Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Chapter 609: Struggle in the Dark Mud

Murong Zhilan looked at Murong Cheng coldly, "Father, you don't think the honorable Princess Consort of Zhi County would come here to lie just because of your muddled inner palace affairs, do you?"

The Princess of Zhi County curled her lips. "It seems that Lord Murong was deceived for a reason! Enough! I personally rescued Xiang'er. At that time, Xiang'er was scarred and emaciated. She was on the verge of death several times in that manor for just over half a year. If it weren't for me helping her, do you think you would still be able to see your daughter? Lord Murong doesn't think I came to your doorstep specifically to frame this bitch, right?"

Ji's eyes rolled back and she was about to faint on the ground. The maids on both sides of her held her up tightly. At this time, Murong Cheng looked at Ji with an extremely strange look.

What kind of person is the Princess of Zhi? She gave a glance, and immediately a maid stepped forward. The maid flipped her right hand, and a silver needle flashed in her hand: "Fainting? This servant has silver needles here, specially for fainting!"

Ji shuddered and slowly opened her eyes. Murong Cheng stared at his wife, whom he had always thought was kind and weak, with wide eyes: "Did you do it?"

Ji's apparent feigned unconsciousness made Murong Cheng's eyes redden. "Didn't you say you would take Xiang'er back after the two maids you found had taught her a lesson? Look at the confessions of these two slaves! You actually... actually wanted to harm my offspring?!"

Ji shook her head desperately: "No! No! I don't have it!"

Unfortunately, no one could believe Ji's words at this time! Murong Zhilan ordered someone to bring her biological mother's dowry list: "Father..."

Murong Cheng's chest kept panting: "No need to be right!"

The wife he had always believed to be virtuous was not virtuous, and was trying to murder his own flesh and blood. Although Murong Cheng and Murong Xianglan were not close, how could he, as a father, really not care about his daughter's life or death? Back then, his original wife died of premature birth and complications. He could not help but blame this unlucky daughter, so he intentionally or unintentionally treated her coldly. When Murong Xianglan was young, he could only see her two or three times a month. But she was his own flesh and blood after all! If he had known earlier...

At this time, Murong Zhilan's husband, Nie Shitao, walked over to Murong Cheng and whispered quickly in his ear, "Father-in-law, do you know why your name wasn't on the last promotion list? I just returned to the Imperial City, and someone higher up has already leaked the news to my father. Someone higher up is dissatisfied with your lack of self-discipline! Think about it carefully!"

Murong Cheng's eyes widened in disbelief. He finally had the answer to the puzzle he had been puzzling over. It turned out to be all about his inner chambers! Ultimately, Murong Cheng valued family interests above all else. After understanding the seriousness of the matter, he quickly adjusted his mindset and immediately thought of a solution.

Murong Cheng finally turned his gaze to Murong Xianglan, who had been watching all this coldly from beginning to end. Murong Cheng's voice trembled slightly: "Xiang'er, you're so big now? You really look like your mother!"

Murong Cheng walked in front of Murong Xianglan. Murong Zhilan thought that her sister would have to live in this family in the future, so she frowned and moved half of her body away.

Murong Cheng thought of his first wife, their loving past, his wife's dying appearance after the birth of this child, and his final earnest instructions to his three children. He was especially worried about Murong Xianglan, who was as fragile as a kitten just after birth. Murong Cheng's chest was extremely heavy: "Xiang'er, whether you believe it or not, although your mother died when you were born, it's not because your father is unhappy or doesn't want to love you, but because you and your mother are too much like each other! But no matter what, I will never abandon my own flesh and blood! And I will not condone Ji's harm to you!"

"Xiang'er, this is your home after all, come back! Father will definitely arrange everything and will never let you suffer any grievances again!"

Murong Xianglan stared at Murong Cheng and asked calmly, "Do you admit that she did this? Do you admit it?"

Murong Cheng's lips trembled: "We are always a family..."

Murong Xianglan's eyes grew even colder: "Do you admit it?"

Murong Cheng looked at the stubborn Murong Xianglan and said, "Your temper is just like your mother's! Xiang'er, don't worry, your father will punish those who deserve it and will give you an explanation!"

Murong Xianglan slowly shook her head. "I had already made up my mind when I came back. Since the day you gave up on me, in the past three years, I've been on the verge of death several times. Your kindness in raising me has been fully repaid by me every time I faced danger! Now that you're trying to trick me like this, I can only deal with Ji's case myself. Those two accomplices are still in prison, with witnesses and evidence. I'm also going to send this principal offender of attempted murder to jail!"

