HCB Chapter 71 The child is not yours
Chapter 71 The child is not yours
The old emperor sat on the dragon throne, deep in thought; no one knew what the emperor was thinking.
After listening to Shen Zhiyi's thoughts, Consort Zhang tentatively asked the old emperor.
"Your Majesty, what did Prince Cheng do to anger you?"
The old emperor feigned nonchalance and said, "Oh, it's nothing. Prince Cheng just had a secret affair with this sorcerer, trying to make this old man less of an eyesore."
Consort Zhang's eyes widened, her expression exactly matching the sentiment in the voice.
She immediately flew into a rage, rolled up her sleeve, and slapped Prince Cheng on the forehead.
"How have I taught you all these years? If it's not yours, you'll find it wrong no matter how you look at it."
Consort Zhang seemed to think the slap wasn't enough, and said to the old emperor, "Your Majesty, it's all my fault for not disciplining them properly. Please grant me family discipline."
Wow, Consort Zhang really has a whole repertoire of tricks up her sleeve. With just the simple phrase "family rules," she categorized this matter as a family affair.
Many things in this world take on a different flavor once family matters are involved.
For example, the charge of intentional injury may be changed to domestic violence.
For example, the crime of plotting to assassinate the emperor was changed to failing to properly educate one's children.
[Impressive! No wonder she's Consort Zhang, managing to so skillfully manage the chaotic state of the Emperor's harem in just a few days.]
Consort Zhang closed her eyes, cursing inwardly.
Whose voice is this? It sounds so familiar.
Looking at Consort Zhang, who had followed him for most of her life but had not enjoyed much happiness, and who only had one child, Prince Cheng, the old emperor decided to let the matter drop.
At worst, we can just do as Consort Zhang initially planned and choose a place that's a bit far away to dump the child.
However, this rule is based on the premise that this Prince Cheng must be the old emperor's child.
The old emperor, who had just opened his mouth, immediately shut it again.
He looked at Consort Zhang in disbelief.
No way, you actually cheated on me?
The old emperor didn't believe it.
Of all the women in the harem, the two he trusted most were the Empress and Consort Zhang.
These two women have followed him all the way to where they are now.
Consort Zhang, seeing the old emperor's gaze, blurted out her words before she could even think.
"Your Majesty, what kind of look is that? You don't think I've cheated on you, do you?"
The old emperor pursed his lips, clearly agreeing with this view.
Consort Zhang immediately became furious.
He stopped kneeling and stood up, cursing loudly.
"Your Majesty, listen to me: if I ever cuckold you, I will die a horrible death today."
"You are so disheartening. If I hadn't taken that arrow for you, would you still be alive and kicking like this?"
Feeling guilty and ashamed, the old emperor got off the dragon throne.
"Don't cry, I didn't say anything."
"You didn't say it, but don't think I don't know what you mean by looking at me."
The old emperor wondered if Shen Zhiyi had made a mistake.
There was no way that Consort Zhang would do anything to betray him.
Why are these two suddenly arguing? And what's with all this talk about being cuckolded?
Old Emperor: It's all because of you!
The old emperor has truly wronged Consort Zhang. He hasn't wronged her at all; in fact, she has harmed her health and is no longer suitable to have children. This is a deep pain for Consort Zhang.
The old emperor was well aware of all this, so he wanted to just brush things off.
But then Shen Zhiyi blurted out that the child wasn't his.
However, while Consort Zhang didn't cuckold you, Prince Cheng is indeed not your child.
The old emperor then turned to look at Consort Zhang.
Consort Zhang blinked and lowered her voice, saying, "Your Majesty, you can't hear me, can you?"
"Nonsense, don't tell anyone about this."
"Oh oh oh."
Consort Zhang quickly covered her mouth, then thought for a moment and pointed at the old emperor, saying, "So you think I cuckolded you?"
The old emperor spread his hands: "Then tell me, why isn't Prince Cheng my child? I'm puzzled too. I clearly saw you give birth to him, so how come the child isn't mine?"
Consort Zhang's eyes suddenly looked both guilty and dim.
The old emperor certainly couldn't understand why the child he watched being born wasn't his own.
Old Emperor: I really can't figure it out, so Shen Zhiyi, please tell me quickly!
Shortly after Consort Zhang gave birth, the old emperor rushed out, and the child had already died.
Due to her health condition, Consort Zhang could only conceive once in her life. She couldn't accept the loss of her child. Just then, a woman dressed as a former palace maid, carrying a child, approached Consort Zhang.
The previous dynasty? A palace maid?
The old emperor's eyelids twitched, and he asked Consort Zhang in a low voice, "Such a big matter, and you didn't even tell me? How could you just pick up a child like that?!"
Consort Zhang pouted, looking aggrieved: "Your Majesty, my mind was in turmoil at the time. When I saw that child appear before me, I felt that it was a hope given to me by God. So, so I kept the child from you at the time."
"Your Majesty, it's just the child of a palace maid. You can't be prejudiced against her just because she was a palace maid from the previous dynasty."
[Consort Zhang doesn't even use her brain. Could the child being held by a palace maid from the previous dynasty be an ordinary child?]
[No way, no way, Consort Zhang, you don't actually think that child is really that former palace maid's, do you?]
Consort Zhang stared blankly with innocent eyes.
Is not it?
Old Emperor: This is the beginning!
To prevent the problem from recurring, the old emperor didn't even spare the children. However, he overlooked the youngest child of the late emperor, who had been taken out of the palace long ago.
[Unexpectedly, after all these twists and turns, the old emperor had been supporting them for so many years.]
Consort Zhang knelt down with a thud.
King Cheng looked at the situation and realized that he might be in a difficult situation this time.
He silently moved his knees closer to Consort Zhang.
"mother."
"Don't call me, I need some peace and quiet."
Zhang Shufei felt that her mind was in complete chaos.
She grabbed the old emperor's robe: "Your Majesty, I..."
"You don't need to say anything, I understand, I get it all."
The old emperor glanced at Prince Cheng, then sat back on the dragon throne.
"Third brother, people have to pay the price for their mistakes. Lingnan West Road is a good place."
"Father."
King Cheng panicked and reached out to grab his mother, but she didn't even look at him.
"By the way, I have a good friend who died young, Wu Chengdao. He didn't even have a child. I was saddened to hear that he had no descendants. Third brother, you should be adopted by Wu Chengdao."
[Wu Chengdao? The one who used to be a bandit in Dafeng Mountain, then followed the old emperor, but always contradicted him? When did you become friends with him, old emperor?]