Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C103

The thought was good, but Wushuang didn't know how to broach the subject.

Was she to directly tell Prince Wei that she had, in truth, lived two lives?

She thought of the old monk she had met at Baofu Temple, and carefully chose her words, saying, "Your Highness, do you still remember the Master Lechen we met at Baofu Temple?"

Of course, he remembered.

"Why bring up this person?"

She was somewhat nervous, and couldn't help but rub the corner of her garment. "Your Highness, do you still remember him saying 'Three lifetimes of Buddha, two lifetimes of man,' and that my fate was strange and unpredictable?"

Prince Wei nodded.

"Then, if I were to say that I have actually lived two lifetimes, would Your Highness believe me?"

Then, without waiting for Prince Wei to answer, she told him everything.

"...I don't know what happened, I just felt a sharp pain in my stomach, there was a lot of blood on my skirt, and I seemed to have vomited blood twice. Just before my eyes closed, I saw Linglong seemed to be screaming, and then I lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in the study being taught Female Precepts by Master Qin."

Seeming afraid that he wouldn't believe her, she added, "At first, I also wondered if I was dreaming, and that I had simply awakened from a dream. But then several things happened in succession that matched the dream. When I say 'matched,' I don't mean the same trajectory as the previous life, but rather that the same events occurred, but because of my different choices, things became completely different. Like in my previous life, after I returned from the study, Mei Wuxia came to my door, and spoke to me about going to Marquis Xuanping's mansion to offer birthday congratulations, and also gave me a collection of Zhao Jianzhi's poems, and also about going to the estate to visit my critically ill grandmother..."

"You mean, you died in your previous life?" Prince Wei asked, stroking her back.

He hadn't learned of this matter from her directly, but he could vaguely guess it. If she hadn't died, where would the 'three lifetimes of Buddha, two lifetimes of man' come from?

But when he heard from her own lips that she had died, that she had been poisoned to death, and that she might have even miscarried before her death, Prince Wei, with his keen perception, analyzed the matter that even Wushuang hadn't realized, based on only a few words.

At this moment, Prince Wei was unusually furious.

Wushuang was still thinking about how to make him believe that what she said was true, but she hadn't expected Prince Wei to be on a completely different wavelength than her. But she still nodded.

"You think your death is related to Consort Dowager Hu?"

Wushuang then told him about Dongkui serving by her side in her previous life, and about her chance encounter with Consort Dowager Hu, and also shared her conjectures and guesses.

It was only when she got to this point that she suddenly realized that Prince Wei already believed her. He had believed her so easily. She had been racking her brains thinking about how to make him believe that she had lived two lives.

She also discovered that Prince Wei's observation was very sharp. She hadn't even said it, but he was able to connect her decision to reveal her secret with Consort Dowager Hu.

"Your Highness, you are truly so clever!" As expected of Prince Wei!

The simple-minded Wushuang had not considered that her questions to Consort Dowager Hu, followed by that string of words, clearly had a necessary connection. It was not strange that Prince Wei would make the connection.

However, in a married couple, if one was foolish, there must be one who was clever. It was not strange for the foolish one to admire and worship the clever one.

Clearly, Prince Wei was also quite pleased. He lowered his head and kissed her gently. "If you are so foolish, and this Prince isn't a bit cleverer, what will become of us in the future?"

Was she really that foolish?

Very well, she truly couldn't compare to Prince Wei.

"Then, Your Highness, do you think my guess is correct?"

Prince Wei gave a slight nod. "You do understand this Prince somewhat. According to this Prince's nature, I truly wouldn't place such a palace maid by your side."

After a pause, he continued, "In your previous life, when you encountered Consort Dowager Hu, had the Empress Dowager already passed away?"

Mei Wushuang nodded.

"Then Father Emperor…"

Father Emperor, needless to say, must have also passed away, otherwise, there would have been no ascension for him.

Judging from her words, his ascension must not have been smooth, otherwise, his brothers would not have died or been imprisoned.

