newbobooks Chapter 345 Princess Chang's Rebellion 6
Chapter 345 Princess Chang's Rebellion 6
It was late at night when Ji Yao led Liu Mingyuan to the vermilion gate of the Marquis of Anning's mansion, stumbling and falling.
Her hair was disheveled, and her luxurious dress was covered in dust, yet she still maintained the air of a princess, pounding on the door knocker.
"Open the door! It's me, Ji Yao!" Her voice was particularly jarring in the quiet night.
The gatekeeper, still half-asleep, opened the small window. Upon seeing who it was, his expression immediately changed: "Miss... Princess?"
"How dare you!" Ji Yao shouted angrily. "Open the door now! I want to see my father!"
The gatekeeper hesitated for a moment, but ultimately dared not delay and quickly opened the side door.
Ji Yao dragged Liu Mingyuan inside and headed straight for the main hall.
The main hall was brightly lit, and Song Linchuan was half-lying on a soft couch while Yunniang carefully applied medicine to him.
Marquis Anning, Song Yi, and his second wife, Lady Wang, sat in the main seats, their faces grim.
"Father!" Ji Yao cried out and rushed over as soon as she entered the door.
Everyone in the hall was taken aback.
Song Linchuan sat up abruptly, aggravating the injury on his back, causing him to grimace in pain: "Yao'er? What happened to you..."
"Father!" Ji Yao cried even harder when she saw Song Linchuan. "Mother...she doesn't want me anymore!"
Song Yi frowned, his gaze sweeping over Liu Mingyuan: "And this is...?"
Liu Mingyuan quickly bowed and said, "This student, Liu Mingyuan, greets Your Excellency."
Wang sneered, "Oh, so this is the poor scholar who made the Princess so furious?"
At this moment, there were rapid footsteps outside the door.
The steward rushed in, flustered: "My lord, someone from the palace has arrived!"
Everyone's expressions changed drastically.
A eunuch, accompanied by several guards, strode in and unfurled a roll of bright yellow silk:
"By the decree of the Eldest Princess, Ji Yao, having pledged allegiance to the Song family, shall change her surname to Song from this day forward and sever all ties with the Eldest Princess's residence. Furthermore, the Marquis of Anning's residence has taken in the consort's mistress; their intentions are despicable. The estate south of the city bestowed upon them by the late Emperor shall be immediately reclaimed..."
Song Yi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty accepts the imperial decree..."
After the eunuch left, the hall was deathly silent.
Suddenly, Wang's shrill voice broke the silence: "Well done! Look what you and your son have done! You've offended the Princess, and now you can't even keep your ancestral property!"
Song Yi whirled around and slapped Song Linchuan across the face: "You unfilial son! It's all your fault!"
Song Linchuan was knocked to the side by the blow, but dared not utter a sound.
Ji Yao stood there, stunned, unable to believe that her grandfather would treat her father this way.
Seeing this, Liu Mingyuan quietly took a few steps back, a calculating glint in his eyes.
Wang walked up to Ji Yao, looked her up and down, and sneered, "What? Still think you're a princess of noble birth? Now that you're surnamed Song, you're nothing but a useless legitimate daughter!"
"I..." Ji Yao opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Song Yi rubbed his temples and waved wearily, "Someone, prepare the west wing and let them stay there."
He glanced at Liu Mingyuan and added, "Men and women should stay separately, so this young master Liu can stay in the outer courtyard."
In the dead of night, Ji Yao sat alone in the simple west wing, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, and finally couldn't help but burst into tears.
She never imagined that in just one day, she would go from being a high-ranking princess to being in such a state.
Meanwhile, in the study of Marquis Anning, Song Yi was having a private conversation with Lady Wang.
"Master, what do we do now?" Madam Wang asked anxiously. "Is the Princess going to break ties with us?"
Song Yi's face darkened: "What's the rush? Yu Yao is currently favored. As long as she gives birth to a prince..."
"But what if the eldest princess..."
"No 'what ifs'!" Song Yi slammed his hand on the table. "Send a message to Yu Yao, tell her to quickly whisper in His Majesty's ear. As for Lin Chuan and that girl..."
He sneered, "Let's keep it alive for now; it might come in handy."
The next morning, Liu Mingyuan got up early and "bumped into" Yunniang, who was taking a walk in the Hou Mansion Garden.
"This must be Madam Yun?"
Liu Mingyuan bowed politely, "My name is Liu Mingyuan. I have long admired your virtuous reputation."
Yunniang looked at him warily: "Young Master Liu, is there something you need?"
Liu Mingyuan lowered his voice: "Miss, there's no need to be nervous. I just wanted to remind you that this Marquis's mansion may seem wealthy, but it is actually fraught with danger. If you can get help from someone, it will be quite easy for you to gain a foothold in the future."
Upon hearing Liu Mingyuan's words, Yunniang's fingers tightened slightly, and she crumpled the handkerchief in her hand.
She looked up and sized up the scholar. He had handsome features, but his words carried a deep meaning, which made her wary.
"What do you mean by that, Young Master Liu?"
She lowered her voice, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and then continued, "I am but a concubine, what danger could I possibly face?"
Liu Mingyuan smiled slightly, his voice so soft that only the two of them could hear: "Madam, why be so modest? You are carrying the flesh and blood of the Song family, and now that you have been taken in by the Marquis, your future is limitless."
A flicker of surprise crossed Yunniang's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure: "Young Master Liu is joking. I am but a nobody..."
“Nameless and without status?” Liu Mingyuan interrupted her, glancing meaningfully at her abdomen. “If you give birth to a son, then it will be a different story.”
Yunniang's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively touched her stomach.
Seeing this, Liu Mingyuan pressed on, "Madam, you're not the only one in this Marquis's mansion eyeing the future title. Although Song Linchuan is the legitimate son, he has offended the Eldest Princess, and his future is uncertain. And the Marquis's second wife, Lady Wang, also has a legitimate son."
Yunniang's expression changed slightly.
Liu Mingyuan lowered his voice: "If Madam is willing, I may be able to lend you a hand."
Yunniang narrowed her eyes: "Why are you helping me?"
Liu Mingyuan chuckled: "It's just a matter of each getting what they need."
After a moment of eye contact, Yunniang finally nodded slowly: "If Young Master Liu has any insightful opinions, please elaborate."
Liu Mingyuan smiled slightly, took out a small jade pendant from his sleeve, and put it into Yunniang's hand: "Three days later, at the teahouse in the south of the city, a distinguished person will be waiting for you."
Yunniang glanced down at the jade pendant, which had an unfamiliar pattern engraved on it, but she didn't ask any questions. She simply hid the jade pendant in her sleeve and turned to leave.
Liu Mingyuan watched her retreating figure, a calculating glint in his eyes.
*
Inside the west wing, Ji Yao sat in front of the bronze mirror, looking at her haggard reflection, and tears welled up in her eyes again.
"How could this happen..." she murmured to herself, "Does Mother really not want me anymore?"
Footsteps sounded outside the door. Liu Mingyuan pushed the door open and entered, a gentle smile on his face: "Yao'er, I'm back."
Ji Yao turned around abruptly, her eyes filled with hope: "Mingyuan, have you found out anything? Has Mother sent anyone to look for me?"
Liu Mingyuan sighed, sat down beside her, and took her hand: "Yao'er, the Princess is determined to teach you a lesson this time. But don't worry, I've already thought of a way."
"What method?" Ji Yao asked anxiously.