"Don't talk to me about reputation. As my elder sister said, my life is almost gone, so why should I care about reputation? Lord Murong, I don't have to go back to this family. You can just write my name, Murong Xianglan, off the family tree with a stroke of your pen!"

"How is that possible?"

Murong Cheng said excitedly, "You are my daughter, how can you cross her out of the family tree? Xiang'er, I know you have been wronged. So, I will not be partial. Ji Shi... I will send her to the ancestral temple and let her pray for the Murong family for the rest of her life. I will also compensate you well in the future. Do you think this is okay? Xiang'er, she is now a Murong woman. If... she makes a big fuss, the Murong family will suffer no good! Then you, your brother, and your sister will all be criticized by others. Is this what you want to see?"

It must be said that the old ones are the most experienced. Murong Cheng hit the nail on the head with Murong Xianglan. Murong Xianglan looked at Murong Cheng steadily and said, "Okay! Send this Ji to the family temple and don't let her set foot in the Murong family again. This is the first reason. Secondly, in my opinion, Ji is just an evil person who wants to kill me. I will never recognize her as my mother again. She, you, and the entire Murong family will never let her force me to do anything in the name of my mother again! Thirdly, after seeing all this today, Ji's two daughters will never call me sister or have such a deep brotherly love. From now on, in the Murong family, we just have to keep our distance. Lord Murong, don't make too many demands on me! I, Murong Xianglan, will never take the initiative to cause trouble, but if they provoke me first, don't blame me for being rude!"

Murong Ronglan relaxed and before she could cover Murong Molan's mouth, Murong Molan started yelling, "You unfilial daughter! You keep calling me Lord Murong and never even call me father. You were born by a mother but never raised by her!"

It was too late for Murong Ronglan to cover her fifth sister's mouth.

Murong Zhilan's eyes were like sharp knives stabbing at the two sisters, scaring them so much that they both took two steps back and were surrounded by the maids and old women around them.

Murong Xianglan, however, showed no sign of anger. She said lightly, "Yes! Giving birth to a child but not raising it, raising it but not teaching it, is the father's fault. I, Murong Xianglan, was born with my mother dead. My father is like a stranger to me! Filial piety? I really don't know how to do it!"

Murong Zhilan's face darkened: "When a father is kind, his son will be filial! When a father is lazy, his son will be afraid!"

She would not allow her sister, who had never received any parental love, to fall into this vortex again.

"You were born and raised by your mother, and you've been spoiled by your parents all day long. Don't forget. Everything you enjoy was planned by your mother!"

Murong Xianglan looked at Murong Cheng with a grim expression and asked, "Do you agree?"

Murong Cheng looked at the fleeting resentment on Murong Ronglan's face and the undisguised anger on Murong Molan's face, and understood that what Murong Xianglan said would definitely come true. After all, they were still young, Murong Ronglan was nine years old, and Murong Molan was five years old. How could they have so much effort to hide their expressions?

Murong Cheng closed his eyes tightly: "Okay! Xiang'er, your father will definitely compensate you well in the future!"

"No need! I just want to stay quietly in the Murong family for a few years! My biological mother has arranged a marriage for me. After a few years, once I get married, your family can still be reunited! During this period, the Ji family will be enshrined in the family temple! I just want you and I to spend these few years without disturbing each other!"

Murong Cheng's fatherly love was rejected again and again. He said nothing more and was not angry. His heart felt like it was blocked by a ball of cotton, and he could only think secretly about how to make amends.

Murong Zhilan was heartbroken when she heard this. She understood that her sister no longer had any hope for their father. When she was hurt again and again, her affection for her father was also worn away again and again.

When Ji Shi heard Murong Cheng's verdict on her, she had already collapsed into a ball of mud. She was trembling all over, and she couldn't believe that Murong Cheng had given up on her like this!

The Princess of Zhi County chuckled softly, "It seems that Lord Murong has made up his mind. I won't bother you any longer! Xiang'er is a child that I have a connection with. I have neither a daughter nor a granddaughter, and Xiang'er's appearance has simply grown into my heart. Xiang'er, you should have a good rest for two days. The day after tomorrow, come to my house to play. I have many girls from distant relatives there, and you two will definitely be able to play together!"

A maid took out the invitation that had been prepared long ago and presented it to Ranchun personally.

Murong Xianglan quickly bowed and expressed her gratitude.