Even an emperor must act with some restraint, for even an emperor fears the historian's brush.

With his character, if he wasn't given sufficient reason, he wouldn't have taken such ruthless action on the surface, earning himself the reputation of fratricide. Therefore, Prince Jin, Prince Qin, and the others must have given him a legitimate opportunity to act, one that wouldn't burden him with infamy.

Actually, Prince Wei was not concerned with whether Prince Jin and the others lived or died. Rather, it was Father Emperor... According to her timeline, he should ascend the throne in three years. Father Emperor's health had always been robust; how could he have passed away in such a short three years?

Prince Wei thought of Emperor Taihe's series of actions after he returned to the capital.

Father Emperor was pushing him to the top. Prince Wei understood this better than anyone, but why was Father Emperor in such a hurry? And there was also his guess today that Father Emperor's health had deteriorated.

"Actually, some old matters from years ago, because they happened so long ago, Father Emperor was vague about them, and this Prince isn't very clear either. I will find an opportunity to ask Father Emperor about Prince An's matter. In addition, I will also find someone to inquire about Consort Dowager Hu's past. Only by clarifying these old matters can we judge whether she has a reason to harm you."

So far, Mei Wushuang's suspicion of Consort Dowager Hu was only based on the other's gaze, and the eerie and frightening appearance she had at the time.

Then there was that little palace maid named Dongkui. Logically speaking, since she served by Consort Dowager's side, she shouldn't have been able to leave for no reason, much less be arranged by him to serve her.

This was, in fact, the biggest point of suspicion.

"Granny An has been in the palace all along, so she should be considered an old-timer. Could she possibly know something?" Mei Wushuang suggested.

Prince Wei shook his head. "Granny An was still a bit young." At most, Granny An would know some things about the palace from when Consort Chen was still alive; she probably wouldn't know about the generation before that.

"However, there is someone who might know," he said, changing the subject.

"Who?"

"My aunt."

Princess Changhe?

"Then should we go ask our aunt? Before our aunt married, she lived in the palace all the time. She should also be familiar with Prince An and know some of the situation in the palace at that time. Moreover, we haven't paid a special visit to our aunt since our wedding," Wushuang said.

In fact, she had always wanted to pay a visit to Princess Changhe. From the point of view of etiquette, this was indispensable, but unfortunately, she had not found the time. After returning from Mount Xiang, she had been pregnant and resting in the Prince's mansion.

"Tomorrow, I will take you to the Princess's mansion."

Wushuang nodded. Seeing that what needed to be said had been said, she wanted to stand up and go back.

Who knew that she would be stopped by Prince Wei.

"So eager to return to Xiangluan Courtyard?"

His expression was solemn and righteous, but for some reason, Wushuang knew he had ill intentions.

She chuckled. "I'm going back to check on Zuo'er. It will be time for the midday meal soon. Your Highness, are you still going to the Privy Council today? Will you be taking your midday meal at Xiangluan Courtyard?"

"You are being perfunctory with this Prince," he said, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"How could this concubine be perfunctory with Your Highness? Besides, Chouchou wouldn't be perfunctory with Shengheng either."

He looked at her particularly well-behaved appearance, wrapped his arms around her waist, and turned her around, so that her back was against the desk and she was facing him.

"Truly a well-behaved girl."

Wushuang felt as though she was being flirted with by a lecherous rogue.

"This Prince must go to the Privy Council this afternoon," he said languidly, his breath caressing the side of her cheek and ear, causing the fine down on her neck to stand on end.

"This Prince might not return until evening, or perhaps it will be dark by the time I return."

"Shengheng must be truly exhausted; Chouchou's heart aches for him so."

He lightly pecked her sweet little mouth and chuckled, "Such a silver tongue. Did you learn that from him?"

Uh...

"Did he instruct you yesterday to wait for him tonight, without fail?"

Uh... indeed, he did.

