Chapter 72 The True Prince Xiao Dao

A thunderclap echoed across the stormy sky.

Hearing footsteps and eunuchs whispering outside the palace gates, Zhang Youyi's heart raced like the torrential rain; something terrible was about to happen tonight.

As expected, the emperor's trusted eunuch hurriedly entered from outside the palace and asked in a low voice to Consort Zhang, who was attending to the emperor by his bedside, "Your Highness, has His Majesty fallen asleep?"

Before Zhang Youyi could answer, Xiao Xu, who was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, asked in a hoarse voice, "Is it about Song Jie?"

He couldn't sleep at all, constantly waiting for news from Song Jie.

"Your Majesty, it is Miss Yushu from the Yong'an Marquis's family and Minister Bai of the Court of Judicial Review who request an audience." The eunuch immediately stepped forward and presented something to the emperor: "Miss Yushu has brought a secret order from Minister Song."

Xie Yushu?

Xiao Xu opened his eyes and turned his head to see the object held up by the eunuch. It was the secret order he had given Song Jie when he ordered Song Jie to investigate the matter of the Prince of Song. With this secret order, he could freely dispatch the imperial guards.

Xie Yushu actually brought him here?

"Where is she now?" Xiao Xu moved slightly.

Zhang Youyi quickly helped him sit up.

"Miss Yushu and Minister Bai of the Court of Judicial Review are waiting outside the palace gates," the eunuch replied. "They have also brought a woman with them. Minister Bai says he has important business to discuss with His Majesty. Should we summon them to the palace?"

Xie Yushu, carrying Song Jie's secret orders, went with the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to seek an audience with him.

Xiao Xu had a vague idea of ​​what was going on. He waved for Zhang Youyi to leave before instructing the eunuch, "Bring them in."

Before the eunuch could reach the palace gate, another imperial guard came to report: the Fourth Prince and General Pei were outside the palace gate requesting an audience with the Emperor.

As the torrential rain poured down, Zhang Youyi stood under the corridor and saw a group of people walking briskly along the wide palace road in the dark, rainy night. She couldn't see their faces clearly, but she recognized the person in the black cloak at the front almost immediately as Xie Yushu.

Because everyone naturally surrounded her, with the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review on her left, a woman on her right, and General Pei Heng and his deputy behind her, as well as Xiao Zhen, who was soaked by the rain.

They seemed to be following Xie Yushu, surrounding him as they walked through the downpour, step by step towards Zhang Youyi. They stepped onto the jade steps, entered the eaves, and the face under the black cloak lifted up to glance at Zhang Youyi.

It really was Xie Yushu.

Under the swaying palace lanterns, Zhang Youyi could hardly make out Xie Yushu's features, but her heart still trembled when Xie Yushu looked at her. Xie Yushu had a pair of bright and captivating eyes that would attract even a woman.

Even Zhang Youyi didn't understand why she was attracted to those eyes. She just couldn't take her eyes off her, watching the palace gates open for Xie Yushu, and watching Xie Yushu disregard etiquette and walk into the palace before the Fourth Prince, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, General Pei, and the men.

Zhang Youyi was incredibly curious about what kind of illogical and absurd thing Xie Yushu was going to do next.

#

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister fell ill and went into a coma at Yuqing Temple. Before he went into a coma, he gave me a secret order, asking me to take the order and this woman to the palace to see Your Majesty." Xie Yushu saw Xiao Xu and said directly, "It says that this woman is related to the Fourth Prince's background, and you must escort her safely to see Your Majesty."

She then knelt down and bowed, saying, "To protect this woman's safety, I had no choice but to alarm Lord Bai, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Jiang Hua knelt beside her, trembling with cold and fear. Following Xie Yushu's instructions, she cautiously began, "This sinful woman, Jiang Hua, once delivered a baby for a prince in the palace..." She trembled and forgot the rest of her words.

He also understood why Xie Yushu had brought Song Jie's secret order and accompanied this old woman to see him late at night.

His gaze slowly fell on Xie Yushu, and he felt that everything in the universe was pulling Xie Yushu toward him. Look, even a secret order that had nothing to do with Xie Yushu had somehow dragged her into it...

