The shock Mo Zi experienced was no less than Wu Youyan’s. She looked at the person standing beside Wei Jia, then looked at Wu Lianqi over there, unable to speak for a long moment.
This person was laughing heartily while licking a colorful candy stick. He was quite tall, but his voice and tone were like a child’s. “Little Jia, you promised me one hundred sticks and still owe me eighty-nine. Hehe!”
Anyone could tell at a glance that this person was a simpleton. But if this simpleton had exactly the same face as Wu Lianqi, Wu Youyan’s shocked scream became easy to understand.
At this moment, Mo Zi noticed that Wu Lianqi’s face had already changed color. He too seemed greatly shocked, his eyeballs bulging outward.
Wu Youyan forced herself to calm down and finally got her words out. “How does he look so much like Elder Brother?”
“Because they were originally twin brothers.” Yuan Cheng’s confidence came from his grasp of the truth. “But there’s something the Princess got wrong. Although Wu Lianqi and he are blood brothers, he and the Princess are not blood siblings.”
Wu Youyan was stunned again. In her heart, she had actually been guessing—perhaps Mother had given birth to twins, but one was born simple-minded, so Father and Mother had hidden him away. However, what Yuan Cheng said was something she could never have imagined. If Brother wasn’t Brother, then who was he?
Upon hearing this, Wu Lianqi’s eyes grew menacing, his face showed cold intent, and he suddenly let out a long howl.
Yuan Cheng smiled. “You needn’t waste your energy. Within a mile radius outside this temple are Luo Zhou府 troops. The people you planted earlier have all been captured.”
Wu Lianqi knew the situation was lost, but his expression remained coldly arrogant.
“Although all evidence points to Prince Li’s rebellion, his adamant refusal to admit it struck me as very strange.” Yuan Cheng didn’t keep people waiting long and began explaining. “Of course, there are people who refuse to admit guilt despite solid evidence, but he didn’t even acknowledge having a secret chamber, which made no sense at all. That day when we searched Prince Li’s mansion, everyone opened the secret chamber right in front of him. Yet Prince Li insisted from beginning to end that he didn’t know about it, and thereby denied all accusations. I thought, if Prince Li was truly innocent, then who had such great ability to build a secret chamber right under his nose without being detected? This person could not only freely enter and exit the Prince’s mansion, but also enjoyed everyone’s complete trust. Apart from the Princess Consort and his children, I really couldn’t think of any other possibility. I hear you, Young Marquis, are accomplished in both civil and martial arts?”
Wu Lianqi stared intently at Yuan Cheng. No one knew his whole body had gone stiff.
“You are Prince Li’s most prideful legitimate eldest son, the future heir to the Prince’s title, famously renowned in Shangdu. Your literary talent rivals the top scholar, your martial arts aren’t inferior to Second Master Xiao—yet at the bell-shooting competition with Daqiu, you didn’t hit with a single arrow. All reputation but no substance? Not at all.” One of the most important witnesses pointing to Prince Li was the assassin who boarded the ship to steal the pearls that day. The physical evidence revealing the assassin’s identity was a protective charm a woman had given her lover. “Because it seemed too logical, when I took over this case I didn’t question that woman in detail. But when I asked again later, I discovered something interesting. Although that assassin was registered under Prince Li’s mansion as a guard, it was you who brought him in. Others didn’t know, but that woman had heard her lover mention it once while drunk.”
Hearing this, Mo Zi thought to herself—could it be that Wu Lianqi was the one plotting rebellion? But the age didn’t match. Twenty years ago, he was still an infant.
“Prince Li said he didn’t know how the guard in his mansion became an assassin—he couldn’t even remember the guard’s name. But it turned out his son had brought him into the mansion. From that point on, I began investigating you.” Yuan Cheng withdrew his gentle smile. “When I investigate matters, I like to get to the root. If I’m investigating a person, I trace from birth onward, as detailed as possible. What a coincidence—that year the Princess Consort was pregnant at the same time as someone else, and they gave birth only two days apart. Even more coincidentally, the midwives for both families left Shangdu not long after. I asked the neighbors from back then—the Southern City and Eastern City are so far apart, yet they told me the same reason—returning home to retire. When I asked where home was, no one knew.”
Mo Zi understood a bit now. Understanding it, her whole body went cold instead. What kind of scheming was this, and what kind of patience had been exercised? Simply terrifying!
“Both families were imperial relatives. They successively had sons. The old Emperor was very pleased and personally bestowed names on his grandsons. One was called Wu Lianqi, one was called Wu Lianjing. Because their birth dates were close, there was the meaning of twin births. Most likely there was also the hope that the cousins would be like blood brothers.”
Wu Youyan let out a cry, covered her mouth and shook her head, her legs going weak. She knew who Wu Lianjing was, but how could this be possible?
“Later, when the current Emperor ascended the throne, that family went to their fiefdom. The fact that the child called Wu Lianjing was simple-minded wasn’t a secret at the time. It’s said he was placed in a remote countryside area, never appeared before people, and that family never mentioned him again. I was very curious about the person born two days before you, so I had someone draw a portrait. The first time I saw it, I thought—could cousins really grow to have identical faces? Was it because of the names, or the miraculous power of the imperial decree?” His words contained dissatisfaction with the old Emperor, pricking him like a voodoo doll. “Afraid the portrait wasn’t accurate enough, I invited the person here. Everyone take a look—are these two cousins or blood brothers?”
Of course they were blood brothers! Cousins having identical appearances was genetically impossible.
“I imagine the old Emperor never thought he had accidentally given away an extra name, because one family truly gave birth to twins. Wu Lianqi, you were born into one family as the legitimate eldest son, raised in that family still as the legitimate eldest son. No matter who rebels in the future, you could become Crown Prince. Hehe, born to good fortune, eh?” Everything of the truth still lacked one thing to be revealed—who that family was.
