Chapter 233 The Crown Prince

Queen Dong ordered people to bring two plates of cakes that Yan Xiuyun had loved to eat since childhood, and then dismissed all the palace maids and eunuchs.

After hearing what happened in Ziyun Palace, Queen Dong was speechless for a long time.

Yan Xiuyun leaned forward and asked anxiously, "Mother, did my father make me the crown prince just to fulfill a promise he made to my biological mother?"

Queen Dong sighed almost imperceptibly and silently took a piece of cake and put it into her mouth.

After a long time, she came back to her senses from her memories and said softly:

"Your father did have a very good relationship with Concubine Lan. Perhaps she was the only person he had ever truly loved in his life."

Concubine Lan was Yan Xiuyun's biological mother. She died of illness not long after giving birth to Yan Xiuyun. Emperor Liang was so grief-stricken that he cried several times in front of Concubine Lan's tomb. Later, the imperial physician diagnosed that Emperor Liang's heart veins were damaged, and the root of his current illness was also caused by that time.

Queen Dong was unable to have children due to health reasons, so she adopted Yan Xiuyun under her name, making him the legitimate crown prince.

Empress Dong continued, "Before Concubine Lan died, she held your father's hand and asked him to swear to heaven that he would protect you as long as he was in power. Your father agreed to her request."

Yan Xiuyun couldn't explain what he felt for a moment.

Since it's just for a promise, then what's the point of all my efforts to prove myself over the years? It's just a joke.

Queen Dong saw through his thoughts and pushed the cakes in front of Yan Xiuyun, saying, "The process is not important, what matters is the result. How do you think you compare to Prince Qi?"

Yan Xiuyun was silent for a while, then looked away and said, "When it comes to winning people's hearts and pretending, I am not as good as him."

"You are wrong." Queen Dong said gently, "As a ruler, your every word and action is for the people of the world to see. Sometimes, even if it is just a pretense, you have to keep your face to the end."

She paused for a moment and mentioned Yan Changwen. "Prince Qi's family background is not as good as yours, so he would try to gain advantage in these matters. And you should not only learn from him, but also do better than him, so that the court officials and the people of the world will be convinced by you."

Yan Xiuyun finally sighed. He was able to listen to what Queen Dong said. "I understand. Tomorrow I will go to the residence of the Left Prime Minister and visit Master Wenren in person."

Seeing that he listened to her advice, Empress Dong couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, "Try it quickly. This is the most famous peach blossom pastry in the capital. I specially saved it for you."

Yan Xiuyun did not move, and looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"What's wrong?"

"Mother..." Although Yan Xiuyun knew that there was no one else in Fengyi Palace, he still couldn't help but glance around, and then slowly said, "My son heard a rumor in the palace a few days ago..."

"oh?"

Yan Xiuyun licked his lips and said with difficulty: "Rumor has it that twenty years ago, someone in the palace replaced the crown prince with a cat. This son... is not my father's biological son."

"What nonsense!" Queen Dong suddenly got angry and slapped the rosewood table with her palm. The jade bracelet on her wrist hit the table with a "dong" sound.

"Where did these rumors come from? I will immediately send someone to investigate and see who is so bold as to slander the crown prince!"

"I only heard it by chance. Mother...is this true?" Yan Xiuyun looked stubborn.

Queen Dong turned her head to look at him, a rare sternness appeared on her dignified and beautiful face. She stared into Yan Xiuyun's eyes and said word by word:

"Listen carefully, you are the biological son of Concubine Lan and His Majesty, my eldest son, and the legitimate successor of Daliang. You cannot tolerate anyone questioning you!"

Queen Dong's voice softened a little, but her eyes became even deeper.

"You know your father's health condition very well. From today on, you just need to do what a crown prince should do, and don't worry about anything else.

As for your position as the crown prince, His Majesty will never abandon it easily. You are my eldest son, and I and the entire Longyou Dong family will never allow anyone to shake your position. Remember?"

"...Thank you, mother. I will keep it in mind."

…

Inside the Ziyun Palace.

Emperor Liang had been standing in front of a wall with his hands behind his back for a long time, a complicated and helpless smile on his weathered face.

There was a painting hanging on the wall. The woman in the painting had soft eyebrows and eyes, and looked somewhat like Yan Xiuyun.

Yan Yuze walked in from outside the palace, waving a folding fan, "Royal brother, are you looking for me?"

Emperor Liang did not turn around, still staring at the painting.

"Do you know him?"

Yan Yuze's eyes fell on the painting and he immediately knew who the woman in the painting was.

"When Concubine Lan passed away, I was still young, how could I still remember it?"

"Hehe..." Emperor Liang laughed a few times, turned around and sat opposite Yan Yuze.

"Is my royal brother feeling better? I heard from the eunuchs in Ziyun Palace that he coughed up blood again today?" Yan Yuze asked with concern.

"How can this be cured? He is just struggling to survive." Emperor Liang smiled, then looked seriously at his brother who was twenty years younger than him.

"In your heart, how do I treat you?"

Yan Yuze said without hesitation, "My mother died early, and I grew up by your side. Your Majesty treats me like a brother and a father, and your kindness is as heavy as a mountain."

Emperor Liang nodded, a hint of guilt in his eyes.

"I know that you have a lazy personality and don't like the court. My health has been getting worse over the years. It's really hard for you to come back and help me clean up this mess."

Yan Yuze closed the fan and scratched his temples with the edge of the fan. "Your Majesty, what you said is not to promote me, right? Goodbye, goodbye. When your Majesty recovers, I still like to hang out outside the palace."

Emperor Liang sighed softly, "I know my own health, I'm afraid I don't have much time left."

Yan Yuze wanted to say something, but was stopped by Emperor Liang. "I didn't ask you to come here to hear auspicious words. There is one thing that I can only feel relieved if I entrust it to you."

Emperor Liang's tone already hinted at his intention to make arrangements for his final affairs.

Yan Yuze's heart tightened, "Brother, please speak."

"I have heard rumors in the palace and among the people that a cat replaced the prince in the palace 20 years ago, slandering the prince.

I don't have much time left, but I will never tolerate villains taking advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble and shake my position as the crown prince of Daliang. Ahem, sixth brother, I will leave this matter to you. You must find out who is behind the scenes and clear the crown prince's name to set the record straight. "