Chapter 57: Gratitude

Luo Yunqiao was naturally unwilling. When she first arrived at the Jing’an Marquis’s residence, she had relied heavily on Luo Zeting, but at the moment when she needed support the most, he had abandoned her. Yet, seeing the hope shining in Old Lady Luo’s eyes, she found herself unable to utter a refusal.

Just as Luo Yunqiao was about to speak, the carriage came to a sudden halt. She barely managed to steady herself and then overheard voices outside: “Madam, miss, are you alright? The carriage has hit someone. I’ll go check the situation immediately.”

Hearing that someone had been hit, Luo Yunqiao frowned. “Grandmother, please wait on the carriage. I’ll go and see.” With that, she hurried down.

Approaching the front of the carriage, she saw Jin Xin and Yin Xin in a panic, repeatedly asking, “What happened?”

“Miss...” Jin Xin quickly rose and said, “The carriage was moving along smoothly just now when a woman suddenly rushed out. I saw it clearly—the carriage hadn’t even touched her, but she had already fainted. We simply could not wake her.”

Luo Yunqiao looked down and saw the woman’s tattered clothes, her body nothing but skin and bones. She knelt, brushing aside the woman’s hair, and was taken aback. This woman’s features bore a striking resemblance to her own—about fifty percent alike—yet there was a noble air about her that marked her as no ordinary commoner.

A troubling thought stirred in her mind, but she said, “She must have fainted from hunger. Help her onto the carriage; we’ll take her to the village with us.”

“Miss...” Yin Xin protested, “The world is peaceful now; the people live in comfort. There’s no reason for someone to faint from hunger. I think she was sent here on purpose. What if she means harm to you? We should leave some food and leave her here.”

“No.” Luo Yunqiao shook her head. She had suffered hunger herself back in Luo Family Village, sometimes only able to eat roots and bark. Clearly, many places still faced famine.

“She’s a woman—left on the road, she might not even survive. Besides, with you all by my side, she can’t harm me.”

With that, she ordered the women to lift the woman onto the carriage again.

Once aboard, Old Lady Luo frowned, about to question her, but Luo Yunqiao interrupted, “Grandmother, please don’t dismiss her so quickly. Take a good look at her face.” She brushed aside the woman’s hair, revealing her features. Old Lady Luo’s expression changed dramatically. Luo Yunqiao continued, “I’m genuinely curious about her identity. How could someone in this world look so much like me?”

“Furthermore...” Luo Yunqiao hesitated briefly before speaking, “I once overheard a conversation between Prince Yan and the Third Prince. They mentioned that I resemble Prince Yan’s own sister. I suspect this woman might be...”

“Turn up the collar at the back of her neck. Let me see!” Old Lady Luo commanded sternly.

Though unsure, Luo Yunqiao complied immediately.

On the nape of the woman’s neck was a red birthmark the size of a thumb.

“You guessed right!” Old Lady Luo said gravely. “Years ago, Princess Changle fled the palace with the late emperor and Consort Zhao but was pursued by your father. I pitied them and went to bury their bodies. There was a small child with them, but that child had no such birthmark. I realized then it wasn’t Princess Changle. I had intended to keep this secret. Although the princess was lost among the common folk, at least she survived. I never imagined she would end up like this.”

“Grandmother...” Luo Yunqiao was surprised to learn of Old Lady Luo’s secret deeds.

Old Lady Luo sighed. “Come to think of it, Prince Yan’s choice to have you approach the Jing’an Marquis’s residence was partly because of your resemblance to Princess Changle. If you are to marry him, holding such a debt, I imagine Prince Yan would not be heartless.”

“Leave her at the village for now. When the time is right, inform Prince Yan,” Luo Yunqiao said, looking at the still-unconscious woman and nodding.

The capital was far from peaceful, and Xiao Jinglin knew the importance of Princess Changle to Xiao Muyuan. Sending her back now would be tantamount to sending her to death. Keeping the woman there was the only way to save her life.

By the time the carriage reached the village on the outskirts of the capital, night had fallen.

After seeing Old Lady Luo settled to rest, Luo Yunqiao did not hurry to sleep but instead went to Princess Changle’s room.

Now awake, the princess was eating ravenously, which tugged painfully at Luo Yunqiao’s heart.

“Eat slowly,” she said, pushing some thin porridge toward her. “You’ve been starving for too long. Start with something light to nourish your stomach. No need to fill yourself now; there will be more to eat tomorrow.”

“Really?” The princess suddenly stopped, tears welling in her eyes. She immediately knelt, bowing deeply. “You are so kind. Thank you for saving me. When I find my brother, I will make sure he thanks you properly.”

Luo Yunqiao placed a piece of food on her chopsticks, probing gently, “You have a brother? Then why were you starving and fainted in front of our carriage? Do you remember where your home is? Perhaps I could have someone take you back?”

Suddenly, the princess lowered her head. Luo Yunqiao was unsure what she had said wrong.

“I...” Princess Changle hesitated and said nothing further.

Curiosity deepened, but Luo Yunqiao maintained a calm exterior and asked again, “Do you not remember? Or can’t you tell me?”

“You are a good person. I should tell you, but when I told others before, no one believed me...” The princess’s voice grew fainter until almost inaudible.

Luo Yunqiao smiled. “Tell me anything. If you say it, I will believe you.”

“Really?” The princess lifted her face, eyes full of hope. “I... I’m not the daughter of a farmer. I am a princess. My father, the emperor, and my mother were killed. I was the only one to escape. I know my brother’s name but don’t know how to find him. So I pretended to be a beggar, begging all the way to the capital. Just as I was nearly there, someone robbed me of my money. I was hungry and exhausted, and that’s why I fainted.”

“What is your brother’s name?”

“Xiao Muyuan.”

Luo Yunqiao’s hands trembled. She had thought Princess Changle’s failure to find Xiao Muyuan meant she had forgotten her past, but she had remembered all along.

“Then why didn’t you seek help from the authorities?”

Xiao Muyuan commanded great power and influence. If Princess Changle approached the government, he would surely be informed.

“I did,” the princess said, her eyes reddening. “They called me a liar, beat me, cursed me, and even locked me in prison... Sister, can you help me find my brother?”

Just as Luo Yunqiao was about to agree, a commotion came from outside.

“Miss! There’s been a flood!”