The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 719: Chapter 720: Father and Son

Zheng Baosu was stunned.

’What don’t I know?’

’And what did the Eldest Princess mean by the first thing she said when she came in?’

Fan Chengzhuo, however, suddenly became agitated. He straightened up, his expression helpless and panicked.

”E-Eldest Princess—”

”What? Even now, Mr. Fan, you refuse to speak plainly?” the Eldest Princess cut him off. ”Never mind the others, but... are you truly content to let things end in such a muddle?”

Everyone else was completely lost, with no idea what the Eldest Princess meant.

But Fan Chengzhuo understood.

He opened his mouth to plead, but when he caught a glimpse of the lingering hatred on Zheng Baosu’s face, he suddenly lost all his strength.

After a long hesitation, he remained silent and slumped back onto his knees in dejection.

Emperor Muwu took in the scene, already guessing part of the truth.

”Sister, what do you mean by that?”

The Eldest Princess paused before finally speaking, enunciating every word.

”Zheng Baosu. A moment ago, you questioned why Fan Chengzhuo specifically chose you for the Northern Border, pushing you into this situation. You thought he was intentionally dragging you down with him, plotting against you. But you seem to have forgotten that if not for today’s events, you would still be living it up in Jingyuan as General Xianwu, doing as you please.”

The Eldest Princess’s expression grew cold. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a faint, chilling authority.

”Guarding the border is supposed to be arduous work, but search your heart and ask yourself: have you ever truly suffered any hardship or endured any pain all these years? The battles weren’t fought by you, yet the credit went to your name. Which of the soldiers who truly risked life and limb has had it as comfortable as you?”

Her words, calm yet powerful, left Zheng Baosu riddled with guilt, his eyes darting away.

The Eldest Princess had fought on the battlefield herself, so she despised such characters the most. Her expression was now one of unconcealed contempt and mockery.

”A life of coasting to victory like that... anyone else would be green with envy. Yet to you, it has somehow become a tale of others intentionally harming you? How interesting.”

”I—”

Zheng Baosu was at a loss for words.

His life had indeed been smooth sailing since childhood. Faced with the Eldest Princess’s interrogation, he naturally had nothing to say.

The Eldest Princess snorted and said coolly,

”Did you really think you could get to where you are today with that pathetic skillset of yours? And yet, in the end, you blame it all on someone else. How laughable.”

As she spoke, she looked at Fan Chengzhuo again, her eyes narrowing slightly.

”Fan Chengzhuo, to be forced into this corner by your own flesh and blood... I imagine that’s something you never expected, is it?”

As her voice fell, the vast Qiyuan Hall instantly froze!

Xie Anjun’s eyes widened as he stared at Fan Chengzhuo in disbelief!

’Flesh and blood!?’

’Does that mean Zheng Baosu and Fan Chengzhuo are...?’

”Impossible!”

Zheng Baosu roared,

”I have my own parents! How could it be him—it’s absolutely impossible!”

”Insolent.”

Emperor Muwu’s voice was frigid.

A nearby guard immediately forced Zheng Baosu to the ground.

Zheng Baosu struggled desperately, his face flushing red and veins popping on his forehead, but he couldn’t utter another word.

Emperor Muwu looked at Fan Chengzhuo. His voice betrayed no emotion, yet it carried an authority that no one dared defy.

”Fan Chengzhuo, tell me yourself. What, exactly, is the relationship between you and Zheng Baosu?”

Fan Chengzhuo had already squeezed his eyes shut the moment the Eldest Princess began to speak.

At this moment, he only wished he were already dead! Even fainting again would be a relief, just to escape this humiliating scene!

’It shouldn’t be. It shouldn’t be like this...’

He had risked death to enter the palace today, fully prepared to sacrifice his life for one last attempt.

But he never imagined that before he could do anything, the situation would spiral completely out of control.

Zheng Baosu had incriminated himself first, and then, in his desperation, dragged both him and Xie Anjun into it.

Fan Chengzhuo would have died for him, but Zheng Baosu’s reaction just now, his words, were like a razor-sharp dagger plunged straight into his heart.

And now, the Eldest Princess’s question had severed all their hope.

’It’s over.’

’It’s over...’

Fan Chengzhuo slowly opened his eyes, his face ashen.

”This subject... is guilty.”

He pressed his forehead against the cold floor, feeling the chill seep into his bones.

It was clearly the third month of spring, yet he felt a cold he had never known before.

He spoke word by word, his body as stiff and numb as a block of wood.

”This subject has deceived Your Majesty... Zheng Baosu is this subject’s only son...”

Zheng Baosu was completely stunned.

Fan Chengzhuo began to cough, fresh blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

”He... he... When he was born, this subject happened to be traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations. Later, this subject passed and was at a critical point for a new appointment when my wife unfortunately fell ill and passed away. This subject feared this would affect my prospects, so... so I lied, and concealed his existence as well...”

At the time, Fan Chengzhuo was flushed with success and had indeed considered finding a noble lady from a distinguished family in the capital to pave his way to a brilliant career.

But for various reasons, this plan never came to fruition.

Later, rumors began to circulate among the common folk about his fidelity to his first wife, and even many officials at court praised him for it.

After that, it was no longer appropriate for him to do anything else, so he could only wear this mask, and he wore it for over a decade.

For Fan Chengzhuo, living without a woman wasn’t the most important thing.

But he couldn’t just ignore the son he had left behind in his hometown.

It was fine at first, but when Fan Chengzhuo never had any other children, he began to worry about his only son once more.

”This subject entrusted him to the care of our clansmen. Feeling deeply indebted to him over the years, I tried every means possible to recommend him for a position in the army...”

Fan Chengzhuo slowly wiped the blood from his mouth. The smear of crimson was particularly chilling to see.

He gave a bleak smile.

”Later, it was also this subject’s insatiable greed. I took advantage of his position at the Northern Border and his dealings with Master Wa to trick him into exchanging those military supplies and weapons for pure gold and silver, which I pocketed myself...”

Emperor Muwu stared at him, his gaze heavy.

”So, you admit that everything he said just now is true?”

Fan Chengzhuo’s breathing was unsteady, as if he might faint at any moment.

He gasped for breath and slowly nodded.

”...Yes... yes... This subject orchestrated it all. He... he was merely deceived by me. Even my death could not atone for a fraction of my myriad sins. I only beg... I only beg... that Your Majesty be lenient and spare... spare him...”

Emperor Muwu laughed in anger.

”At a time like this, you still dare to beg Us for mercy?”

Hearing this, Xie Anjun finally snapped back to his senses.

’It’s over!’

’Fan Chengzhuo confessed too!’

As the realization dawned on Xie Anjun, he was so furious he could have exploded.

’No wonder!’

’No wonder Fan Chengzhuo had been so protective of Zheng Baosu before! No wonder he was burning with anxiety after learning Zheng Baosu was being escorted back to the capital! So... that’s his own son!’

’This father-son duo is something else. Didn’t they just team up to screw me over!?’