Chapter 975: A Labyrinth of Turns

u can't. Don't try to hold on!""Now there's no need for us to die for the Empire, just protect yourselves! Understood"Ripple said it more plainly."We can also..."Before Anne could finish her retort, L...After Xia and Meng had reached an agreement, Xia went back to his residence. He didn't inform his wife and went directly to see his daughter to explain the matter of taking her place as a bride.

Xia Qingran, upon learning that she could marry the Crown Prince as Meng General's youngest daughter, was naturally overjoyed. This was an unimaginable fortune and glory for her as a concubine's daughter, so she happily agreed and began to prepare for her marriage with peace of mind.

But this matter was known to Xia Huajiang's concubine, Luanghuan. It was because Xia Qingran herself had let it slip, which made her own biological mother aware of it.

Xia Qingran is foolish, but her mother, Lang Huan, is not. Since this is such a good thing, why wouldn't she let Xia Qingjie take her place as the bride Why send her own daughter instead There must be some danger she doesn't know about.

To find information about her daughter, Lang Huan started inquiring everywhere. Unfortunately, as a woman confined within the household walls, she had limited access to information channels. Furthermore, this matter was highly confidential, and currently, only Xia, the deputy general, was aware of it.

Lang Huan was uneasy in her heart. In the end, she stealthily went to listen at Xia Fuzhang's wall late at night and truly learned the truth of the matter.

"My husband, if our daughter became the crown princess, she would be the empress when the prince ascends to the throne. Why not let Jiuer go"

This is Xia Meng's wife's voice, and you can hear the blame in it.

"If there really were such a good thing, I would naturally be willing to let my daughter go. But do you really think Meng Lianyi could live until the prince ascends the throne Or that she could sit on the empress's position for a few days"

"What do you mean by that, husband"

"Meng Lianyi had always been sickly, this was well-known in our Shouyue City, it wasn't a secret. How could the Emperor not know Why did he insist on having the Crown Prince marry such a frail woman as his princess"

Xia Meng helplessly asked a rhetorical question.

"Do you mean the emperor has ulterior motives"

"Need I say more The Emperor arranged for the Prince to marry the General's daughter, granting her noble status and appeasing General Meng. This also forces General Meng to support the Prince. You should know that the Second and Third Princes are not easy to deal with either."

With General Meng's support, at least when the Crown Prince ascends to power, there definitely won't be any trouble here at the border.

Moreover, the position of the prince's consort is coveted by many. In the imperial city, every family with a daughter wishes for her to become empress. Unfortunately, there can only be one princess consort. Deciding who to bestow this honor upon requires careful consideration.

Instead of doing this, it's better to marry General Meng's daughter. This way, no one offends the Emperor, and General Meng is at least a second-rank official. In terms of status, background, and power, his daughter marrying the Crown Prince would be considered a match made in heaven.

As for marrying into the palace, the daughter would indeed live a life of luxury and comfort, but she would also have to face two concubines. The palace intrigue is always a silent battle. Are you willing to let Qingjue face these”

You're right, then why did you let Qingran go

"This is just a gamble I'm taking, after all, I am her biological father. If one day she ascends to power, we could leverage that to help our two sons. And it would also allow General Meng to owe our Xia family a favor – what's not to like"

"But what if that girl becomes successful, do you think she'll still care about us"

"What are you afraid of I have Luohua here with me. She's her own mother, if she doesn't listen to me, surely she can't ignore her own mother's life and death"

Xia Meng's abacus calculations are very precise.

At this moment, Lang Huan, who was crouching by the wall eavesdropping, felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. At this moment, she realized that the man who had always been sweet to her in the past had such a deep mind. The words he said before, claiming he only let her be his concubine out of necessity and that he only had her in his heart, were probably just lies to deceive her.

Lang Huan squatted in the corner for a long time, until her legs and feet were numb and lost all feeling, then she slowly moved back to her room. She didn't disturb anyone and just stared at the ceiling until dawn.

Thus, after three days passed, Lang Huan finally found an opportunity to speak with her daughter. At that time, she had a trusted servant stationed at the door, relaying all the overheard conversations to her daughter.

"What Mother, is this all true"

"When has your mother ever deceived you"

"Then I can't marry in someone else's place, or I'll be walking a path straight to death. Mother, what should I do"

Summer Qingran was also a little flustered.

Lüghuan and Xia Madam had been at odds for half their lives, but she was still quite intelligent. Otherwise, she wouldn't have given birth to her daughter safely and raised her so well.

"Don't panic, just listen to me."

"Mother, what do you say!"

"Ranran, your father has already decided on the matter of you taking his place as a bride. There is no room for compromise."

"Mother!"

"Listen to me finish!"

With tears in her eyes, Xia Qingran could only nod.

"You were never the real Meng Lianyi anyway. Finding a maid to take your place wouldn't be any different."

Lang Huan held her daughter's hand, and in a hushed voice she said:

Upon hearing this, Xia Qingran's eyes also lit up. After all, this Meng Lianyi was a fake anyway. What difference did it make if she was another girl

"Once she steps into the palanquin and marries into the Eastern Palace, she becomes Meng Lianyi. General Meng cannot deny it, nor would he dare to."

"I understand what Mother means, so what should I do"

"Have your maidservant Cui Zhu carry you in the palanquin. She is about your age and has a similar build to yours. Once she enters General Meng's courtyard, half of this matter will be accomplished."

Then, she can take leave before her wedding and pretend to be your maidservant. You just need to leave the Meng family and hide somewhere first. Once I escape from here, we can leave the border city together.

Lang Huan slowly spoke out her plan.

"Mother, how did you escape"

Xia Qingran after all was still a girl, without adults around her she was very flustered.

"At most ten days, at least five, I can fake my death and escape. After all, you are my only daughter, and you got married without me knowing. It's normal for me to be furious."

"Mother, I understand!"

"Recently, just focus on organizing your luggage. Anything you can't bring should be exchanged for silver. Get Cui Zhu's deed beforehand and comfort her well, making her willingly agree to marry in your place."

Lang Huan explained in a soft voice.

"Mother, rest assured, I will definitely talk to her properly."

After Lang Huan left, Xia Qingran found Cui Zhu and pleaded with her tearfully, saying that she already had a sweetheart and couldn't marry anyone else.

In fact, the original owner, Cui Zhu, had gone to the outhouse when Lady Lan Huan arrived. When she came back, she happened to pass by her own mistress's window and overheard their plot completely.

When she learned that this was to help General Meng, her heart was already set on being the substitute bride. All of her family had been trampled to death by the iron hooves of the Qianglang tribe from the neighboring country, and only she survived. It was General Meng who rescued her as a soldier under his command.

Even if it was to repay this kindness, she was willing to marry in her place. As for dying after entering the palace, it would be a perfect solution anyway, as she wouldn't implicate General Meng.

Moreover, to appease General Meng, the prince also had to be polite to him. This could also buy some time for General Meng's army at the border.

This was the moment when Ripple first entered this body, and she had unwittingly made the same choices as her original self.nge support. We'll remain on Philip's ship and regroup once things here are settled. Remember to keep us updated on their situation.""Understood. Stay safe, and if you can't hold on, pretend to fall o...