Before even Shang Fu responded to her, she dragged her daughter away from there, leaving behind a clueless Emperor. "Did Shang Wei do something illegal in secret and Jingyi covered it up or something?"
Meanwhile, Shang Jiao felt her mother's grip was quite tight. She didn't expect that a 6-circle realm Spirit Warrior like her couldn't get free. Maybe, it has to do with her weak physique?
Whatever the case, Lan Jingyi is in control, and eventually, they reach an underground storage room in the inner quarters while sending the two guards away. The room was neat with paintings and mysterious sealed boxes around.
After locking the door, Lan Jingyi sharply stared at her daughter who was rubbing her wrist turned red due to the former's tight grip.
"Don't you understand that your father is there?" She started scolding her right away. "What if he finds out? What should we answer? How should he react to the truth? Do you have any idea what will happen?"
Shang Jiao replied with a question in return, "Brother Wei isn't a stranger but my half-brother born from the servant, isn't he?"
Lan Jingyi was stunned at her question, "Who told you that?"
"So, it is true," said the princess as she discovered a trace of panic on her mother's face. She continued, "Father violated her under the influence of alcohol and you covered up his sin, wasn't it? I heard that it was a common thing for him back then. Then, how many brothers I have that you cover it up, Mother?"
Instead of defending against the accusation, Lan Jingyi grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes, asking the same question, "Who told you?"
Shang Jiao didn't cower and stared back into her eyes without an ounce of respect, "You lied to me that a servant had abducted my brother and you had to replace him with another baby that was born on the same day out of fear of your insecurity. I believed you. To this date, I was really trying to get close to him and tell the truth to bring him back home.
But, I never imagined even in my dreams that you would manipulate me into thinking that you are on the good side. I…"
As Shang Jiao continued to rattle on, Lan Jingyi's face turned ice-cold as she asked her for the final time while interrupting her, "I ask again, Who… told… you? And where did you hear this?"
Maybe, it is fear or maybe, it is something else. Shang Jiao didn't know what happened to her but she could no longer speak further after seeing her mother's face. She was frozen for a moment before answering, "A while ago, two people came into the store…"
More than an hour ago, Genesis Store;
After Mark escorted both of the guests upstairs, Shang Jiao, who was bored without any work, had a thought.
She informed Song Yue, "sister Yue, I'm wondering whether to ask Owner Lu whether I could use the training ground for her free time to master Chimera SGM. Think he'll agree?"
Song Yue simply smiled in response, "It won't hurt to ask."
"Okay, I'll go and ask right away. They must not have started their important discussion anyway." She then rushed upstairs to ask her brother's permission. Allen and Alina didn't stop her because it isn't like she was restricted to go upstairs. If Alina had an idea who they are and what kind of discussion might happen between her master and the guests, she would have stopped her.
As a result, Shang Jiao reached the upstairs residence without any hindrance. Just as she was about step inside, she heard the old man say, "Well, your mother wasn't just a maid of Lan Jingyi. She had a special relationship with the Emperor."
That powerful line made her stop right there and hear the rest of the story in secret.
Shang Jiao didn't get to hear the complete story. She could only bear to hear up to where the old man said that the Empress or Yuan might be behind the death of Yi Zexi and Lu Yimu, her brother's adopted parents.
After that, she rushed away from the store after giving some poor excuse that she had something to do at home.
Neither she knows who they are nor does she know why their aim is. However, she was aware that her mother lied to her and her brother knew the fact that he was born an Imperial Prince. How? Probably from his adopted mother or through his master. Only he knows.
Suddenly, her brother's enmity with the noble clans made sense to the princess.
However, those things no longer matter because, for Shang Jiao, her father might look like a coward who always looks for peaceful solutions but still, he was her hero. And her mother who always punishes her appeared like someone with real discipline.
She highly respected both of them and suddenly, the image she built up for more than a decade was shattered in a moment. How could a teenager like Shang Jiao control her emotions?
Back to the present;
As the princess finished the tale she knew, the Queen consort turned furious. Even though Shang Jiao never told the name, it was clear to her mother.
Lan Jingyi clenched her fist and growled in anger, "Lan Jing…"
Shang Jiao was taken aback by surprise, "Lan?"
Lan Jingyi then closed eyes her for a while and then opened with a calm expression, "Look my daughter, I won't lie this time. Whatever you heard was true. But, at the moment, neither you are in a mood nor you are old enough to understand the complexity of the situation. Go to your room and meditate for a couple of minutes.
By the time you calm down, I will come and visit you and explain everything in detail that you fail to understand. Okay? Now, go… Please do a favor for me and keep it from your father, at least for now."
Once her mother turned gentle, Shang Jiao no longer felt that mental suppression and thought that she will give some random excuses to justify her actions. She scoffed in response, "Whatever you say, how will I be sure that you won't lie again? Anyway, I would really love to hear what you have to say that can change my mind."
Shang Jiao walked away from the storage room and proceeded to leave her room as her mother wished. However, Lan Jingyi didn't follow her. In fact, she wasn't even there in the room and disappeared as if there was a secret exit.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the sky above the outer sector of the Imperial city, a pair of winged horses were flying at a normal pace as other birds.
Lan Jing was having a smile on his face while feeling that his mission is half-successful. On the other hand, his disciple doesn't appear that enthusiastic.
Taking a glance at his disciple's face, he asked, "What's the matter, Xiao Cheng."
The disciple replied, "I know that it's not my place to question your decisions but master, don't you think that we have been scammed by this Lu Zhen? Ten thousand gold coins… it is no way a small number."
Lan Jing shook his head with a smile, "It is a small price. Once you step inside our sect when I return, you'll understand why these ether crystals are nothing but worthless stones. In fact, they are formed by the fossils of the beasts sent by…"
*neigh* neigh*
The winged horses neighed in surprise and stopped moving forward while Lan Jing's face stiffened as a woman in a black robe and a hood suddenly appeared before them.
Her face appeared to be hidden by the large hood but the fact that she was floating in the air while blocking their route is something that can't be taken lightly.
It was then a familiar voice escaped from the person, "It seems like you really don't know what's good for you, Lan Jing."
"Huh?" Lan Jing was visibly surprised as he called out the person's name, "Jingyi?"
"Eh? Queen Consort Lan?" Li Cheng was even more surprised by the name. He thought that she was a civilian. But now, she is flying?
Meanwhile, the person in the black robe didn't lower down the hood and continued to speak, "I already told you that you are no longer a family and yet, you dare interfere in my family matters."
Before Lan Jing even had the opportunity to reply, the hooded figure charged forward and reached him in a blink of an eye, and grabbed his throat before throwing him down to the ground.
