Xiaoying knew that Duke Ding now controlled the Eastern Palace and had learned about the twins from the Empress. If she denied it, he could simply order someone to hold her down and remove her clothes to verify—it would be effortless.
She had always been good at assessing situations, so kneeling and confessing took no effort at all, and the tears came easily when needed.
Since Duke Ding’s return to the capital, each time he had met this youth, he had appeared composed and eloquent.
Now, seeing her with tears streaming down her face, crying pitifully, she finally displayed the innocent and naive behavior fitting for a seventeen-year-old girl.
Yet Mu Shi didn’t believe it. A girl who could infiltrate the palace and impersonate the Crown Prince for so long couldn’t be a timid, ignorant person.
Moreover, according to the Tang woman, this girl was cunning and stubborn, even cruel and merciless. The Tang woman believed she was acting on someone else’s instructions, suspecting the Shang family was behind it.
Mu Shi found the mad woman laughable.
Consort Shang and the Empress had been feuding for so long, yet the Empress had merely been neglected by His Majesty while still securely holding her position. But this girl had effortlessly schemed to have His Majesty imprison the Empress in the Cold Palace, effectively deposing her. How could the Shang family be backing this young girl?
Thus, his smile grew increasingly gentle, while his internal vigilance only intensified.
“You’re too modest. How could someone capable of bringing down the Empress be so easily threatened and controlled?”
Hearing Duke Ding’s words, Xiaoying immediately displayed panic, waving her hands and saying: “I only know how to perform according to a script, and this script was written entirely by the Grand Prince. He discovered me early on, so I had to follow his plan. He suspected that his imprisonment years ago was the Empress’s doing, so he harbored resentment… Duke Ding, you enforce the nation’s laws, so you must be a good person. Can you help me? I don’t want to be the Crown Prince anymore!”
Duke Ding didn’t respond, just smiled with an inscrutable expression as he looked at this girl.
He had long suspected something strange about the Crown Prince. After the martial arts platform incident, he finally thought to send someone to the Empress’s palace to investigate, unexpectedly uncovering this shocking secret.
Now this impostor was trapped in the Eastern Palace, frightened into confessing everything, revealing just how deep Grand Prince Feng Yuan’s schemes ran!
No wonder Feng Yuan had become increasingly disobedient. He must have felt secure after discovering the fake Crown Prince’s secret, using this impostor as leverage. Perhaps he believed that once he defeated the Second Prince, he could secure the throne without Xiaoyin Mountain Villa’s support?
Thinking about these sons that Feng Qishu had raised—one mad, one foolish, and now even an actor’s bastard—Mu Shi couldn’t help but laugh.
Looking at the girl who just yesterday had stood high upon the martial platform, now tearfully kneeling at his feet, and imagining His Majesty’s reaction upon discovering what kind of impostor his supposed heir truly was, Mu Shi hadn’t felt this satisfied in a long time.
He had originally planned to arrange for a fake to enter the palace, but by a twist of fate, the real one had been captured and brought back. Even more unexpected was that after the Five Mile Slope incident, the one who returned seemed more genuine than the real one!
A chaotic chess game had now returned to the proper track.
Thinking of this, he asked: “Where is your brother Zong Bao now?”
“The… the Grand Prince said there could only be one Crown Prince in the world. My brother was foolish and believed that the Tang family and His Majesty had parental feelings for him. He refused to join the conspiracy against His Majesty, so the Grand Prince killed him! He also said if I didn’t obey, I would meet the same fate!” At this point, Xiaoying began sobbing resentfully again, tears falling like broken strings of pearls, a pitiful sight to behold.
Initially, Mu Shi didn’t believe her words, but she spoke so coherently and reasonably.
Such complex schemes indeed couldn’t have been conceived by an inexperienced young girl. The person behind her must be the Grand Prince, without a doubt.
Mu Shi asked further: “That silver piece… was it you who killed him?”
Xiaoying immediately shook her head like a rattling drum, saying weakly: “How could a little girl like me have such ability? It was the female guard raised by the Grand Prince’s side. She has powerful martial skills!”
“But I observed your archery skills aren’t bad. You don’t seem so fragile.”
“Back home, I would go into the mountains with hunters to chop wood and shoot birds. These skills aren’t anything special.”
“Is that so…” As he spoke, Mu Shi’s hand shot out like an eagle’s claw toward Yan Xiaoying’s face with lightning speed.
Those concentrated fingers could crush an eyeball upon contact—anyone with martial arts training would instinctively dodge.
Unfortunately, this move had already been used by Mu Shi’s son; this was how Xiaoying had been exposed by Mu Hanjiang before.
This time, with the father trying the same trick, Xiaoying was well prepared. She remained perfectly still with a pale face, her head only belatedly swaying slightly, with crystal tears rolling down her wide-open eyes.
