Chapter 98 Guessed Right

"Zi'an, did Su Jingyi tell you anything useful today?"

Xiao Yan's eyes were hidden in the shadows. "Yuanyuan, you guessed right."

After a brief pause, he said in a hoarse voice: "I might really be the son of the Empress of Renshou Palace."

Yang Manyan was stunned and asked again: "Are there any witnesses or physical evidence?"

"Why don't you ask me? I have personally interrogated Su Jingyi."

Today, Xiao Yan went to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and ordered people to dig out a treasure box from behind the plaque of "Zhengda Guangming". With such a large-scale event, it was natural to consult the emperor in advance.

Besides, there was nothing to hide in this matter, so Xiao Yan explained the whole story to his father.

"Then, Your Majesty, have you found out anything today?"

Xiao Yan watched their interaction, pursed his lips, and his eyes dimmed slightly.

He also moved closer without making a sound, "Yuanyuan, Su Jingyi said that it was the late emperor's intention to swap me with Su Qinglan."

Yang Manyan was stunned and felt unbelievable.

The late emperor loved Empress Xu so much that he even left the six palaces empty for several years for her sake. Why did he replace Empress Xu's son with Concubine Wei?

The emperor also added: "Su Jingyi also presented a few letters. I have read them and they are indeed written by the late emperor."

"What's in the letter?" Yang Manyan asked tentatively.

The emperor said nonchalantly, "It's nothing more than that the late emperor was afraid of the Xu family. When Xu and Wei were diagnosed with pregnancy at the same time, the late emperor began to plan to swap them once Xu gave birth to a boy."

"Later, the late emperor was worried that the matter would be exposed, so he found an opportunity to send Wei's daughter, Su Qinglan, to Nanyuan and let Su Jingyi raise her."

He simply scoffed at his brother's concerns, thinking that only an incompetent monarch would be so afraid of powerful officials from aristocratic families.

After a moment's silence, Xiao Yan said, "It's just that the handwriting is not impossible to imitate. Those letters cannot be used as evidence for the time being. The midwives and imperial doctors who helped deliver the babies of Renshou Palace and Concubine Shu have all been secretly dealt with."

Yang Manyan was startled again. "In this case, we can only find a way to open the treasure box. I wonder if the late emperor has placed any evidence in it..."

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it’s already a month later.

In late spring and early summer, when the wind is calm and the sun is warm, in Changyin Pavilion there are sheng and pipe music, wonderful dances and clear songs, and bursts of laughter can be heard from time to time.

It happened to be Concubine Wei Shu's birthday, so the inner court held a small birthday banquet for her in Changyin Pavilion as usual, and arranged for the Southern Palace Opera Troupe to come and perform to celebrate.

Although Concubine Wei Shu is the biological mother of the crown prince, she is only the concubine of the previous emperor, so her birthday banquet will naturally not be too grand.

Apart from the Crown Prince and Yang Manyan, there were only a few ladies at the banquet who came with their daughters to celebrate his birthday.

However, Yang Shangyi's birthday at the beginning of the year was celebrated according to the rules of the Queen's Centenary Festival.

Not only did Yang Shangyi accept congratulations from the ladies of honor in Kunning Palace, but her birthday banquet was also held in Baohe Hall, one of the three major halls, and all civil and military officials attended the banquet with their families.

In comparison, the birthday celebration of Concubine Wei, the mother-in-law, was a bit simple.

It's just that Concubine Wei Shu has always been gentle and kind to others, and even if she is dissatisfied, she will not show it on her face.

The ladies presented her with gifts and flattered her, which made her smile.

Then, a young woman stepped forward and bowed gracefully: "Your humble servant is wise and wise. I wish the Empress Shufei a happy birthday. May the Empress live forever, and may the spring clouds be full of auspiciousness and the Baowu Dynasty be glorious."

This woman is Song Minghui, the daughter of Marquis Wu Ding, and was also one of the most popular candidates for Crown Princess during last year's talent show.

"Minghui, come here quickly and sit next to me." Concubine Wei waved at her with a smile.

Song Minghui blushed slightly, "I dare not."

She had dressed up carefully to attend the palace banquet, wearing a lotus pink Hangzhou satin dress with a necklace pattern, with a high bun adorned with pearls and jade flowers, looking pretty yet dignified.

The more Concubine Wei Shu looked at it, the more she liked it.

Song Minghui comes from a noble family. She is talented and beautiful, and has a kind heart. Isn't she much better than Yang, the seductive woman who comes from a poor family?

"Why not? I wasn't feeling well a few days ago, but I heard that Yang Shangyi was busy with palace affairs, so I didn't dare to bother her. Thanks to you, my child, coming to the palace to take care of me, I am feeling better now."

Song Minghui blushed even more, "It is a blessing for me to serve you, Your Majesty."

But she didn't refuse in the end and sat beside Concubine Wei shyly.

Yang Manyan's eyelids twitched.

Concubine Wei's words were obviously praising Song Minghui, but in fact she was implying that Yang Manyan treated her badly and even ignored her illness.

She knew that Concubine Wei Shu would summon some noble ladies from aristocratic families into the palace every now and then, but she had never heard that she was unwell.

Although a lot of clues have been found recently, combined with Su Jingyi's confession, it has been confirmed that Su Qinglan is the daughter of Concubine Wei Shufei.

But after all, there is no definite evidence. On the surface, Concubine Wei is still her mother-in-law, so she still has to do some face-saving work.

Xiao Yan remained calm, just held Yang Manyan's hand and squeezed it, indicating that she shouldn't take it to heart.

The people below also heard the hidden meaning of Concubine Wei Shu's words and fell silent.

Halfway through the banquet, a young eunuch hurried in, "Madam Shufei, the Empress of Renshou Palace is here with her niece, Miss Xu, and they are already on the way."

Concubine Wei Shu was stunned, and the smile froze at the corner of her mouth.

Since the death of the previous emperor, Xu moved from Kunning Palace to Renshou Palace. She claimed to be ill and did not go out for more than ten years. Why did she suddenly come to her birthday party?

Yang Manyan also subconsciously looked at Xiao Yan, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.