Xu Zhaoyi wanted to prepare a congratulatory gift, but did she first need to find out who the Third Prince was close to and who he interacted with frequently?
Was she planning to gift a “human transformation show”?
Gao Yuexing was unwilling to continue the clumsy facade of polite pretense. She was also in a hurry. The Emperor had made up his mind to kill; once the imperial edict was issued, Li Fuxiang would be trapped in that place with no way out but death. Time was running out. She no longer had the luxury of slow, calculated planning. If she waited any longer, she could only watch him die. If she wanted to fight for anything, she had to take a gamble and go all in.
In her previous life, after Xu Zhaoyi passed away, Li Fuxiang had always treasured her portrait in his study.
Thus, Gao Yuexing chose to trust this so-called “birth mother” of Li Fuxiang.
In this gamble, both her and Li Fuxiang’s lives were on the line. The excruciating pain of this decision pressed against her chest like a weight. She thought of the exquisite brazier and silver-threaded charcoal in Li Fuxiang’s courtyard—everything symbolized his noble status. Her last shred of hope was tied to him.
Gao Yuexing thought carefully and answered truthfully, “Aside from the servants who attend to him closely, he doesn’t seem to interact frequently with anyone else.”
Xu Zhaoyi was so anxious that she gradually lost patience. She stepped down from her seat and personally handed Gao Yuexing a piece of osmanthus candy. “Miss Gao, think again carefully.”
Holding the sticky candy, Gao Yuexing reached out and grabbed Xu Zhaoyi’s sleeve just as she was about to withdraw her hand.
Xu Zhaoyi looked at her in confusion.
Gao Yuexing leaned her body forward, bringing them very close.
The rich fragrance of incense emanating from Xu Zhaoyi’s sleeve seemed to drill straight into Gao Yuexing’s mind through her sense of smell.
Gao Yuexing thought this might be one of the reasons her head was momentarily clouded.
“Lady Xu,” Gao Yuexing said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “Let us not speak in riddles. What I know, I can tell you. What I don’t know, I can find out for you.”
Xu Zhaoyi froze, forgetting to react, staring at her in astonishment.
The clarity in Gao Yuexing’s youthful eyes, still tinged with childish innocence, was precisely what made her terrifying—a chilling sight.
But Xu Zhaoyi was also gambling.
She made her decision almost instantly.
Who didn’t know how dangerous it was to negotiate with a tiger? If not absolutely necessary, who would willingly jump into a fire pit?
Xu Zhaoyi’s sleeve trembled slightly.
This was a transaction.
Xu Zhaoyi worked hard to steady her voice. “What do you want?”
Gao Yuexing replied, “The truth.” The fingers she used to clutch Xu Zhaoyi’s sleeve were so tight that her knuckles turned pale. She said, “You once served closely by the side of Imperial Noble Consort Zheng. When it comes to the Xiaonan Pavilion, no one knows more than you.”
Xiaonan Pavilion.
Again, it was Xiaonan Pavilion.
Circling around and around, it seemed that all the unusual events in the palace pointed to the same place.
Xu Zhaoyi, having now thrown all caution to the wind, smiled instead of becoming angry. “Do you dare touch the Emperor’s reverse scale? How many heads from your Gao family do you think are enough for the Emperor to chop off?”
No one would believe that a six-year-old child could be involved in the earth-shattering case of that year.
The first thing everyone thought of was the family behind her, the Gao Clan.
Gao Yuexing had not previously understood this crucial connection, but with Xu Zhaoyi’s unintentional hint, the clouds in her mind parted, revealing the moonlight.
Sometimes, as she walked within the towering palace walls, she felt lost. She didn’t want to implicate her family, but ultimately, she was a daughter of the Gao Clan. Whatever she did, she could not separate herself from them. Regardless of the outcome, the entire Gao Clan would either share in the glory or bear the blame together.
