Thinking of this, Xiao Tianyang raised his head, glared, and shouted harshly: “Feng Qishu! How can you be so heartless! In those days, Zhan Xue personally led twenty-some personal guards to hold back a hundred enemy troops, allowing you and the late Emperor to retreat safely. Yet she was captured by the enemy and suffered unspeakable humiliation! She failed heaven and earth, her parents, and herself, but she never failed you! She left behind only this child, who was thrown into that desolate palace like a stray cat or dog for others to bully! And you? You push out a woman to cover up your callousness? What kind of supreme sovereign, father of all people! In my view, it’s all nonsense!”

At these words, everyone in the hall drew in a sharp breath.

Empress Tang, still kneeling, angrily shouted: “How dare you! A mere commoner dares to directly address His Majesty by name and slander the Emperor! Guards, seize him at once!”

As guards rushed into the hall, they were dismissed by His Majesty’s wave.

Emperor Chunde understood Xiao Tianyang’s character all too well. This man had been willful and unrestrained since his youth, with the demeanor of a sword-wielding knight errant who respected no one except his elder brother Xiao Jiumu and the late Emperor.

If not for his extremely unruly nature and erratic behavior, his martial prowess would actually far surpass his elder brother’s.

Now he had made quite a name for himself in the jianghu, known for his chivalry and valor, and was a respected elder with many disciples throughout the martial world.

Swordmaster Xiao Jiumu had assisted the late Emperor with distinguished service, and though he had passed away, his reputation remained intact.

This troublesome younger brother had benefited from his brother’s prestigious name; as long as he didn’t plot rebellion, he would remain safe all his life!

Emperor Chunde had known him for too long and couldn’t be bothered to quibble over words with such an unrestrained individual.

“Finished cursing? If you have any more grievances against me, curse them all out at once! But remember this: no matter how much I may owe others, I owe nothing to you, the third Xiao! Don’t rely on your brother’s merits to behave so presumptuously. I may tolerate you, but can the law? Someone, help this old drunkard down to sober up!”

His Majesty was being merciful, giving Old Xiao Three a way out by attributing his behavior to drunkenness.

Xiao Tianyang, however, refused to accept the favor, still maintaining his temper as he glared: “Let’s see who dares touch me. I’ll wring their necks!”

As he spoke, the old knight’s sleeves puffed slightly, on the verge of sending people flying!

Just as the great hall was descending into chaos, the supposedly insane man who had been lying down struggled to sit up and spoke in a low voice: “It’s all this son’s fault. Third Uncle, please don’t blame His Majesty and Her Majesty.”

That low voice, magnetic and steady, articulate and clear, didn’t sound like words that could come from someone suffering from mania.

The Grand Prince was seen struggling to rise, kneeling on the ground and performing court etiquette somewhat awkwardly and unfamiliarly, saying to His Majesty: “This son didn’t know he would be seeing Father Emperor today and appears unkempt. Please forgive this son’s offense…”

Xiaoying silently watched from the side, and upon seeing this, privately marveled: the boy was teachable indeed! After learning martial arts from her for just a few days, his acting skills had become quite intuitive!

Speaking up at this moment showed good understanding of human affairs and worldly matters!

Because if he hadn’t spoken up, his unrestrained Third Uncle would have committed the enormous offense of causing a scene in the imperial court, and he, as the instigator, would have had difficulty resolving the situation.

This “Sun Wukong,” who had tumbled all the way here, had no reason to be pressed back under the Five-finger Mountain.

She wanted to get on his good side to prevent him from turning against her, so she chose an opportune moment, hurrying forward, bending down, and using a handkerchief to wipe his face.

Xiaoying looked at him with concern as she held the man’s wrist: “Elder Royal Brother, don’t you recognize me? I’m Fourth Prince Feng Qiyuan! Look at your face covered in blood, let me wipe it for you…”

A’Yuan frowned slightly, looking as if he was about to speak.

