"This is a tricky one..."
Lin Qingge hesitated for a moment, then asked earnestly,
"Isn't it simply that they brought about their own ruin through their wicked deeds?"
Ignoring Wu Chengwang's face, which had turned as black as the bottom of a pot, Lin Qingge corrected him seriously:
"Your Highness, Xu Shouxin murdered his nominal sister, Xu Xiyao, with irrefutable evidence.
Long Yunfeng attempted to silence everyone present to cover up for Prince Cheng's wrongdoings. Fortunately, I, a young lady, am blessed with good fortune.
Otherwise, even if Your Highness were to kowtow and burn incense, I might not have had the time to attend to you.
As for Prince Cheng, the illicit mining of gold alone is a capital offense.
Yet, Prince Cheng showed no sincere remorse. Instead, relying on his mediocre martial arts skills, he rolled up his sleeves and fought.
He nearly sent the second son of the Xiao family, Xiao Zhanfang, to meet his ancestors.
General Xiao Zhanbei, known for his deep affection for his brother, saw his younger brother's life hanging by a thread and, in a fit of rage, slew Prince Cheng, thereby rendering a great service."
"You are courting death!"
"Your Highness, please do not be angered. I am known for my straightforward and outspoken nature. I hope Your Highness will not hold a petty woman like myself accountable."
"You—"
Wu Chengwang, his chest tight and breathing difficult from anger, pointed at the girl who spoke with feigned weakness while holding her back ramrod straight. He was unable to utter a second word for a long time.
This was because, setting aside her outlandish phrasing, everything she said was the truth…
"Your Highness, as the saying goes, the Emperor's law is the same as the commoner's.
Does Your Highness perhaps believe that your sons' and your mother's lives are precious, but others' lives are not?"
What Lin Qingge didn't say was that if this logic of "superiority" were followed,
Long Yunfeng's near assassination of Lin Moyuan alone would be enough to have them all subjected to extreme torture and then have their corpses whipped.
However, Wu Chengwang, unaware of this, stiffened his neck and snorted dismissively:
"Do those ants deserve to be compared to my mother and my sons, Xin'er and Cheng'er?
No, how do you know the relationship between this King and Xin'er and Cheng'er?"
As he spoke the last sentence, Wu Chengwang's expression turned gloomy and dangerous.
But Lin Qingge couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Your Highness, you've been so obvious that even a blind man could see it, let alone Inspector Yan.
However, speaking of offspring, I must commend Your Highness for a moment.
When Your Highness was far from the capital, you made a solemn vow never to marry or have children.
But a young man's life is incomplete without romance.
Your Highness has countless confidantes, and although you never married, your descendants are indeed blessed.
From what I know, you have as many as four sons."
Wu Chengwang, having regained his composure, sat back down in the grand tutor chair behind the desk, a dark and inscrutable smile playing on his lips:
"Oh, then tell me, which four sons are mine?"
"First, there is Lian Cheng'er, whom Your Highness raised from childhood under the guise of an adopted son.
Then there is Xu Shouxin, who was raised by Steward Xu for over twenty years.
In the case of Xu Xiyao's murder, according to the steward Chang Yong, Xu Shouxin is not Steward Xu's biological son but an illegitimate child conceived by Wang Xiuxiu with another man before her marriage.
Wang Xiuxiu referred to that man as 'Yu Lang'.
When I had free time, I inquired, and twenty years ago, the only person in the capital who bore the elegant title of 'Jade Faced Gentleman' and had dealings with the Wang family's daughter, Wang Xiuxiu, was Your Highness.
Therefore, after Xu Shouxin's death, Your Highness, to avenge your unnamed foolish son, repeatedly sent people to harm me and those around me.
Unfortunately, all attempts failed, resulting in heavy losses."
Ignoring Wu Chengwang's eyes, which seemed ready to spew fire, Lin Qingge continued:
"The only daughter of the former richest man in Great Xia, Qian Wanbai, was also one of Your Highness's favored guests. Sadly, she met a tragic end and perished in a fire along with her family.
