Song Zhao hesitated with her chopsticks, and her eyes trembled as she blurted out, "What?"
Xiao Jingyan supported his chin, scrutinizing Song Zhao with a contemplative gaze for a while before nodding assuredly, "Hmm, you even spill food while eating. Obviously, we're close."
As he spoke, he pointed to the corner of his lips with a playful smile.
Song Zhao understood and touched the corner of her own lips, removing a few grains of rice that had stuck there while she was eating hastily. She then asked, "Stop teasing me at a time like this. You are the sixth son of the former emperor, born to the esteemed Princess Dowager Jinggui, who was favored among the six palaces. What connection could there be between you and me?"
Xiao Jingyan replied, "I originally intended to keep this to myself. After all, the more people who know, the more dangerous it is for both me and my mother. However, upon further thought, I realized that you and I are like two grasshoppers tied to the same string. If either of us lets slip, neither of us will survive."
He clapped his hands and casually leaned back against the corner of the table, pretending to be at ease. But his attempt at a suave gesture caused the delicate wooden table to mercilessly slip, making him stumble.
It was quite comical, and it brought forth the first smile from Song Zhao in these past few days.
"Don't laugh!" Xiao Jingyan cleared his throat lightly, straightened his clothes, and said earnestly, "You're right, we shouldn't have any connection. But our father... no, I should say our common enemy. He deprived you of the first half of your life and buried the latter half of my mother's life."
This news reached Song Zhao's ears like a thunderbolt, causing her scalp to tingle. She was so shocked that her speech became stuttered.
"Princess Dowager Jinggui... and my father?"
Xiao Jingyan fell silent for a moment, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Then he shook his head with a touch of sorrow and finally revealed the embarrassing past that he had buried in his heart, speaking slowly to Song Zhao.
"In the twenty-fourth year of the Qi Dynasty, during the former emperor's third Southern Tour, the Old Duke of Protector... that is, your grandfather, accompanied him. At that time, Song Shicheng also went along."
This was not surprising, as Song Zhao's grandfather was a meritorious official of the founding dynasty. If it weren't for his grandfather's great achievements during the reign of the former emperor, the emperor wouldn't have allowed the title of Duke of Protector to be passed down for three generations, benefiting the useless Song Shicheng.
But what Xiao Jingyan said next was enough to leave Song Zhao dumbfounded.
"During the Southern Tour to Lin'an, the former emperor summoned the princess dowager for a night stroll at West Lake. Because Princess Dowager Jinggui was suffering from the effects of the local water and climate, she had been vomiting and experiencing diarrhea, so she arrived half an hour late. When she arrived, she found out that the former emperor had been delayed by state affairs and hadn't come. At that time, she was already prepared to board the boat, but she ran into that drunken bastard!"
As he spoke, Xiao Jingyan's emotions became evidently stirred up. His eyes were filled with intense hatred, and the veins on the back of his hands stood out clearly as he clenched his fists.
"At that time, Song Shicheng was in charge of the former emperor's security arrangements. That night, they had gathered fireworks and women to please and flatter the former emperor. But since the emperor hadn't come, they started drinking and enjoying themselves. And because he was drunk, he mistook the princess dowager, who was wearing her everyday attire, for one of the women with fireworks and...+"
On that day, all the guards on the ship were sent away, and the empress dowager struggled but dared not scream. The impact of this matter on the royal reputation was significant. If it caused a big commotion, not only would the illegitimate child and the empress dowager be implicated, but also her maternal family. After the incident, Song Shicheng woke up from his drunken state and realized the gravity of his mistake. He and the empress dowager made a pact to keep this matter hidden for the sake of both families' livelihoods...
As Xiao Jingyan's voice weakened, Song Zhao's heart tightened inch by inch.
She knew that if this matter went on, it would be like exposing Xiao Jingyan's scars, and it would be cruel.
So she handed him a cup of warm water and comforted him gently, "That villain has already passed away, it can be considered as his retribution."
However, although Song Zhao did not press for further details, she couldn't help but feel puzzled.
After all, everyone in the palace knew that Princess Dowager Jinggui was highly favored back then. During the reign of the former emperor, she received more love and favor than Ning Wanshuang.
And if Xiao Jingyan was truly the child of Princess Dowager Jinggui and Song Shicheng, the timing was off by a short period, which was not appropriate.
Therefore, to keep this matter hidden for so many years, it must have been a very narrow window of time between Princess Dowager Jinggui's pregnancy and her intimate relationship with the former emperor.
But if that was the case, how could Princess Dowager Jinggui be so sure that Xiao Jingyan was the result of her and Song Shicheng's misfortune, and not the bloodline of the former emperor?
Perhaps it was the bond between siblings, their souls connected.
Xiao Jingyan glanced at Song Zhao and understood her confusion. He didn't conceal anything and revealed everything.
"One month after that incident, the empress dowager became pregnant. She didn't know who was in her womb at that time, whether it was the former emperor's or... In any case, life went on in a confused manner, and no one would suspect my identity. Two years later, you, this newborn, arrived at the Marquis of Protecting the Nation's residence. Did your biological mother ever mention to you how dangerous your birth was?"
Song Zhao nodded slightly and recalled, "My mother told me that I was born in May, during late spring in the capital city when the peach blossoms had not yet fully bloomed. The Marquis of Protecting the Nation's residence had planted many peach blossoms as decoration, but I had an adverse reaction to the pollen as soon as I was born, almost succumbing to the illness."
Xiao Jingyan said, "This matter became known in the palace, and the former emperor even sent a court physician out of the palace to treat you, saving your life. Later, when the noble ladies in the palace met me, they all knew about this incident.
The empress dowager only heard a few words and didn't take this matter to heart. She had never been fond of playing with flowers and plants, and I was raised under her care since childhood. There weren't many places in the palace where peach blossoms were planted, so I never came into contact with them as a child.
However, the following year, when the empress dowager took me to Princess Dowager Yu's palace to play with Prince Rui, we passed by the Zhongsi Gate. There was a peach blossom tree planted there by the former emperor himself for Princess Dowager Yu. I was merely passing by, but I suddenly felt short of breath and developed a rash on my face, which triggered the same adverse reaction."
Song Zhao felt a sudden thump in her chest. "You also have an adverse reaction to peach blossoms?"
Xiao Jingyan responded in a muffled voice, "At that time, Mother Empress was in a panic and didn't send for the imperial physician. I was kept in the palace and treated with folk remedies. Fortunately, I have always been healthy, so I recovered within a few days. Later, Mother Empress secretly sent someone to inquire about my condition with several renowned doctors outside the palace, and that's when she learned about my inherited ailment from Song Shicheng."
"From him?" Song Zhao couldn't help but ask, "But I have been living with him for so many years, and I have never seen him having any problems with peach blossoms."
Xiao Jingyan explained, "This is a hereditary weakness passed down from our father. He is a carrier of the condition, but it doesn't manifest in him and is indistinguishable from an ordinary person. However, he can pass on the illness to his offspring. That's why you have it, and I have it, but Song Yue doesn't. The doctors also made it clear that if both parents don't have this hidden condition, most likely their children won't have it either.
After extensive inquiries, Mother Empress finally confirmed my true identity amidst her grief. So, since I was young, she urged me to keep my inherited ailment a secret, not letting anyone know..."
[End of Chapter]
