The person who was so angry with Shen Yun and Wang Enze that he smashed four antique Jingtai blue vases was Crown Prince Liang Xinran of the Eastern Palace.
In the capital, he hadn't paid attention to the matter of seeking children in Kongshan half a month ago.
In his opinion, this matter had nothing to do with him anyway.
Moreover, many of the long list revealed later did not belong to his faction.
He was even happier at the time, and after sending people to inquire, he learned that some people in his own faction had planned this matter, he became even happier and rewarded them in return.
Later, he also heard the rumors about the scholar's wife seeking children, which made him extremely happy.
Thinking that Shen Yun, the current top scholar, was so angry and sputtering because of this news, he felt relieved.
He thought that it was because Shen Yun was ungrateful and did not try to curry favor with him, the promising Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, but instead devoted himself to serving his aging father, who was often ill.
Now, let him see how miserable it is not to serve him.
As Liang Xinran's rewards were distributed, those who were actually in charge of the matter saw the importance of this matter even more.
So they further escalated the matter.
Following Liang Xinran's wishes, they exposed the scandals in the homes of a large number of his opponents.
Especially regarding the purity of Prince Duan's offspring, his subordinates spared no effort in slandering them.
The decent Prince Duan's mansion was turned upside down.
But they did not know that when the moon is full, it wanes, and when water is full, it overflows.
Just as Liang Xinran was skillfully playing this trick of using momentum to smear dirt and mess up the lineage of others, something went wrong.
Those who want to harm others will always be harmed by others.
Someone must have let slip the secret that the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace was involved in the rumors.
The court officials, who had suffered greatly from rumors, immediately hated the Crown Prince.
Of course, on the surface, the Crown Prince was the ruler, and they were his subjects, so naturally, they dared not do anything.
But in their hearts, it was not so easy to speak.
So they all began to find ways to operate in secret, determined to make him feel the power of rumors.
Coincidentally, at that time, the Five City Patrols were with Wang Enze and Shen Yun to cause trouble at the Huangjue Temple, and no one was there to stop the rumors.
As a result, the rumors spread faster and faster, and soon the matter of the Crown Prince's origins began to spread throughout the capital, becoming almost common knowledge.
This matter was of great importance, and as soon as the Five City Patrols had time from the Huangjue Temple incident, they immediately dispatched to arrest people.
Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard sent out their agents everywhere, investigating in all directions.
It's just that at first, they only heard people on the streets talking about it, but they didn't know where it actually originated.
After investigating to the end, they finally learned that the center of the whirlpool of rumors was actually the Crown Prince's mansion.
Including the previous rumors about the bloodlines of the offspring of court officials, all the rumors about the Crown Prince's origins were spread from the Crown Prince's mansion.
Upon learning this, Liang Xinran felt like he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.
How could he possibly be in a good mood thinking about it?
"Go and investigate, go and investigate, find out who did this!" Liang Xinran clenched his fists, his anger unquenchable.
"Your Highness, do not be anxious. This matter is merely a small scheme, not worth mentioning, and it will not harm Your Highness in the slightest," said Liu Junsheng, the驸马 and advisor to the Crown Prince, bowing his hands.
He secretly thought that the Crown Prince was still too young, unable to withstand such a small matter.
After all, he lacked experience and was like a novice compared to his aging father on his sickbed in the palace.
He only hoped that their father and son would not confront each other.
Otherwise, the Crown Prince would have no chance of winning.
"This is still a minor matter. My identity is being questioned. What should I do if this news reaches Father's ears?" Liang Xinran feared losing his position as Crown Prince the most.
He had been the Crown Prince for more than ten years. Although he was tired of it and thought about when he could advance further.
But the annoying thing was that coincidentally, his old father had been bedridden for five years.
For these five years, his illness would flare up from time to time.
Once it flared up, he would have to take medicine and rest.
But even so, he never abdicated, insisting on attending court every morning, diligently governing.
For so many years, he had been hoping that his old man would at least take a day off, so that he, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, could act as regent.
Once the power was in his hands, it would be difficult to give it up.
