Chapter 23: The True and False Lady
The second prince Yuan Lang is well-known in the court. In addition, the crown prince is weak, and he is the son of the imperial concubine. He has made military achievements in the recapture of Baicheng and has been praised for taking care of the loyal and brave orphans of the Tang family. Now, he is in a very prosperous period in the court.
At this moment, he was sitting alone in the study, staring blankly at a portrait spread out on the desk under a solitary lamp.
An hour ago, A Lian came to report that Miss Tang had a nightmare during her nap. She dreamed that her father and brother died tragically. When she woke up, she felt chest tightness and shortness of breath, so she asked him to come over and take a look.
When Yuan Lang passed by, Miss Tang tearfully told him about her loneliness and helplessness, and how she missed her father and brother. He was always humble and polite, and he did not change his gentle nature when comforting the young lady: "Miss, please live in the mansion with peace of mind, just as if you have returned to your own home. If any servant is negligent, let A Lian report to me, and I will punish you severely! I know that you miss your father and brother. When you are well, I will accompany you to Baoguo Temple. Many families in Beijing have offered eternal lamps in Baoguo Temple to pray for the dead."
"I know that the young lady is sad, but you must also consider your own health. You can't let the heroic spirit sleep in the underground? I heard that Marshal Tang loves the young lady very much. I think he also hopes that the young lady will have a healthy and smooth life in the future. The young lady must not worry too much and must take good care of herself..."
The distinguished and handsome man coaxed her with soft words, and he never missed her pulse every day. When he heard that she had chest tightness, the doctor in the mansion was always on standby, and he hurried over to take her pulse. She didn't even dare to breathe in front of him, and only said, "Miss, you worry too much, and you have many dreams. If you keep doing this for a long time, you may lose your health."
She half leaned in A Lian's arms, half of her handkerchief was wet, and she just kept crying and sobbing: "If it weren't for your pity, I would have been buried in the ground long ago. I also want to repay your kindness and get better soon, but my body is not strong enough, and I can't help it..."
The second prince made a wish, and his thoughtfulness was not matched by many men: "Miss, you are a sentimental person. It is normal for you to miss your father and brother. Don't blame yourself too much. When spring comes and flowers bloom, everything will be fine. Then I will take you to enjoy the flowers..."
"I just hope I can wait until that day..."
Yuan Lang followed the doctor out to change the prescription, and discussed as they walked: "As long as it can make Miss Tang get better as soon as possible, no matter what kind of herbs, even if it is ginseng, ganoderma lucidum, or snow lotus bird's nest, no matter how expensive the herbs are, as long as they are not available in the mansion, I will go to the palace to ask for them for Miss Tang, so that she can get better as soon as possible..."
The doctor said, "Your Highness, don't worry. Miss Tang has been depressed for a long time. Many doctors have come to see her, but she is a person who worries too much..."
Ah Lian accompanied her to the door until their footsteps faded away, and even the voices discussing Miss Tang's illness could no longer be heard. Then she returned to the inner room, her eyes full of joy: "Congratulations, Miss! The Second Prince cares a lot about you. If you cry a few more times, maybe this marriage will be possible..."
The frail girl half leaning against the head of the bed finally stopped crying and ordered her: "Hurry up and help me get a handkerchief to cover my face. If you keep crying, I might cry my eyes blind before I marry the Second Prince!" It was Tang Ying, the daughter of Lieutenant General Tang Shu.
On the day Tang Shu died in battle, she went to the Marshal's Mansion to ask Tang Ying for help, and was escorted out of the city by Tang Ying and the people of the Tang Mansion. Later, Tang Ying returned to the city to look for her father, and the people of the Tang family stayed behind to cover them. When they were taken away from Baicheng by the refugees, they found that only she and the other two were left to help them escape.
After receiving the news that Baicheng had been recaptured, the two returned to Baicheng, but found that the gate of Tang Mansion was heavily guarded. When they saw someone approaching, they asked about their identities and origins.
Ah Lian said, "This is Miss Tang." Before she finished her next words, the guards' faces changed and their attitude became much more polite: "Please wait a moment, we will report to His Highness."
