Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 69

Su Rong pondered the thought, how would a woman plead with a man? Surely, words alone wouldn’t suffice. Most likely, she would offer herself. 

“Great Liang and Great Wei arranged a marriage alliance, leading to a temporary ceasefire. Princess Zhenmin was sent to Great Wei for the marriage, but soon after she arrived, a succession crisis erupted within Great Wei. Amidst the chaos, Princess Zhenmin was reported killed. The late emperor was furious and declared war on Great Wei. This time, Great Wei urgently sought peace, but the emperor ignored their pleas and personally led the army to battle. 

“At the most critical moment, the emperor received a letter from Princess Zhenmin. She wrote that she was alive and well, urging the emperor not to continue the war. Instead, she suggested using the situation to force Great Wei into signing a peace treaty, allowing Great Liang to recover. As for her, she asked to be considered dead, she would not return, nor did she wish to be found. 

“Upon learning that Princess Zhenmin was safe, the emperor’s rage subsided. He accepted her advice, negotiating peace with Great Wei. Not only did Great Wei return the three occupied cities, but they also signed a thirty-year non-aggression pact with Great Liang.” 

Teacher Zhao sighed. “That was sixteen years ago. Afterward, both the emperor and the Empress sent people to search for Princess Zhenmin, but she was never found. She likely used the secret guards left to her by Crown Prince Mingrui to erase her traces completely.” 

After finishing her story, Teacher Zhao looked at Su Rong. “Forgive my bluntness, but you bear a striking resemblance to Princess Zhenmin. It is quite possible that you are her daughter.” 

Su Rong narrowed her eyes and let out a soft chuckle. “Teacher, you might be overthinking things. There are plenty of people in the world who look alike. Jiangning is merely a thousand li from the capital, if my mother were truly this Princess Zhenmin, wouldn’t she have hidden herself much farther away instead of staying so close?” 

Teacher Zhao nodded. “That is precisely the irony. Back then, the emperor and the Empress thought the same, so they searched everywhere except nearby. And the old Duke Protector never maintained contact with the Jiangning lord’s residence, likely to avoid drawing attention to Jiangning.” 

She continued, “Moreover, few people know that Princess Zhenmin had someone she loved, a man who once achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations, gaining great fame, only to resign and travel the land. In the end, he settled in Jiangning for more than ten years.” 

Su Rong looked at Teacher Zhao. 

Teacher Zhao met her gaze and nodded. “Yes, I happen to know about this. The man Princess Zhenmin admired was none other than Xie Yuan.” 

Su Rong felt a sudden clarity. She had always known that Uncle Xie harbored feelings for her mother, it was something she had understood even as a child. If this was true, then there was little doubt left, her mother was indeed Princess Zhenmin. 

She smiled faintly. “Teacher Zhao, you have told me so much. Aren’t you afraid of scaring me?” 

Teacher Zhao laughed. “If you were so easily frightened, you wouldn’t have survived to this age.” 

Su Rong neither confirmed nor denied this. “Then why are you telling me all this now? What do you intend to do?” 

Teacher Zhao shook her head. “I simply wished to confirm my suspicions. The Empress never forgot Princess Zhenmin, even on her deathbed. If your mother was truly her, then my only wish is to protect you, nothing more.” 

Su Rong stared into Teacher Zhao’s eyes. “And how do you intend to confirm it? By the etiquette my mother taught me? Or by this series of deductions?” 

“Do you remember what your mother looked like?” Teacher Zhao asked eagerly. “Could you paint a portrait? If I see it, I will know for sure.” 

Su Rong shook her head. “I won’t paint my mother’s portrait. I wouldn’t do it well even if I tried.” 

Teacher Zhao hesitated. “Then do you have any of her belongings? If I see them, I may recognize something.” 

Su Rong shook her head again. “Everything my mother left behind was burned in a fire. Nothing remains.” 

Teacher Zhao looked disappointed. “You don’t trust me, do you?” 

