Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 578: Madam is also Investigating this Matter

Chapter 578: Chapter 578: Madam is also Investigating this Matter

Zhan Lan sighed in relief after seeing the portrait; she had always suspected that the Empress of Eastern Wei was Mu Xiyao, the Princess of Zhongzhou.

If that were the case, Mu Yan might be the elder brother of Princess Anyang.

However, she did not expect her suspicion to be wrong.

She had seen the portrait of Mu Yan’s biological mother, and she looked different from the woman in this painting.

Could it be that Mu Xiyao is Princess Anyang’s Imperial Aunt?

Zhan Lan opened a letter and saw the report from her subordinates.

Her eyes widened with surprise; it turned out that the Emperor of Eastern Wei, Tan Dong, and Mu Yan’s biological mother were once in love, which was no secret within the Eastern Wei Imperial Family.

If so, could it be that Tan Dong is actually Mu Yan’s father?

Then why did Tan Dong show such affection to Empress Jingyi, was it because he felt guilty because of what happened with Mu Xiyao back then?

Zhan Lan carefully pieced together the relations.

Mu Yan is the son of the Princess of Zhongzhou, and Qingcheng is the daughter of the Left General, so it is only natural for Qingcheng to address Mu Yan as Master.

Apart from acknowledging Mu Yan as her Master, Qingcheng had someone else behind her.

Could it be that the one trying to kill her is an old faction from Zhongzhou, or someone of high status within the Zhongzhou Imperial Family!

The one targeting Eastern Wei is also targeting her.

Could it be Princess Mu Xiyao!

She is still alive.

Zhan Lan felt a little headache; she learned that the Eastern Wei Imperial Family was extremely complex. The previous emperor of Eastern Wei had five sons, and the fourth son, Tan Dong, went to Zhongzhou as a hostage at eighteen.

Accompanying him to Zhongzhou as hostages were the Second Prince of Nanjin, Si Xuanyi, and the Ninth Prince of Western Rong, Tuoba Yuanzhou.

What exactly happened between the three hostages and the Princess, no one knew.

Now she knows that Tan Dong and the Princess were in love, so why did someone want to mislead Mu Yan, making him falsely believe that his biological father was Si Xuanyi?

Perhaps the Left General of Eastern Wei, Xie Yuanzhang, knows some of the inside story.

Or perhaps, if she could get Tan Dong’s portrait, it would be good.

Zhan Lan decided to return and tell Mu Yan what she had learned. Mu Yan, who grew up in Eastern Wei, might be able to uncover the truth of his lineage.

Another purpose of her coming here was to find Princess Mu Xiyao.

If her guess was correct, Mu Yan was the Eldest Prince of Eastern Wei, then perhaps the one trying to kill her was Mu Xiyao.

However, she had never interacted with this supposed mother-in-law, could it be because she couldn’t stand her son having a woman he loved?

Zhan Lan felt that a Princess’s outlook should not be so narrow.

Who did she actually block the path of?

Could it be a woman who liked Mu Yan? Perhaps, apart from Qingcheng, there were other women who had always been thinking of Mu Yan.

Zhan Lan’s mind was about to be muddled; she let herself calm down and stopped thinking about this matter.

She stood up and burned the Empress’s portrait and the secret letter in the warmer, pretending nothing had happened.

Although she did not understand why the other person was persistent in wanting her dead, she was now alert and prepared, and she would need to be more cautious in the future.

...

Eastern Wei Palace.

In Anning Palace, Empress Jingyi’s face is as smooth as Ning Ezh, lips like dotted cherries, eyebrows like a painting, her eyes like autumn water; she reclines leisurely on a purple sandalwood long chair, radiant and pure, with incomparable grace.

The door was pushed open from the outside, a man in a dragon robe, tall and with an air of grace, had extremely beautiful eyes that sparkled like glass. Even in his forties, he was still strikingly handsome.

As soon as he entered, all the palace maids and eunuchs withdrew, leaving only him and the Empress in the room.

The Empress sat up from the long chair, her expression detached as she looked at him, "Tan Dong, do you think that by trapping me in this Deep Palace, no one would know that I’m still alive?"

"Xiyao, you know, as long as we are both alive, we’ll be entangled forever. Why can’t you just be content with being my Empress!"

Mu Xiyao sneered as she got up, "You trap me in this Deep Palace where no one can see me, and have someone paint a so-called portrait of me, letting them mistakenly think the woman in the portrait is me. Do you think hiding me away means no one remembers what you did back then?"

Tan Dong’s eyebrows slightly furrowed as he stepped forward, Mu Xiyao stepping back, "Don’t come any closer!"

Tan Dong halted his steps, "You still refuse to let me near you."

"In front of Xiyan, I can play along with your act, but now with just you and me, there’s no need to pretend. We’ll lead separate lives just fine."

Tan Dong swiftly stepped forward and strongly embraced Mu Xiyao. Mu Xiyao heard Tan Dong’s intense heartbeat, just like when they first embraced.

"So many years have passed, why do you still refuse to forgive me, you know my heart has only ever held you, even to death, it won’t change!"

Mu Xiyao forcefully pushed him away, "Don’t touch me, I will never forgive you, even in death!"

Tan Dong was deeply wounded by Mu Xiyao’s words and only heard her continue, "If you can’t hold on, go fill your harem or depose your Empress, I won’t say a word."

Tan Dong’s eyes were full of sorrow. He took two steps back, trying to calm Mu Xiyao’s emotions.

"Tomorrow, I will have Anyang come to accompany you," Tan Dong’s voice trembled.

Mu Xiyao turned her back expressionlessly, "She can come alone; His Majesty need not come."

Tan Dong deeply gazed at Mu Xiyao before leaving Anning Palace.

...

Early the next morning, Zhan Lan saw an old eunuch come to the Princess Mansion.

Several members of the Imperial Army followed behind the old eunuch.

Not long after, the old eunuch shook his head as he came out of Princess Anyang’s main room, "What’s going on with Princess Anyang, saying she’s busy today, doesn’t even want to see the Empress."

Zhan Lan closed the window, and soon saw Princess Anyang coming to find her.

Princess Anyang’s steps were light as she came to her room, and shortly after, she heard Princess Anyang asking outside the door, "Is Mr. Lan there?"

"Yes." Zhan Lan put on her coat, opened the door, and walked out, still sparing with words.

Princess Anyang hugged a warmer, her cheeks rosy from the cold, and tentatively asked, "Mr. Lan, will you not invite me in to talk?"

Zhan Lan smiled faintly, "Men and women should not be too close, sharing a room might damage the Princess’s reputation."

Princess Anyang felt a bit disappointed by Mr. Lan’s refusal but was also relieved that Mr. Lan was a gentleman.

She smiled as she looked into Zhan Lan’s eyes, "Mr. Lan, you’re leaving tomorrow; let me show you around Cheng’an City."

"Alright!" Zhan Lan nodded.

Princess Anyang could barely contain her excitement, and had someone prepare a carriage.

...

Inside Yulong Bank along Cheng’an City’s main street, a man wearing a silver mask stood at a window on the second floor, hands behind his back, watching the long street through a slightly open window.

Behind him, came the voice of Vermilion Bird.

"Master, three months ago, the person we planted in the palace sent word that your mother is indeed inside, you guessed correctly, the Madam is also investigating this matter."