Chapter 181 The Impossible Truth
As dusk approached, Du Zhengming quickly bid farewell to the Crown Prince and left the palace with Xie Yunman.
Xie Yunyu and Xiao Ling stayed at the East Palace for a meal, and then went to the Crown Prince's study to discuss matters.
Xie Yunyu carefully read Wan's statement.
The confession stated that Prince Rui kept a body double, and every time he came to the capital, the body double would stand in for him at Prince Rui's residence.
As for the spies sent by the court, they have been discovered. Prince Rui regularly leaks them some unimportant information so that they can be relayed back to the palace.
They also claimed that Ye Zhen was responsible for the death of Prince Rui's first wife.
Xie Yunyu's expression was quite strange after reading it.
Xiao Ling asked, "What's wrong?"
Don't you find it strange?
Ye Zhen killed Prince Rui's first wife, became Prince Rui's consort, and even bore him two children.
So it seems she must be in love with Prince Rui.
However, she founded the Prosperous Flowers Poetry Society to find beauties for Prince Rui.
And he witnessed these beauties meeting Prince Rui, consummating their marriages, and having children.
Do you think this is right?
The Crown Princess happened to arrive with her entourage to bring the Crown Prince tea and snacks.
Hearing this, he replied, "If you truly love someone, you will not tolerate any imperfections."
Ye Zhen either doesn't love Prince Rui, but is merely his right-hand man.
Either she loves Prince Rui, or these women are merely tools to her; she would never allow Prince Rui to sleep with them.
The Crown Princess's belly was very large, and she looked like she was about to give birth. Even though it was cool at night, she was covered in a fine sweat from walking along the way.
When the Crown Prince saw her come in, he quickly got up and helped her sit down.
"It's getting dark, and you're about to give birth. Didn't I tell you not to come over again?"
The Crown Princess wiped her forehead with a handkerchief, smiled, and said:
"The imperial physician said that moving around more will make childbirth easier."
I thought my sister-in-law was here today, so I came over to bring some tea and snacks.
After saying that, he looked at Xie Yunyu and said, "Sister-in-law, come and sit down."
Xie Yunyu stood up from the table and sat down below the Crown Princess.
"Recently, the Crown Prince has often mentioned these case files to me and asked for my thoughts."
As for what my sister-in-law said, I have the same question and still can't figure it out.
The Crown Princess looked at Xie Yunyu and said.
After recalling the contents of the various random novels she had read in her previous life, Xie Yunyu said with a very strange expression:
"Could it be that the person who consummated their marriage was the stand-in?"
One sentence stunned the three people in the room.
The Crown Princess, being a woman, reacted the fastest.
"What my sister-in-law said makes sense."
Xiao Ling said in disbelief, "This...this is simply a fantasy."
Xie Yunyu looked at the Crown Princess and added:
"Or perhaps our covert network didn't go wrong at all, and the person in the North is indeed Prince Rui."
The one who came to the capital was the stand-in.
The Crown Princess frowned deeply upon hearing this and said, "Sister-in-law, perhaps your reasoning is correct."
It was unreasonable for Prince Rui to abandon the northern border and enter the capital alone.
If it was the stand-in who went to Beijing, then it would make sense.
Moreover, Wan said that Prince Rui liked plum blossoms, tea, and Buddhist worship.
Perhaps she wasn't lying; the stand-in did indeed like these things.
After hearing this, Xie Yunyu suddenly realized and said:
"No wonder Du Shaoqing said last time that when Wan Shi first learned that Prince Rui disliked plum blossoms, tea, and Buddhism, she sought suicide."
A few days later, during another interrogation, she regained her conviction that Prince Rui loved her.
She must have carefully considered the details of her interactions with Prince Rui, and from his behavior, it seemed that he genuinely liked plum blossoms and tea.
If that's the case, then the person who was with Wan must be that stand-in.
The Crown Prince and Xiao Ling listened to Xie Yunyu and the Crown Princess talking back and forth.
Their expressions changed from initial shock to thoughtfulness, and finally they calmed down.
“Prince Rui and Ye Zhen are truly a heartless couple.”
These women have really been harmed by them.
The Crown Princess was quite angry and slammed her hand on the table.
The crown prince was startled and said nervously:
"Oh dear...you're about to give birth, don't get upset."
