the truth
When Cui Shenzhi heard that Shen Meiwu had summoned him, he happened to be chatting with Qingya. He had just learned from Qingya about the grievances Fu Yunjin had suffered over the years, and he was furious.
So when he heard Shen Meiwu's name, he stood up angrily, looking like he wanted to cause trouble for Shen Meiwu, but Qingya quickly stopped him.
"Your Highness, please calm down! The grievances Her Majesty suffered while she was alive were real, but that's all in the past. Besides, we have no evidence. It's not advisable for you to go and cause trouble for Shen Meiwu like this. His Majesty will use this as an excuse to reprimand you severely and damage the reputation you've worked so hard to build."
“But Aunt, that’s my mother! She’s the mother who risked her life for me! If I, as a son, were to let the person who caused my mother a lifetime of suffering live a life of high status and pleasure just for some vague and illusory reputation, then I wouldn’t deserve to be called a human being!”
Qingya was somewhat flustered. After all, Shen Meiwu knew that Cui Shenzhi was not Fu Yunjin's child. If Cui Shenzhi impulsively broke off relations with Shen Meiwu, Shen Meiwu would definitely reveal this information as a threat. Would Cui Shenzhi still stand up for Fu Yunjin then?
Just as Cui Shenzhi was about to leave Zhiqiu Pavilion, Qingya grabbed his sleeve without thinking.
"Your Highness," Qingya lowered her head and whispered when she saw Cui Shenzhi's gaze, "You must endure it now, and you can only endure it, because..."
"Her Majesty was killed by Shen Meiwu and Cui Sugong."
"Your Majesty was killed by Shen Meiwu and Cui Sugong because of your existence."
Choi Shin-ji froze.
"Auntie, what did you say?"
"I said, Your Majesty was killed by Shen Meiwu and Cui Sugong because she gave birth to you. Cui Sugong didn't want Your Majesty's son; he only wanted Shen Meiwu's son. But Shen Meiwu couldn't have children after giving birth to Cui Lingxian, so they harmed Your Majesty so that you could become Shen Meiwu's son."
A profound sadness welled up in Cui Shen's heart.
He closed his eyes, feeling excruciating pain in his internal organs, as if they were about to burst. He had to bite his lip tightly to prevent himself from crying out in agony.
It turns out he was the real culprit who killed Fu Yunjin.
It turns out he was the one who killed his mother.
Qingya, disregarding Cui Shenzhi's thoughts, spoke half-truths with a hint of reluctance.
"But we have no evidence of this. After Her Majesty realized what Cui Sugong and Shen Meiwu were planning, she told me to run away quickly because she knew that Cui Sugong and Shen Meiwu would not leave any evidence of such a serious matter as murdering the Empress. Her Majesty hoped that I could live."
"So Your Highness, you must endure it now. If you rashly break ties with Shen Meiwu, she and Cui Sugong will definitely be on guard. The events of that year were already difficult to investigate. If they are on guard, then the Empress's death will never be redressed!"
Choi Shin-ji opened his eyes, which were filled with bloodshot veins.
He wiped the blood from his bitten lips and said with a hint of grief and indignation, "I understand, Aunt. I will. I will endure it. For Mother's sake, I can endure anything. I will endure until I get evidence that proves Mother's death is related to them, and then I will seek justice for Mother!"
Qingya breathed a sigh of relief, quickly tidied up Cui Shenzhi, and watched him leave.
*****
When Cui Shenzhi arrived at Chengqian Palace, Chen Meiwu was startled.
"Shenzhi, what happened to your mouth?"
Cui Shenzhi lowered his head to hide his expression, cupped his hands and said, "I was eating when I heard that the Imperial Concubine was summoning me. I was worried about keeping the Imperial Concubine waiting, so I was a little anxious and accidentally bumped my head."
"Oh, is that so... You really are a child. What's the big deal if I wait a little while? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"That's not how it works. The Imperial Concubine has taken such good care of me all these years. As a junior, how can I keep the Imperial Concubine waiting?"
Shen Meiwu smiled, her worries about Cui Shenzhi making a scene after hearing the truth lessened.
She waved her hand, signaling Rouge to lead everyone down, not even sparing Qi Kang and Siwei behind Cui Shenzhi.
Choi Shin-ji found it a bit strange, but he did as instructed anyway.
After everyone had left, Shen Meiwu walked over to Cui Shenzhi, took his hand, and led him to a chair to sit down.
“Shenzhi, actually I didn’t call you here for anything else, I just wanted to tell you a story.”
Cui Shenzhi looked at Shen Meiwu's hand covering his, his eyes filled with an inscrutable expression.
"Your Highness, please speak."
Shen Meiwu gently put down Cui Shenzhi's hand and said softly, "Once upon a time, there was a couple who loved each other very much. They promised to spend their lives together, but because of the difference in their social status, the woman could only watch the man marry a wife with great pain, and then she lowered her head and became the man's concubine, serving the man and his wife."
Choi Shin-ji's eyes narrowed, and a strange sense of foreboding suddenly filled his heart.