Quick-handed and sharp-eyed, Xiaoying pressed the handkerchief against the Grand Prince’s face, covering his mouth with some force, her eyes reddening as she said: “Elder Royal Brother, you must have suffered terribly outside the palace. Now that you’ve returned, if Father Emperor ‘graciously permits’ you to stay, I will certainly visit and care for you regularly, making up for Mother Empress’s mistakes.”

She deliberately emphasized “graciously permits” to remind this madman: after causing such a commotion, he shouldn’t confuse priorities. If he dared expose her, even if he had escaped from the Five-finger Mountain, she would kick the bastard right back!

As she spoke, Xiaoying attentively wiped the blood from his face.

A’Yuan seemed to understand her meaning and didn’t resist, allowing Xiaoying to clean his face stroke by stroke, and she even helpfully brushed aside his disheveled hair.

When the Grand Prince raised his head again, everyone in the hall finally saw the madman’s features. Almost everyone drew in a sharp breath, then exchanged glances with one another, the entire hall falling silent.

Although they had seen this child before, he was only three years old then. With no one to care for him, he had been taken in by Master Ge for education, and usually, only Xiao Tianyang would visit him.

Later, when His Majesty followed the late Emperor to the capital, fearing accusations of mistreating his former wife’s orphaned child, he sent people to bring A’Yuan back.

At that time, the twelve-year-old child still had his baby fat, his face still round and chubby. Because of preconceptions, no one paid much attention to him.

On the rare occasions when they saw him, they only thought the child resembled his mother, Ye Zhanxue.

But now ten years had passed, and the young child had grown into a twenty-three-year-old young man.

The young man’s features were as if carved from stone with the dust blown away, shedding childish softness, finally revealing clear, defined angles.

This handsome appearance, tinged with a hint of wildness, certainly bore traces of his mother, but even more so, he looked extremely like His Majesty…

No, rather than saying he resembled His Majesty, the determination in his eyes looked as if it had been carved from the same mold as the late Emperor!

In those days, Ye Zhanxue had been captured and disgraced, and because the month of childbirth didn’t match, the legitimacy of her child was questioned. The old ministers all knew the ins and outs of the old affair.

His Majesty’s dislike for this child was not only not blamed but was seen as difficult for His Majesty.

But now, A’Yuan’s features… they couldn’t lie!

Anyone with eyes could see he was undeniably of the Feng family bloodline!

Could it be that all these years, they… had wronged this child?

At this moment, everyone harbored different thoughts, feelings that fate was cruel, thinking of how the deceased Princess Ye had entrusted her child with humble pleas before her death. Some of the wives who had been close friends with Ye Zhanxue couldn’t help but have moist eyes.

Master Ge’s wife, Madam Sun, suddenly yanked her hand free from her husband’s grip and embraced the Grand Prince with heartache, sobbing audibly.

She and her husband had remained childless, and during the few years they had raised this child, they had treated him as their own.

Unfortunately, when the late Emperor entered the palace and inherited the throne, the child was also brought into the palace, and not long after, the terrible news spread that he had developed mania.

She had asked her husband to inquire about the child’s condition, but her husband always changed the subject, unwilling to elaborate.

Had she known he was in such circumstances, she would have gone to His Majesty to take the child back, even at the cost of her life.

Xiao Tianyang was still agitated: “Each of you wears honors and achievements, successful in fame and position, but do you still remember those who helped you rise to prominence? Poor Zhanxue died early with grievances, leaving behind a child whom no one cares about, while you all have flushed faces, apparently having forgotten the path that brought you here!”

Everyone knew that he had been infatuated with Ye Zhanxue in the past, but despite their similar ages, their generations were vastly different.

Xiao Tianyang, bearing the title of Ye Zhanxue’s third martial uncle, rarely received the beautiful woman’s favor.

When the Ye family married into Feng Qishu’s household, Xiao Tianyang was so distressed that his hair turned white within half a year, and he remained unmarried for life.

When Ye Zhanxue’s reputation was ruined, giving birth to a child whose timing was questionable and whose bloodline was unclear, Xiao Tianyang felt sorry for the child and even accepted him as a disciple, seriously teaching him martial arts for several years.