In truth, now that things had progressed this far, Wushuang had long known that Ji Yang was aware of her affair with Prince Wei. And because Ji Yang was not adept at concealing his thoughts, from some of his actions and words, Wushuang also knew that Ji Yang knew that she knew he knew.

It sounded somewhat convoluted. To put it plainly, they were both perfectly aware that the other knew, but due to some strange, unspoken agreement, this thin layer of paper separating them remained unpierced between Wushuang and Ji Yang.

It was like last night, when Ji Yang came to Wushuang and told her that she must wait for him tonight, and absolutely not let someone else take advantage of her first, and so on.

These were originally private words between the two of them, so how would Prince Wei know?

Wushuang simply wanted to cover her face.

It seemed the two really were one and the same! Ji Yang, once again, used his 'foolish' behavior to endorse Prince Wei's claim that the two were one person.

"Then what about this Prince? Will you not care for Shengheng anymore?"

Was he pouting?

The moment a question mark appeared in Wushuang's mind, her mouth was silenced.

After a bout of kissing, her silk robe had already been loosened.

In the last moment before her mind completely wandered, Wushuang thought, he really does favor places like the study!

***

The next day, Prince Wei took Wushuang to Princess Changhe's mansion.

Princess Changhe was both surprised and exceptionally pleased by their arrival.

"He truly resembles Yang'er in his youth."

Seeing Princess Changhe praise him in this way, Wushuang wondered if Zuo'er truly resembled him in his childhood?

The three exchanged pleasantries for a while, and Wushuang was still pondering how to broach the subject when, unexpectedly, Prince Wei spoke first.

"Why do you ask about these matters?"

Prince Wei said, "Some things require knowing some old stories to discern."

Seeing him say this, Princess Changhe knew that there were some things he was currently only inferring, and it was not yet appropriate to share them with outsiders. However, she did not conceal anything and, while reminiscing, said, "Regarding my and Imperial Brother's birth mother, because I was too young at the time, and Mother Consort passed away too early, this Majesty does not know too much about it. I only know that when Mother Consort was still alive, she was extremely favored by Father Emperor. Not only was she granted the title of Noble Consort, but she was also granted the title of Imperial Noble Consort even with an Empress present. It could be said that she enjoyed all the favor in the world, but Mother Consort also suffered an early demise..."

"After Mother Consort died, I had not yet formed memories. Because Virtuous Consort had no children, Father Emperor gave Imperial Brother and me to Virtuous Consort, who is now the Empress Dowager, to raise. At that time, Consort Dowager Hu was not yet a Consort, but a Concubine Li. Prince An had been frail and sickly since childhood, and Concubine Li, in order to care for him, rarely showed her face in public. However, as the princes grew older, the infighting in the palace became fierce. It must be said that Concubine Li was capable to be able to protect Prince An from being tainted by any trouble in the palace."

At that time, the situation in the palace was like the situation in the palace now, even more intense, because there were more adult princes than there are now. Moreover, at that time, there was an Empress and a Crown Prince, but because the Crown Prince was unworthy, he was later deposed, so that the princes below all had a chance, so the competition was even more intense.

In this situation, this Concubine Li and her son seemed a bit out of place. However, Prince An loved literature and was often ill. Even after leaving the palace to establish his own mansion, he never interacted with court officials, nor did he form cliques for personal gain. On the contrary, he had good relationships with every adult prince.

A prince who did not participate in the struggle for the throne was naturally welcomed by many princes. After all, it was not easy to be close to brothers who were in competition, and they also wanted to appear fraternal in front of others. Prince An was the best tool for this.

"At that time, Prince An was jokingly called the 'Wise Prince' because no matter which prince was reprimanded by Father Emperor, he would intercede for them, which also caused Father Emperor to be extremely indifferent towards him."

But precisely because of this, several princes had received favors from Prince An, including even the current Emperor Taihe.