The Princess of Zhi County cast one last glance at Ji Shi and said, "Hurry up and resolve this matter. It's time to deal with those two slaves in the prison!"

The Princess of Zhi County touched her temples and said, "Xiang'er, I'll be waiting for you at home the day after tomorrow!"

The Princess of Zhi County turned around and was about to get on the carriage when Murong Xianglan suddenly called out, "Your Highness the Princess of Zhi County!"

She knelt on the ground, and Princess Zhi was stunned: "What are you doing, kid?"

The Princess of Zhi County reached out to help, but Murong Xianglan looked at her firmly, tears welling up in her eyelashes. "Please let Xiang'er finish the ceremony for you! This is Xiang'er's ceremony for your lifesaver!"

The Princess of Zhi County did not move her hands. She understood Murong Xianglan's meaning and immediately felt even more pity for this ill-fated little girl. She sighed and helplessly accepted Murong Xianglan's three kowtows and nine bows. "Xiang'er, you are a good child who knows how to repay kindness!"

If Murong Xianglan could have received a little care from her father, the situation between father and daughter wouldn't be what it is now. What a miserable child! I hope that when she gets married, she can find a man who truly loves her.

The Princess of Zhi County is gone.

Many years later, Murong Xianglan would still feel depressed when she recalled the chaos of that day. After the Princess of Zhi left that day, her elder sister Murong Zhilan was still worried and stayed with Murong Xianglan at the Murong family for several days. She also supervised her father to send the crying Ji to the ancestral temple, and taught Murong Chang, who was a traitor, a lesson. With the company and protection of her elder sister, Murong Xianglan slowly walked out of the haze.

Unfortunately, for Murong Xianglan, the Murong family is just struggling in the darkness and mud.

After she came back, her grandmother wanted to suppress Murong Xianglan's arrogance when she paid her respects, so she deliberately made her stand in the corridor.

What a joke! How dare a daughter force her father like this! Especially since this daughter had killed her mother since birth, her grandmother couldn't get close to this granddaughter. She was old, what if the curse came back to her? It was this thought of Murong's grandmother that influenced Murong Cheng for many years, so that Murong Cheng had never been close to this daughter.

Murong Xianglan didn't stay and wait. She turned around and left, ignoring the people around her grandmother who hurriedly tried to stop her, "Third Miss, wait a minute! The old lady is fast asleep. If you turn around and leave like this, you... you should at least kowtow to the old lady!"

Murong Xianglan didn't even turn her head. "I haven't fully recovered yet. The day after tomorrow, the Princess of Zhi County will invite me to her residence. If I'm exhausted and injured by then, I'm afraid the Princess of Zhi County will be in trouble!"

When Murong's grandmother heard Murong Xianglan say this in the room, she was so angry that she jumped up and down, but she didn't dare to do anything to Murong Xianglan. The reason was that her Murong family couldn't afford to offend the Princess of Zhijun of the royal family.

After Murong Chang returned from studying at the imperial palace, he could not accept such a sudden change, nor did he believe that those things were done by his stepmother who had always been gentle and caring to him. Listening to the crying of his two sisters, he rushed directly to the ancestral hall where the tablet of his biological mother was placed.

In the dark ancestral hall, Murong Xianglan and her elder sister Murong Zhilan were kneeling quietly in front of their biological mother's tablet. The pious expressions of the two sisters were seen by Murong Chang who rushed into the ancestral hall!

Murong Zhilan stood up with a sullen face. Looking at the reckless Murong Chang, she pointed at an empty cushion in the middle and said sternly, "Kneel down!"

Murong Chang knelt hesitantly in front of his mother's shrine.

Murong Zhilan said in a deep voice, "You rushed into your biological mother's ancestral hall in such a hurry. I'm sure you didn't come here to burn some incense for her? What did you come for? For that bitch? Or did those two sisters you hold dear to your heart come to you to cry and complain, and you came to settle a score with me, your eldest sister?"

Murong Chang's mind, which had been overwhelmed by anger, suddenly became much clearer: "No! No, elder sister!"

"Oh? So you're here to settle accounts with your younger sister Xiang'er? As your elder sister, I have a few questions for you!"

"When I left the Imperial City with your brother-in-law, I told you over and over again to take good care of Xiang'er. Did you do that?"

"When Xiang'er and Murong Ronglan had a conflict, did you defend her?"

"When everyone was accusing your six-year-old sister, who has the same father and mother as you, of beating the two-year-old Murong Molan, where were you? Did you do your best to explain things clearly and plead for her? Did you speak a single fair word for her? Tell me!"