“It’s not that,” Su Rong replied with a smile. “I can sense your sincerity.” She added, “And I don’t mind telling you, after my mother passed, someone tried to kill me. They broke into my mother’s quarters, but I wasn’t an easy target. I killed them instead. Then, to avoid trouble, I set fire to the entire place. The wind was strong that night, the fire raged uncontrollably. By the time I dragged Yue Wan out, everything had been reduced to ashes.” 

Teacher Zhao was stunned. “Who wanted to kill you?” 

“I don’t know. But the attempts never stopped over the years,” Su Rong said, watching her closely. “I suspect someone in the palace. Why don’t you take a guess?” 

“Impossible!” Teacher Zhao immediately denied it. “When His Majesty was young, it was Princess Zhenmin who raised him. Though they were cousins, he saw her as his own sister. There is no way anyone from the palace would want to harm you.” 

Su Rong raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Then who else would have such a deep grudge against my mother?” 

Teacher Zhao thought for a moment but could not come up with an answer. If Su Rong’s mother was truly Princess Zhenmin, who could possibly hold such a vendetta against her? 

“If even you can’t think of anyone, then tell me this, who did you meet yesterday? Who is investigating my origins?” Su Rong asked. 

Teacher Zhao’s eyes widened in shock. “How do you know that?” 

She was truly taken aback. The person who had contacted her had been highly skilled, acting with utmost secrecy. There was no way Su Rong should have known. 

Su Rong smiled. “I grew up in Jiangning, and as I just told you, people have been trying to kill me for years. Do you really think I would remain oblivious to any disturbances around me?” 

Teacher Zhao suddenly realized. “Then… does the secret guard left by Crown Prince Mingrui still protect you?” 

Su Rong shook her head. “I don’t have any secret guards,” she said, pausing slightly. “If my mother really was Princess Zhenmin, she only left me a marriage contract, nothing else.” 

Teacher Zhao wanted to ask, Then how do you protect yourself? But she hesitated. After all, she had only just met Su Rong two days ago, and she had already spoken too much. It wouldn’t be appropriate to pry any further. 

Instead, she changed the subject. “Miss Su, did you once save a young man? He was being pursued in the hills behind the City God Temple. You happened to be there fishing and took his dagger as a reward?” 

Su Rong nodded. “Yes, that did happen.” 

“So it’s confirmed. The person you saved was the Crown Prince,” Teacher Zhao said, visibly surprised. “The one who approached me yesterday was one of the Crown Prince’s people. As for why the Crown Prince is investigating your background, I do not know. However, when I inquired, they said that His Highness gave strict orders, he considers you his savior and wishes to look into your origins. I suspect it might have something to do with the marriage contract with the Duke Protector’s Manor. After all, the Crown Prince must also be puzzled as to how a mere concubine-born daughter of the Taishou could have such a marriage agreement.” 

Su Rong narrowed her eyes. 

She looked at Teacher Zhao. “So, the Crown Prince sent people to investigate me because he wants to repay my kindness? But I asked for his dagger as payment, and after that, we were even.” 

Teacher Zhao sighed. “His Highness is a man of honor. You may consider the dagger as settling the matter, but the Crown Prince does not. After all, the life of an heir to the throne is of immense value.” 

“That’s true,” Su Rong nodded. “So, he reached out to you because he knew you were teaching me etiquette at the lord’s residence? He hoped to use you to investigate me? Did you tell them about your suspicions that my mother might be Princess Zhenmin?” 

“This matter is of great importance,” Teacher Zhao shook her head. “Since I was not certain, I did not mention it. I merely told them that I met you for the first time and knew nothing beyond that. Nor did I agree to help the Crown Prince’s people investigate you.” 

Su Rong nodded. “Just now, you firmly said that the person trying to kill me couldn’t be from the palace. But just a few days ago, someone did try to kill me. At that time, I happened to have that dagger with me. When I used it to block an attack, the assassin suddenly withdrew and retreated.” 

Teacher Zhao was shocked. “You mean to say… the one who tried to kill you was from the palace? They recognized the Crown Prince’s dagger?” 

“It seems so.” Su Rong took out the dagger and handed it to Teacher Zhao. “This is the one, correct?” 

