Chu Wenzheng's lips curled into a smile as he slowly spoke, "I was quite surprised when I learned this secret. Heh, brother, the child you killed back then wasn't your sister-in-law's."
Emperor Wenxuan's heart skipped a beat. Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Is Uncle going to say that the late Empress's child is still alive, and that child is Chu Tianze?"
Chu Wenzheng laughed loudly a few times, "Not bad, Princess, isn't it interesting? I never thought that my seventh nephew was actually the legitimate prince. Poor thing, so pitiful, he's lived such a cautious life since he was a child..."
Emperor Wenxuan suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, his hand supporting his sword trembling slightly. "Impossible... absolutely impossible... Chu Wenzheng, shut your mouth..."
Bai Chuxiao merely observed the scene coldly. Having voiced her pre-existing suspicions, she felt a considerable calmer sense of peace. The unusual behavior of her maternal grandfather and Consort Jing had made her think deeply; Chu Tianze probably had some suspicions as well… but the truth was far too cruel for him…
Chu Wenzheng said with a half-smile, "Your Majesty, are you still surprised? The Prince of Yan is far more outstanding than the current Crown Prince. Why don't you depose the Crown Prince now and appoint the Prince of Yan instead?"
Emperor Wenxuan swayed unsteadily and was speechless for a long time.
Bai Chuxiao said coldly, "Chu Wenzheng, is there any point in saying this? I didn't realize you were so supportive of my prince."
Chu Wenzheng chuckled lightly and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Princess is calmer than I expected. I suppose you already guessed it. But isn't Princess curious about how the Emperor's sister-in-law's child became Consort Jing's child?"
Bai Chuxiao stared at him without changing her expression. Chu Wenzheng wasn't annoyed either, but just smiled and said to Emperor Wenxuan, "Your Majesty, you must be very curious, right? Actually, Consort Jing was originally a maid sent to the palace by the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. When Your Majesty left the palace, Consort Jing was also about to give birth. Back then, Your Majesty was conducting a large-scale search for infants in the city, and the palace was actually a safer place. Your Majesty sent someone to secretly send the child back to the palace to Consort Jing, intending to make it appear as her twin child..."
Emperor Wenxuan had fallen to the ground, his eyes no longer possessing their former shrewdness and brilliance, but instead utterly empty.
Chu Wenzheng continued with a smile, "But given your character, Your Majesty wouldn't have let it go unless you were certain it was your own child. Your Majesty shouldn't have ever doubted that the child was alive all these years. Your Majesty knows in your heart that you did indeed kill your own son. However, that child actually belonged to Consort Jing."
Bai Chuxiao lowered her eyes, her heart churning. Consort Jing… Chu Tianze… If Chu Tianze knew the truth…
No one spoke, and Chu Wenzheng didn't mind, continuing to say, "I never expected that the Duke of Dingguo's family would be so loyal and righteous, even a maid is like this. Consort Jing gave up her own child and has been quietly raising my sister-in-law's child for so many years. I am truly moved by this..."
The blood at the corner of Emperor Wenxuan's mouth had already dried somewhat. His eyes were fixed on one spot, lost in thought, like a dying, decaying tree.
Chu Wenzheng, however, became even more interested, as if he were deliberately trying to infuriate Emperor Wenxuan. He continued, "Back then, the court and the harem were all focused on the late Empress's affairs. Consort Jing, a mere palace maid, giving birth, naturally didn't receive much attention. This scheme of switching the baby actually succeeded. However, the harem is a place that devours people without spitting out bones. A prince without power or family support usually doesn't live long. My elder brother is clearly not a loving father... Yet Prince Yan has been able to grow up safely until now, all thanks to the princess's maternal grandfather..."
Emperor Wenxuan's empty eyes shifted slightly as he stared at Chu Wenzheng and Bai Chuxiao, a strange smile creeping across his face... His expression was somewhat complicated.
Chu Wenzheng nodded, raising an eyebrow. "I find it amusing too. Back then, General Wan, the Marquis of Quling, and General Murong, the Marquis of Xibo, were both the right-hand men of the Duke of Dingguo. They were both men of unwavering integrity and loyalty. General Wan, who was in the capital, discovered the truth and went to my brother for an explanation, but was executed on charges of treason. General Murong, on the other hand, did nothing and simply went silent... He really went to great lengths... If it weren't for protecting my seventh nephew, he probably would have led his men into the capital to settle scores with you, my brother, long ago..."
Bai Chuxiao lowered her eyes and thought of the swords her maternal grandfather had given to her and Chu Tianze. All the old friends from back then were gone. If it weren't for the bloodline of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, given her grandfather's personality, he would probably have risked his life to seek revenge against Emperor Wenxuan...
Emperor Wenxuan had long since given up on arguing. The events of that year had been buried deep in his heart all these years, and he had almost forgotten what he had done. Even now, he still believed that he had not done anything wrong; it was simply that he genuinely loved Azi…
Chu Wenzheng turned his head and said with a smile, "Princess, have you become interested yet? You probably don't want to help your brother anymore, do you?"
Bai Chuxiao's eyes darkened. "This princess is now more curious about how Imperial Uncle knows so much."
As for Emperor Wenxuan, she truly wouldn't care. If he died of anger at Chu Wenzheng's actions, so be it; if he didn't, she might even deliver the final blow. Just as Chu Wenzheng said, upon learning this news, if Emperor Wenxuan were still alive, the first people he would want to destroy would be the Yan Prince's Mansion and the Murong family.
As for regret? Guilt? His own son? For someone who could kill his wife of many years, don't expect him to suddenly realize his mistakes. He might have some now, but once he comes to his senses, seeing Chu Tianze constantly reminding him of the good deeds he's done over the years is clearly unbearable for an emperor…
Chu Wenzheng's eyes flickered slightly, "There are no secrets that stay hidden forever," clearly indicating he didn't intend to say anything more.
Bai Chuxiao didn't ask any further questions. Chu Wenzheng had been secretly plotting for so many years, and as a direct descendant of the former Jin dynasty, it wasn't surprising that he knew some secrets. He could even bribe the emperor's secret guards; it was likely that many of those who had supported the former dynasty's direct descendants were still alive.
Chu Wenzheng raised an eyebrow and said, "Why isn't Your Majesty speaking? Are you reminiscing about the past? It's a pity that you've killed all those who truly helped you. How does it feel to be abandoned by everyone now?"
Emperor Wenxuan's breathing became increasingly labored, and he coughed up another mouthful of blood, murmuring, "Azi, if only you didn't have this child."
That year, he was just an insignificant prince of the Jin Kingdom. At a banquet in a peach grove, a woman dressed in white, carrying a silver spear, tilted her head and asked him with a smile, "Hey, what's your name?"
"My name is Chu Wenxuan. May I ask your name, young lady?"
The woman held a gun in one hand, her bright eyes and white teeth gleaming as she smiled charmingly. "This young lady is Qin Zi, and I do not change my name."
"But the 'Zi' in the saying 'The world only values Zi, and people admire the finest steeds'..."
The woman chuckled softly, "What a fool."
...
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