Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 102

Yan Mingyi’s gaze trembled as she stared fixedly at the figure on the ground. She struggled forward, gently lifting the woman’s chin. Her lips quivered, and a hoarse voice forced out a name.

“Ah Hui… is that you?”

The person before her looked weathered and worn—so unlike the little gluttonous girl she remembered, the one who used to sneak snacks all the time. How did she become like this overnight?

Hui Niang’s tears flowed uncontrollably, her voice choked as she nodded, “Your Highness, it’s me.”

Beside them, Yin Fang’s expression shifted in shock, disbelief flashing in her eyes. Her own eyes reddened gradually.

Yan Mingyi’s gaze lingered on the horrifying half of Hui Niang’s face, sorrow and anger flickering beneath her eyes. Her fingers trembled involuntarily as she bent down and embraced her tightly.

She gritted her teeth so hard they ground together, her eyes suddenly red, “I thought you were dead…”

The Princess Royal, known for her composure and grace, rarely lost her poise like this.

Shen Tangning lowered her gaze at the perfect moment, a trace of emotion flickering through her eyes.

Yan Mingyi struggled to compose herself and helped Hui Niang to her feet. “Yin Fang, take Tangning for a walk outside.”

Shen Tangning knew the two would have many things to talk about now, and as an outsider, it wasn’t her place to stay. She bowed slightly and stepped out quietly.

…

Yin Fang led her outside, still with a faint redness around her eyes, seeming distracted.

Shen Tangning glanced at her discreetly, curiosity getting the better of her. “Auntie, who exactly is Hui Niang?”

Yin Fang paused, her expression complex. She sighed with melancholy, “Well, it won’t hurt to tell you.”

As the heavy toll of temple bells sounded, her gaze drifted into the distance.

“Hui Niang’s real name was Er Ya. She entered the palace at ten years old, originally a kitchen maid in the imperial kitchens. One day, His Highness passed by and saw her being scolded by a nanny. He took her under his wing and bestowed the name Ming Hui.”

Ming Hui was clever and quick-handed, soon transferred to serve directly beside His Highness. Young and innocent, she was cared for by all.

Had fate been kinder, she should have lived a smooth, prosperous life…

A flicker of sorrow crossed Yin Fang’s eyes. “That year, the late emperor fell gravely ill. His Highness personally went to Wanfo Temple to pray for seven days and nights. I went with him. Ming Hui was supposed to go too, but she fell ill with stomach pains and had to stay behind in the palace.”

Shen Tangning’s eyes sharpened. She seemed to know how the story continued.

The princess rushed back to the capital, only to hear the devastating news of the late emperor’s death and the throne passing to the Second Prince!

Overnight, everything reversed. The princess, once the most likely heir, lost not only her beloved father but also the throne—and worse, was left to burn on the political pyre!

There was no family love in the royal court. Remaining in Yanjing meant becoming a thorn in the new emperor’s side—a marked woman whose death could come any day.

So Yan Mingyi retreated, seeking refuge in Buddhism for over a decade.

With the army left by the late emperor and her own connections, the emperor dared not move against her recklessly.

But those lonely years by candlelight and ancient scriptures were filled with bitter pain only she could know.

…

“Ah Hui, who did this to your face?” Yan Mingyi’s expression turned cold, a suspicion forming deep inside.

Though she had secluded herself from the world, she had quietly investigated the events of that year and had gathered some clues.

Hui Niang covered her face, feigning indifference under the concerned gaze. “Your Highness, I did it myself.”

Yan Mingyi’s heart jolted—she did this to herself?

What desperation drove her to destroy her own face?

“What exactly happened after I left the palace?” Yan Mingyi pressed.

She had tried to find out about Hui Niang’s fate, but from the so-called good emperor brother, she heard that Hui Niang was accused of poisoning the late emperor’s food and was executed.

This was one of the reasons the princess was powerless: betrayal within her own household.

The late emperor, Emperor Chongde, could even fabricate charges against her, pinning the crimes of patricide and regicide on her!

But perhaps fearing the secret army behind her, the hidden “Qinlin Guards,” they never went too far.

A flicker of hatred flashed in Hui Niang’s eyes as she clenched her fingers to stay composed, though her shoulders trembled slightly.

“Three days after Your Highness left the palace, an imperial decree came from the Emperor in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. He said he wanted the lotus pastry from Your Highness’s palace.”

The imperial kitchen could also make lotus pastries, but the flavor wasn’t the same—the recipe had been changed by Hui Niang herself.

Since the princess often sent such pastries to the emperor, Hui Niang didn’t suspect anything and personally delivered the pastries.

The emperor looked surprised. “You’re from Mingyi Palace. Why are you here now?”

Hui Niang immediately sensed something wrong. The eerie silence around her made her sweat cold. She prepared to leave.

Just then, news arrived that the Second Prince had arrived.

Hui Niang stepped aside, lowering her head to avoid notice.

What followed was a scene Hui Niang would never forget—

The Second Prince dropped his usual respectful tone and became aggressive. He openly questioned the emperor why the throne was being passed to the princess!

The emperor’s face shifted constantly. The edict had only just been drafted days ago. How did the Second Prince know?! Could there be a spy in the Hall?

“Bastard! Who gave you the courage to speak to me this way?”

The emperor choked in anger, coughing so harshly it was painful. Hui Niang’s heart pounded.

“Seize this traitorous son!”

But the hall remained eerily silent.

Even the emperor and Hui Niang felt it—something was wrong.

The Second Prince was prepared. He produced a new edict, forcing the emperor to amend the decree.

How could the emperor tolerate this?

“Traitor! You’re staging a coup!”

Tension thickened like a drawn sword. Hui Niang’s clothes were soaked with cold sweat as she rapidly searched for a way out.

Suddenly, she bolted for the door, shouting desperately, “Help! The Second Prince is attempting treason!”

She thought her cries would summon the imperial guards—but cold steel met her instead.

Her face went pale as she collapsed to the ground, finally realizing the dire truth.

Without thorough preparation, how could the Second Prince risk such a bold move?

She heard angry roars from inside but couldn’t move, held by two guards with blades at her neck.

Eventually, all fell silent. The Second Prince emerged, impeccably dressed, a twisted smile on his face.

He cast a cold glance at Hui Niang, squinting. “What a good dog. Since that’s the case, you’ll accompany the late emperor in the afterlife.”

“Wait, Your Highness will be here soon.”

Hui Niang felt as if she’d fallen into an ice pit.

“…”