Chapter 273 - Chapter 273: Completely Exposed

Chapter 273: Completely Exposed

These words confused Emperor Jing Xuan.

Emperor Jing Xuan thought for a moment and asked, “Has the Duke… left the capital? If he’s back, so be it. Is it worth you mobilizing so many people? It’s just leaving the capital. If you didn’t report it, I wouldn’t be angry over such a small matter.”

Generally speaking, such ministers with noble titles were not allowed to leave the capital on their own.

However, it was not worth coming to apologize in the middle of the night, right?

Qin Canglan said seriously, “What I mean is… my real son with Huayin has returned. The current Protector Duke is not the real Qin Che!”

As he spoke, he cupped his hands and apologized. “I’m guilty of confusing the direct bloodline of the Protectorate and causing Your Majesty to be deceived. Please punish me, Your Majesty!”

…

“…That’s what happened. I’ve already said what I needed to say. If you don’t believe me, I can’t do anything about it. Go ask Big Brother yourself.”

In the study, Qin Hai suppressed the anger in his chest and told Qin Che about his background.

No one knew how much pain and struggle he had experienced.

This was simply the most f*cked-up thing in his life.

God must not like his idle and prodigal behavior, so he gave him a series of loud slaps.

Qin Che looked at Qin Hai with eyes as cold as ice. There was already a trace of obsession in his eyes. “I don’t believe you. I don’t believe a word you say!”

Qin Hai said with a headache, “What’s the benefit of lying to you? Your mother and I…”

Qin Che shouted, “Shut up! You’re not allowed to insult my mother! My mother only has my father as her husband and has never slept with any other man!”

Qin Hai wanted to say something but hesitated. After a while, he waved his hand impatiently. “Alright, alright, alright. Do whatever you want. Anyway, the mission Big Brother gave me has been completed! What’s there to reject? When Big Brother comes back, go look for him!”

Qin Che clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost digging into his palms.

The dim candlelight landed on one of his cheeks, reflecting a sinister light in his eyes.

Qin Hai stood up and left. When he reached the door, he stopped and frowned at him. “You should be content. After all, you’re the flesh and blood of our Qin family!”

If he was really a bastard outside, it would not be enough even if he died a hundred times!

Thinking of how he had gone through an injustice for so many years, Qin Hai was extremely frustrated.

“What the hell is going on!”

Qin Hai left in exasperation!

The rain outside had clearly stopped, but for some reason, there was another flash of lightning.

The strong wind extinguished the candles on the table, and the room flickered, making Qin Che look sinister.

He was stunned for a long time before suddenly raising his arm and brushing away the porcelain and calligraphy on the table!

His eyes were red as he roared, “I don’t believe it… I don’t believe it! I don’t believe…”

At Qi Xiang Palace, Consort Xian sat on the chaise longue, holding a book in one hand and supporting her head with the other.

She wanted to read a lot of poetry, but she would often feel sleepy after reading a book.

With a loud bang, Consort Xian trembled in shock and the book in her hand fell to the ground.

The palace maid quickly bowed and picked it up, before giving it to Consort Xian with both hands.

Consort Xian couldn’t be bothered to take it.

At this moment, Nanny Gui, who had served her for many years, walked in with a bowl of freshly cooked rock sugar stewed bird’s nest.

Nanny Gui placed the bird’s nest on the small table and took the poetry book handed over by the palace maid. “You can leave.”

“Yes. ”

The palace maid retreated respectfully.

Nanny Gui placed the poetry book on the table, picked up the bird’s nest, and handed it to

Consort Xian. “Your Highness, you don’t eat much for dinner. Eat some bird’s nest.”

Consort Xian rubbed the flesh on her stomach. “I’m not eating anymore. I don’t want to become fat. ”

In order to maintain their figures, the women in the palace were all wary of food. It was common for them to starve.

In Consort Xian’s position, she had given birth to a prince and princess. Logically speaking, there was no need to serve with sex.

However, Consort Xian was not convinced of her old age. When she saw the young concubines in the harem, she refused to lose to them.

“Why isn’t His Majesty here yet?” Consort Xian muttered.

Nanny Gui smiled. “He’ll come over. Perhaps it’s raining outside and the roads are muddy and difficult to walk on, so he’s walking a little slower.”

“What was the empress up to tonight?” Consort Xian had already found out that the empress had sent snacks to Emperor Jing Xuan first before he went to Running Palace.

This was not like the Empress.

It was also not like Emperor Jing Xuan.

