Exposed to Their Faces

By this point, Empress Dowager Pei and Princess Consort Yu were utterly disgusted with the Second Prince Consort!

Following the gossip this far, Chu Siqing could not help clicking her tongue in dismay.

[There are countless scoundrels in this world, but this Second Prince Consort wanted the power of the princess's household while refusing to let his sweetheart suffer the slightest grievance. He was far too greedy. My poor cousin!]

Seeing the unpleasant expressions on Empress Dowager Pei's and Princess Duanmin's faces, Princess Consort Yu thought the grandmother and granddaughter might have more to discuss. She found an excuse to leave with Chu Siqing.

After the two left, only Empress Dowager Pei and Princess Duanmin remained in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.

Empress Dowager Pei said pointedly, "Duanmin, getting your child back comes first. Everything else can wait."

Princess Duanmin gritted her teeth. "Imperial Grandmother, I understand. Once my child is back, I will make those two vile wretches pay!"

Empress Dowager Pei nodded in satisfaction. "As long as you understand. I was afraid you would end up like the Eldest Princess, letting your husband's family twist you around their fingers."

The Eldest Princess was notorious for being blinded by love. Though she was a noble imperial princess, her mother-in-law made life difficult for her as though she were an ordinary daughter-in-law.

The worst part was that the Eldest Princess saw nothing wrong with it, leaving even Empress Dowager Pei speechless.

Thinking of her eldest sister's circumstances, Princess Duanmin's gaze grew even more resentful. She declared firmly, "Rest assured, Imperial Grandmother. I am a noble daughter of the imperial family. How could I allow my husband to run wild?!"

Seeing her resolve, Empress Dowager Pei sent Princess Duanmin back to her residence.

As soon as Princess Duanmin returned to her residence, she summoned the concubine and ordered the wet nurse to bring the child as well.

The concubine's surname was Ye and her given name was Ling. She had the delicate grace of a slender willow swaying in the breeze, and she was gentle and knew her place. She never fought or competed for anything, so Princess Duanmin had never considered her worth noticing before.

Before long, Lady Ye arrived with the wet nurse, who carried the child.

Lady Ye bowed gracefully and said respectfully, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Behind her, the wet nurse also curtsied with the child in her arms.

Princess Duanmin gazed eagerly at the child in the wet nurse's arms. That was her own daughter!

Unable to wait, she said, "Bring the child here so I can see her."

A flicker of surprise crossed Lady Ye's eyes.

The princess had never wanted to look at the child before. Why had she suddenly taken an interest? Had she discovered something...

No, no... impossible. We were extremely careful, and the princess had always doted on that child. She hadn't shown any sign of noticing anything wrong.

Comforting herself with these thoughts, Lady Ye soon regained her composure.

The moment the wet nurse brought the child over, Princess Duanmin carefully took her into her own arms.

The swaddled infant's little face was sallow, and she seemed listless, with none of the rosy vigor a baby should have.

Princess Duanmin immediately felt how little she weighed. When she saw the child's pitiful little face, her heart ached beyond measure!

She and Lady Ye had given birth barely moments apart, yet this child weighed so much less. She must have been mistreated!

She had raised someone else's son until he was fair and plump, while her own daughter had suffered who knew how much!

Her heart felt as though it were being sliced apart. Princess Duanmin demanded furiously, "Why is this child so small and thin? How have you been caring for her?!"

The wet nurse immediately fell to her knees and said fearfully, "Forgive me, Your Highness. I have done my utmost to feed her, but she was frail from birth..."

Lady Ye knelt as well, tears spilling down her face. "Yes, Your Highness. I gave birth to this child. How could I fail to care for her properly?"

Princess Duanmin's eyes darkened unreadably at those words.

Fortunately, the child was already in her arms. Whatever she did next, she no longer had to hold back.

Princess Duanmin studied her, then suddenly asked, "Lady Ye, when did you come to the Capital?"

Lady Ye panicked for an instant but answered calmly, "Your Highness, I came to the Capital a year ago."

Princess Duanmin was about to question her further when a maid came in from outside. "Your Highness, the prince consort is here."

The Second Prince Consort, Zheng Zhiyi, hurriedly lifted the curtain and entered, only to see Lady Ye kneeling on the floor, wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

Zheng Zhiyi's heart immediately ached for her, but he could only suppress his feelings. "Your Highness, what has happened?"

One look at his hurried arrival told Princess Duanmin that someone in the household had sent word to him. The moment he heard, he had rushed over to stand up for Lady Ye.

How hateful that she had never seen it before! These two had long been deeply in love, while she was the one they had used from beginning to end!

Holding her daughter, Princess Duanmin felt waves of cold wash through her heart.

She could not be bothered to say anything more and demanded coldly, "Let me ask you, husband. Was the child I gave birth to a son or a daughter?"

Everyone was stunned by her words.

Zheng Zhiyi's heart pounded wildly, but he forced himself to remain calm. "What are you saying, Your Highness? Of course you gave birth to a son."

Princess Duanmin stroked the face of the child in her arms and said cryptically, "Why do I feel that this is my child instead?"

Lady Ye panicked and immediately began to sob. "Your Highness, this is my daughter!"

Zheng Zhiyi fought down his panic and said gently, "Your Highness, you are not thinking clearly. This is Lady Ye's daughter. If you truly want a daughter, we can have another child..."

Seeing their reactions, Princess Duanmin gave a cold laugh and laid everything bare. "Zheng Zhiyi, you and Lady Ye switched my child, attempting to corrupt the imperial bloodline. What punishment do you deserve?"

Zheng Zhiyi jerked his head up and protested loudly, "How can you believe some petty villain's slander and misunderstand Lady Ye and me, Your Highness?"

Lady Ye also swore to heaven. "I absolutely did not switch Your Highness's child! Someone must be spouting nonsense!"

Princess Duanmin could not resist mocking her. "Lady Ye, why does your oath carry no consequences?"

She said maliciously, "Swear to heaven right now that if you switched the children, your own child will die a wretched death. How about it?"

Lady Ye immediately wilted, her lips moving without daring to utter a word.

Zheng Zhiyi said in disappointment, "Your Highness, how could you say something so vicious?"

Princess Duanmin gave a soft laugh. "I am vicious? If you truly did not switch the children, why would you fear being struck down by heaven's thunder?"

She gently opened the swaddling and pointed to the red mole on the child's arm. "This child has the same mark as I do. She is my own daughter!"

Zheng Zhiyi completely lost his composure and blurted out, "It is only a coincidence! Your Highness must not believe it!"

He was now consumed with regret.

Had I known this would happen, I should have sent this child far away-or better yet, strangled her at birth! Then she would never have caused all this trouble!

Princess Duanmin said icily, "Let the Ministry of Justice decide whether it is a coincidence!"

With that, she ordered, "Guards, take Zheng Zhiyi, Lady Ye, and every maid and serving woman who attended Lady Ye's and my deliveries to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation!"

At those words, all color drained from Zheng Zhiyi's face. He protested indignantly, "Your Highness, you cannot act recklessly! There is no evidence for any of this. How can you take it to the Ministry of Justice..."

Lady Ye also lost her composure and pleaded her innocence. "Please don't, Your Highness! I have been wrongfully accused..."

But the guards of the princess's residence obeyed only Princess Duanmin. Ignoring their struggles, they forcibly dragged them all away.