Reborn: Revenge of the Concubine's Daughter

Chapter 250 Phoenix flowers blossomed

Hearing arrogant Meng Xuan lumping her and Zhu Quan together again, He Danggui didn’t want to explain. Some misunderstandings could be explained in a few words, while some feelings were beyond words. She once regarded Meng Xuan as the kind of person who had a tacit understanding with her. With just one eye, instead of too many words, they could read minds with each other by the same temperament and same temperature.

Now, she became a little colder, while he became a little hotter. There wasn’t the same temperature anymore. So, He Danggui simply rejected his kindness, “This matter bothers you. I have asked a new one to help me. There is no need for the fake proposal. Thank you very much.”

“A new one?” Meng Xuan squinted, “You mean, you called another man to propose a fake marriage, and you even prepare to marry that person? Why? Why not me?”

He Danggui heard his bad tone and didn’t intend to talk too much with him. She just said, “You have a courtyard in the suburbs, right? I walked past your house once I went on an outing. I remember that there was not a plaque on your door. After some time, I will send a plaque inscribed with ‘Bai’s Mansion’ to your home. If you are willing to hang the plaque for two or three years, I will be grateful to you.”

Meng Xuan’s gaze was going to penetrate the veil on the face of the person in his arms. He asked again, “Why not me? Am I not even an ideal candidate for a fake marriage? The Bai’s Mansion? It’s Bai Yangbai, right?” The expression in his eyes was abnormal.

He Danggui looked at him strangely and asked, “What strange questions are you asking? A fake marriage means I don’t need to marry anyone. Since that, why should I choose carefully? I think it is more convenient to ask Bai Yangbai for help, so I just pick him.” Seeing Meng Xuan’s slightly trembling lips, He Danggui thought this guy got a one-track mind again. Did men have this universal feature that driven by their pride? They could not bear a refusal after a confession. She took the quilt to free herself from his arms, but had to stop after a few failed tries.

Meng Xuan closed his eyes and then opened them again. His eyes became a little normal, and he resolutely said, “I will keep staring at you until you marry a man who really loves you. If you dare to let yourself down, I will definitely not let you go, as long as you give me the chance.” With this, he removed his arms that shackled her, and even his big hands, holding her small hands to pass energy, were removed. He slipped off the bed and put on his boots, saying, “I take your pulse. It seems that you haven’t eaten for a long time. I’ll find something to eat for you. Take your time to eavesdrop.”

He Danggui founded that after the energy was withdrawn, the voices of the three people from Qi Lu Yard continued to be heard. She asked surprisingly, “Don’t we have to keep holding hands? Why didn’t you say it earlier? Huh? the heat flow is completely gone when you withdraw the energy.”

Meng Xuan walked out and explained, “It is said that this method can last two hours at a time when activated. I did a worse job, and it only lasted less than an hour. After activation, we don’t have to hold hands. I helped you warm your hands just now. However, the heat flow is not my trick. It comes with the method.” When Bai Yangbai taught him in that old days, he suffered an electric shock by himself while he was teaching, and screamed thrillingly and endlessly, causing countless sergeants to run out of tents to hear his erotic scream. The next day there was also a rumor that Major General Meng was homosexual.

He Danggui thought for a while and then said, “Meng Xuan, I will take your kindness in my heart, and I will listen to your words. But I don’t want to eat now. If you really want to help me, just allow me to put a plaque on your door. Besides that, I have nothing to ask for your help for the time being. You and Childe Ying can leave Luo’s Mansion at any time.”

Meng Xuan stopped and then continued to walk outside, saying, “You should eat something, and I will come back soon.” Upon saying this, he left.

He Danggui sighed silently and then tried to figure out Zhu Quan’s intentions in her mind. She heard Qi Xuanyu asked, “My Lord, since you miss He Danggui, why didn’t you take her in the mansion before? No matter how similar the woman is, she is still different with her. Why did you ignore what is near and seek what is far away? After all, it’s easy for you to get that little girl, right?”

