Un corazón puro en una vasija de jade

Capítulo 37

Emperor Yujia, enforcing family law, ordered his eunuchs to give each of the three princes ten strokes of the cane. The eunuchs were measured in their blows, unlike Prince Duan who used all his strength; even an adult would not be able to withstand such a beating. No matter how strong Yongye's body was due to his martial arts training, after ten strokes, his face turned pale, but he held on without collapsing. Looking at Prince Duan's ashen face, a sudden pang of sorrow welled up in his heart, and he gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Royal Uncle! Yongye is dying! Quickly summon the imperial physician!" Tianyou noticed Yongye's pale face and felt a growing sense of fear.

Tianrui and Tianxiang had never seen Prince Duan so sharp and ruthless before, and they both kept their mouths shut and remained silent.

Emperor Yujia seemed to have anticipated this outcome. As soon as Tianyou finished speaking, the imperial physician entered the room carrying his medicine chest.

Prince Duan coldly stared at Yongye. The father and son looked at each other like that, just like when they first met, sizing each other up.

Yongye abandoned his pretense. If Prince Duan truly had another biological son, then he had made the right gamble. If not, he would choose to serve Prince Duan and unite with Prince Duan's power to destroy Youli Valley. Either way, he wouldn't suffer any losses.

Remembering the Princess Consort's gentle gaze, Yongye suddenly felt a strong urge to be hugged again, a warm feeling welling up inside him. If only she were truly his mother!

"Father, let's go home!" Yongye said softly, his eyes filled with longing, yet he couldn't take a single step.

For some reason, Prince Duan suddenly panicked. He strode forward, scooped up Yongye in his arms, his hands covered in warm blood, his heart pounding in his throat. Looking down, he saw that Yongye had fainted, her forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat. Forgetting that they were in the palace, he used his lightness skill to rush out with Yongye in his arms.

"Your Highness, quickly put the young master down!" The imperial physician saw that Yongye had been beaten without taking off his pants, and feared that if he returned to the palace, the wound would stick together and his injuries would worsen, so he hurriedly went to chase after Prince Duan.

"Feeling smug now?!" Tianyou roared.

Tianrui just smiled coldly: "Everyone says that my elder brother is gentle and polite, but it turns out it was all an act. Does Tianxiang deserve to be beaten for nothing?"

Tianxiang angrily said, "Eldest brother, second brother, stop arguing for me! Everyone knows that you two are fighting over the throne of the crown prince, using me as a pawn! Humph!"

Tianxiang left without looking back. Tianyou and Tianrui faced each other silently for a long time before Tianrui laughed: "Brother, are you wondering why I offended Prince Duan? I just can't stand Li Yongye's attitude! Anyone who offends me will only have one fate!"

After speaking with a sinister glint in his eyes, Tianrui glanced at the three executioners, noticing with satisfaction that their bodies trembled slightly. He then whispered, "I know my elder brother has fallen for Yongye, but it's best if Father doesn't find out." He then laughed and left.

Tianyou stood quietly for a while, glanced at the three eunuchs in the room who were bowing their heads and pretending not to hear anything, and walked out without saying anything.

That evening, Emperor Yujia was having dinner at Consort Li's residence when his personal attendant quietly told him that the three eunuchs who had been in charge of the executions that day had all died.

Emperor Yujia was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed. He glanced at Consort Li and said indifferently, "My son is truly something!"

Consort Li was at a loss. Emperor Yujia sighed: "Whether to establish the legitimate son or the eldest son is a matter of endless debate in the court, and the harem is not idle either. The Empress is still alive, and Tianyou has turned fifteen. Tomorrow, let him receive the imperial decree to leave the palace and establish his own government office."

Consort Li's tears fell as she knelt to express her gratitude. Her heart was filled with disappointment; Emperor Yujia's words undoubtedly meant he intended to make the Second Prince, Tianrui, the Crown Prince.

Emperor Yujia glanced at her, seemed about to say something but then stopped himself.

I saw that flower

Blood dripped from his hands. Yongye was in so much pain that sweat beaded on his forehead and his body trembled. When he saw that he had left the palace, he breathed a sigh of relief and fainted.

