Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 288 Birthday
Ignoring Qiu Shuang's angry glare, Yan Ciwan, after receiving permission, gracefully stepped over the threshold and entered the main hall.

Consort Jin was not seen in the hall. The Emperor was sitting on a soft couch, holding a small red-covered book about the size of a palm. Si Buping stood to the side with his hands hanging down.

"This humble woman, Ning Ci, pays her respects to Your Majesty."

Yan Ciwan bowed and clasped her hands in a respectful greeting.

She kept her head down and couldn't see the saint's expression, but she could clearly feel his gaze lingering on her.

The gaze was so intense that it made her feel uneasy, as if she were being pricked by needles.

She thought the emperor would question her about impersonating a palace maid in an attempt to escape from the Immortal Abode Palace, but instead, the emperor asked her a question.

"Your birthday is the sixth day of the third month?"

This question came out of nowhere and was completely unexpected by Yan Ciwan. She was stunned for a moment before answering, "Yes."

The sage picked up the small red booklet in his hand and asked, "But your birth chart says you were born on the 23rd of April."

Yan Ciwan raised her head and looked at the birth chart in his hand, her face full of confusion.

The sage glanced at Si Buping standing to the side.

Si Buping understood, stepped forward and took the betrothal letter with both hands, then handed it to Yan Ciwan, while secretly giving her a look that told her to answer carefully.

When Yan Ciwan opened the birth charter, she discovered that it was indeed her own birth charter!

She quickly realized that when the emperor had arranged the marriage between her and the crown prince, he had ordered someone to take away her birth chart so that it could be matched with the crown prince's birth chart.

The name Yan Ciwan is now clearly written on the betrothal certificate, which means the emperor must already know her true identity.

The sage's gaze remained fixed on her, not missing the slightest abnormality on her face.

"Answer me, what's the story behind this marriage certificate?"

Yan Ciwan had long considered the possibility that her identity might be exposed, and she was mentally prepared. At worst, she would admit that she was Princess Leyou and expose Yan Tingyu's plot to harm her, thus thwarting the plans of those who schemed against her.

But she never expected that the emperor was more concerned about her birth chart than her identity.

Speaking of the Geng Tie (庚帖), this brings up another story.

Seventeen years ago, Ning Qingyang gave birth to Yan Ciwan prematurely. Yan Ciwan later heard from her family that her mother had suffered severe bleeding during childbirth and almost died. Although she was eventually saved, her health was damaged, making her unable to conceive or give birth again and causing her to become extremely weak and frequently fall ill. When Yan Ciwan was born, she was also on the verge of death and looked much thinner than other babies.

At the time, some people said that Yan Ciwan's birth chart was too strong, that she was destined to be a lone star and would bring misfortune to her father and mother in the future.

When the King of Xizhou heard about this, he immediately ordered the person who spread the gossip to be killed. He then invited a master to change Yan Ciwan's birthday from the sixth day of the third month to the twenty-third day of the fourth month.

Logically, only the King of Xizhou and some elders in his palace should know about this matter. Why would the Sage know her true birth date?
Thinking of this, Yan Ciwan suddenly turned to look at Si Buping.

Could it be that this guy investigated her background?!

Si Buping whispered a reminder: "The sage is asking you a question!"

Yan Ciwan snapped out of her thoughts. Since the other party had already found out, there was no point in hiding it anymore. To avoid being accused of deceiving the emperor, she had no choice but to honestly admit it.

"Because there were rumors back then that my birth chart was too strong and would bring misfortune to my father and mother, my father changed my birth date."

The sage slowly frowned: "How could the King of Xizhou believe in such supernatural and cult-like theories?"

Yan Ciwan lowered her head: "My mother's health deteriorated after giving birth to me. My father felt it was better to be safe than sorry, so he changed my birth date just in case." "Later, your mother passed away. Didn't the King of Xizhou hold a grudge against you?"

Yan Ciwan lowered her head even further: "Father was indeed depressed for a long time, but he knew that birth, aging, sickness and death are the natural course of life, so naturally he would not blame me for it."

The sage asked calmly, "If he didn't blame you, why would he allow Yan Tingyu to plot against you?"

Yan Ciwan's body stiffened.

He knew everything after all!

He must have suspected her identity the moment he saw her. He must have had his guards investigate her in the past two days. Since Si Buping already knew her background, he was able to complete the task quickly.

Tonight, Si Buping made a special trip to Xianju Palace to meet the Sage, presumably to report the results of his investigation.

Yan Ciwan pursed her lips and remained silent.

The sage stood up and slowly walked to her.

“Aci, he is not worthy to be your father.”

Yan Ciwan felt a hand gently land on her head.

That hand gently stroked her hair.

That was an act of affection from elders to younger generations.

Yan Ciwan immediately understood what the other person meant, and her body stiffened even more.

She also felt that the King of Xizhou was not worthy to be her father, but that did not mean she would acknowledge someone else as her father!
The emperor noticed her resistance, smiled nonchalantly, withdrew his hand, and gently comforted her, "It is indeed too much to ask you to accept all of this now. Go back and think it over carefully. I will summon you again after court tomorrow morning. I hope you can give me a satisfactory answer then."

At this point, he looked at Si Buping, who was standing beside him, and casually instructed, "Take Aci back."

"Yes."

Si Buping, in the morning, gestured for Yan Ciwan to invite him.

Yan Ciwan walked out with heavy steps.

Once they were outside the main hall and no one was around, Yan Ciwan could no longer hold back and turned to ask Si Buping beside her.

"Did you tell the sage about my affairs?"

Si Buping calmly replied, "The Sage ordered me to investigate your birth and origins, and I naturally have to obey orders."

He was the Grand Secretary, and it was his duty to serve the Emperor. Although Yan Ciwan was annoyed, she would not lash out at him because of it.

She lowered her voice and said, "Could you please tell me, for my mother's sake, why is the Emperor so concerned about my birthday?"

Si Buping stared at her intently for a long while before speaking.

"Eighteen years ago, in June, the King of Xizhou came to Chang'an to marry Ning Qingyang. After their marriage, they went to the palace to thank the Emperor. That night, the Emperor ordered them to stay in the palace. The Emperor stayed in the Zichen Palace, while the King of Xizhou and Ning Qingyang were arranged to stay in the Penglai Palace, which was very close to the Zichen Palace."

Yan Ciwan had already heard about this matter, and now that Si Buping brought it up again, and considering the sage's words and attitude just now, she vaguely had an answer in her heart.

She tried her best to remain calm: "And then?"

"I don't know exactly what happened that night. I only know that the next morning, the Emperor ordered a thorough investigation of everyone who had entered the Zichen Palace at night, especially the young woman wearing a light red dress. Coincidentally, Ning Qingyang was wearing a light red dress when she entered the palace to express her gratitude. However, when she went to bid farewell to the Emperor with the King of Xizhou the next day, she had changed into a lake blue dress. When the Emperor asked where the light red dress from the previous night had gone, she explained that it had gotten dirty by accident and she had changed it off and was going to take it back to wash it."