Chapter 9: No Need to Suffer

Feng Yu’er...

The rumors said the person who bore some resemblance to her was actually Feng Yu’er herself!

Zhao Jiao never dreamed this could be true.

“Have you looked for her? Does she even know you’re alive?”

Liu Xu shook her head, anger flashing in her eyes. “A servant like me wouldn’t waste time seeking out such an ungrateful wretch. Think of how kindly the young lady treated her, yet after the princess’s misfortune, she used her somewhat similar face to ingratiate herself with those people and even became some kind of princess…”

“I want to see her!”

Zhao Jiao clenched her fists. Anyone else would do, so why had it to be her?

She had treated her like a younger sister!

“Princess… it’s better not to meet her. Actually… I secretly sought her out once, but she didn’t know. At first, I thought she was forced or had ulterior motives, so I worried about her. But I realized I was wrong. I saw her bullying others with her power, showing off, and I even saw her…”

Liu Xu’s words faltered.

“What else did you see?”

Liu Xu hesitated, but Zhao Jiao wanted to hear it.

Angrily, Liu Xu said, “I saw her… being intimate with Prince Li! Princess, she’s not the same as before. You’d only be angry for no reason!”

Zhao Jiao felt her face burning with pain. “You can’t judge a person by their face alone. Father once warned me that Feng Yu’er was too calculating, not someone to trust deeply. But I thought she was straightforward and interesting, that even if she was calculating, she wouldn’t use it against me—after all, she shares the Feng name, and her father was part of the Feng family army.”

“Don’t blame the princess; some people have hearts as cruel as wolves…”

“Enough. She’s just capable!” If Feng Yu’er could gain the favor of the princess dowager, who only cared about imperial power, and be recognized as her daughter, that was her skill and means. As for Prince Li, when he chose to protect himself, he was already a stranger to me. One heartless and ungrateful, the other treacherous—perfectly matched!

“Enough about her. Liu Xu, two years ago on the day I had my accident, didn’t I send you to Jizhou to contact the Feng family army? Why did you come back, and in such a state?”

Liu Xu looked bewildered. “Didn’t the princess order me to return?”

“Explain yourself!”

Zhao Jiao’s complexion darkened.

Liu Xu snapped to attention, urgently explaining, “You sent me secretly to Jizhou, but soon after I left the city, I received your pigeon message telling me to rush back to save you. I hurried back desperately, but when I arrived, the Hou residence was engulfed in flames. Feng Yu’er was outside, crying and begging for help to put out the fire. She told me the princess was inside, so I rushed in… but the fire was too fierce, and before I could find you, I was overcome by smoke and passed out. When I woke, I was in a teahouse, saved by Old Man Duan, who had also rushed to help the young lady after hearing the news…”

“I never sent you a pigeon message. I never told you to come back to save me!”

Zhao Jiao’s face grew paler, chills running through her.

Liu Xu grew desperate. “But the handwriting and secret seal on the letter…”

“Have you forgotten? Didn’t my father’s rebellion also come with secret letters perfectly forged? Even my father couldn’t distinguish them. They deliberately tricked you to come back—first to stop you from reaching Jizhou to alert the Feng family army, second, to kill you. The timing was perfect. They knew I’d recklessly rush into the fire to save myself, and Old Man Duan too…”

Zhao Jiao closed her eyes gently, striving to calm her emotions.

Liu Xu understood but refused to believe. “…The fire wasn’t an accident. Who… who harmed the princess?”

“The princess dowager… Yin Ling!”

Zhao Jiao answered with bitterness and self-mockery. “Hard to believe, isn’t it?”

“Why!”

Liu Xu shook her head repeatedly, unable to bear looking at Zhao Jiao. Why? The princess was the princess dowager’s own daughter! How could she do such a thing? How…

“I asked her why… do you know what she said? She said giving birth to me was forced, killing me was inevitable… Liu Xu, in all my life, I’ve never hated anyone like this…”

That piercing pain, unforgettable for a lifetime!

“I’m going to kill her…”

Liu Xu’s heart ached unbearably.

“No. I want her alive. I want her to watch with her own eyes as everything she cares about is destroyed by me!”

“Whatever the princess decides, I will follow her to the death.”

Zhao Jiao nodded. Silence hung for a moment before she steadied herself and spoke, “…Don’t tell anyone about this for now. Don’t mention it to Old Man Duan either. I’ll find the chance to meet him myself. It’s late now; you should go back. Tomorrow, find a suitable place near the Xu residence to settle for easier communication.”

“All right, I’ll do it tomorrow!”

After seeing Liu Xu off, Zhao Jiao spent the night without sleep.

The next day, Liu Xu secured a fruit shop directly opposite the back gate of the Xu residence.

In recent days, the Xu residence had been relatively quiet. Lady Qiu was ‘ill’ in bed, and Concubine Meng had not managed the household. To prepare for the arrival of the old madam and Concubine Qiu, Xu Guodong took charge himself, overseeing the cleaning and shopping. He hadn’t gone to see Zhao Jiao, mainly out of fear she would demand the five thousand taels!

Liu Xu also learned about the empress dowager’s selection of attendants, scheduled for the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, coinciding with the empress dowager’s birthday.

“The fifteenth day of the twelfth month—just two days away. The imperial decree should arrive today. I’m not sure if Lady Qiu can have her name changed, but Liu Xu, you must keep an eye on the officials releasing the decree. No matter what, make sure my name is on the list!”

“Yes, I will make sure!”

“Be careful. I’m going back now.”

Zhao Jiao left the fruit shop carrying two packages of candied fruit and entered through the back gate, heading straight to Concubine Meng’s quarters.

Before she arrived, she heard servants announcing the arrival of the old madam and others. The master had sent everyone to welcome them.

Such a grand reception!

Zhao Jiao ignored it and continued into Concubine Meng’s small courtyard.

At the gate, she saw Concubine Meng looking haggard but properly dressed and being supported by someone as she stepped out.

“Isn’t it obvious that Auntie is unwell? She shouldn’t be exposed to the cold wind. Why aren’t you helping her inside?”

Zhao Jiao’s words made He Hua stop and look toward Concubine Meng.

“Jiao Jiao, your grandmother and the others have arrived. Your father had everyone go to greet them. You should come with me. Jun Ge’er can’t get up, so later…”

“No one needs to go. The old madam is old, and Auntie is sick. Don’t aggravate her illness for the old lady’s sake. There’s no rush to pay respects now. Father and the old madam won’t blame us. Go inside!”

Zhao Jiao said this and headed indoors. Concubine Meng looked puzzled, and He Hua hesitated briefly before supporting her and turning inside.

Yun Xiang remained silent, restless ever since she learned that Concubine Qiu and the others were returning.

“Jiao Jiao, I’m fine now, much better. It wouldn’t be proper not to go…”

Concubine Meng’s voice was timid, barely audible.

“You all leave. Yun Xiang, you stay outside and guard the door. If anyone comes, tell them Auntie and Jun Ge’er are still unwell. I won’t allow them to go.”

“Yes!” Yun Xiang whispered obediently, asking no questions. Zhao Jiao suddenly found herself fond of this girl.

He Hua was worried but ultimately remained silent.

“Auntie, sit down and warm yourself by the fire.”

“Jiao Jiao… I know you’re angry with your father, but the marriage matter in the end…”

“Auntie, there are some things I must say to you. One must live clearly… Do you know why he married me off to the Lu family? When Jun Ge’er was one to three years old, he fell ill several times for no reason and nearly died. Do you know why?”