The hall fell into complete silence, with the Emperor sitting high above, observing everyone's actions and expressions.

 

Consort Shu was staring at Xiao Shan and Xiao Jin with an incredulous look, as if they suddenly grew horns. In her mind, with such a situation, a little provocation from her would surely lead to mutual suspicion and fratricide.

 

If she and Xiao Yi were to suffer, then everyone else should suffer along with them.

 

But the reality was the reality, and the process and outcome were entirely different from what she anticipated. Xiao Shan and Xiao Jin both knew about this matter. Not only did they not hide it, but they also eagerly revealed it to the Emperor.

 

Xiao Jin even went so far as to unhesitatingly use this reason to request the abolition of his position as Crown Prince. In their eyes, the status of the Imperial Heir and the position of Crown Prince seemed to be of no consequence.

 

Xiao Yi and Consort Shu shared the same mentality. Even if Consort Shu had not kept this matter from him, their choice would certainly be the same. They would pretend to be unaware of the situation and then watch the drama unfold from the shadows.

 

After the Empress truly eliminated Xiao Shan, they would then leak this news.

 

Faced with the vengeance of a murdered son, he did not believe the Empress would remain indifferent, nor did he believe she could continue to fully support the Crown Prince. By then, both the Empress and Consort Lan would be weakened, Xiao Jin's position as Crown Prince would be unstable, and he would become the most suitable candidate.

 

Unfortunately, human plans couldn’t match divine will. Before he could watch Xiao Shan and Xiao Jin's downfall, Xiao Shan already exposed both his and Consort Shu's trump cards.

 

Consort Shu then played her biggest card, but it was to no avail.

 

It couldn't be said that it was entirely useless, as the long-hidden secret, though lacking evidence, now casted a shadow of doubt over everyone's minds. However, the outcome was vastly different from what they had imagined.

 

The calmest individuals in the hall were Xiao Jin and Xiao Shan, who seemed unaffected.

 

The Empress was the most distressed. She was pained by the realization that Consort Lan, whom she had always protected and whom everyone regarded as a delicate flower, had turned out to be a carnivorous plant. She was also pained by the fact that the son she had painstakingly nurtured, planned and schemed for over the years was not her biological child.

 

She was even more distressed by the thought that, had it been a little later, she might have killed Xiao Shan herself.

 

The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

 

If Xiao Shan died and someone then revealed the truth to her, she couldn't even bear to imagine such a scenario.

 

At this moment, the Empress didn't dare to look at Xiao Shan, nor could she bear to think about what kind of gaze he might direct at her.

 

Underneath her wide sleeves, the Empress clenched her hands tightly, trying to steady her trembling body. She looked at Consort Lan, who was kneeling beside her, and asked, "Is it true?"

 

Doubt was still just doubt; she needed Consort Lan to tell her the answer directly.

 

Consort Lan finally raised her head. There were still tear stains on her face, but the pitiful look she once had was nowhere to be found. She smiled and said, "Sister, do you want to hear me say yes or no? If I say no, will you and the Emperor believe me? If I say yes, will you and the Emperor completely trust me? Would you think that by admitting to switching the children so readily, I am doing it on purpose to dethrone the Crown Prince and make way for my own son?"

 

"After all, now that Prince Xian is guilty, and Consort Xian and the Fifth Prince have ambitions for the throne, if the Crown Prince is not your biological son, then among the princes, the only one with a clear and unblemished record is Xiao Shan. The position of Crown Prince would undoubtedly go to Xiao Shan, and you would no longer have any doubts?"

 

The Empress swayed slightly. It was the first time she realized how eloquent Consort Lan was, still able to manipulate hearts even at this moment.

 

Everyone present understood that her words were meant to protect Xiao Jin's position as Crown Prince.

 

But everyone who heard her words couldn't help but ask themselves, what if? What if it was indeed the latter scenario? With a woman driven to madness, one could never predict what she might do.

 

At this moment, the Emperor, seated high above, began to laugh. He lowered his gaze and said, "Things have come to this point, and Consort Lan still thinks she can toy with me?"

 

Consort Lan looked up at the man. When she first entered the palace, she feared him more than she had any affection.

 

From the beginning, she knew how heartless he could be. The lives of everyone in the world were but a matter of his word.

