A wicked mother swaps her son and sucks his blood? The true legitimate daughter is reborn and goes o

Xie Yuzhen looked at the roof and heard Consort Hui's voice echoing in the room.

"Back then, it was I who killed your mother."

Xie Yuzhen froze as she recalled the accident that injured her mother years ago.

"She trusted me too much, no, it's less about trust and more about never taking me seriously. She thought I would be a dog groveling at her feet for the rest of my life."

"But dogs bite."

Even after Consort Hui left with the bowl of blood, Xie Yuzhen could still hear her triumphant voice echoing in her mind.

The door was closed, and the fire outside had gone out sometime earlier, allowing sunlight to stream in.

Xie Yuzhen suddenly thought of Song Qingning.

"Come here, someone come here, I, I want to see Song Qingning..." Xie Yuzhen shouted, but no one answered her.

The end of the twelfth lunar month marks the beginning of the New Year.

Several snowfalls occurred before the New Year. On the day with the heaviest snowfall, Emperor Yuan ordered the stripping of the title of the deceased Consort Shen and the relocation of her tomb from the imperial mausoleum.

That tomb was originally intended by Emperor Yuan to be buried with Consort Shen after his death.

Everything was turned upside down when the long-forgotten truth was revealed.

Song Qingning's reinstatement as the Capital Commander was scheduled for after the New Year.

During the twelfth lunar month, several prominent families in the capital invited Song Qingning to small banquets, and Song Qingning attended them all.

During the banquet, the ladies appreciated the plum blossoms and snow, and brewed tea around the stove. Lady Anguo then talked about the progress of girls' education, and each lady brought her own private funds to contribute to the cause.

"Princess Consort of Huai, thank goodness you agreed to let my unfilial son enter the Capital City Guard. That scoundrel was always causing trouble under his father's command, but he's finally become a bit better recently."

At the small banquet, Madam Yang held Song Qingning's hand, her eyes filled with gratitude.

The eccentricities of the young master of the Yang family are a source of great distress for General Yang and his wife.

Not long ago, the young master of the Yang family caused trouble at the brothel again. Madam Yang personally carried the young master and begged Song Qingning to teach him a lesson.

Song Qingning put the young master of the Yang family into the Capital Division and handed him over to Qin Zheng. He trained him every day. At first, he resisted and refused to obey. According to Song Qingning, if he refused to obey, he would be beaten.

The young master of the Yang family suffered some losses, but on the surface he became much more obedient.

On New Year's Eve, Song Qingning and Xie Xuanjin entered the palace.

Every year on New Year's Eve, Emperor Yuan would host a family banquet, where princes, princesses, and concubines would stay up all night to welcome the new year.

Inside the carriage, Song Qingning's mind was filled with Uncle Qin's words:

[Ever since the Prince returned to the capital, every New Year's Eve the Emperor has invited everyone except the Prince. This year, however, he even issued an imperial edict ordering the Prince to bring his Princess to the palace for the New Year's Eve reunion. Has he suddenly had a change of heart?]

Did Emperor Yuan truly have a change of heart?

Song Qingning was unaware.

But she knew that Xie Xuanjin wasn't particularly happy about being able to attend the palace reunion this year.

Inside the carriage, a familiar fragrance filled the air.

Song Qingning turned her head and met Xie Xuanjin's gaze.

As if caught peeping, a hint of embarrassment flashed in Xie Xuanjin's eyes, but he quickly recovered and continued to look at her openly without looking away.

Song Qingning was already used to him looking at her like that.

Since the day they became a real couple, Xie Xuanjin stopped sleeping on the soft couch.

I slept in the same bed with her every night, and did everything we were supposed to do.

"Your Highness, if you don't want to go to the palace for the New Year's Eve reunion, then we won't go," Song Qingning said.

She felt sorry for him!

Xie Xuanjin's heart stirred slightly, gradually filling him with ecstasy. He enveloped her hand in his large palm and tightened his grip slightly.

"It doesn't matter. The day my brother died, our father-son relationship was severed. So even if he deliberately ignores me and makes things difficult for me, he can't hurt me. I'd like to see how he plans to reunite with his family this year."

