Jiapingguan Chronicle

Chapter 2594 Atonement for Crimes 57.0
Jin Miaomiao appeared before everyone at noon on the second day, looking exhausted.

Boss Luan's condition has finally stabilized. Although she is still not fully conscious, her fever has subsided, and her pulse has become much calmer. She no longer needs to be by her side.

After preparing Boss Luan's medicine and exchanging a few more words with Ying Er, Jin Miaomiao prepared to leave.

However, before going back, she went to see Mrs. Luan next door. Boss Luan had suddenly fallen ill, and Mrs. Luan was very anxious.

Although the couple had long been estranged, Mrs. Luan still hoped that Mr. Luan would be alright for her own benefit.

Therefore, she was also very worried when Boss Luan fell ill.

Jin Miaomiao went over to Madam Luan and explained Boss Luan's current situation to her in detail, telling her not to worry, as the situation had improved and Boss Luan's life had been saved.

"Thank you so much, Lord Jin, for saving my life! He hadn't been sick for many years, but this illness came on so suddenly and violently that I was quite worried."

Madam Luan bowed respectfully to Jin Miaomiao. Although she had been imprisoned for many days, she looked much better than when she first entered. Perhaps only during this time had her heart truly found peace.

"No need to thank me." Jin Miaomiao glanced at Madam Luan. "Are you worried about him because...you still have feelings for him?"

“Lord Jin, couples in this world are not only bound by feelings, but also by their own interests.” Madam Luan gently shook her head at Jin Miaomiao. “Over the years, our interests have long been intertwined. If he dies now, it will be detrimental to me in every way.”

"How could that be? He knows, and you should know too, shouldn't you?" Jin Miaomiao thought for a moment and said, "You and your husband."

"That's not the case."

"why?"

"Lord Jin, the Qinglian Sect has a strict hierarchy. The closer you are to the core, the more rules there are, and the less information you have. Once you inquire about things you shouldn't, there's only one outcome: being completely eliminated by the main family." Madam Luan sighed. "Leaving aside others—I haven't seen any others—just compare our Liu family with the Luan family and the already destroyed Ning family. The Luan family is closer to the person behind the scenes than our Liu family and the Ning family, the so-called 'master' you mentioned. What he knows, we and the Ning family know nothing about. We are just following orders, not allowed to ask questions, not allowed to contradict, otherwise, we will face annihilation."

"So, Madam has never seen the people behind the scenes?"

"Of course not. Given my status, he probably wouldn't even know who I am." Madam Luan thought for a moment. "No, he might know me, but only as the daughter of the Liu family and the wife of the Luan family, nothing more."

"Really?"

"Of course it's true. Having come this far, how could I possibly lie?" Madam Luan smiled faintly at Jin Miaomiao's expression and said, "Lord Jin, I understand your distrust of me because of His Highness. After all, I was the one who abandoned His Highness and broke off the engagement when he was in his most difficult time. I accept your complaints. I don't want to defend myself, but there's something I need to make clear." "What is it?"

"Lord Jin, in this world, not everyone can decide their own life, nor can everyone decide who they marry. Even someone as noble as His Majesty the Emperor probably cannot make his own decisions, right?" Seeing Jin Miaomiao nod slightly, Madam Luan gave a bitter smile and said, "Let alone someone as ordinary as me? My engagement with His Highness was arranged by the late Empress Dowager and my father and brothers. When I found out, the marriage was already set in stone and could not be changed. I could only passively accept it and had no right to object."

"Madam Luan, there's something I'm hesitant to say." Seeing Madam Luan make a gesture, Jin Miaomiao thought for a moment and said, "Do you dislike His Highness Prince Ning?"

"Really? I still like you, whether in the past or now. If I could choose for myself, I would still choose Your Highness."

Even if His Highness has become like this?

"Lord Jin, do you think His Highness was in good health when I first met him? He was as frail as a willow in the breeze, more delicate than a woman. That was His Highness back then." Madam Luan looked at Jin Miaomiao. "Lord Jin should know that my father and brother originally served in the Imperial Academy and the Ministry of Revenue, with low official ranks. It was only because of the late Empress Dowager's promotion that they were in their current positions. But even back then, we had no connection whatsoever with the Prince Ning's residence. When His Highness Prince Ning was choosing a principal wife, those of our background were not within the selection criteria."

“That’s true.” Jin Miaomiao nodded. “Most of the candidates for princess consort are from ordinary, respectable families; daughters of officials are generally not considered.”

“However, the late Empress Dowager wanted to place her own eyes and ears around Prince Ning, which is why she chose me. At that time, Prince Ning had not yet committed any major mistakes and was still a prince at the height of his power. Although he was physically weak, he was handsome and approachable, and many young ladies in Xijing City secretly admired him.” Madam Luan paused for a moment, then smiled at Jin Miaomiao. “From any perspective, in this marriage, His Highness suffered a loss, and I benefited, right?”

"Madam Luan is quite beautiful, and His Highness was very fond of her back then. Why belittle yourself?"

“But standing next to His Highness, don’t I pale in comparison? It took me a long time to get used to this difference.”

"Does Madam not like it?"

"Looking back now, it's not a big deal, but when I was young, I couldn't learn to ignore what others were saying, and it did make me feel awkward."

"Your Highness didn't notice?"

"Don't rush, let me explain slowly." Madam Luan smiled and said, "After the marriage was arranged, the late Empress Dowager and my father and brothers strongly advocated that we should cultivate our relationship, meet more often, and get to know each other. So, in the following two years, we went from just going out for walks at the beginning to being able to have heart-to-heart talks, from being anxious at the beginning to being able to face His Highness calmly. Throughout the whole process, His Highness guided me slowly. He told me not to care about others and just be myself."

"So, you've fallen for him?"

“His Highness is witty, humorous, and understanding. He is very respectful to girls. If you have frequent contact with him, it’s hard for any girl in the world not to be moved.” Madam Luan nodded. “I did fall in love with him. I originally had no hope for this marriage, but later I started to look forward to what it would be like after we got married. Just when I was overjoyed to marry the person I loved, something unexpected happened.”