As Shen Lixian finished speaking, the Imperial Study fell silent.

It was likely that only Shen Li Xian could say such things without provoking the emperor’s wrath.

The child’s identity was awkward, which meant that the events surrounding it were absurd.

The emperor’s expression quickly darkened.

However, Shen Lixian did not show fear; he met the emperor’s gaze directly. “Your Majesty, my sister sent the child away, sacrificing her own life in the process, undoubtedly hoping that the child would not have to live with such an awkward identity.

She surely wishes for the child to live a peaceful and happy life. My Shen family may not be extraordinarily wealthy, but we can ensure that he grows up as my legitimate son. Even as a relative of the Shen family, he could live a carefree life, free from worries about status, identity, and money.”

The emperor remained indifferent.

Shen Li Xian continued, “If the capital is not suitable for his upbringing, I can find a wealthy place for him. The Shen family could even return to our ancestral home and no longer appear in the capital.”

Due to the child’s awkward identity, if he remained in the capital and his identity were to be exposed, it would inevitably lead to unnecessary complications.

For the Shen family, they had already achieved sufficient prosperity; no greater honor awaited them than the possibility of the child ascending to the throne.

However, as sacrifices under imperial authority, they truly did not care about being royal relatives.

After finishing his statement, Shen Li Xian knelt before the emperor. “I beg Your Majesty.”

The emperor stared hard at Shen Lixian before smiling. “Li Xian, if I cannot let this child inherit my throne, then what was the point of my coup and seizing the power in the first place?”

Shen Lixian felt a sudden panic. “Please, Your Majesty, be cautious with your words.”

“Cautious with my words?” The emperor laughed heartily. “I had my wife taken from me by my father, and he did not punish the mastermind behind it. Li Xian, this is a grievance of lost wives, as serious as that of a slain father; one cannot afford to forget it.

I once thought that as long as Liling could return to my side, I could rebel; so what? But she is dead. At the moment of my triumph, when I believed we could be together forever, she died—she took her own life.” The emperor’s voice choked.

“Even though I am at the peak of imperial power, even as a prince, I could not protect the woman I loved. Yet, I still cannot protect her; I cannot even protect our child. He is my legitimate son; everything I have should belong to him. This is the only way I can tell Liling that I love her.”

Shen Lixian fell silent, for he could see the emperor’s obsession with this matter.

He knew how deeply the emperor had feelings for his sister; even before she passed away, the prince had kept a clean house.

Afterward, in his quest for power, he had taken on women and began to court officials.

However, his sister was already dead.

Even if the emperor sought to atone with his kingdom, she would not come back to life.

To him, the best outcome for his sister would be to ensure that her child lived well.

But if the child’s identity were to be restored, the power struggles would soon begin.

Would he be able to ensure the child’s well-being?

Yet the emperor would not listen.

“Enough.” The emperor’s expression calmed. “I have a plan for this matter; even if you are correct, can you guarantee that once the child’s identity is revealed, he will be safe?

Li Xian, everyone is born with their own fate; since he is my son, he must bear this identity. There is no need to discuss this further; finding the child is the most important thing.

As for his identity, do not worry; since I wish to bring him back and make him the crown prince, I will naturally arrange for his identity.”

Shen Li Xian asked, “How does Your Majesty plan to arrange it?”

The emperor replied, “I will make the necessary arrangements. He is my son lost among the common folk, and his birth mother met me while I was a prince, during my time of relaxation. Now that his mother has passed away, I must bring him back. After he returns, he will be recognized under Liling’s name.”

Shen Li Xian closed his eyes and sighed. “As you command.”

Now was not the time to argue with the emperor; finding the child was the priority.

Knowing that his sister still had bloodline in this world would surely make their parents happy.

After leaving the palace, Shen Lixian went straight back to the Cheng’en Marquis Residence.

As he had expected, when the Marquis and his wife learned that the late Empress Shen had left a descendant in the world, they were so excited that they almost cried out loud.

Still, the Marquis remained rational.

He asked, “Why did the emperor suddenly tell you about this?”

Shen Lixian replied, “The emperor has made arrangements for the child…”

He recounted the plan and the emperor’s intention to make the child the crown prince.

“No way.” The Marquis of Cheng’en immediately rejected, his tone so severe that it startled the Marquis’s wife.

The Marquis’s wife said, “My lord, why can’t it be done? Our grandson is a legitimate child; it would not be excessive to make him the crown prince.”

She was not advocating for her grandson to become the crown prince but was simply puzzled.

The Marquis replied, “The imperial concubine has a powerful influence in the harem, and the Ren family has grown strong. If our grandson is called back and made crown prince, not only will the Ren family target him, but they will also come after the Shen family.

I am not afraid of the Ren family, but the child will be in the palace, and we cannot protect him.