After his test, Mu Shi relaxed somewhat. It seemed this impostor didn’t know martial arts and wasn’t the female expert under Feng Yuan.
With this in mind, he beckoned an old woman, instructing her to serve Xiaoying closely from now on, while Jian Hu and Jin Zhong were to be reassigned elsewhere.
“Duke, is it necessary to remove my attendants? After all, I don’t like being seen by others. Why not continue using them, and you can deal with them after I’m gone?”
Duke Ding smiled slightly: “What, do you have objections?”
Xiaoying wiped her tears and said casually: “I’ve been in the palace for so long, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that His Majesty may seem unconcerned with minor details, but not a leaf stirs in the palace without his knowledge. He even knows what midnight snacks are eaten in various mansions. First, you changed the guards outside the Eastern Palace, and now you’re reassigning my staff—won’t this alert His Majesty and make it impossible for me to maintain my disguise? Duke, are you planning to expose me immediately?”
Mu Shi narrowed his eyes and smiled: “Are you saying His Majesty has ears and eyes beyond the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards?”
“Children raised by oneself are closest to one’s heart, and the same applies to spies and informants. The Dragon Scale Shadow Guards have changed hands several times—in His Majesty’s view, they must have long been unreliable. How do you know His Majesty doesn’t have other Dragon Head and Dragon Tail secret guards?”
What Xiaoying said wasn’t fabricated. Mu Shi knew that Emperor Chunde had indeed started to nurture different secret guards five years ago, bypassing the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards.
The girl couldn’t fight, so leaving those palace maids and guards temporarily wouldn’t matter. Only that maid, called Jian Hu, needed further intimidation.
However… this girl truly couldn’t be kept for long!
She appeared fragile, yet she grasped Emperor Chunde’s thoughts with eerie accuracy. After using her completely, he would need to eliminate her quickly, lest this chess piece go off track again!
With these thoughts, Duke Ding slowly rose and said to Yan Xiaoying: “When we go before His Majesty, just tell the truth. With me present, even if His Majesty won’t spare you, I will protect your life.”
Hearing this, Xiaoying burst into loud sobs: “Duke, don’t harm me! If you do this, how could I possibly survive?”
She clung to Mu Shi’s legs, crying miserably.
Having achieved his goal of intimidating the girl, Mu Shi spoke gently: “If you want to live, be obedient. You’ve already said the Grand Prince controls you. If we don’t bring him down, even if I try to spare you, it won’t work! You’re clever—don’t you understand this reasoning?”
Xiaoying looked up pitifully: “My secret is entirely in your hands, Duke. I will naturally obey your words!”
As she spoke, under the cover of her tear-stained face and disheveled hair, Xiaoying glanced at the palace maid who had just walked to the corridor pillar outside.
If she wasn’t mistaken, that palace maid was the one who had threatened Consort Yi’s servant that day—her name seemed to be Wen Qing.
It appeared Mu Shi was also planning to involve the Western Palace…
Realizing this, Xiaoying cried even more profusely, appearing extremely frightened.
Having temporarily abandoned his plan to insert people into the Eastern Palace, Mu Shi left after probing Xiaoying’s depths.
Now the Eastern Palace was surrounded by his men; it would be impossible for Feng Yuan or anyone else to approach.
Just then, Wen Qing led two old women from the Western Palace inside and closed the door. From within came the impostor’s scream: “What are you doing? Don’t take off my clothes! What are you trying to do?”
Shortly after, Wen Qing emerged with a shocked expression and whispered to Mu Shi: “Duke, this Crown Prince… is indeed a woman. She’s wearing a chest binding, and her clothes and shoes are padded…”
Mu Shi nodded and said, “Leave those two old women to watch this impostor. Go back and report to your mistress. This is a rare opportunity—don’t delay. She should know how to use it!”
As he walked out of the Eastern Palace, someone came to report: “After Princess Anqing took Young Master Mu from the prince’s mansion, she didn’t return to Duke Ding’s residence but took him to the separate courtyard to wait for you. She asked me to tell you to return to the separate courtyard, as the Princess has something to discuss with you.”
These past few days, Mu Shi hadn’t returned to the separate courtyard, instead tracking down the Crown Prince matter in the capital.
Now, seeing that things were coming to fruition, everything was proceeding smoothly.
As for that foolish woman, Anqing, meeting her would only lead to repetitive questioning.
Mu Shi wasn’t worried about Anqing comparing notes with Feng Yuan!
Even if Anqing had learned through Fu Ansheng about his past collusion with Wei through Chen Nuo, Feng Yuan wouldn’t necessarily believe her.
