Who actually saw it? Or was the princess consort just bluffing him?
Li Yu did not reply immediately, seemingly deep in thought. Seeing this, Yu Ying became even more suspicious, frowned, and raised her voice to question him.
"What exactly happened to the child? You'd better tell the truth, or you'll face the family rules!"
After a flurry of thoughts, Li Yu calmed down and replied with lowered eyes:
"Yes, Madam, I did bring a child with me."
It really was a child! Ning'er breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, thinking to herself that she hadn't made a mistake. This time, she had truly done a great service! As long as she could use this to bring down Su Gege, the Fujin would definitely trust her again and give her a new role!
Yu Ying was still wondering if there was some misunderstanding, perhaps Ning'er had misread it, but unexpectedly Li Yu admitted it! That is to say, he really did bring a child into the manor!
"Why are you bringing a child here out of nowhere? What are you planning to do by bringing other infants into the manor while Consort Su is giving birth?"
The meaning of the princess's words could not be clearer. Li Yu said calmly, "I have been married to Yunfang for many years, but unfortunately I am a eunuch and cannot have children. Yunfang likes children, so I thought of adopting one to fulfill her wish."
"Oh? Is that so?" His explanation seemed reasonable, but it didn't stand up to scrutiny. "If it was an adoption, why send it to Huatang Pavilion at night? And on the very night that Su Gege gave birth, it's bound to raise suspicion!"
“That day, someone happened to bring a child over, and I had to let Yunfang take a look. If she likes the child, I can raise it. If she doesn’t like it, I will have to continue searching.”
Li Yu answered calmly and logically, but Yu Ying didn't believe him; she felt something was amiss.
"Where's the baby? Bring him here so I can see him!"
Before Li Yu could respond, the Fujin had already sent people to search his house.
If the child cannot be found, or if the child has any defects, it can be proven that the child has been switched!
Half an hour later, the servant and the nanny returned, and sure enough, the nanny was holding a child in her arms!
In fact, Hongli originally intended for Li Yu to send the child away, but Li Yu hesitated again and again and finally left the child at home.
Li Yu did this because he knew very well that nothing stays hidden forever. Although his arrangements were discreet, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn't be observing him in secret. If he were discovered, he would have to give an explanation.
Leaving the child behind was his way of securing his own future.
Even though the child was right there, Yu Ying still had doubts, so she ordered someone to put the child on the bed, uncover the blanket, and personally inspect the child.
However, after carefully examining the child from head to toe, Yu Ying found nothing unusual about him!
Is this really just a child that Li Yu adopted?
Yu Ying looked at Dong Ling, signaling her to check again carefully. Seeing this, Li Yu couldn't help but worry.
"Although this child was adopted by this servant, he was born after his mother carried him for ten months. It's cold in January, and it's still snowing outside. If you, Madam, lift up the child's clothes like this, what if the child gets cold? Wouldn't he suffer?"
Dong Ling said it was alright, "There's an underfloor heating system in the house, and charcoal is burning, so you can rest assured."
Li Yu thought to himself, even with a heated floor, it would still be cold after taking off his clothes. "May I ask, Madam, what are you looking at? Is there something wrong with this child?"
Yu Ying did not respond. Dong Ling searched carefully again but found nothing. Helpless, she could only ask the nanny to dress the child and wrap him in a small blanket.
Unable to find anything unusual, Yu Ying had no choice but to let Li Yu leave.
Although Li Yu's explanation was flawless, Yu Ying still felt it was too much of a coincidence.
Ning'er's words had quietly taken root in her heart. She always suspected that Su Yushan's child was not Hongli's flesh and blood, but Li Yu's adopted child was fine, so it shouldn't be a freak born from Su Yushan, right?
Dong Ling guessed, "Li Yu is meticulous in his work. He may have already sent away the freak born to Su Gege. This child may just be a cover."
That's true. If the child really had a problem, Li Yu wouldn't leave the child here. Wouldn't that give others something to hold against her?
Yu Ying was in a state of utter confusion, unable to sort things out, and quite anxious. "Then how can we prove that Su Yu Shan's child has a problem?"
After a moment of deep thought, Dong Ling's eyes lit up. "I've come up with a solution—a blood test! If the blood mixes, then the child is Su Gege's. If the blood doesn't mix, then it proves the child has been switched."
The idea is feasible, but the reasons are not sufficient. "Without evidence, it seems inappropriate to rashly demand a blood test for kinship."
"If you really want to verify this, Madam, there is indeed a legitimate reason," Dong Ling whispered in her ear. Yu Ying couldn't help but fall into deep thought after hearing this.
She wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do, and said she would think about it before deciding.
If she had been unaware of the rumors, it would have been fine, but once she heard about them, she couldn't just sit idly by.
This matter concerns the royal bloodline, and as the wife of the emperor, she has a responsibility to investigate the truth. Otherwise, if something goes wrong in the future and the Empress Dowager blames her, she will also be accused of negligence.
With this in mind, Yu Ying no longer hesitated and decided to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
She had a grudge against Su Yushan, so she never visited Su Yushan when she gave birth, but only sent some gifts over.
Today, in order to verify her conjecture, Yu Ying went to Hua Tang Pavilion in person, but was stopped by Yun Song.
Dong Ling stepped forward and angrily rebuked, "How dare you! How dare you stop the Lady of the House?"
Yun Song bowed respectfully and said, "This subordinate would not dare to do so. This is the Prince's order. Consort Su is recuperating, and no one is allowed to enter to visit or disturb her. This subordinate obeys the Prince's order, and I hope the Princess will understand."
To think that she, a dignified Fujin (principal wife), was actually stopped at the door was truly humiliating! However, Yuying knew of Hongli's instructions, but she believed that as a Fujin, she was ultimately different from others, so she did not leave. Instead, she instructed Yunsong…
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