Chapter 92: You Aren’t Consort Rou’s Birth Child

Chapter 92: You Aren't Consort Rou's Birth Child

After the Third Prince left the main hall, he didn't go far; he couldn't have gone far.

Tonight, the Second Prince attempted rebellion, and all palace gates were undoubtedly under control, with defenses replaced by his own men. Allowing him to leave was merely a face-saving gesture for Consort Rou. As long as he obediently moved within the permitted small area, the Second Prince's people wouldn't act. If he dared to break out and attempt to send word outside, death would be his immediate fate.

Consort Rou deliberately let him out, knowing his temperament—his inability to bear grievances and lack of patience. She didn't want him to get involved in the events unfolding in the hall.

He had places to go, such as Consort Rou's Pear Blossom Pavilion. The guards 'escorting' him from behind didn't stop him. Heading towards the inner palace was better than going towards the palace gates.

The Third Prince truly had no ulterior motives. The news he suddenly heard today came without any time for preparation. Moreover, Consort Rou repeatedly warned him, so he didn't intend any mischief. However, as he slowly approached the Pear Blossom Pavilion, he increasingly felt something was amiss. The atmosphere grew more and more grim and silent. Unbeknownst to him when, there was no sound around or behind him. Those who claimed to protect him, in reality, monitoring him, were nowhere to be seen.

And yet, the Pear Blossom Pavilion was still not in sight.

Walking this far along the palace path, it seemed there were no more of the Second Prince's men? Was the Second Prince so careless, only surrounding the main hall and neglecting the crucial inner palace?

As he continued forward, he caught a pungent whiff of blood and saw unattended corpses on the ground, dressed in clothes and armed with weapons identical to those used by the Second Prince's subordinates...

So the Second Prince's forces were dealt with? By the Imperial Concubine? No, the Third Prince shook his head. The Imperial Concubine didn't have that much power in the palace, nor would she display it so openly. Therefore, it must have been... the Emperor?

The Third Prince became instantly elated.

No wonder the Imperial Concubine didn't want him involved. It turned out the Emperor knew about the Second Prince's intentions to rebel all along?

Why return to the Pear Blossom Pavilion then, instead of seizing the opportunity to find some amusement! For instance, the Emerald Pavilion of the Imperial Concubine Zhen—she probably didn't even realize her base was about to be dismantled!

The Third Prince immediately changed direction, heading for the Emerald Pavilion.

Of course, he remained cautious. Although the Emperor's men were on the move, ensuring his safety to a certain extent, he also needed to avoid misjudgments and accidental killings, right?

He soon arrived at the Emerald Pavilion. Peering over the wall, he confirmed that inside, the place was brightly lit and in chaos. All the eunuchs and maidservants the Imperial Concubine Zhen usually favored were restrained, their mouths gagged and dragged to different locations, seemingly for immediate interrogation. The interior of the pavilion was ransacked, as if searching for evidence. Cries, curses, and the sounds of objects being smashed on the ground echoed...

He finally got to witness this spectacle!

The Third Prince watched with gleaming eyes, but he couldn't get too close, regretting that he couldn't hear more clearly. He slowly shifted his position, trying to find a better angle, when he heard something unusual.

"Consort Rou..."

Someone mentioned his mother, the Imperial Concubine?

The Third Prince stopped abruptly, straining his ears.

This was a remote part of the Emerald Pavilion, far from the main hall, with the outer walls just beyond. The speakers were two elderly nannies, who spent their lives doing hard labor in the courtyard, holding little status. They weren't even allowed to serve in the main hall, let alone know about the Imperial Concubine Zhen's secret plans. But with the entire pavilion sealed off, they couldn't escape either, waiting to be interrogated. They were certainly nervous, but not as much as the other palace servants. After all, the Emperor wouldn't kill everyone, for the sake of reputation. They could still find some solace in their suffering, whispering a few words to each other.

"...I wonder why the Imperial Concubine Zhen couldn't overcome Consort Rou? Back then, many people placed bets, saying how strong-willed and domineering the Imperial Concubine Zhen was, capable of achieving great things..." muttered the white-haired nanny with a round bun.

The tall and thin nanny snorted. "It's precisely because she was too strong. What everyone sees as strength, is it really strength? Do you think Consort Rou isn't formidable? She may appear weak, as if anyone could manipulate her, but has anyone ever truly controlled her? What happened to those who tried? What was their fate?"

White-haired nanny: "Hiss...you're right, the one whose strength isn't apparent is the most powerful."

"Don't others know, but you, old sister, don't?" The tall and thin nanny glanced around, leaning in to whisper. "How did Consort Rou's son come to be?"

A glint flashed in the white-haired nanny's eyes. "Poor thing, Empress Mu's prince died young back then."