However, fortunately, due to her usual good deeds, her infant son, still swaddled, miraculously survived the blaze.
He was rescued and raised by the kind Elder Zhou, who came to repay a debt of gratitude.
And this fortunate yet unfortunate child is the 'young master' whom Your Highness has recently acknowledged, Zhou Zeli.
As for the last one, his identity is rather special."
"A member of the imperial family?"
Although Leng Ningyue spoke in a question, her tone was very certain.
"Otherwise, how could I say Your Highness's methods are so skillful.
I imagine even the late Emperor never dreamt that a concubine in his harem would have an affair with his brother and give birth to a son, who was then raised under his care.
This way, even if he failed to seize the throne, he could secretly place his own son in that position!"
However, Leng Ningyue frowned slightly after hearing this:
"No, Wu Chengwang clearly supported the Fourth Prince. What does this have to do with Prince Cheng?"
"My husband, this is where Your Highness's brilliance lies."
Continuing with her persona, Lin Qingge explained in a soft voice, her voice slightly altered:
"The late Emperor, fearing Your Highness, summoned you back to the capital.
Therefore, any prince whom Your Highness publicly supported would not only be viewed with suspicion by the late Emperor but would also drift further away from the throne they yearned for.
Of course, the chess-playing Your Highness would not allow his own flesh and blood to become that unfortunate soul.
Thus, Your Highness chose the Fourth Prince, who perfectly inherited Consort Ruan's 'wisdom' and beauty.
After all, the Eighth Prince was too young, and the timing wouldn't match.
The Crown Prince was the heir apparent, and more importantly, the Empress Dowager was not someone who disregarded moral principles.
Even if the Empress Dowager were to be unfaithful, she would certainly not climb into the tree of Your Highness, a rotten tree.
Therefore, by elimination, only the Second Prince remains.
In other words, the Second Prince, who is Prince Cheng, is actually Your Highness's son."
This was why Long Yunfeng had desperately intervened to save Prince Cheng when he was in trouble.
Because Long Yunfeng already knew that Prince Cheng was Wu Chengwang's son, and also her grandson.
However, the late Emperor might not have been entirely unaware of Wu Chengwang's actions.
During the Cuju大会 (ancient Chinese football tournament).
Leng Ningyue severely injured Prince Cheng, rendering him incapable of having children and thus eliminating him from contention for the throne.
Logically, a prince becoming a eunuch.
Even an unfavored prince, it was still a disgrace to the imperial family.
Even if the late Emperor spared Leng Ningyue for the sake of Prime Minister Shangguan, some minor punishment was expected.
Yet, the late Emperor imposed no punishment, as if the incident had never happened.
The reasons behind this were thought-provoking…
Lin Qingge's thoughts raced a thousand times, but her mouth did not cease speaking.
"Oh, and Your Highness, I overheard some old wet nurses chatting in the palace a few days ago, saying that Your Highness was also a notorious dandy in his youth.
But based on my observations, this was merely a guise Your Highness used to lull other princes into a false sense of security.
Your Highness frequented brothels, yet your confidantes were all from distinguished families.
The Wang family, to which Wang Xiuxiu belonged, had served as officials for generations. At that time, the head of the Wang family was the Minister of Revenue, who held significant sway in court.
Although Qian Wanqing, Zhou Zeli's mother, was merely a commoner, her father was the richest man in Great Xia, Qian Wanbai.
You must understand that every aspect of logistics, from soldiers to provisions, requires money.
The more men under one's command, the greater the amount of money needed.
Even Prince Cheng's mother's status was quite distinguished. It is said that the commander of the Imperial Guards at the time was Prince Cheng's mother's uncle.
Tsk, Your Highness, it can be said that you have calculated everything to the very last detail.
Unfortunately, despite all your painstaking efforts, you have ultimately drawn a blank."