Chapter 1114: Laughter and Tears

Editor: Henyee Translations

That was what Qiao Xuan loved – she accepted it happily.

The fruits she received were not as tasty as the ones she had grown in her own space, but they were still quite delicious and fresh! The Princess Consort of the Prefecture Lord had sent a low-profile wagon to take her back home, and the coachman was very friendly, even helping to carry down two baskets of fruits.

Liqiu and Lixia were surprised by the amount of fruits Qiao Xuan received. “Madame Shao, you have bought so many fruits! They look so fresh!”

Qiao Xuan smiled and told them, “They are gifts.”

The two girls teased that their Madame must be very popular to receive so many fruits.

Caught between laughter and tears, Qiao Xuan couldn’t believe they were serious. Was she really destined to have a good relationship with people? It seemed unlikely, especially now that the Tian Family was gaining more power; she and Shao Yunduan would not become popular in reality.

Soon, Shao Yunduan returned, and Qiao Xuan shared her story with him. She didn’t mention being set up as no one could deceive her in the mountains. Instead, she told him that she got separated from the madams and ended up saving the young heir of the Prefecture Lord of Anping’s mansion. She also mentioned her visit to the Princess Consort of the Prefecture Lord.

Curious, she asked Shao Yunduan, “Darling, do you know anything about Lord Anping Manor? What kind of family is it?”

The capital was filled with numerous nobles, high-ranking officials, and noble families, making it challenging to keep track of everyone’s background.

Shao Yunduan, being part of the Hanlin Academy, had access to more information than she did. He was well-informed and often heard about various gossips and stories.

Shao Yunduan had heard rumors about the young heir of the Prefecture Lord’s Mansion being mentally damaged, so he decided to inquire further.

Qiao Xuan was taken aback by the revelation. “Oh, it’s their family! I heard that the Prefecture Lord of Anping and the Princess Consort of the Prefecture Lord are both gentle people, and their youngest son is their only offspring. When he was young, he was exceptionally bright, capable of reciting sutras and hundreds of poems at the tender age of three. The Emperor adored him greatly. On one occasion, while accompanying the Prefecture Lord of Anping to the palace, the young heir playfully ate a plate of snacks intended for the Emperor. Tragically, a eunuch beside the Emperor sought to harm him and had secretly poisoned the pastry.”

“Upon the revelation of this secret, the eunuch committed suicide, and numerous palace officials were implicated. Though the young heir’s life was saved, his intelligence suffered irreversible damage, and he could no longer retain his previous brilliance. From that point onward, his mental capacity remained limited for the rest of his life.”

Qiao Xuan sighed, feeling sympathy for the young man.

He appeared so handsome and did not seem to be naturally lacking in intelligence.

It was indeed an unfortunate turn of events.

The Princess Consort of the Prefecture Lord and the Prefecture Lord of Anping must have been devastated when their clever son became mentally damaged overnight.

However, the incident served as a shield for the Emperor, and the couple did not dare to voice any grievances concerning the matter in court.