Chapter 2 The Next Day
The next day, Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun prepared gifts to visit the Duke Zhongyong's mansion to see the Old Duke Zhongyong. However, before they could leave, someone reported that the Old Duke Zhongyong had arrived.
What a coincidence.
Xiao Yun hurried out to greet him.
The Old Duke Zhongyong had come specifically to see his two great-grandchildren, but the children were not yet awake. The Old Duke Zhongyong gazed at them through the window for a few moments.
He had also brought gifts for the two children, including precious gold and silver jewelry, as well as trinkets he had brought back from his travels, showing great care.
Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao invited him to sit in the flower hall. He sighed, "I never expected that in the blink of an eye, A'Yun would be a father."
He gazed at Xiao Yun with affection. Xiao Yun sat beside him, and the Old Duke Zhongyong patted his head as if he were a child, "If you live a life of peace and prosperity, your maternal grandfather will be content."
Xiao Yun smiled, "Grandfather, please rest assured, I will surely be safe and sound, and live a long life. You too."
While the two were engrossed in their grandfather-grandson affection, Wang Qingyao watched for a while and became a little anxious. She coughed lightly and said, "Grandfather, A'Yun and I have something we want to ask you."
"What is it?" the Old Duke Zhongyong asked indifferently.
Wang Qingyao gave Xiao Yun a look.
Xiao Yun then smiled and slowly explained, "It's like this, we heard that Empress Xiaoxian actually gave birth to a child when she was in labor, and later..."
Before he could finish, the Old Duke Zhongyong stood up with a "Hoo," his wide robes even knocking over a few teacups on the table.
The tea water flowed down.
The Old Duke Zhongyong paid no attention, grabbed Xiao Yun's arm, and asked with both nervousness and fear, "Why are you inquiring about this?"
The Old Duke Zhongyong's reaction was a bit too extreme.
Wang Qingyao frowned and cautiously explained from the side, "This is a long story. In fact, we mentioned it to Grandfather before. Remember that novel I wrote before?"
"'The Secret History of Palace Abuse.' For this, Grand Tutor Wei kept asking me where I got this information and even wanted to kill me. We followed this lead and found out that Empress Xiaoxian actually gave birth to two children. The first one was killed by Grand Tutor Wei's men shortly after birth. The second one was stolen and given to Imperial Physician Lu, who then handed him over to you, Grandfather."
"We just want to ask Grandfather, where did that child go later? Where is he now? Can he still be found?"
Wang Qingyao spoke in one breath, afraid of any interruption.
After finishing, she took a deep breath and drank two mouthfuls of tea.
The Old Duke Zhongyong listened, his expression very strange.
"Grandfather?" Xiao Yun called out.
He came back to his senses, looked at Xiao Yun, then at Wang Qingyao, and after a moment of silence, said, "What would it matter even if he were found? So many years have passed. Are you going to acknowledge him to the Emperor? He is the legitimate eldest son. The Emperor has already established a Crown Prince, and his position would be awkward, bringing about a disaster."
Wang Qingyao replied, "We don't know what we'll do yet, but it's never wrong to be prepared. The Wei family has ill intentions, and the Crown Prince is cunning. Even if we don't provoke them, can we always be safe?"
"The eldest prince is our trump card. We might not play it, but we must hold it in our hands."
Xiao Yun looked at Wang Qingyao with admiration, "Yes, that's exactly the point."
The Old Duke Zhongyong sighed, "I fear that once you know the truth, your peaceful days will be over."
The Old Duke Zhongyong's words already indicated that he knew where the child was, but he was conflicted about whether to reveal it.
Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao held their breath, not daring to urge him.
After a while, he said, "I need to discuss this with the Old Imperial Consort."
Xiao Yun: "??"
Wang Qingyao: "!!"
The Old Duke Zhongyong went to see the Old Imperial Consort, while Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun sat in the Old Imperial Consort's courtyard, waiting. Xiao Yun still looked incredulous.
The Old Imperial Consort knew? The Old Imperial Consort had known all along?
If they had known that the Old Imperial Consort was also involved in this matter, why would they have waited for the Old Duke Zhongyong to return and asked the Old Imperial Consort directly?
But why didn't the Old Imperial Consort tell them, knowing they were investigating the matter of the eldest prince?
Wang Qingyao thought more deeply.
"The Old Duke Zhongyong and the Old Imperial Consort conspired to transfer the eldest prince. But the Old Duke Zhongyong wouldn't need the Old Imperial Consort's help unless there was only one situation where he would need her assistance."
Xiao Yun looked at her.
"The eldest prince is in your Xiao family."
Xiao Yun's mouth fell open.
"In your Xiao family, who is most likely to be the eldest prince?"
Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao stared at each other.
The adopted son, Xiao Mo.
They saw the answer in each other's eyes.
No wonder Xiao Mo and Xiao Yun looked so much like brothers. It wasn't that their appearances had changed from living together for a long time, but that they were actually cousins!
Their mothers were sisters!
Naturally, they would look alike.
"A-a-ah... where is A'Mo?" Xiao Yun stammered a little.
"Are you stupid? You're asking me? How would I know."
Xiao Mo was out attending to the shops at this hour. Xiao Yun instinctively wanted to go find him but was stopped by Wang Qingyao.
"Wait, let's see what Grandfather and Grandmother say."