After getting married, she spent every night alone in her room; when she asked for a divorce, he kne

Liu Yuansheng was taken aback upon hearing this, and exchanged a glance with Xiao Jinghan.

Xiao Jinghan's eyes were filled with tenderness as he gently handed Yan'er to Nanny Li and said, "Alright, take Yan'er downstairs first. I have something to say to the Third Young Mistress."

The wet nurse nodded, picked up Yan'er, and left. Liu Yuansheng looked up at Xiao Jinghan: "Why are you being so mysterious? What happened?"

Xiao Jinghan said, "I brought you a painting."

"Painting? What painting?" Liu Yuansheng asked.

Xiao Jinghan took out a scroll from his sleeve. "Come and take a look."

Liu Yuansheng followed Xiao Jinghan to the table.

Xiao Jinghan slowly unfurled the scroll, while Liu Yuansheng watched quietly beside him. As the scroll was unfurled, her eyes gradually brightened, for she discovered that the woman in the painting looked almost exactly like her.

"Is this my mother?"

"Yes," Xiao Jinghan said, "I finally managed to get my hands on this portrait, so I brought it here for you to see."

Liu Yuansheng nodded, her eyes fixed on the portrait. "My mother is so beautiful."

"Yes," Xiao Jinghan sighed, "It's a pity that such a talented person is often envied by heaven, and such a beautiful woman has such a short life."

Hearing Xiao Jinghan say this, Liu Yuansheng sat softly on the couch, gently stroking Bai Yinzhu's face in the portrait, and said, "I heard from Steward Han that my father originally liked my mother very much, but later, for some reason, he disliked her, and not long after, my mother died."

"How exactly did she die?" Liu Yuansheng suddenly raised her head. "I have a feeling that there's something fishy about my mother's death."

"There is indeed something fishy about it, but I've already investigated it all," Xiao Jinghan said. "I'm here to tell you the truth about your mother's death, but you should be prepared."

Liu Yuansheng nodded.

Xiao Jinghan slowly sat down opposite Liu Yuansheng, gently rubbed his fingertips together, and slowly said, "Your mother, Bai Yinzhu, became famous at a young age and had superb medical skills. Later, she entered the Imperial Medical Bureau with her medical skills and became the only female physician since the founding of the Great Xia Kingdom. She was very famous for a time."

"The imperial physicians valued her highly, and the other imperial physicians respected her as well. She treated my grandmother's illness, and my grandmother liked her very much. At that time, she even had the idea of ​​having my father seduce your mother."

At this point, Xiao Jinghan scratched his brow and said with a smile, "It's a good thing your mother refused, otherwise there wouldn't be any chance for the two of us."

Liu Yuansheng angrily punched Xiao Jinghan, "Don't change the subject, keep talking about my mother."

"Alright, I'll continue," Xiao Jinghan said. "Later, Liu Jingyuan, who was then the Vice Minister of Rites, found a way to win your mother's heart, and the two got married."

"After marriage, their relationship was very good, but then..."

"What was the result?" Liu Yuansheng asked anxiously.

Xiao Jinghan: "As a result, your mother got involved in a case that not only harmed her but also implicated your father, causing him to lose power in the court. Your father took his anger out on your mother, which is why they became estranged."

"A case?" Liu Yuansheng's heart skipped a beat. "What case?"

Xiao Jinghan originally came to tell Liu Yuansheng these things, but when he actually got to this point, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "The former Consort Li, who is now the Empress Dowager, had a secret pregnancy with Prince Ming, and it was your mother who helped to terminate the pregnancy."

"What?!" Liu Yuansheng stood up abruptly. "This actually happened? How could this be? How is this possible? This is too, too unbelievable."

Liu Yuansheng suddenly grabbed Xiao Jinghan's arm. "Have you found out?"

"I wouldn't dare to speak carelessly about such a thing," Xiao Jinghan said. "Back then, it was Prince Ming who single-handedly put the current emperor on the throne. When I adopted Yan'er, her mother told me that when Yan'er's father passed away, he would always say that his father, the Crown Prince of Qingyuan, did not deserve to die, but was forced to his death by someone..."

"Yan'er's father wants to know why that person did this, and who that person is."

"So you've been investigating in secret all along?"

"Yes," Xiao Jinghan said. "This matter is closely related to my sect, Changfeng Sect, which is why I entered the Censorate and have been secretly investigating this matter."

"I only recently discovered that this matter is related to your mother."

Liu Yuansheng's heart leaped into her throat. "Prince Ming and Consort Li...and then what? Prince Ming helped Consort Li's child ascend the throne?"

"That's right," Xiao Jinghan said. "It was Consort Li who asked Prince Ming to do this. For so many years, the Emperor has been silently searching for the heir of the Crown Prince of Qingyuan, but he didn't expect that this child would be in my hands."