This was also an issue that quite concerned He Danggui. Of course, she did not believe the so-called “affectionate Zhu Quan” said by Zhoushi. If Zhu Quan really respected her, how could he come into her boudoir with ill intentions. If Qing’er and Chan Yi hadn’t come in time, the consequence would have been unimaginable. At that time, she was locked in the strange dream where she met Lu Jiangbei. The dream was very different from the ordinary one. But it was somewhat similar to the fantasy dream created by Bai Yangbai of her previous life. So, she had to suspect that the strange dream was Zhu Quan’s trick. He had learned a lot about Bai Yangbai’s skills, and he had the ability to perform such ghostly tricks.

Being silent for a moment, Zhu Quan didn’t answer but asked instead, “Xuanyu, there is no real evidence at all for you to say that she is the reincarnation of Tenth Princess. It is all your guesswork used to mark your remembrance of my Tenth Sister, right?”

Qi Xuanyu slowly said, “Three years ago, I have not yet taken refuge in Lord. Therefore, for investigating He Danggui’s origin, I could only find imperial guard’s Changye Tower. Somehow, imperial guard Liao Zhiyuan and others also sent an informant to investigate He Danggui’s origin at that time. But they just made a superficial investigation that as the daughter of the legitimate son and the legitimate daughter of the He’s family and Luo’s family, why she became the daughter of the concubine, and why she was abandoned by her father’s family. But I investigated more deeply. I found a strange thing happened in He’s Mansion when He Danggui was born. In that dark rainy night, all the oil lamps and candles in the mansion suddenly light up together, and some lamps not containing a drop of oil even blazed brighter than former days. The strangest thing was all the flowers in He’s Mansion were suddenly in full bloom, perfuming the whole He’s Mansion. It was already June 15th, and flowering was not strange, while the strangest thing was that no matter peony or jasmine, were all blossom into phoenix flowers.”

Zhu Quan’s voice was tense, “How did you hear about this? My investigation is not less than yours. Isn’t my intelligence network comparable to your own investigation?”

Qi Xuanyu replied, “I lurked into He’s Mansion in disguise and worked as a servant for more than half a month. Finally, I got the opportunity to approach Madam He alone. I used the nightmare method on her and gained that thing from her mouth directly. She is He Danggui’s grandmother. Aren’t her words more credible than anyone’s guess?”

Zhu Quan murmured repeatedly, “So, she is really... my Tenth Sister. She is really the reincarnation of my Tenth Sister. She is really the reincarnation of my Tenth Sister…”

Although He Danggui was surprised at such strange things happened when she was born, what was the connection did it have with her being the reincarnation of Tenth Princess? At this time, the well-behaved Qi Chuan helped He Danggui ask her doubts.

Qi Xuanyu replied, “I heard that when Tenth Princess were born, the courtyard was full of blooming phoenix flowers, and the fragrant of orchids perfumed a few miles around. However, when she was killed by a wicked person, the candles in her bedroom suddenly burst into flames. The dazzling white flames could not be blown out by several people taking turns. The most surprising thing was that the candles did not become shorter after burning for a few days and nights. After hearing this, the person who killed her was frightened to get sick. After that, the person only lighted oil lamps and never used a candle. These were all the secrets of the Imperial Harem. Once a few maids in an imperial palace came over and wanted to make out with me. I agreed with them since I was bored. Then I heard their small talk while I was half asleep, and then I just learned about it.”

He Danggui was confused. Was she really Zhu Yuanzhang’s Tenth Princess in the previous life of the previous life?

If she remembered rightly, Zhu Yuanzhang had sixteen daughters. Except for Thirteenth Princess who died as soon as she were born and didn’t have a title, the remaining fifteen princesses, Eldest Princess Lin’an, Second Princess Ningguo, Third Princess Chongning, Fourth Princess An’qing, Fifth Princess Runing, and Sixteenth Princess Baoqing who was born this year, all had titles. Although the birth mother of Sixteenth Princess was just a humble Beauty Zhang, the princess was also deeply loved by Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely vicious to his women, but he was good to his daughters, except for Tenth Princess who lived for a full eleven years but didn’t get a title during her entire life.

She might be the reincarnation of such a sad princess. Was it her honor or misfortune? In her three lives, she nearly had no fate with her parents. Who was the birth mother of Tenth Princess? Was she still alive today?

