Chapter 296 The Show Has Just Begun
Chu Ruohan listened quietly without saying a word.
"The doctors all said that they had to make a decision between saving the empress or the child. The empress chose to save her own life."
Biyu's voice trembled, "But the Queen knows that if she can't give birth to a prince, her situation will become even more difficult."
"Even when the Queen was pregnant, Duke Wei had already arranged everything."
"A newborn baby boy was secretly sent to a residence outside the palace. I went to retrieve him and pass him off as the Queen's son."
Chu Ruohan and Doctor Qian exchanged a glance and asked, "Was Tian Yuanzheng also involved in this matter back then?"
Biyu smiled bitterly: "No, it's just that he had no choice at the time."
"What do you mean?" Chu Ruohan asked.
"Tan Yuanzheng was the last person to know about this."
Biyu sighed, "By the time he arrived at the delivery room and saw the baby that wasn't the Queen's, it was already too late."
"Duke Wei threatened the lives of all the members of the Tian family, so he had no choice but to cooperate."
Chu Ruohan sighed, her eyes looked serious, and a hint of coldness appeared in her eyes.
"But later, Duke Wei still wiped out the entire Tian family."
A hint of disbelief first flashed across Biyu's eyes, then she calmed down and was replaced by a kind of understanding sadness.
She raised her head and said, "I have explained everything I need to say."
"I only have one request, to keep my daughter safe."
Chu Ruohan nodded slightly, "Don't worry."
"Once this matter is settled, I will give you enough money to live on."
"Send you and your daughter away from the capital, to a place where no one knows you, and start a new life."
Biyu's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly: "After so many years, I can finally live without fear."
"However," Chu Ruohan put down the teacup with a serious expression.
"Until this matter is completely settled, you and your daughter must temporarily stay at the place I arrange for you. You must not leave rashly."
Doctor Qian nodded: "It's for your safety."
"I understand." Biyu breathed a sigh of relief, and there was finally a hint of relief in her eyes.
After leaving the room.
Chu Ruohan and Doctor Qian walked side by side in the courtyard. The moonlight was like water, sprinkling on the two of them and casting long shadows.
"The prince's background is irrefutable." Chu Ruohan said softly, "Next, the storm is coming."
Doctor Qian sighed: "The Wei family will not sit idly by and wait for death. They will definitely try their best to cover up the truth."
"Cover up?" Chu Ruohan sneered, "It's too late."
The matter of the young princess in Prince Yong's Mansion was like a gust of evil wind, but it was quickly suppressed.
However, rumors about the prince's background became more and more intense and spread widely in the capital.
In the streets, alleys, teahouses and taverns, people were whispering everywhere.
Prince Su stood quietly with his hands behind his back, listening to his subordinates' reports.
"Just as I expected."
The subordinate whispered, "Your Highness, the rumors among the people are out of control. Even some officials have begun submitting memorials to the Emperor requesting a blood test to verify the relationship."
Prince Su turned around, a flicker of determination in his eyes: "It's time, let's make the arrangements!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At the same time, in an inn in the south of the city.
Wei Qiming was pacing back and forth in the room, his face gloomy and his eyes bloodshot.
"Sir, have some water." A man who looked like a servant handed over a bowl of tea.
Wei Qiming snatched it away and took a few gulps roughly.
"Why is there no news yet? The news has spread all over the capital, why haven't the Emperor and Empress made any statement yet?"
The attendant lowered his head, his tone somewhat bewitching: "Sir, I'm afraid the Duke of Wei and the Empress are afraid to face the truth."
"Bullshit!" Wei Qiming slammed the tea bowl to the ground. "What truth is there? It's all lies! The prince is the emperor's biological son!"
The attendant quietly stepped back, his tone becoming even more incendiary: "But, people are saying that the queen had a difficult labor and didn't give birth to a child at all, but adopted a child from outside..."
"Shut up!" Wei Qiming was furious. "The Queen's innocence cannot tolerate even the slightest slander!"
The attendant continued calmly, "If you truly care about the Wei family and the Empress, you should shut these people up."
"Shut up?" Wei Qiming narrowed his eyes.
"These days, there's a storyteller named Wang San who's been telling stories every day at the East Market. He specializes in gossiping about the Empress and the Crown Prince, attracting a large crowd."
The attendant's tone turned grim, "If we can kill one person to serve as a warning to the rest, perhaps it will deter those who spread rumors."
Wei Qiming was silent for a moment, a fierce look flashed in his eyes: "Lead the way, I want to see who is so bold!"
In an open space in the East Market, many people gathered to listen to the story.
A thin storyteller was banging the gavel and talking eloquently.
"...That year, the Empress suffered a difficult labor and was on the verge of death. Just as everyone was in a state of panic, a young palace maid suddenly returned, carrying a baby boy, claiming it was the Empress who had given birth..."
The onlookers were fascinated by the performance and exclaimed in surprise from time to time.
"Is this serious?"
"Shh, keep your voice down, this is a royal matter!"
At this moment, Wei Qiming and several followers squeezed into the crowd with their eyes wide open.
"You bold and unruly people! How dare you spread rumors and mislead the public here!" Wei Qiming shouted sternly.
The storyteller was startled and quickly put away the gavel, waving his hands repeatedly: "Sir, I am just telling a story to relieve boredom. I don't mean to offend you!"
Seeing this, the onlookers retreated one after another, fearing that they would get into trouble.
Wei Qiming strode forward and grabbed the storyteller by the collar: "Do you know what the crime of slandering the royal family is?"
The storyteller was so frightened that his face turned pale: "Please spare my life, sir! I only heard it from others!"
"Hearsay?" Wei Qiming sneered, "Who gave you the courage to talk nonsense here?"
The attendant beside him came forward and whispered, "Sir, this kind of person should be killed to scare the monkeys, so that he won't continue to talk nonsense!"
Another follower also fanned the flames: "Yes, sir, if you don't punish him severely, I'm afraid there will be even more rumors in the capital tomorrow!"
Wei Qiming's heart was boiling with rage. All the humiliation and resentment that had tormented him day and night now found an outlet.
"My Wei family will not tolerate anyone slandering us!" A hint of madness flashed in Wei Qiming's eyes, and he suddenly pulled out a dagger from his waist.
"Look everyone, this is the fate of rumormongers!"
After saying this, he stabbed the storyteller in the chest.
"ah--!"
A shrill scream broke the tranquility of the early morning.
The storyteller fell to the ground, holding his chest, and blood quickly stained his clothes red.
The onlookers were terrified and fled in all directions.
“Murder!”
"Run!"
"Someone is committing a crime!"
Noisy voices and hurried footsteps spread out in all directions, and the East Market was in chaos for a while.
Wei Qiming looked at the blood on his hands and became panicked.
He originally just wanted to teach this storyteller a lesson...
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