Teacher Zhao examined it closely and nodded. “Indeed. I left the palace four years ago, but I remember this dagger, it belongs to His Highness. If you heat the blade over a flame, the inscription ‘Echo’ will appear, along with the Crown Prince’s personal name. There’s no doubt the man you saved was the Crown Prince.” 

“So, many people must have seen this dagger before?” Su Rong asked. 

Teacher Zhao shook her head. “Not many. His Highness wouldn’t carry it around for others to see every day.” 

“Then those who have seen it must hold significant positions, have an old connection with the Crown Prince, or be close enough to him to recognize it on sight. At the very least, they respected him enough to abandon their attempt on my life,” Su Rong reasoned. “That means the Crown Prince should know who wants to kill me.” 

Teacher Zhao nodded. “If that’s the case, then yes, he should know.” 

“For years, I’ve wanted to know who’s been trying to kill me. Why don’t you ask for me? Given the life-saving debt he owes me, please have the Crown Prince tell me who is after me. This time let’s make a proper trade, his dagger and an answer. That way, our debt will truly be settled. Let him know that he needn’t dwell on repaying me anymore.” 

Teacher Zhao nodded. “Alright, I will deliver your message.” 

She hesitated for a moment before adding, “If you wish to confirm whether your mother was indeed Princess Zhenmin, all you need to do is take me to see Master Xie…” 

“What if he refuses to acknowledge it?” 

Teacher Zhao was momentarily speechless. 

Su Rong smiled. “To be honest, I never really cared about who my mother was. I only need to know that I am Su Rong. If no one had been trying to kill me all these years, my life would have been quite peaceful. But these assassins, buzzing around like flies, are rather annoying.” 

She looked at Teacher Zhao. “So, you needn’t trouble yourself over this. As you said, the late Empress was your former mistress. If my mother was indeed Princess Zhenmin, then they must have already reunited in the afterlife. The Empress’s lingering regrets are no longer relevant. And if my mother wasn’t Princess Zhenmin, then you certainly don’t need to concern yourself with it. Besides, you have a good life now, why let the past trouble you? It’s unnecessary. Enjoying your remaining years peacefully is what truly matters.” 

Teacher Zhao was silent for a long while. Then she smiled. “You are wise beyond your years, Miss Su. It seems I was the one who got caught up in old emotions. Very well, since you put it that way, I won’t seek out Master Xie, nor will I bring this matter up again.” 

Su Rong smiled and nodded. “Teacher Zhao is an understanding person.” 

Teacher Zhao sighed inwardly. She recalled that Princess Zhenmin had been intelligent as well, but far too gentle. Su Rong, however, was completely different. Though still young, her words were sharp, and there was an inherent strength in her very being. 

Teacher Zhao stayed a while longer, chatting idly with Su Rong. When the sky darkened, she finally took her leave. 

After closing the door, Su Rong took out the dagger once more. 

The person she had saved turned out to be the Crown Prince. She had originally assumed he was just a nobleman from a prominent family in the capital, she hadn’t expected him to be royalty. 

If her origins were truly as Teacher Zhao suspected, if her mother was indeed Princess Zhenmin, then this was a matter of great significance. 

She recalled reading about it in The Chronicles of Great Liang. Sixteen years ago, Princess Zhenmin was sent to Great Wei as part of a marriage alliance. Shortly after her arrival, Great Wei fell into internal strife, and she was reported to have been tragically killed. Enraged, Great Liang prepared for war. Even though their military strength was insufficient at the time, the late emperor still insisted on sending troops to avenge Princess Zhenmin. In the end, Great Wei sought peace, returned the occupied cities, and signed a thirty-year non-aggression pact. Only then did Great Liang relent. 

In other words, Princess Zhenmin’s death had been used to secure great benefits for Great Liang. 

If Great Wei were to find out that she had faked her death, not only had she survived, but she had also secretly given birth to a daughter, they would undoubtedly be furious. They might even see it as reason enough to tear up the peace treaty and restart the war. After all, Great Wei had always harbored ambitions and was merely waiting for the right opportunity. 

If her mother was truly Princess Zhenmin, then Su Rong could understand why her father and Xie Yuan had hidden the truth from her. In their eyes, she was still just a child. 

Such a matter indeed required the utmost caution.