Chapter 1252: Chapter 1247: King Jin Has Gone Mad

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.

Today’s banquet was arranged especially for King Jin’s eldest son, yet King Jin emerged with a face like death and declared that the child was not his own flesh and blood?

Not King Jin’s flesh and blood? Then whose was it?

The people of the Ducal Residence, stunned, turned to look at the Duke Protector.

The Duke Protector stumbled back a step, steadied by the person behind him who quickly supported him.

He looked toward the Empress, seated high beside the Emperor.

But the Empress sat majestically still, utterly unmoving, appearing much like a puppet.

It was only then that everyone noticed the Emperor had maintained his posture for quite some time now, and the normally kind-faced Empress—who always wore a radiant smile even amid grand occasions—now had an expression akin to someone mourning their own child, which was downright terrifying.

Anyone present, who had even a shred of sense, could tell that today was bound to uncover a monumental scandal.

“King Jin, what on earth is this? What do you mean this child is not your flesh and blood? Have you gone mad today?” The Emperor asked in a look of genuine shock, his expression so earnest it truly seemed as if he had just learned about this revelation.

Gu Youyou thought to herself: The Emperor’s acting skills truly deserve an award.

This family, each more adept at performing than the next—life is but a stage, entirely reliant on showmanship. Having traveled back in time, she now fully understood the meaning of true theatrics.

“What… what does he mean by this?” Xie Qinyun lightly tugged at Gu Youyou’s sleeve to ask.

“See for yourself,” Gu Youyou whispered in reply.

King Jin kept his head lowered, avoiding the Emperor’s gaze entirely. His shoulders, pressed against the ground, trembled slightly.

He said, “Your son was cursed by vile conspirators in his youth, rendering him incapable of fathering a child. This child… this child is merely the spawn of a wicked plot designed by those conspirators to seize the throne!”

King Jin’s words sent shockwaves rippling through the crowd, each wave more devastating than the last.

“And the traitor who conspired against your son for their treasonous ambitions is here among us.” Raising his head at last, he straightened his body and pointed toward the Duke Protector, who was being supported by another.

All eyes followed King Jin’s outstretched finger, landing squarely on the Duke Protector.

These allegations weren’t the sort of jokes cracked idly during a gathering—hardly a trivial jest!

The Duke Protector committing such audacity? Had he not been one of King Jin’s staunchest allies all along? There had to be some mistake, surely?

The Duke Protector’s face darkened to a ghastly blue, his expression one of utter shock. Yet within moments, his demeanor shifted to one of deep troubled concern.

He shouted, “King Jin has succumbed to madness! This old servant did not wish to expose these affairs, but now, facing such outrageous claims in front of so many witnesses, I have no choice…”

With tears streaming down his face, the Duke Protector pushed away the one supporting him, tottering weakly as he approached the Emperor. Falling to his knees before the Emperor, his voice quavered as he sobbed bitterly, “Your Majesty, King Jin has not been himself ever since Consort Zhang’s demise. This matter implicates my guilt—this old servant made the audacious decision to keep it hidden and privately arranged for a doctor to examine him. That doctor diagnosed King Jin as having lost his sanity due to the trauma he had suffered.”

“Even the princess consort could not endure this and fled the household. After she left, King Jin only grew more erratic, his mind spiraling further, until his madness became increasingly severe…”

Gu Youyou silently clicked her tongue in disbelief. This old guy spun lies with such ease—his face didn’t even flush for a moment!

This lot truly took the cake.

The crowd was utterly astonished, their gazes swiftly shifting back to King Jin.

King Jin, mad? Certainly, King Jin had been acting strangely lately, and upon closer reconsideration, it truly had begun after the incident involving Consort Zhang. At the time, everyone had simply attributed it to King Jin’s gloomy mood—after all, it was a family catastrophe of considerable magnitude. Yet no one had considered that King Jin might have been unable to cope and had succumbed to insanity.