After being reborn, I stole the female lead's cheat ability and raised the empress.

Chapter 79 Marry the Third Prince

Xia Li didn't react much to the fact that she had become the daughter of the Prince of Jin.

Now she cares more about Zhao Jihua's attitude, because they were also best friends in their previous life. However, they met at Shengqiong Academy after the New Year. Later, she saved the Princess of Jin, which led them to consider her their adopted daughter, thus forming a family bond.

In their past life, they were best friends, but that was before it affected Zhao Jihua's interests. Although she believed in Zhao Jihua's character, this was only the second time they had met in this life, and she could be considered an "enemy" at the moment. She wondered if the vicious drama of the real and fake heiresses would unfold here.

Xia Li was feeling uneasy, but Zhao Jihua immediately grabbed Xia Li's hand tightly and said while crying, "I'm so sorry, you've suffered so much all these years."

Xia Li looked at her with tears in her eyes and said with a forced smile, "Sister, I'm not suffering."

Switching the prince's daughter isn't that easy; there are many suspicious points involved.

Although she knew what had happened in this life that turned her from an adopted daughter into a real heiress, Ali didn't feel bitter at all. Over the years, while she was eating, drinking, and having fun in the Marquis's mansion, Ali was embroidering in the Prince's mansion. She was also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, horseback riding, and archery.

If it were me, I would really be driven crazy by this kind of life.

Zhao Jihua was still crying: "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, if I had known..."

"Well, this has nothing to do with you. Back then, you were just a little kid who couldn't even speak properly. There's nothing you could have changed. I don't blame you."

Zhao Jihua secretly inquired about Xia Li's mother, the wet nurse who had switched the children. Because the prince was reluctant to let her return, he concealed her true identity, only saying that she was the wet nurse's child and that the wet nurse was already dead. He told her that Xia Li was currently being fostered by the Marquis of Beiliang's residence.

Ali had no idea what the fabricated wet nurse looked like, so she could only make up a lie: "Although she was very poor, she was extremely kind to me. It's just..."

Ah Li wanted to say that it was a pity she died so early, but Zhao Jihua replied, "It's just that my mother was too greedy in the end, and she caused Ah Li a lot of suffering because of me."

Zhao Jihua's gaze fell on Xia Li, and she suddenly remembered hearing a while ago that the Marquis of Beiliang's family had adopted a daughter, who was then framed by the original legitimate daughter at a banquet. Originally, this was Xia Wanwan's attempt to clear her name by portraying herself as an elder sister who couldn't tolerate her, but Zhao Jihua had mistakenly thought that the one being bullied was Xia Li, making her feel even more sorry for Xia Li.

“If you suffer any injustice at the family you’re currently fostered with, don’t keep it to yourself. I’ll stand up for you.” Zhao Jihua said, pulling a jade pendant from his robes. “This jade pendant represents my identity. If you’re wronged, just show it to me… Waaah, poor Ali, if it weren’t for me, how could you have been bullied by the little Marquis of Beiliang’s mansion? But now even your identity can’t be revealed…”

She had given him her instructions, but then she suddenly remembered Xia Li's background and started crying again.

Zhao Jihua took her arm and said, "Tell me about the hardships you endured before."

Xia Li thought, "Please stop asking, okay? I don't even know the details of this myself, okay?"

Fortunately, Zhao Jihua's attention soon returned to Xia Li: "Look at your tattered clothes, you must have suffered a lot in the past... I have many clothes in my wardrobe, come and pick some out, see which ones you like. And these pieces of jewelry, take your pick... Of course, these things were originally yours, or should I talk to my parents and let you move in?"

She felt guilty towards Ali, so she gave everything to Ali, even her own marriage.

"My identity should rightfully belong to you, so this marriage should naturally rightfully belong to you as well."

Xia Li's head is bigger than two heads.

Why does she always try to arrange marriages for her with everyone she meets?

Zhao Jihua continued to persuade her, "Good Ali, a daughter of the Prince's Mansion who doesn't know the arts will be ostracized by the young ladies in the capital. The Third Prince is the legitimate son and is the most likely to inherit the throne. With the Third Prince as your husband, who in the world would dare to laugh at you?"

Ali stared at her in shock. Putting aside the Third Prince's character, what she was giving up was the future Phoenix Throne!

No wonder she's her best friend.

She really is a wonderful girl.

Ah Li sighed, then took her hand and said, "It's alright. I can see that you have feelings for that Third Prince. I can't bring myself to do something like stealing someone else's love."

“I… never loved him.”

"But I can tell you're clearly intentional..."

"It's just an arranged marriage, a matter of our parents' wishes and a matchmaker's words. We were betrothed since childhood, and I've always treated her as my husband, so I'm just a little uncomfortable right now. But there's absolutely no love between us," she quickly assured him.

"Forget it, I don't think much of that Third Prince."

"..." Zhao Jihua wanted to say something more, but in the end he just sighed.

After a while, she said again, "Sister, you must be tired today. Rest here. I'm going to talk to our parents about something."

After Zhao Jihua left the courtyard, her personal maid said with dissatisfaction, "Why must Miss give up her marriage?"

"This is what I owe her."

"With her vulgar appearance, how could she be worthy of the Third Prince? From the moment she entered the palace until now, not a single word of her manners has been correct. Miss, didn't you see the maids in the courtyard secretly laughing at her..."

"Shut up! If it weren't for my mother's greed, I would be the one who is ridiculed for my lack of manners. Besides, given my mother's status, she might not even be able to enter the gates of this Prince's mansion."

Xia Li heard that she had punished the maid to kneel in the backyard.

She knew that maid; she was her personal maid who had been with her since childhood.

Although they were far apart, they could still hear the conversation between the master and servant clearly.

She's truly clear-headed, much more so than those who take things for granted.

Yes, she truly is the best friend Xia Li has her eye on.

But I feel guilty?

No need!

Putting everything else aside, Zhao Jihua did not wrong me. On the contrary, because she became a daughter of the Prince's Mansion who was proficient in all the arts, I was able to grow up freely and without restraint.

The next morning, Zhao Jihua brought me some small embroidered items as an apology. She sat on the edge of the bed, holding my hand, her eyes filled with unbearable heartache: "You've suffered so much these past years."

"It's all in the past, sister, there's no need to be sad."

She almost knelt before Xia Li: "You should be the legitimate daughter of the royal family, not this fake heiress. Actually, you don't need to worry about me. Just reveal the truth, and then let you move in here legitimately. I'll go back myself..."

Xia Li was immediately alarmed and quickly interrupted her: "Good sister, I really beg you not to go. I can't stand these rules and regulations. If you leave, they will really drive me to my death."

"Can……"