He Slept with Zhang Yu

Inside the Heavenly Prison, Xiao Yun stared blankly at Xiao Sheng, then glanced at Zhang Heng and the others as they left.

The meaning was obvious: Was there something wrong with this family?

Xiao Sheng understood Xiao Yun perfectly and shrugged helplessly. He agreed with Xiao Yun on this one—the Zhang Family had a screw loose.

Meanwhile, in the forbidden grounds of the Imperial Clan Affairs Office.

Through the light screen floating in midair, Emperor Xiao Zhengshan, Old Ancestor Xiao Xuan, Du Jun, and the other core members of the imperial family had witnessed the Zhang Family's jaw-dropping "performance" in the Heavenly Prison from start to finish.

The entire hall fell silent.

Even these imperial heavyweights, who had weathered countless storms and seen the darkest corners of the human heart, were deeply shaken by the Zhang Family's shamelessness and stupidity.

"This..."

After a long while, Old Ancestor Xiao Xuan raised a hand and traced a circle beside his head with one finger. He asked the same question as Xiao Yun:

"Is there something wrong with this family's heads?"

He had lived for nearly a hundred and fifty years. What kind of people hadn't he met?

But he had never seen anyone like the Zhang Family, pushing away a peerless genius and practically eager to trample him underfoot.

This was beyond mere favoritism. It was as if their heads had been kicked by a donkey—again and again.

Standing nearby, Du Jun gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"I've been friends with Young Master Zhang, and I've heard a little about his family affairs.

Whenever I asked, Young Master Zhang would only smile without saying a word, his expression calm.

The reason behind it truly is hard to fathom."

As an outsider, he didn't want to meddle in the Zhang Family's affairs.

Emperor Xiao Zhengshan wore a complicated expression too. He slowly said, "I've heard that Marquis Yong'an's Estate favored their younger son, but I never imagined... it had reached such an appalling degree."

"Your Majesty, Old Ancestor."

Just then, an official in charge of imperial intelligence bowed and said, "Regarding Marquis Yong'an's Estate, I... have recalled an old matter that may be connected."

"Let's hear it." Xiao Zhengshan's gaze sharpened.

The official gathered his thoughts and said quietly, "This matter... may have something to do with Sheng Yuntang, the third prince of the Eastern Sheng Kingdom, over twenty years ago."

"Sheng Yuntang, the third prince of the Eastern Sheng Kingdom?"

At the mention of his name, Xiao Zhengshan pictured that peerlessly handsome and charismatic man. Frowning, he asked, "Do you mean the third prince of the Eastern Sheng Kingdom who traveled through Wei Kingdom all those years ago and caused a sensation throughout the Capital City?"

"Precisely."

The official nodded.

"Back then, Qin Xuehua, the only daughter of Duke Qin, had a rather close relationship with Sheng Yuntang. Everyone in the Capital City knew about it.

Later, Sheng Yuntang finished his travels and returned to the Eastern Sheng Kingdom, and the matter gradually died down.

Only after that did Qin Xuehua marry Zhang Jiuling, then the Heir Apparent of Marquis Yong'an, who is now Marquis Yong'an."

Prince Rui chimed in, his tone tinged with gossip.

"That's right. I remember it too.

They say—though it's only hearsay—that Qin Xuehua was deeply in love with Sheng Yuntang. There were even rumors that when she married into the Zhang Family, she was no longer a virgin..."

"You mean..." Xiao Zhengshan's gaze sharpened as he looked at Prince Rui.

Prince Rui cleared his throat and lowered his voice.

"This is only my guess... Is it possible that Zhang Yu isn't Zhang Jiuling's biological son?

But... Sheng Yuntang's..."

He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.

"Ridiculous."

The emperor's third son, Prince Qi, couldn't help objecting.

"Even if Zhang Yu isn't Zhang Jiuling's son, Qin Xuehua is still his mother, isn't she?

Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs. Even if she resented Sheng Yuntang for abandoning her, surely she wouldn't treat her own son like this?"

"Have you never heard of taking it out on someone innocent by association?" Prince Rui pursed his lips.

"Perhaps Qin Xuehua transferred all her resentment toward Sheng Yuntang onto this child, who carries Sheng Yuntang's blood.

Besides, you all saw how she doted on Zhang Heng—he was the apple of her eye—while she treated Zhang Yu... The difference was just too obvious."

Everyone fell into thought.

Prince Rui's theory was melodramatic, but on closer reflection, it did seem to make a certain amount of sense.

Otherwise, it was difficult to explain why Qin Xuehua would treat her own son so coldly and cruelly, even repeatedly trying to have him killed.

"Still, this is all just speculation. We have no evidence."

Xiao Zhengshan waved a hand, choosing not to pursue the matter further. "And so many years have passed. The truth is probably known only to Qin Xuehua herself."

"Tell me..." Prince Rui's eyes flickered as he looked at Zhang Yu, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed on the light screen. "Has Zhang Yu himself ever suspected anything like this?"

Everyone looked toward Zhang Yu on the light screen.

Du Jun pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"That... is hard to say."

"Whether he knows or not," Xiao Xuan said slowly, his voice low, "his complete break with the Zhang Family is now a certainty. For our imperial family... that may not be a bad thing."

Everyone's thoughts stirred at his words.

"Old Ancestor is right."

Xiao Zhengshan's eyes flickered. He had already made up his mind.

"Now that Zhang Yu has broken with the Zhang Family, he is free.

Although he doesn't want to leave prison, as long as we treat him with courtesy and don't make an enemy of him, perhaps... we can bring him into the service of our imperial family.

At the very least, we must not let him become our enemy."