Chapter 5: The True and False Heiresses

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Liu Yuanqing furrowed his brows, glancing at Steward Yan beside him, and whispered, "Who let her out?"

Steward Yan wore a puzzled expression. "Perhaps Miss has some urgent matter?"

Liu Yuanqing picked up a book from the desk and gave Steward Yan a look. "Let her return first."

Steward Yan nodded and bowed, stepping back toward the study door. "The Prime Minister is currently handling urgent official documents. It’s bitterly cold outside; Miss, please return for now..."

"My daughter indeed has an important matter to report to her father!"

As the heavy door curtain was lifted, a petite figure slipped into the study, bringing some of the raging wind and snow from outside along with her.

"Miss!"

Steward Yan’s eyes fixed on the newcomer’s face, unable to look away. "You..."

"Yu’er!" Liu Yuanqing put down the book, ready to reprimand Liu Mingyu for her discourtesy, but was unable to suppress his astonishment. "You look—so alike! Absolutely identical!"

Before him stood Xia Qiqi, bearing an uncanny resemblance to his legitimate daughter, Liu Mingyu.

Only now, with the pregnancy rounding Mingyu’s face slightly.

What baffled him even more was that the few words Xia Qiqi had just spoken—even he, her own father, hadn’t been able to tell them apart.

Mimicking Liu Mingyu’s usual bearing and demeanor, Xia Qiqi offered a graceful bow to Liu Yuanqing. "Daughter is about to journey to Jin City to complete her marriage. Father, please prepare a generous dowry."

Liu Yuanqing nodded. "The dowry will not be lacking. For now, you and Yu’er are only similar in appearance; you still lack the true essence. Steward Yan has already arranged for the matrons to train you. They will also teach you the wedding rites and imperial customs."

Xia Qiqi suddenly recalled the bowl of fish soup and felt a stir in her heart. "Has the wedding date been set?"

She was eager to leave the Prime Minister’s mansion as soon as possible; perhaps on the journey she might find a chance to escape this crafty old fox.

Before he knew she had never actually drunk that bowl of fish soup!

Liu Yuanqing nodded. "The wedding is set for the eighth day of next month. The journey to Jin City will take eight or nine days, so your time here for training is only about ten days."

"Very well." Xia Qiqi’s face brightened as she bowed respectfully to Liu Yuanqing. "It is late; this servant takes her leave."

Liu Yuanqing waved her off, then turned to Steward Yan with a stern command, "No one is to approach the Peony Pavilion without permission. Anyone who disobeys will be killed!"

Steward Yan bowed deeply. "Yes, sir!"

"While studying in the Peony Pavilion, Xia Qiqi must keep her face covered with a black veil and not leave the pavilion even a step!"

"Yes!"

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...

The Peony Pavilion.

Outside, the wind and snow raged fiercely, but inside, the scene was warm and enchanting.

"On the wedding night, Miss must not be too forward."

"One must act with the restraint befitting a noble lady, lest the husband look down upon her."

The instructing matron stood to Xia Qiqi’s left, pointing toward the large red silk canopy across the room where two entwined figures lay, patiently explaining every detail.

Dressed in a bridal robe and veil, Xia Qiqi sat upright in a soft chair, hands folded demurely before her, eyes lowered.

Though the faces behind the canopy were obscured, their somewhat exaggerated movements made Xia Qiqi’s cheeks flush and her heart race.

Good heavens!

These two must be following the matron’s instructions even in such intimate acts—how could they find any pleasure?

Modern medical doctor Xia Qiqi was deeply skeptical.

Unable to bear direct observation, she simply lowered her gaze and pretended to listen.

"Miss, please look up carefully, so you do not embarrass yourself on your wedding night," the matron whispered gently. "This instruction is indispensable for a woman marrying into the imperial family."

"Ahem... Matron, I have already learned all this. Can we end here today?" Xia Qiqi’s eyes darted nervously, afraid the matron would force her to continue watching.

"Miss, in just a few days, you will depart with the wedding procession. I, your humble servant, cannot accompany you to Jin City," the matron said with a furrowed brow and gentle tone.

"I fear you have not studied earnestly, and may fail on your wedding night. If you displease your future husband, the blame will be mine!"

Although the Prime Minister’s daughter was indeed of noble birth, the man she was to marry was the notoriously distant and irritable Prince of Jin!

If the young lady were rejected due to poor preparation, the matron’s reputation would be utterly ruined!

"A noble lady knowing too much on her wedding night might not be a good thing," Xia Qiqi said, standing and moving toward the door.

The matron was momentarily speechless and found no retort, so she did not stop her.

Xia Qiqi left the instruction chamber and slowly walked toward the front hall of the Peony Pavilion.

She had been confined in the instruction room for three whole days, forced not only to learn all kinds of bizarre rituals but also to memorize a voluminous roster of the Prime Minister’s household. She was truly on the verge of internal injury from suppression.

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Most importantly, though Xia Qiqi’s extraordinary memory allowed her to force herself to remember all these rules and rituals, her heart did not accept them at all. She wondered how much of this she could truly accomplish on her wedding day.

Alas!

To be a noble lady in the ancient world was so stifling!

"Would you like to take a walk in the garden to clear your mind?" Chun Tao, sensing her frustration, offered.

Before beginning formal lessons, Xia Qiqi had asked Steward Yan to assign Chun Tao as her personal maid.

At first, Steward Yan objected, fearing that another person knowing the truth might complicate matters, but he finally relented under Xia Qiqi’s insistence.

Chun Tao must have had countless questions about Xia Qiqi’s situation but had never uttered a single one.

That was precisely why Xia Qiqi liked her.

"The weather is too cold; let’s return to the bedchamber to warm up."

Xia Qiqi’s current body was quite sensitive to the cold; her hands and feet felt icy. Though she had taken plenty of nourishing soup and medicine, there was no improvement.

It made her suspect that the original owner, before losing her memory, was also a noble lady from a wealthy family.

Before they could enter the hall, a maid came to deliver a message: Steward Yan insisted Xia Qiqi must go to the Orchid Retreat at once—Miss wanted to see her!

Xia Qiqi felt uneasy.

When Steward Yan had taken her to the Peony Pavilion, he had said she was not allowed to enter or leave without the Prime Minister’s orders and must not be seen by Liu Mingyu.

The reason was that Liu Yuanqing had not yet revealed the substitution to Liu Mingyu, fearing that seeing someone who looked so identical might cause trouble.

But only three days had passed—why suddenly send her to see Liu Mingyu?

Could it be that Liu Yuanqing had already confronted Liu Mingyu?

Xia Qiqi suddenly remembered that since the day Xiao Ai warned her the fish soup was poisoned, she had not seen it again and wondered if that cat was still at the Orchid Retreat.

A bad premonition stirred in her heart.

The maid nodded, then turned to Chun Tao. "The storm outside is worsening. I will accompany this young lady to the Orchid Retreat; you remain here in the Peony Pavilion."

Unexpectedly, Chun Tao’s expression changed drastically, her eyes filled with fear.

"Miss, you absolutely must not go to the Orchid Retreat!"