On the day of the birthday banquet, Mu Hanjiang watched as the woman who always pretended to be shy and reserved became eloquent, mocking the wife of Duke Jing.

That fleeting look of cunning in her expression during the argument was identical to that of the young Crown Prince!

At that moment, his suspicions were finally confirmed, and Mu Hanjiang felt a chill run down his spine.

An emotion he had never experienced before built up from the back of his head to his chest, making him want to disregard all propriety and curse wildly like the crude boatmen at the Jiangzhe riverbank.

Yet what angered him most wasn’t that the Crown Prince had been impersonated.

When he confirmed that the woman and the Crown Prince were the same person, he only wanted to grab her wrist tightly and demand to know why she had degraded herself so.

How could that noble youth who sat on the couch, dangling his shoes with his toes and looking down upon the world, stoop to the level of using his appearance to serve others?

Was the intelligent, clever Feng Qiyuan he knew truly false through and through?

That day, he had chased after her, wanting to demand answers, but then the incident of the Grand Prince being poisoned happened, which delayed matters for several days.

Now that everything was coming to light, Mu Hanjiang’s anger, suppressed for days, finally showed itself, and his elegant, gentle facade crumbled.

Thinking about how he had returned to the capital and willingly shouldered the blame for provoking war, only to discover it had all been meaningless foolishness!

He had been blind, believing he was protecting Dafeng’s future heir, when in reality it was a despicable fake!

For a moment, Xiaoying was certain that this head of the Shadow Guards wanted to drag her into their dungeon and whip her mercilessly.

Hearing Mu Hanjiang’s question about whether he should call her “Your Highness,” Xiaoying responded with great warmth, enthusiastically inviting him to sit: “Call me whatever you like! Come, sit by the charcoal brazier. Look how the cold has reddened your face!”

She seemed too lazy to keep pretending, and this slickness was no different from the Crown Prince.

Mu Hanjiang felt as if needles were piercing his temples, his head buzzing. Struggling to control his emotions, he scrutinized her sharply up and down, then took a deep breath and asked coldly: “Where is the real Crown Prince now?”

Xiaoying laughed: “Why look for someone you’d happily frame and keep in the Cold Palace forever? Isn’t the current situation good enough? Feng Qiyuan doesn’t hinder any of you. Master Mu can freely choose which prince to support—whichever prince you find agreeable!”

Mu Hanjiang stepped forward, seemingly wanting to get closer to Xiaoying, but Feng Yuan blocked him, pointing to a chair further away: “Please sit, Master.”

This posture clearly showed he was treating the imposter as his possession, not allowing others to get close.

Mu Hanjiang glared coldly at Feng Yuan and asked: “When did you discover she was a fake?”

Before Feng Yuan could answer, Xiaoying jumped in: “It was when we went to Jiangzhe. The Grand Prince had nothing to do with it! I begged the Grand Prince, and he took pity on my circumstances and helped conceal it!”

Xiaoying said this to help Feng Yuan explain himself to the Emperor when everything was revealed.

After all, this cat-for-prince swap was the Empress’s doing, and if Feng Yuan were implicated, he would be sent back to Tianlu Palace.

But if the Grand Prince had discovered the truth and rectified the situation by keeping the fake Crown Prince in Jiangzhe, preventing him from disrupting the imperial bloodline, it would be reasonable and provide a proper explanation to His Majesty.

As for keeping her by his side, it was to “severely” punish this imposter!

Xiaoying lied spontaneously, and after this explanation, both gentlemen in the study responded with cold smiles.

However, Feng Yuan didn’t seem moved by Xiaoying’s protection, smiling with dark eyes and gradually clenching his fist.

Xiaoying didn’t bother to figure out why Feng Yuan was coldly smiling, focusing all her attention on Master Mu.

After Mu Hanjiang heard her half-truth, half-lie about entering the palace, he said: “So after meeting the Crown Prince in the palace, you discovered he was your brother by blood?”

Xiaoying responded with tears in her eyes: “Although I only just found out, we share the same blood. Once I knew he was my brother, and he didn’t want to stay in the palace, as his sister, I naturally complied.”

Mu Hanjiang still suspiciously asked: “Why would Empress Tang reveal to the Crown Prince that she had switched him years ago? Wouldn’t that make him wary?”

Xiaoying deliberately shook her head in confusion: “Perhaps she thought my brother was useless and cursed him out of spite. After all, she initially wanted me to fall to my death at His Majesty’s birthday banquet to frame the Second Prince!”

