Chain Reaction

The False Crown Prince case originated from accusations by a couple, who were Xiao Qianyì's adoptive parents.

They also brought forth evidence of the conspiracy to switch the children on the day Prince Jiujiang's Heir's Consort and the Empress gave birth.

From the early labor-inducing sachet to the details of the child switch and the accomplices involved, the chain of evidence was complete and sufficient.

The Ministry of Punishments didn't blindly believe their words. Because the matter was of great importance, they investigated the source of the sachet, apprehended those involved in the switch, and didn't take even those who were silenced lightly. Combining this with other evidence, they finally confirmed that the Emperor's eldest son had indeed been swapped and taken out of the palace from birth.

From this perspective, the Ministry of Punishments truly investigated the case thoroughly and did not wrongly accuse the original body.

After the incident, Prince Jiujiang's Heir's Consort was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court. Prince Jiujiang's Heir confessed to knowing nothing, claiming it was solely the Heir's Consort's doing. He also claimed to be a victim, as his favored concubine's child was raised as the Heir's Consort's own, causing the concubine to fall into deep melancholy. Thus, he indignantly petitioned to divorce the Heir's Consort, Madam Qi, and sever all ties with her.

Prince Jiujiang submitted a memorial to beg for punishment, lamenting the misfortune within his family and his shame before the court, requesting a reduction in his official emoluments.

Xiao Qianyu found it quite interesting. While he was indeed the false one, his original identity was not low either. He hailed from a royal prince's estate and possessed Royal Bloodline.

Regarding a matter as significant as the true and false Crown Prince, Xiao Qianyu didn't believe Prince Jiujiang and his son were completely unaware. Yet, in the end, all the blame fell upon Prince Jiujiang's Heir's Consort.

He only heard that Prince Jiujiang's Heir's Consort was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, awaiting execution in the autumn. What about Prince Jiujiang and his son? Did the court hold them accountable?

Probably not.

Therefore, either Prince Jiujiang and his son were cunning enough to avoid leaving any trace for the Emperor to seize, or the Prince Jiujiang's Estate held a special status that made them difficult to move, perhaps even making the Emperor so wary that he lightly overlooked the grave offense of confusing the Royal Bloodline and coveting the Position of Crown Prince.

Xiao Qianyu leaned towards the latter.

After all, when had one ever seen a royal estate involved in such a case, one that could lead to the ruin of the entire family, and yet the Heir of the estate still dared to petition, tearfully claiming to be a victim?

Was the reduction of emoluments enough punishment for Prince Jiujiang?

The arrogance and contempt Prince Jiujiang's Estate displayed towards the court were evident. It was not a loyal subject content with subservience, but an ambitious schemer with aspirations for the throne.

Xiao Qianyu didn't object to this standard villainous background. However, the act of Prince Jiujiang and his son prioritizing themselves and throwing the villainous mother out to take the fall was something he could not accept.

If the child switch was orchestrated solely by Prince Jiujiang's Heir's Consort, Xiao Qianyu wanted to save her.

If the child switch case was planned by Prince Jiujiang and his son, and the Heir's Consort was merely a pawn pushed forward to take the blame, then he wanted to save her even more.

For the protagonist, the difference between a supporting character and a cannon fodder was merely the amount of screen time; everyone was cannon fodder anyway.

Why should cannon fodder make things difficult for cannon fodder!

Another point that bothered him was the adoptive parents who had helped the protagonist escape and then sacrificed their lives to pave his way back to the palace.

They seemed like mere tools to guide the protagonist back on track, toiling hard only to gain nothing and losing their lives in the process.

They claimed the Heir's Consort had sent assassins to pursue them, so how could she have had the spare capacity to train the protagonist to be skilled in both civil and military arts? Wasn't she afraid of being found by the Heir's Consort by being so high-profile?

If the royal estate had been watching them all along, how did they manage to reach the capital smoothly and bang the Dengwen drum?

Xiao Qianyu felt there were inconsistencies. It seemed like an unseen hand was manipulating everything from behind the scenes.

Putting down the case files, Xiao Qianyu smiled faintly. Since he was here now, it was time to see who would win and who would lose between him, the false favored one of Heaven, and the protagonist, the true son of Heavenly Dao.

Xiao Qianyu had a plan in mind. He closed his eyes and fell asleep peacefully.

He was unaware of the storm brewing outside due to the changes at the execution ground, which had thrown the capital's prominent families into chaos and widespread panic.

The unrest was gradually spreading to the areas surrounding the capital and the border regions.

The fates of countless individuals, pulled by invisible threads, were about to undergo earth-shattering changes.

Willow Mountain Villa, a hundred miles from the capital.

Yu Zhixue had been restless all day. She had woken up feeling nauseous and vomited that morning, then refused to eat anything, choosing instead to rest in bed.

By noon, she had no appetite for the food served and refused to eat, leaning against the windowsill and lost in thought.

Only when the sky began to darken and her personal maid entered the room with a candle did she realize the entire day had passed.

Bi'er carried a wooden tray with several plates of refreshing, verdant dishes and a bowl of fragrant, well-cooked green stem porridge.

"Miss, you haven't eaten all day. Please eat something, no matter what," Bi'er said, looking at her stomach with concern. "You're carrying the young master."

Yu Zhixue lowered her head and silently touched her slightly rounded abdomen, a chill spreading through her heart.

Before marriage, she had harbored such hopeful and passionate fantasies as she quickly married into the Yan family. After becoming pregnant, her dreams had been shattered like ice, swiftly and cruelly.