However, his elder brother Swordmaster Xiao Jiumu was later killed by Wei Country’s expert Chen Xifan, and he vowed to avenge his brother, retreating to the mountains in seclusion to focus on cultivation.

Nevertheless, every year on the anniversary of Ye’s death, Xiao Tianyang would unfailingly go to Qiuming Mountain, where he and Ye Zhanxue had practiced together, using wine to pay respects to the departed soul, then return. Yet this year, when he went to pay respects, he unexpectedly received a secret letter from the child. The military code in the letter was exactly what he had taught the boy years ago!

The guilt of everyone present was instantly ignited by the Great Master Xiao’s words. Several of the women could no longer hold back and covered their mouths, sobbing.

Back then, Zhanxue had also told them that this child was undoubtedly His Majesty’s flesh and blood. But they had thought these words absurd.

Only because the royal physician had assured them that Princess Ye had delivered prematurely. Even when Zhanxue insisted that the child was not premature but born full-term, conceived before her capture as a member of the Feng family bloodline, no one believed her.

The long-concealed old scandal was suddenly revealed, lifting the moldy curtain, and the so-called truth with its unseemly decay rushed forth, making it difficult to accept.

Emperor Chunde said nothing, a great emperor’s joy and anger never showing on his face. Others couldn’t tell His Majesty’s sorrow or joy at this time, while his throbbing temple and slightly heaving chest fermented with unknown emotions.

He simply silently watched A’Yuan, who knelt to plead for Xiao Tianyang and the Empress, and after quite a while, he hoarsely said: “Do you… Still recognize them?”

A’Yuan slowly raised his head to look around at the people in the hall, beginning to recognize old acquaintances from the royal residence one by one. Each “Third Uncle” and “Second Uncle” he called out made people’s hearts ache.

But uniquely, when it came to his uncle, General Ye, he coldly passed over him without even a glance.

General Yezhong’s expression was also quite remarkable; speechlessly looking at this young man who resembled His Majesty, he collapsed into his seat as if the belief that had supported him for half a lifetime had crumbled…

Xiaoying had cleaned the Grand Prince’s face, and seeing that he showed no intention of exposing her, she breathed a sigh of relief and quietly retreated to the side to watch.

Xiao Tianyang now regained his spirits. If Feng Qishu wouldn’t acknowledge this child, he would! This was his and Zhanxue’s child, and he would take him back to raise.

This bold act of firmly placing a green hat on the Emperor’s head in the great hall was unprecedented throughout history!

Even Emperor Chunde, despite his benevolence, was starting to lose his composure. But before the imperial might could erupt in anger, someone relieved His Majesty’s awkward situation.

“Third Uncle, haven’t you caused enough trouble? If my father were still alive, how could he allow you to be so presumptuous?”

As she spoke, a woman in fine brocade and silk entered from outside the hall. Her refined voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a penetrating quality.

Xiaoying followed the voice and immediately guessed the woman’s identity upon seeing her.

Only because this woman looked so much like Mu Hanjiang—Mu Hanjiang’s refined temperament was inherited from her. Judging by her age, she must be his mother, Princess Anqing.

Indeed, Mu Hanjiang went over and softly called to his mother.

Xiao Tianyang feared neither heaven nor earth, but he couldn’t be harsh toward his elder brother’s orphaned daughter. Reprimanded by his niece, he finally fell silent in embarrassment.

Princess Anqing first apologized to His Majesty for her uncle’s offense, then looked at the Grand Prince and continued: “I heard about A’Yuan’s situation from someone outside the hall. We should first take him away for treatment. Third Uncle, please stop making a scene, lest you delay A’Yuan’s treatment…”

While Princess Anqing was speaking, Xiaoying quietly slipped out of the hall.

Now the Empress’s entire fortune was tied up inside the great hall, leaving her no attention to spare for Xiaoying.

Mu Hanjiang also had to remain in the hall to guard against the furious Old Xiao Three, preventing him from offending the imperial dignity.

So Yan Xiaoying walked back to the Eastern Palace alone, unhindered all the way, and by the outer wall of the sleeping chamber, she heard short cat calls.

This was the secret signal she had arranged with Uncle Hai—a long cat call would indicate that all was well, while short calls signaled complications.

