The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 101

It was the next day when Xiu Ran learned of this matter. It was even after the Imperial court session when Jingguo Marquis found him and told him. Only then did he learn that Su Yun and Luo Bing had returned safe and sound.

He felt this was an impossible thing, because those death soldiers he'd sent out were already considered the elites of the elite. Although he'd felt it was a shame these people died, if they could kill Su Yun and Luo Bing, then it was also worth it.

But now, the news he got was that Su Yun and Luo Bing didn't die, and yet his death soldiers had all mysteriously disappeared. This kind of good coincidence, Su Qingyan encountered, fine. Yet, why did her parents also encounter such good fate?

"Marquis, are you sure, Su Yun and Luo Bing came back alive?" Xiu Ran looked to Jingguo Marquis and spoke in a cold tone, "The death soldiers I dispatched out were all really strong."

Jingguo Marquis listened to his words and coldly laughed, "Do I need to lie to you, Ning Xiuran*?"

(*T/N: Since it's revealed that his surname is actually Ning, the stylization for his name will be changed to as such. Xiu is also a common surname character so I'd assumed it was his surname but turns out it's not the case. I suppose it had also served as a purpose to mislead.)

When Xiuran heard that name, he clenched his fist, looking to Jingguo Marquis in a cold manner, "What? Now you remember my surname is Ning? But sorry, I'm already no longer a child of the Ning family."

Jingguo Marquis saw Xiuran's attitude, and after a while, he finally softened up, "Though I don't want to say it, Su Yun certainly did return. Furthermore, his Majesty plans on holding the once a year Dragon Gate banquet at the end of the month. He even said, because Su Yun hasn't returned in three years, he was planning on fulfilling one of Su Yun's wishes."

"Oh!" Xiuran stroked his chin, as if he was pondering something.

"Xiuran, don't tell me you've decided to make a move during the Dragon Gate banquet?" Jingguo Marquis looked to him with a frown, "When the time comes, with that many guards, you'll definitely be in a bad situation."

"So what?" Xiuran raised his head to him, "At the bottom of it, when Qilian Qingyi send me here in the beginning, I was just a pawn. If I die, she won't be sad either."

"She's already the Empress now, no longer the Qilian Qingyi from before." Jingguo Marquis knew Xiuran had always harbored someone in his heart.

And yet that person has become Weisheng Junyan's wife now, the current Nanchen Empress.

"If I can still do some things for her before I die, it's also worth it." He waved his hand at Jingguo Marquis, "Go, this matter, I naturally have a plan."

Jingguo Marquis watched him for quite a while before finally turning to leave. As he turned to leave, he voice faintly sounded, "No matter what, you are still my son!"

Xiuran listened to Jingguo Marquis's words and weakly sat down in his seat. That's right, he was still the Jingguo Marquis's son, albeit only a secret illegitimate* child. Ning Siyao was also considered his older sister he'd never met. Yet, he was always thinking of that woman called Qilian Qingyi.

(*T/N: Previously, I've used the term illegitimate child as term for concubine's children as well, though in that context those children are still formally recognized as part of the family, as concubines are legally still considered a wife, just lower in status from the main wife. In this case, the contextual meaning is more close to the modern sense, in that his mother was neither a concubine nor recognized by the family.)

At the time, Qilian Qingyi learned from somewhere that he was the Ning family's secret child, thus had him sent to Donghe as the political hostage. But even so, if it could make her happy, why would he not make this little sacrifice.

But in the end, she became Weisheng Junyan's wife, the current Nanchen Empress.

And that woman that send him here, tragically died in that coup.

"Xiaoyi*, do you really need to be so heartless like this?" Xiuran closed his eyes, that gentle smiling face still vividly echoed in his mind.

(*T/N: Little Yi, Qilian Qingyi's nickname.)

Qilian Qingyi, Xiuran's former childhood sweetheart, they could have been very loving. Although Qilian Qingyi was a daughter of a concubine, he had never looked down on her status. At the time, he only felt that if he could have a girl like her for a lifetime, it wouldn't be bad. But he just didn't know from when, that girl started to change.

She became cruel, became ruthless with her methods.

And everything was all because of that so called power. And this was the only thing he was unable to give her.

"Xiuran, I want to become the Emperor's woman. I want to become the Empress."

"Xiuran, I beg of you, help me alright? My days in the palace aren't well at all."

"Xiuran, this is the last time, really the last time. Please help me."

Recalling these things, Xiuran's lips curved into a bitter smile, "Xiaoyi, if I die, can I more or less receive a bit of your concern."

But these words, Qilian Qingyi couldn't hear, and perhaps Xiuran will never be able to tell them to her in this life.

Xiuran spread open the paper before him and lifted the brush to write his last will.

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When Su Yun returned to the Su manor after the Imperial court session, he brought with him many things bestowed to him by the Emperor. Seeing the things Su Yun carried in, a lot of people impatiently looked on.

The night before, Su Yun had told Qingyan about Su Jiashi's matter. So this Su Jiashi wasn't Su Yun's biological mother, and only Su Yun know this.

This Su Jiashi was the former Su Jiashi's dowry servant girl. And after Su Jiashi died, this servant girl used some unknown means to crawl into the Old General's bed. She had once gave birth to children before, but they all died young for no apparent reason. Perhaps it was because he felt guilty towards her, the Su Old General later promoted her to the main wife position. From Su madam, she became the Su old madam.

Qingyan never thought that the Su manor would actually have a behind the scenes past like this as well. She'd always thought the Su old madam loved her unconditionally, who would have thought that in the end, it was also because of her own interest. Because Su Yun was the only one that knew the truth of this matter.

"Brother sure has received his Majesty's bestowment again." Su Ming and Su Yan watched the rewards being carried in and enviously said.

Ning Siyao and Chai Yiyun also anxiously eyed these rewards. Not just Ning Siyao and Chai Yiyun, even Jiang Mengrou and Ye Jiqing looked on in anticipation.

According to Su Qingyan's usual personality in the past, she would certainly let these sisters chose first. That's why, in the end, some of the best items would more often than not, fall into other's hands.

Luo Bing also knew of Qingyan's disposition, but if it could make her daughter feel happy like this, she didn't care. These were all bestowed by his Majesty anyways.

"Fourth little sister, why don't you guess what first uncle got from his Majesty this time?!" Su Qingting looked on fixedly at those chests.

Qingyan smiled, "What, don't tell me third sister wants to know? But these are all father's reward for defending the border."

Just when Zizhu thought Qingyan would say she was going to give these things away to them, Qingyan instead grinningly spoke, "Zizhu, carry all these things to my yard." She looked to Su Yun, smiles piling on her little face, "Daddy, these are all rewards for daddy, right?"

Su Yun didn't expect Qingyan would say something like this. He patted her head, "Naturally these are all for daddy, and daddy is going to give all these things to you."

"Thank you, daddy." Qingyan turned around to Zizhu still grinning, "Zizhu, you heard, daddy's giving it all to me. So carry all these things to my yard."

"Understood." Zizhu directed the servants to carry everything to Yingshuang yard.

Seeing those people's reactions, Qingyan happily smiled, "Father, those things I'm going to leave to slowly select from."