Rumors were flying outside the palace, and inside, chaos reigned. The Ninth Princess had resided in her usual palace, Changle Palace, last night. This morning, when the palace maids went to wake her, they found her chambers drenched in blood, and the Ninth Princess had vanished.
The Imperial Guards searched the entire palace for any trace of the Ninth Princess, but found nothing!
"Still no sign of the Ninth Princess?"
"Your Majesty, we have not found her whereabouts. However, we found a box in the Ninth Princess's room, which might be related to her disappearance." The new commander of the Imperial Guards was named Liang, Liang Hong. After Jiang Yao's death, he had taken over the position.
"What box?"
Liang Hong presented the box he had found. Hu Wan took it and examined it carefully, ensuring it was safe before opening it and handing it to the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at the contents of the box, puzzled, and picked it up. "A piece of scrap cloth?"
"Your Majesty, this is Yun Jin. Yun Jin is soft and one piece is worth a thousand gold. It is mostly used for newborns." Hu Wan had served in the palace for many years and could identify the material and its typical use upon seeing it.
"Fabric for newborn princes?"
"Your Majesty, there is something else inside." The Emperor looked confused. Hu Wan quickly took it out and opened it for the Emperor. "Your Majesty, this is red paper with birthdates written on it." Sudancn
"Birthdates?" The Emperor looked perplexed. "Whose birthdates are these?"
"There are three birthdates written on it. The three individuals were born within a few hours of each other. However, I recall that one of these birthdates matches that of Prince Qi."
"Prince Qi?"
"Yes."
Liang Hong looked confused upon hearing this, appearing as though he had something to say but hesitated. The Emperor, sensing his unease, asked, "Liang Hong, what is it you wish to say?"
"Your Majesty, a nursery rhyme has been circulating throughout the imperial city today. Its content is rather bizarre, but it might be related to the items inside this box."
"What nursery rhyme?"
"Please forgive this subordinate's transgression, Your Majesty, and I shall speak!"
"You are forgiven. Speak."
"The nursery rhyme being sung throughout the imperial city is: 'True prince, false prince, the Empress Dowager has a bastard son. True mother, false mother, a civet cat for a true prince.'"
"Presumptuous!"
Liang Hong, terrified, immediately knelt. "Your Majesty, forgive me. This is indeed what is being said outside."
"Do you believe everything that is said outside?"
"Your Majesty, Lord Kuang from the Censorate requests an audience."
"Summon him."
Lord Kuang entered respectfully, bowed, and presented a memorial with both hands above his head. "Your Majesty, I impeach the Empress Dowager for debauchery in the inner palace, confusing the royal bloodline, harboring malicious intent, and plotting to usurp the throne!"
Liang Hong secretly glanced at Lord Kuang, thinking, 'Lord Kuang, are you seeking death? You dare to impeach without evidence. Even if you want to stab someone, you should choose a better time!'
"Kuang Su, do you have evidence for these charges against the Empress Dowager?"
"Your Majesty, I have no evidence. However, rumors do not arise from nowhere, and a fly will not land on an egg without a crack. If there were no moral failings, why would such rumors spread? It is even rumored that the Empress Dowager replaced the prince with her own bastard son, intending to overthrow the Yu Sheng dynasty. Your Majesty, whether this matter is true or false, it cannot be tolerated!"
The Emperor also felt a growing unease. If the rumors were true, and the Empress Dowager had indeed replaced his prince with her own bastard son, her motive must have been to overthrow his throne. But who was that prince?
The Emperor showed no outward emotion, but his mind was already filled with suspicion. The Empress Dowager's bastard son must be among the remaining princes: Prince Qin, Prince Chu, and Prince Qi. In daily life, the Empress Dowager seemed to treat all the princes equally. So, who was the bastard son?
The Emperor's gaze fell upon the birthdates on the table. Judging from the birthdates, the Empress Dowager had indeed replaced a child with one born around the same time as her own. But who was the other child?
"I will investigate this matter thoroughly. You may both withdraw."
"Your humble servant takes his leave."
After they left, the Emperor's expression turned cold. "Guards, find out whose birthdates these are."
"Yes."
"Also, investigate any anomalies during the time the Empress Dowager resided at the royal villa, and those close to her!"
"Your subordinate obeys."
The Emperor's unease persisted. He rose immediately. "Prepare my carriage to the Palace of Benevolent Peace."
The Empress Dowager was already deeply troubled by the Ninth Princess's disappearance. Due to the obstruction of certain individuals, she was unaware that the matter had become common knowledge.
"His Majesty arrives."
The Empress Dowager put down her prayer beads and looked towards the door.
"Your Majesty, have you found any news of Little Jiu?" the Empress Dowager asked with a worried expression.
The Emperor sat down beside her. "Little Jiu's whereabouts have not been found, but some clues have surfaced."
"What clues? Are they left by the perpetrator?"
"Regarding Little Jiu's disappearance, I wonder if she discovered a secret she shouldn't have, and was silenced."
"Who would dare to kill a princess in the palace, and for what secret would they silence her?"
"Indeed, what kind of secret would warrant such a murder?" the Emperor asked slowly. "Mother, can you tell me?"
The Empress Dowager felt a growing unease, but her expression remained flawless. "This Dowager does not know."
The Emperor chuckled. "Mother truly doesn't know?"
"Emperor, what do you mean? Do you suspect this Dowager harmed Little Jiu?" The Empress Dowager's voice trembled slightly. "Emperor, Little Jiu is like my own child, whom this Dowager raised. How could I bear to harm her?"
"Yes, the Empress Dowager has always doted on her. She has been with you for over ten years, hasn't she?"
"Twelve years." The Empress Dowager sighed. "Consort Liang passed away, and she had no one to care for her. The Empress was busy with her own children. Seeing her pitiable state, this Dowager took her in and raised her personally. Without her, these twelve years would not have been so joyful."
"Mother, if you had your own child, wouldn't you be even happier?"
The Empress Dowager's expression dimmed, and she gave a bitter smile. "If that child of mine were still alive, they would be in their thirties by now."
"Does Mother not have other children?" the Emperor asked softly.
The Empress Dowager's unease intensified. She felt the Emperor's words held hidden meanings, but she couldn't pinpoint what was wrong. Had the Emperor discovered her secret?
No, impossible. All those who knew at the time were executed. How could the Emperor possibly find out!
"Mother, do you have anything to confess to me?" the Emperor asked, looking into the Empress Dowager's eyes gently.
The Empress Dowager frowned. "Emperor, what is wrong with you? Or have those few brats angered you? If they have, this Dowager apologizes on their behalf. Please forgive them."
The Emperor smiled and rose to leave, his smile gradually freezing into ice.