Watch.' The real 'Third Watch' was replaced by Xuan Ce when it was handed over to Master Fan Qing by Nurse An. It is now in my possession."

Although Qi Zhen was somewhat surprised, considering Gu Changjin's meticulous approach to matters, she suddenly felt a moment of realization.