He finally gave up resisting, letting them pierce his heart with a sword. His eyes widened, fixed on the small opening, filled with unbearable reluctance.
She covered her mouth tightly, sliding to the ground, followed by the news of his death from illness. The generals, true to their word, did not harm his people. However, everyone found it impossible to accept the news. Just days ago, they had seen the Prince; how could he be gone so suddenly? Objections were raised, and the two factions stood on the brink of conflict.
Recalling the Prince's dying wish, she forced a smile and went out to placate them. Unaware of her identity, most people saw her as the future Princess Consort, a fact known to the Prince's closest confidantes.
This calmed the crowd. Though they sensed a hidden truth, no one dared to ask directly. About a month later, she secretly headed north with her wet nurse, Lijuan, and a few trusted individuals.
As time passed, her pregnancy became undeniable. The wet nurse urged her to abort the child, but she couldn't bear to, wishing to leave an heir for him. They found refuge in a secluded town, and the child was born there.
If possible, she wished to live her entire life away from the capital, in that small town, raising her child and teaching her to read and write.
Alas, life in the town was not peaceful. The moment they arrived, they were targeted. Her beauty, her sole daughter, and her extravagant spending suggested considerable wealth. Many suitors were rejected. Some forgot and married others, but some harbored resentment.
Steward Liu, the county magistrate's brother-in-law, found her different from other women; her every move was captivating. After his third rejected proposal, he deemed her insolent and decided to resort to force.
He stormed into the courtyard with his men. A fierce struggle ensued. During the fight, a guard accidentally caused a death. They quickly gathered their belongings and fled in haste.
On the road, they encountered several pursuit parties, all of whom were defeated by the guards' superior martial arts. As they neared the capital, the pursuers remained relentless. She was consumed by anxiety. Firstly, she feared her child would not be accepted by her father upon returning to the capital. Secondly, she had not forgotten how the Prince died. Returning so openly with a child would surely cause a sensation. Given their childhood connection, people would inevitably link the child to Prince Xiaoyao. Would she even survive?
After another fierce battle, they stumbled into a small village and met the Liu couple. A sudden idea struck her, leading to the scene they later cherished of giving away the child.
Freed from the burden of the child, they proceeded to the next county, found the magistrate, revealed their identities, and arranged for escort back to the capital.
Upon their return, everyone kept silent about the events in the south. Meanwhile, the eldest young master of the Marquis's mansion, overjoyed at the return of the woman he yearned for, immediately sent a proposal.
During their escape, she had come to terms with the reality that she could not remain unmarried forever. If those above discovered she had remained chaste for Prince Xiaoyao, it would endanger her entire family. Living a quiet life would be the best way to deceive them.
Coincidentally, on their wedding day, he was so overjoyed that he drank himself into a stupor and fell asleep as soon as they reached the bridal chamber, allowing her to pass unnoticed.
Over the years, though she had three daughters and a son, she never forgot that child. But she couldn't visit her. As the future mistress of the Marquis's mansion, she was constantly busy. With so many eyes watching within the estate, leaving the capital would be akin to revealing her daughter's whereabouts, exposing her to grave danger.
Though they concealed it well, every path leaves a trace. The reason she sent a steward to visit her that year was that the guards who had accompanied her south were under surveillance. She feared that their departure from the capital would attract unwanted attention.
There was no alternative but to send a steward to Qinghe Town to look after her. Even then, she claimed it was a chance encounter with Liu Yue, who bore a resemblance to her, and that out of a sense of connection, she had asked him to keep it a secret to avoid suspicion.
Knowing she was well, her heart eased somewhat. She never saw her again, as the more people who knew, the greater the risk. Who could have imagined that Lijuan would spot her on the street? She suffered from insomnia for days, pondering what could have happened to make a woman risk everything to travel from a remote village to the capital, and how much hardship she endured along the way.
At night, her heart ached unbearably; by day, she feigned indifference. Upon hearing about her relationship with Young Master Ye, she was a hundred percent against it. If Young Master Ye were a man of integrity, it might be acceptable. However, her own status was precarious – outwardly a farmer's daughter, unable to stand on ceremony, and with a life-threatening secret. His reputation, she felt, was too tarnished.
She had already risked sending Lijuan to warn her once, yet the girl remained unmoved. To avoid attracting attention from those above, she let her be, intending to help only when she had no other recourse.
Unexpectedly, the fifth son of the Ye family, Ye Lang, turned over a new leaf. She was overjoyed during those days, even eating more than usual. Just as life began to settle, the second young mistress disrupted everything.
In truth, she knew that the foolish second young mistress lacked such capacity. Someone must have been guiding her, informing her of Liu Yue's existence, intending to use her as a weapon.
Wu Caiwei looked at the woman opposite her, her heart aching. She could imagine how deeply she loved the original owner's father, choosing to give birth to her. In this feudal society, her very existence had ruined the child's life from the start. She surely knew this.
The plan was sound. If the Liu family hadn't been so greedy and had shown gratitude, Liu Yue could have lived a peaceful life. But fate is unpredictable.
She stepped forward and took her hand, "It must have been so difficult to keep this to yourself for so many years. In the quiet of the night, thinking of your lost love, your absent daughter, and an enemy you cannot avenge, how did you endure?"
Before she could finish speaking, the eldest young madam's tears burst forth. She pulled her into a tight embrace. Indeed, only a daughter truly understood her pain. Others only saw her as a burden on their reputation, causing them trouble.
"With your words, my life is complete. Visit him more often when you have time."
Wu Caiwei nodded, understanding her meaning. She comforted her, "Live your life well. Don't worry about me anymore. Cherish the one before you. Your father's revenge, I will handle."