When the Empress heard that Xiao Shan was coming, her first reaction was a pang in her heart. She had been wanting to see Xiao Shan these past few days, but when he was actually in front of her, she felt particularly flustered, even rising to a point where she thought of not seeing him.

 

However, she suppressed these negative emotions. She needed to see Xiao Shan, this child who was both familiar and unfamiliar to her.

 

Xiao Shan's attitude towards the Empress remained the same as before.

 

The Empress quietly looked at him, feeling as if she were torn into two parts. One part wanted Xiao Shan to acknowledge his identity and properly call her "Mother Empress," while the other part was with Xiao Jin. After all, she had cared for Xiao Jin for so many years. Even knowing his true identity, the Empress couldn't suddenly disown Xiao Jin as her child.

 

But faced with Xiao Shan's calm demeanor, the Empress felt a twinge of resentment. How wonderful it would have been if Xiao Shan had been her child from the beginning.

 

Midway through, Xiao Shan and Xiao Jin's identities were abruptly switched. As a mother, she nearly killed her own biological child.

 

Even though the truth was now clear, the bond between her and Xiao Shan was irreparably damaged.

 

The fact that she harbored murderous intent towards Xiao Shan was undeniable. It was impossible for Xiao Shan not to have any reservations in his heart.

 

What was even more absurd now was that Xiao Shan refused to reclaim his original identity. In the eyes of others, she was still Xiao Jin's biological mother, all to maintain Xiao Jin's position as Crown Prince.

 

Thinking of these things, the Empress felt very conflicted. She thought that Consort Lan ultimately won.

 

She couldn't acknowledge her own son and had to treat Consort Lan's son as her legitimate child, watching Xiao Jin ascend to the throne.

 

In her heart, she understood even more clearly that if Xiao Shan were to truly switch identities with Xiao Jin, the situation would become even more complicated. Not to mention how the court officials would view Xiao Shan, the Gu family alone would be a tangled mess.

 

To put it selfishly, over the years, under her and Consort Lan's subtle and overt influences, the Gu family never valued Xiao Shan or done anything for him. Naturally, they wouldn't want him to sit on that throne now.

 

Human nature is so complex. When nothing is at stake, people speak of the primacy of the legitimate heir, but when trouble arises, interests come first.

 

"Does Your Majesty truly only feel resentment towards Second Brother? Can the years of nurturing and kindness be discarded so easily? You were willing to sacrifice your life for him, and now there's no affection left?" Xiao Shan asked, looking at the Empress, who was lost, confused, and filled with resentment.

 

The Empress looked at him with a complicated expression.

 

Xiao Shan calmly said, "If I held any resentment towards Second Brother, it would put you in a difficult position. But now, I hold no resentment towards him at all. Why can't you be at ease?"

 

"Your Majesty is a wise person. In the future, this Empire will belong to Second Brother. You are the Empress now, and you will be the Empress Dowager in the future. If you continue to let these matters erode your relationship with Second Brother, it will be a great loss."

 

"Moreover, I will soon be heading south. If you truly care for me, you should firmly hold your position, and not harbor resentment."

 

"It is because of the deep bond between Second Brother and me that the truth came to light. Otherwise, I might have lost my life long ago. Both Second Brother and I cherish our relationship, and in the future, there will certainly be people who will try to sow discord between us. But as long as they are not people he cares about, these attempts will leave no mark on his heart."

 

"Everyone thinks I have been wronged and feel pity for me, but I do not feel that way. I hope you feel the same. When I go to Yunnan, I will also advise Father Emperor in this regard, ensuring that these matters are not used to ignite conflicts."

 

The Empress swayed slightly, understanding Xiao Shan's meaning. Rationally, she knew this was best for everyone, but emotionally, it was difficult to accept.

 

Before knowing the truth, she wanted to kill Xiao Shan immediately. After learning the truth, she wished she could kill herself. Even now, Xiao Shan addressed her as "Your Majesty" rather than "Mother Empress."

