A Shocking Secret

"Old Jiang."

At Li Xinge's words, Elder Jiang's figure appeared behind him like a ghost.

Elder Jiang bowed. "Lord."

"Isn't there something you want to tell me?"

Li Xinge asked calmly.

At that, Elder Jiang's body trembled.

After a moment of silence, he slowly raised his head.

Complex emotions mingled in his cloudy eyes.

Pain, hatred, and remembrance.

"Lord, this old servant did indeed conceal some things."

Elder Jiang's voice was hoarse.

"You're from the Royal House, aren't you?"

Li Xinge turned around and looked at Elder Jiang calmly.

Elder Jiang sighed, then gave a bitter smile and nodded.

"How did Lord know?"

Li Xinge chuckled. "Prince Jingjiang is called Jiang Yinze, and you're called Jiang Yinshu. Add to that the look Song Wuya gave you today—the surprise and confusion in his eyes—and I could put it together. It wasn't difficult, was it?"

"Lord sees all. This old servant was indeed once a member of the Royal House."

Elder Jiang placed heavy emphasis on the words "once a member."

"Tell me your story."

Elder Jiang let out a long sigh, his eyes gradually sinking into memory.

"This old servant came from the Depraved Crown Prince's line. I was his seventeenth son."

Elder Jiang opened with a bombshell.

A flash of surprise crossed Li Xinge's eyes.

The Depraved Crown Prince.

The former Crown Prince.

The current emperor's eldest legitimate son.

And Elder Jiang had actually been the Depraved Crown Prince's son, an Imperial Noble.

This old servant of his had quite the background.

"After the Depraved Crown Prince's failed rebellion, he took his own life. The emperor flew into a rage and ordered his entire line exterminated. This old servant was only nine years old at the time."

"A devoted Attendant of the Eastern Palace risked half his life to save