Chapter 73 (2/2)
Xiao Hui and Xiao Zai’s secret conversation spread throughout the imperial city within a few days.
Pei Zhang was furious after he heard everyone in the imperial city knew the truth about the bastard child. Pei Zhang beat Dian Thi to vent his anger and summoned everyone from his manor into the courtyard. He knew someone inside the manor betrayed him. Everyone in the manor denied they didn’t betray him and blamed each other.
After the interrogation because of Pei Zhang’s panicked reaction to the rumor, he realised he fell into Pei Jin’s trap and soon their father would find out the truth.
At Pei Jin’s manor Yan Shi Ning thought the Pei Jin fox was impressive.
‘Wife, do you think your husband is impressive?’ Pei Jin asked.
‘Husband, how did imperial father find out?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.
‘Imperial father likes to pass by remote areas in the palace gardens… to eavesdrop on eunuchs and palace maids gossiping,’ Pei Jin said. ‘Thanks to Xiao Hui and Xiao Zai, seventh brother’s secret was spread to the palace.’
‘Are you saying imperial father sent people to investigate the rumor at seventh prince’s manor and confirmed seventh prince framed us?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.
‘Imperial father suspected Dian Thi committed adultery long ago and that seventh prince framed us,’ Pei Jin. ‘Imperial father knows seventh brother would rather die than admit the truth. So imperial father let you go and he can only curse seventh brother.’
‘Seventh prince still wins if imperial father can’t punish him,’ Yan Shi Ning said.
‘Shi Ning, be patient and you can eat hot tofu,’ Pei Jin said. ‘Seventh brother knows imperial father is watching him closely and he won’t dare to make any moves otherwise he’ll make imperial father angrier.’
In the palace Pei Zhang knelt in front of his father and hit his forehead on the floor.
‘Imperial father, I haven’t mistreated Dian Thi… but she betrayed me like this,’ Pei Zhang said. ‘I’m heart broken. I didn’t want to hide the truth but I considered Dian Thi’s family so I kept it a secret.’
‘Are you certain you didn’t keep it a secret so after Dian Thi gives birth you can become the crown prince?’ the emperor asked.
‘Imperial father, I was foolish,’ Pei Zhang said. ‘Imperial father, forgive me. I know I deserve to die. But I promise it wasn’t me who framed ninth brother. That day I was angry someone harmed Dian Thi and said those heavy words to ninth sister… imperial father, I promise I don’t have an ulterior motive. It wasn’t me.’
Pei Zhang hit his forehead pitifully on the ground and hid his resentment toward Pei Jin.
Pei Zhang knew deceiving the emperor by using a bastard son as a bridge to become the crown prince and attempting to kill Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning’s son were crimes that wouldn’t escape death. Of course Pei Zhang would never admit the truth.
The emperor’s head ached to see Pei Zhang acting convincingly in a I’ll-tear-my-heart-out state of mind. It was a frustrating to death to witness it. Even though in the past he was guilty of using similar tactics, he still didn’t condone Pei Zhang’s actions. He felt helpless. Did he choose the wrong son?
‘Imperial father, I have something important I want to report,’ Pei Zhang said.
‘Say it,’ the emperor said.
‘Recently I’ve been suspicious of ninth brother and my guards have followed him… ninth brother is stronger than he appears,’ Pei Zhang said.
‘How?’ the emperor asked.
Pei Zhang was impressed his mother was right about his father’s weariness toward Pei Jin.
‘Imperial father, my guards discovered ninth brother’s guards are exceptionally strong,’ Pei Zhang said. ‘If ninth brother is gentle and weak then how can he afford to raise strong guards?’
Pei Zhang was happy to see his father silently planning to expose Pei Jin’s real capabilities. His mother was right, his father hated Pei Jin.
After the emperor dismissed Pei Zhang, he put down his brush. He didn’t know if Pei Zhang was truly a filial son and he wasn’t certain Pei Jin was hiding ulterior motives. He smiled coldly, he planned a way to see his sons’ true hearts.
***
End of Chapter Seventy-Three