Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family-Chapter 928 - Ulterior Motives
Chapter 928: Chapter 928: Ulterior Motives
Chapter 928 -928: Ulterior Motives
Liu Sisi subconsciously took the brocade box and slowly opened it to look inside. Her expression immediately changed.
Lying flat in the brocade box was a palm-sized piece of yellow silk, and on top of the silk rested a fist-sized conch. It was lying quietly at the bottom of the box, reflecting a dazzling radiance as the light refracted.
The main reason for Liu Sisi’s change in color wasn’t these objects, but because the conch wasn’t a real one. It seemed to be carved from a fist-sized piece of jadeite.
To carve jadeite into the shape of a conch, aside from the extremely difficult selection of the raw material, the skills of the master carver were also crucial.
Eunuch Xiao appeared very satisfied with Liu Sisi’s astonishment at the moment; his waist bent even more.
“Princess, you might not know this. This jadeite conch was initially a reward given to His Majesty by the late Emperor. Later, when His Majesty met Lin Zhaorong, he was astounded by her beauty, and this jadeite conch was the meeting gift he gave her.”
This item was related to her own Concubine Princess Mother?
Liu Sisi’s gaze became increasingly glued to the brocade box, staring intently at the jadeite conch inside without blinking.
“Later, Lin Zhaorong entered the palace and received great favor from His Majesty, quickly becoming pregnant. One could say, ‘Among the three thousand ladies of the Imperial Harem, Lin Zhaorong alone received the Emperor’s favor.’ Even when His Majesty wished to leave the palace to visit Xiangguo Temple to pray for blessings, he brought Lin Zhaorong along. And this jadeite conch was gifted by Lin Zhaorong to this servant at the temple.”
After saying this, Eunuch Xiao bowed deeply to Liu Sisi.
Liu Sisi abruptly raised her head, surprise flashing across her eyes before quickly concealing it.
The jadeite conch was the meeting gift Zhao Yuanlang gave to Lin Xiner; its preciousness was self-evident.
Lin Xiner chose neither earlier nor later to gift the jadeite conch to Eunuch Xiao, but specifically at Xiangguo Temple. Initially, Lin Xiner was attacked and her pregnancy was endangered at the temple. She gave birth to herself in the wilderness and then vanished…
But now Eunuch Xiao claimed that Lin Xiner had given this item to him?
Liu Sisi narrowed her eyes slightly, then suddenly smiled!
“If Eunuch has received a gift from my mother, surely it is because Eunuch has served her with all your might and effort. This object is rightfully yours, Eunuch. I, Ruyu, accept no reward without merit and dare not accept such a precious item. Please take it back.”
As she spoke, she covered the box and pushed it toward Eunuch Xiao.
“Princess, your words are mistaken! This servant accepted this object only as a temporary measure. At that time, the situation was extremely perilous. While such an external object might be precious, it can sometimes bring about one’s demise. This servant took the liberty of accepting it, and for all these years, dared not reveal a bit of it. Handing it over to you today is akin to returning it to its rightful owner. Where does the question of reward without merit arise?”
Eunuch Xiao took a few steps back, his expression suggesting a deeper meaning.
Liu Sisi pondered for a moment and sent her attendants away. She then opened the brocade box again, took out the jadeite conch, and observed it carefully in her hand.
There were small holes at both ends of the conch, as if it could be strung with rope and suspended from the waist. When viewed against the light, at the bottom of the conch’s spirals, there seemed to be several tiny characters…
“Tuoba Clan!”
Eunuch Xiao preempted her in speaking out the name.
Tuoba Clan!
Upon hearing this surname, Liu Sisi was not unfamiliar. The Tuoba Clan was the royal family surname of Xixia Country. Recalling the previous investigation into her mother Lin Xiner’s ancestry and the mysterious resistance encountered after tracing several members of the Xixia royal family, Liu Sisi’s heart began to pound violently.
An answer was emerging before her very eyes.
