"I! I am the rightful monarch of the Great Yin Dynasty!"
Beside him, Yi Zhen kept shaking her head, unable to believe Yi Yuan's true identity.
"Impossible... impossible..."
Among everyone present, she was the one who had the most difficulty accepting this fact.
She still remembered when she was a child, being punished by her mother - concubine for not writing characters well. She was kneeling in the courtyard in the freezing snow, on the verge of freezing to death, when Yi Yuan came through the snow. He untied his thick cloak and carefully wrapped it around her.
That was the first time she had felt pure kindness towards herself.
It wasn't because someone wanted to curry favor or secure their status through her, nor was it because of her identity as a princess. She didn't need to go to great lengths to please others and act according to their preferences!
The innocent features of the young boy and the scent in the cloak seemed to be just yesterday.
She had always thought that although he was her uncle, the old prince wasn't her father's brother but her grandfather's sibling. The only thing separating her and Yi Yuan was their status.
But now, Xie Huaiyue suddenly told her that Yi Yuan was her half - brother!
How could she accept this?
Almost losing her sanity, Yi Zhen ran out of control in front of Xie Huaiyue. She grabbed his arm, half - seeking confirmation and half - crazed.
It scared Concubine Shen beside her, who cried out in alarm:
"Zhen'er!"
She quickly reached out her hand, but only caught air.
Yi Zhen had firmly grabbed Xie Huaiyue's sleeve and said incoherently:
"You're lying! You must be lying, right!?
"A Yuan, he... Uncle... How could he..."
"No! It's you! You're just an outsider who came out of nowhere, a bastard that even my grandfather never mentioned. How could you know such palace secrets!?"
Seemingly seizing on a loophole in Xie Huaiyue's words, Yi Zhen said excitedly:
"Moreover, you're only about the same age as A... Uncle. Before the emperor passed away, you were just a child. You probably never even entered the palace. Where could you have learned about what happened before the emperor's death? And you make up such a ridiculous story about the emperor passing the throne to a child like you before his death! Do you think we're all fools?"
Yi Zhen's question voiced the doubts in everyone's hearts.
For a moment, no one considered Yi Zhen's abnormal behavior. Instead, they were all waiting for Xie Huaiyue's answer.
Only Yun Xi had a bold guess in her mind, almost about to surface, but she wasn't sure.
Xie Huaiyue looked at Yi Zhen's face in disgust. Suddenly, he grabbed her chin tightly. His eyes were terrifyingly cold:
"Do you, a substitute who looks eight - tenths like Concubine Qing, have the right to question me?"
"I am the son of the late emperor, born to Shen Danqi! A legitimate prince and the crown prince appointed by the late emperor!"
"What!?"
This time, not only did everyone not expect it, but even Emperor Zhaohuan, the Holy Master who knew the secrets of that year, and Zongzheng Fengyi were shocked.
Xie Huaiyue actually... had such an identity!
With her guess confirmed, Yun Xi finally understood why Xie Huaiyue had always been so persistent about the supreme position.
The hardships he and Concubine Shen had endured in the cold palace over the years, the days of being bullied and unable to fight back, all these experiences had strengthened Xie Huaiyue's determination to become the overlord above all.
She also finally understood why Xie Huaiyue didn't want to kill Yi Yuan.
It was to... repay Concubine Qing for her secret help back then.
However, it would probably end there.
He was a man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. If Yi Yuan or Concubine Qing were to come back to life and hinder his plan, Xie Huaiyue would surely get rid of them cleanly.
For some reason, a sense of desolation welled up in Yun Xi's heart. She couldn't help but frown:
From the fragmented words and phrases left in the cold palace, she could feel that Concubine Shen's most earnest wish for him was for him to be safe and happy. To stay away from the scheming life.
But after her death, Xie Huaiyue chose the exact opposite path.
Xie Huaiyue didn't know what Yun Xi was thinking. He was so close to success but had failed at the last moment. He was in a state of extreme annoyance and hatred. The hand that was holding Yi Zhen's chin almost crushed her bones:
"And you? What are you? When I was in the palace, you... weren't even born yet! Your father and mother are just an unknown prince and a concubine who were not valued by the late emperor!"
Yi Zhen's eyes widened in horror. Only then did she realize what she had done in her impulse.
But she was firmly controlled by Xie Huaiyue and couldn't break free at all.
A madman... Xie Huaiyue was a madman... a madman with the blood of the late emperor!
But... what did it mean that she was a substitute for Concubine Qing!?
Yi Zhen raised her chin high. All the confusion and bewilderment in her eyes were captured by Xie Huaiyue.
The disgust in his eyes grew stronger. Xie Huaiyue drawled out the words so coldly that Yi Zhen couldn't help but shiver:
"Oh - I forgot you didn't know. Shen Zhai sent your mother..." He glanced at Emperor Zhaohuan and Concubine Shen out of the corner of his eye. Xie Huaiyue's eyes were cold and mocking. "To his side because Shen Zhai knew that your mother looked five or six - tenths like Concubine Qing."
"And you look three - tenths more like her than your mother."
"Your good father's indulgence and love for you, and all his requirements for your words and deeds, are all because of Concubine Qing. Ahahahaha..."
Suddenly, his laughter stopped. Xie Huaiyue suddenly pushed Yi Zhen away a bit, drew his sword, and stabbed at her abdomen:
"You're really disgusting. You should... just die."
"Zhen'er!"
Concubine Shen suddenly let out a shrill cry. No one knew where she got the speed, but she suddenly pounced on Yi Zhen and took the sword for her.
Caught off guard by Xie Huaiyue's sudden move, no one present had time to react.
After stabbing Concubine Shen, Xie Huaiyue didn't stop. Ignoring his own injuries, he twisted his body and rushed towards Emperor Zhaohuan.
The remaining subordinates of Xie Huaiyue in the field also moved in unison.
The scene instantly turned chaotic.
Without thinking, Yi Yuan flew over with his sword in hand and fought with Xie Huaiyue.
Only Yi Zhen was left standing there blankly, holding the blood - soaked Concubine Shen. Tears fell numbly one by one.
"Don't cry..."
Concubine Shen raised her hand and touched her daughter's cheek for the last time:
"I actually noticed your father's feelings for a long time. It was... It was my selfishness. I wanted to gain your father's favor through you, but because... because you look so much like someone else, I couldn't get over that... hurdle and took it out on you..."
"Actually, I... I didn't really want a prince... Mother was just angry at herself... I'm... sorry..."
Her body was getting colder and colder. Concubine Shen's voice became softer and softer.
The knot that had been weighing on Yi Zhen's heart for years began to loosen. She involuntarily leaned closer to Concubine Shen and only heard her last three words:
"Forgive... me..."
Then there was no more sound.
The sudden shocks were too many and too intense. Yi Zhen laughed while crying and cried while laughing.
Looking around, everyone was busy with their own affairs.
No one cared about her.
Suddenly, she went crazy.
At this moment, Ling Yan, who had been carefully protecting Yun Xi, suddenly noticed:
Yun Xi was gone!