The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

Jian Yue's voice fell into an extremely low slump. She swayed, and Hua Xiangrong stepped forward to support her. After she steadied herself, she said, "From the moment I regained consciousness, I have been planning how to rescue my mother, how to take revenge, and how to wipe out all those who have harmed me."

But after my mother was rescued, she always opposed what I was doing. Although she didn't deliberately try to control me in the end, she disappeared without a trace when Bai Jianan got into trouble, and even Hei Feng couldn't find her.

At this point, Jian Yue paused, swallowed, and forcibly suppressed the confusion and fear in her eyes.

"It's unimaginable. My mother, who stayed in the cellar for sixteen years, could suddenly disappear on her own. Her frail body simply couldn't support her escape alone."

Later, I discovered the Gu worms in Qiu Zhenzhou's house. In order to save his own life, Qiu Zhenzhou said that they were from my mother. He wouldn't lie, because no matter how he lied, these things couldn't be attributed to my mother. Such a huge lie was completely useless for saving lives.

But he did just that, and before I could ask any more questions, he died—from a Gu worm. It's hard to believe this wasn't a cover-up to hide the truth.

At this point, Jian Yue's emotions were on the verge of collapse, and her expression was almost insane. Hua Xiangrong quickly shook her and said, "Shangguan Jian Yue, if this little thing can break you down, you don't deserve to be my sister, Hua Xiangrong."

Jian Yue snapped out of her daze, pondered Hua Xiangrong's words, and suddenly cried out in grievance, "Sister was still mean to me, thinking I was indecisive. I even think that sister is right, but that's just who I am."

Because of hatred, I sealed all of this away in my heart, never intending to bring it out again. But fate was kind to me, sending me you, sister, and Bai Jianan. This made my heart beat again, forcing me to tear away half of my disguise and embrace you both. How can I continue to be ruthless like this?

Sister Hua, I know I'm no good at anything, I'm just someone who hurts people, but I'm trying to change, I'm trying to protect everyone I want to protect.

Although I didn't do well, I tried my best. I just never imagined that, just when I thought everything was settled, fate would suddenly play such a cruel joke on me.

Jian Yue's eyes were swollen from crying. Hua Xiangrong sighed, hugged her, and said, "There's no evidence yet. What if you're wrong if you jump to conclusions too early?"

Jian Yue wiped away her tears and choked out, "There's no mistake. I don't really know what kind of person my mother is, but now everything points to her. I feel that I need to find her and get an answer from her."

She also wanted to ask if what Xingke said was true, and whether she and her sister had been used as commodities in a transaction from birth, exchanged for something with that Gu Master.

Everything seemed to have formed a vicious cycle. Just when everything was about to become clear, Shangguan Linglong, who was not originally involved, was dragged into it, pulling the main situation into a more complicated level.

This was all unexpected by Hua Xiangrong. Jian Yue's heart must be in great pain, torn apart. She couldn't help but hug her, but at that moment, she was pulled away by someone.

Bai Jianan domineeringly pulled Jian Yue into his arms, chuckled twice at Hua Xiangrong, and said with a smile, "It is my fault for causing Sister Hua so much trouble."

As he spoke, he wiped away the tears on Jian Yue's face and sighed, "Little wildcat, you've finally stopped being so wild. Do you think you're no good at anything now?"

Hua Xiangrong immediately retorted angrily, "What are you saying? You know perfectly well that she's in a bad mood right now, yet you still try to provoke her?"

Bai Jianan did not answer Hua Xiangrong's question, but continued to say to Jian Yue: "Don't you know how worried I am about you? You can tell me if there's anything wrong. If you keep it to yourself, you're unhappy. Do you think I'm happy?"

You have people protecting you, people pampering you, why not use them? Why stubbornly cling to your little bit of self-esteem, that little bit of distrust? If you don't trust me, you should make me do more things to test me, instead of abandoning me and leaving me to grieve alone.

Shangguan Jianyue, you have a secret that I've never asked you. I told you I was waiting for you to give me everything, and I gave you time. But what you're doing now makes me suddenly feel like I can't let go of your hand anymore.

Because you are not worth me letting go of your hand. You can only let me hold you in my arms and pamper you. So, from now on, you have no freedom. You can only stay by my side and can never leave again.

Bai Jianan's domineering declaration made Jian Yue very uncomfortable. She had been tough and fierce before only because she had no one else. She hid her most vulnerable side and used sharp thorns to protect herself.

Now that her disguise has been stripped away, she feels somewhat lost in front of Bai Jianan and immediately looks to Hua Xiangrong for help.

Unexpectedly, Hua Xiangrong crossed her arms and said sarcastically, "What are you showing off your love for? I haven't even found a man yet. You good-for-nothing, this person was lost in your Princess's residence. You should at least give me an explanation."