 

At that time, she was filled with hatred. Her parents were already looking for a suitable match for her. But because the Empress was childless, she, a dignified legitimate daughter, had to become a tool for the Empress to secure her favor.

 

Yet she had no choice but to endure. When she was found to be pregnant, the Empress was delighted but also somewhat disappointed.

 

Although the Dowager Empress didn't say anything at the time, she knew that if the Empress remained childless, her child would become the Empress' child. Despite being born into the same Gu family and being a legitimate daughter, what she could have would only be what the Empress left behind.

 

She was always terrified, even fearing that she wouldn't be able to protect her own child.

 

Fortunately, the Empress soon became pregnant as well.

 

It was a joyous occasion, and the disappointment in the Empress' eyes vanished. She became wholeheartedly devoted to her.

 

But this remained a knot in her heart.

 

One quiet night, she suddenly thought, since the Empress had once so desperately wanted her child, why not give it to her?

 

She was skilled in needlework and could make all sorts of clothes for children. She ingratiated herself with the Empress, personally making clothes for her unborn child. She also made various pastries for the Empress, and she would eat them in front of her. Out of ten pastries, nine might be fine, but one would have something added to it.

 

Maybe the Empress would eat it, maybe she wouldn't. Who could say?

 

In short, the child she conceived later was born prematurely by a few days, and she chose to give birth on the same day. The Empress, with her noble status, faced a life-and-death struggle during childbirth and fainted from exhaustion afterward.

 

She, on the other hand, had been moving around frequently and was in much better physical condition. On the day of delivery, she gritted her teeth and stayed conscious. Once her child was born, while the Dowager Empress and the Emperor were in the Empress' palace looking at the child, she took one glance at her own child and then had the wet nurse carry the child over.

 

Switching children, especially in the palace and under so many watchful eyes, was a very risky endeavor.

 

But the wet nurse was someone she could control. As long as she found the wet nurse's weakness, many things could be accomplished.

 

For instance, carrying the child dressed in the same bellyband to visit the Empress' child, or playing with the two children to make them cry, then taking them away to feed or change their diapers.

 

The key was to be bold, seize the right moment, and switch the children wrapped in identical blankets.

 

The two children had the same father, and their mothers were legitimate cousins. When they were born, they looked so similar, both as ugly as little monkeys. Given an hour, they would look even more alike. Who would really notice anything?

 

Afterward, those who carried out these actions had to be dealt with cleanly.

 

An inattentive wet nurse, with her family's safety held over her, would die willingly and without leaking a single word.

 

As Consort Lan reminisced about the past, the Emperor spoke with concern, "Since it's now impossible to prove who is the legitimate heir, and Consort Lan has nothing to say, then Zhen will investigate. If Zhen conducts the investigation, Xiao Jin's position as Crown Prince will be suspended, and he will be detained. If it turns out that Consort Lan has not switched the children, then Xiao Jin will remain Crown Prince, and Xiao Shan will continue as Prince Li. However, if it is found that Consort Lan acted recklessly, then Zhen will demote Xiao Jin to a commoner, and his descendants will be forbidden from using the Xiao surname, entering the palace forever. How about that?"

 

Consort Lan's eyes widened as she looked at the Emperor, shaking her head vigorously, "Your Majesty, he is your biological son, you can't do this..."

 

The Emperor looked at her and said, "You think after deceiving me to this extent, Zhen can still tolerate it?"

 

At this moment, Consort Shu finally smiled.

 

Indeed, there was still the Emperor. Although the scene of fratricide had not occurred, someone would have to bear the brunt of the Emperor's wrath.

 

Seeing this, Xiao Shan moved slightly, and Xiao Jin quickly grabbed him.

 

Xiao Shan looked at Xiao Jin, who shook his head at him.

 

At this moment, the Emperor turned to Consort Shu and said, "Consort Shu, are you so pleased because you are eager for Zhen to deal with you? In that case, for the crime of attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince, Zhen strip you of your title and demote you to a palace maid, confining you to the Cold Palace. As for Prince Xian, it seems your title needs to be changed. Since you are unwilling to remain idle, you shall no longer be a prince."

 

Consort Shu hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince knew nothing of this. It was all my idea; the Fourth Prince is completely unaware."

