Sima Han pulled Yue Qingxin to sit down again. Sima Zhu, as if just noticing Zheng Xiang, said in surprise, "Why has Prince Duan come to the palace today? And at the same time as them?"
Zheng Xiang stood up upon hearing this. "Replying to Your Majesty, I have something to report to Your Majesty."
"Oh? What is it? Tell me."
A look of joy flashed across Zheng Xiang's face, and his voice was filled with excitement. "Today, on the street, I actually found my eldest son who had been missing for over ten years."
Sima Zhu was truly astonished.
"Didn't your eldest son die in an assassination over ten years ago?"
Zheng Xiang nodded. "Replying to Your Majesty, I also thought he was dead. But who knew he was still alive and had come to the imperial capital with the Grand Tutor, the fifth prince. It seems heaven took pity on this old servant who thought he had lost his son to death, and thus sent him back to my side."
Sima Zhu and Sima Hao exchanged glances. This was indeed a strange occurrence.
"Then I must congratulate Prince Duan. We can celebrate together tonight." Sima Zhu said with a smile, "I wonder which one is the eldest son? Come forward and let us see."
Shen Xiaoyan turned her head to look at Zheng Wei. Should she stand up or not?
Zheng Wei, at this moment, was exchanging glances with Zheng Xiang, his face expressionless.
Zheng Xiang was also afraid that Zheng Wei would embarrass him, and more importantly, embarrass His Majesty.
Just as he was feeling uneasy, he saw Zheng Wei stand up and walk over slowly.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Grand Emperor."
Zheng Wei did not kneel, only bowed his body.
Sima Zhu did not mind these formalities at the moment. He was more curious about Zheng Wei.
After scrutinizing Zheng Wei from head to toe, Sima Zhu then said to Zheng Xiang with a smile, "The eldest son is truly a man of outstanding talent. Although he did not grow up by your side, his bearing is in no way inferior to yours."
Zheng Xiang naturally took this as a compliment from His Majesty and said, "A son takes after his father; it is only natural."
Sima Zhu was amused and pointed at Zheng Xiang. "Father Emperor, look. This Prince Duan has found his son and is so overjoyed that he's floating. I merely praised his son, and he's taking credit for himself."
Sima Hao was also highly amused.
After a few laughs, Sima Hao looked at Zheng Wei. "Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you return to find your royal father? I just heard Jiang Yubao say that you are unwilling to acknowledge your royal father. Why is that?"
Zheng Xiang lowered his head, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking. He only heard him say, "I do not remember anything before the age of ten..."
Sima Hao was taken aback and then understood.
This was Zheng Wei's answer to his question about why he hadn't returned.
Because he didn't remember past events, he naturally didn't know he had a family or where it was.
Since he had no memory, he naturally wouldn't feel that Prince Duan was his royal father, hence his unwillingness to acknowledge him.
"That's all. Prince Duan, don't force him. As long as the child is well, that is what matters most. Since he is in the imperial capital now, you will have more opportunities to interact. Once you are familiar with each other, perhaps he will recall his past."
Sima Hao said reassuringly to Zheng Xiang.
Zheng Xiang replied respectfully, "Yes."
Sima Zhu suddenly said, "I heard that the grain and money for disaster relief this time were mostly contributed by you?"
Zheng Wei nodded. "Yes."
"Then where did you get so much money and grain?" Sima Zhu continued, "As far as I know, your wife is nothing more than a simple village girl, and when you were driven out by the Zhu family, you only had a few adobe houses. Where did you get so much money and grain?"
After speaking, Sima Zhu stared intently at Zheng Wei.
These questions were things they had thought of beforehand, and the answers had naturally been agreed upon.
Zheng Wei replied unhurriedly, "Your Majesty should already know that I made a small fortune growing striped watermelons and fruit trees. As for the grain and money used for disaster relief, some were mine, but the majority, of course, was..."
