Chapter 213 Confusing the Royal Bloodline
The carved window was slightly ajar, letting in a gust of cold wind. The emperor on the bed frowned deeply, his heart sinking to the bottom. He had his doubts, but who was he implying with those words?
Pei Shaoqin carefully observed his expression, his heartstrings tightening as he carefully considered his words, "Father, I have always felt that Third Brother, from childhood to adulthood, has always been exceptionally cold and ruthless to everyone, yet he has left an excellent impression on the court officials."
He feigned indignation and continued to coax, "While we brothers were all ignorant and naive, he alone was exceptionally mature, like a peak we could never surpass, perfect and envied by everyone. He was completely different from us brothers..."
His mother had told him that the person Empress Wen had originally fallen for was Prince Xian, and the two were originally planning to get married, but Emperor Muzong interfered.
The Prince Xian had always been someone Emperor Muzong looked up to. Over the years, the emperor had suppressed the Crown Prince and favored himself in every way.
He didn't believe that Emperor Muzong hadn't had any doubts about someone as outstanding as Pei Siyan.
Emperor Muzong's gaze darkened, and he impatiently interrupted, his tone stern, "Shut up!"
At this moment, a noise came from outside the palace gate. Pei Shaoqin turned his head and saw Pei Siyan, Dou Wenyi, Consort Zhang, and others walking in in a grand procession.
His heart pounded, and a sudden sense of unease rose within him.
A cold glint flashed in Pei Siyan's eyes as he sneered, "When my fifth brother mentioned the matter of the Prince Xian, I was reminded of an old story that I would like to tell Father. In April of the third year of the Jingtai reign, His Majesty went on a tour of Jianghuai and did not return to Tianning City until three months later."
"Consort Tan, back then she was just a minor noblewoman. She went to the Xiangguo Temple to pray for blessings and happened to stay for almost three months. Less than two months after the Emperor returned to the capital, she announced that she was pregnant. The Imperial Household Department had detailed records of these matters for the favored concubines. However, the eunuch Xu who managed this archive died a violent death in the same year, and that historical record also disappeared without a trace."
"Father, don't you think it's a coincidence?"
These words struck him like a thunderbolt. Pei Shaoqin's face turned pale instantly, his pupils contracted sharply, and cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.
Emperor Muzong's expression changed drastically, and a thought vaguely occurred to him: "What exactly is going on?"
Consort Zhang seemed to be deep in thought. "I do remember that Consort Tan went to the Daxiangguo Temple to pray for blessings. After she became pregnant, the concubines even discussed in private that her belly looked bigger than that of ordinary people. Consort Tan even explained to her sisters in the palace that she was just showing more clearly."
Pei Siyan gave a look, and Chi Yan immediately grabbed an old woman.
"Tell me the truth about why Eunuch Xu died."
The old woman knelt down on the ground with a thud and said tremblingly, "Eunuch Xu is my own younger brother. In the middle of August of the third year of Jingtai, one day he suddenly returned home and said that he had received a reward from a nobleman. He gave me a brocade bag containing one hundred taels of gold and some jewelry."
"He told me to keep it safe. Then one day, as if he had a premonition of danger, he told me to leave Tianning City immediately and forbade me to go back to my hometown. He also told me to check under the jujube tree in the backyard before I left, as there was something there that could save my life."
"As a result, I dug out a box under the jujube tree. Inside was only a booklet. I couldn't read, so I didn't think much of it. But later, when I learned that my younger brother had fallen into the well and drowned, I realized that the gold was money to buy his life!"
Pei Shaoqin immediately flew into a rage, "Father, don't listen to this country bumpkin's nonsense. Maybe she's been bribed. Who can prove she's related to that eunuch?"
The old woman was startled and dared not utter a sound.
Dou Wenyi's eyes flickered slightly as she reassured him, "Don't be afraid, His Majesty is wise. As long as you tell the truth, His Majesty will not blame you."
Emperor Muzong gritted his teeth so hard they almost shattered, glaring intently at the old woman on the ground. "Continue!"
The old woman swallowed hard and continued, "Over the years, I've used up most of that gold, but I still have two pieces of jewelry."
As she spoke, she took out a gold hairpin and a yellowed booklet from her bosom with trembling hands.
Eunuch Feng took it and examined it carefully. “Your Majesty, it is indeed the official record of the Imperial Household Department’s records of concubines who were favored by the Emperor that year. The record shows that Consort Tan was favored at the end of August. This hairpin is also quite old, but it is indeed from the Imperial Household Department. If we look up the records, we should be able to find out which concubine the hairpin was given to.”
Emperor Muzong stared at the begonia-shaped gold hairpin, his anger burning. He had specially commissioned it to please Wen Wan, but she disdained the gift he had carefully prepared for her and casually gave it to Consort Tan!
Consort Zhang reminded her, "Back then, Consort Tan was so frightened by a wild cat that she did indeed give birth more than a month prematurely... His Majesty was furious at the time."
Pei Shaoqin knelt and moved forward, tightly clutching the bright yellow brocade quilt, crying heartbrokenly, "Father, you must believe me, I am truly your child. They are just fabricating lies to slander me. My mother has always been devoted to you and has never done anything to betray you!"
Emperor Muzong's eyes were like cold pools, devoid of any warmth.
He remembered clearly that when Consort Tan was pregnant with Pei Shaoqin, she was in good spirits and her pregnant belly was huge. The baby she gave birth to weighed seven and a half pounds. Even the Empress Dowager praised her, saying that the premature baby looked strong and was a blessed child.
He was overjoyed and promoted Consort Tan two ranks in a row, while Pei Shaoqin had always been his favorite since birth.
He even considered making him his heir.
The more he loved this son in the past, the more furious he was now!
The wise prince was cunning; he made him raise his son for nothing for a lifetime.
Pei Siyan added in an extremely cold voice, "That eunuch Xu from the Imperial Household Department took money and changed the dates of their bedchamber appointments, but he was later murdered."
Emperor Muzong suppressed his anger, "Has the Prince Xian not been found yet?"
He wanted to tear the wise king and his bastard child to pieces!
Pei Shaoqin trembled violently, his eyes filled with despair, "Father, no, I am truly your bloodline..."
"Report—"
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Prince Xian has raised an army in Changzhou and is plotting a rebellion..."
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