Mu Hanjiang pondered Xiaoying’s words.

According to her, she and her father had lived in hiding after being framed by the Empress, until they were unfortunately discovered in Yicheng by the Empress’s people. They were then brought into the palace, where the Empress arranged for her to become the Crown Prince’s double.

Because she didn’t want to fall off a horse and die, foiling the Empress’s plot, she had no choice but to continue impersonating the Crown Prince.

Unfortunately, when the Empress fell ill with epilepsy, she conspired with the Crown Prince, using the trip to Jiangzhe as an excuse to help the real Crown Prince escape.

When she tried to escape later, the Grand Prince discovered her, and to protect the imperial reputation and prevent royal scandals from spreading, they devised the plan for the Crown Prince to feign death, hoping to gradually phase out the Crown Prince.

Unexpectedly, before the “Crown Prince” could take his last breath, Master Mu discovered everything.

In short, she, Yan Xiaoying, was just an innocent flower, and her family had been caught up in the Empress’s malicious scheme. If Mu Hanjiang had any conscience, he shouldn’t punish her.

Mu Hanjiang’s doubts were resolved, yet he wasn’t particularly surprised. Given the Tang clan’s nature, such actions weren’t unexpected.

And that bean sprout Feng Qiyuan truly lacked the bearing of a Feng family son. If Empress Tang had switched him with a child from outside the palace, everything made sense.

However, Mu Hanjiang still had one important matter to clarify, and he coldly asked Xiaoying: “So, did you really become the Grand Prince’s concubine?”

As he asked this, Feng Yuan’s eyes fixed intently on Xiaoying.

Xiaoying understood that answering incorrectly would implicate the Grand Prince, so she readily replied: “Of course not! The Grand Prince only sympathized with me, pitying me for losing my mother at a young age, and let me pretend to be his concubine to conceal my identity!”

It was essential to distance herself from the Grand Prince now. She couldn’t let him be implicated in Mu Hanjiang’s accusations to the Emperor!

Upon hearing this, Master Mu’s expression softened somewhat for unknown reasons.

But Feng Yuan’s handsome face gradually darkened like iron, turning black and hard.

Mu Hanjiang remained unsatisfied: “Yet I observed you eating and sleeping together throughout the journey…”

Yan Xiaoying couldn’t resist wanting to knock Master Mu’s head with a date pit: “That was because you forced us to! It was all an act! I swear to heaven, the Grand Prince maintains his virtue like jade, with remarkable self-control, still a virgin golden body…”

Xiaoying said this with some uncertainty. The Grand Prince… should still be a virgin, right? But his self-control was certainly not fake! Each time, he managed to restrain himself in the end!

Feng Yuan finally spoke, his tone surprisingly calm compared to his expression: “Master Mu, did you come here today just to investigate my bedchamber affairs?”

Mu Hanjiang also realized he had gone off-topic and quickly corrected himself.

Everyone knew that if today’s discussion in the room didn’t resolve, letting anyone leave would trigger a tremendous storm.

Xiaoying felt she had successfully extricated the Grand Prince from blame and prepared to smooth things over: “In this situation, our Dafeng truly has both internal and external troubles! The palace ladies are troublesome, only thinking about succession struggles, while your mother, Princess Anqing, is suspected of neglecting her duties and poisoning the Crown Prince for years… Master Mu, if all these filthy matters were presented to His Majesty, could he withstand it? After all, I’ve been his son and genuinely called him ‘Imperial Father’ for so long. I can’t bear to see him spit blood from anger and harm the imperial health!”

Mu Hanjiang recovered some of his elegant demeanor: “His Majesty would certainly be moved by your filial concern. What do you suggest?”

Before Yan Xiaoying could speak, Feng Yuan coldly said, “The Feng family is indebted to the Yan family. There’s no reason for the Yan family to be persecuted with wives and children separated, bearing the crime of deceiving the Emperor. If Master Mu fears being implicated, you may pretend ignorance. As for my poisoning, if you cannot clarify it, I have ways to seek justice for myself!”

Mu Hanjiang frowned at these words. Did they imply that if he were to act justly, he would be as malicious and unjust as Empress Tang?

Xiaoying also inhaled sharply: “Grand Prince, how can you say that? Master Mu is not someone who confuses right and wrong! You saved Master Mu’s life at the broken bridge, making you his lifesaving benefactor! How could he watch his benefactor being poisoned and remain indifferent?”

In a few words, if Mu Hanjiang were to be strict and not help Feng Yuan, he would be completely devoid of benevolence and righteousness.