"So what are you planning?" Liu Yuansheng sensed that Xiao Jinghan had some other plan and couldn't help but ask, "Do you want Yan'er to be recognized as a member of the family?"

"Yan'er should acknowledge his ancestors and return to his family, but now is not the time," Xiao Jinghan said. "I'm telling you this to help you put an end to a matter on your mind and let go of your mother's affairs."

After listening, Liu Yuansheng lowered her head. "So, my mother's death is related to the Empress Dowager?"

"Yes," Liu Yuansheng said. "The Empress Dowager will not let anyone who knows her secrets live, as she will discard them after they have served their purpose."

"I see." Liu Yuansheng's nose tingled, and tears streamed down her face. "Thank you for telling me all this."

"I will avenge you." Xiao Jinghan reached out and wiped away the tears on Liu Yuansheng's face, saying, "Because my mother's death was also caused by the Empress Dowager alone."

"Your mother?" Liu Yuansheng wiped away her tears and asked, "Didn't my mother-in-law drown herself in the lake?"

"Mother drowned herself in the lake, but there must be a reason for that." Xiao Jinghan sighed and said, "I used to think that my mother was so angry that my father was keeping a mistress that she drowned herself in the lake, but that's not the case."

"What was that for?" Liu Yuansheng asked. "Was it also for the Empress Dowager? But I remember, the Empress Dowager is my mother-in-law's cousin."

"That's right," Xiao Jinghan said. "The Empress Dowager is indeed my maternal aunt, but that doesn't mean my mother and the Empress Dowager are close or affectionate."

"When my mother first fell in love, she fell for Prince Ming. In order to see him often, she frequently went to the palace. That's when she discovered the secret she shouldn't have discovered."

Liu Yuansheng clenched his fingers tightly and said, "My mother-in-law also discovered the affair between Prince Ming and the Empress Dowager."

"Yes, that's why the Empress Dowager forced my mother to her death and drowned her in the lake," Xiao Jinghan said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuansheng broke out in a cold sweat. She never expected that Xiao Jinghan's mother, like her own mother, had been killed by the Empress Dowager.

"They're truly ruthless," Liu Yuansheng said. "Is there any fairness left in this world?"

"Fair?" Xiao Jinghan chuckled and shook his head. "Alright, I'm telling you this not to bother you."

"Then, what is the purpose of telling me all this?" Liu Yuansheng asked, her eyes wide open.

Xiao Jinghan thought for a moment, then simply reached out and patted Liu Yuansheng's head. "It's nothing."

Liu Yuansheng felt that Xiao Jinghan was lying.

She stared intently into Xiao Jinghan's eyes and finally voiced her suspicions, "Do you want to take revenge on the Empress Dowager and Prince Ming?"

Xiao Jinghan paused for a moment, then smiled, "Yes, you guessed it. I didn't expect you to be so smart."

"Is that hard to guess?" Liu Yuansheng asked. "So, are you ready?"

Xiao Jinghan paused again at Liu Yuansheng's words, and after a long while, he confidently said, "Ready."

"This matter is not only for me, but also for Changfeng Sect, for those disciples who died unjustly, and for my junior brother."

"Junior brother?"

"Romantic tales," Xiao Jinghan said. "I am Jiang Feng, Jiang Hua, Jiang Xue, and Jiang Yue are my junior brothers. You've met Jiang Yue before, do you remember him?"

Liu Yuansheng nodded. "Jiang Yue is elusive; she even scared Ying'er before."

"Yes, that's him. He has the best lightness skill and has been following me all along," Xiao Jinghan said. "Jiang Yue was born a bit confused. My master raised him in a Taoist temple for a long time. Later, he discovered that he was a martial arts prodigy, so he took him back."

"A temple?" Liu Yuansheng's eyes lit up. "Is it Yuxu Temple?"

"Yes."

"No wonder he looked familiar," Liu Yuansheng said. "I think I saw him when I was a child."

"That must be fate between you two."

Liu Yuansheng nodded, just about to ask Xiao Jinghan how he planned it and if she could help in any way, when the window was suddenly broken open and Jiang Yue, dressed in white, jumped in.

Liu Yuansheng was startled and suddenly gripped Xiao Jinghan's hand tightly. Xiao Jinghan gasped in pain, then glared at Jiang Yue, "Did I let you in?"

"I heard you call my name," Jiang Yue said. "Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing," Xiao Jinghan said. "Get out."

"Oh." Jiang Yue turned around and jumped out of the window again, leaving Liu Yuansheng dumbfounded.

"His lightness skill is really good."

"It's a pity she's not very bright." Xiao Jinghan thought for a moment, "She's just as good as your maid, Ying'er."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ying'er walked in carrying a tray.

"Young Master, you called me?" Ying'er walked up to the two of them, glanced at the portrait on the table, and said with curiosity, "Eh? Isn't this Miss's portrait?"