Emperor Jing Xuan and the Empress had long lost their relationship as husband and wife. Not to mention sending snacks, even if the empress personally washed Emperor Jing Xuan’s hands and cooked soup, Emperor Jing Xuan would not be moved.

Nanny Gui said, “Your Highness, the Empress is the central palace after all.”

Consort Xian snorted. “So what if she’s in the central palace? She’s not doted on and can’t give birth to a son. She just has the empty title of the Empress! If not for her daughter’s good birth characters, do you really think His Majesty cares about her!”

Nanny Gui smiled helplessly and scooped a spoonful of bird’s nest into her mouth. “Your Highness, eat some.”

In the end, Consort Xian couldn’t help but taste the spoon handed to her by Nanny Gui. Then, she gently pushed the bowl aside and refused to eat anymore.

At this moment, the eunuch who had been ordered to deliver the message brought the news that Emperor Jing Xuan had been intercepted. Consort Xian’s eyes turned sharp. “Which bitch is it this time?”

Nanny Gui said, “It’s the old Protector Duke.”

Hearing that it was not a woman from the harem, Consort Xian’s expression softened a little. “Is there going to be a war at the border again?”

Qin Canglan had long stopped attending court. In Consort Xian’s opinion, he would not be here unless there was a war at the border.

Consort Xian smiled. “If the old Protector Duke leads the army again, let the Third Prince go out with him and earn a military merit.”

Military merit was the support of the people. Ordinary princes did not have the chance to receive military merit.

As for her son’s safety, Consort Xian was not worried at all.

With Qin Canglan around, how could they really let the Third Prince go to the battlefield?

While Qin Canglan went to charge into the battle, the Third Prince could just wait to receive his military merits.

Consort Xian smiled happily. “Liu Sande, send a bowl of ginseng soup to His Majesty and tell His Majesty that it’s enough for the Imperial Physician to take care of me. Ask His Majesty not to worry.”

Liu Sande returned from the imperial study with a strange expression. “Your Highness, something happened!”

Consort Xian asked indifferently, “Why are you so flustered?”

Liu Sande glanced at Nanny Gui. Nanny Gui was Consort Xian’s trusted aide, so there was no need to keep things from her.

Liu Sande told herm the news he had accidentally heard from the imperial study.

Consort Xian sat up straight in shock. “What did you say? The Protector Duke is not Qin

Canglan’s son? Then who is he? Where is the real Protector Duke?”

Liu Sande braced himself and said, “Who is he… I didn’t hear him clearly. In short, there seemed to have made a mistake back then. Now that the real Protector Duke is back, he’s living in the capital.”

He only went to deliver the ginseng soup and stood outside for a while, listening intermittently.

Consort Xian was burning with anxiety.

Her son was engaged to the Protectorate, but if that Qin Che was fake, wouldn’t this marriage…

Consort Xian looked worried. “What did His Majesty say?”

Liu Sande said awkwardly, “That’s all I heard. Later on, Eunuch Fu brought the ginseng soup in. It was not convenient for me to stay any longer, so I could only leave first.”

Nanny Gui advised, “Your Highness, why don’t you wait for a while? Perhaps tomorrow, there will be news from His Majesty.”

“Can you wait for such a thing?” Consort Xian stood up and paced around the house. “No, I can’t sit still. Sandezi, go to the Jing family and tell my father about this. Tell him to investigate the identity of the real Qin Che as soon as possible!”

Liu Sande walked out of Qi Xiang Palace trembling.

He was lucky. After taking a few steps, An Zi came over.

An’zi worked in the imperial study and had received Liu Sande’s favor.

An’zi said, “Eunuch Liu, I heard some news.”

Fifteen minutes later, Liu Sande returned to Qixiang Palace and told them the information he had obtained.

“It was Marquis of Zhenbei who brought them back to the capital. The Su family returned to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestors and happened to meet that family…”

“That person changed his name to Su Cheng. Back then, he wandered among the commoners and didn’t remember who he was. He stumbled his way into adulthood… He got married in the countryside and had a son and a daughter. They were about the same age as Miss Qin and the young master.”

Consort Xian said coldly, “What young master? That’s all fake!”

“Ah, yes, yes, yes!” Liu Sande was secretly miffed that he had forgotten to change his words. He hurriedly smiled and said, “That commoner is the real Little High Duke.”

Consort Xian said thoughtfully, “You just said… that the real Qin Che also has a daughter who’s the same age as Qin Yanran?”

Liu Sande said, “Yes.”

The two families were engaged. If that girl who grew up in the countryside was the real daughter of the Qin family, would she become her daughter-in-law?

Consort Xian frowned slightly. “Is a girl who grew up in the countryside worthy of my son?”.