Reborn as a concubine's daughter and entering a noble family: Xie Lang, don't be too seduc

"What is it?" Xie Lin picked up a slice of lotus root from the plate, put it in his mouth, and asked casually.

He didn't seem to care much about what Si Qingyue was going to say next.

The so-called interesting things were nothing more than "rumors" among the various patrons of the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, hearsay and unfounded speculation.

Those who could be regulars at the Moon-Viewing Pavilion were basically either rich or noble.

These people are all incredibly smart.

How much of it is true and how much is false? I'd dare to share it with the girls in the building, so there's no real information here.

Seeing his reaction, Si Qingyue understood his meaning, but still smiled faintly and continued speaking—

"These past two days, the most talked-about topic in the Moon-Viewing Pavilion has been the attack on your betrothed and the current emperor. Do you know what they're saying?"

Xie Lin, who had just been indifferent, suddenly reacted upon hearing these words.

He looked at Si Qingyue's stunningly beautiful face, waiting for her to continue.

Si Qingyue said, "...His Majesty dotes on Consort Qi, but time is merciless, and even beauties grow old. Your betrothed looks seven-tenths like Consort Qi when she was young, so it's no wonder that she's being coveted."

There was something in her words.

This left enough room for Xie Lin to think it over himself.

Seeing the change in Xie Lin's gaze, Si Qingyue continued unhurriedly, "However, some people say that His Majesty's most beloved person back then was not Consort Qi, but General Huo's wife, Consort Qi's younger sister. That is, your betrothed... her stepmother. I wonder if it was for this reason that His Majesty took that poor little girl back to the palace to raise her after the Huo family suffered a calamity."

I met Hawthorne that day—

Although she is young, she has delicate features and a pair of bright, clever, and adorable eyes.

With a delicate and charming appearance and a kind and gentle heart...

It's a pity that she seemed to be deliberately making herself look ugly, pretending to be stupid and ignorant.

It's believed that Consort Qi had already noticed her natural beauty and was wary of her, so she hid her away to prevent His Majesty from seeing her and having designs on her. Only after Huo Sanghua finalized her marriage to the Xie family did she dare to let her show her face before His Majesty.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty still took notice of them.

Xie Lin hesitated slightly after hearing this, but smiled after a moment.

He seemed unconcerned, his smile full of nonchalance.

This reaction was exactly what Si Qingyue had expected!

Seeing Xie Lin pick up the wine glass and drink it all in one gulp, she poured him a new glass of wine.

"But there's an even more interesting version! I overheard it from an adult; it's said that when the Qi sisters were young, their family suffered a tragedy and they were entrusted to the care of a distant uncle. This uncle had a daughter slightly older than the sisters, who later married the Crown Prince and became his consort. With the old emperor's death and the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne, she transformed into the Empress..."

What Si Qingyue was talking about was the affair of the emperor and empress of the previous dynasty.

The "Empress" she mentioned was Empress Wang from the previous dynasty!

The former emperor was none other than the current emperor's elder brother.

Back then, Your Majesty raised an army in rebellion, killed your elder brother, and usurped the throne.

Rumors circulated in the palace that Empress Wang, who had just given birth to a son, was nearly taken by the Emperor and, to preserve her chastity, immolated herself in Liangyue Palace to follow the late Emperor in death.

The Qi sisters bore a striking resemblance to her, especially Qi Fei's younger sister, whose every gesture perfectly captured the breathtaking beauty of the former empress, a woman of unparalleled grace. Unfortunately, she had already married General Huo at that time.

His Majesty, settling for second best, welcomed Consort Qi into the palace, and from then on, he showered her with boundless favor.

Consort Qi was enjoying unparalleled fame!

"I will never have the chance to meet the Empress Wang, who is said to have a heavenly appearance and be extraordinary. I just wonder if the Second Young Master's fiancée is more like Consort Qi, or more like Madam Huo, or... more like Empress Wang?" Si Qingyue was really curious.

If Hawthorne truly resembled someone, then His Majesty would have taken notice of her.

So, what kind of beauty was Empress Wang, whom His Majesty had missed for so many years?

