Chapter 397 The Emperor’s Birth Story

Chapter 397 The Emperor's Birth Story

Xie Peiyu stepped out of the door and looked up to see a black-clad figure on the roof.

He leaped lightly onto the roof.

The black-clad figure pulled off his mask, revealing a familiar face. "Are you coming with me to investigate Prince Zhong's Mansion tonight?"

"No," Xie Peiyu refused outright.

Cui Yongnian said, "Don't rush to refuse. I suspect that the Emperor is not the old Prince's biological son, but I lack evidence. You know Prince Zhong's Mansion well; how can you not come?"

Hearing this, Xie Peiyu was somewhat surprised.

But he still refused, "We'll talk about it another time. I'm not going. If you have no urgent matters, I'll be leaving."

"Ah? Wait a moment, my uncle is also going."

"Oh, then you two can keep each other company. It has nothing to do with me anymore."

As he finished speaking, he turned to leap off the roof, but Cui Yongnian held him back.

"Hey!"

Xie Peiyu's expression darkened as he shook off his hand, "Are you annoying or what? I need to go back."

"What's the rush? I haven't finished talking yet."

"Let's discuss it another day. Jin Yu is waiting for me."

"Ah? She's still awake this late?"

"She was asleep, but it's all your fault for making such a racket. She thought there was a monster and couldn't sleep."

Cui Yongnian: "..."

Xie Peiyu pushed him aside and went back.

Zheng Jinyu hadn't slept either, lighting a candle and sitting on the bed with her quilt.

"Is there a rat?"

"I don't know, it should have run away."

"Then let's get a cat."

"Sure, what kind do you like?"

"Any kind, as long as it can catch rats."

Xie Peiyu smiled, "Alright, let's sleep. It's getting late."

Although Xie Peiyu didn't join Cui Yongnian last night, he took his words to heart.

After breakfast, he went to see his mother alone.

"Mother, you and Gao Zhi grew up together, right?"

The Princess Royal looked puzzled, "Yes, why do you ask?"

"Then why did you choose him?"

The Princess Royal didn't understand why he asked but recalled the past and replied, "That year, when my father could no longer have children, he asked me to choose a brother from the imperial clan. On that day, everyone on the list came, regardless of whether they were born to concubines or the main wife, and there were over a hundred suitable candidates."

Xie Peiyu said, "So everyone within five degrees of kinship came?"

The Princess Royal nodded, "Yes, everyone within five degrees of kinship came. I couldn't pick the right person that day. I had to select ten from the hundreds. At that time, Gao Zhi stood at the back of the crowd, thin and small, not standing out. I chose him because I felt sorry for him."

"Pity?"

"Yes, he was timid as a child and naturally didn't win his father's favor. You must understand that parents can be biased too. Both hands are flesh and blood, but one can be thicker than the other. In Prince Zhong's Mansion, those who were sweet-talking and skilled would naturally gain more favor from the old Prince."

Was that so?

Xie Peiyu thought about what Cui Yongnian had said.

Although there was no evidence, where there's smoke, there's fire. This matter was likely true.

Moreover, his mother had said that young Gao Zhi wasn't favored. Could it be... that the old Prince knew?

"Then what was the reaction of the old Prince and the old Princess when you chose Gao Zhi?"

The Princess Royal thought for a moment, "I don't remember the old Princess's reaction, but I remember the old Prince wasn't pleased. He said he was worried that Gao Zhi was too dull and might cause trouble in the palace, wanting to send his elder brother instead. But I found his brother too domineering, so I didn't agree."

Xie Peiyu stroked his chin, thinking. Now, the old Prince had retired to live in seclusion, rarely seen for many years.

The current Prince of Prince Zhong's Mansion is Gao Zhi's younger brother from the same mother. His elder brother, who was born legitimate, did not inherit the title because he fell ill and passed away over a decade ago.

Did he really die from illness, or did something 'unforeseen' happen?

And what about the old Prince of Prince Zhong's Mansion? Is he truly retired and living a secluded life, or is there another reason?

Perhaps... Prince Zhong's Mansion is indeed a breakthrough point.

"Yue'er, why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"Oh, nothing, I just want to learn more about him."

...

Xie Peiyu remembered that Zheng Jinyu wanted to keep a cat, so he instructed someone to find a kitten for her. That afternoon, the kitten arrived and was taken to Zheng Jinyu.

It was a two-month-old tabby cat with distinct tiger-striped markings. It was tiny and had a soft, high-pitched meow.

Zheng Jinyu carefully took it, and the kitten neither scratched nor bit her; it just stared at her with its round, curious eyes.

Zheng Jinyu smiled and said, "Such a tiny thing, can it really catch mice?"

Xie Peiyu replied, "Look at its legs; aren't they quite sturdy?"

Indeed, its legs seemed sturdier than those of any cat she had seen before, almost like a little tiger.

Xie Peiyu said, "It must be an excellent mouser."

"Alright, then I'll keep it."

"Right, what does it eat?" There isn't any cat food.

"If you're going to keep it casually, rice porridge and steamed buns will do. However, cats are carnivores, so it's best to feed it some fish or chicken. Once it grows up, it will find its own food."

Zheng Jinyu thought that even wealthy people in ancient times were quite casual about keeping cats, unlike modern cats which have specialized food and treats.

Soon, Xie Peiyu's honeymoon period ended, and he was often absent during the day, sometimes even at night.

Zheng Jinyu was devoted to raising the cat and couldn't bear to feed it only rice porridge and steamed buns. She would mix in some dried fish and occasionally give it some chicken breast.

This little one wasn't very clingy, being rather aloof and quiet. But every time Zheng Jinyu returned home, it would run out of its bed, raise its tail, and rub against her leg. After getting comforted, it would go back to sleep.

Feeding it well and providing a cozy bed required minimal companionship, making it quite easy to care for.

One night, Zheng Jinyu was awakened by the sound of fighting cats.

The tiles on the roof were rattling, and it seemed there were human voices as well.

"Xie Peiyu," Zheng Jinyu grabbed his arm.

Xie Peiyu said, "Don't be afraid, it seems like the cat is catching mice."

Zheng Jinyu replied, "How could that be? It sounds more like thieves. Didn't you hear it too?"

Xie Peiyu stared grimly at the roof.

Zheng Jinyu felt that it was impossible for her to hear it and not him.

She whispered, "Are they assassins?"

Without alerting the guards, they couldn't be assassins or thieves.

Xie Peiyu shook his head, "I'll go check."

"Alright, be careful."