After reproaching Hong Li, Yang Guang returned his gaze to Xiao Shi, speaking gently: “Weiyang, you have yet to tell me what matter has made you so anxious.”

Xiao Shi gazed at him for a moment, saying: “Does Your Majesty still remember Cheng Shi?”

“Cheng Shi?” Yang Guang lowered his head and pondered carefully for a moment, then shook his head: “I do not recall any consort surnamed Cheng among the concubines.”

“She was not a consort, but the midwife who attended to me during childbirth.” Upon hearing these words, Yang Guang’s expression changed slightly, then he nodded: “Oh, so it was her. I remember now. Why does the Empress bring her up without reason?”

“I just had Hong Li search through the palace records, but discovered that this midwife had nothing recorded except for a surname. I found it strange and wanted to ask Your Majesty if you knew the reason.”

Yang Guang replied casually: “It must have been that the eunuchs were careless at the time and forgot to record it. However, this is not a major matter, so there’s no need to investigate further.”

Xiao Shi stared at him, saying coldly: “Was it truly the eunuchs’ negligence, or did someone deliberately prevent the eunuchs from recording it?”

Yang Guang’s eyes flashed, and he turned to sit on the couch. “Why does the Empress say such things?”

Xiao Shi stepped forward, her voice cold and stern: “Yunyi told me that when she was in Honghua Commandery, she encountered a woman with the same appearance, the same age, and even the exact same birth date, who was picked up by someone surnamed Wu. I very much want to know what this is all about.”

Yang Guang picked up the unfinished wine on the table and drank it, saying indifferently: “That is indeed strange, but how would I know about it?”

“Then what about this swaddling cloth?” Xiao Shi threw the swaddling cloth in her hand before Yang Guang. “Why would a country woman be wrapped in swaddling cloth that only the imperial family possesses? Moreover, Hong the Seamstress told me that at the time there were two such swaddling cloths – one was given to Yunyi, and the other was taken by Zheng Ying, who was by Your Majesty’s side. All of this – does Your Majesty also claim not to know?”

Zheng Ying, listening nearby, was frightened out of his wits. This matter had passed a full sixteen years, and he thought it would become a permanent secret. He never expected it would be dug up again at this moment, and the person who uncovered this secret was none other than the Empress herself.

Yang Guang toyed with the empty jade cup in his hand, saying: “I remember now. Zheng Ying told me at the time that his nephew had given birth, and I was momentarily pleased, so I rewarded him with that unused swaddling cloth.”

Zheng Ying was startled, then nodded repeatedly: “Yes, thanks to Your Majesty’s great kindness, this servant is deeply grateful.”

Xiao Shi took a deep breath and said coldly: “At this point, Your Majesty still refuses to tell me the truth?”

“Haven’t I been telling the truth all along?” Yang Guang said, setting down the jade cup in his hand. “I am somewhat tired. The Empress should return.”

Xiao Shi was determined to get a clear answer and would not leave just like that. “What I carried at the time were twins, weren’t they?”

Yang Guang’s thin lips pressed tightly together, then he smiled: “What the Empress gave birth to was always only Yunyi alone. Where do these words about twins come from? The world is so vast – if someone happens to resemble Yunyi, what’s strange about that? Now upon encountering one person, the Empress speaks of twins. If you encounter another similar person next time, will the Empress suspect that you carried triplets or even quadruplets?”

“When Imperial Physician Zhao Yande treated me, he once said I was carrying twins, then later changed his words saying it was a misdiagnosis. Strangely, shortly after I gave birth to Yunyi, he retired and returned to his hometown. But at that time he had just become Imperial Physician, and he was only just over fifty years old – hardly elderly. His sudden retirement was truly unreasonable.”

“Although Zhao Yande’s age was still acceptable, his health was poor. He often coughed and had weak legs, repeatedly requesting resignation from the late Emperor. It was only because I considered the Empress that I asked the late Emperor to delay Zhao Yande’s resignation again and again, until after the Empress gave birth to Yunyi that I finally allowed him to return home.” Yang Guang sighed: “I wholeheartedly considered the Empress, yet ended up being suspected by the Empress. It truly makes one sad.”

Despite trying hard to control herself, a cold laugh still escaped from her lips: “Is that so? I thought Your Majesty never wanted Yunyi to be born at all.”

Yang Guang’s expression turned cold, then he said: “Since I promised the Empress that I would treat her as my own, I will certainly do so. In fact, over these years, I have indeed done so. Among the several princesses, Yunyi’s provisions and expenses are all the best, and even when she caused great trouble this time, I listened to the Empress’s words and did not punish her.”

“True, in terms of food, clothing, and expenses, Your Majesty has indeed not been lacking in the slightest. But what Yunyi wants most, Your Majesty has always refused to give, causing her to suffer grievances all these years. Treating her as your own… Ha, Your Majesty has not done so at all.” Speaking thus, she once again said: “Please answer me truthfully, Your Majesty. At that time…”

Yang Guang suddenly interrupted: “I have spoken very clearly – the Empress only carried Yunyi alone, and no second child.”

Xiao Shi stared at him for a long while, then slowly said: “You’re lying!”

Yang Guang casually threw the jade cup onto the ground covered with thick carpets, clapped his hands and said: “Since the Empress insists on not believing, I have no other recourse.”

Xiao Shi approached him, pressing urgently: “Why? You clearly promised me that you would certainly treat my child well. Why won’t you keep your promise? If Yunyi hadn’t happened to encounter her, I would still be kept in the dark by you!”

Zheng Ying, seeing the situation was going badly, approached and said quietly: “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. His Majesty did not deceive you – you truly only gave birth to Princess Jinyang alone!”

Xiao Shi turned her gaze to him: “Should I have someone go outside the palace now to ask your elder brother when exactly his child was born?”

Zheng Ying was rendered speechless by her question and could only retreat awkwardly to one side. At this moment, Yang Guang had already stood up and met her gaze: “You say I don’t keep my promises – but what about you? On the day you married me, you said you would forget him from then on and only be my wife. What was the result? You never did – you’ve always been thinking about him in your heart!”

Yang Guang breathed heavily several times, then said painfully: “All these years, I’ve tried every means to please you. I don’t like wintersweet, yet I had wintersweet planted extensively in Zhaoyang Palace for you. I even searched the world for rare treasures to give you. What did I get in return? Your cold words and harsh treatment. Sixteen years, Xiao Weiyang – a full sixteen years, and you have never once given me a pleasant look!”

He waved his hand forcefully and roared lowly: “I am the ruler of a nation! How many women hope to become my woman, yet you have always looked down on me with disdain. You even… refuse to speak with me, only speaking a few words to me when Yunyi has some matter!”

At this point, he laughed lowly again, yet the smile could not reach those cold eyes. Pointing at the vast and magnificent Qianyuan Palace, he said word by word: “Today is the first time you have set foot in Qianyuan Palace in the ten years since I ascended the throne. You don’t know how happy I was when I saw you enter just now, thinking you had finally begun to accept me. But what was the result? You actually came to question me. Xiao Weiyang, how can you face me?”