Tall and thin nanny: "If Empress Mu hadn't lost her son and couldn't bear another child, how could she have become so stubborn and fierce...and allowed the Emperor to do whatever he wanted with her?"

"So that incident was true? I only knew that Empress Mu held a high rank back then, receiving good treatment. Meanwhile, Consort Rou wasn't even a secondary consort. Both became pregnant around the same time. Empress Mu was well taken care of during her pregnancy, while Consort Rou wanted for everything. She went through a lot of trouble during childbirth, as if she walked through the gates of hell twice before giving birth to the Third Prince. Empress Mu wasn't as fortunate, suffering a difficult labor and heavy bleeding, resulting in the death of her little prince shortly after birth...Their deliveries were only two days apart, with Consort Rou giving birth to the Third Prince first. Could it be that...they were switched?"

"It would be quite difficult, not easy to accomplish. But at that age and in that situation, Consort Rou managed to arrange it. How can you say she's weak? A stillborn baby, yet she could hold on for two days, preventing others from finding out, switching it with Empress Mu's, making everyone believe that Empress Mu's son died. What kind of skill is that?"

"...No wonder, I always thought the Third Prince looked less and less like Consort Rou as he grew older, becoming increasingly handsome. Doesn't he resemble Empress Mu from back then? She was a great beauty, with a high nose bridge, pointed chin, especially her slightly elongated phoenix eyes, identical to the Third Prince's?"

The Third Prince didn't expect to hear such a secret, finding it hard not to be shocked.

What were these two old nannies talking about? He...wasn't Consort Rou's son, born by Empress Mu, and they switched him when he was young? That's why he didn't look like Consort Rou?

Impossible. Just today, Consort Rou showed him a portrait of his deceased uncle, bearing a striking resemblance to him...

Right, the deceased uncle.

The Third Prince's eyes flickered. That uncle had been dead for a long time, with very few people knowing what he looked like. Couldn't it have been a random painting?

"Hiss...that Consort Rou, with such heavy scheming?" the white-haired nanny sighed.

The tall and thin nanny took it as a matter of course. "Living in this harem, who doesn't have heavy scheming? Without it, one wouldn't survive until today."

The two nannies inside the wall continued their conversation, while the Third Prince listened on.

"What about Empress Mu, never knowing about this, believing her son died all along?"

"Sigh, she was also a pitiful person. When I was young, I saw her burn paper money for her son, never stopping during the four seasons and eight festivals...Her personality was also like that, growing full of thorns for the sake of her deceased son, appearing to be aggressive and strong-willed, but in reality, barely holding on, using the empresses as a sword for the Emperor. She, in fact, didn't want to live anymore!"

"Clearly, her own son was nearby, in the palace, meeting countless times..."

"Not only did they meet often, but due to Consort Rou's 'careful teaching,' the mother and son might have even become enemies, harming each other."

The Third Prince vaguely recalled past years, those forgotten corners of memory, indeed recognizing Empress Mu.

Thirteen years ago, during that major event, he was already fifteen, considered an adult. That day, he was confined by Consort Rou in the hall, unable to do anything or go anywhere. Everything that happened outside was learned later, but looking further back, fifteen, eighteen, twenty years ago...

Those years in the palace weren't easy. All the women of the harem were overshadowed by the Empress's brilliance, including Consort Rou and the Imperial Concubine Zhen, never receiving imperial favor. Even after having princes, their ranks were hard to advance. He and the Second Prince were also overshadowed by the Crown Prince's radiance, living low-key lives, quietly growing up.

Back then, he wasn't as wild and domineering as he was now, for the Crown Prince was indeed formidable. His literary and martial skills, as well as his temper and character, were impeccable, leaving no room for complaints. He never thought of stepping forward, and Consort Rou took good care of him, treating him kindly, protecting him tightly. Many times, when encountering unspeakable dangers, she wouldn't let him leave the palace.

But he met Empress Mu, from his unknowing childhood to his naive teenage years.

At the time, he found Empress Mu a bit strange, extremely fierce, as if very ambitious, unable to bear any grievances, unable to endure any hardship. Yet, she was different from others. Empress Mu wasn't friendly to all the women in the harem, including the Empress herself. She dared to confront them, as they were competitors. However, unlike other concubines who weren't friendly to the princes and princesses, Empress Mu wasn't like that. All her actions and temper were directed only at the women of the harem. She simply ignored the children, never plotting against them.

She was quite nice to him, giving him food, talking to him, and comforting him when he was wronged.

At the time, he felt that Empress Mu's gaze upon him was peculiar, but he didn't understand why. Now, thinking about it, those oddities... were they because she was seeing through him, looking at someone else, someone whose birth year was similar to his, yet a child she had lost?