"Although she was a concubine, the man was sincere to the woman, so their relationship did not deteriorate and they were still very loving. However, for some reason, the woman could not get pregnant. They saw many doctors but could not find out what the problem was. The man could only take the woman to the temple to pray for blessings, asking the Bodhisattva to have mercy and grant them a child."
"Just then, the woman faintly heard the cry of a baby. She felt it was a sign from the Bodhisattva and, ignoring the man's attempts to stop her, followed the sound. She ran a long way before finally finding a newborn baby boy near the mountainside."
"The woman felt that this was an opportunity given to her by the Bodhisattva, allowing her to do good deeds and take care of the child. In return, the Bodhisattva would give them both a biological child. So she took the child home, and sure enough, a few days later the doctor told the woman that she was pregnant."
"The woman was overjoyed and discussed with the man about adopting the baby boy. However, the woman was in poor health and had a difficult pregnancy, so she could not take any strenuous work. Therefore, the adoption could only be postponed until after the woman gave birth. Several months later, the woman gave birth to a daughter."
"Just as the woman was making arrangements to adopt a son, the man's wife also gave birth. However, the wife was not in good health and not only did she not give birth, but she also passed away. The man then discussed with the woman that since this baby boy was a blessing sent by the Bodhisattva, why not simply let the child become his wife's child?"
"In this way, the wife's death was not in vain, the man's family line continued, and the woman could naturally take care of the child. It was a win-win-win situation, so they agreed immediately, and the baby boy became the man's and wife's child."
Choi Shin-ji's breathing became heavy.
What Shen Meiwu was talking about wasn't a story at all; it was his background! What Shen Meiwu wanted to say was that he was neither Fu Yunjin's child nor Cui Sugong's child!
Whose child is he? What about his parents? What about his family? Are they alright? Or were they silenced by Shen Meiwu and Cui Sugong, like Fu Yunjin and the palace servants in Kunning Palace?! Why is Shen Meiwu telling him this? Is she threatening him because she sensed he was investigating Fu Yunjin?!
Shen Meiwu had anticipated Cui Shenzhi's reaction, so she didn't find anything unusual. Instead, she reached out and patted Cui Shenzhi's hand as usual, but as expected, Cui Shenzhi dodged it.
Shen Meiwu sighed and said softly, "Shenzhi, you don't need to be afraid. I'm not saying this to threaten you or ask you to do anything for me. I'm just worried about you."
"You performed very well on this trip to Nanzhou, better than anyone expected. However, His Majesty is getting old and has begun to show some dissatisfaction with you, much like Emperor Wu of Han was suspicious of Crown Prince Li in his later years. You are not biological father and son, and I am worried that His Majesty might do something irreversible in a moment of confusion. I want you to be on guard."
Cui Shenzhi barely suppressed all his emotions and forced himself to say, "Your Highness is mistaken. The so-called ruler-subject relationship, father-son relationship, the ruler-subject relationship, the father-son relationship, the father-subject relationship, the father-son relationship, the father-subject relationship, the father-subject relationship, the father-son relationship, the father-son relationship, even if the emperor is not my biological father, he is my adoptive father and my emperor. If the emperor wants my life, I will not say a word."
This somewhat pedantic answer pleased Shen Meiwu.
"It doesn't have to come to that. I've thought about it. The reason His Majesty is uneasy is simply because he feels you are an outsider. So, as long as we find a way to get closer to His Majesty and make him feel that you are not an outsider, wouldn't that solve the problem?"
How could he possibly get closer to Cui Sugong? What could be closer than their current nominal father-son relationship?
Cui Shenzhi was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened, and he asked in surprise and doubt, "Your Highness is talking about Ling Xian? You mean you want me to marry Ling Xian?!"
Shen Meiwu nodded.
“You and Lingxian are childhood sweethearts who grew up together. You are very similar in your ways of dealing with people and have very similar interests. I don’t have to worry about Lingxian being bullied by her husband’s family, and your relationship with the Emperor won’t be as bad as it is now. Isn’t that great?”
Good? What's good about that? He's not related to Ling Xian by blood, but they've been like siblings for over a decade. How could they become husband and wife just because they're not related by blood?! Not to mention, Ling Xian and Feng Ping are clearly developing feelings for each other, while he…
Choi Shin-ji was stunned.
What is he saying? What is he thinking? Who is he trying to talk to?
Shen Meiwu misunderstood Cui Shenzhi's stunned expression, thinking that he was hesitant because he couldn't sort out his feelings for Cui Lingxian. She quickly comforted him, "Shenzhi, I'm not forcing you or rushing you. I just think there's no better way. What do you think?"
Cui Shenzhi's mind was in turmoil, partly worried about his biological parents and partly troubled by his own inexplicable feelings. He could only nod haphazardly.
"Your Highness, I... I need to think this over carefully, so I'll take my leave now."
After saying that, Cui Shenzhi got up and left as if fleeing.
Watching Cui Shenzhi's departing figure, Shen Meiwu's eyes were full of determination.
—Anyone who isn’t a fool would know that marrying Cui Lingxian is his best and only choice.
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