HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 550: Identity Revealed

Chapter 550: Identity Revealed

Xiao Changtai’s brows furrowed. After years of marriage, he knew his wife well – her attitude and reactions showed she had solid evidence before questioning him this way.

“I… just wanted revenge on Xiao Huayong,” Xiao Changtai’s face showed hatred and resentment. “Our current situation is all because of him…”

“Slap!”

Before Xiao Changtai could finish, Ye Wantang struck his face with all her might. Hot tears burst from her eyes. Her hand remained frozen in mid-air, maintaining the striking position but trembling uncontrollably – her entire body shaking.

Disappointment, pain, and regret intertwined in her eyes as her lips quivered: “Even now, you show no remorse, pushing all blame onto others. Your current situation is entirely self-inflicted – it’s because you overestimated yourself, ambitious yet faced with a stronger opponent. He is the Crown Prince, the legitimate heir, rightfully meant to inherit the throne. As a concubine’s son, you sought to steal his position, yet couldn’t accept his counterattack?

Having lost the struggle, and being less capable, you’re still full of hatred. You even forgot your ancestors, forgot the Han blood in your veins, forgot the humiliation when the Turks trampled Central Plains, treating our Han sons as prey and our Han daughters as objects of lust – yet you willingly joined them!

Unworthy of being a Han son, you’re unworthy of being my husband, I, Ye Wantang!”

Her fierce condemnation cut like knives straight to the heart. Xiao Changtai’s eyes turned bloodshot: “You finally regret it, don’t you?”

“Yes, I regret it! I regret not seeing it sooner!” Ye Wantang’s tears fell like rain. “When I married you, my grandfather was still alive. He said you were still a prince – how could I not understand his meaning? But I still married you without hesitation. Priceless treasures are easy to find, but true love is rare.

I’ll never forget that day when bees swarmed everywhere. You shielded me underneath you, your body swollen red from stings, yet still joked to make me laugh. I knew then you were the one I wanted to marry.”

Wiping tears from her cheeks, Ye Wantang gazed deeply at Xiao Changtai: “You deceived me again and again, using my feelings for you to bind me. I’ve been disappointed countless times, but I never regretted marrying you. Today, however, you’ve made me realize that neither love nor deep affection guarantees a life without regrets.”

Over these years, as his bedside companion, how could Ye Wantang not have suspicions, no matter how careful Xiao Changtai was?

But they were already married. With him being a prince and the Crown Prince being weak and likely to die young, having such ambitions – though worrying – seemed understandable to Ye Wantang. She wanted to stay out of politics but couldn’t force him to do the same.

Fortunately, his heart toward her had never wavered. Married for several years, even though they remained childless, he never considered taking a concubine. When others spread vicious rumors about her infertility, he took all the blame upon himself.

His love for her was genuine, and because of this pure devotion, no matter what she learned about him, she couldn’t cut ties with him.

The person she deeply loved could have flaws, could be ambitious, could lose everything, and as long as his heart toward her remained unchanged, she would stay loyal.

Until this moment, she finally understood – it wasn’t just that. She couldn’t accept a traitor to their country, someone who turned to the Turks who had once despised the dignity and lives of the Han people!

“Wanwan…”

“Don’t come near me!” Ye Wantang quickly backed away, her guarded eyes showing traces of disgust.

Disgust!

That trace of disgust caused anger to explode in Xiao Changtai’s chest, rushing to his head. He quickly moved forward, grabbing Ye Wantang’s hand: “You can misunderstand me, blame me, but you cannot feel disgust toward me!”

Ye Wantang began struggling violently: “Let go of me! I forbid you to touch me!”

“Forbid me to touch you? If I want to touch you, you have no right to refuse!” With bloodshot eyes, Xiao Changtai was deeply wounded by Ye Wantang at this moment, his anger transforming into violent rage amid her struggles.

The sounds of things crashing inside the room drifted through the window, accompanied by the woman’s angry then suppressed moans. The gathering clouds in the sky were oppressive and dark, the pattering rain masking all traces.

When Xiao Changtai came to his senses, he had no idea how to face Ye Wantang. Filled with remorse and regret, he crouched by the bed, holding her hand, softly begging for forgiveness. He never imagined there would come a day when he would force himself upon her.

Eyes burning, seemingly out of tears, Ye Wantang withdrew her hand, turning away, unwilling to look at him again.

Xiao Changtai kept watch over Ye Wantang, but she remained like a wooden doll, the light in her eyes completely extinguished. Only after repeated urging from his subordinates did Xiao Changtai reluctantly leave, leaving many people to watch over Ye Wantang.

As soon as Xiao Changtai left, Ye Wantang got up and left the room, ignoring the guards outside. She walked aimlessly, feeling the night wind, standing on the wildly overgrown lawn until daybreak.

No one dared disturb her, no one knew what she was thinking…

Two days later, Shen Xihe received a message about signal flares belonging to her seen outside Tingzhou. Thinking of what she had given Ye Wantang last year, she couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

She decided to head to Tingzhou.

During these two days, Xiao Changtai finally decided to meet with Xiao Juesong. Geng Liangcheng received no further torture in the Turkic camp. He was even given separate accommodation in a tent, coincidentally seen by two commanders who had infiltrated the enemy camp to rescue him.

They saw him drinking and chatting pleasantly with the Turkic Khan.

These two chose to hold their position. Though suspicious, they remembered Geng Liangcheng’s years of meritorious service to the Northwest, thinking perhaps this was just his escape plan.

That night, Geng Liangcheng seemingly escaped with someone’s help, but shortly after his escape, the Turks secretly sent troops to follow him. The two commanders were greatly alarmed.

If Geng Liangcheng successfully returned to Tingzhou city and the gates opened, these Turkic soldiers could launch a surprise attack. With Tingzhou’s defenders unprepared, the city would easily fall!

At this time, Xiao Huayong, disguised as Xiao Juesong, met with Xiao Changtai at their agreed location.

Xiao Changtai looked at the aged Xiao Juesong, his examining gaze unconcealed. After a while, he finally said: “Crown Prince? Heh, should I call you Uncle or Imperial Brother?”

Xiao Huayong looked at him without speaking.

But Xiao Changtai was already certain he was Xiao Huayong: “No Crown Prince Jiachen was attacking the traveling palace – it was all just a scheme by Your Highness to escape His Majesty’s probing. Your Highness entered the Tingzhou Protectorate mansion but was bedridden from excessive fatigue – such tricks might fool others, but not me!”

Upon hearing that Xiao Huayong was lying in the Protectorate mansion, Xiao Changtai knew he must be concealing his true activities. It happened to coincide with Geng Liangcheng wanting to introduce him to Xiao Juesong. He had no evidence, only intuition.

“What does it matter if you saved Geng Liangcheng? He will soon become a traitor who leads the Turks to break into the city!” Xiao Changtai sneered.

Xiao Huayong stopped pretending and used his voice: “Thank you.”

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