But that damned old man held onto power firmly and refused to let go.
Originally, it was nothing.
After all, when the old man died, the throne would definitely be his.
He didn't have to do anything, just wait slowly.
But as he grew old, his eyes became dim, and his mind became unclear, he actually summoned the deposed Crown Prince and his family back.
He also pardoned all his crimes and enfeoffed him as Prince Duan.
Liang Xinran suddenly felt immense pressure.
The advisors and ministers standing beside him would occasionally come to advise him, urging him to show some of the Crown Prince's decisiveness.
He could no longer continue to muddle through his days as he did before.
However, he had messed up several tasks, which greatly displeased the aging, sick old man.
In contrast, Prince Duan was methodical in his dealings, courteous and respectful in his interactions, upright in his conduct, and possessed great charm.
—Bah, these were the words spoken by his ill-informed subordinates when they reported back. He did not admit them!
The eunuchs he had placed with his old man had so far reported that the old man had never intended to depose the Crown Prince and reinstate Prince Duan.
But Liang Xinran was always worried about such a situation.
Therefore, in such extraordinary times, he really did not want rumors about his origins to spread.
Even if it was just deliberately spread by others, it was unacceptable.
"Hmph... Investigate, investigate, and kill them all!" The more Liang Xinran thought about it, the more displeased he became, and he was about to smash the jade ornaments on the multi-treasure rack again.
Liu Junsheng wanted to persuade him a few more words, but the Duke of Huang, who was beside him, shook his head and stopped him.
After leaving the Eastern Palace, Liu Junsheng deliberately lagged behind and approached the Duke of Huang, asking, "Why did Your Grace stop me from offering advice just now?"
The Duke of Huang was the father of Consort Huang and the maternal grandfather of the Crown Prince.
His relationship with the Crown Prince was one of mutual dependence.
The Crown Prince's status determined his power, and his power guaranteed the Crown Prince's status.
His decisions were naturally based on the Crown Prince's greatest interests.
"The rumors about the Crown Prince's origins must be investigated." The Duke of Huang supported the Crown Prince on this point.
Being cunning and calculating, he had already realized that someone was attempting to confuse the Crown Prince's identity and lineage by using this matter.
This was absolutely intolerable.
"But Your Grace, His Majesty intends to suppress this matter. If the Crown Prince investigates it openly at this time, I fear it will displease His Majesty.
Besides, the innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty. Such matters cannot be explained clearly, one can only say that rumors stop with the wise."
"Not so. This matter concerns the reputation of Consort Gui and the Crown Prince, and it must be investigated." The Duke of Huang insisted.
Liu Junsheng sighed and had no choice but to turn and leave.
Returning to his carriage, he saw his elder brother Liu Song Sheng, who had been waiting for him inside. He told him about the events in the Eastern Palace and then sighed:
"The matter of bloodlines was deliberately instigated by someone, just to make the Crown Prince panic. Alas, why bother falling into this trap."
Liu Song Sheng, however, saw it very clearly: "This is the brilliance of the person in charge behind the scenes.
They make people know it's a trap, but they still have to jump into it." This is what is called an open scheme.
Liu Junsheng frowned and said, "Alas, matters of men and women and bloodlines.
It's like a horse made of mud falling into one's trousers. Whether it's shit or not, it's still shit. No matter how you explain it, it's useless. I'm afraid Your Highness will waste his efforts for nothing."
Liu Song Sheng looked at his younger brother with some disdain, his eyes clearly indicating that he didn't know where he learned such vulgar words.
But thinking about it, the words were crude but not unreasonable.
Isn't that the truth of the matter!
He narrowed his eyes and turned to the carriage wall, leaning back to rest with his eyes closed.
After a while, he thought of something and said, "Have you settled things with the Eldest Princess?"
Liu Junsheng snorted coldly, "It's impossible to settle things. She's a shrew."
Liu Song Sheng's eyes opened, a sharp glint flashing out, and he rebuked sternly:
"Shut up! No matter what, she is the Eldest Princess, the princess most favored by His Majesty.
As long as His Majesty is here, you must not offend her."