After all, through his forged letters from Ye Zhanxue, he had deeply implanted in Feng Yuan’s mind the impression that Princess Anqing was without virtue or shame.
Feng Yuan’s years of accumulated disgust for Princess Anqing made him unable to tolerate even speaking with her.
Now, all the leaks in the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards pointed to Anqing, and the traces deliberately left by Xiaoyin Mountain Villa also pointed to Anqing.
Didn’t Feng Yuan insist on finding a “master”? What could fit his image of an evil master better than Princess Anqing?
Mu Shi had crafted a “sinking ship,” waiting for all who should board to do so, before sailing it into deep waters to drown all those who deserved to die!
With this in mind, he ignored the messenger and showed no intention of visiting his finally awakened son. Instead, he strode quickly toward His Majesty’s study.
Upon arriving at the study, he found that Feng Yuan, despite his leg injury, had also entered the palace and was sitting next to His Majesty’s dragon chair, engaged in intimate conversation with him.
Such a harmonious father-son scene had never occurred before.
That Grand Prince who had emerged from the wilderness palace—respectful in manner but still angular and unapproachable—had somehow become increasingly amiable and humane.
When Mu Shi entered, Emperor Chunde smiled and said, “Old Mu, you’ve come at just the right time. The Grand Prince has shown me the water control plans for Yizhou Lixian County’s flood management, and the results are impressive! This Tang Mingjiang, though of humble origins, is quite talented. The Grand Prince suggests recalling him to the Ministry of Revenue and promoting him to Deputy Minister. What do you think?”
Mu Shi had heard of this Tang Mingjiang. Reportedly, he had initially been promoted through the Second Prince’s patronage.
But after arriving in Yizhou Lixian County, he had used water conservancy projects as an excuse to repeatedly block key routes for transporting military provisions from Jiangzhe.
It wasn’t that grain ships couldn’t pass at all, but they moved very slowly. Luo Zhen had been anxious and repeatedly urged the Ministry of Revenue to expedite grain transportation, but in the end, had to deal directly with Tang Mingjiang, a mere local official.
As far as Mu Shi knew, it was through this Tang Mingjiang that Luo Zhen, who previously had little personal contact with Feng Yuan, had exchanged several letters with the Grand Prince—more frequently than during the attack on Fengwei Slope.
When Mu Shi had sent people to inquire about this, Luo Zhen had simply used the excuse that transporting military provisions required Feng Yuan’s coordination with local officials.
But now, hearing Feng Yuan recommend Tang Mingjiang, Mu Shi suddenly understood the convoluted connection.
Luo Zhen had been a supporter of Ye Zhanxue years ago. It was precisely because of this—his dissatisfaction with the injustice Ye had suffered—that he could be used by Mu Shi.
But he was a military general, not a schemer. If Feng Yuan had won him over by identifying himself as Ye Zhanxue’s son and offering advantages, Luo Zhen would certainly abandon Mu Shi and turn to Feng Yuan.
And now Feng Yuan had even pulled in Tang family members for his use!
When His Majesty asked for his opinion, Mu Shi paused to consider before smiling and saying, “I hear this man was originally a minor clerk in the Ministry of Revenue. After serving as a local official in Yizhou for just a few months, he’s being recalled as Deputy Minister… Such rapid promotion for someone who hasn’t passed the imperial examinations might invite criticism, wouldn’t it?”
Feng Yuan responded coolly: “Previously, those who sold official positions promoted people three ranks in less than three months. For an official like Tang Mingjiang, who has proven himself with excellent performance and real achievements, it’s simply a matter of placing talent appropriately. How could this invite criticism? What could others say about him? Can the Duke specify?”
For some reason, Feng Yuan had abandoned his usual cordial tone when speaking with Mu Shi, becoming sharper in his words.
Mu Shi smiled again and responded humbly: “I don’t oversee the Ministry of Personnel. The Grand Prince must have his considerations in employing people. I spoke out of turn.”
Though his words were humble, he understood that Feng Yuan’s wings were growing stronger. If allowed to continue expanding his power, his roots would become too deep to shake!
Fortunately, Feng Yuan’s most deadly secret was now firmly in his grasp. It was just a matter of choosing the right time and person to expose it!
As they left His Majesty’s study, Mu Shi watched Feng Yuan walking ahead and called out softly: “Your Highness, please wait.”
Feng Yuan turned to look at him, expression calm: “Does the Duke have something to discuss?”
The Eastern Palace had been surrounded the previous night. If Feng Yuan knew of this, he would surely be anxious, fearing that the girl would be exposed and implicate him.
Mu Shi had assumed the Grand Prince had entered the palace despite his injury to gather information. Yet observing the Grand Prince’s calm expression, he showed no signs of being compromised. Furthermore, after seeing His Majesty, he was preparing to leave the palace without attempting to visit the Eastern Palace.