There was a type of evidence that could render people speechless. This was it, right before their eyes.
“Second Uncle…” Wu Youyan’s sorrowful sigh exposed the final secret.
Wu Youyan’s second uncle was none other than the current Emperor’s half-brother—Prince Su!
Princess Consort Su had given birth to twins but publicly claimed it was a single birth. She secretly bribed the midwife and switched one of the infants with Princess Consort Li’s newborn. This was undoubtedly the largest and most secure chess piece Prince Su had planted near the Emperor.
“Then—where is my real brother?” Faced with facts as solid as iron, Wu Youyan’s eyes reddened. The brother she had called for so many years was not her blood sibling from the same mother.
Although he had treated her well, in the end he helped his biological father frame and falsely accuse Father. She couldn’t forgive this.
“Princess, I fear your real brother’s fate is grim.” An infant destined to be replaced—his life was insignificant.
Wu Youyan burst into tears.
Mo Zi stepped forward. Not knowing how to console her, she could only pat her shoulder.
“Yuan Cheng, are you finished?” Wu Lianqi’s expression was gloomy. “Everything you said is correct. I am indeed Prince Su’s son, and his legitimate eldest son at that. From birth I was sent to Prince Li’s mansion. At age seven I learned of my origins. Everyone around me was arranged by my father. Since coming of age, I’ve been doing my father’s work. However, so what if you’ve uncovered the truth? My father is now leading a great army surrounding Shangdu—perhaps he’s already conquered the palace and ascended to the throne. Those who understand the times should address me as subject. I can still speak well of you before Father King—you’ll still enjoy high office and generous salary, luxurious prosperity.”
Wei Jia stepped forward. “Wu Lianqi, I considered you a friend, yet never imagined you would disregard family affection to aid tyranny, actually plotting rebellion. Surrender. I’ll also help you plead with the Emperor for mercy, for leniency.”
Wu Lianqi laughed heartily. “Wei Jia, didn’t you hear what I just said? My father doesn’t do things without certainty. Fourth Uncle and Fifth Uncle both stand on our side. Fifty thousand elite cavalry surrounding a small Shangdu—the Emperor can be replaced.”
“I forgot to tell you—when I left, I submitted a memorial to the Emperor reporting that Prince Su intended to rebel. Prince Jing mobilized over thirty thousand of the Xiao Family Army closest to Shangdu. Xiao Wei and Zhong An are on their way to Hua Zhou to mobilize another sixty thousand府 troops from various prefectures. They should have already finished fighting.” Because of the Water-Purifying Pearls and their escape, the martial world was in turmoil, the marketplace buzzing—Xiao Wei and the others mobilizing troops didn’t arouse Prince Su’s suspicion.
Wu Lianqi’s laughter stopped abruptly. He roared in fury, “Impossible!”
“Why would I bluff about something unrelated to me?” Yuan Cheng smiled again. “You can neither surrender nor escape. Admit defeat.”
A cornered dog will jump over a wall. Wu Lianqi raised his sword. “Who among you dares touch me? I am the future Crown Prince!”
Wei Jia led his personal guards to engage in battle.
Mo Zi watched Wu Lianqi go mad and said coldly, “Consumed by lust for power. Already in a high position with wealth and honor at your fingertips—why still unsatisfied? Better to be a common person, running about day and night for livelihood, with no leisure to think of conspiracies and schemes. In the end, harming others and yourself.”
“It also depends on the person’s character. Prince Su’s mother consort was from Luo Zhou. The old Emperor took a fancy to her during an imperial tour and brought her back to the palace. After bearing a son, she was made Noble Consort, but wasn’t very favored. Although Prince Su was clever from childhood, he wasn’t valued by Father Emperor. He also refused to accept the Crown Prince, believing the Crown Prince was weak, incompetent, and indecisive, so he wanted to replace him. However, whatever else can be said about the late Emperor, he was suspicious and extremely doted on the Crown Prince born to the Empress. Prince Su didn’t dare act rashly, only slowly laid out his pieces, waiting for that future day. The one thing I admire about him is this. Twenty years of calculated scheming, advancing step by step—more formidable than I was during the Nande period.” After three months of house arrest, Yuan Cheng had finally uncovered this shocking conspiracy.
“Unfortunately, he encountered you.” Mo Zi said. Prince Su’s coup didn’t succeed—not because his planning was insufficient, but because his opponent changed from the Emperor to Yuan Cheng.
“I was just lucky, managed to be one step ahead.” If the Emperor hadn’t trusted him, Great Zhou changing hands would now be a foregone conclusion. “However, it was truly exhilarating.” He laughed heartily.
“Not causing trouble makes you uncomfortable, right?” Finally encountering a master conspirator resulted in this current upheaval.
“Human nature is inherently evil; I choose to be good.” Having said this, Yuan Cheng gazed deeply at her.
“Turns out it’s my good luck after all.” No wonder she couldn’t make a fortune—all her good luck was used on him.
“Let’s go.” Yuan Cheng turned to look at the fierce battle in the courtyard. Wei Jia’s archery was superb, but his martial arts weren’t as good as Wu Lianqi’s. However, with superior numbers, capturing him was only a matter of time.
Mo Zi immediately understood. It was time to leave. Great Zhou’s affairs had all been concluded. What the situation in Shangdu was, whether they could suppress this internal strife or not—it had nothing to do with them. If they stayed longer, Wei Jia would probably have to arrest them.
The group departed as quietly as they had arrived. Outside the temple, there were actually several hundred figures following closely.
The wind direction was just right, suitable for sailing.