Chapter 725: News Spreads Throughout the Capital

Chapter 725: The News Spreads Across the Capital

Although the court session was temporarily adjourned due to Jiao Shi's fainting, the Shuntian Prefect had already issued a verdict in the case of Zou Wan Shi's accusation against Princess Fusui, ruling it unfounded.

As for Zou Wan Shi... Since she was also involved in the abduction and murder of the Duke of Xinguo's heiress many years ago, her sentencing was deferred to another day.

Xingxing, Li Chunhua, and Bai Xiaofeng headed back to the Yu residence.

Though the Duke and Duchess of Xinguo had a thousand things they wanted to say to Xingxing, they understood that both Xingxing and the Yu family needed time.

With tearful eyes, the Dowager Duchess of Xin held Xingxing's hand and said softly, "Good child... When you feel ready, send a message to the Duke of Xinguo's estate. I know there may be some people you dislike, but your grandfather and I have always missed you dearly. Could we visit you then?"

The Dowager Duchess asked hesitantly.

Xingxing clasped her hand in return and replied, "I couldn’t possibly have you and the Duke visit me! Don’t worry, in a few days, I will visit the Duke of Xinguo's residence to see you both."

Though Xingxing had yet to call them "grandfather" or "grandmother," her words were enough to bring immense joy to the elderly couple.

They beamed with joy as they nodded repeatedly.

Yu Chongting stepped forward, his face unreadable. He did not ask Xingxing to call him "brother" outright but instead spoke to the elderly couple about Yu Mingzhu: "As for Zhu Zhu..."

The Dowager Duchess sighed, "She’d known for years that Zou Wan Shi was her birth mother. Zou Wan Shi had tracked her down long ago."

Yu Chongting sighed deeply, just as he’d suspected.

For a moment, the group fell silent.

Li Chunhua and Bai Xiaofeng were too heartbroken over Xingxing to concern themselves with anything else. Each holding one of Xingxing's shoulders, they guided her home to the Yu residence.

Upon arriving, Li Chunhua and Bai Xiaofeng immediately rushed to their parents-in-law's courtyard. Talking over one another, they recounted the events, making Wei Pozi burst into tears.

She embraced Xingxing, her voice trembling, "My dear, why didn’t you tell Grandma about your past memories?... Otherwise, otherwise..."

Li Chunhua wiped her tears as well, "Mother, though we knew long ago that Yu Mingzhu wasn’t the biological daughter of the Duchess, we never imagined anything beyond that. Who would have thought our Xingxing was actually..."

Wei Pozi held Xingxing tightly, her heart aching unbearably.

Xingxing comforted her in return, "Grandma, I’m fine. In fact, I should be grateful Zou Wan Shi abandoned me—otherwise, how could you have found me? Our whole family has treated me so well, treated me like your most precious treasure... If not for her 'abandonment,' would I have lived such a wonderful life?"

Her words were meant to console Wei Pozi.

Wei Pozi covered Xingxing's mouth, laughing through her tears, "Oh, child... I’d rather you had stayed in the Duke of Xinguo's household as their heiress than endure such suffering just to become my granddaughter..."

Her aged eyes overflowed with tears.

Xingxing’s eyes reddened as well, and the two embraced, crying together.

Grandmother and granddaughter wept for a long while, with Li Chunhua and Bai Xiaofeng shedding tears alongside them.

Before long, the entire Yu family learned the news and crowded together.

That Xingxing was the heart and soul of the Yu family was no exaggeration.

Moreover, every member of the Yu family knew deep down that it was after Xingxing came into their lives that their fortunes began to rise, leading them to where they were today.

Each of them was profoundly grateful to Xingxing, and this gratitude, mingled with love, made her the darling of the family.

Now, upon learning of Xingxing’s true origins, they were torn between heartbreak for the suffering she had endured and shock and confusion over her real identity—

Is Xingxing going to leave them and go to the Duke of Xinguo's household?

Everyone's hearts clenched with worry.

Xingxing straightened up from Wei Pozi's embrace and saw all four branches of the family had gathered around her and Wei Pozi, feeling rather embarrassed.

"Xingxing, will you return to the Duke of Xinguo's residence in the future?" Ah Wu, with her simple nature, voiced her concern directly.

But Xingxing shook her head. "No, I won’t go back. The Yu family is my home."

As soon as Xingxing said this, everyone’s hearts, which had been hanging high, seemed to land back where they belonged.

It was such a relief that Xingxing wasn’t leaving.

Wei Pozi, ultimately compassionate, thought of the kind-hearted old couple from the Duke of Xinguo's residence. "...The others may be confused, but the Dowager and the old Duke of Xinguo—they..."

Xingxing nodded. "I know. The Dowager and the old Duke have always been very good to me. I’ll go visit them in a couple of days."

Wei Pozi looked at Xingxing with tender affection. "That’s only right. In fact, it’s not a bad thing—it just means our Xingxing has a few more people who love her in this world."

Xingxing felt tears well up again.

The Yu family had already given her so much love.

She wasn’t greedy.

...

The news that the Duke of Xinguo's accomplished Miss Cen and Princess Fusui had been deliberately swapped by scoundrels quickly spread throughout the capital.

In other words, Princess Fusui, Xingxing, was actually the trueborn daughter of the Duke of Xinguo's household!

For a time, the great houses of the capital were in turmoil.

Reactions varied.

But the most intense reaction came from the Fourth Prince, Wei Shibu.

He had pulled every string to secure an imperial marriage decree for his marriage to the trueborn daughter of the Duke of Xinguo's household!

Yet overnight, the capital was alive with the news that Yu Mingzhu was no blood relation to the Duke of Xinguo's household but a bastard deliberately swapped by scoundrels over a decade ago?!

When Wei Shibu heard this, he raged violently in his palace chambers, trashing everything he could get his hands on!

After he finally calmed down, though he realized how improper his actions were and ordered his close attendants to quickly clean up the mess in an attempt to cover it up—

The incident still reached Emperor Jiazheng’s ears.

Emperor Jiazheng and Empress Nie were also shocked by Xingxing’s true origins.

Though they had long known that Yu Mingzhu was no blood relation to the Duke of Xinguo's household, they never expected that the missing heir of the Duke of Xinguo's household was none other than Princess Fusui, Xingxing—their second son's intended bride, whom they highly favored!

—What an extraordinary coincidence!

Empress Nie, recalling the details of the rumors, was heartbroken for Xingxing. "That poor child... to think she had it so hard in her early years..."

Emperor Jiazheng sighed as well.

It was at this moment that news of the Fourth Prince smashing an entire room of furnishings in his palace reached them.

Emperor Jiazheng’s face darkened instantly, and he said coldly, "At the time, I asked him whether he truly loved Yu Mingzhu, regardless of her status. What did the Fourth Prince say then?... It seems he was indeed after the title of the Duke of Xinguo's heiress. Now he’s having second thoughts? Too late!"

Empress Nie, her painting-perfect features, smiled faintly.

The Fourth Prince had merely entertained a shred of ambition about her son Aqing’s position as Crown Prince, which was why he sought a powerful wife’s family.

But her Aqing’s position was not something just anyone could covet!