Bai Jianan looked at Hua Xiangrong, smiled slightly, and said, "Don't worry, Sister Hua, I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter. Don't tell me who took this person away. I think that behind all of this, besides Yueyue's mother, we need to find someone else."

"Who?"

Jian Yue and Hua Xiangrong spoke almost in unison, when Bai Jianan suddenly narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Murong Yan."

On the official road, a carriage sped along, attracting the attention of all passersby. Inside the carriage, Bai Jianan held Jian Yue on the inside, while Hua Xiangrong sat on the outside.

"I have to say, you two are really a pair, both of you doubting your own mother, it's absolutely unbelievable."

"It's not doubt, it's certainty."

Bai Jianan's voice was colder than usual. He had never spoken to Murong Yan in this tone. Jian Yue looked over and saw Bai Jianan continue, "These days, I have found out something different."

Hua Xiangrong asked, "What's different?"

"The death of the late Empress."

The late Empress, wasn't that Bai Jianan's biological mother? Jian Yue was taken aback, and then Bai Jianan continued, "When the late Empress gave birth, she wasn't without any palace maids by her side. But when I found one of the palace maids who had survived that day, I learned that on the day of the birth, the people around the late Empress had been sent away by Murong Yan. And when those people returned, the late Empress had already passed away, leaving behind only an infant in swaddling clothes."

Hua Xiangrong rested her chin on her hand and pondered, "Are you suspecting that the late Empress did not die after giving birth, but was killed by Murong Yan?"

Murong Chuan did not answer Hua Xiangrong's question, but continued, "The palace maid I found said that on the day the late empress passed away, they wanted to inform the emperor, but Murong Yan stopped them, saying that if they did, the other concubines would find out, and then the child would not be able to be saved."

Everyone present was a maid or eunuch; how could they possibly handle such a situation? In their panic, they begged the Princess to take charge, which led to my being taken out of the palace by Murong Yan.”

Jian Yue frowned: "But she had no motive for doing this. She is the eldest princess; what benefit would she gain from harming her own sister-in-law?"

"Benefits? Protecting the imperial heir might save her from a political marriage. Isn't that enough of an excuse?"

Bai Jianan's tone turned colder, and he tightened his grip on Jian Yue's hand. After a long while, he continued, "At that time, Murong Qianqiu wanted her to go to the Northwest for a political marriage. How could she be willing to marry into that environment without bringing any land or gold with her?"

So, while planning all this and fleeing outside the palace, she unexpectedly met Qingyan Hou, who fell in love with her at first sight. Qingyan Hou was exceptionally handsome and of impeccable character, far superior to the princes of the Northwest. Naturally, she became his confidante, and ultimately, the Emperor granted them a marriage decree. Qingyan Hou, unaware of her identity, willingly married her.

All of this was no less dramatic than Jian Yue's speculation about Shangguan Linglong, and both of them felt a tightening in their hearts, their clasped hands also tightening.

Bai Jianan looked down at Jian Yue, and Jian Yue looked back at Bai Jianan. This scene made Hua Xiangrong feel extremely uncomfortable. She crossed her arms and said angrily, "You two, that's enough. I'm still here."

Jian Yue blushed instantly and tried to get up from Bai Jianan, but Bai Jianan held her tightly and wouldn't let her move an inch.

Jian Yue was a little anxious, but then she saw Bai Jianan look at Hua Xiangrong and continue, "Of course, I suspect that she is not just relying on what happened back then, but also on her relationship with Shangguan Linglong."

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue hurriedly said, "The Princess once said that she and my mother were on good terms, and before the accident, my mother entrusted a piece of clothing to the Princess to pass on to my maternal grandfather."

Bai Jianan smiled and tapped Jian Yue's nose, saying, "Only a little fool like you would believe such a plot. Don't you really doubt that she kept those clothes for sixteen years before handing them to you after you appeared? It's just a lame excuse."

Could the so-called eagerness to return to her fiefdom really delay her by sixteen years? With the Marquis of Qingyan doting on her so much, how could he possibly not allow her to stay in the capital for even a day or two longer?

Jian Yue was taken aback, then suddenly realized, and looked at Bai Jianan and said, "You suspected her back then?"

"It wasn't a suspicion, just something strange, so I did some investigation. However, I had entrusted it to Heli Hong at the time, which caused a delay. After that, I handed it over to Xingzhi. Just a few days ago, Xingzhi gave me this information. That's why I found Sister Hua to impersonate me, and I went to further verify these things."

As Bai Jianan spoke, Jian Yue clearly felt that Bai Jianan's hands were ice-cold, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart, "Are you feeling very uncomfortable?"