Nangong Yi felt a sense of unease as he walked. The passersby kept pointing and whispering. Whenever he glanced their way, they would quickly look away, pretending not to have been watching.
"Zhou Kang, do you find these people looking at me strangely?" Nangong Yi asked.
Zhou Kang surveyed their surroundings. "It is a bit strange, Your Highness, but your appearance is perfectly fine."
"Real prince, fake prince, the Empress Dowager has an illegitimate child, real mother and son, fake mother and son, the weasel exchanged for the real prince!" A group of children sang a nursery rhyme.
Nangong Yi walked over and listened to their cheerful singing. One of the children, holding a wooden sword, declared, "I am the real prince!"
Another child retorted, "You are the fake prince, I am the real prince!"
"I am the mighty King of Qin, who has killed countless enemies, I am the real prince!"
"I am the smiling King of Chu, kind to everyone, I am the real prince!"
"No, no, no, you don't have a mother, you are fake princes. I am the King of Qi, I have a mother, so I am the real prince!"
"Nonsense, having a mother doesn't make you not a fake prince?" a child stepped forward. "Which prince only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun all day without doing any good deeds? Moreover, your uncle is the Empress Dowager's former fiancé, so you are the fake prince!"
Nangong Yi's face turned green. He grabbed one of the children and asked, "Who taught you this game?"
"Everyone is playing, so we are playing too."
"And the nursery rhyme you're singing?"
"Everyone is singing it, so we know it too. Big brother, do you want to learn?" the child asked curiously.
"No, I was just asking out of curiosity." Nangong Yi stood up straight and turned to leave.
"Your Highness, these are just rumors. The Empress Dowager is a devout Buddhist, she certainly wouldn't be that kind of person," Zhou Kang comforted him, wondering who could be spreading such malicious gossip.
"Go to the Jin family."
Nangong Yi's brow furrowed. Too many things had happened in the Jin family recently. Since Jin Yu's death, they had rarely visited. His uncle was busy with matters of the Ministry of Revenue, and Jin Rong was in charge of the family's business. If he hadn't thought of it today, he would have almost forgotten about the Jin family.
The King of Qi arrived, and the gatekeepers dared not stop him. They immediately ushered him in.
"Is Uncle here?"
"Your Highness, the Master has gone to court and has not yet returned."
"Is Jin Rong here?"
"The young master has gone out to negotiate business and is also not at home."
"Then who is at home?"
"The Madam."
"I will personally visit my aunt," Nangong Yi said, heading towards Madam Jin's courtyard.
Madam Jin was sewing clothes, a kind smile on her face. Nangong Yi looked at her serene and loving expression and found it blinding. Her son was dead, and she could still smile so brightly. Was her past affection for his cousin all a pretense?
"Madam, His Highness the King of Qi has arrived."
"Aunt," Nangong Yi stepped inside. "I haven't visited in many days. How have you been?" Su Dan Novel Network
Madam Jin put down the clothes she was sewing and stood up to bow. "Your Highness, what brings you here today? At this hour, the Master has not yet returned from court. If Your Highness is looking for him, you may have to wait."
"It's no trouble," Nangong Yi said, sitting down. Madam Jin ordered tea and refreshments to be brought. "Please have some tea, Your Highness."
"Who is Madam making clothes for?" Nangong Yi asked casually. The relationship between Madam Jin and Master Jin had long been estranged. Master Jin was known for his philandering, and there were always women in his chambers. At first, Madam Jin would make a fuss, but later she let it be, focusing all her efforts on raising her son. Now that her son was dead, he saw no trace of grief on Madam Jin's face!
"My Rong'er, that child, is so busy negotiating business all day, his clothes are old, and he is reluctant to buy new ones. I thought I would make him a new outfit myself," Madam Jin said with a smile, stroking the unfinished garment.
Nangong Yi's gaze swept over the clothes. The fabric was fine Suzhou brocade, the style was novel, and the stitches were meticulous, showing great care. Did Madam Jin not always dislike Jin Rong? Why was she treating him so well now?
"Aunt, he is merely a low-born concubine's son. Why must Aunt be so good to him?"
When Madam Jin heard Nangong Yi call Jin Rong a low-born concubine's son, a flicker of hatred flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it. With a sigh, she said, "He is now under my name. Since Yu'er is gone, he is my only son. My husband and I will rely on him in our remaining years, so it is only right to treat him well. After all, he won the young master's examination and is now the legitimate young master of the Jin family. If I, as his mother, cannot accept him, won't people laugh at me?"
Madam Jin's words were logical and reasonable, but Nangong Yi felt something was wrong. "This prince suspects that Jin Rong secretly murdered my cousin, Jin Yu!"
"Your Highness the King of Qi, you must not speak such words carelessly!" Madam Jin's voice grew stern. "Such fratricide will not happen in my Jin family. Yu'er brought it upon himself. He never learned to be good and indulged in pleasures, which led to his death from a sudden illness at a young age. No one else is to blame."
Nangong Yi found these words even more unsettling. Jin Yu was indeed fond of women, but he was not unrestrained. Furthermore, he had always been healthy. How could he have died of a sudden illness? He was clearly poisoned. Why was Madam Jin not investigating?
Nangong Yi suddenly remembered that Jin Yu's death was not honorable. If outsiders were to know that the father and son shared a woman, the Jin family would lose all face. It was understandable that Madam Jin did not pursue the matter.
"Fine, let's not mention him. Aunt, I have something I wish to ask for your advice today."
"What is it?" Madam Jin asked, puzzled.
Nangong Yi hesitated, unsure if he should ask. After all, the fact that Master Jin was the Empress Dowager's former fiancé was not something he should be asking Madam Jin about.
"It's just... outside... there are rumors..."
"About the Empress Dowager having an illegitimate child?" Madam Jin finished his sentence.
"No, the rumors are that Uncle was previously engaged to the Empress Dowager. Is that true?"
Madam Jin gave Nangong Yi a meaningful look, her hands fidgeting nervously, as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.
"Please speak plainly, Aunt."
"Your uncle and the Empress Dowager were indeed engaged. However, when the Empress Dowager entered the palace to choose concubines, the engagement was broken. Your Highness, you must believe your uncle. He is lustful, but he would not dare to commit any lewd acts within the palace. The rumors outside are all slander!"
"I naturally believe my uncle." Nangong Yi's heart was in turmoil. The Empress Dowager had truly been engaged to Minister Jin. His imperial mother was Minister Jin's sister. The Jin family's current status was inseparable from the Empress Dowager's support and his imperial mother's careful planning. Even his imperial mother had relied on the Empress Dowager's help to establish her position in the harem!
With no familial ties, why would the Empress Dowager go to such lengths to promote the Jin family? Was it merely out of guilt?