Xu Zhaoyi stared at her, just as puzzled, murmuring to herself, “…How did the Gao Clan get involved in this?”
Gao Yuexing closed her eyes. The abyss loomed beside her, leaving no room for even a single misstep. She said, “With royal bloodlines in doubt and the nation at stake, my father, as a minister who lives off the Emperor’s patronage, has a duty to act…”
Her words were slow and deliberate, each one spoken with difficulty.
Xu Zhaoyi listened, her expression shifting from bewilderment to delight:
—”What? How does your father know the Third Prince’s identity is in doubt? Which court officials are aware of this? What about His Majesty? Has His Majesty also begun to suspect?”
As expected…
While Gao Yuexing felt relieved for having placed the right bet, she held her ground firmly and calmly replied, “His Majesty is unaware.”
Xu Zhaoyi’s expression froze, her emotions rising and falling like a bucket of cold water poured over a roaring fire.
Gao Yuexing could not let her hopes completely die out and tried to reignite them. “Lady Xu, mere words are useless. We need evidence to act.”
Xu Zhaoyi nodded. “Yes, you’re right. How foolish of me—evidence…”
She released Gao Yuexing.
The small piece of osmanthus candy, passed back and forth between their hands, had melted and become sticky. Gao Yuexing lowered her head to stare at it for a moment, then suddenly loosened her fingers, letting it fall onto her clean dress.
Xu Zhaoyi had already regained her composure. Returning to her seat, she waved her hand to summon the attendants outside and said openly, “Miss Gao’s clothes are soiled. Take her to the inner chambers to bathe and change.”
Thus, Gao Yuexing entered the inner chambers of the Rouqi Pavilion without resistance, accompanied by a palace maid who was Xu Zhaoyi’s trusted aide.
Xu Zhaoyi drew aside the gauzy curtains and dismissed the maid to guard the outer door. Impatiently, she grabbed Gao Yuexing’s hand and said, “Good child, you’ve had it hard… Your father must have arranged for you to enter the palace because he is far away and unable to intervene directly, right?”
By mentioning her father, Gao Yuexing gave reason to what otherwise seemed inexplicable.
Even if there were other inconsistencies, Xu Zhaoyi would fill in the gaps herself.
Gao Yuexing followed her lead. “Yes. But… the events of that year were too secretive. Those involved are either dead or have fled. The few remaining who know the truth each have their own difficulties and remain silent. Even though my father harbors suspicions, he has never been able to piece everything together. Reinvestigating the old case is exceedingly difficult.”
Xu Zhaoyi said, “I’ll tell you everything… You’re right. No one knows more about the events of that year than I do.”
In Gao Yuexing’s presence, Xu Zhaoyi swiftly began recalling events from ten years ago.
But there was no need for her to recall.
The events of that night were engraved in her memory, never fading in the past decade. Even in her dreams, she saw the face and heard the voice of Zheng Yungou.
“I followed the Imperial Noble Consort at the northwest border. I was born in a remote town there, sold by my family for rice when I was ten years old. I became a slave, locked in a wooden cage at the market, waiting to be bought. The Imperial Noble Consort passed through the market that day, pitied my young age, and paid for me. From then on, I never left her side.
“Later, when she entered the palace, I followed. She wanted to arrange a good marriage for me, but I refused. I never intended to marry, for that would mean leaving her side. Unable to bear seeing me live alone my whole life, the Imperial Noble Consort persuaded the Emperor to take me as a concubine. She said that even if I didn’t love anyone, I could at least have a child to keep me company.”
Gao Yuexing said, “The Imperial Noble Consort died in childbirth. I heard it was because the Emperor blamed you for not taking good care of her.”
Xu Zhaoyi lowered her head. “Indeed, I did not take proper care, allowing vile individuals to exploit the situation… But the Imperial Noble Consort’s death, at its root, was due to premature labor.”
As expected.
It was not a mere coincidence.
