Emperor Zhaojing was growing impatient waiting in the garden.

Seeing Xie Jingrun come out, he couldn't help but sigh heavily.

Xie Jingrun asked in surprise, "What is troubling Father?"

"Alas!" Emperor Zhaojing sighed heavily again, looking at him as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Xie Jingrun frowned. "Does Father have something to say to me?"

"Sigh!" Emperor Zhaojing sighed again, looking at him with pity. This silly boy, he's been cuckolded so badly, and he still hasn't realized it.

Thinking about it, he sighed again.

Xie Jingrun's temple throbbed, and he was getting impatient.

Rather than listening to him sighing and complaining here, he'd rather go back and keep Qingqing company.

"Father, what exactly do you want to say to me?"

Emperor Zhaojing looked at his young face, opened his mouth as if to say what was on his mind, but hesitated because he was worried that the young man would not be able to handle such a blow. "You...you let me think about it."

Xie Jingrun: "..."

He really didn't understand what his father couldn't say to him directly.

Could it be related to Feng Mo?

Thinking of this, he narrowed his eyes.

He's already let Feng Mo go, what more does Father want?

For a moment, his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Are you going to tell me or not?

Emperor Zhaojing sensed the impatience in his tone and suddenly became somewhat displeased as well. He blurted out, "The Empress is pregnant, but don't be too happy yet. This child's origin is unknown. Don't end up raising someone else's child."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jingrun was stunned for a moment before reacting. His face darkened as he said, "What nonsense are you talking about? How can the child in Qingqing's belly be of unknown origin?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaojing felt even more sympathy for him.

That child is really silly.

He's made himself perfectly clear, how come he still can't figure it out?

Although he didn't dislike his daughter-in-law, the Empress, how could he tolerate her cuckolding his son?

Thinking of this, he said with a hint of exasperation, "How can you still not understand? You've been traveling to and from Suzhou for over a month, but the Empress's pregnancy is only one month along. Isn't it obvious that the child in the Empress's belly isn't yours?"

Xie Jingrun: "..."

Now, not only did his face turn black, but he also felt a sweet taste in his throat, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Does Father mean that Qingqing cheated on him and made him a cuckold?

"What nonsense are you spouting?" The veins on his forehead bulged. "How could you ruin Qingqing's reputation?"

Emperor Zhaojing felt like he was about to vomit blood.

Even at this point, the son is still thinking about the Empress's reputation?

Doesn't his own reputation matter?

If this matter were to spread, he would surely become a laughing stock.

He could almost imagine the gossip people would rave about: the empress, unable to bear the loneliness, had an affair while the emperor was away; the emperor had become the most cuckolded emperor in history, and so on…

"Why are you still concerned about the Empress's reputation? Doesn't your own reputation matter?" He was so angry that his chest heaved. "Am I saying you've lost your mind? Is this a matter of reputation? Shouldn't we be trying to find that adulterer and punish them severely? And that child... we can't keep him. The royal bloodline cannot be confused!"

He spoke his last sentence with great conviction.

Xie Jingrun's face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

"What adulterer?" he gritted his teeth.

Emperor Zhaojing rubbed his forehead and couldn't help but say, "Of course it's that wild man who got the Empress pregnant behind your back."