"Yongye, hang in there!" Prince Duan left the palace, leaped onto a guard's horse, and galloped away.

The fear and dread that surged within him grew larger and larger. Even when he heard that the eternal night of the full moon had been abducted, he only felt anger. But now, he was afraid, truly afraid, afraid that he would cripple or kill the little person in his hands.

The horse reared up and galloped away, while Prince Duan, his face ashen, disregarded the people trampling on the street.

It wasn't that he hadn't searched, nor that he hadn't found her. A face similar to Yongye's, the same age, yet the joy turned to resentment the moment the princess gently shook her head.

The Valley of Wandering has finally found a child who looks almost exactly like Yongye. They are hoping to use this child to replace the Crown Prince and seize his power to achieve their goals.

At this moment, Prince Duan was filled with hope, hoping that what they had found was the true eternal night. This was his only hope.

"No one is allowed to enter the bedchamber! Keep an eye on Li Yannian. If he makes the slightest move, kill him!" Prince Duan said this and carried Yongye into the inner chamber.

With trembling hands, he removed Yongye's shoes and socks. The vibrant flower suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Xinru felt as if she had been struck hard by a hammer. Prince Duan reached out and touched the flower, then suddenly realized what was happening and shouted outside, "Summon the Princess Consort! Prepare warm water and medicine, quickly!"

The outside was in complete chaos.

Princess Consort Duan rushed inside: "What happened, Your Highness!"

Prince Duan did not answer. With a pale face, he gently used warm water to wash away the dried bloodstains of Yongye and carefully peeled off the trousers stuck to the wound.

"Oh my god!" Princess Duan's legs gave way and she sat down on the ground. Pointing at Yongye, she said softly, "He...he is ours..." Then everything went black and she fainted.

Prince Duan focused intently on tending to Yongye's wounds. He could see nothing, hear nothing. He really was the Yongye who had been switched at birth in Youli Valley, but he truly was his own son!

Eleven years, a full eleven years, and he actually returned to his side in this way. He actually made him discover him in this way.

Prince Duan gently lifted his princess and laid her down beside Yongye. Two faces, one large and one small, were so alike. Even their slightly furrowed brows were identical. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

His hand traced the flower on Yongye's foot, recalling what the princess had said: that she had mischievously drawn it on the sole of Yongye's foot. He had even scolded her for her foolishness in a letter.

Who knew that this hidden mark would become his way of identifying the imposter?

The image of him gazing into Yongye's eyes flashed before Prince Duan's eyes. His gaze was clearly filled with deep longing. He recalled the first time he met Yongye, not long after he entered the palace a year ago, when Yongye casually mentioned seeing another child in the valley who looked remarkably like him. Had he already suspected him then? Had he already been testing him then?

Yongye was truly clever! He sensed something was amiss with the Crown Prince and with his own and the Princess's attitudes. Prince Duan recalled that Prime Minister Zhang had told him Yongye had asked about his aunt's child. Gently stroking the flower, Prince Duan said, "You've already guessed, haven't you? Your gaze today clearly indicated you knew. Otherwise, you wouldn't have insisted I bring you back to the manor, would you?"

A proud smile bloomed on his lips. How could his child be a dullard who never uttered a word? How could he tremble in fear at his sight? How could he not be close to his parents?

But should they acknowledge him? Prince Duan pondered this question again.

Did Youli Valley know he was real? Prince Duan immediately dismissed this speculation. If Youli Valley knew, they wouldn't have sent him back this way; they would have done it in a different way. After all, he's young now, but they'll eventually see through him when he grows up.

"In any case, I now know that I will never lose you again." Prince Duan made up his mind.

In the dim darkness, Yongye heard the sounds of arguing and the Princess Consort Duan crying. He felt relieved and fell asleep again.

It was too hot to cover himself with a blanket, so Yongye's lower body was only covered by a white cotton cloth, and the bloodstains were faintly visible. Princess Duan sat in front of Yongye's bed, looked at him lying there, and lifted the cloth with trembling hands to take a look. Tears welled up in her eyes again.

Prince Duan stood behind her, and seeing her tears, he sighed and said, "It's nothing serious, rest..."