A cold glint flashed in Xie Xuanjin's eyes when the Emperor Yuan was mentioned.

Soon, that coldness disappeared, and his gaze toward Song Qingning remained gentle.

Upon arriving at the Vermilion Bird Gate, the two disembarked from the carriage.

Just then, Prince Rui and his wife disembarked from their carriage.

On the anniversary of Consort Shen's death, after Emperor Yuan burned down Consort Shen's palace, Xie Yuqi knelt outside the Qianyuan Hall for a long time without daring to rise, but Emperor Yuan did not see him.

I heard that Xie Yuqi eventually fainted from the cold and was sent back to Prince Rui's residence.

After that, Xie Yuqi never left the house, and it was said that he had fallen seriously ill.

Princess Rui was nowhere to be seen at any of the banquets, big or small, in the capital before the Lunar New Year.

After several days, Prince Rui had lost a lot of weight, and his brows showed signs of illness.

"Fourth brother, fourth sister-in-law." Liang Shuyi greeted the two of them, but Xie Yuqi gave her a cold look.

"Aren't you leaving yet?!" Xie Yuqi's eyes were cold, and his voice was even colder.

His voice was cold and resentful, as if he blamed Xie Xuanjin and Song Qingning for his current predicament.

Liang Shuyi nodded bitterly to Song Qingning and followed Xie Yuqi away.

"Fourth Brother... Fourth Sister-in-law."

As the two were about to enter the Vermilion Bird Gate, they heard an excited voice from behind them.

They stopped and turned around, just in time to see Princess Rou'an raising the curtain and waving at the two of them from the carriage of Prince Yu's residence.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Princess Rou'an jumped off. She walked hurriedly, and behind her came the worried concern of the Princess Consort of Yu: "Slow down, slow down."

Xie Rouan, on the contrary, moved even faster.

He practically ran to Song Qingning.

"Fourth Sister-in-law, I painted a picture yesterday and brought it today. I'll let you see it later and see if I've improved." Xie Rouan seemed particularly satisfied with her new work.

Not long ago, Xie Rouan somehow developed an interest in painting and went to the Prince of Huai's residence every day to have Song Qingning teach her.

In public, she called her "Fourth Sister-in-law"; in private, she called her "Teacher".

Xie Rouan has some talent and is in high spirits, so she is learning very well.

"It's New Year's Eve today, so don't bother your fourth sister-in-law." Princess Yu approached, supported by her nanny, her expression as loving as ever.

He gently instructed Song Qingning, "Qingning, don't pay any attention to her."

"Fourth Sister-in-law will never ignore me," Xie Rouan said coquettishly, clinging to Song Qingning's arm.

She has a straightforward personality with a touch of naivety.

Song Qingning thought about the New Year's gift she had prepared for her, "Okay, bring it over and let me see it later."

"Mmm." Xie Rouan nodded excitedly, then glanced triumphantly at Princess Yu, as if to say: See, Fourth Sister-in-law loves me!

Princess Yu said helplessly, but with a doting tone, "Your fourth sister-in-law always spoils you."

"If Fourth Sister-in-law doesn't spoil me, who will she spoil? I love being spoiled by Fourth Sister-in-law. Hey, where's Brother? Why is he dawdling today?" Xie Rouan looked at the carriage.

Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and the entire Prince Yu family will be going to the palace for a reunion dinner.

Emperor Yuan summoned Prince Yu to enter the palace first.

Princess Yu arrived just then with her two children, and the three of them rode in the same carriage.

Princess Consort Yu and Princess Rou'an both alighted from their carriages, but Xie Yunli was nowhere to be seen.

"Brother?" Xie Rouan released Song Qingning and turned back.

The sound grew closer. Inside the carriage, Xie Yunli concealed the panic in his eyes, forced a smile, lifted the carriage curtain, and jumped down.

"Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law." Xie Yunli greeted her with his usual warm and gentle smile.

However, Song Qingning and Xie Xuanjin still noticed the forced composure in his eyes.

Xie Yunli had something on his mind, something extremely heavy.