The Crown Princess sighed and said, "That's roughly the truth of the matter."
Xie Yunyu nodded and quoted a classic line from Sherlock Holmes:
"After eliminating all the impossibilities, no matter how bizarre the final conclusion may seem, it is the truth."
Xiao Ling suddenly asked, "What about the lotus flowers?"
Xie Yunyu thought for a moment and replied, "The lotus flower should be different; he should be Prince Rui's true love."
Furthermore, I have always suspected that the lotus flower was the one who poisoned the Empress Dowager and His Majesty in the palace.
He was also the leader of the clandestine network in the capital.
The Crown Princess nodded in agreement: "That's what I think too."
After saying that, he glanced at Xie Yunyu and said, "I heard you suspect Consort Rong?"
"Well, but I have no evidence."
"Then why do you still insist on doubting her?"
Xie Yunyu couldn't very well explain her own theories about melodramatic novels and TV dramas, so she could only offer Xie Yunman's deductions.
"The Empress goes without saying, Consort Shu is violent, Consort Xian is of foreign blood, and the Fifth Prince's mother died young."
After counting and comparing, among the mothers of the adult princes, only Consort Rong remains.
The three of them nodded in agreement.
"It was my second brother who reminded me of this point; he also insisted that it was Consort Rong."
The Crown Prince said, "Lord Xie's analysis is not without merit."
"So what do we do next? Should we take down Consort Rong?" Xie Yunyu asked.
"This Consort Rong is cunning and slippery. After investigating for so long, it seems we haven't found any information that could be detrimental to her."
The Crown Princess looked rather annoyed.
Xiao Ling suddenly spoke up: "Then let's play the long game and catch a big fish?"
The Crown Prince nodded: "We should still report this matter to Father Emperor and see what he says."
After the four finished analyzing the situation, they sat and chatted for a while, watching as the palace gates were about to be locked.
Xiao Ling and Xie Yunyu left the palace with their two children.
The next day, Xiao Ling left early in the morning, and Xie Yunyu received news at noon that the Crown Princess had given birth to a son.
The Emperor and Empress were overjoyed at the birth of the Crown Prince's legitimate son.
Throughout May, starting from the Dragon Boat Festival, people were being poisoned one after another, and bad news kept coming.
Finally, on the first day of June, at the start of a new month, there was a great joyous occasion.
Upon hearing this, Xie Yunyu turned and went to the storeroom to have someone find the items.
A specially made stroller, baby cradle, cork pacifier, and baby bottle were all packed up and prepared to be sent to the palace the next day.
Just as I finished packing, Xiao Ling returned.
"Why are you back so early today?" Xie Yunyu asked in surprise.
"The Crown Prince has been blessed with a legitimate son, and everyone is happy about it."
The Crown Prince has no interest in handling state affairs, so I've returned first.
Besides, I've been so busy lately, I haven't had a single day off in a month.
I'll take this opportunity to rest at home for half a day today.
He then took off his outer robe, washed up, and returned.
"My wife, come and rest with your husband for a while."
The two of them lay down on the tatami mat for a midday rest.
After lunch break, a sudden gust of wind picked up, followed by a light drizzle.
Xie Yunyu casually draped a thin gauze coat over her shoulders and sat by the window watching the rain.
Xiao Ling walked over and pulled the person into his arms:
"What are you looking at?"
"I love rainy days in summer the most. The weather is cool, and drinking tea by the window while listening to the rain is a unique experience."
Xie Yunyu looked at the rain outside the window and said.
Xiao Ling pulled off the thin veil from Xie Yunyu's shoulder and rested his chin on Xie Yunyu's fair and smooth shoulder.
"Hmm, it's not bad."
Xie Yunyu looked at it for a while and sighed, saying, "A stolen half-day of leisure in this busy life."
Xiao Ling's hands were idly igniting passions on Xie Yunyu's body.
Xie Yunyu turned around and glared at him:
"It's broad daylight, let go of your claws."
Xiao Ling, unwilling to give up, bit Xie Yunyu's shoulder and neck twice.
"Are you a dog? Why are you biting people?"
Xiao Ling laughed and said, "Everyone says I'm a dog, so I'll leave a mark."
Xie Yunyu turned around and hit him.
Taking advantage of the moment, Xiao Ling grabbed his hand, pulled him into his arms, and kissed him...
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