Although Yuan Musheng grew up in the palace and benefited from the teachings of his royal grandfather and uncle, he has always had admiration for his father.
Something happened to me in the capital, and although it was said that the emperor's grandfather was furious, even he and my uncle didn't say such harsh words to me.
My uncle also pleaded with my grandfather to let me return to Yangzhou to avoid the limelight, and helped me deal with the rest of the matters.
Instead, it was his own father...
That was the first time Yuan Musheng saw his father like this. He really didn't know why and couldn't help but fall into deep self-doubt.
His parents had always been in love, and his mother never came to see him. He thought his mother was extremely disappointed in him.
But today I heard Yuan Zhao say that she always believed in herself.
These days, he probably saw through what kind of person his father was.
The disappointments of the past have long faded.
Seeing that he was still silent, Yuan Zhao continued, "If you don't want to return to Beijing, I will send you to your cousin's academy. It's quiet and peaceful, and you can study with peace of mind..."
Yuan Musheng held his mother's hand and comforted her: "Mom, I have been quiet for five years, and it is time to move on."
He looked at his mother and two younger sisters surrounding him, his eyes gradually becoming firmer. "My mother and sisters can be so strong, why should I shrink back?"
Yuan Zhizhi hugged her eldest brother's arm and leaned on his chest.
[It was Bai Ruyue and Wei Tianci who framed Big Brother! ]
[It was Wei Tianci who fell in love with that commoner girl, lured her to a brothel, got her drunk, and then lied that he was the big brother, ruining his reputation...]
Hearing Yuan Zhizhi's thoughts, the expressions of everyone present changed.
Yuan Musheng, in particular, felt a chill on his back.
Yuan Zhao then asked him, "Sheng'er, do you still remember what happened back then? Think carefully, are there any clues? ... Especially those related to Wei Tianci..."
Yuan Musheng was speechless for a moment, then collected his thoughts. "Back in the capital, my uncle once told me that I shouldn't just study. So, besides studying with my master in the palace, I should also meet some famous scholars outside the palace and exchange ideas with them."
"I met Wei Tianci at a poetry gathering once. He was about the same age as my son, so we would chat from time to time."
"But my son spends most of his time in the palace, and I haven't had much personal contact with him. It was only a few times at elegant poetry gatherings that someone told me..."
Having said that, Yuan Musheng paused, as if he had thought of something.
The mother, daughter and their two children all stared at him, "Brother, what did I tell you?" Yuan Nan'an couldn't help but ask.
"Someone told me..." Yuan Musheng murmured, "That Wei Tianci and I are somewhat similar. They say that we have similar body shapes and that our clothing and appearances look somewhat similar. There have been several times at poetry gatherings where people mistook him for me just by looking from behind..."
Yuan Nan'an couldn't help but open his mouth wide when he heard that.
[Yes, yes. It was because Wei Tianci took advantage of this, secretly observing and imitating Big Brother's behavior, clothing style, and even the way he spoke. He then went in and out of various places, and later spread rumors that it was Big Brother who went there.]
Yuan Musheng clenched his fists tightly.
Back then, Wei Tianci was just an insignificant academy student to him, so he didn't take this matter to heart.
He didn't even know that Wei Tianci was actually his half-brother.
No wonder the two look somewhat alike.
"When the rumors first started, I also found it strange. I've never been to these places, but for some reason, these rumors kept getting more and more intense..." Yuan Musheng became more and more frightened the more he thought about it. "Until one day, the young master of the Minister of Rites invited me to a banquet. I drank some wine and later passed out. When I woke up, I was in an unfamiliar place, with that woman lying next to me..."
Yuan Zhao knew what happened next.
She bit her lower lip tightly.
Regarding the incident that year, my royal brother had written to me and said that there were many doubts, but because people's words were scary, my royal brother suppressed the matter and sent Mu Sheng back to Yangzhou to take shelter for a while.
Now that I think about it this way, the doubts can be explained.
At that time, Wei Tianci was still young, so how could he have thought of such a meticulous and detailed scheme? His mother, Bai Ruyue, must have been behind it!
Actually, she had already started planning to harm Mu Sheng since then!
After that, Mu Sheng broke his leg when he returned to Yangzhou, which was probably also Bai Ruyue's doing.
Yuan Musheng grew up in luxury and was still young at that time. How could he have guarded against such a trick?
Yuan Zhao's eyes were filled with rage, she wished she could cut Bai Ruyue into pieces!
She will certainly have to pay back to herself the suffering she and her children have endured a thousand times over.
"It's just..." Yuan Musheng paused, his eyes dimming. "It's been five years since this happened. I'm afraid it will be difficult to find evidence."
Yuan Zhao also knew this dilemma. The incident happened in the capital, and she was far away in Yangzhou. Afterwards, Wei Shaoqing was even more lenient with the case. It would be difficult to overturn the case.
But she still held Mu Sheng's hand and comforted him, "If you decide to go back to the capital with me, you must be prepared to face all the rumors. But the innocent will be innocent. Mother believes that one day these rumors will be broken on their own."
Yuan Nan'an also snuggled up to his elder brother and encouraged him, "Brother, you are so talented, you will surely convince everyone!"
[That’s right! Big Brother is the best!] Zhizhi shouted.
Yuan Musheng sat there, his eyebrows and eyes were clear and elegant. He nodded slightly, and there was a rare glimmer in his indifferent eyes.
"I will."
Yuan Zhao looked at Yuan Musheng and felt a little relieved.
Yuan Musheng is her son, and she believes that her son has the courage to face it.
But she would not let Bai Ruyue's family go easily. After returning to the capital, she would investigate the incident again.
According to what Gan Tang had inquired about, Wei Tianci had been doing quite well in the capital's circles since he passed the imperial examination and came to the capital.
I heard that he was generous and talented, and he was even known as "Little Mu Sheng" in the capital.
The money being spent was Yuan Zhao's; the banner being fought was Yuan Musheng's.
The Bai family was like a blood-sucking worm, attaching themselves to Yuan Zhao and her children and sucking out all their blood.
…
“New Year is here!”
The lights in Fengqi Courtyard were bright, and Yuan Zhao took out the New Year's money he had prepared long ago and gave one to each child.
Of course, there is also one portion left for Qi Yu.
Looking at the children's smiling faces, Yuan Zhao thought to himself: Everything will get better and better in the new year!
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