Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback

Si Yao’s lips curled into an eerie smile as she glanced back at Ye Xiuhan.

"General Ye, I’m weary and wish to return to the hostel."

Yesterday, she kept vigil for Emperor Xuanwu and stayed at the palace overnight, but she could not remain there today.

"Yes." Ye Xiuhan followed her at a measured distance.

Si Yao spoke as she walked, "General Ye, are you well acquainted with my Imperial Aunt?"

Ye Xiuhan understood that Si Yao was deliberately asking. He answered in a manner that best protected Zhan Lan, "Not familiar."

Si Yao’s lips curled, "Oh, right, General Ye and my Imperial Aunt even fought a battle once, surely they despise each other!"

"Empress, the alliance between Nanjin and Beiyue has been restored; what is your intention by mentioning this now?"

Ye Xiuhan’s voice was cold, which made Si Yao uncomfortable.

She turned and looked at Ye Xiuhan, "General Ye, accompany me to visit the Imperial Uncle."

Ye Xiuhan nodded lightly.

The two of them arrived together at Si Yuzhang’s residence.

Si Yao left Ye Xiuhan outside and went alone to see Si Yuzhang.

Upon seeing Si Yao’s face, which no longer had its past radiance, Si Yuzhang spoke with a pained heart, "Child, what’s happened to you?"

Si Yao felt wronged, and tears fell as she said, "Uncle, Yaoyao doesn’t want to leave, doesn’t want to return to Beiyue..."

Si Yao recounted her experiences in Beiyue, to which Si Yuzhang angrily exclaimed, "Outrageous! I never thought the emperor of Beiyue would be such a person!"

"Uncle, only you care for Yaoyao now. Please, help me think of a way!"

Si Yuzhang’s eyes shifted, "Uncle surely wants to help you, but now everything in the court is decided by Mu Yan alone. How can I help you?"

Si Yao wiped her tears with a handkerchief, "Uncle, what if we send another for marriage alliance? Or we might as well go to war with Beiyue, even if it means mutual destruction!"

Si Yuzhang, cunningly wise, chuckled, "Wars between nations cannot be declared on a whim. Your father has only one daughter - you - with no one to replace you. Inciting a conflict between Beiyue and Nanjin isn’t entirely without possibilities either."

Si Yao’s eyes shone with excitement, "Uncle, tell me quickly!"

Si Yuzhang lowered his voice, whispering some words into Si Yao’s ear.

Excitedly, Si Yao nodded, while Si Yuzhang advised, "The Crown Prince has awakened, and the new emperor will ascend in three days. Representatives of various nations will surely come to the court then; it won’t be too late to act afterward!"

"Yes!" Si Yao’s eyes lit up. With her uncle joining in the plot, she felt confident she could successfully remain in Nanjin, continuing her status as the Grand Princess!

...

The next morning, after Zhan Lan finished breakfast, she saw Xue Lingling excitedly running over.

"Sister Princess, my brother is back!"

Zhan Lan stuffed a small steamed bun into Xue Lingling’s mouth, "Sit down and eat, and I’ll go have a chat with your brother."

"Alright!" Xue Lingling’s attention returned to the breakfast on the table, and in a flash, the dusty brother she was anxious to see was forgotten.

Zhan Lan met Xue Yifeng in the sitting room. The moment Xue Yifeng saw Zhan Lan, he stood up.

"So, Young Master, did I win the bet?" Zhan Lan confidently asked.

Xue Yifeng nodded, "The cliff did not collapse."

Zhan Lan raised her eyebrow. Well, it seems that not everything aligns perfectly between this life and the previous one.

Nevertheless, she had prepared contingencies. If the cliff hadn’t collapsed, she indirectly gifted the Poisonous Insect Clan with fifty thousand taels of silver. It’s said that taking people’s money leaves you obliged; if the clan leader is wise, he’ll certainly choose to cooperate with her.