 

Xiao Shan said, "I never expected you to accept this all at once. But in the future, when you hear any news about me in Yunnan, I hope you will remember today's words and remain calm."

 

The Empress pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and spoke her first words of the day: "Are you leaving already?"

 

Her throat was a bit hoarse, seemingly carrying an inexplicable moisture.

 

Xiao Shan nodded. "The imperial decree has been issued. Whether I leave sooner or later, it makes no difference."

 

"Then... will you come back?" the Empress asked, her eyes reddening.

 

Xiao Shan chuckled lightly. "Next year, when the child is older, I will bring him back to the capital to meet everyone."

 

"That's good, that's good," the Empress said, nodding vigorously. "I understand what you mean. I have made many mistakes in the past, but I will never let you fall into such a desperate situation again."

 

Xiao Shan came specifically to say these words, and she needed to appreciate them, not let this goodwill go to waste.

 

Xiao Shan had nothing more to say to the Empress. He bowed to her and turned to leave.

 

Some might think the Empress was pitiable, but in this palace, who wasn't pitiable?

 

The deceived Empress was pitiable, and Consort Lan, who was brought into the palace to secure favor, was also pitiable.

 

But being pitiable did not mean they were not to be resented.

 

As someone directly involved, Xiao Shan did not want to pretend that the past didn’t happen just because of pity.

 

After all, he almost became a casualty of this incident.

 

If something truly happened to him, the ones who would be truly pitiable would be Xie Zhui and their unborn child.

 

At that time, who would be responsible for these matters?

 

After leaving the Empress, Xiao Shan went to see Consort Lan.

 

Consort Lan was dressed simply, and she was not crying as she usually did.

 

She looked at Xiao Shan with many things she wanted to say, such as that she did care about him to some extent.

 

Many times, when his interests did not conflict with those of the Crown Prince, she had not thought of harming Xiao Shan.

 

She also hoped that the Crown Prince would ascend the throne smoothly and that Xiao Shan would live as a leisurely prince.

 

But all of this could not outweigh the malice in her heart.

 

She remembered the rumors she spread back then, claiming she saw a pair of hands push Xiao Shan.

 

Now she saw clearly that those hands were hers.

 

She always denied it, but the truth was undeniable.

 

Consort Lan looked at Xiao Shan and asked, "When did you know it was me?"

 

Xiao Jin knew, but what he saw was not clear, leaving him with doubts that needed to be confirmed.

 

And Xiao Shan? How did he know, with his back turned?

 

Hearing the question, Xiao Shan smiled softly and said, "I was your son for so many years; I know the incense you like."

 

When he stumbled forward, he smelled a faint fragrance, and he could feel that the hands pushing him were small and delicate.

 

That day, when he was unconscious, he told Xie Zhui that he was in a lot of pain.

 

It wasn't just the physical wounds; it was his heart that ached. In that instant, he saw the stance of the few people behind him clearly, and he feared his suspicions were true.

 

Before Xiao Jin reacted, the torment in his heart was something he never spoke of.

 

Some things are not worth scrutinizing too closely.

 

He believed in his brotherly bond with Xiao Jin, but he also feared that this bond might not withstand the allure of power.

 

Seeing that Consort Lan understood his words, Xiao Shan prepared to leave. Consort Lan urgently asked from behind him, "Do you not regret it?"

 

Do you not regret giving up your legitimate status and the position of Crown Prince?

 

Xiao Shan did not turn back. He smiled again and said, "Not everyone likes that position. At the hunting grounds, even if you hadn't pushed me, I would have gone to save Second Brother. Not for any other reason, but because he is my brother."

 

Consort Lan bit her lip as she watched Xiao Shan's departing figure, tears finally falling from her eyes.

 

She knew they would never see each other again.

 

After leaving the palace, Xiao Shan finally felt the air freshen.

 

He suddenly missed Xie Zhui very much and was eager to return and see him.

 

Unfortunately, when he hurried back to the prince's residence, Xie Zhui had gone to the Xie family.

 

His fervent emotions were chilled by the empty courtyard.