Chapter 158: Absurdity

The Manchus had a strict rule: individuals sharing the same surname were forbidden to marry. Regardless of whether they were within three generations of blood relations, anyone sharing the same surname could not marry. To do otherwise was to violate moral principles and desecrate the family lineage.

At that moment, Prince Zhuang, who had fallen to his knees, was the grandson of Emperor Taizong, Hong Taiji, a cousin of Emperor Kangxi, and a direct blood descendant of the Aisin Gioro clan. Therefore, the sight of Prince Zhuang kneeling sent a chilling shiver through the Ninth Prince, causing him to involuntarily take a step back. The Eighth Prince tightly gripped the Ninth Prince's hand, his face etched with deep sorrow. Emperor Kangxi's heart also skipped a beat, and it was only after forcing himself to take a sip of tea that he regained his composure. There was no help for it; as a man grew older, his heart grew frail and could hardly withstand such shocks.

Yet, with Prince Zhuang's kneel, Kangxi had essentially sealed Yanyan's fate. He cast a glance toward the Ninth Prince before addressing Prince Zhuang, "Prince Zhuang, tell us the truth of the matter."

Kneeling on the floor, Prince Zhuang wept for a moment before speaking: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this matter must begin twenty years ago when I drank too much at the residence of Official Wanyan and erred."

Upon hearing mention of twenty years ago, Kangxi immediately recalled a period two decades prior when Prince Zhuang had fallen gravely ill and remained unconscious for quite some time. At the time, Prince Zhuang's Primary Consort had even created a massive scene at the Wanyan household, accusing Wanyan Wangda of framing Prince Zhuang. From then on, the Wanyan family's official careers were effectively severed, as offending a hereditary Prince of the First Rank was no minor matter. Later, after Prince Zhuang woke up, although he spoke kindly on behalf of Wanyan Wangda and even arranged a post for him, the friendship between the two families had ended right there.

As Kangxi remembered this incident, the elder statesmen in the court naturally recalled it as well. Prince Jian stepped forward and asked, "Is the Prince Zhuang speaking of the time when you collapsed and lost consciousness?"

Prince Zhuang sighed, "Indeed." He then looked toward Kangxi and said tactfully, "It is shameful to speak of that event. I request to report the details to Your Majesty after the court is dismissed."

Kangxi nodded involuntarily, feeling that although Prince Zhuang was advanced in years, he still possessed a measure of clarity. He replied, "Granted." He then looked out at the civil and military officials of the court, his voice deepening: "I will surely restore justice and innocence to the world regarding this matter. Those who are interested may follow me." With that, Kangxi announced the dismissal of the court and walked toward his private imperial office.

Naturally, Kangxi understood what Prince Zhuang had in mind. Once they left the formal great hall, the issue would be treated as a family matter. If defined as a family affair, even if Yanyan were truly proven to be a child of the Aisin Gioro clan, she would merely face a formal repudiation rather than the loss of her life.

Kangxi actually held a favorable impression of Yanyan and did not wish to see her lose her innocent life over the transgressions of the older generation. However, Kangxi never imagined that despite his warning to the courtiers, quite a few people would still follow him to his office, most notably his own sons, none of whom were absent. The hereditary Princes of the First Rank were also fully present. While on the surface they all claimed to be acting for the reputation of the Aisin Gioro clan, no one knew what selfish calculations they harbored in their hearts.

As soon as the court was dismissed, the Ninth Prince immediately searched for Wang Quan, intending to have him rush back to the manor to alert Yanyan. After all, the Ninth Prince had managed to keep all these external rumors hidden from her. Little did he know that Kangxi had already anticipated the Ninth Prince's intentions; the moment the court adjourned, Kangxi had Li Dequan summon the Ninth Prince inside first.

The Ninth Prince stood inside the room with a grief-stricken expression, looking emotionally at Kangxi. Kangxi sighed and said earnestly, "It is not that I am merciless; if this matter is true, then I can never tolerate it."

