Upon hearing Hai Ling's words, Ye Lingfeng was stunned for a moment, then regained his composure, looked up at Hai Ling, and couldn't say a word.
Inside the study, Shi Zhu and the others stepped back and then left.
Hai Ling slowly walked up to Ye Lingfeng. In just a short time, Ye Lingfeng's face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, so pale that even the veins were faintly visible. His eyes were bloodshot and red, like a severely wounded wolf, panting heavily. His fingers were clenched tightly, with veins bulging on them. Seeing him like this, Hai Ling felt like she couldn't breathe. Her heart ached terribly.
"What exactly happened at night?"
“They say that I am not a descendant of the late emperor, but the son of Sima Yuan.”
"What?"
Hai Ling raised an eyebrow, a look of astonishment flashing in her eyes. Ye Lingfeng laughed sadly, "I feel disgusted with myself now. Ling'er, do you think I'm disgusted too? I'm actually Sima Yuan's son, the offspring of a concubine's affair. Do you think I still have the face to show anyone?"
After he finished speaking, he slumped down onto the couch behind him, then leaned back and remained motionless, as if he had died. Apart from his breathing, he showed no other reaction.
Seeing him like this, Hailing felt heartbroken. No matter whose child he was, he was her lover, the person she cared about most. She slowly walked over, reached out, and tightly grasped his hand.
"Night, don't be like this, don't be sad. You still have me and the children. At worst, we can leave this palace and find a secluded paradise to live in seclusion. Maybe we'll be happier there than here."
Hai Ling spoke, but Ye Lingfeng didn't move, because his heart was aching so badly that he couldn't bear it. He doubted that he was his mother's child. Even if he was picked up, adopted, or stolen, it didn't matter, but he didn't want to be Sima Yuan's child, because that was the product of his mother's affair.
Seeing that Ye Lingfeng was motionless and completely shut himself off, Hai Ling was extremely anxious. Images flashed through her mind, and she came up with some questions.
The Empress Dowager and Sima Yuan's words may not be true. If Ye really is their child, why did the Empress Dowager arrange for Xi Yan to marry Ye in the first place? And regarding this assassination attempt by the black-clad assassins, Sima Yuan was clearly targeting the two of them. If that's the case, how could the two of them be Ye's biological parents? Furthermore, they spoke to Ye in such a way, clearly knowing that Ye would be in unbearable pain. How could parents do such a thing? Their actions don't seem like they're treating themselves personally, but rather like they're treating an enemy.
So Ye is very likely not the son of the Empress Dowager and Sima Yuan. But if he is not the Empress Dowager's son, then where is the Empress Dowager's son? Since the Empress Dowager was able to escape from the palace back then, she had no reason not to take her son with her. So where is that son now?
Hai Ling thought about it and then remembered what the Empress Dowager had done. She hadn't thought much of it before, but now that she thought about it carefully, she realized that the Empress Dowager treated Prince Zhaoyang better than Ye. When she first entered the palace, Prince Zhaoyang would often go to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager never seemed to refuse anything that Prince Zhaoyang asked for. Thinking back to the day when the Empress Dowager arranged for Xi Yuan to marry Prince Zhaoyang, why did she want Prince Zhaoyang to marry someone from the Xi family? If Prince Zhaoyang were to become the emperor in the future, then the west family would be the empress.
The more Hai Ling thought about it, the clearer her mind became. Suddenly, she grabbed Ye Lingfeng's hand and spoke in a deep voice.
"Night, I don't think you are Sima Yuan's child. You are the late emperor's child, but there is one person who is Sima Yuan's child?"
In fact, the reason why Ye could be so easily fooled was because he was clear-headed when it didn't concern him, but lost his composure once it did. That's why he fell into the Empress Dowager and Sima Yuan's scheme.
As Hai Ling finished speaking, the person on the couch stirred. Ye Lingfeng's deep eyes flickered, a glint in them, before he looked at Hai Ling.
"Ling'er, don't comfort me, I'm fine."
Although he said he was fine, his tone was like that of an abandoned puppy, weak and listless, without any spirit. The thought that he might be Sima Yuan's child made him want to die. If it weren't for Ling'er still by his side, he really wanted to get away from all of this and wander the world from now on.
Hai Ling reached out and helped him up, speaking very seriously: "I'm not trying to comfort you. Think about it carefully. Your mother doesn't treat you like her own child, but she's very close to Prince Zhaoyang. Think about it carefully, don't just focus on being sad."