"Imperial Brother also cherished this imperial younger brother very much, feeling that he was intelligent and courageous, but was hindered by his health. His temperament was also like a wandering cloud or a wild crane, entrusting his emotions to the mountains and rivers. Later, after Imperial Brother ascended the throne, he would call upon Prince An to accompany him on trips to the imperial villas."

Saying it was accompanying him, it was actually more to let Prince An relax. Because the rules of Great Liang were that without an imperial edict, princes were not allowed to leave the capital at will.

A glint flashed in Prince Wei's eyes: "Then, in the third year of the Taihe Emperor, was Prince An at Yuquan Palace?"

Yuquan Palace was the imperial villa where Prince Jin had stayed for nearly twelve years.

"The third year of Taihe? So many years have passed, who still remembers what happened then? However, I remember that before Prince An died of illness, he lived in Yuquan Palace for a long time."

Princess Changhe thought for a moment and then said, "I also remembered an old story, and I don't remember who I heard it from. It was said that before Concubine Li became a consort, she lived in Mother Consort's palace for a while, and only moved out after she became pregnant with Prince An."

Mei Wushuang's mind could no longer keep up with Prince Wei's pace, but even if she hadn't figured it out yet, she felt that there was a great deal of information within.

Afterwards, they engaged in ordinary conversation. At noon, Prince Wei and Wushuang stayed in the Princess's mansion for lunch, and only left after finishing.

On the way back, after getting into the carriage, Wushuang couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what is the problem with the third year of Taihe and Yuquan Palace?"

Prince Jin was born in Yuquan Palace in the fourth year of Taihe.

These words could not help but make Wushuang gasp: "Your Highness, are you suspecting?"

"It's just a suspicion. Now, from the surface, Prince Jin and Consort Dowager Hu and Prince An have no involvement, and the two have no contact at all. What makes this Prince suspicious is merely the method of doing things."

In the matter of Xi Fu's death years ago, Prince Wei initially suspected Prince Qin, which was why he sought to kill Prince Qin after Ji Yang appeared. However, after the matter settled, Prince Wei reconsidered and felt that there were many abrupt inconsistencies, just as Wushuang had thought: would a person who had done something wrong admit to doing it?

Thus, his suspicions turned to Prince Jin, who had always been on ‘good’ terms with Prince Qin.

By the time he returned to the capital, there was the incident at the Princess's villa, followed by the attack on Mount Xiang. Especially the attack on Mount Xiang, because Prince Qin had set up Prince Jin, completely exposing him. Then there was the matter of the blood swallow nests in Cining Palace being tampered with.

It seemed that the perpetrator was far-sighted and even found Commandery Princess Minghui as a scapegoat. But even with such methods, one problem could not be concealed: the perpetrator acted too recklessly, as if telling everyone, "Guess, search, investigate, do whatever you want, turn the world upside down, you still won't find me."

The perpetrator's style was the same as that of Xi Fu's death: mad, unrestrained. Prince Wei had fought with these brothers for many years and understood their styles fairly well. None of them were so mad. To be so mad and unrestrained, it was more like an outsider.

Because he was an outsider, no one would suspect him. Because he was an outsider, he didn't care how you investigated, because you would never find him. People always have a reason for doing things. If there were no involvement, who would think of an insignificant person?

Prince Jin could never be called an outsider. On the contrary, he cared more about the order of seniority than anyone else. He tirelessly proclaimed himself as the elder brother in front of everyone, even though these younger brothers had never taken him seriously.

Therefore, Prince Wei had always suspected Prince Jin, but his suspicion was not certain.

But if the perpetrator was not Prince Jin, but Consort Dowager Hu, it would be much easier to understand. A palace concubine who had spent a long time in the palace, experiencing two reigns, a palace concubine who seemed inconspicuous but had a deep friendship with the Empress Dowager, how much could she do within those walls?

Just thinking about it gave Prince Wei a chilling feeling. Therefore, after returning, he ordered his subordinates to take action, mainly to investigate the matter of Prince An in the past, and to investigate the palace maid who gave birth to Prince Jin back then.