Concubine Rou disliked Empress Mu and was repulsed by his meetings with her even more. Therefore, there were a few times when he concealed these matters, not allowing Concubine Rou to know.

These were trivial events of the past, without any suspicious elements, and they didn't occur frequently. But now, reflecting on them...

There was an inexplicable ache in his heart.

If all this were true... if he wasn't Concubine Rou's child...

"Sigh..." The tall, thin nanny continued speaking from the other side, "Putting aside positions and grudges, those who do evil deeds are always fearful. Why do you think Empress Mu died thirteen years ago? She held evidence in her hands, exposing others, and it was the Emperor who secretly gave her support. That day, the target was Empress Xia and the Empress Dowager, but not Empress Mu herself. So why did she die as well?"

"Yes, why did she die..." The white-haired, round-coiffed nanny suddenly covered her mouth, suppressing a voice that was barely under control, "Could it be that Concubine Rou... fearing that one day the truth would come to light, knowing that Empress Mu found out her child had been swapped, saw an opportunity and decided to finish what she started—"

The tall, thin nanny sighed quietly, "Speaking of all these events, the most pitiful one is the Third Prince. Swapped at birth, he knew nothing, recognizing his enemy as his mother..."

"But Concubine Rou has been good to him," said the white-haired, round-coiffed nanny, "For so many years, she has been working tirelessly for him, plotting and scheming on his behalf..."

The tall, thin nanny scoffed lightly, "She only has this one son, unable to bear a princess. If she doesn't treat the Third Prince well, who else would she treat well? That isn't a mother's natural affection for her child, wanting to be kind to him. She's merely planning for the future, wanting to have someone to rely on in her old age... This upbringing grace is indeed real, but can we overlook the enmity?"

"Shh—be quieter! We mustn't speak of this anymore. If we continue, beware that it reaches Concubine Rou's ears, and we'll be killed again!"

The Third Prince felt drained, needing to lean against the wall to catch his breath.

No wonder... no wonder he could still hear such discussions when he was young. After Concubine Rou ascended to the rank of concubine, all these words vanished. He himself had forgotten until recently, when rumors began to surface once more.

Was it Concubine Rou who killed those people? Then why couldn't she suppress it this time, allowing new rumors to spread?

In the end, secrets cannot be hidden forever.

The Third Prince had no interest left in watching the spectacle. He didn't care about Cuiwei Hall anymore and turned to leave.

Something seemed to have happened at the banquet hall for the birthday celebration. It was brightly lit, and there was a lot of commotion. Was the Second Prince finally making his move?

Oh, right here, while he was still around.

Suddenly, the Second Prince's men began running wildly in all directions, whether due to orders or the failure of their plan, fleeing. The Third Prince directly encountered them. Having wandered around earlier without bringing anyone along, he was now surrounded, and it was clear that his situation was dire.

But at this critical moment, another person suddenly descended from above, rescuing him amidst the chaos of weapons, and leading him to safety.

The familiar clothes, the familiar face mask... this person was none other than the one who had saved him before.

It was hard for the Third Prince not to be moved. "Do you... know my mother, the empress?"

The person raised an eyebrow, seemingly disdainful. "I don't."

The Third Prince: "…Empress Mu?"

The expression on this person's face changed noticeably. After a long silence, they didn't answer, quickly turning to leave. "Your Highness, take care. I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving first."

The Third Prince understood that this guess was likely correct, and the other party didn't say anything, probably to protect him.

But he wasn't foolish. At a time like this, who could appear in the imperial palace? Apart from the Second Prince's rebellion and the Emperor's suppression, there was also... the teachings of the Noble Lady.

When Zhu Yan investigated these matters, he didn't hide it from others. Although he didn't know many details, he knew a little about the general aspects, such as how the teachings of the Noble Lady had secret agents in the palace, not many, but very discreet, capable of becoming a trump card in critical moments. And the teachings of the Noble Lady had covert connections with Feng Yi, who... was rumored to have feelings for Empress Mu.

The two of them didn't have much interaction, at least nothing that could be found within the palace, but Feng Yi had been paying attention to Empress Mu for many years, and his feelings couldn't be false... So was it possible that Feng Yi loved the child left behind by Empress Mu by extension, silently supporting him and wanting to help him rise higher?

At the banquet hall for the birthday celebration, the Second Prince had already been subdued.

The moment the Emperor called out Shi Wu's name, Shi Wu led the troops of the Imperial Guard straight into the hall. The secret agents he had arranged were no match for them and were swiftly subdued.

But how could this be possible...

That Shi Wu, wasn't he drugged and locked away in a secret room by him!