Mu Hanjiang frowned as he watched the woman. Such tacit understanding between them couldn’t be developed without spending years in bed together. Were they truly innocent?

Xiaoying, however, knew Master Mu’s weakness. A gentleman like him, who prided himself on integrity, must retain some sense of justice. How could he so blatantly repay kindness with enmity?

Mu Hanjiang had experienced the “Crown Prince’s” sophistry before and remained unmoved, saying coldly: “One matter at a time. Don’t try to muddle things up, hoping I’ll let you off. Such willful behavior without punishment would lead to catastrophic consequences. As for the Grand Prince’s poisoning, my mother may be somewhat authoritarian, but she’s not malicious. The poison the Grand Prince suffered was not administered by her!”

This directly touched Feng Yuan’s nerve. Xiaoying knew his aversion to Princess Anqing and spoke before he could: “The Grand Prince has been misunderstood by the world because of this poison, making people think he’s insane. As the eldest imperial son, he can’t even enter the Ministry of War due to his supposed illness. If you want the Princess to prove her innocence, let her present herself to His Majesty and clear the Grand Prince’s name. Then, the Princess can be absolved of poisoning the Prince, and the Grand Prince no longer needs to bear the reputation of being mad. Isn’t that best for everyone?”

Now, Feng Yuan and Mu Hanjiang each held leverage against the other, pressing blades to each other’s throats, neither willing to yield.

She squeezed between the blades, trying to get both parties to calm down, hoping to find a way out.

As the woman spoke, she still displayed the composure and calmness familiar to Mu Hanjiang.

The great improvement and liking he once had for the Crown Prince had now completely turned into… hatred for this cunning woman.

So Mu Hanjiang coldly said: “As expected of someone who has played the Crown Prince, you’re quite calculating! I will certainly report the Grand Prince’s poisoning to His Majesty, and you, this fake Crown Prince, cannot remain by the Grand Prince’s side!”

“Agreed!”

“No!”

Xiaoying and Feng Yuan spoke simultaneously, but their answers were opposite!

Thinking Feng Yuan was concerned for her, Xiaoying reassured him: “If Master Mu truly wanted to punish me today, would he have come alone? He only wants to drive me away, and I will sensibly leave.”

Mu Hanjiang smiled: “I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood. I’m not as charitable as you think. The area outside the mansion is already surrounded by Dragon Scale Shadow Guards. If I don’t come out soon, they will storm the mansion and execute first, report later… Grand Prince, can you withdraw your men? If not necessary, I don’t want to fight with you.”

Xiaoying turned to look out the window and indeed saw Shen Jing and others in hiding, with an archer ready to shoot at Feng Yuan’s command.

At the same time, someone came to report to Feng Yuan that many Dragon Scale Shadow Guards were positioned around the mansion.

It seemed Mu Hanjiang had come prepared. The fake Crown Prince had truly touched a nerve.

The Dragon Scale Shadow Guards had the authority to execute first and report later, and a matter involving the real and fake Crown Prince must not be blown out of proportion.

If she hadn’t left with Mu Hanjiang, the Prince Ruixiang Mansion would be bloodied today.

Thinking of the route to the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards’ headquarters after leaving the mansion, Xiaoying said insincerely, “Fine, the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards’ prison can certainly hold me. You and the Grand Prince can resolve the poisoning issue first, and I’ll wait patiently in prison for you both!”

The hint in her words was obvious. Feng Yuan should understand that there was no need to confront Mu Hanjiang directly. The worst that could happen was that she would go with Mu Hanjiang.

The matter of the fake Crown Prince concerned only her, Yan Xiaoying, and had little to do with Feng Yuan.

Now that he had the opportunity to clear his name of madness, he needed Mu and his mother. There was no need to offend Mu Hanjiang early because of her.

The Grand Prince seemed infuriated by Xiaoying’s unilateral decision.

It appeared that the woman’s earlier talk of separation had not been a joke. Even loving him, she could easily decide to leave without consulting him…

Realizing this, Feng Yuan’s expression gradually relaxed, like a taut tendon that had been stretched too long, finally giving way and collapsing into a kind of broken laxity.

He slowly withdrew his gaze from Xiaoying, his tightly clenched hand gradually opening. Under the cover of his wide sleeve, blood dripped from the burst wound along his fingertips onto his black shoes…

As the pain in his palm spread, making him calmer, Feng Yuan’s lips curled into a smile. He turned to Xiaoying and said, “So you look forward to prison. It seems my previous treatment of you with fine clothes and good food didn’t suit your taste…”

What strange words were these? Couldn’t he see she was trying to smooth things over, painting a picture of peace?

