Save my man, why does he always turn out to be the savior?

Chapter 387 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'

“I am the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Xuanping’s family. How can you, a son born to a concubine, be worthy of being my elder brother?”

It is because of your existence that my father and mother have had a strained relationship for many years. Now that my brother has finally become the heir apparent, since you have already separated from your family, please stop disturbing our family's life.

We don't welcome you at all!

When Su Jinyue came out after changing her clothes, she heard Shen Yuxi's words and saw the scene between the two of them. There was nothing she couldn't understand.

Su Jinyue quickly stepped forward, stood in front of Shen Huaizhi, and retorted first: "Do you think we'd be interested in being your brother and sister-in-law?"

If you don't welcome us, we're not happy to stay in the Marquis's mansion!

Without you disturbing us during this time, my husband and I have been living a very happy life.

Since you don't want to acknowledge us, please pretend you don't see us whenever you see us in the future. It's best to treat each other as strangers.

"You, how could you be so rude?" Shen Yuxi didn't expect Su Jinyue to be so strong.

"So what if I'm rude? The Marquis's mansion has already separated us. My husband and I don't eat a single grain of rice or spend a single penny of money from the Marquis's mansion anymore. Is it any of your business?"

Besides, were your words not rude? Was that something a legitimate daughter of a marquis should say?...

Shen Yuxi covered her face and ran away after being told off by Su Jinyue.

Su Jinyue won a great victory.

Shen Huaizhi smiled as he looked at Su Jinyue, who looked like a victorious general. It felt really good to be protected like this.

Shen Huai stepped forward and pulled Su Jinyue back, saying, "It's getting late, let's go back quickly."

Su Jinyue smiled at Shen Huaizhi, and the two of them prepared to leave.

Before they had gone two steps, a noblewoman in fine clothes approached them, followed by a well-trained maid.

Su Jinyue glanced at him and then lowered her head. She was not familiar with the women in the capital, but judging from this person's attire and demeanor, although she did not recognize him, she could guess that he was not an ordinary person.

Especially since this is the palace, it's best not to provoke them.

Shen Huaizhi had the same thought as Su Jinyue. When he saw the person coming from the other side, he pulled Su Jinyue aside and waited for the noblewoman to pass.

Su Jinyue and Shen Huaizhi had no intention of provoking them, but to their surprise, the noblewoman stopped in front of them.

"Is this young master a descendant of the Marquis of Xuanping? May I ask which young master he is?"

Upon hearing the noblewoman's question, Su Jinyue subconsciously looked up, but after seeing the noblewoman's meaningful gaze, she immediately lowered her head again.

Thinking about the place where the noblewoman came out, Su Jinyue guessed that the other party had heard their argument with Shen Yuxi, but why did the other party ask about Shen Huaizhi's birth order?

Shen Huaizhi remained calm and respectfully bowed before replying, "I am Shen Huaizhi, the eldest son of a concubine in the Xuanping Marquis's household."

When asked about his identity, Shen Huaizhi thought it was no big deal. This was the imperial palace, and even if they knew his identity, it wouldn't be easy for them to harm him.

However, even after Shen Huaizhi had been answering for a long time, the other party remained silent and did not leave.

Shen Huaizhi frowned and tentatively looked up, only to find that the other person seemed to be lost in thought.

"Does this lady have something to discuss?"

Upon hearing Shen Huaizhi's words, the noblewoman seemed to awaken from a dream, and exclaimed, "I never imagined you'd grown up so much! You were such a tiny baby before..."

Shen Huaizhi was puzzled and looked up to ask, "May I ask who this lady is? Have you seen me before?"

Before the noblewoman could say anything, the maid behind her couldn't help but step forward and scold, "My mistress is the concubine of Prince Jing. You don't even know who my mistress is? It seems you, the young master of the Marquis's mansion, aren't doing so well in the capital..."

"Shut up!" The noblewoman turned around and scolded the maid, her eyes sharp. The maid lowered her head in fear and retreated.

Then, the noblewoman looked at Shen Huaizhi with a kind expression: "I feel an instant connection with you. I don't know why, but seeing you is like seeing my son."

The servant was ignorant, please don't be angry. I'd like to talk to you sometime...

Shen Huaizhi didn't know what this person meant, but since she was Prince Jing's concubine, he couldn't afford to offend her, so he could only give her a few perfunctory replies.

Su Jinyue was shocked. The concubine of Prince Jing was the same concubine Hua from Prince Jing's entourage that she had met at the city gate!

Su Jinyue was prone to overthinking, especially after hearing what Consort Hua said to Shen Huaizhi, which made her even more inclined to ponder.

Song Zhihua, who faked his death by self-immolation in the palace eighteen years ago, threw Shen Huaizhi into the Xuanping Marquis's mansion and then disappeared without a trace.

What kind of person could disappear so completely? Someone must be covering it up.

If the person who provided cover for Song Zhihua was Prince Jing, Tang Jingfan, then it makes sense.

Song Zhihua, Shen Mingze, and Tang Jingfan were of similar age, childhood sweethearts, and all supporters of the then Crown Prince Tang Jinxuan.

Shen Mingze is in love with Song Zhihua so much that he is willing to sacrifice his reputation and even acknowledge her as his illegitimate child.

It's also possible that Tang Jingfan fell deeply in love with Song Zhihua, and even though Song Zhihua had become his brother's concubine, he remained devoted to her.

Tang Jingfan was a member of the royalist party, so Emperor Xinghe naturally wouldn't be too wary of him. It's understandable that he had some people in the palace and could help Song Zhihua escape.

No wonder the Song family is gone, but Song Zhihua is still safe and sound. It turns out that she was protected by Prince Jing. So the reason she hasn't been found all these years is that she changed her name and entered Prince Jing's mansion as Prince Jing's concubine.

If that's the case, then everything will go smoothly.

But Song Zhihua's charm is just too great; she's managed to bewitch one or two people completely.

Su Jinyue thought about many things, and when she came back to her senses, she and Shen Huaizhi had already returned to their seats in the banquet hall.

Su Jinyue looked up and saw that almost all the court officials had arrived in the main hall. The seats for Prince Jing and his concubine were still empty, and Emperor Xinghe and several concubines had not yet arrived.

Since she had nothing else to do at the moment, Su Jinyue leaned closer to Shen Huaizhi and told him what she had just discovered.

Shen Huaizhi frowned: "You suspect that Prince Jing's concubine is Song Zhihua?"

“Hmm,” Su Jinyue nodded, and then continued, “Her attention to you is unusual, and there are not many people who know your true identity now. Therefore, it is not difficult to guess her identity.”

Moreover, she is now Prince Jing's concubine, and whether Prince Jing is loyal to Emperor Xinghe or a traitor is debatable.

Following Su Jinyue's train of thought, Shen Huaizhi's expression also darkened.

It is already established that the Song family is of royal blood from the previous dynasty, so the Song family's purpose in sending Song Zhihua into the palace was not pure.

Tang Jingfan was even more outrageous. Knowing full well that Song Zhihua was Emperor Xinghe's concubine, he actually switched the roles and made Emperor Xinghe's Consort De his own concubine!

Tang Jingfan couldn't possibly be unaware of Song Zhihua's identity, yet he still did it anyway, and kept it hidden for so many years.