After Zhongli Shuoyi entered the palace to pay homage to the emperor, he dropped by the residence of Concubine Zhuang. However, Concubine Zhuang seemed out of sorts today. She paced back and forth in the main hall restlessly, and the maids didn't dare to step forward to serve her.
"Mother Concubine, what's wrong with you..."
He stepped forward to support Concubine Zhuang, but unexpectedly, she shook him off forcefully. "Yi'er!"
Not understanding why Concubine Zhuang was so out of control, he asked, "Mother Concubine, what happened today?"
"Mother Concubine is sorry for you!" Concubine Zhuang suddenly came to her senses, tightly grasping his hand with a trembling voice.
He supported her into the inner chamber. "Yi'er, I must tell you something today!"
Seeing his mother's strange expression, Zhongli Shuoyi's heart raced. "You're not the emperor's son..."
These words exploded in his ears.
Then, Concubine Zhuang slowly told Zhongli Shuoyi about her humiliating experience more than twenty years ago. She chose to tell him now because that man had suddenly come to find her again!
His mind was buzzing. What was his mother talking about? He wasn't a prince but the son of Liao Zhengye, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot.
"You're lying..."
Staggering back a few steps, he simply couldn't tolerate this!
Concubine Zhuang looked at him aggrievedly. "Back then, Liao Zhengye coerced me. It was him who ruined me!"
Actually, during that period, the emperor had neglected her. And Liao Zhengye happened to appear by her side at that time, caring for her tenderly. The two grew closer and later crossed the line. It was only then that she discovered that Liao Zhengye was actually a fake eunuch!
Later, she became pregnant. She had wanted to abort the fetus, but unexpectedly, Liao Zhengye came up with a scheme to make the emperor favor her.
Everything then seemed to fall into place!
Zhongli Shuoyi sat there in a daze in the palace, silent. He was completely devastated by the "truth" he had just heard.
Concubine Zhuang grabbed him. "Your Highness, please save Mother Concubine. After he made me tell you the truth, he wants you to recognize him as your father."
Recognize him as his father?
Humph... Zhongli Shuoyi looked at Concubine Zhuang coldly. This woman, who had no moral integrity, had put him in such an embarrassing situation.
Unable to bear it any longer, he barely held back the impulse to kill her. Without saying a word, he silently left.
She knew that this matter was a great blow to Zhongli Shuoyi. But after more than twenty years of scheming, Liao Zhengye had now become the powerful supervisor of the Eastern Depot.
He had always known that Zhongli Shuoyi was his own son, so he had secretly helped their mother - and - son pair. One had become a noble concubine, and the other had become a prince.
However, Liao Zhengye was not satisfied. He still wanted to support Zhongli Shuoyi to become the emperor. Then, he would be the emperor's father!
He wasn't the emperor's biological son but a bastard!
Zhongli Shuoyi really wanted to laugh to the sky. This was so ironic. His mother was actually so disgraceful, having an affair with a eunuch.
No wonder he didn't look anything like Zhongli Chengze and Zhongli Mingye. Thinking carefully, his round face actually bore a slight resemblance to that Liao Zhengye.
"Your Highness, the supervisor requests your presence at the Eastern Depot for a talk."
With a menacing look in his eyes, he swept a glance at the messenger. Then he slowly closed his eyes, hiding the haze within.
"I, the prince, have something to attend to today. Let's make it another day!"
When he returned to the prince's mansion, Yu Duanya was excitedly organizing a lot of baby clothes. At this moment, her face glowed with maternal radiance and tenderness.
Seeing Zhongli Shuoyi looking solemn, she gently asked, "Your Highness, this is..." Before she could finish her sentence, Zhongli Shuoyi hugged her tightly. "Don't move. Let me hug you for a while."
It was obvious that he was very tired. Yu Duanya gently hugged him back, patting his back soothingly with her soft hands.
Liao Zhengye didn't wait for Zhongli Shuoyi at the Eastern Depot. He sneered. This "son" was really troublesome. If it weren't for his secret protection all these years, how could their mother - and - son pair enjoy such glory today!
It didn't matter. He could wait a bit longer!
At night, the Eastern Depot was very quiet. Many eunuchs and stewards had gone off - shift to rest.
The people in the supervisor's mansion didn't dare to slack off. Now that Liao Zhengye was in the emperor's favor, they naturally had to do their best. Unexpectedly, several dark shadows descended from the sky.
Those little eunuchs didn't even make a sound before they lost their lives.
"You've come?"
A meaningful smile appeared on Liao Zhengye's round face.
"..."
Zhongli Shuoyi's sword was just an inch away from taking his life.
This bastard fake eunuch!
"I suppose your mother has told you everything. You're a smart person. I, the supervisor, will surely do my best to ensure you reach high positions." His shrill voice made people believe that he was a eunuch. But Concubine Zhuang's words were deeply engraved in Zhongli Shuoyi's heart.
Liao Zhengye let out a soft snort and reached out to push aside the sword. "Don't be like this! Sometimes, this can actually be a good opportunity."
Yes,
Zhongli Shuoyi looked at the "fake eunuch" sarcastically. One wrong step could lead to an abyss.
On this night, the mansion of Prince Yu was also not peaceful.
Because Zhongli Mingye's men had found out the mastermind behind the poisoning of Princess Soli. It just happened to be Ouyang Jinse, who had a close cooperative relationship with the crown prince.
The envoys from the Gu tribe had already entered the capital. Although the crown prince hadn't taken any more actions for the time being, the people from the Jinshui Palace had always been eyeing them covetously. If it weren't for the great help of the shadow guards of Prince Yu, Soli might have already died.
"Your Highness, Mr. Yu is here..."
Zhongli Mingye saw the person recommended by the Shu family of his mother's clan. Although this person looked somewhat refined, whether he was trustworthy or not still needed to be verified.
He intended to test this person's ability, so he entrusted this matter entirely to Yu Nianbai.
"I, the humble one, will surely do my best to satisfy Your Highness."
Yu Nianbai had recommended himself and had a very close relationship with the Shu family. After staying in the Shu family for nearly ten years, he finally chose to come out. It was also the entrustment of the old master of the Shu family. Now, at the age of forty, Yu Nianbai was alone. Waiting for an opportunity, he came out again as a retainer under the Prince Yu.
He wanted to avenge his wife and son who had been killed fifteen years ago!
Back then, Grand - Tutor Shen wasn't a grand - tutor yet. He was just a dissolute young master of the Shen family.
Coveting the beauty of Yu Nianbai's wife, he forcibly took her into his mansion and killed his infant son.
The Shen family had a very close relationship with the royal family. Yu Nianbai had originally been lurking in the capital, looking for an opportunity. But after killing a young master of the Shen family last time, in order to avoid trouble, he had to lie low and wait for the right moment.
The Shu family had shown him kindness. Now, asking him to assist Prince Yu was also giving Yu Nianbai a new opportunity.