Moreover, even if our grandson is recorded under our daughter’s name, it does not change the fact that he is the emperor’s illegitimate son. With such an identity, unless all the other princes are gone, how can he be made crown prince?”

After hearing this, the Marquis’s wife also felt it made sense. “Then what should we do about the child?”

The Marquis thought for a moment and said to his son, “The emperor asked you to find the child for his safety; after all, the Shen family is the only one that truly cares for him. If you find the child, do not tell the emperor right away.

Observe the child’s situation first; if… if the child is doing well, then pretend you never found him. Afterward, there’s no need to inform the emperor; only we should know about the child’s existence.”

The Marquis’s wife, hearing this, felt her eyes redden again. “My lord, are you saying we won’t acknowledge the child?”

That was the only bloodline of their daughter.

If they did not acknowledge him, wasn’t that like digging out her heart?

The Marquis sighed. “My Wife, some things are beyond our control. If the child is doing well, perhaps the outside world is more suitable for him. If the child is not doing well, we can secretly entrust him to another good family.

Either way, we will keep an eye on his life; he certainly will not have a bad one. In the future, when we are gone, and Lixian is gone, the child will have grown up and will not need our worry anymore.”

The Marquis’s wife said, “But… but it pains my heart.”

The Marquis responded, “We can secretly watch over him from afar; nothing is more important than his well-being.”

What the Marquis meant aligned with Shen Lixian’s thoughts.

Indeed, bringing the child into the Shen family might make it easy for others to recognize him as the emperor’s son, and if his true lineage were uncovered, it would be disastrous.

Therefore, it would be best to let him grow up outside, entrusted to a good family.

After all, with them watching over him, they need not fear that the child would have a bad life. “I understand now, Father; please rest assured, I will make arrangements.”

The Marquis patted his son on the shoulder. “Thank you for your hard work.”

Du Mansion

Du Ke came out of the palace, not heading to the Ministry of War but going straight home.

Usually, Mr. Du was diligent, spending almost all day at the Ministry, so why wasn’t he going today?

Because today, Qin Fang had delivered memorials along with potato flour and sweet potato flour to the palace.

Mr. Du narcissistically thought for a moment that, given his relationship with Qin Fang, it was only natural for Qin Fang to send him some potato flour and sweet potato flour.

Mr. Du didn’t actually crave these items; it was just a thought in his mind.

Moreover, he had learned about the agency issue, which made him all the more curious about the flavors of potato and sweet potato flour.

By the way, why didn’t the emperor invite him to lunch today?

With expectations and doubts, Mr. Du returned home.

At the door, he didn’t go directly inside but asked the guarding attendant, “Has Tao Shan arrived?”

Tao Shan had delivered the messages the last two times, and Mr. Du instinctively inquired about him again.

The attendant replied, “Master’s foresight is impressive; Brother Tao Shan has indeed come, and he brought two bundles of items. The steward has already received him; since Tao Shan said this matter is not urgent, he did not go to the yamen to invite you back.”

Mr. Du thought to himself that it wasn’t his foresight but something anyone would think of.

However, he valued his image, so he didn’t say such things.

Thus, maintaining the image of being shrewd, Mr. Du entered the house.

Steward Du knew the master had returned and immediately came out. “My lord.”

Mr. Du nodded. “Where are the items?”

The steward said, “Master is wise; the gifts from General Qin are already placed in the study, but the letters are still with Tao Shan; he wants to deliver them personally to you.”

Mr. Du said, “Go invite him. I’ll head to the study; also, please invite the old master, old mistress, and madam to the study.”

“Understood.”

When Mr. Du Ke returned to the study, the first thing he did was open the two sacks inside.

Mr. Du Ke was quite satisfied to see that the two sacks were the same size as those in the palace.

He thought to himself that Qin Fang still had a bit of conscience; he hadn’t forgotten his master after getting close to the emperor.

Deep down, Mr. Du Ke had already regarded Qin Fang as a disciple.

Although it wasn’t to such an exaggerated extent, he genuinely thought highly of Qin Fang and had a great impression of him.

He came from a prestigious family, lacking nothing in status or means; the only thing he lacked was simplicity.

Yet in Qin Fang, he saw that simplicity—a simplicity that was easily satisfied.

Mr. Du Ke dipped his fingers in the potato flour and sweet potato flour, feeling a sense of pride swell within him.

Qin Fang truly was remarkable; he had managed to produce these types of flour.

Moreover, they were indistinguishable from regular flour, with a fine texture.

Soon, Tao Shan arrived. “Tao Shan greets the master. Master, here is the letter from the general for you.” Tao Shan took out a thick stack of letters.

Before today, if Du Ke had received such a thick letter, he would have surely grumbled a few times.

However, after seeing Qin Fang’s memorial in the Imperial Study earlier, he suddenly no longer disliked the thick stack of letters.