As Yu Ying turned around, she saw Hongli, dressed in a dark blue robe with dragon patterns, staring at her with a stern face. Yu Ying curtsied and replied:

“Naturally, it is Your Highness’s decision. I will abide by the rules set by Your Highness, which is why I am waiting here. Dongling was just worried that I was getting tired of standing, so she muttered a few words. She meant no harm, and I hope Your Highness will understand.”

Hongli sneered, "Whatever your maid says is right, and everything she says is understandable."

Sensing Hongli's displeasure, Yuying's face paled, and she forced a smile to clarify, "Your Highness has misunderstood. I had no intention of protecting Dongling. I will definitely reprimand Dongling later."

Unwilling to implicate her master, Dong Ling hurriedly curtsied and begged for forgiveness, saying, "This servant should not have spoken out of turn. Please punish me, Your Highness."

Often, when servants apologized, it was just lip service, and Hongli would not actually punish them. But this time was different. Dongling openly complained and questioned the rules he had set. How could Hongli tolerate her?

“A gossip deserves punishment! Dong Ling is resentful and disregards the rules. Since she likes to wait here, then she shall be punished by kneeling outside Huatang Pavilion for two hours!”

On the surface, Hongli was punishing Dongling, but Yuying knew perfectly well that he was actually slapping her in the face!

However, Dongling had indeed spoken inappropriately, and Yuying had no reason to plead for her, so she could only let Dongling kneel down and be punished.

The snow had stopped, but there was still snow on the ground. Although Dong Ling was wearing a cotton coat, she still felt a chill piercing her knees as she knelt in the snow, which was very uncomfortable.

However, since the order came from the prince, she dared not utter a sound and could only silently accept it.

After dealing with Dong Ling, Hongli turned his gaze to Yu Ying, "What important matter brings you here, my lady?"

"This matter is of great importance and cannot be discussed openly. I would like to ask Your Highness to speak to me privately." She spoke mysteriously, and Hongli, worried that she might say something inappropriate, immediately walked to the west side of the courtyard to avoid the servants.

After walking a distance, Yu Ying spoke in a low voice.

"In recent days, rumors have been circulating in the manor that Su Gege's child is not hers and has been switched at birth. In order to quell the rumors and clear their names, I plan to conduct a blood test to determine paternity."

Hongli's eyes sharpened, becoming as piercing as knives, and he asked, "Who told you that?"

Yu Ying dared not meet his gaze, and lowered her eyes, saying, "The servants are all saying it. It doesn't matter who said it; as long as it's verified, the rumors will fall apart on their own."

That's truly bizarre. "You actually think it's unimportant that your servants spread rumors and mislead the public? Is this your way of managing a household?"

"As the saying goes, it's easier to stop the people from talking than to stop a river from overflowing. Punishing them is useless; the key is to verify the child's identity. I'm doing this for Su's sake and her child's, to prevent them from being gossiped about!"

Yu Ying tried to persuade him earnestly, but Hongli, with his hands behind his back, coldly retorted:

"Those who spread rumors will be severely punished to serve as a warning to others. I want to see who dares to gossip like that again!"

“Punishment will not convince the public. They will definitely continue to gossip in private, thinking that there is something wrong with Su’s son. If this gets back to the palace and alarms the Emperor and Consort Xi, won’t Su suffer again?”

She's using the Emperor to pressure him again! This is something Hongli hates the most, yet his wife is using this tactic again!

Hongli's brow twitched slightly, and anger flared up instantly. However, reason told him that he could not lose his temper, because he knew very well that this matter could not be blown out of proportion. If his mother really sent someone to examine him again, then the defect in his child's toes would be made public.

Rather than making a big fuss, it would be better to conduct a blood test to prove kinship and thus silence public opinion.

"You're truly kind, my lady!" Hongli mocked, then retorted, "If, after the blood test, it's discovered that this child is indeed my and Yushan's offspring, what will you do?"

Yu Ying said sincerely, "That would prove Su's innocence, and I would be happy for her."

Even if Hongli complies with her request, he will not let her off easily.

"You believed the rumors spread by others and slandered Yushan. Even if the child is fine, you will still be punished! If you dare to take responsibility, get tested now. If you don't dare, then there's no point in talking!"

Hongli's conditions intimidated Yuying, and she suddenly became hesitant. But then she thought that Hongli was probably just trying to scare her. He might not dare to verify the information and wanted to discourage her, so he deliberately said such a thing.

With this in mind, Yu Ying steeled her resolve and agreed to take responsibility.

Hongli's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing more and allowed her to enter.

Yu Ying meant for Su Yu Shan to drip blood onto the child, but Hong Li said that Yu Shan was recuperating and he didn't want to disturb her, so he would cut his finger instead.

Yu Shan once told her that the blood of any two people can be mixed together, which does not prove that they are related by blood. However, others who did not know the inside story all thought that this was the best way to verify it. Hongli did not explain and went with the flow.

At that time, the young prince was still fast asleep when someone suddenly pulled out his finger and cut him. The young prince was startled and immediately started crying loudly. The wet nurse hurriedly took the child into the inner room to feed him, while the maidservant applied medicine and bandaged the child.

The tiny baby, only a few days old, had to suffer like this. Hongli felt heartbroken and secretly resented Yuying for causing trouble, but for the sake of Yushan and the child's peace, he had no choice but to cooperate.

Then Hongli cut his finger with a knife and dripped the blood into the water. Yuying stared intently at the bowl of water and was surprised to find that the two drops of blood were slowly moving closer together and eventually merging together!

In other words, this really is Hongli and Su Yushan's child, and they were not switched!

Yu Ying was stunned for a moment before lowering her head sadly, "It seems that this really is Your Highness's bloodline."

She claimed it was for Su Yushan's sake, but her current expression clearly showed disappointment. It was obvious she hoped to find something to use against Yushan, revealing her malicious nature.

"That's exactly right, but you harbored wicked thoughts and insisted on questioning the child's origins!"

"It wasn't me who said it, it was Ning'er who said someone was carrying a child in and out of Huatang Pavilion." Yu Ying, fearing Hongli's wrath, quickly clarified, pointing the finger at Ning'er. Ning'er, terrified, knelt and begged for forgiveness.

“What I said is true. I did see Li Yu taking the child in and out that night.”

"Didn't Li Yu already explain? His child was adopted. How dare you suspect Yu Shan of switching the baby? If you want to verify, I'll let you. Now that it's proven the child is fine, Ning'er must be severely punished, and you must also take responsibility!"

This result was unexpected for Yu Ying. She found it hard to accept and couldn't help but say, "I heard that taking birth control pills can affect the baby. I want to see if the baby will be born with any defects."

These words were like a sharp blade, piercing the very inch of Hongli's heart that he least wanted to face!

Hongli, unable to bear it any longer, glared at her fiercely and threatened loudly, "Go ahead and see, go ahead and see. If you can't find any problems, I will divorce you immediately!"