CHAPTER 579: CHAPTER 579 EVIDENCE

Duke Chong’s Mansion.

The Duchess sat on the Arhat Couch sipping tea.

Princess Nanzhang entered and smiled, "Early in the morning, my cousin-in-law sent someone to tell me there was good news. What great news is there that I had to make a trip here specially?"

The Duchess put down her teacup and playfully scolded, "It’s not like I had to call you back. It’s just been a while since I’ve seen you, and I wanted you to chat with me."

"What is the news?" Princess Nanzhang asked curiously.

"Don’t worry, it’s not world-shattering news, otherwise, I wouldn’t have called you here," the Duchess teased knowingly.

Princess Nanzhang felt as if her heart was being scratched like a cat and urged the Duchess to speak quickly.

The Duchess kept her in suspense before revealing that Xie Jingchen’s birth mother was Nanliang’s Princess Hengyang.

Princess Nanzhang was both angry and happy.

Angry because she didn’t expect that the woman she couldn’t surpass was also a princess.

Happy because Xie Jingchen’s identity was flawed, and the position of Heir had to be handed over to her son.

Just as she was reveling in the thought, Duke Chong walked in with a dark expression.

The Duchess’s face stiffened.

His expression... didn’t look like someone who had good news.

The Duchess stood up to greet him, "What’s wrong?"

"It’s a mistake," Duke Chong said.

"The birth mother of the Heir of Prince Zhenbei isn’t Nanliang’s Princess Hengyang?" the Duchess’s voice wavered.

Duke Chong nodded.

Princess Nanzhang’s smile cracked inch by inch.

She hadn’t even had time to enjoy her tea, and she was told it was wrong?!

The Duchess didn’t know how to turn around; she had hurriedly called people over, only to be joyfully disappointed.

"How could there be a mistake?" the Duchess didn’t believe it.

Duke Chong told the Duchess everything that happened during the morning assembly.

Then he looked at Princess Nanzhang, "You have no clue whatsoever about the birth mother of the Heir?"

Princess Nanzhang’s face was grim, "Other than knowing she was called Hengheng, I know nothing else."

No one wished more than her to know who Xie Jingchen’s birth mother was.

But the Prince was tight-lipped, and even when drugged, he wouldn’t reveal a word.

Over the years, she had tried every means.

However, with Princess Nanzhang mentioning Hengheng, Duke Chong’s face darkened.

He had met Nanliang’s Princess Hengyang.

At the welcome banquet in Nanliang, he had heard the Princely Heir of Prince Donglin address her as Hengheng!

If the painting was a coincidence, was Hengheng also?!

There are not so many coincidences in this world!

Duke Chong nearly ground his silver teeth to pieces.

It was a pity he hadn’t asked a few more questions of Princess Nanzhang before hastily instructing Imperial Censor Liu to impeach Prince Zhenbei, causing Marquis Dongxiang to turn the tables, making it seem like he was causing a baseless uproar to help Princess Nanzhang seize the Heir position.

Patience is a virtue, as the saying goes.

The Duchess looked at Duke Chong, "Can another impeachment be filed?"

Duke Chong’s brows furrowed tightly, "Without concrete evidence, I can’t bring up half a word about it again."

He had just been severely reprimanded by the Emperor, and without substantial proof, it would truly seem like he was resorting to any means to seize the Heir position of Prince Zhenbei.

Some things can be done in secret, but not openly.

Dark Guard Li Zhong stood by and, thinking of something, hurriedly said, "Duke, that painting is the evidence."

Duke Chong looked at him.

The Dark Guard explained honestly, "Last night, on orders, I went to fetch the paintings personally drawn by Prince Zhenbei. There were five or six replicas, and I didn’t know which was authentic, so I pressed the copier for information."

"He told me the painting was at least ten years old, rendered on Snow Clear Paper, which became expensive due to the papermaker’s death shortly after its creation, and it’s only available in the Capital City."

"I took the painting, and he begged me to return it after use; the painting could be copied, but he couldn’t procure the paper, and if Prince Zhenbei discovered the loss, his entire family would lose their lives."

Duke Chong’s face darkened further, "Such an important matter, why didn’t you report it?!"

Li Zhong remained silent.

Last night when he went to retrieve the painting, the Duke had already retired for the night.

The Duke was convinced that the painting was personally drawn by Prince Zhenbei and that the Heir’s birth mother was Nanliang’s Princess Hengyang.

He hadn’t expected Prince Zhenbei to deny it, or that there would be additional paintings to provide an alibi.

Duke Chong also realized he had been too hasty, causing him to miss a crucial opportunity.

The Duchess then asked, "What about the painting?"

"It’s with Prince Zhenbei," Duke Chong replied.

"It seems necessary to obtain that painting," the Duchess said.

Princess Nanzhang coldly interjected, "What’s so difficult about that? I want to see the absolute beauty of the woman in that painting. Can the Prince really refuse me?!"

She was determined to see what kind of woman had so bewitched the Prince.

Even after eighteen years of death, the Prince still couldn’t forget her.

Princess Nanzhang, being impatient, didn’t stay long and returned to the Prince Mansion.

She headed straight to the study.

Inside the study, the Prince was lost in thought, staring at a painting.

A servant knocked on the door, "Prince, Princess Nanzhang is here."

The Prince’s brow furrowed, and he glanced toward the candlestick beside him.

Outside, Princess Nanzhang approached and smelled smoke.

"What is burning?" she asked, covering her nose.

She pushed the door open and saw the painting in flames.

The fierce blaze illuminated Princess Nanzhang’s twisted expression.

The Prince looked at her, "Do you need something from me?"

Princess Nanzhang’s nails dug into her palms, "The Prince has a special predilection for Nanliang people!"

First, it was Nanliang’s Princess Hengyang, now it’s Lady Chi!

Did he think by burning that painting, he could disguise the fact that the child was born from him and Nanliang’s Princess Hengyang?!

Even if she couldn’t find evidence, the position of Heir was still Chuanchuan’s!

Princess Nanzhang turned and left.

As the Prince watched the painting burn, his expression remained unchanged.

He had drawn the painting.

Without this one, he could create a hundred more.

He wouldn’t let anyone harm Chenchen.

The matter quickly spread in court.

Although Prince NanAn had clarified things for the Prince at the Political Discussion Hall, people remained curious about who Xie Jingchen’s birth mother was.

The Prince wouldn’t disclose it, which must mean it was too embarrassing to mention.

With such a shameful mother, some believed Xie Jingchen couldn’t possibly become a Princely Heir.

With a mother whose origin is too humiliating to mention, the title of Heir of Prince Zhenbei would surely go to Chuanchuan!

Some maids chuckled and gossiped.

Because Lady Chi was from Nanliang, they didn’t dare say much.

Since she was from Nanliang, how could she be the birth mother of the Heir of Prince Zhenbei?" Caiju asked.

The answer is simple: "Of course not," said Xique.

If she wins, Nanliang would say the Heir has a cruel heart, maybe even dig up the grave of the Heir’s maternal family.

If she loses, Daqi people would say he was soft-hearted with the enemy.

In short, nobody would be pleased.

The maids laughed and chatted.

The Duchess lay on the small couch, tears streaming down her face.

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