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A young eunuch slowly stepped forward to report, “Your Ladyship, His Majesty will spend the night at Kunning Palace.”
Consort Xian’s expression changed instantly.
“What?! It’s neither the first nor the fifteenth of the month, why would His Majesty go to Kunning Palace? Hasn’t that woman long since fallen out of favor?!”
The young eunuch didn’t dare breathe too loudly.
Consort Xian said coldly, “Go to Kunning Palace at once. Tell the empress that I am unwell, and ask her to grant me permission to summon an imperial physician.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.”
The young eunuch hurried off.
When the empress heard that Consort Xian was ill, she immediately urged Emperor Jingxuan to go and take a look at her.
But as fate would have it, the emperor had only made it halfway there when he was intercepted.
“Your Majesty, the old Protector Duke requests an audience!”
Emperor Jingxuan pinched the ache between his brows.
“So late at night, plus in this heavy rain, what business could bring him here?”
The eunuch replied, “He said that he has important matters to report.”
The emperor frowned.
“Then to the Imperial Study. Go and tell Consort Xian that I shall visit her tomorrow instead.”
Inside the Imperial Study, Emperor Jingxuan received Qin Canglan, who had braved the storm to come.
Naturally, presenting himself before the emperor, Qin Canglan had taken care with his appearance.
His robe hems and shoes were soaked through, yet his attire remained neat and proper.
The emperor greeted him warmly.
“Beloved Minister Qin, what matter brings you into the palace so late?”
Qin Canglan swept his robes aside, knelt with a sharp motion, and declared in a steady voice:
“Your Majesty, my son with Huayin… has returned!”
These words left Emperor Jingxuan completely bewildered.
He thought for a moment, then asked, “Duke Protector… Has he left the capital? If he’s returned, then so be it… is that worth making such a big fuss over? He just left the capital without reporting it to me, but I wouldn’t be so angered over such a trivial matter.”
Normally, titled ministers were not permitted to leave the capital without permission.
But even so, was it worth coming to the palace in the middle of the night to confess?
Qin Canglan’s expression was solemn.
“What this minister means is… my legitimate son with Huayin has returned. The current Duke Protector in the estate… is not the real Qin Che!”
As he spoke, he bowed low and cupped his hands in a gesture of apology.
“This minister is guilty, for confusing the Duke Protector’s line of inheritance, and for allowing Your Majesty to be deceived as well. I beg Your Majesty to give punishment!”
⸻
“…That’s how it is. I’ve said all I need to say. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can do. Ask Big Brother yourself when he returns.”
In another study, Qin Hai struggled to hold down the rage burning in his chest as he revealed the truth of Qin Che’s parentage.
No one could know how much pain and turmoil he felt in his heart.
This was, without question, the most wretched thing to ever happen in his life.
The heavens must have despised his idle, wasteful ways, so they slapped him in the face again and again with this.
Qin Che’s eyes were like ice as he glared at Qin Hai, a flicker of madness already stirring deep inside.
“I don’t believe it. I don’t believe a single word you say!”
Qin Hai groaned with a headache.
“What kind of benefits for me to lie to you? Your mother and I…”
Qin Che roared, “Shut your mouth! Don’t you dare insult my mother! She had only one husband, and it’s my father. She never had relations with any other man!”
Qin Hai faltered, then waved impatiently.
“Fine, fine! Believe whatever you want. Anyway, I’ve finished the task Big Brother gave me. If you don’t accept it, just wait until he returns and personally ask him!”
Qin Che clenched his fists so tightly his nails nearly pierced his palms.
The dim candlelight lit one side of his face, and in his eyes gleamed a sinister light.
Qin Hai rose to leave, but stopped at the doorway.