Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 198: Ten Lashes Each

The moment Song Qianhang asked the question, Prince Jing’s smile froze on his face, but he quickly recovered, though his expression still carried a hint of tension.

He spoke with a smile in his tone, "What nonsense are you spouting, child? If you are not my son, whose son could you be?"

Prince Jing was puzzled inside, wondering why he would suddenly ask such a question. Could it be that he had learned something...

In the past, upon hearing such words, Song Qianhang would have believed it, but the subtle change in expression, however fleeting, made Prince Han’s words echo repeatedly in his ears.

He pressed his lips tightly, his gaze becoming tense, "Father, am I truly someone from the Pei Family that was accused of treason back then?"

Upon these words, Prince Jing could no longer maintain his smile. His first subconscious reaction was to wonder if the lady had let something slip, "Your mother was only joking with you. These words shouldn’t be taken seriously."

At this moment, Song Qianhang’s heart felt a chill. He never would have imagined that he indeed was not the son of his father and mother-in-law, nor the second son of Prince Jing Mansion...

He was merely a person who should have died long ago.

"It seems what Uncle Prince Han said... is all true." His face turned pale, fists clenched under his sleeves, trying to smile, but he couldn’t.

Prince Jing’s heart skipped a beat. He moved his lips, wanting to explain something to remedy his earlier words, but he knew it was useless. After all, he had learned of his true identity. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He should have known that one day the truth would come out, yet he didn’t expect it to be spoken by that royal brother who once called Pei Qian a brother.

To this day, he remembers it was because Prince Han interceded on behalf of Pei Lianshan that he lost favor and was sent to the border for over a decade.

Now, solely for personal gain, the past is used to blackmail the son of an old friend.

It seems... the power within the court is indeed blinding.

Song Qianhang lifted his robe and knelt down, bowing heavily to the father who had raised him for over twenty years and saved his life.

Prince Jing hurriedly tried to lift him up, "What are you doing!"

Song Qianhang’s voice trembled, "Please, Father, tell me, is my surname Pei or Song... did the Pei Family truly commit treason?"

He didn’t dare to fully believe Prince Han’s words.

Prince Jing sighed, helped him to his feet, "Whether it’s Pei or Song, you are now my son. Why should we delve into the past?"

But Song Qianhang tightly held onto Prince Jing’s hand, "Father, I want to know."

He only wanted the truth; he didn’t want to continue being this Song Qianhang, confused about who he really was until the day he died.

Seeing him like this, Prince Jing knew that now his youngest son knew his true identity. If he didn’t tell him, he’d find out elsewhere, which might arouse others’ suspicions.

It was better to tell him everything today.

Father and son looked at each other, and he spoke slowly, "You are indeed not my son. Your biological father was Pei Lianshan, the commander-in-chief of the Dingbei Army back then, and your biological mother was a legitimate daughter of the Rong Family in Huai State. You also had a brother born almost half an hour younger than you, who is no longer in this world."

"Back then, the Pei Family was implicated in the Second Prince’s treason. Evidence was conclusive, resulting in the entire family being executed. Anyone who pleaded for the Pei Family was also implicated."

"At that time, your mother was pregnant with twins, so I brought you back..."

Song Qianhang’s lips quivered slightly, "Did he really commit treason?"

Prince Jing was silent and eventually shook his head, "Pei Lianshan was the most upright and loyal person I’ve met. Not many believed he committed treason, and I don’t believe it either. But there were witnesses and evidence. The Pei Family’s crime was irrefutable. Nobody could change it."

He patted his youngest son on the shoulder, speaking earnestly, "Your surname should have been Pei. Your parents named you Yu’an, hoping for you to have a safe and smooth life. Do you understand their intention?"

He understood his youngest son’s character well and feared that once he knew his true identity, he would lose himself in seeking justice for the Pei Family.

Song Qianhang felt a particularly heavy weight on his heart. In the past, he had heard about the Pei Family, but it was wholly unrelated to him, unaware they were his closest kin.

He moved his somewhat pale lips but couldn’t utter a word.

Prince Jing said, "Regardless of anything, Father is by your side, and you will always be my son."

Prince Jing didn’t want to force him, only feeling that he needed to come to terms with it himself; others couldn’t help.

Little did they know, outside the study, Song Qianfan had been standing for a long time, overhearing everything. His face was cold and stern, eyes filled with a chilling air... He truly didn’t expect this brother was the son of a traitor.

He smirked silently, his expression mocking. Truly unexpectedly, in their eyes, he, the legitimate son, was inferior to the son of a traitor.

...

"The prince truly kept us all in the dark!"

Scholar Yuan from the Hanlin Academy downed a glass of wine, unable to hold back his sigh, "Who would have thought that someone beside us is the Emperor’s granddaughter!"

Su Juan blinked, [Even if they knew, would they not give that biscuit?]

Scholar Yuan laughed, definitely. In retrospect, one is too meager — there should be two at least!

Many colleagues concurred, truly unexpected, "Today’s sight of Minister Mei’s displeased face was satisfying."

"Hahaha, I saw it too!"

[Indeed, it was refreshing to see.]

Minister Mo, after downing two glasses of wine, still brooded over thoughts from earlier in the day, occasionally glancing at Su Juan. When it came to holding grudges, she was unmatched in the court.

Su Juan noticed Minister Mo’s strangeness, squinted slightly, but didn’t speak to him. Just watching was amusing.

[Feeling anxious now? Didn’t see you like this when you pinned everything on me back then.]

Minister Mo: "..." That was for mentoring you.

[You had a lot to say when you scolded me harshly in front of all the Ministry of Revenue colleagues back then. Why not speak now?]

Minister Mo cleared his throat, raised his glass to hide his embarrassment, and took a sip.

Everyone laughed; they all knew Su Juan had faced quite some trouble from Mo Youqian back then, especially that scolding, known throughout the court. No wonder Mo Youqian is really something, still sitting here unbothered!

Yet, right now, Mo Youqian only felt regret, even wanting to slap himself.

Su Juan looked at the people before her, all responding differently, many of whom were on her list of virtuous ministers. Today was a good opportunity to bond.

Someone noticed Liu Xuan drink a pot of wine without changing his expression and laughed, "Never saw Mr. Liu drinking before, thought you couldn’t handle it, but your capacity isn’t bad!"

"Here’s to Mr. Liu, we’re all colleagues. If there’s anything inappropriate in the future, we’ll need Mr. Liu’s guidance."

Liu Xuan nodded slightly, smiling, "Mr. Xu overpraises me."

Though he spoke with his colleagues, his attention was on Su Juan, watching her drink several glasses in succession, his eyes filled with concern.

Duke Ping had come by earlier, only to look from outside, noting that Su Juan was speaking with the court ministers with ease, his worry for her eased for the day.

Usually, he feared Su Juan’s temperament might offend these people, but now it seemed he had worried too much.

In the courtyard, Su Juan smiled broadly, [Drink up, drink more, or when the Old Emperor’s people come, drinking a few more might spare you from the ten slaps on the butt.]

Everyone’s hands froze: "...."

Too focused on drinking, they forgot about the beating Heir Xie received.