ebookland Chapter 953: Was it all an act?
Chapter 953: Was it all an act?
why?
Xia Zhilan couldn't understand whether all the kindness Xiao Wenche had shown her over the years was just a facade.
He was considerate and thoughtful towards her in every way, taking care of her face both inside and outside. Even when her mother-in-law said it was a pity that she couldn't have children, it was Xiao Wenche who helped her to calm down and persuade her mother-in-law.
Now, he's only gone out for a short trip, and his older brother has unfortunately passed away. He's eagerly taking over his older brother's identity.
If his elder brother's status was higher than his, it would be one thing for him to want to take his place, but it was clearly Xiao Wenche who passed the imperial examination, while Xiao Wenyuan did not!
He was willing to give up his own fame and fortune to pretend to be the eldest brother, just to win over his sister-in-law?
Seeing Xia Zhilan's trapped state and seemingly unable to think clearly, Song Ruozhen turned to the Empress and said:
"Mother, the young mistress has just woken up and is still weak. Shall we take her back to her room to rest for a while?"
The Empress and Song Ruozhen exchanged a glance, and the Empress discerned something from Song Ruozhen's expression. She said, "Someone, take Zhilan back to her room first."
Xiao Wenyuan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Xia Zhilan was still alive.
Lu Fei glanced at him and saw the concern in his eyes, but she still felt a little dissatisfied.
"Husband, don't worry. Everyone says the Crown Princess has miraculous healing powers, so your sister-in-law will definitely be fine."
Xiao Wenyuan nodded, "Zhilan is, after all, my second brother's wife. Before he died, my second brother instructed me to take good care of Zhilan and the child. This was his last wish."
Now, seeing Zhilan so heartbroken and ill, mistaking me for her second brother and even contemplating suicide, I truly feel I have failed my second brother in his trust!
Hearing the eldest son's words, everyone in the courtyard sighed inwardly.
"The second young mistress is indeed pitiful, but she has to face reality. How can she continue to be so extreme?"
"That's right. The eldest young master and his wife have already done more than enough. If this continues, even the eldest son's family will never have a peaceful day again."
"Her Majesty the Empress has brought the Crown Princess here today, which is clearly to support the Second Young Mistress. I just hope that the Second Young Mistress can be more clear-headed. She can't possibly insist on having the Eldest Young Master as her husband, can she? What kind of image would that make?"
As Song Ruozhen listened to the discussions outside, a cold glint flashed in her beautiful eyes.
"It seems that the Xiao family does not discipline its servants strictly."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao smiled apologetically and said, "Please don't take it to heart, Your Highness. They are just concerned about Zhilan."
Song Ruozhen scoffed, "So, in the Xiao residence, the servants' gossip about their master is actually a sign of concern?"
"It seems that Madam Xiao is not very good at disciplining her servants. Since I am here, I will help her discipline them."
"Guards, take all the servants who speak ill of their master away and slap them thirty times each!"
As the Empress watched Xia Zhilan being sent back to her room, and the imperial physician preparing the medicine according to Song Ruozhen's prescription, she overheard the conversation outside the door.
A hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes. She knew that Ruozhen had a good temper and was excellent at dealing with people, but as a member of the royal family, she had to maintain a certain level of authority.
Now it seems there's no need to worry.
When Madam Xiao saw that Song Ruozhen had directly ordered a slap in the face, completely disregarding her as the matriarch of the Xiao family, her expression turned rather unpleasant.
"Our Crown Princess still needs to continue treating the Second Young Mistress. She doesn't like to be disturbed by outsiders while she's treating patients, so please leave now."
Qing Teng raised his hand and directly ordered them to leave.
When Xiao Wenyuan and Lu Fei arrived, they heard these words. The group exchanged glances and could only obediently retreat.
The Empress came out and saw that everyone outside the courtyard had been driven away, and that peace and quiet had finally been restored. A look of satisfaction appeared on her face.
"Ruozhen, what are your thoughts on this?"
Seeing that the palace guards were stationed around the courtyard, and that no one would be so audacious as to eavesdrop, Song Ruozhen then said:
"Mother, the Second Young Mistress is right, her husband is not dead."
Even the Empress had this suspicion in her mind, but it only surfaced for a brief moment. She still felt that Xia Zhilan was perhaps missing him too much.
After all, everyone knew that the couple had a very good relationship and were deeply in love. It's normal that they couldn't accept the sudden bad news.
However, she was quite shocked to learn that it was all true.
"Is it really the second son of the Xiao family who deliberately impersonated the eldest son of the Xiao family?" the Empress exclaimed in astonishment.
Even a traditional storyteller couldn't have written something this exciting.
Song Ruozhen nodded, "People who share a bed will never mistake each other, but now they are all in cahoots, insisting that Xiao Wenche is Xiao Wenyuan."
"So... even Old Madam Xiao can indulge her like this?"
The Empress was speechless for a moment. Such an absurd thing was that Xiao Wenche had fallen in love with his sister-in-law, which was not only against etiquette but also extremely disgraceful.
If it were just the two people involved in this case who had such intentions, that would be one thing, but the fact that even their mother condoned it shows that this family is rotten to the core!
Upon hearing the Empress's words, Song Ruozhen knew that her mother indeed understood, and that it was impossible for Old Madam Xiao not to know about such a matter.
"I suppose this is one of the reasons why the second young mistress can't understand it."
The Empress entered the room and, looking at Xia Zhilan lying on the bed, her face as pale as paper, couldn't help but say:
"Why are you doing this to yourself, child?"
Even if your husband is unreliable, you still have your maternal family and the Empress Dowager to back you up. No matter what, you shouldn't have sought death!
Xia Zhilan had come to her senses by now, and upon hearing the Empress's words, she felt even more ashamed.
"Your Majesty, I acted rashly today and made this mistake, disturbing you and the Empress Dowager. It is all my fault."
Seeing that Xia Zhilan was about to get out of bed and kneel down, the Empress quickly stopped her.
"You've suffered such a serious injury, so you should rest and recuperate. There's no need for formalities."
"When the Empress Dowager heard that something had happened to you today, she immediately sent me to see you, fearing that you had been bullied in the Xiao family."
"Such a big matter, you should have told us sooner so we could have given you advice. How could we let you suffer alone in the Xiao residence?"
The Empress sighed. Although she had no relation to Xia Zhilan, the Empress Dowager had frequently summoned her to the palace in the early years and had even taken her in for a while, so she had essentially watched Xia Zhilan grow up.
Seeing her suffer now, I can't help but feel sorry for her.
"It's all my fault, I've caused the Empress Dowager and you a lot of trouble."
Xia Zhilan's eyes reddened. "It's my own fault for being so useless. Actually, if Wen Che doesn't like me and wants to divorce me, I wouldn't be unable to accept it."
But... I really can't accept this outcome. He was clearly alive, yet he kept saying he was dead, trying to deceive me and my daughter, just so he could be with my sister-in-law.
Was I blind all along? Was all the kindness he showed me just an act?
Seeing Xia Zhilan's heartbroken appearance, the Empress sighed helplessly. In the end, she just couldn't let go of the feelings she had developed over the years.