Xiao Mochen could no longer sit still; he had to find a way to uncover the evidence.
Yan Qingqing stopped him and said, "You can find the palace servants who worked in Xihua Garden back then and interrogate them one by one."
It doesn't matter if we can't find out.
We can also set up a scheme to confirm this matter.
After saying that, Yan Qingqing beckoned to Xiao Mochen, signaling him to come closer.
Xiao Mochen also obediently walked to Yan Qingqing's side. After listening to Yan Qingqing's words, a glint flashed in Xiao Mochen's eyes.
Xiao Mochen gave Yan Qingqing a thumbs up and said, "Old ginger is indeed spicier!"
Yan Qingqing laughed and scolded, "What are you saying, child? Who's old!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Mochen burst into laughter. His aunt was indeed still the same aunt, and she minded people saying she was old.
So he quickly said, "It was Mo Chen who misspoke. Auntie will always be eighteen."
Yan Qingqing waved her hand, somewhat amused and exasperated, and said, "Alright, hurry up and get on with your business."
Three days later, a group of men in black arrived at the prison of Jingzhao Prefecture. They drugged the prison guards and entered the prison where Xiao Moyan was being held as if it were empty.
Xiao Moyan was terrified when he saw this group of people and shouted, "What are you trying to do?"
Let me tell you, my surname is Xiao, I am the son of the Emperor, and I am still the Prince Ping, appointed by the Emperor.
Even if I make a mistake, it is my father who will judge me.
I know you were sent by Xiao Mochen to drag me outside and torture me. Forget about it, I won't go with you.
The leader of the men in black frowned upon hearing this. Was Xiao Moyan really that stupid? Was saving him the right or wrong thing to do?
But since we're already here, we have to get them out of there.
The leader of the men in black then ordered his men to open the prison cell.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Moyan started shouting and yelling again, even threatening to commit suicide with a broken bowl.
The leader of the men in black then pulled off his mask and said to Xiao Moyan, "If it weren't for the fact that you're my son, I wouldn't care whether you live or die!"
Xiao Moyan was shocked to see that the person who came was Queen Andu of Beiliang.
Somewhat incredulously, he asked, "What did you just say? Who is your son? Don't talk nonsense and slander my mother's innocence."
When the governor saw that Xiao Moyan refused to believe it, he said, "Innocence? Your mother is not innocent."
More than twenty years ago, I was a guest of honor in the Great Yan Dynasty and stayed in the palace for a period of time.
Back then, your mother was just a minor noblewoman, and she used every trick in the book to seduce me.
Seeing that she had many tricks up her sleeve, I reluctantly favored her a few times.
Not only that, in order to win me over, she gave me several of her best-looking palace maids.
I never expected that she would be pregnant with you. If she hadn't left me a letter before she died, I wouldn't have believed it.
Alright, since you are my offspring, come back to Beiliang with me.
"I guarantee that no one in Beiliang will dare to bully you."
Xiao Moyan still couldn't believe it, muttering to himself, "Impossible, I don't believe it, how could I be your child? I am clearly Father Emperor's son."
King Andu saw that despite all the advice he had given him, the boy remained stubborn and seemed quite resistant to acknowledging him as his father.
Suddenly feeling a bit angry, he said to Xiao Moyan, "Fool, if it weren't for the fact that you are my son, I would have returned to Beiliang long ago after your rebellion failed."
Look at your face, and then look at mine. Don't you look somewhat alike?
And what about your mother's handwritten letter before her death? Could it be faked?
Besides, you are of no use to me now. If it weren't for the fact that you are my son, why would I have saved you for no reason?
Even if Xiao Moyan was stupid, he probably knew that what the Governor of Andu said was true. If his father found out about this, he would be dead if he didn't die.
Rather than doing this, it would be better to just leave with the King of Andu.
Xiao Moyan said, "Alright, since you're my biological father, I'll trust you this once. I'll go with you."
No sooner had Xiao Moyan finished speaking than Xiao Mochen's voice came: "I wonder where Your Majesty is headed?"
Xiao Moyan was shocked upon hearing this, and even the Governor of Andu's expression changed drastically.
He realized something was wrong; they had fallen into a trap.
He then ignored Xiao Moyan and led his men out.
How could Xiao Mochen let them escape? With a wave of his hand, a group of soldiers rushed in, each one highly skilled in martial arts.
They quickly captured King Andu and his men.
Xiao Moyan finally snapped out of his shock.
This King Andu didn't come to save him, he came to take his life. Is he really his own father?
After Xiao Mochen's men took the An Du Wang and the others away, Xiao Mochen looked at Xiao Moyan and said, "I have always felt that we are not brothers, but I did not expect that we are not brothers at all."
"You're actually a bastard child of Beiliang!"
Xiao Moyan retorted, "So what if I am the son of the An Du King? My father will not believe you. He will only think that you framed me."
Xiao Mochen sneered and said, "Is that so? Then take a look at who this is?"
Then a person wearing a black hood appeared in the prison.
This shattered Xiao Moyan's last glimmer of hope.
This person was none other than the emperor.
Since Xiao Mochen wanted to catch the culprit red-handed, how could he not invite the most important person to the scene?
The emperor's face was extremely grim, but he didn't utter a single word.
Instead, he slowly turned around, and as he walked out with faltering steps, he said heavily, "Convey my decree."
Prince Ping, Xiao Moyan, was deeply favored by the emperor, yet he committed treason, forced the emperor to abdicate, and murdered many important officials in the court. He was unfit to be a member of the royal family.
He was stripped of his imperial jade tablet and demoted to a commoner.
However, considering our long-standing father-son bond, I will grant you a complete corpse.
He is hereby granted a special promotion and a higher rank, by imperial decree!
Upon hearing this, Xiao Mochen replied loudly, "Your subject obeys the decree."
The sound echoed for a long time in the dungeon of the Jingzhao Prefecture.
The so-called promotion to official rank and title involves applying layers of wet towels to the entire face until the person is suffocated.
Xiao Moyan was filled with fear and forgot to beg for mercy.
Finally regaining his senses, Xiao Moyan stared intently at Xiao Mochen and said, "Although you won, you may not be able to beat my children and grandchildren in the future."
Xiao Mochen laughed and said, "Do you think you can still have children and grandchildren after committing such a heinous crime?"
Xiao Moyan glared angrily at Xiao Mochen, but then he smiled, a smug smile on his face.
Looking at his expression, Xiao Mochen said again, "If you're hoping to conceive that child from the faked death, I advise you to give up on that idea as soon as possible."
Without saying another word, Xiao Mochen waved his hand, and someone immediately tied Xiao Moyan to a stool.
Xiao Mochen stood by and watched until Xiao Moyan stopped struggling before turning around and leaving the prison.
Leaving the capital, Xiao Mochen breathed in the fresh air. From now on, no one could stop his path to becoming emperor.
The emperor fell ill the next day, supposedly because he was too heartbroken over the matter of Prince Ping, and specially ordered the crown prince to oversee the country.
Xiao Mochen suddenly had more things to do, so he had less time to study than usual, while Yan Qingqing had a lot more free time.
Li Xiangjian made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion, and Xiao Mochen exceptionally promoted him to the rank of third-grade military officer, appointing him as General Yunhui.
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