The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Princess Consort Ji’s stroke incident was learned by Song Ci from her clever son’s mouth, as there was no other way but to borrow people from her.

Song Ci didn’t make decisions for Lin Qing, but only conveyed Empress Dowager Wang’s intention. Regardless of whether she considered Song Ci or Empress Dowager Wang, Lin Qing didn’t hesitate and agreed, following the people from the Prince Manor to Prince Min Mansion.

”This is a big blow for her. The son she raised for twenty years is not her biological child, and there was such a motherly love and filial piety, only to end up being a counterfeit. Could it not be distressing?” Song Ci clicked her tongue in amazement, feeling quite dramatic.

Song Zhiyuan said, ”The biggest blow might be knowing that the real Prince Min doesn’t have much time left.”

Song Ci immediately recalled the frail young man she had once seen, with a body that could collapse with the slightest breeze. If the internal organs were already damaged, then once exhaustion triggered complications, it would be just a matter of one breath.

”What did the doctor say?”

Song Zhiyuan played with the sandalwood prayer beads in his hand, saying: ”They said he wouldn’t live past thirty.”

”The rumor said he wouldn’t live past twenty-five, but hasn’t he dragged to twenty-six or seven?”

”From before, the son didn’t know, but now looking at it, there’s indeed a sense of being at the end of one’s strength.” Song Zhiyuan pulled at the corner of his mouth.

It is precisely because of this, Chu Ze feels that nothing matters anymore. The greatest revenge has been fulfilled, leaving him fearless, and he can even face the Emperor calmly.

As for whether to tell Emperor Chu of everything he knew or understood, he dared to face the consequences, why should he say anything? Let him choke on it.

As an unpleasant truth, the current Prince Min truly takes the phrase ”After my death, let the floodwaters overflow” as a principle and acts accordingly.

”He was replaced when he was six or seven years old, how come...” Song Ci’s words trailed off.

At six or seven, one is at an age of understanding, yet still just a child — a privileged child under strict supervision, trying to do something is simply as difficult as climbing the sky.

Feigning incapability for twenty years, akin to playing mad and foolish, bringing Xia Houzhe’s people to his side must have required immense scheming and mental effort, paired with that frail body, demanding even more effort.

Song Ci changed the topic and asked, ”At this moment, he has returned to the Imperial City, should this be retrieved? But, can it be confirmed that he is the true Chu Ze?”

”The Emperor has already had the Imperial Physician draw blood for identity recognition.”

Song Ci: ”...”

She wanted to say, using blood recognition is unreliable, there is a type of drug that, when placed in water, allows any blood to dissolve together.

Seeing her odd expression, Song Zhiyuan asked, ”Why, do you think there is something improper, Mother?”

Song Ci cautiously inquired, ”Nothing much, just that this blood recognition, could it be faked, doesn’t it seem quite frivolous?”

”According to the records of the household at Prince Min’s birth, there was a red mole on his sole, which matches.” Song Zhiyuan said indifferently: ”Actually, at this point, whether he is the real Chu Ze is insignificant to the Emperor, never mind that it’s with such a body.”

What Emperor Chu cared about was Xia Houzhe, later joined by Cabinet Minister Ning. Now, Cabinet Minister Ning is dead, Xia Houzhe has been punished, whether Chu Ze is the real Chu Ze makes no difference.

If he is, his time is short. If he isn’t, having returned to this Imperial City, he can only be taken as he is. Regarding any future individuals surfacing, none will be Prince Min Chu Ze.

So whether he is real or fake no longer matters.