 

Xiao Yi looked at Consort Shu with tears in his eyes and said, "Mother Consort..."

 

Consort Shu didn't even glance at him. She looked at the Emperor and cried, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince truly knows nothing. He is just filial. When I asked him to paint, he painted; when I asked him to write poetry, he wrote. If Your Majesty investigates, you will find that the paintings sent to those in Jiangnan were all sent by my orders, and the silver transported from Jiangnan was all received by me. It has nothing to do with the Fourth Prince."

 

Since she dared to say this, it must be as she claimed. The evidence found would point to her, not Xiao Yi.

 

This was her way, as a mother, of doing everything in her power to protect her child.

 

The Emperor knew this wasn't the whole truth. If this happened when he first ascended the throne, Xiao Yi would have been demoted to a commoner.

 

But now, the Emperor has aged. He closed his eyes and said, "In that case, the Fourth Prince Xiao Yi will be stripped of his title as Prince Xian and adopted by Prince Yong, inheriting his title."

 

Prince Yong was the Emperor's younger brother who died young, leaving behind only a noble title and no other power.

 

Consort Shu collapsed, knowing that with the truth exposed, saving Xiao Yi's life was all she could hope for.

 

As Consort Shu was dragged away, Xiao Yi tried to hold onto her, but how could one pair of hands compete against so many?

 

In the end, Consort Shu was taken away, and Xiao Yi knelt at the palace gate, crying bitterly.

 

Seeing this, Consort Lan understood that the Emperor was not only punishing Consort Shu but also sending a message to her.

 

Tears streamed from her eyes as she bowed her head to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to investigate further. I confess to everything."

 

The Empress' body went limp, and she clutched her chest, unable to speak from the pain.

 

Hearing this, the Emperor closed his eyes.

 

He always considered himself wise, yet he now felt like a fool.

 

Suddenly, the Emperor felt very tired. In this struggle for power, there were no true winners.

 

The Emperor looked at Xiao Jin, his most valued son. To ensure the stability of his position as Crown Prince, he never gave anyone else hope.

 

And now, this son was not the legitimate heir.

 

Yet, despite this, his heart was filled with mixed emotions. He still valued Xiao Jin highly and believed he was capable of fulfilling the role of Crown Prince.

 

But some matters could not be ignored. When Xiao Jin submitted his memorial, he must have already prepared for everything.

 

The one who felt the most conflicted should be the Empress. She harbored the intent to kill Xiao Shan, wounding this son deeply, and now there was a rift between her and Xiao Jin.

 

Knowing that Xiao Jin was Consort Lan's son, how could she possibly allow him to remain as Crown Prince?

 

As mentioned earlier, in this struggle for power, there were no true winners.

 

But since the matter had come to light, there had to be an explanation for the world.

 

The Emperor took a deep breath and said, "Since Xiao Jin has requested to be stripped of his position as Crown Prince, Zhen..."

 

"Father Emperor, your son has something to say." Xiao Shan could no longer bear it. Seeing the Emperor about to agree to abolish Xiao Jin's position, he couldn't let that happen—he had no desire to become Crown Prince.

 

So he said, "Father Emperor, since Consort Lan has admitted to switching the children, your son has endured many grievances over the years. It is only right that I ask for some compensation."

 

The Emperor frowned and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

 

Xiao Shan spoke with conviction, "To compensate your son."

 

The Emperor's brow remained furrowed. He knew Xiao Shan well, and upon hearing his words, he understood what was on his mind, yet he still found it somewhat unbelievable. Now that everything was in his favor, was Xiao Shan truly indifferent to the throne?

 

When others were fighting tooth and nail, devoid of familial affection and human decency, was he really willing to give it up?

 

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Xiao Shan, with an unchanged expression, said, "Father Emperor, your son would like a piece of land for a fiefdom. Preferably a large and prosperous one, but it should also be a place where Xie Zhui can have room to flourish. I think Yunnan would be a good choice. The climate is pleasant, the environment is favorable, and Xie Zhui and the child would surely like it. If anyone with ill intentions should think to invade our southern borders, Xie Zhui could also lead troops to repel them."