Xiaoying’s heart leaped with joy as she turned and left, meeting Uncle Hai at a secluded corner of the palace.

It turned out that he had successfully brought Feng Qiyuan to the shop, handed him over to her subordinates, and was originally planning to leave the city immediately.

But the city gates had been temporarily closed by the Imperial Censorate’s order to capture fugitives, allowing entry but no exit, with a strict curfew at night and thorough checks.

Feng Qiyuan was still within the city. Although Uncle Hai had successfully returned to the palace yesterday, the palace had also begun strictly checking all who entered and left. Even his exit token had been surrendered, making it impossible for him to meet with Xiaoying.

Now, only because those searching the palace had suddenly withdrawn their personnel was Uncle Hai able to come see Xiaoying.

It seemed that when the Empress’s palace yielded no results, the search had spread to the city, fearing someone might smuggle the Crown Prince out.

Hearing Uncle Hai say that her brother had awakened and was crying to return to the palace, Xiaoying sighed slightly.

She had originally thought her brother could immediately leave the city and reunite with their father, at which point she could carefully explain the secret of his identity, allowing her brother to gradually accept it.

But now with unexpected developments, it seemed her brother couldn’t leave the city for the time being.

Fortunately, the shop had a hidden cellar; if officials came to search, her subordinates were alert enough to handle it.

But being trapped for so long was no solution. Xiaoying knew she couldn’t leave the palace yet—if the Crown Prince suddenly disappeared from the palace, the city lockdown would be even harder to lift.

These few days, she needed to use the convenience of the Crown Prince’s identity to find a way for her brother to safely escape the city…

After giving Uncle Hai a few instructions, telling him to focus on his duties and not make any other moves, Xiaoying returned to the Eastern Palace.

Too many things had happened these past few days. Xiaoying asked the palace maid to brew tea, then faced the lush green trees outside the window and began to contemplate while drinking tea.

Her brother was temporarily safe, while the Empress’s side was in such chaos that they could hardly attend to themselves.

At this moment, she could steal a moment of leisure amidst the busy schedule to carefully ponder that “Sun Wukong” who had jumped out from the Five-finger Mountain.

It seemed the person through whom she had delivered the secret letter to him was the elder Master Xiao Tianyang. Now that the grown-up Grand Prince had struggled into His Majesty’s sight, the Second Prince’s path to succession would likely face another formidable contender.

Just as she was closing her eyes to think, Jin Zhong, whom she had left in the great hall to observe, came running back.

According to Jin Zhong’s vivid account, the Grand Prince, perhaps due to his solitary confinement without stimulation or perhaps because of proper rest, spoke much more properly than ten years ago. Seeing Princess Anqing calming Xiao Tianyang, the Grand Prince even pleaded for the Empress, showing none of the mania from ten years ago.

For the sake of his niece, Old Xiao Three finally stopped his aggressive behavior.

As for the Grand Prince, he was moved back to his old palace chamber that had been preserved for him, and imperial physicians were assigned to diagnose and treat his injuries.

According to the imperial physician who examined him, the Grand Prince’s pulse was stable, his manic symptoms greatly reduced, showing significant improvement compared to ten years ago.

His Majesty assigned many palace servants to him. It was said that after the banquet, he went to see him, bestowing gold foil, fabrics, and nourishing tonics to make up for his paternal care.

The Grand Prince had never been given a formal name since birth. His Majesty expressed his intention to officially name him and choose an auspicious day in the coming days to perform the belated coming-of-age ceremony.

However, the Grand Prince stated that he already had a name given by his mother and didn’t need another. Just that if he were called Feng Qiyuan, it would conflict with the Crown Prince’s name, “Feng Qiyuan.” So, rather than following the generational naming pattern for princes, he would simply be called “Feng Yuan.”

His Majesty, seeming to feel that he had neglected his eldest son for many years, and since the son cherished his mother’s given name, agreed to this.

Xiaoying nodded, feeling it was right to remove the “Qi.”

He had climbed out of the deep pool and mire; how could he be content to dwell in the abyss for long?