The Ninth Prince dropped to his knees in agitation, crying out, "Royal Father, this is merely a rumor and cannot be taken as reliable proof. It is unfair to Yanyan, and it is unfair to your son!" The Ninth Prince's heart was bleeding, for deep down, he also suspected that the matter was likely true; otherwise, Kangxi would not have assumed such an attitude. In truth, the moment Censor Li uttered Prince Zhuang's title, the Ninth Prince's mind had gone blank. Prince Zhuang—by seniority, that was his own imperial uncle!

For all these years, Prince Zhuang had stood unshaken in the imperial court, wielding immense influence. Now that Prince Zhuang was willing to risk his elderly reputation to acknowledge a past event, how could that past event possibly be false?

Watching the Ninth Prince's sorrowful appearance, Kangxi let out a heavy sigh, walked over to the Ninth Prince, and patted him on the shoulder. When the other imperial princes and powerful ministers entered, they happened to catch this exact scene. The Crown Prince and the Eighth Prince exchanged a subtle glance, while the others felt a stir of jealousy in their hearts.

Since the matter had now been designated as a private family affair, Kangxi did not require Prince Zhuang to remain kneeling. In truth, Prince Zhuang's story was quite simple: he had become intoxicated and had relations with a maidservant who was then serving in Wanyan Wangda's household. That very maidservant was the Maiden Shu who later fled the Wanyan residence—and she was Yanyan's biological mother.

The Ninth Prince found such a simplistic story utterly unacceptable and immediately retorted, "This son fails to understand what Uncle is talking about. She was merely a maidservant; even if Official Wanyan had offered her to you back then, what of it? Why would she need to flee?"

Prince Zhuang let out a heavy sigh, "The Ninth Prince does not understand. At the time... at the time, this Prince forced her, and in her anger, she stabbed me with a poisoned dagger, which is why I collapsed and remained unconscious."

Prince Jian had always been at odds with the Ninth Prince, and seeing the Ninth Prince's anxious state now brought him a sense of wicked delight. He chuckled and said, "I never imagined that Prince Zhuang was such a romantic in his youth. That Maiden Shu must have been as beautiful as an immortal."

The Ninth Prince glared fiercely at Prince Jian, who showed not the slightest fear and instead addressed Kangxi, "Your Majesty, in my view, this matter is already crystal clear. The Ninth Prince's Secondary Consort is, in fact, Prince Zhuang's child. Although the Secondary Consort herself was unaware of this, and the Ninth Prince did not know either, blood ties are a matter of utmost gravity. I ask Your Majesty to consider this deeply."

Prince Zhuang also looked at Kangxi with a grief-stricken expression and dropped heavily to his knees, pleading, "Your Majesty, the reason I stepped forward to acknowledge this matter without hesitation is simply to give that child justice. For so many years, I have failed her. I beg Your Majesty, mindful of my years of devoted service to the Great Qing, to allow that child to return home with this subject."

The Ninth Prince roared in fury, "Prince Zhuang, do you know what you are saying? She is my Secondary Consort, not your long-lost daughter!" Having shouted this, the Ninth Prince also dropped to his knees, crying, "Royal Father, there are simply too many loopholes in this story, and Prince Zhuang cannot even make his own tale consistent. Therefore, this son requests that Royal Father thoroughly investigate this matter so that your son does not suffer such unmerited grievance."

Prince Jian laughed from the side, "The Ninth Prince is truly deeply devoted to this Secondary Consort. To keep her, you disregard the facts entirely."

The Ninth Prince cast a sinister look at Prince Jian and said through gritted teeth, "Prince Jian would do well not to speak carelessly. In this world, words often come back to haunt the speaker. Why doesn't Prince Jian go home and ask that Wang woman you've been favoring lately? Ask her if she dares to let you perform a blood-test paternity check with the Seventh Prince of your esteemed manor!"

"Ninth Brother, stop this nonsense!" the Eighth Prince abruptly snapped, cutting him off. Meanwhile, Prince Jian's face had turned pale and ashen, his fists tightly clenched.