Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 187: Princess? (Part 1)

The Chief Secretary was at a loss for words for a good while, only feeling that the Old Emperor was being stubborn. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so eager to leave the palace to go to the Duke Ping Mansion to find someone earlier.

"Your Majesty, please think carefully. Could it be that Lord Duke’s attitude suggests he has known long before? I believe he might have kept this from you out of personal reasons."

After all, the Empress is of the Xie Family, and when Mrs. Tao attempted an assassination back then, the Xie Family bore some resentment. Su Juan is a legitimate niece of the Xie Family, so it’s highly possible they kept it hidden.

He even suspected if the Empress had long known about it.

The Old Emperor waved his hand repeatedly, "Minister Liu, investigate further. The Empress is dignified. Her conduct doesn’t fit with someone who spends the night at a brothel. It doesn’t seem like the Empress."

After hesitating, the Chief Secretary reminded, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Back when you hadn’t ascended the throne and were still a prince, you often visited the brothels in the capital with various noble families, saying it was to broaden your experiences."

Unlike the dignified Empress, Su Juan is more like you in your youth, always eager to experience the world.

The fairness of this statement must be acknowledged.

The Old Emperor: "... Nonsense."

"Investigate further, see that all the midwives, and everyone in the Su Mansion are thoroughly checked, especially Su Juan’s father," the Old Emperor almost gritted out, "and find out where Le’an is buried, investigate it thoroughly."

Previously, it didn’t seem much, but now, just thinking about how his daughter suffered in that Su Family, and even his granddaughter was not treated well, the thought made him furious. He even considered issuing a Holy Decree to have the entire Su Family exterminated.

He restrained himself, thinking about how even though his daughter was no longer of this world, he still needed to bring her back.

The matter was already clear, but the Emperor insisted on investigating thoroughly. The Chief Secretary could only comply, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will ensure a thorough investigation."

He stepped forward, his eyes fixated on the jade pendant in the Old Emperor’s hand, signaling with his gaze: The jade pendant should be returned.

However, the Old Emperor acted as if he didn’t see it.

The Chief Secretary had no choice but to say, "Your Majesty, the jade pendant was borrowed by my daughter from Su Juan, it should be returned."

The Old Emperor put the jade pendant away, saying sternly, "This item is a token of affection between the Empress and me. Now that it’s been found, it should not be returned."

Chief Secretary: "..."

Seeing the Old Emperor’s manner, it was clear that he truly didn’t intend to return it. The Chief Secretary wanted to say more, but the Old Emperor cut him off.

"Minister Liu, it’s getting late. You should head back early. The palace gates are now closed, and I will have someone escort you out," the Old Emperor said while dismissing him. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The Chief Secretary had no means; the Emperor was the sovereign, and he was the minister. He couldn’t very well rush up and snatch it...

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

From the Imperial Palace all the way to boarding the carriage, the Chief Secretary held back for a long time, and finally couldn’t help but curse: Truly shameless.

...

The next day, from Liu Miaoying’s account, it was known that the Chief Secretary did not retrieve the jade pendant, as it was retained by the Old Emperor. Su Juan wasn’t at all surprised.

Liu Miaoying looked apologetic, "Ah Juan, I’m sorry, my father didn’t expect the Emperor to keep the jade pendant. He tried to ask for it last night, but the Emperor refused to return it, claiming it was the token of affection between him and the Empress."

Su Juan yawned as she peeled an orange, "It’s okay, I anticipated this."

[Given the Old Emperor’s nature, how could he give back something he’s got hold of?]

When she handed the jade pendant over to Liu Miaoying, she didn’t think it could ever come back to her.

[To be honest, if the jade pendant could really be returned, it would actually be a bad thing for me. It would prove that the Old Emperor doubts my identity and has no interest in recognizing his granddaughter.]

She broke off a segment of the orange and popped it into Liu Miaoying’s mouth, smiling, "Is it sweet?"

Liu Miaoying nodded, "Sweet."

Su Juan’s eyes curved slightly, "Oranges are the sweetest at this time. I’ve heard they were shipped up from the south to the capital. Last night, a whole crate was sent over by Song Qianhang, and I suspect he took all those sent from the palace to the Prince Jing Mansion."

Liu Miaoying remained silent for a long time, just staring at Su Juan. Song Qianhang was the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and in the future, when Ah Juan changes her surname to Song and enters the Imperial family registry, Song Qianhang might make things smoother.

But... if they learned about it, perhaps some would feel saddened and others infuriated.

Su Juan looked at her with a smile, "What’s the matter, staring at me like that?"

Liu Miaoying shook her head, "Nothing much. Yesterday, you mentioned going to Baihua Building. Did anything interesting happen there?"

Su Juan laughed, "There’s something you wouldn’t guess. The famous Miss Xian Yun from Baihua Building was actually Song Qianfan’s confidante. Not long ago, Song Qianhang redeemed her, and now she’s staying at his place outside."

[I truly didn’t expect Song Qianhang to emulate Song Qianfan by keeping a mistress, especially when he snatched Song Qianfan’s woman.]

[This is really amusing. Just imagining Song Qianfan’s expression when he finds out, it must be something to behold.]

Liu Miaoying remained silent for a long while, staring at Su Juan again. She sensed that if Ah Juan hadn’t divorced earlier, what Song Qianhang might have tried to take wouldn’t be just any Xian Yun.

Ah Juan was intelligent, especially in official matters, always handling things proficiently and elegantly, always coming up with splendid ideas that others couldn’t think of. But in matters of the heart, she seemed clueless.

However, this was not necessarily a bad thing.

In the future, when Ah Juan reclaims her identity, one would think Song Qianhang would curb those inappropriate thoughts.

...

"Princess?!"

Song Qianfan was shocked, "How could there suddenly be a princess?"

The Emperor had no offspring for decades; how could a daughter appear now?

Yu Ting spoke softly, "Last night, Chief Secretary Liu Ze entered the palace overnight. My men were stationed outside, and the information is reliable."

"I’ve inquired with the elder folk in the palace; before His Majesty ascended to the throne, the Empress, then just a concubine, did indeed give birth to a daughter. Later, due to Mrs. Tao’s jealousy, an assassination was attempted, which led to her disappearance."

"After ascending the throne, the Emperor bestowed the title of Le’an. The princess’s jade plaque indeed exists in the Zongzheng Temple; only the older generation knows a bit about it."

He too couldn’t imagine a Princess Le’an suddenly appearing.

Song Qianfan’s face immediately became unkind, "If this is true..."

The position of Crown Prince, unquestionably.

Yu Ting spoke gravely, "There’s no need to think so deeply. Princess Le’an has been missing since childhood; even if Zongzheng Temple confirms her identity without a doubt, she’s merely a woman, far from the political scene, unlikely to achieve anything. Why would the officials agree to crown her as the Crown Princess?"

Those in the court and the elders are certainly not simple individuals. To hold this position steadily, it’s not merely by having imperial blood.

A woman without accomplishment poses no threat to them.