Xiaoying pretended not to hear and looked at Mu Hanjiang: “Master Mu is not a cruel official. A fragile woman like me does not need to be imprisoned in a dungeon. I’ve been weak lately, so please have mercy and don’t waste money on medicine for me before clarifying the case.”

Mu Hanjiang laughed angrily: “The crime you’ve committed probably doesn’t require wasting medicine. Impersonating the Crown Prince is punishable by execution of nine familial relations! Cutting off your head will cure all illnesses.”

These words made her forehead sweat. How heart-warming!

Watching Mu Hanjiang frighten Yan Xiaoying, Feng Yuan suddenly laughed, then asked: “Do you really want to imprison her? Remember to add several chains, binding both hands and feet, lest she escape.”

Mu Hanjiang abruptly stood from his chair, unable to contain himself: “You knew she was a fake, why didn’t you just leave her in Jiangzhe? Yet you brought her to the capital and paraded her in public! Now that everything is exposed, why the sarcasm towards me? Do you think I enjoy being the villain?”

If he truly wanted to harm her, why waste breath talking? A single imperial edict would be clean and swift!

He only wanted to dampen Feng Yuan’s madness, to prevent the Grand Prince from associating with this fake Crown Prince and falling deep into the mire!

Feng Yuan’s madness wasn’t solely due to poisoning but was also fueled by his obsessive nature.

What innocence between them? Did they think him blind? How could their embrace in the Listening Heart Garden be fake?

It was just that this Ying’er had done it deliberately, using the Grand Prince.

After all, Feng Yuan had been confined in a deserted palace for ten years, making him naive in romantic matters. How could he be a match for a woman who had grown up among salt merchants?

After understanding the cause and effect, Mu Hanjiang concluded: Yan Xiaoying must not remain by the Grand Prince’s side!

So today, he had to make it clear he was prepared to fight to the death, to remove this hidden danger to the future of the Dafeng royal family from Feng Yuan’s side.

As for what to do with the woman after taking her from the mansion, Mu Hanjiang himself hadn’t decided.

Feng Yuan, however, wouldn’t let him be vague, asking: “Does Princess Anqing know about this?”

Mu Hanjiang sighed, tired of wrangling with Feng Yuan.

“She doesn’t know. The men I brought don’t belong to the Jin Zhong forces; they are men I cultivated during my undercover time in Wei Country.”

“Tell me, how do you plan to deal with her?”

Mu Hanjiang rubbed his temples: “If what she says is true, after verification, I’ll send her far away to prevent others from using her. Then I’ll go to Jiangzhe personally to handle Feng Qiyuan’s ‘death’… Does that satisfy you?”

Xiaoying felt the conversation had dragged on too long. Whatever happened, the current impasse had to be broken.

This was fine. She had been wondering how to part with Feng Yuan anyway.

Now, there was no need to find an excuse. Fate had ordained a separation between them, each to their future.

Suppressing her untimely grief, Xiaoying decided to cut to the chase. She spat out the last date pit and said to Mu Hanjiang, “Master, lead the way. Surrounding the mansion isn’t a solution. News can’t be contained in a city as large as the capital, and if word spreads, it won’t be good for anyone.”

Just as she rose to leave, Feng Yuan suddenly stood up and took something from a secret compartment under a cabinet.

Xiaoying’s mind was occupied with planning her escape through the side streets when she felt a tightness around her ankle, followed by a clicking sound.

Looking down, Xiaoying saw an iron fetter made of gangti iron securely locked around her slender ankle.

She stared at Feng Yuan in disbelief as he slowly rose: “What is the meaning of this?”

Feng Yuan stood up straight, appearing completely composed: “Since you’ve decided to go with him, be good and wait for me to come get you.”

Mu Hanjiang thought Feng Yuan’s change was too abrupt. Was he publicly severing ties with the woman?

But treating a delicate woman this way was far too humiliating.

The Dragon Scale Shadow Guards weren’t incompetent; they didn’t need foot shackles. How could they not keep a fragile woman in custody?

Only Yan Xiaoying understood Feng Yuan’s pettiness.

He wasn’t helping Mu Hanjiang at all. He was afraid that once the truth was revealed, she would seize the opportunity to flee, never to be seen again by the Feng princes.

Mu Hanjiang frowned and asked Feng Yuan for the key, but Feng Yuan threw it out the window into the lake.