Chapter 645: Chapter 645: Association

"Don’t be nervous."

A low, gentle voice drifted from the darkness.

"I’m just here to ask you a few things."

Xiao Jiayi pressed a hand to her chest and let out a long sigh of relief.

’That figured. Other than Ye Chutang, she didn’t know anyone else who could sneak into Duke Zhongyong Mansion so silently.’

When she realized she was less nervous simply because the intruder was Ye Chutang, she was filled with a complex mix of emotions. It was a little laughable, but mostly, it was a sense of helplessness.

’She had once hated Ye Chutang, her mind consumed with ways to torment her. She never thought she would one day be working with her.’

Xiao Jiayi tucked a strand of hair back, composing herself before speaking. "I already told you everything last time—what should be said and what shouldn’t. What else could you possibly want to ask? You always show up so suddenly."

Ye Chutang smiled. "This isn’t about that. I came this time to ask how much you know about Xiao Lansi."

"Her?"

Xiao Jiayi frowned, a flash of disgust crossing her face.

"She’s nothing but an ungrateful traitor! What’s there to say about her!"

For all these years, she had never spared Xiao Lansi a proper glance.

When Xiao Lansi was pretending to be obedient and docile, Jiayi could at least turn a blind eye, treating her as an amusing little toy. But then Xiao Lansi had the audacity to betray her mother and Cheng Xuan!

How could Xiao Jiayi possibly stomach that!?

Now, at the mere mention of her name, she wished she could eat her flesh raw!

Ye Chutang wasn’t surprised by her reaction. Her tone remained calm.

"Then did you know that her birth mother died at the hands of your mother?"

"What did you say!?"

Xiao Jiayi was stunned at first, but then she realized it wasn’t entirely impossible. Of course, she would never admit it aloud. She just snorted coldly.

"Her birth mother was naturally frail and not favored by Father. She died not long after giving birth. You can only blame her own bad luck. How could you blame anyone else?"

Ye Chutang had no intention of arguing. She said flatly, "Whether that’s true or not, you would know better than I. But that’s none of my business. It’s not why I’m here."

Xiao Jiayi quietly breathed a sigh of relief but grew even more puzzled. "Then why did you suddenly come to me?"

"After Princess Consort Jing died, Xiao Lansi had a difficult life in the palace. It wasn’t until she was eleven that your mother took her in. For the next few years, she was extremely devoted to your mother and never stepped out of line. But when she was fourteen, she was suddenly sent to Guanling. That wasn’t your mother’s idea, was it?"

Xiao Jiayi hadn’t expected Ye Chutang to bring this up. She frowned in thought for a long moment before asking warily,

"Why are you asking this?"

Ye Chutang chuckled. "You don’t need to be so guarded. You’re trapped here now; it’s no different from being in prison. Without my help, you’ll likely never leave this courtyard again. Besides, you already told me all your secrets last time. What could possibly be left to hide?"

Xiao Jiayi’s breath caught in her chest.

She knew, of course, that Ye Chutang was telling the truth.

As bitter as it was to admit, all her hopes were now pinned on Ye Chutang.

After a moment of deliberation, Xiao Jiayi’s demeanor became much calmer.

She wracked her brain for a long moment before speaking. "When my mother first took her in, she certainly never planned to send her to Guanling. At eleven, Xiao Lansi had already blossomed into a great beauty. To be honest, my mother was taken with her looks."

"I had already married into the Duke Zhongyong Mansion by then, but the Xie Family was in decline. For Cheng Xuan’s sake, my mother wanted a backup plan. Although Father didn’t like Xiao Lansi, she did have a stunning face. Marrying her off in an alliance would provide another layer of support for Cheng Xuan."

Ye Chutang gave a slight nod.

’This was more or less what she had expected.’

Jiang Qingmei was not one to act without personal gain, and Xiao Lansi possessed something of value to her.

"But then, for some reason, when she turned fourteen, Father suddenly ordered her to be sent to Guanling. My mother was against it at first, but she relented after Cheng Xuan spoke with her and persuaded her."

"The Second Prince?" Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow. "Why would he get involved?"

"I don’t know. I think he and Mother had a long talk in the palace, and she just agreed after that."

Xiao Jiayi was already married by then and wasn’t at the palace daily, so she didn’t know the finer details.

"I brought it up with him once, unintentionally. He probably just didn’t want to go against Father’s wishes."

’So that was it.’

Ye Chutang lowered her gaze.

’Xiao Chengxuan had always been held in high esteem. If Emperor Muwu wanted Xiao Lansi gone, there was no reason for him to incur the Emperor’s displeasure over her.’

’She was, after all, dispensable.’

’When Xiao Lansi returned to the capital, Xiao Chengxuan’s attitude toward her was lukewarm at best, showing he never really cared about her.’

’He only started to show her a bit more kindness after she proved herself obedient and submissive.’

’But that was the extent of it.’

’After all, they didn’t share the same mother. Why would Xiao Chengxuan ever truly care about her?’

’And when Xiao Lansi later failed to secure a marriage alliance, she became utterly worthless in his eyes.’

’In that case...’

"Even though His Majesty disliked her, she still grew up in the palace until she was fourteen. If he’d always intended to get rid of her, why not do it sooner? Why wait until then?"

Xiao Jiayi frowned.

"Now that you mention it, that is strange... Oh, I remember now! Father’s sudden decision seemed to have something to do with Princess Consort Jing."

A flicker of light in Ye Chutang’s eyes. "Oh?"

Xiao Jiayi searched her memory.

"I remember now. It was around Xiao Chenglin’s first birthday after his leg was crippled. Back then, Father still felt some pity for him and specifically brought him to Qiyuan Hall to celebrate. But when Xiao Chenglin arrived, he wouldn’t stop crying. His own mother had died in childbirth, so his birthday was also the anniversary of her death. His crying must have stirred something in Father, reminding him of Princess Consort Jing."

"Xiao Chenglin was a Prince, after all, while Xiao Lansi was just a Princess. And comparatively, Xiao Chenglin’s mother was merely of low birth, but Xiao Lansi’s mother was one of the Southern Hu people, whom Father despised even more. It wasn’t long after that incident that Father suggested sending Xiao Lansi to Guanling to ’recuperate’."

Ye Chutang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"So, you’re saying this incident... had something to do with the Fourth Prince?"

"Not really." Xiao Jiayi frowned. "He was a cripple with no future. It’s only normal that thinking of his dead mother would make him sad. And it’s no surprise Father would be reminded of Princess Consort Jing because of it. In any case, they’re all just as unpresentable!"

In any case, Xiao Jiayi had never given women like them a second thought.

’She was a princess. Her mother was favored by the Emperor and managed the imperial harem. She herself was doted on by her father, and she had a successful younger brother... Why would she ever care about their petty dramas?’

Ye Chutang nodded.

"I understand. It’s getting late, so I’ll be going."

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