“Father, do not believe this woman’s words. She is in cahoots with that traitor Prince Song, and even Prime Minister Song is one of Prince Song’s men.” Xiao Zhen immediately said, “My mother told me personally that after Prince Song escaped, he hid in Yuqing Temple and met with Prime Minister Song and this woman named Jiang Hua. The three of them discussed in the hermitage how to distort the truth and make Father believe that the late Emperor’s son is your biological son.”

Startled, Jiang Hua looked up to explain, only to see Xiao Zhen staring at her, his gaze as cold as a venomous snake as he questioned, "You don't need to rush to explain. I'm asking you, are you the cook in Song Jie's household?"

Jiang Hua's lips were pale; she didn't know whether she should answer.

Xiao Zhen raised his hand and pointed at Xiao Dao beside Pei Heng, saying, "This deputy general named Xiao Dao is the late emperor's posthumous son. He once served as Xie Yushu's attendant for a while."

His gaze shifted to Xie Yushu, staring intently as he asked, "Miss Yushu, did I say something wrong?"

Xie Yushu met his gaze and was somewhat impressed by him. Even on the verge of death, he still had such a powerful ability to argue. He was indeed worthy of being the male protagonist. But these were nothing more than futile struggles in the face of death.

He didn't give Xie Yushu a chance to answer and immediately said, "I'm afraid Miss Yushu's relationship with Prime Minister Song is not simple, is it? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that Prime Minister Song is arresting traitors at Yuqing Temple tonight, and you also appeared at Yuqing Temple? Why did he entrust such an important secret order to you when he didn't entrust so many people with it? Some people have seen Miss Yushu staying overnight at the Prime Minister's residence many times. Is this true or false?"

Xiao Dao's face darkened as he was about to speak up for Xie Yushu when Pei Heng pulled his arm.

If Xiao Dao were to speak up for Xie Yushu at this moment, it would only arouse the Emperor's suspicion even more.

Xiao Dao couldn't speak for Xie Yushu, but Pei Heng could. He stepped forward and stood beside Xie Yushu, saying to Xiao Xu, "Your Majesty, she appeared at Yuqing Temple tonight because her mother suddenly fell ill. Several of my soldiers have been following her, and Yusu Nu Temple can also testify to this." He didn't explain the relationship between Xie Yushu and Song Jie, because it was irrelevant to Xiao Zhen and this matter.

Xiao Zhen bowed to Xiao Xu and said, "Your Majesty can verify everything I have said. If you do not believe me, you may summon your mother to the palace to inquire."

Xiao Xu's gaze swept over everyone and stopped on Xie Yushu. He asked, "Don't you have anything to say in your defense?"

Under the bright lights, Xie Yushu raised her eyes to look at him and said calmly, "Yes, before the Prime Minister fell into a coma, he said that as long as I bring Jiang Hua into the palace to see His Majesty and convey his words to His Majesty, His Majesty will surely reward me."

That makes sense.

Based on Xiao Xu's understanding of Xie Yushu, everything she did was for the purpose of "seeking a reward," and she must have come at some risk for some reason.

If she hadn't said that, he would have seriously suspected that she and Song Jie had a private relationship.

"What did you say?" Xiao Xu asked her.

“Xiao Zhen is not a real prince. He has a birthmark, a birthmark.” Xie Yushu said bluntly, “The Prime Minister fainted after saying this.”

Xiao Xu was taken aback, thinking she was going to defend herself.

“Your Majesty, the real Fourth Prince was born with a brown birthmark on his chest!” Jiang Hua seized the opportunity to say, her forehead pressed to the ground, trembling but loudly proclaiming, “This sinner delivered the babies of the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fifth Prince, and all of them had similar birthmarks!”

Xiao Zhen and Xiao Dao were both stunned.

Xiao Dao subconsciously touched his chest.

"If...if His Majesty does not believe me, he can ask Lieutenant General Xiaodao to remove his clothes and examine them!" Jiang Hua said in a tense voice.

"Absurd!" Xiao Zhen sneered angrily, "There are countless people in the world with birthmarks, does that mean every single one of them is a prince?"

But before he could finish speaking, Xiao Xu said, "Xiao Dao, take off your shirt."

Xiao Dao glanced at Xie Yushu, who was still kneeling there. In this cold, rainy night, she was soaked to the bone and still had to kneel to answer questions. He didn't care whether he was a prince or not; he just wanted to finish as soon as possible so she could go home and change her clothes.