Qi Xuanyu continued, “The scene when He Danggui was born shocked everyone in He’s Mansion. He Jinpeng, the Lord of He’s Mansion, walked in the dark rainy night with lanterns, and did not use an umbrella. He checked all the flowers in the courtyards of the mansion, and whispered what others didn’t understand. Finally, he fell down and became unconscious. Since then, Lord He’s condition got worse and worse, and he was often ill in bed. Madam He blamed on He Danggui and her mother, especially her mother. Madam He took the eight characters of many young ladies from rich families in the capital, and wanted to choose a few noble concubines for her son He Jingxian. But He Jingxian resolutely refused, making the mother of He Danggui particularly moved.”

“Oh?” Qi Chuan asked with a smile, “Since Sister Qingyi’s parents had such a good relationship, why did they separate and abandon Sister Qingyi?”

All of these things were unheard of in He Danggui’s two lives. All her knowledge of the He’s Family was overheard from Madam Luo and Mammy Tang, while Madam Luo knew that from her mother and several mammies that accompanied her mother to her father’s house. In their tirades, they never mentioned the strange thing that happened when she was born. Although she managed to get closer to her mother in this life, her mother never revealed this thing to her.

He Danggui silently listened to Qi Xuanyu’s statement, “Danggui, Angelica in literally, is a medicine name, while He Danggui is not named after it. I heard Madam He said that at the party celebrating for the one-month-old He Danggui, He Jingxian should invite Lord Yan to the party. During the dinner, Lord Yan recited a poem of Li Shangyin. ‘You ask me when I am coming. I do not know. I dream of your mountains and autumn pools brimming all night with the rain. Oh, when shall we be trimming wicks again, together in your western window? When shall I be hearing your voice again, all night in the rain?’ Hence, the baby girl got the name ‘He Danggui’ (when coming back in literally).”

Qi Chuan smiled and said, “I still like to call her Sister Qingyi!”

“During the dinner, He Jingxian firstly took down a thumb-sized jade from the baby girl’s neck and presented it to Lord Yan to appreciate. He said it was brought by his daughter when she was born.” He Danggui frowned. Jade? Qi Xuanyu said unhurriedly, “According to Madam He, she even didn’t know it before the party. She saw the jade from a distance at the party, and it was greenish, clear and beautiful. Only one look at the jade, Lord Yan did love it. He was willing to pay a lot of money to buy the jade. He said that it was suitable for the daughter of Eldest Princess Lin’an, who was one year old. He Jingxian immediately said that since the Lord liked it, just took it with no need for money. This was also a blessing for his little daughter. As soon as he said, the swaddling He Danggui immediately burst into tears. Her mother and the wet nurse couldn’t coax her no matter how hard they were, which made the scene very embarrassing.”

Qi Chuan interrupted and said, “The anecdote of jade in the fetus is occasionally mentioned. It is said that it is one with that baby. The jade contains the baby’s life’s happiness, luckiness and longevity. How can give it away at will? He Jingxian, a hateful old man!”

Qi Xuanyu poured out many old things he found, even the things He Danggui didn’t know, “At this moment, the gold lock (representing wealth and longevity) that He Danggui’s mother asked a Persia’s best craftsman Da Jieli to make was delivered in advance. He Danggui’s mother put it on her in a hurry, and then sang a ditty. Everyone saw that the golden lock turned with the song. Soon little He Danggui stopped crying and giggled. The lock caught the eyes of few rich women. And they wanted to pay a lot of money to buy it. He Jingxian nodded again and agreed. This time, He Danggui’s mother firmly disagreed. He Jingxian stayed calm at the time. But when the party was over and the guests left, he slapped He Danggui’s mother. Since then, the relationship between He Danggui’s parents had deteriorated.”

He Danggui listened silently. However, a heavy gasp and babble sounded suddenly in her ears. She did not respond to it immediately. When she caught on, Luo Baiqian’s normal voice suddenly sounded in Qi Lu Yard, “Who are you? Ah! Qi Xuanyu, it’s you! What are you doing in my yard! Who is he!”