Emperor An's brows furrowed sharply. "You're saying Xie Yin is not Rong Yue's son?"
Xiao Yan nodded. "This was confirmed by the old servant from Cheng Wangfei's side, the one colluding with Cheng Wang. Before she died, she explicitly pointed it out. Both Marquis Wenxin and Wu Huai heard it clearly."
Marquis Wenxin stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I can confirm I heard it myself."
Wu Huai added, "The old servant didn’t seem to be lying."
Even though that servant, Nanny Jiang, had her tongue cut out and couldn’t speak, the fervent expression she had at the time couldn’t have been faked. It seemed likely that Xie Yin truly wasn’t Cheng Wangfei’s son.
Hearing this, Emperor An couldn't help but knit his brows further. Back when Xie Tianyu married Rong Yue, he leveraged her family connections to rapidly elevate his standing among the imperial princes.
At the time, the crown prince was still alive, and aside from the Eastern Palace, Cheng Wang garnered the most attention. Thanks to the Rong family’s support, his influence almost rivaled the Eastern Palace, and he managed to attract a significant following.
Emperor An remembered vividly that shortly after Rong Yue married Xie Tianyu, it was announced that she was pregnant. The following year, she gave birth to Xie Yin, whose name was personally bestowed by the late emperor.
The late emperor held Xie Tianyu in high regard and greatly doted on Xie Yin. Xie Tianyu’s reputation for "deep affection" toward Rong Yue ensured that even after the late emperor's death, Xie Tianyu was spoken of as a man of great loyalty and righteousness.
But now, with the revelation that Xie Yin wasn’t Rong Yue’s child, questions arose. Where was the child Rong Yue gave birth to back then? And who was Xie Yin?
Knowing Xie Tianyu’s character, it was impossible to imagine him raising someone else’s child or handing over his estate to an outsider. If Xie Yin was his son, then who was the mother? Could Xie Tianyu, famed for his deep love, have secretly kept a mistress somewhere?
The emperor’s thoughts raced, and for a brief moment, he recalled the ill-fated Song Hong.
Standing in the hall, Xiao Yan said, "Regardless of the truth behind this matter, it’s unlikely to be a clean story. If Xie Yin’s lineage is indeed illegitimate, it could tarnish the reputation of the royal family."
"A bastard of unknown origin—what kind of heir is that supposed to be?"
The royal family valued legitimate lineage and pure bloodlines above all else.
With Cheng Wang’s rebellious ambitions exposed, Emperor An no longer cared about protecting his reputation. He had disliked Cheng Wang since his days as a prince. Though he had tolerated him for years of apparent obedience, the discovery of the Thunderbolt Crossbows and siege ladders had crossed a line.
Now, the emperor wanted nothing more than for Cheng Wang to be thoroughly disgraced and condemned by all.
His voice turned icy. "Investigate as needed, without concern for appearances."
"Rong Yue is Cheng Wang's legitimate wife, appointed by the late emperor. Her child is the true royal bloodline. If Xie Yin is not her son, then an illegitimate bastard like him has no right to inherit a title, much less drag down the royal family’s name."
Emperor An tugged irritably at his collar, as if something in his mind was persistently nagging at him. His breathing grew uneven, and he became visibly restless.
The heat radiating from his body made him uncomfortable. He downed a cup of strong liquor from the table, the fiery liquid scorching its way down his throat. Only then did some of the agitation in his chest subside, though an unnatural flush appeared on his face.
"As for the Cheng Wang estate, handle it as you see fit. If Cheng Wang truly harbored treasonous intentions, punish him accordingly, without leniency. And the Lu family—conclude the investigation swiftly."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As Emperor An rose to his feet, Xiao Yan addressed him. "Your Majesty..."
The emperor snapped impatiently, "What now?"
His hands and feet felt hot, and his entire demeanor became increasingly irritable.
Xiao Yan spoke at the right moment. "It’s regarding the Grand Empress Dowager. Her bouts of hysteria have worsened recently, and she’s begun rambling incoherently. The palace is full of people, and some concubines frequently use excuses to visit her. I’m concerned this may disturb the Grand Empress Dowager's peace."
The emperor’s expression turned cold. "Did I not already forbid them from disturbing the Grand Empress Dowager?"
Xiao Yan lowered his voice. "I have enforced Your Majesty’s orders and sealed off the palace, but the empress insists on fulfilling her filial duties. I could not stop her."
"The empress again!" Emperor An's gaze darkened. "She’s never shown this kind of filial piety before!"
The biting sarcasm in his tone made the room fall into an awkward silence.
Xiao Yan continued as if unaware of the tension. "Recently, the Grand Empress Dowager has been reminiscing about the past. During her hysteria, she says many irrational things. While the empress may dismiss these as nonsense, other concubines in the palace might overhear and misunderstand, potentially spreading rumors."
The emperor’s expression grew even grimmer.
The Grand Empress Dowager had long been senile but remained fixated on the long-deceased Crown Prince and his son. She had doted on them deeply, and when the Crown Prince’s treason unfolded, she had been the only one to deny it, tirelessly seeking ways to clear their names until it drove her to madness.
The Crown Prince’s case was far from clean. If Empress Lu, who had been frequently visiting the Grand Empress Dowager, or other concubines overheard something damaging and spread it...
Xiao Yan added softly, "Qin Niangzi believes that the Grand Empress Dowager’s frequent exposure to old belongings exacerbates her hysteria. Keeping her in the palace may hinder her recovery. Perhaps relocating her to the royal estate on the outskirts of the city would provide a quieter environment for her recuperation and make it easier for Qin Niangzi to tend to her."
Already irritable, Emperor An agreed without hesitation. "Do as you suggest. Ensure she’s well cared for, and don’t let anyone disturb her."
Xiao Yan bowed his head. "Understood, Your Majesty."
After hours of relentless rain, the downpour finally eased. Xiao Yan and the others exited the hall, their soaked clothes clinging to their bodies. A gust of wind swept through, making them shiver.
Marquis Wenxin rubbed his arms for warmth and glanced behind him.
"Lord Xiao, about the emperor..."
The lingering scent of alcohol from the hall was unmistakable. The emperor’s disheveled appearance and the fact that the tea cup had been filled with strong liquor left the marquis uneasy.
"Is His Majesty’s health all right?" he asked in a low voice.
Xiao Yan replied calmly, "The imperial physicians check his pulse daily. There has been no report of illness. However, His Majesty has recently developed a strong fondness for drinking, particularly in the company of his favored concubines, who are all known for their drinking prowess. They often hold banquets late into the night."
The marquis frowned. "Such drinking habits could harm his health."
Xiao Yan cast him a glance. "What do you think? Excessive drinking is obviously harmful."
"Then why hasn’t anyone advised him against it?"
"Who dares?"
"Lord Xiao..."
The marquis was about to suggest that Xiao Yan might have the authority to intervene, but the latter cut him off.
"I’m no deity. His Majesty has never missed a court session due to his drinking. Most of it happens at night. What would you have me do? Crawl into his concubines’ chambers in the middle of the night to plead with him to stop?"
"Or do you think I am particularly stubborn?"
The marquis fell silent, thoroughly chastised.
Xiao Yan’s sharp tongue remained as unyielding as ever.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 234 (100+ extra chapters) here
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