"It's my mother."

"Is it Madam?" Ying'er put down the tray and carefully examined the woman in the painting. "Miss and Madam look so alike."

Liu Yuansheng: "Put the portrait away."

"Okay." Ying'er quickly put the painting away. "Miss, please drink the bird's nest soup while it's still hot."

Liu Yuansheng smiled and said, "Okay."

The cold winter has arrived.

Under Xiao Jinghan's arrangement, Liu Yuansheng took Yan'er to Xuzhou.

She knew Xiao Jinghan had important business to attend to.

Winters in Xuzhou are warm. Liu Yuansheng spends every day with Yan'er, taking him outside to play and watching him grow up little by little.

Xiao Jinghan sent a letter saying he would come to see her during the New Year.

However, Xiao Jinghan did not come during the New Year; instead, a major event occurred in the capital.

The Empress Dowager and Prince Ming were assassinated, causing chaos in the capital, and the Emperor fell ill and never recovered.

Three months later, the emperor passed away, and Regent Xiao Jinghan helped the new emperor ascend the throne, making great contributions to the stability of the court.

On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Duke Xiao Xiuyan, who had been living in the military camp, returned to the Duke's Mansion.

When Xiao Xiuyan went to the ancestral hall, he happened to run into Xiao Jinghan and Xiao Jingting.

Xiao Jingting was still sitting in his wheelchair. When he saw Xiao Xiuyan come in, he said in a hoarse voice, "Father, you've come too."

Xiao Xiuyan nodded, glanced at Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinghan, and said, "You two aren't going to fight in the ancestral hall, are you?"

"Father, what are you thinking? My relationship with my elder brother has always been the most harmonious," Xiao Jinghan said with a forced smile.

"Harmony? Xiao Jinghan, now that you've become Regent, you seem to be increasingly disregarding me and my father!"

"Brother, I'm not here to argue with you, but to explain something to you."

Xiao Jinghan said, "Xiao Jingting, elder brother, I know that for so many years you have thought that I was the one who caused your leg injury. Now that everything has settled down, I can tell you everything."

Xiao Jingting's eyes widened in surprise: "Xiao Jinghan, you dare to mention my leg!"

"What is there that I wouldn't dare to mention, because I didn't cause your leg injury at all."

Xiao Jingting's lips twitched. "Not you? Then who is it?"

Xiao Jinghan: "It was the late emperor."

"The late emperor?"

"That's right," Xiao Jinghan said. "Back then, the late emperor was fighting with Crown Prince Qingyuan for the throne. He plotted an ambush, which resulted in the deaths of innocent people. You and I fell off a cliff together. I was injured, and you broke your leg. We were both harmed by the late emperor."

"Do you have any evidence for what you're saying?" Xiao Jingting asked, his voice trembling.

"Of course there is." Xiao Jinghan placed the evidence he had painstakingly found into Xiao Jingting's hands. After reading it, Xiao Jingting was shocked. "Impossible, this is impossible."

"What's impossible about that! Do you really want to be enemies with your brother?" Xiao Xiuyan said. "I've heard a little about this matter, and I can vouch for your brother."

"It was Li Zhaoxi? It was him? But Yuan Min told me that you wanted to steal my position as heir apparent, so you plotted to break my leg!" Xiao Jingting exclaimed excitedly. "He's always been ruthless in achieving his goals; there's nothing he wouldn't do!"

"Yuan Min told you this just to sow discord between you brothers. It's laughable that you still believe her!" Xiao Xiuyan said as he offered incense to the ancestral tablets. "If you're willing to deceive yourself, then no one will stop you."

Xiao Xiuyan turned and left. As he passed Xiao Jinghan, he chuckled and said, "You know everything now?"

"Yes," Xiao Jinghan said. "Before, I thought your mother's death was because of you. Now, I know everything, so I want to apologize to you. Father..."

Xiao Jinghan knelt down before Xiao Xiuyan, "Father, your son was wrong."

Xiao Xiuyan looked down at his second son, who was now the regent but still kneeling before his disciple, and sighed, "Get up. Between father and son, let's not talk about this."

Xiao Xiuyan reached out and helped Xiao Jinghan up. "Go see your grandmother and your wife. They miss you very much."

Xiao Jinghan nodded and strode away from the ancestral hall.

On the ninth day of the fifth lunar month, Liu Yuansheng sat under the grapevines, swinging on a swing with Yan'er.

Suddenly, Xiao Jinghan walked in, smiling at her: "Yuansheng, I'm here."

Liu Yuansheng stared blankly at Xiao Jinghan, "You've come."

She slowly stood up, supporting her belly. "This time, we're not leaving, are we?"

"I'm not leaving." Xiao Jinghan looked at Liu Yuansheng's belly and said with a smile, "I've come to take you and your child home. From now on, our family will live happily together."

Liu Yuansheng: "Okay."