Something Suspicious

As Tan Xiuying savored her green tea, she couldn't help but gaze at the aged lady before her, her emotions a whirlwind of conflicting feelings. It became apparent that this woman genuinely cared for the original owner of the body, to the extent of being willing to make sacrifices for the sake of her beloved granddaughter.

She couldn't help but feel a mix of guilt and anger towards the real Tan Xiuying for committing such an outrageous and selfish act. She wondered what other foolish mistakes the original host had made during her life.

Liu Meifeng fixed her gaze on Tan Xiuying. "Tell me what happened a few days ago. I want to hear it directly from you."

Tan Xiuying took a deep breath and began recounting the events of the past few days. She told her grandmother about the encounter with the Fourth Prince, Liu Junjie, and how she had fallen for his advances. She explained the feelings of confusion and naivety that had led her to make such a mistake.

She also told about what happened recently, from her escape during the journey to exile, the fake secret letter from the Fourth Prince, and her encounter with Zhu Longwei, but she skipped over the details of her journey with him.

"The venerable Peng Liling and his men deliberately trapped me so that I was pushed to the edge of the cliff. I had no other choice but to jump into the sea. It was then that a very violent vortex pull me down to the bottom of the sea. Master Zhu came along soon after and helped me."

"Who is this Master Zhu?"

"I'm not sure, Grandma. He seems like a formidable warrior on the move."

Liu Meifeng nodded. "It would be appropriate to extend an invitation to this person as a gesture of our gratitude for his noble act."

"I've already extended the invitation, Grandma. Perhaps he will come to visit in a few days."

"Nice! You're really thoughtful."

Tan Xiuying smiled as she fiddled with the teacup in her hand.

"One thing that I can't stop thinking about, why could Her Majesty do that to you?"

"I can't stop wondering why Her Majesty would do that to you," Liu Meifeng said, her mind preoccupied with the question.

"I've no idea, Grandma. At first, I thought it was just plain jealousy because her husband had fallen in love with another woman. But there seems to be more to it, and that's what I don't understand."

To be honest, she had no idea how deeply the real Tan Xiuying's relationship with the Fourth Prince had triggered Peng Liling's rage and violent intentions. It seemed like Peng Liling wanted to keep the real Tan Xiuying alive so she could torment the girl intensely until she got what she wanted.

The mystery that still puzzled her was what Peng Liling meant by mentioning something precious that the real Tan Xiuying had taken away. What could that be?

Arrgh! She couldn't help but feel frustrated. The memories in the original Tan Xiuying's mind were still unclear and fragmented. She had to search and piece everything together like solving a puzzle.

Out of the blue, a young girl strolled in with light and nimble steps, without bothering with formal greetings. "Grandma, Sister Xiuying!"

Tan Xiuying turned her head to observe the girl and noticed that she must be Tan Wenling, the youngest daughter of Li Jiayi, who was Marquis Jiujiang's second wife.

Although just around 11 years old, the girl possessed a remarkable beauty, with her plump rosy cheeks, large round eyes, and a well-defined nose. Her long black hair cascaded in a simple yet charming style, typical of young children during this era. Adorned in a splendid light green hanfu, she appeared like a delicate and elegant little fairy.

"Hey, show some respect to your elders!" Tan Xiuying scolded the girl firmly.

After a brief hesitation, Tan Wenling respectfully bowed to Liu Meifeng and Tan Xiuying. Then, with a rush of excitement, she leaped into her grandmother's arms and lovingly wrapped her tiny arms around Tan Xiuying's.

"Sister Xiuying, I thought the news of your return was fake, and they sent your corpse here."

"Sssh! Where did you hear such bad talk? That's not true at all," Liu Meifeng replied sharply.

"My mother told me. She said that Sister Xiuying disappeared forever because she committed a crime."

"Look closely! Isn't your sister still alive and well?"

Tan Wenling chuckled.

"Yeah, it's wonderful to have you back. Alright then, I'm going to play on the swings in the park first. I just came here to say hello to Grandma and Sister Xiuying." Tan Wenling's face was beaming with excitement.

With a quick and respectful bow, Tan Wenling dashed out in a hurry.

"Watch your step! Don't run near the pool!" Liu Meifeng exclaimed.

"Yes, Grandma!"

Liu Meifeng shook her head.

"This child has quite the sharp tongue, just like his mother. But his mother's gentle demeanor is just a façade, hiding her cunning nature. I never liked her. In my heart, only your late mother, who was gentle, loving, and wise, holds a special place. It's a pity she had a short life."

"Yes, Grandma. It's a pity my mother passed away when I was young and needed her love the most. Even now, I can't remember her face clearly."

"You can still see her portrait hanging in your room."

Tan Xiuying nodded before posing another question. "Grandma, I want to ask you, how did Li Jiayi end up marrying my father? I was too young back then, and my memories are hazy. All I remember is the chaos surrounding my mother's death, the funeral, and the mourning period. Then suddenly, I had to accept another woman as my stepmother."

"Even before your mother's passing, Li Jiayi had already been living in our house. She is your mother's youngest cousin, and it was your mother's kindness that brought her from the village when she was an orphan facing countless misfortunes. However, to everyone's surprise, immediately after your mother's death, Li Jiayi married Marquis. It was quite unexpected and left many people puzzled by her swift actions. There were rumors and speculations, but no one could discover the true reasons behind her hasty marriage."

"So that's how it happened."

Liu Meifeng nodded.

"Grandma, can you tell me what illness my mother had?"

"I have no idea. The maids said that your mother would often have convulsions and tremble, and gradually she became weaker, spending most of her time lying in bed."

"What did the physician say about her condition?"

"They couldn't determine the cause of her illness until the moment she died."

"What was her condition like when she passed away?"

"She appeared calm and peaceful, with a big smile on her face, although it seemed like she was trying to hide some pain."

Deep in thought, Tan Xiuying considered the symptoms she had just heard. She recalled having read about similar cases before. It struck her that she should study these symptoms more closely and borrow some medicinal books from the library room in this house for further research.

That night, when she returned to her own room, Tan Xiuying found herself tossing and turning in bed, unable to close her eyes. Her mind was occupied with deciphering the various intertwined and tangled red threads of mystery surrounding her past.

Her intuition told her that her rebirth in this era must have a crucial mission to fulfill—a chance to change the course of history that had gone astray.

The starting point was the chaos and tragedy that befell the original Tan Xiuying and her family. Though everything remained shrouded in a dark mystery, she was determined to unravel the enigma and outsmart the game of fate.

There was a saying, behind all the sorrowful events, there was something suspicious hidden.