usatvline Chapter 364 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'
Chapter 364 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'
Chapter 364 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis's Marquisate VS The Frail and Early-Dying Eldest Son of the Marquis's Family (39)
Xi Yan broke out in a cold sweat after being rebuked by Shen Huaizhi's words, but he couldn't offer any explanation.
It turns out that the young master knew he had been poisoned three years ago. No wonder he had become much more distant from him since then.
Xi Yan kowtowed again before replying, "Young Master, this servant has his reasons. The Marquis has given a strict order not to tell you the truth."
Shen Huaizhi sneered: "You are obedient, but once you are by my side, you should be my slave."
A servant who becomes my slave yet obeys others' orders—I dare not keep such a loyal servant!
Xi Yan was greatly alarmed. The young master's words had a hidden meaning. Could it be that he had discovered something?
Xi Yan suddenly raised his head, only to see Shen Huaizhi's cold eyes piercing straight into his heart.
His heart clenched, and he lowered his head, no longer daring to look Shen Huaizhi in the eye.
However, thinking of the people waiting outside the manor, Xi Yan gritted his teeth and forced himself to say what he was about to say.
"Young Master, the poison you've been given is related to your background. Don't you want to know about your biological mother?"
Shen Huaizhi and Su Jinyue exchanged a glance and said coldly, "She's just an illegitimate daughter, what's there to say?"
Xi Yan retorted, "No, young master! Your mother is not some illegitimate daughter!"
Young master, to tell you the truth, I was sent by your mother to take care of you. I don't know the specifics, but there is someone outside the manor who knows the whole truth.
He was also sent by your mother to treat your illness.
"It wasn't convenient for you at the Marquis's residence before, but now that you're at the estate, it's time for you to know the truth."
Now that we've chased him all the way to the manor, it seems we have no choice but to see Shen Huaizhi.
Since things have come to this point, let's meet. Shen Huaizhi also wants to see what the other party's purpose is, and who this so-called biological mother is!
Shen Huaizhi led the man directly to the study. The man was named Song Ming, a middle-aged man in his thirties with an ordinary appearance who would have been inconspicuous in a crowd.
However, Shen Huaizhi noticed that Song Ming walked lightly and had shrewd eyes. Upon entering the study, he first looked around the room, looking for a way out for himself.
This person must know martial arts, but it's unknown how skilled they are.
After Song Ming entered, Shen Huaizhi waved for Xi Yan and the servants to leave, and the study immediately fell silent.
Shen Huaizhi sat in the chair, his face adorned with the pale and weak makeup that Su Jinyue had deliberately applied. The clothes he wore were also a size too big, making him appear very thin and unhealthy.
At first, neither Shen Huaizhi nor Song Ming spoke, as if they were both testing each other.
However, Shen Huaizhi first lost patience, or perhaps he wanted to give the other party the illusion that he was innocent.
“Tell me, Xi Yan said you were sent by my biological mother.”
I served as a concubine's son in the Marquis of Xuanping's household for 18 years, always believing that my biological mother was just a lowly concubine's daughter who couldn't be brought into the public eye.
I never expected that they could arrange people for me right under Lord Shen's nose, and now someone is even coming to tell me the truth.
Then tell me, what is the truth?
Shen Huaizhi spoke these words in a cold and indifferent manner, as if he didn't care at all about his background.
Song Ming lowered his head, a hint of dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes. He was dissatisfied with Xi Yan's loose tongue, as well as with Shen Huaizhi's dismissive attitude.
But when Song Ming raised his head, his eyes were filled with love and tenderness for Shen Huaizhi.
“Young master, you have really suffered all these years, but back then, your mother had no choice but to entrust you to the care of Marquis Xuanping.”
Miss could no longer stay in the capital. With her infant son in tow, she had no choice but to abandon you.
For the past eighteen years, Miss has worried about and missed you every day.
Shen Huaizhi's expression seemed somewhat moved, but it quickly turned cold.
"I only have two questions now: First, who is my biological mother? Second, why was I poisoned?"
Now that you're here, you should be able to answer my questions.
Song Ming struggled with his expression, and after much hesitation, he finally gave in and answered Shen Huaizhi's question as if he had given up.
"Young Master, your mother is Song Zhihua, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu'an, whose family was wiped out and executed by the Emperor eighteen years ago!"
The study was silent for a moment, then Shen Huaizhi sneered: "That's utter nonsense! Although it happened eighteen years ago, I still know about the time when Song Zhihua, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Wu'an, entered the palace and was made a Consort De."
After the entire Wu'an Marquis family was executed, Consort De also committed suicide by self-immolation in the palace, and even the prince she gave birth to died with her.
How could I possibly be her child!
Song Ming looked sorrowful, but he remained calm in the face of Shen Huaizhi's questioning. He looked directly at Shen Huaizhi and spoke frankly.
"Young Master, everything I said is true, and I dare not lie about it in the slightest!"
Not long after Emperor Xinghe ascended the throne, the young lady was deceived by him, fell in love, and insisted on entering the palace as a concubine.
After the young lady became pregnant and gave birth to the prince, Emperor Xinghe revealed his true colors.
I was originally a subordinate of Marquis Wu'an. Back then, Marquis Wu'an held military power and was stationed at the border, which made Emperor Xinghe wary of him.
Emperor Xinghe and the Marquis hinted that they wanted the young lady to enter the palace as a concubine. In order to gain the new emperor's trust, and because the young lady was also willing, the Marquis agreed.
Little did anyone know that this was just a delaying tactic by Emperor Xinghe. After the young lady gave birth to the prince, Emperor Xinghe made full preparations and, in order to seize the military power in the hands of Marquis Wu'an, he actually framed the Marquis for treason!
In the end, the entire family of Marquis Wu'an, numbering in the dozens, was wiped out. Back then, the execution platform was awash with blood, and those who died were all your blood relatives, young master!
When the young lady heard about the great changes in her family while in the palace, she ran to Emperor Xinghe to plead for mercy. However, Emperor Xinghe turned his back on her and showed no mercy whatsoever.
The young lady was forced into a corner, knowing that staying in the palace would only lead to her death. That's why she staged a self-immolation and secretly led you, young master, out of the palace.
Shen Huaizhi listened in a daze, asking like a lost soul, "So, I am that prince?"
"Yes." Song Ming nodded affirmatively.
Shen Huaizhi staggered, shaking his head unconsciously, seemingly not believing Song Ming's so-called truth at all.
Shen Huaizhi suddenly stood up, swaying slightly from the sudden movement, and only regained his balance by holding onto the desk.
He covered his mouth with his hand, coughed a few times, and then weakly asked, "This is impossible! If things are really as you say, how could I have become the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Xuanping? And how did I get poisoned?"
Song Ming looked at Shen Huaizhi with concern. Hearing Shen Huaizhi's question, he sighed and then said.
"Miss carried you out of the palace, intending to take you directly away from the capital, but then she discovered that something was wrong with your body."
I found a clinic, and the doctor said I was poisoned. Although it wasn't a deadly poison that would kill instantly, it was best to avoid traveling and focus on rest.
The young lady was helpless; all her family members were dead, and she couldn't show her face in the capital. Finally, she thought of Shen Mingze, the heir apparent of the Marquis of Xuanping at the time.