It seemed he was still unaware of the developments at the Eastern Palace.
Thinking this, Mu Shi said warmly: “Hanjiang has been under Your Highness’s care for many days. I naturally wanted to thank Your Highness again.”
Feng Yuan smiled slightly: “The Duke is too polite. My earlier words before His Majesty were about state affairs. If I was hasty and spoke offensively, I ask for the Duke’s forgiveness.”
Feng Yuan’s manner remained unchanged; he still treated Mu Shi with the same respect as he would his mother’s close friend.
After chatting casually with him for a few more sentences, Feng Yuan was helped by his guards onto his carriage and headed toward the palace gate.
At this moment, Mu Shi called a trusted subordinate and asked calmly: “What’s happening with the Western Palace?”
“Consort Shang from the Western Palace has personally set out and is coming this way…”
Mu Shi smiled slightly.
He knew that bringing Consort Shang’s trusted maid to the Eastern Palace to verify the impostor’s identity would certainly motivate Consort Shang to act, moving this necessary chess piece.
Matters concerning His Majesty’s family shame were inappropriate for him, an outsider, to address. But having the self-serving Consort Shang do it would make everything fall into place naturally.
As the phoenix palanquin from the Western Palace hurriedly made its way toward His Majesty’s study, Mu Shi also stepped out of the palace, carefree, removing himself from this chaotic situation.
Emperor Chunde hadn’t expected such a thunderous revelation from the rear palace today.
When Consort Shang, with a pale face, knelt before the desk in his study and loudly proclaimed that she had discovered a secret—that the Crown Prince was not His Majesty’s flesh and blood but had been replaced by the Grand Prince with a girl disguised as a man—he couldn’t help but frown: “What nonsense are you speaking? Has the Empress’s madness infected you too?”
Consort Shang knew that success or failure depended on this single move. With a pale face, she said, “When I first heard this, I was also terrified. However, the Crown Prince’s palace maid, Jian Hu, came to my servant Wen Qing a few days ago and revealed that… the current Crown Prince is a woman. The more I thought about it, the more frightened I became, so I asked the female guard Chenghong from the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards to question the Empress. Only then did I learn the hidden truth. It turns out that the Grand Prince, with malicious intent, found a girl resembling the Crown Prince, scheming to frame the Empress, driving her mad, and harming and replacing the true Crown Prince with this impostor. At the same time, using this fake Crown Prince’s actions, he instigated the Wei Country troubles to avenge the shame of his mother Ye’s capture years ago. This concerns the Dafeng imperial lineage, so I could only speak directly to Your Majesty, asking for your personal decision!”
To convince the Empress Tang to speak out, Mu Shi had promised to omit the part about her swapping the Crown Prince with a cat years ago, only telling the Shang family that the Crown Prince was deliberately replaced by a girl arranged by the Grand Prince.
When the time came, the Empress would only need to insist that the real Crown Prince had been switched with the Crown Prince.
Therefore, Consort Shang didn’t know the story of the real and fake actor, focusing solely on the Grand Prince while exposing the fact that the current occupant of the Eastern Palace was female.
“Your Majesty, if I’m speaking nonsense, why not have the Empress and Crown Prince come to the hall for a face-to-face confrontation and body examination? Wouldn’t that reveal the truth?”
Emperor Chunde frowned deeply. If any other consort had spoken such nonsense, he would have had them beaten out long ago.
But Consort Shang had been with him since his days as a prince; his relationship with her was more like husband and wife than his relationship with the Tang family.
If not for Consort Shang’s increasingly cunning schemes for her second son over the years, becoming less virtuous than before, he wouldn’t have wanted to severely punish her and damage their years of marital affection.
But Consort Shang was shrewd and shouldn’t have been bewitched by a madwoman to come and stir up trouble.
However, Feng Qiyuan had indeed been increasingly feminine lately. Thinking of the rumors in the capital that the Grand Prince’s soon-to-be-wedded concubine resembled the Crown Prince, Emperor Chunde frowned again, feeling that regardless of truth or falsehood, it would be best to clarify matters now.
So Emperor Chunde called out: “Bring the Empress and the Crown Prince here, and also call back the Grand Prince who has left the palace!”
When the Tang woman was brought to the study, Emperor Chunde could barely recognize his wedded wife in this white-haired old woman.
In just over a year, she had aged so much. From daily cursing and crying, the area around her eyes was like a spider’s web, densely furrowed.
When Tang entered the hall, she first spotted Feng Qiyuan kneeling on the ground. Like a madwoman, she rushed over, grabbed the youth’s hair ornament and shook it violently, tearing at it while cursing venomously: “You despicable impostor, you’ve caused me such suffering! Today I absolutely won’t spare you!”