Then, they met His Royal Highness the Second Prince.
The elegant prince came out of the palace in person to greet her. When he saw Tang Ying, he turned his head to look behind her, but there was no one else but A Lian who was supporting her. He then said hesitantly, "Are you Miss Tang...?" No one noticed his surprise at that moment, and they just thought he wanted to confirm the identity of the woman in front of him.
All the servants of the Tang family have been loyal to their country, but in such a huge mansion, there is not even a living servant who can confirm the identity of the woman in front of him.
Tang Ying's feet were rubbed raw while fleeing. At this moment, she was supported by A Lian. She looked dishevelled and in a state of extreme embarrassment. She could only nod when she saw the dignified man who looked like a god. A Lian testified beside her, "It was Miss Tang."
All the staff and subordinates who accompanied him on the expedition came over upon hearing the news. The second prince's voice was filled with endless self-blame and regret: "It's all my fault that I came too late. That's why Marshal Tang died for his country and Miss Tang suffered this disaster."
Everyone tried to comfort Yuan Lang: "How can it be your fault that Baicheng was not defended? Your Highness worked tirelessly to recapture Baicheng and save the people of this city from danger. How can you blame yourself because Marshal Tang and his son died in the battle? Now that you have found Miss Tang, please take good care of her."
Yuan Lang bowed deeply to her with a guilty look on his face, and said in a hoarse voice: "Anyway, it's all my fault!"
Tang Ying watched helplessly as the handsome and gentle prince bowed to her. She was almost at a loss as to what to do. A word got stuck in her throat but she suddenly couldn't utter it.
She wanted to say: I am not Miss Tang Ying, the daughter of Marshal Tang, I am just the daughter of General Tang Shu.
She opened her mouth and tears fell silently like rain in an instant.
A Lian supported her and suddenly realized something at this moment.
Tang Ying was like the little sun of the Tang family. She had been loved by the Marshal and the Major General since she was a child. Even the servants in the mansion loved her very much, not to mention followers like Yu An.
They escaped from the White City, but the young lady turned back to the city to look for her master.
If she were still alive, she would have appeared in the Tang Mansion long ago. Why hasn't she appeared yet?
A'lian was panicking and asked in a trembling voice, "Where is General Yu?" The two had been playing together since they were young and were almost always by each other's side. If Yu An was there, he would know the whereabouts of the young lady.
An aide to the Second Prince replied in a gentle voice: "General Yu and his son have both served their country loyally. I heard that even the Yu family members have met with misfortune. It is fortunate that Miss Tang can return safely."
A Lian's body swayed twice, and she managed to avoid falling down by holding onto Tang Ying's arm. Tears streamed down her face, but she also understood that Tang Ying might have met with an accident.
She was so sad that she didn't realize that the Second Prince had been .
The several generals in armor surrounding the Second Prince all looked sympathetic to Tang Ying, and some even comforted her: "Miss Tang, please be at ease. Your Highness will make the decision in the future. The bodies of General Tang and General Yu, father and son, have been found, and will be buried so that their loyal souls can rest in peace. Miss, please accept my condolences!"
Tang Ying had been frightened and hungry for days. At this moment, she didn't want to say a word, for fear that she could not control her mouth. She let out a moan and fainted backwards.
In a person's life, there are always many things that are just a matter of one thought.
Ah Lian grew up in the Tang family. Tang Ying was her sky. But now her sky collapsed, just like a piece of driftwood hugged by the vast water. She was knocked down by Tang Ying and shouted for some unknown reason: "Miss, wake up quickly..."
From that day on, Tang Ying became the apple of Marshal Tang's eye, rather than the daughter of Lieutenant General Tang Shu.
The Second Prince invited a doctor from the army to take her pulse and nurse her back to health. Seeing that it was not a doctor from the city, Tang Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief. When no one was around, she grabbed A Lian's wrist and refused to let go: "What should I do? I was confused at the time. Why didn't you explain to the Second Prince?"
She actually knew very well in her heart that she had nothing after her father died in the war.
Although the daughter of Lieutenant General Tang Shu and Marshal Tang's daughter are both orphans of loyal heroes, their identities are very different.