Gao Yuexing asked, “What was the cause of the premature labor?”
Xu Zhaoyi praised her, “You’ve hit the key point. The Emperor also realized that the Imperial Noble Consort’s labor did not align with her due date. That very night, he ordered a thorough investigation. The result? It was discovered that the Imperial Noble Consort mistakenly drank my contraceptive decoction.” At this point, Xu Zhaoyi could no longer suppress the murderous intent in her eyes. “And that very bowl of decoction had been personally handed by me to the Imperial Noble Consort.”
Gao Yuexing waited silently for her to continue.
Xu Zhaoyi explained, “There were a few times during my service in the Emperor’s chambers when I coincided with the Imperial Noble Consort’s pregnancy, which made her body inconvenient. So, I prepared a contraceptive decoction for myself. But despite my caution, I still accidentally conceived. When I discovered I was pregnant, I immediately stopped taking the decoction. That bowl of decoction should never have appeared in the Imperial Noble Consort’s palace.”
The timing aligned.
The Fifth Prince was nine years old this year. Xu Zhaoyi wasn’t lying; her pregnancy period coincided with the Imperial Noble Consort’s.
Xu Zhaoyi could no longer hold back her tears. “There was still some leftover contraceptive decoction that I had taken from the Imperial Pharmacy. It was stored in a small warehouse and later discovered by the guards, used as evidence to accuse me of harming her. I couldn’t defend myself… Even in her dying breath, the Imperial Noble Consort told the Emperor that she believed in me and pleaded with him not to punish me.”
On the surface, the evidence was conclusive.
As long as the Emperor believed it, the case could be closed.
Xu Zhaoyi continued, “That night was utter chaos—so chaotic that I couldn’t even think clearly. Shortly after, the Imperial Noble Consort passed away. It nearly cost me my life. I didn’t care whether the Emperor wanted to kill me or have me executed; I was even willing to accompany her to the grave. But the Imperial Noble Consort was harmed by a schemer. The true culprit escaped unscathed. If the truth is not uncovered, I won’t rest in peace.”
Gao Yuexing asked, “What have you found?”
Xu Zhaoyi fell silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “If I had any useful evidence, I would have presented it to the Emperor long ago… I was powerless. For a long time after the Imperial Noble Consort’s death, I was consumed by anger and hatred, yet I couldn’t uncover anything.”
Gao Yuexing pressed, “But you must have your suspicions.”
Xu Zhaoyi nodded. “That’s right. The breakthrough came three years ago. One time, my son upset the Emperor because of his poor studies and was punished to reflect in the Wenhua Hall study until midnight. I was worried, so I went to check on him. On the way back, I passed by the Xiaonan Pavilion and happened to encounter the Third Prince. I was dressed rather plainly that day and didn’t have any attendants with me. My sudden appearance must have startled him—he mistook me for something ‘unclean.’”
She spoke tactfully.
By “unclean,” she was referring to supernatural entities like ghosts or demons.
Xu Zhaoyi’s expression became intriguing. “Can you guess how the Third Prince reacted?”
Three years ago, the Third Prince was only seven years old.
What kind of reaction could a child have upon seeing a ghost?
Gao Yuexing guessed, “Cried out in fear? Ran away?”
Xu Zhaoyi shook her head. “You wouldn’t believe it. The Third Prince, standing still for a moment in a daze, actually ran after me, calling me ‘Mother.’ Isn’t it laughable? A dignified prince, the favored son of the Emperor, the child of the Imperial Noble Consort, wandering near a forbidden area alone at midnight, chasing after a ghostly figure and calling her ‘Mother!'”
As she spoke, Xu Zhaoyi began to laugh—a laugh that was somewhat hysterical and frightening.
The luxurious jewelry adorning her ears had fallen into disarray.
Tears mingled with her laughter, and her expression truly became rather terrifying.
Gao Yuexing called out, “Lady Xu!”
TL: Updated 12 chapters!