So, it’s better to take my hand. Otherwise, you won’t be able to preserve the Empress’s position for long. Eventually, when that child comes, you will lose that position.>
The moment I read his letter, I sensed it. The Crown Princess is alive. And for Liandro, the Crown Princess was a weakness.
‘Is that why he showed no particular opinion about raising Liandro to the position of Crown Prince or Emperor? After all, he holds a weakness in Liandro.’
“Interesting.”
In my heart, I wanted to tear up this letter full of nonsense. But it was valuable evidence. So, I put it back into the envelope and placed it in my bosom.
“Empress Mama, are you okay?”
“Yes, is there a problem?”
Cherti shook her head nervously and tried to smile. But not long after, when I saw the reflection in the mirror, I could understand what she had asked me.
It was a truly ugly face. Abnormally prominent cheekbones and lips raised on only one side. It was an expression that was obviously not okay.
“Why is my face like this… Ah, Cherti. When the children wake up, will you take care of the meal? I’m going to the library for a moment. I need to bring some books for afternoon study.”
“Yes.”
She finished styling my hair, and I headed to the royal library.
Just in case, I wondered if Huang Duoju had found out something during that time, and it was also to bring new books for the children.
“No, how can I find out in these few days.”
“The library has been too stagnant. Even though it’s said to automatically bring in new books, nowadays, people don’t write books.”
“It’s disappointing. I thought he was quite competent.”
As if the words were a trigger, Huang Duoju vented his frustration.
“These guys living in the present don’t write books for knowledge transfer! Even those competent ones don’t write books for posterity. Tsk, tsk.”
“Ultimately, there seems to be no solution at the moment.”
“There’s probably no way other than killing the spell caster… but that can’t be done, right?”
“I don’t want to commit murder.”
“There’s no other way to break the magic without dismantling it with a stronger one… Well…”
“Hmm…”
I might have to ask Sehelus for help with this problem too.
“There’s probably no other way.”
“Look for one. I’ll try to find one, but… breaking it with a stronger magic seems to be the best way.”
“Thank you. Well, I’ll be going. The children are waiting.”
“Alright then. You should hurry back, ah…”
For some reason, today he seemed eager to send me away, as he quickly waved his hand. Although his actions felt a bit uncomfortable, considering that the children were waiting, I took out a few books and returned.
An ordinary day, much like any other.
The only difference was the visit of Sehelus and Merquin again, along with Caritos and Heaven. Rodel, who had recovered, also spent his time playing with the children.
If there was a change from before, it was that Sehelus, who brought Merquin, left first, saying he had something to do. He quickly disappeared, and inevitably, I ended up having tea with Caritos alone.
“Caritos.”
“Yes.”
“Are all orphanages affiliated with the temple?”
“That’s right.”
“Then, is it possible for a child not reported to the orphanage to exist?”
Since Sehelus had mentioned that orphanages were affiliated with the temple and couldn’t perform any actions towards the orphanage children, Caritos firmly nodded.
“No. There are no children not reported to the orphanage. Representatives from the temples visit each orphanage unannounced quite frequently. If they are discovered, the orphanage itself faces a suspension, so even children who come and go temporarily report to the temple every three days.”
“Then, can you help me find someone from the past? If it’s that thorough, the person should have been reported.”
“Someone?”
Looking at him tilting his head, I recalled the orphanage director.
Why did she become the director of the orphanage?
If it was the child of a princess, her family would have been a prominent one. Why would such a person suddenly open an orphanage?
Children entering the palace through a princess’s childbirth would usually enter to establish connections with higher nobility unless there was nothing unusual. However, the orphanage director, who claimed to be the child of a princess, was reluctant to speak about the princess after undergoing an investigation by the current emperor following the disappearance incident. After that, she vowed not to speak about the princess again. It was quite strange for her to become the director afterward.
In a society where status comes first, not obeying the orders of the current emperor meant she had quite a powerful backer.
“Who are you looking for?”
Seeing him smiling and shaking his head, I thought about the orphanage director.
It was odd for her to become the youngest orphanage director. There must be something behind it.
As Emperor Laheel spoke as if he knew something, and the orphanage director, who declared not to speak about the princess after the investigation, wasn’t following the emperor’s orders and didn’t even come to the palace by the emperor’s command. In a society where social status took precedence, not obeying the emperor’s orders meant she had a powerful supporter.
“Who are you looking for?”
“The princess.”
“Ah, the missing princess. The emperor also thought that the princess might have come to the orphanage, so an investigation was conducted… But…”
“I’m looking for the princess, but what I want to investigate is precisely about all the children who entered the orphanage where the current director is. All the children who entered before and after the princess disappeared.”
“Do you have any suspicions?”
“Many.”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