Liu Sisi raised an eyebrow, a mysterious chill flickering in her eyes, “Eunuch Xiao, is this…”
Eunuch Xiao’s demeanor became even more respectful, “Princess, don’t be anxious, let this old servant explain this matter slowly.”
–
Outside the gates of Marquis Yongping’s Mansion.
Di Yelei dismounted, casually threw the horse whip onto Er Niu, and then strode through the main entrance.
At today’s early morning session, His Majesty’s roundabout criticisms still echoed in his ears. The gathering with several Your Honors after the session made him as uneasy as sitting on pins and needles. For the first time in his life, he hadn’t pushed away the courtesans they offered.
Now reeking of alcohol and powder, combined with the sweat from not changing his clothing all last night, he didn’t even have the courage to step into the small courtyard.
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Turning past a screen wall, he trudged along the corridor. At the end of the path, he gazed at the pavilion for a long time before he sighed, walked in, and sat down, lifting the hem of his robe.
Once he sat down, he remained there for quite a while.
Over the years, his hands had commanded mighty armies and braved life and death on the battlefield. He had long treated life and death with a sense of detachment.
Being saved by Xing Ping was a complete accident.
Returning to the Xing Family’s old house to fulfill Xing Ping’s wish was nothing out of the ordinary.
In his view, since Xing Ping died saving him, granting the Xing Family their due honor was only natural.
But being entangled by Xing Pan’er was not part of his plan at all.
He had a thousand ways to make Xing Pan’er disappear, yet he couldn’t ignore the goodwill of a meritorious commander. He arranged for Xing Pan’er to stay at the manor, indeed hinting that she should know to back down.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing from his followers that Sisi had actually gone to the manor, he realized for the first time that things had become seriously complicated!
Just that at the moment, some plans were still in the preparatory stage, truly preventing him from explaining to Sisi, which had frustrated him greatly.
Perhaps, it was time to advance the implementation of certain matters?
Before he could sort things out, he saw Liu Sisi and Eunuch Xiao coming from the other end of the corridor, chatting merrily. It was only when they nearly approached that Eunuch Xiao noticed him.
The eunuch immediately beamed, hastening his steps to come in front of him and bowed, “This old servant offers his greetings to Marquis Yongping.”
Di Yelei quickly stood up, his gaze falling on Liu Sisi, who was behind Eunuch Xiao. Seeing that Liu Sisi turned her head away without looking at him, the light in his eyes dimmed immediately.
He then reached out to help Eunuch Xiao up, “Eunuch Xiao, you’ve worked hard. Has His Majesty summoned me with a decree?”
Eunuch Xiao stood up immediately, “The Marquis worries too much. This servant was ordered by His Majesty to deliver the reward personally to the mansion. Fortunately, I had the favor of staying for a meal with Princess Ruyu, which caused quite a delay, and I worry His Majesty might need this old servant at the palace, so I hurried back.”
“I see.”
Di Yelei’s eyes showed a tinge of disappointment, and his gaze couldn’t help but slip to Liu Sisi again. Seeing that she was not paying him any attention at all, his complexion grew a shade darker.
“Since Eunuch Xiao has other important matters, I dare not keep you any longer. Allow me to see you out a part of the way,” he said.
While speaking, he took two quick steps up to Liu Sisi and stood side by side with her.
Now, it was impossible for Liu Sisi to ignore him.
A knowing light flashed across Eunuch Xiao’s eyes, but he didn’t expose it, promptly thanking them both.
“Well said, well said. This old servant thanks the Marquis and the Princess for your generous hospitality,” he responded.
As nothing more than an eunuch, Eunuch Xiao had no reason to expect a princess and a marquis to see him out of the mansion. Liu Sisi expressed her gratitude to Eunuch Xiao today by seeing him out for the news he shared as a gesture of thanks.
As for Di Yelei, he was merely looking for an excuse to talk to Liu Sisi—his motives were anything but pure!
