Chapter 218: A Cuckold for Over a Decade

Chapter 218: A Cuckold for Over a Decade

The Prince of Duan had Lin Yuquan tightly bound and brought back to his residence. He made no attempt to conceal his actions, nor did he consider doing so.

Upon arriving at his estate, he took Lin Yuquan straight to the Princess Consort's quarters. Confronting her, he tossed Lin Yuquan at her feet and demanded, “Princess, here is your cousin. Tell me, what kind of cousins are you? Maternal? Paternal? Or some other kind?"

The Princess Consort, though usually adept at feigning innocence, was utterly dumbfounded and could barely speak. Finally, with a face filled with grief and indignation, she uttered, "Your Highness, what is the meaning of this? Whose slander have you listened to, to harass me so?"

The Prince of Duan was always lucid when it came to his own pride and interests. Now, even if the Princess Consort appeared as enchanting as a fairy or as frail as water, he felt nothing.

He scoffed coldly, "Zhao Shirou, stop your act in front of me. Do you think I'm unaware of your little schemes? I’ve merely found your antics amusing, like an actor on a stage, and indulged you to some extent."

Zhao Shirou was rendered speechless...

She wanted to curse, but dared not!

"Your Highness, I have been by your side for so many years. Was your affection for me all a lie?" Tears streamed down Zhao Shirou’s face as she desperately sought to change her dire situation.

"Enough with the nonsense," the Prince of Duan was out of patience. Glancing at Lin Yuquan, who lay bound on the ground, he demanded, "Tell me, what is the nature of your relationship with him?"

Lin Yuquan clenched his mouth and shut his eyes, feigning death. The Princess Consort cried out, "Your Highness, he is but a distant cousin of mine. Why are you treating me so today?"

Seeing her still in denial and running out of patience, the Prince of Duan lifted his sword and swung it at Lin Yuquan. A terrible scream ensued as half of Lin Yuquan’s ear was sliced off, with blood gushing out like a fountain.

"Ah..."

The Princess Consort turned pale with fright, genuinely terrified this time. The Prince of Duan, however, was dissatisfied with the sword in his hand. He had intended to sever Lin Yuquan's entire ear, yet only managed to cut off half. He inwardly lamented his lack of practice with the sword.

But now was not the time for sword practice. He glared fiercely at Zhao Shirou and demanded, "Tell me, who is he really?"

Zhao Shirou’s face was ashen, but she still insisted, "Your Highness, what do you want me to say? He is indeed my cousin!"

Seeing her stubbornness, the Prince of Duan raised his sword again and struck Lin Yuquan, causing his other ear to suffer the same fate, albeit only half severed. The Prince of Duan’s brows knotted in frustration.

He turned to Zhao Shirou again, "Will you speak now?"

Zhao Shirou shook her head, "I have nothing to say."

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Duan raised his sword once more and thrust it down, piercing Lin Yuquan’s shoulder, followed by another agonizing scream.

"Will you speak or not?" Prince Duan asked Zhao Shirou once more.

Zhao Shirou replied, "Your servant doesn't know what to say."

Prince Duan raised his sword and struck Lin Yuquan once again.

"Will you speak?" he demanded.

Zhao Shirou shook her head. "Your servant doesn't know what to say."

As Prince Duan lifted his sword, they heard Lin Yuquan's trembling voice from within the pool of blood, "My lord, I'll speak... I'll speak."

Prince Duan looked down at him silently. Fearing the sword would be raised again, Lin Yuquan hastily added, "My lord, I am not the Queen's cousin, I..."

He rapidly recounted his affair with Zhao Shirou, which largely matched what Princess Jianing had previously stated. After finishing, he closed his eyes, awaiting death. He knew his demise was certain, but he truly didn't wish to endure the pain any longer before his end.

"Damn, it hurts so much."

At this moment, Zhao Shirou had already fallen to the ground. Prince Duan advanced two steps and looked down at her, saying, "All the affection I've lavished on you these years has been utterly wasted."

Supporting herself with one hand on the ground, Zhao Shirou looked up at Prince Duan with a pitiful and frail helplessness. Tears streaming down her face, she said, "Though your servant has deceived you, my feelings for you, my lord, are true!"

Prince Duan sneered, "Your feelings? If I were not a prince, who knows upon whom your heart would have fallen."

Thus, it's said that men, even those who appear foolish and muddled, are alert. They know precisely what they want and where to obtain it. And once they decide to turn against you, their coldness can be ruthlessly extreme.

Prince Duan then asked, "Is Li Jingxian truly my seed?"

Upon hearing these words, Zhao Shirou lost all her frailty. Standing up, tears streaming down her face, she said to Prince Duan, "My lord, Jingxian is your child! How can you harbor such doubts about him?"

Prince Duan snorted coldly. Just then, the door burst open, and Li Jingxian rushed in to shield Zhao Shirou, glaring at Prince Duan and demanding, "Father, what are you doing? Who has instigated you against Mother?"

Narrowing his eyes, Prince Duan scrutinized him, searching for any semblance of himself in his son. But no matter how he looked, Li Jingxian bore no resemblance to him. His gaze then shifted to Lin Yuquan lying on the ground, and he noticed similarities between him and Li Jingxian, such as their chins—both had a bit of flesh beneath theirs.

Suddenly, Prince Duan felt the green light above his head grow more intense. How could he endure having been cuckolded for over a decade? Raising his sword, he was about to thrust it toward Lin Yuquan...

"Father, stop!"

A woman's voice rang out, followed by the entrance of Princess Jianing and Li Jinghao. Seeing Lin Yuquan lying in a pool of blood but still alive, the siblings breathed a sigh of relief.

Princess Jianing approached Prince Duan and, with a curtsy, said, "Father, you cannot kill this man yet."

"Why not?" Prince Duan inquired.

With a sense of helplessness, Princess Jianing replied, "Father, although he is currently out of office, he remains an official of the court. You cannot kill him without cause; it would be indefensible to our Imperial Uncle."

"And what would justify it?" Prince Duan, pointing his sword at Lin Yuquan and Zhao Shirou, argued, "After being deceived for so many years, am I not entitled to their execution?"

"Certainly," Princess Jianing conceded, "but as a court-appointed official, his fate and the manner of his death are for our Imperial Uncle to decide."

Prince Duan's hand clenched the sword hilt, veins bulging. The indignity of being cuckolded was not something he was willing to disclose to anyone, even the Emperor.

"Father, I believe it's necessary to inform our Imperial Uncle," Princess Jianing insisted, gesturing towards Lin Yuquan. "For deceiving the royal family, he deserves to die."

Yet, Prince Duan's lips were tightly sealed, causing Princess Jianing to furrow her brows in concern. She wanted the Emperor to know about this affair because only then would Zhao Shirou lose any chance of turning the tables.

Observing her father's current stance, he didn't seem intent on immediately executing Zhao Shirou. But if Zhao Shirou lived, there was a possibility she could turn the tables—a prospect Princess Jianing couldn't tolerate.

As for the disgrace, it wasn't their brother-sister duo being shamed, so it didn't weigh on their minds.