 

Since the founding of the Zhou Dynasty, there had been no practice of granting fiefdoms to princes. All princes who did not ascend the throne stayed in the capital to live out their days, eliminating the possibility of rebellion.

 

Now, Xiao Shan's request for a fiefdom effectively cut off his chances of becoming Crown Prince or Emperor.

 

If he said nothing, the Emperor would have felt uneasy.

 

But now that he made his request, openly declaring his disinterest in becoming Crown Prince or Emperor, the Emperor still felt uneasy.

 

Moreover, the Emperor finally understood why Xiao Shan exposed Consort Shu and Xiao Yi from the beginning. Xiao Xian was too young, and Consort Xian had ambitions. Naturally, the Emperor would not make Xiao Xian the Crown Prince.

 

Xiao Yi had committed a grave crime, and not being stripped of his title was already a great mercy.

 

Among the remaining princes were Xiao Shan, Xiao Rong, and Xiao Jin.

 

Xiao Rong was out of the question; he lacked the talent to be Emperor.

 

So, as long as Xiao Shan was unwilling to be Crown Prince, the position would inevitably fall to Xiao Jin.

 

Xiao Jin also realized this. He grabbed Xiao Shan's arm and said, "Don't be ridiculous. I am also willing to be a leisurely prince."

 

When he made his desperate move, he never imagined that Xiao Shan would understand all this, much less that Xiao Shan would consider various ways out for him.

 

With things having reached this point, there had to be an explanation for the Empress and Consort Lan.

 

Xiao Shan brushed Xiao Jin's hand away and said, "Father Emperor, if the matter of the switched children is made public, it will involve too many people. Your son does not want to be gawked at like a monkey on the street."

 

Just like the Gu family, their support had always been for Xiao Jin.

 

Gu Yin even dragged him into the water for Xiao Jin's sake. Now, if he were to become Crown Prince, there would be too many troublesome matters to deal with, and he had no patience for them.

 

Having his own fiefdom and being a leisurely prince sounded much better.

 

Moreover, he did not want to be Crown Prince. If everything were to be laid bare and Xiao Jin still wanted to be Crown Prince, then Consort Lan would need to be vindicated.

 

So Xiao Shan continued, "Your son has one more request. Even if Second Brother inherits the throne in the future, Consort Lan must never be given the title of Empress Dowager, whether in life or death. I hope Father Emperor and Second Brother can grant this."

 

As for the rest, the scandal of the switched children should be buried in history.

 

How future generations choose to write about it swa their concern.

 

For now, he and Xiao Jin did not need to be the subjects of public gossip.

 

As for those who knew about this matter, Xiao Shan glanced at Xiao Yi, who was slumped by the door. As long as he did not acknowledge it, who would believe such a thing?

 

As for reuniting with the Empress, he had no such intention.

 

He could understand the Empress' actions from Xiao Jin's perspective, but when it came to his own life, he had no words of forgiveness to offer.

 

As for Consort Lan, from now on, they would be strangers.

 

All he sought in this world was to live happily with Xie Zhui and to maintain his brotherly bond with Xiao Jin.

 

Now, his relationship with Xie Zhui was steadfast, and his brotherly bond with Xiao Jin remained unbroken.

 

Given this, he had no further desires.

 

No, there was still one more thing he desired.

 

Thinking of this, Xiao Shan looked at the Emperor again and said, "Father Emperor, has Xie Zhui arrived at the palace yet? Your son wishes for Father Emperor to adjudicate a case for the Xie family today."

 

"Adjudicate a case?" The Emperor glared at him. "What do you take Zhen for?"

 

Xiao Shan replied, "Father Emperor, Xie Zhui and the child are involved. Please have someone check if they have arrived at the palace."

 

The Emperor looked at him and said, "Have you forgotten the palace rules? Do you think Chang Le is dead? If they had arrived, wouldn't Chang Le have reported it?"

 

Xiao Shan gave a dry laugh, "Your son was anxious and indeed forgot."

 

Xiao Jin pressed his lips together. He knew Xiao Shan was doing this on purpose because the atmosphere in the hall was too oppressive, and he wanted to lift the dark clouds hanging over everyone.

 

At that moment, an exceptionally respectful voice came from outside the hall. It was Chang Le, announcing, "Your Majesty, Prince Li's consort has arrived..."