When Han Zijin learned that his wife had been swept away by the flood while trying to save the children, he hung his head and remained silent for a long time.

After the ground was soaked with tears, he said to his two children, "This disaster in Wujiazhuang was not caused by me."

But it all started because of me. I'm the one who harmed your mother, you all, and countless lives in Wujiazhuang.

Aside from those connected to him, who would want to harm the people of a village for no reason? Ultimately, he underestimated the evil in human nature.

He gritted his teeth and paused before saying, "For your safety, I cannot acknowledge you for the time being."

I will ask the Marquis and the Heir Apparent to continue to protect you. Once I've dealt with the aftermath, I'll come to fetch you, okay?

Both brother and sister nodded.

They all have their own place now and no longer urgently need a father.

Besides, that house belonged to another woman of my father's. The prince consort was supposed to marry a princess, but in reality, he was just marrying into her family and living under her roof.

Since Father didn't mention the Duke of Lu's mansion, it's clear that Father doesn't trust them either. If that's the case, why would the siblings willingly put themselves in danger?

Wu Er held Chao Lu's hand tightly and, using a hint they both understood, told his sister that he would work hard to secure a stable future for them.

Chaolu also shook hands with her brother. She would also follow the young mistress and do her best. As long as she treated the young mistress sincerely, the young mistress would definitely not mistreat her.

A while ago, it was my second brother's birthday. The young mistress not only asked Sister Wanxing to accompany her to see my second brother, but also gave her new clothes to wear for her brother so that he could feel at ease.

The young mistress and the village chief are both good people, but she doesn't know much about this father.

Han Zijin vaguely understood his son and daughter's thoughts, and felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

I have failed as a father.

After parting ways with the children, he found Xie Tingzhou and asked, "Could I borrow a few people from the young master? I will certainly repay this favor."

Sadly enough, although he was the young master of the Duke of Lu's mansion, his parents had both passed away, and now that his elder brother was in charge, he was like water spilled out of a bowl.

Kang Le has treated him well over the years, but after learning the truth from his son, how could he dare to trust the people in the princess's residence again?

Xie Tingzhou neither refused nor hid what he had overheard outside.

He guessed that Han Zijin was going to bring the village chief's family to Beijing, and reminded them, "They've been hiding and not going back to Wujiazhuang, so they might not come to Beijing this time."

Ultimately, they didn't trust Han Zijin.

Han Zijin hesitated, "But if I go in person, I'm afraid it will attract attention."

He also needs to make a difference in the capital.

Xie Tingzhou laughed, "All fathers have one common problem: they tend to underestimate their sons."

"You mean you want my son to take people there? It's a long way, and he's too young."

Wu Er, who had not yet left, appeared and said, "I am not afraid of the distance; I am willing to personally go and bring them back."

He wasn't even as old as he is now when he came to Beijing with his older brother.

The village chief's family were outsiders who were not doing well there, and he wanted to repay their kindness from back then.

Even if he couldn't let them establish themselves in the capital, he could at least let them return to their hometowns.

The eldest brother said that the village chief missed his hometown before he died.

He looked at Xie Tingzhou, "Could you please ask the young master to protect the village chief's family?"

Han Zijin was heartbroken and ashamed.

Xie Tingzhou nodded.

Although the village chief is dead, his sons are still alive, and they are all witnesses to the Wujiazhuang case.

Once the agreement was reached, Xie Tingzhou arranged for his trusted confidant to secretly take Wu Er away from Beijing.

Meanwhile, the Marquis of Zhongyong also arrived at the palace and met with the emperor alone.

"Your Majesty, I do not believe that Fu Jiang is a descendant of the Grand Princess."

The Emperor's expression was gentle. "Rise and speak."

Chen Banjun, with great tact, moved a chair for the Marquis of Zhongyong.

Marquis Zhongyong and the Emperor have known each other since childhood. Even after the Emperor became the ruler, their private relationship remained good.

He did not insist. After thanking her, he sat down in the chair and continued, "The three children of the Liu family, Xie Yunzhou, Xie Jinyao, and Xie Lanzhou, are not my children."

Upon hearing this, even the usually composed emperor's expression changed slightly.

"During this trip back to the capital, I discovered many things. Over the years, Liu has been in charge of the household and has transferred a lot of the Marquis's property to Fu Jiang."

She also helped Fu Jiang secretly conduct business and amass wealth using the name of the Marquis's mansion. When she went to Qingzhou to visit Chen's mother, she and her children stayed overnight at Fu Jiang's house.

To keep the secret, Lady Liu frequently changed her grooms over the years. Starting from this point, I discovered that Lady Liu had been having an affair with Fu Jiang long before she married me.

It was Ye Zhen who discovered the groom's situation and reported it to him. He then ordered a thorough investigation and obtained concrete evidence.

He presented the testimonies of the groom and Xie Yunzhou's servant to the emperor.

He also truthfully reported to the emperor Xie Yunzhou's purpose in marrying Ye Zhen, as well as the matter of faking his death.

"I am foolish. I have been completely deceived by them all these years, and I have even treated those children as my precious treasures."

My mother knew all this, yet she never stopped Liu and Fu Jiang; she even helped cover it up.

He rose and knelt in the hall again, saying, "Mother wanted to harm Tingzhou today, but fortunately Tingzhou survived and was unable to do so."

He allowed Lady Liu to give birth to Fu Jiang's child and raise him in the Marquis's mansion, but he couldn't tolerate the eldest son of his minister. After the incident, he blamed everything on Lady Liu, and his mother still refuses to tell the truth.

Her protection of Fu Jiang far surpasses that of her own son, me. Therefore, I believe her account of Fu Jiang's background is also unreliable.

The emperor pondered, "You intend to leave the capital and investigate these matters personally?"

Marquis Zhongyong kowtowed, "I beg Your Majesty to grant my request and convey what I have said today to the Grand Princess."

Fu Jiang and Liu Shi were having an affair; the two conspired to seize the Marquis's family fortune and had been toying with me for years. If I am only to have his legs broken, I will not be satisfied.”

The emperor asked, "What do you want?"

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