Hearing Si Qingyue's questions about Huo Sanghua, Xie Lin avoided her probing gaze. "She's just a concubine's daughter of the Huo family, how could she be qualified to be like the former empress?"

"That's true!" Si Qingyue didn't press the matter. Although she regretted not having witnessed Empress Wang's captivating beauty, it was all in the past; Empress Wang had been gone for many years. "After all, everyone says that Empress Wang gave birth to a son who perished in the fire along with her. But even if he were alive, he couldn't possibly have become the illegitimate daughter of the Huo family—Miss Sang Hua, could he?"

The speaker has no intention, the listener has the heart.

Xie Lin avoided eye contact, looking slightly disappointed.

Si Qingyue took in his reaction without showing any emotion.

"Miss Si, Young Master Qu is here, he's looking for you," a young lady from Guanyue Tower came to deliver the message.

"Okay, I'll go right away." Si Qingyue stood up and said to Xie Lin. "I'll go take a look over there first, and then I'll find an excuse to slip back later. If you have other things to do, don't wait for me. Go back and get ready to be your groom."

After saying that, she smiled and turned to leave her seat to greet Young Master Qu.

Only Xie Lin remained at the table, seemingly savoring the news Si Qingyue had just brought, but his expression was clouded with an unseen shadow, melancholy and profound.

With the wedding imminent, His Majesty kept his promise and ordered Eunuch Cai to send a dowry of considerable value.

The fact that it was supposed to be "adding to the dowry" that was agreed upon with Hawthorne that day has silenced some people's complaints.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Eunuch Cai secretly told Hawthorne—

His Majesty was very satisfied that she hadn't said anything out of line.

He also instructed her to keep her mouth shut after marriage, and to know what to say and what not to say.

Hawthorne continued to feign ignorance, saying she didn't remember anything that had happened. Eunuch Cai was quite pleased with her reaction, put down his things, and left with his men.

The Marquis of Anding's residence was also busy making preparations. They not only renovated Xie Lin's courtyard, but also decorated the entire residence with lanterns and colorful decorations, and hung red silk throughout.

Many people had to report their presence before entering or leaving Xie Shu's study.

Seeing this, Old Madam Xie was furious and lashed out at Xie Shu—

"Does the wedding of a concubine's son really require you to go to such lengths and make such a grand affair in the mansion? If you have that kind of mindset, take a good look at the girls I've chosen for you, and we can have a proper wedding when you get married!"

Xie Shu vaguely answered her mother and saw her out the door.

He didn't even glance at the portraits of women his mother had sent him, and ordered his servant to dispose of them.

Looking at the festive atmosphere throughout the mansion, I had a fleeting, unsettling feeling—

Tomorrow will be his wedding day, to marry...

Suddenly snapping back to reality, Xie Shu's mind was in complete turmoil.

Even though he concealed it very well and never revealed it to outsiders, some thoughts would still pop into his head from time to time.

Every smile and frown of Hawthorne was etched in his heart, giving him a feeling he couldn't quite describe!

He desperately wanted to find the answer and offer an explanation, but Hawthorne remained an unsolvable mystery...

Where exactly did I see her?

How could I not remember someone like that, having seen them before?

"Young Master." Liao Bin returned behind Xie Shu, bringing the results of the investigation Xie Shu had asked him to investigate. "Just as you suspected, the guards on duty outside Yuyang Palace that night got word from Eunuch Cai that His Majesty... ...intends to take advantage of Miss Sanghua."

Upon hearing this, Xie Shu, who had remained indifferent, finally raised her eyelids.

His eyes held a hint of intimidation as he turned to look at Liao Bin.

“However, His Majesty did not succeed. Miss Sanghua’s head injury was self-inflicted. According to the imperial physician, His Majesty woke up later than Miss Sanghua. So…” Liao Bin suspected that there was something strange about this matter no matter how you looked at it. “Perhaps Miss Sanghua did not really faint. I am wondering if Miss Sanghua knocked His Majesty unconscious and then pretended to faint.”

"She doesn't have that skill." Xie Shu knew her well.

If she had that kind of skill, why would she have been bullied so badly?

"It was Ah Lin who knocked His Majesty unconscious."