Xue Yifeng continued, "Fortunately, we listened to the Princess and relocated to beside the river valley in advance. Trees on the mountain were struck by lightning, igniting a wildfire on the day of the ritual, and then a heavy rain extinguished it. There were indeed signs of the cliff wanting to crack, so my father has forbidden the clan from going up there."

After speaking, Xue Yifeng saluted Zhan Lan, "The Princess’s divination was indeed accurate. My father asked me to extend my gratitude to the Princess, and my father sent some medicinal herbs and poisons to gift to the Princess."

Zhan Lan understood that for those in the Poisonous Insect Clan, giving medicinal herbs and poisons was the best gift.

She glanced in the direction Xue Yifeng was pointing and saw several large boxes. To her, these were gifts unavailable anywhere else in Nanjin.

Zhan Lan smiled slightly, "Thank the Clan Leader, and it’s a blessing that none of your clan members were harmed. As for Xue Lingling’s marriage, what does your father say?"

With some difficulty, Xue Yifeng replied, "My father still wishes for me to take Xue Lingling back to the clan."

Zhan Lan frowned, "Does she still have to marry in the Western Rong?"

Xue Yifeng looked into Zhan Lan’s eyes, firm in his stance, "No, I don’t want Xue Lingling to marry there. I trust what the Princess says, so I wish to help Xue Lingling escape the marriage."

"Princess, can we temporarily stay in the mansion?" Xue Yifeng requested.

"No! Absolutely not!" Suddenly, a voice interrupted their conversation.

Zhan Lan saw Dugu Yan, dressed in a purple gown, about to knock and enter.

Xue Yifeng, dressed in white, avoided Dugu Yan’s gaze. Damn, how is it that she’s always around like a ghost, encountering this enchantress upon returning?

Zhan Lan crossed her arms and asked, "Dugu Yan, what are you up to now?"

Dugu Yan glanced at Xue Yifeng, stammering, "Sister Lan, he’s the Young Master of the Poisonous Insect Clan... it’s inappropriate for a man to live in your mansion!"

Zhan Lan looked Dugu Yan up and down, her eyes lighting up instantly, "You’re right, Xue Lingling sharing with Xiao Tao is fine, but the Young Master is male and that would be inconvenient!"

Dugu Yan breathed a sigh of relief, "Exactly!"

Zhan Lan patted Dugu Yan on the shoulder, "I remember the house I bought you is quite large, and it stands unused. You’re quite masculine, so let the Young Master Xue Yifeng stay next door to you. Being neighbors, you can look out for each other!"

"No!" Xue Yifeng and Dugu Yan both spoke in unison.

Zhan Lan scrutinized the two of them, "What’s the matter with you both? Why such a strong reaction?" ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Dugu Yan, feeling guilty like a thief, said, "There’s a difference between men and women, it’s unsuitable!"

Zhan Lan looked at Dugu Yan suspiciously. Why was she reacting so strongly? Hadn’t she lived with mountain bandits before?

What’s going on now, talking about differences between men and women?

Others saw Dugu Yan as a beautiful and heroic figure, but Zhan Lan saw her as a lecherous person.

This girl didn’t have the opportunity to find a man in the previous life, but in this life, when idle, who knows if she’ll do something outrageous.

Yet, with Dugu Yan disliking Xue Yifeng so much, there’s no problem at all with them being neighbors.

Zhan Lan directed a pressuring gaze at Dugu Yan, "It’s not like you’re living together. Aren’t they separate courtyards?"

Zhan Lan was somewhat displeased; Dugu Yan’s behavior was too stingy in front of guests today.

Dugu Yan noticed Zhan Lan’s displeasure and immediately gave in, reluctantly agreeing, "Then fine!"

Xue Yifeng still protested, "Princess, it’s probably not very appropriate."

"I’ve agreed; what are you being so fussy about!" Dugu Yan retorted angrily.