Nangong Yi was drunk and caused a scene at the palace gate in the middle of the night, crying and making a fuss. The guards, at their wit's end, had to report to the palace. However, recent rumors claimed that Prince Qi was the Empress Dowager's illegitimate son, and Noble Consort De was unsure of the situation. The guards then reported to Hu Wan.
Hu Wan pondered for a moment and finally chose to inform the Emperor.
"Your Majesty."
"Is it time for morning court?" the Emperor asked groggily.
"The guards report that His Highness Prince Qi is drunk and is crying and making a scene at the palace gate, looking quite disheveled."
The Emperor sat up, his brow furrowed, as if contemplating how to deal with it. "Tell him to go back."
"The guards dragged him away, but he crawled back shortly after."
"Crawled back?" The old Emperor's expression was priceless. "Does he have any royal dignity left?"
"Your Majesty, the rumors outside are so unpleasant. His Highness Prince Qi must be feeling terrible. Do you wish to see him?"
"Tell him to roll in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As Hu Wan sent a young eunuch to summon Nangong Yi, he also instructed others to help the Emperor change.
In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the Emperor heard noisy footsteps outside, followed by a familiar wailing: "Let me go, all of you, let me go! You're all bullying me! I'm going to tell Father Emperor!"
"Look at you, almost twenty and all you know is to complain!"
"Father Emperor, Father Emperor, save me! They're bullying me!"
"Nangong Yi, get in here, you scoundrel!" the Emperor roared. The guards outside quickly released Nangong Yi.
Nangong Yi's hair was disheveled, his clothes were haphazardly worn, and he was missing one shoe. He reeked of alcohol. As the guards dropped him to the ground, the pain brought him to a slight sense of clarity. He then heard the Emperor tell him to roll in.
Nangong Yi thought blankly for a moment, then curled himself into a ball at the doorway and rolled in, stopping only when he bumped into Hu Wan inside the room.
The Emperor stared in shock at Nangong Yi rolling in, his lips twitching slightly. He gazed at the heap on the floor for a long time before regaining his voice. "Thirteenth, what are you doing?"
Nangong Yi looked up blankly and surveyed his surroundings. Upon locating the Emperor, he immediately crawled over. "Father Emperor, you must do justice for your son! As soon as I stepped out, people outside pointed at my back and called me an illegitimate son. I have been your son for nineteen years, how did I become illegitimate?"
The Emperor frowned. "Don't listen to their nonsense."
"Father Emperor, others speak with such conviction. I have always been easily swayed, how can I not hear these things? You and Mother Consort have doted on me wholeheartedly for nineteen years. In my eyes and heart, you and Mother Consort are my father and mother. Are the nineteen years I've spent with Father Emperor and Mother Consort also false? Father Emperor, if I am truly not your son, what then should I do?"
The Emperor also felt a surge of emotion. Even if Prince Qi was not his biological son, nineteen years of close companionship and nineteen years of doting were not false.
"Father Emperor, am I truly your son?" Nangong Yi cried, his face a mess of snot and tears. "Tell me, am I truly your son?"
The old Emperor looked at Nangong Yi's face and was momentarily speechless. To say no, there was no proof. To say yes, he might be his own brother. Even if there was no blood relation, he was a nominal brother. But to suddenly have to call a son he had raised for nineteen years his brother, he found it hard to change his tune!
Thinking this, the Emperor felt a surge of resentment towards the Empress Dowager. At the time, he thought she was a docile woman, but he had not expected her to be so cunning!
"Father Emperor, do you also think I am not your son?" Nangong Yi, seeing the Emperor's hesitation, cried even harder. "If I truly took someone else's favor... I have nothing but my life to offer them!"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" The Emperor looked at the devoted Prince Qi, his heart softening. "He was just a child back then; he had no choice. This matter is not his fault!"
"Who says you are not my son? I have raised you for nineteen years. If you are not my son, whose son are you?"
"Father Emperor, I knew it! Father Emperor dotes on me!" Nangong Yi sobbed uncontrollably. "Father Emperor, I have always enjoyed feasting and revelry, and I don't like to manage affairs. I only wish to be a wealthy and idle person. Why do those people not let me go and spread such rumors to slander me and hurt Father Emperor and Mother Consort?"
"This matter, I will investigate thoroughly. Rest assured."
"Yes, with Father Emperor here, I am no longer worried."
"Alright, go wash yourself properly. Look at you, where is any trace of royalty? You have shamed the imperial family. Your Mother Consort will worry if she sees you like this." The old Emperor chided.
Nangong Yi quickly wiped the tears from his face. "This son knows his mistake."
"Hurry and wash up."
"Yes, your son will go immediately. It was wrong of your son to make Father Emperor worry. Your son takes his leave." Nangong Yi scrambled to his feet and walked towards the door. At the threshold, he tripped over the door frame and fell out, his remaining shoe flying off and disappearing.
The Emperor watched, shaking his head. He was a Prince, yet look at him. He didn't seem like a Prince at all; calling him a street hooligan would not be an exaggeration!
Hu Wan helped Nangong Yi up and watched him stagger away. Fearing he might fall again, he quickly sent two young eunuchs to follow and escort Prince Qi out of the palace.
"Your Majesty, it is still early. Would you like to rest for a while longer?" Hu Wan asked cautiously.
"No, I will read some memorials. Morning court will be soon." The old Emperor picked up a memorial from the side and began to review it. "Hu Wan, what do you think, how should I handle this matter?"
Hu Wan gave a wry smile. "Your Majesty, this servant is merely a servant and understands nothing of such matters."
The old Emperor sighed. "Now I don't even know if I should continue investigating."
"Your Majesty, this servant has heard a saying. I don't know if it is appropriate?"
"What saying?"
"The grace of birth is greater than oneself, and the grace of upbringing is greater than heaven." Hu Wan said carefully. "His Highness Prince Qi was raised by Noble Consort De and has listened to Your Majesty's teachings since childhood. Regardless of whether Prince Qi is a true prince or not, the nineteen years of upbringing by Your Majesty and Noble Consort De are undeniable. Although Prince Qi is playful, he is quite filial."
The old Emperor glanced at Hu Wan. "Are you pleading on his behalf?"
"This servant dares not." Hu Wan trembled. "This servant is a eunuch. When I walk on the street, everyone mocks me. This servant does not mind because I have been mocked since childhood. But His Highness Prince Qi is different. He has lived in luxury and been pampered since childhood. Now he is branded as an illegitimate son, cursed by others. If his status as an illegitimate son is proven, Prince Qi might despair and wish for death."