After Hai Ling finished speaking, Ye Lingfeng's eyes darkened, and he indeed began to think about it very seriously.
Thinking about it this way, I realized that Ling'er wasn't wrong. The Empress Dowager was indeed very good to Prince Zhaoyang, but that didn't mean that Prince Zhaoyang was the Empress Dowager's biological son or Sima Yuan's child.
"The Empress Dowager is indeed very good to Prince Zhaoyang, but what does that mean? The Empress Dowager insists that I am her and Sima Yuan's child."
"This just shows that she wanted to protect someone, that person is her child. As a mother, she knew that this would make you despair and heartbroken, but she admitted it without any hesitation. What does this mean? It means that she is not your biological mother."
After being comforted by Hai Ling, Ye Lingfeng finally calmed down. But how could he prove that he was not Sima Yuan's child, and that Prince Zhaoyang was his child?
"Don't worry about this. I'll figure something out. Your mind is a mess right now. Go back to Liuyue Palace and get some sleep. I'll have a eunuch bring someone into the palace."
"who?"
“Consort Jinlan, perhaps this Consort Jinlan is your biological mother.”
After Hailing finished speaking, the image of Consort Jinlan appeared in her mind. At this moment, she realized that Consort Jinlan's elegant demeanor was very similar to Ye's. Although the mother and son had never been together, they shared the same bloodline, so their elegance was also the same.
"Consort Jinlan is my true mother," Ye Lingfeng thought, his mind in turmoil. All along, his mother had not been his mother, but another strange and wicked woman who had used him as a tool. Consort Jinlan was the only one who could possibly be his mother. How could he bear this? Ye Lingfeng felt like his head was about to explode. So many things had happened in one day.
"Someone come here."
Hailing called out to the door, and Shizhu and Shiju came in.
"Send the Emperor to his bedchamber in Liuyue Palace to rest."
"Yes, I understand."
Shi Zhu accepted the order and helped the Emperor walk out. Hai Ling also got up and walked out. When she reached the door, she quietly said to Shi Mei, who was following behind her, "You secretly go out of the palace and go to the Prince Zhaoyang's residence to bring Consort Jinlan into the palace for me. Remember to bring several people with you. Don't frighten the Consort. Also, don't let anyone find out that Consort Jinlan has entered the palace."
If Consort Jinlan is Ye's mother, the Empress Dowager might harm her if she discovers that Consort Jinlan has entered the palace. Therefore, in order to protect her, the only option is to secretly bring her into the palace.
Shi Mei responded and went out. Hai Ling followed Ye Lingfeng into Liuyue Palace and then personally escorted him to his bedchamber to rest.
Ye Lingfeng held Hai Ling's hand: "Ling'er, take care of yourself. Don't get hurt. You and the child are all I have left now."
Hai Ling nodded vigorously, then gestured for him to close his eyes. The palace was silent. The person on the bed was pale. The once stunningly beautiful and radiant person was now tinged with pain and despair, and his whole being exuded a deep sense of hopelessness. If Ye really was Sima Yuan's son, he probably wouldn't be able to bear it. So she prayed to God that He would protect Ye as the son of Consort Jinlan, the late Emperor's own flesh and blood.
One hour later.
Shi Mei returned to the palace and led two people in to report: "Your Majesty, this servant has brought Consort Jinlan into the palace. She is currently in the side hall behind Liuyue Palace. Would Your Majesty like to go there now or wait a while?"
"Let's go now," she said, eager to find out about the events surrounding Consort Jinlan's childbirth and see if there were any clues.
"good."
Hai Ling stood up and led Shi Mei and the others to the back. There were no palace maids or eunuchs around the side hall. The few people around were Shi Mei's trusted confidants, who were protecting the Empress Dowager around the side hall. As for the side hall itself, there was no one there.
Hailing gestured for her two maids, Shimei and Shilan, to stand guard at the door, and went in herself. Inside the side hall, there was only the Dowager Consort and a nanny, who seemed to be her confidantes. When Dowager Consort Jinlan saw Hailing enter, she stood up, looking puzzled. Today, the Empress had sent someone out of the palace quietly, so she must have something to ask her. Therefore, the Dowager Consort followed Shimei into the palace. When she saw Hailing, Dowager Consort Jinlan smiled and waved for her to come over.
A smile played in his dark eyes as he gazed at Hailin's belly.
"Ling'er, you're already seven or eight months along, and you'll be giving birth soon. You're not allowed to run around now. Just stay in the palace and wait for your delivery."
"Ling'er understands, and thanks the Dowager Consort for her concern."