He reached out and opened his pocket, pulling his outer robe and inner garment off his shoulders together, revealing a scarred chest. On his light honey-colored right chest, a brown birthmark lay like a leaf beneath the scars.

"Father, this is nothing but a conspiracy between Song Jie and the Prince of Song to deceive you!" Xiao Zhen stubbornly resisted: "The so-called birthmark is nothing more than something they planned long ago..."

“I have one too.” Xiao Xu looked at Xiao Zhen with unprecedented coldness: “Your elder sister, elder brother, and three-year-old younger brother all have such birthmarks, but you, Zhen’er, are the only ones without them.”

Xiao Zhen's words caught in his throat, his heart sinking completely, because he remembered that two and a half years ago, his father had said something similar. At that time, he accompanied his father to the hot springs at Tangshan Palace for recuperation, and quite by chance, his father suddenly said, "Of all my children, only you don't have a birthmark..."

Amidst the thunder and lightning, he suddenly realized that perhaps his father had begun to suspect him from that time onward, and had been secretly investigating him?

He felt a chill run through his body and was terrified at that moment. He had been Xiao Xu's son for more than ten years, and Xiao Xu was able to doubt that he was not his biological son just because of a birthmark.

No amount of sophistry or scheming will make a difference. Two years is enough time for Xiao Xu to order Pei Heng to stop the investigation. The fact that he didn't means that he doesn't believe Xiao Zhen is his son.

Another clap of thunder sounded, and Xie Yushu slowly knelt on the ground, supporting herself with her hands on her knees, and smiled. She understood Xiao Zhen's cleverness and sophistry. He was trying to drag her and Wan Susu into the mess. Once she tried to explain that she had no personal relationship with Song Jie, she would be trapped in an endless struggle to prove herself.

Once Wan Susu arrives here, even if she hears Xiao Zhen lying, she will soften her heart towards her son, Xiao Zhen.

In fact, Wan Susu had already softened her heart; otherwise, how would Xiao Zhen know about Jiang Hua? How would he know that Song Jie and the Prince of Song had met and were in contact?

These were probably all told to him by Wan Susu, giving him a chance to put up a stubborn resistance, but it was useless. How could Xiao Xu, who had been investigating for two years, have his doubts dispelled by just a few words from her?

Xiao Zhen didn't understand her at all. She never proved herself. As long as she achieved her goal, she never cared about personal feelings or reputation.

"Father!" Xiao Zhen finally knelt down, tears streaming down his face, revealing his vulnerability and pitifulness, trying to move Xiao Xu: "Do you really doubt your son just because of a few words from this woman? Your son has been by your side for more than ten years, more than ten years..."

Xie Yushu looked up and admired Xiao Zhen's current defeat. He had an extremely beautiful face, and when he shed tears, he looked pitiful. No wonder Xie Jianing wanted to protect him back then.

The eunuch rushed in again, flustered, and reported: "Your Majesty, Miss Jianing from the Jade Maiden Temple and the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion is requesting an audience with you outside the palace gate."

Two people who came to plead for Xiao Zhen arrived.

Xie Yushu was not surprised at all. She knew that Wan Susu would find it hard to watch her fake son die, which was why she wanted to do this while Wan Susu was not in a good mood. She knew that Wan Susu would definitely be coaxed by Xiao Zhen to stand on his side and help him not to acknowledge Xiao Dao.

She glanced at Xiao Xu, only to find herself meeting his gaze.

"Send Yu Su Nu Temple back. I don't want to see her tonight." He instructed the eunuch, still looking at her meaningfully, and said, "Did all the daughters of your Yong'an Marquis's mansion go to Yuqing Temple tonight? They're all here."

Xie Yushu did not avoid his gaze and said frankly, "This humble woman does not understand Your Majesty's meaning. This humble woman only wants to know if the merit she has made this time is enough to be granted the title of Princess?"

Pei Heng, who was being bold, instinctively wanted to speak up to stop her, but then he heard Xiao Xu chuckle softly.

He looked over and saw that Xiao Xu was staring intently at Xie Yushu, which was not a good sign.

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Author's Note: I'm back! I'm so sorry to have kept you all waiting! I was exhausted and got a stye after returning from my hometown the day before yesterday. I didn't finish writing yesterday and took a day off. I'm officially resuming updates today. Thank you again!

This chapter will give out red envelopes to the first fifty readers! [hugs]