Zheng Wei paused here and turned to look at Yi Zhiye.
Then he continued, "...naturally contributed by Grand Tutor Yi Zhiye. Otherwise, where would I have obtained so much?"
Sima Zhu was not entirely convinced. "If that's the case, why didn't you say it was the Grand Tutor's contribution directly, but instead said it was yours?"
Zheng Wei looked up at Sima Zhu and smiled. "This is because Grand Tutor Yi Zhiye did not wish to be too flamboyant, so he graciously gave the credit to me."
Sima Zhu looked at Zheng Wei suspiciously, clearly still not entirely believing him.
However, there was nothing he could do even if he didn't believe him.
Because he could not think of any other plausible explanation for such a large amount of grain.
"The Grand Tutor is indeed too low-key."
After a while, Sima Zhu said this faintly.
Yi Zhiye smiled indifferently upon hearing this. "I don't care about such things."
Shen Xiaoyan grumbled internally, "Of course you don't care, it's not yours."
What Sima Zhu disliked most was Yi Zhiye's attitude.
Just as he was about to shift his gaze, he suddenly saw Shen Xiaoyan.
Her bright red dress accentuated her skin as fair as congealed fat, her features as exquisite as a painting, and her facial features combined to create an indescribable, seductive charm.
Even though she was merely sitting there quietly, she exuded an aura of allure with every breath.
He had many beauties in his harem, but none were as beautiful as her.
Just one more glance at her made him feel somewhat breathless.
Shen Xiaoyan, who had been grumbling about Yi Zhiye internally, felt a fiery and greedy gaze upon her.
Following the sensation, she saw Sima Zhu gazing at her greedily, his eyes filled with infatuation.
Shen Xiaoyan was startled. What was happening?
Sima Zhu, still immersed in Shen Xiaoyan's beauty, suddenly saw her look at him.
His naturally upturned peach blossom eyes, with the slightest flutter of his eyelashes, became even more alluring.
His eyes seemed to contain a rapidly spinning vortex, ready to suck him in whole.
"Who is this beauty?"
Sima Zhu suddenly exclaimed, startling everyone in the room.
Everyone followed his gaze and saw Shen Xiaoyan sitting there, frowning.
Zheng Wei's body went cold instantly, and a killing intent flared in his eyes.
Sima Hao, however, frowned and looked at Sima Zhu with displeasure.
He didn't even consider the occasion and was so indiscreet.
Although he had to admit, Shen Xiaoyan was indeed a rare beauty.
In all his years, he had never seen anyone more beautiful than Shen Xiaoyan.
However, he was past that age, and power was the most important thing to him now.
But Sima Zhu was different.
If he had been an emperor just now, even if his appearance was somewhat comical, he at least had some aura.
But now, he had truly turned into a lewd, fat figure.
Shen Xiaoyan frowned at Sima Zhu for a while, then suddenly smiled.
Shen Xiaoyan's smile made Sima Zhu feel as if spring had arrived, with flowers blooming instantly.
"I am Zheng Wei's wife. Prince Duan forgot to introduce me just now. Isn't that right, Prince Duan?"
The smile on Sima Zhu's face froze instantly.
After a while, he looked at Zheng Xiang. "Is what she says true?"
Zheng Xiang truly regretted not introducing Shen Xiaoyan directly earlier, which now made him hesitant to speak.
However, seeing Zheng Wei's increasingly dark expression, he had to brace himself and say, "Replying to Your Majesty, yes."
The smile on Sima Zhu's face vanished instantly.
Just moments ago, he had been saying that Zheng Wei's wife was nothing more than a village girl.
But who would have thought that in such a short time, he would be proven wrong?
If a village girl could be this beautiful, he would rather replace all the women in his harem with village girls.
"So she is the eldest son's wife. No wonder... you two are truly a match made in heaven." Sima Hao said with a smile.
After saying this, he also beckoned to Shen Xiaoyan. "Come, come forward."