Chapter 927: Chapter 881: Finale (7) The Fathers Pay for Their Sons’ Sins

After Wen Wan left, Prince Cheng summoned his subordinates, asking with a stern expression, "What’s going on? Where have that father and son gone?"

"We are currently investigating."

"Even you all couldn’t find them, could they have ascended to heaven?" Prince Cheng was quite furious.

The Zhao Family’s Imperial family has always had a secret guard working covertly for the Emperor, known as the Imperial Secret Guard.

These hidden guards are not born out of thin air; each requires a considerable amount of silver coins and effort for training.

And Prince Cheng’s lineage is responsible for training the Imperial Secret Guards.

However, this matter is confidential, unknown to anyone except the Emperor.

Back when the old Prince was alive, considering the late Emperor’s suspicious nature, fearing the late Emperor might not tolerate Prince Cheng Mansion, he secretly trained a batch of secret people for the mansion while helping the Imperial family train hidden guards.

As per the old Prince’s intentions, as long as the late Emperor made no moves against Prince Cheng Mansion, these secret people would never emerge.

After the old Prince passed away, this group of people fell into Prince Cheng’s hands, and he upheld his ancestors’ teachings, continuing to train hidden guards for the Imperial family.

Amid his busy affairs, his greatest task was utilizing this group to search for divine doctors and remedies for Zhao Shuo.

However, all the doctors who had looked at Zhao Shuo said his heart condition was congenital, with regular medicine unable to cure it, needing only careful nurturing, and if fortunate, he might live decades more without triggering symptoms.

To avoid exposing the secret of training hidden guards at Prince Cheng Mansion, from the ancestors to now, each Prince’s harem has been kept minimal, so at the current Prince Cheng, there is only one main wife and two concubines, with no extra concubines.

The two concubines were not fortunate in bearing children, having only daughters, leaving Prince Cheng with only one son, Zhao Shuo.

Zhao Shuo carries all of Prince Cheng Mansion’s hopes; if he dies young, it means the task of training Imperial Secret Guards will be transferred to another Imperial family, further implying that Prince Cheng’s lineage will decline.

This explains why Prince Cheng has always been unwilling to expose Zhao Shuo to others, not wanting anyone to know Zhao Shuo has a heart condition.

However, now, the group comparable to the Imperial Secret Guard failed to track Song Wei’s whereabouts, forcing him to take this seriously.

"Send more people." Prince Cheng ordered, "Must find them before Princess Yong’an and bring them back!"

"Yes."

...

Despite Prince Cheng’s calculations, he didn’t expect the safest place to be the most dangerous one, as Song Wei and his son are currently in their guest courtyard.

Initially, Song Wei only heard about a child’s heart-opening murder case in the Capital; Jinbao was studying at the local academy, fearing an incident, he not only arranged for escorting but also enhanced precautions.

Later, a disciple of Master Xu Yun came with a message, saying Prince Cheng threatened the master with the lives of all monks at Fahua Temple to reveal the secret of Wen Wan helping her husband change fate, indicating Wen Wan might be in danger in the coming days.

Realizing the connection with Prince Cheng Mansion, Song Wei hurriedly disguised himself and Jinbao to secretly travel to the Capital.

Unexpectedly, just two days in Prince Cheng Mansion, they encountered Wen Wan.

In the guest courtyard.

Song Wei asked the little guy lying on the writing desk, "Did you bring what I asked you to?"

The little guy lazily turned his face to look at Song Wei, "Daddy, it seems Mommy really doesn’t want you anymore."

He just saw his mom standing with Prince Cheng, and his heart still felt heavy.

Song Wei gave a light acknowledgment, "If she doesn’t want me, she naturally won’t want you."

"Why’s that?" Jinbao rested his chin on folded hands, "Obviously Daddy looks better than Prince Cheng, who’s so old and ugly, how could anyone like him?"

Hearing the words "old and ugly," Song Wei’s mouth twitched; Prince Cheng’s age is not much different from his.

Moreover, whether in the Imperial family or other noble families, appearances are never lacking, or Zhao Shuo wouldn’t resemble Zhao Xi so closely.

The little guy still couldn’t comprehend, resting his cheeks in frustration, "Mommy’s blindness seems even scarier considering she scares her own son."

Song Wei: "..."

...

Once back home, Wen Wan closed herself in the west wing of Liufang Courtyard before daring to take out the paper ball Jinbao gave her, opening it slowly; perhaps in haste, it only had few words: Temporarily Safe, Don’t Worry.

It was Song Wei’s handwriting.

This means he and Jinbao are both inside Prince Cheng Mansion.

Seeing those words, Wen Wan finally felt relieved with her heart settling down.

She recalled earlier in the outer study, when Prince Cheng asked the attendant what the Heir was doing, the attendant said the Heir was listening to Mr. Wen reading "Mencius."

If guessed right, this so-called "Mr. Wen" is Song Wei’s alias, isn’t it?

When did he arrive in the Capital, and how did he enter the Prince Mansion?

Wen Wan had many questions in her heart, but these questions could only be answered by personally meeting Song Wei.

Linglong knocked on the door and came in, asking softly, "Princess, do you still need to give that letter to Mr. Xie?"

"No need, give it to me."

Wen Wan took the letter back and walked to the candle stand to burn it.

As the flames devoured, a few words were still vaguely visible.

It stated that if she was trapped in Prince Cheng Mansion, it would prove that Prince Cheng Mansion was undeniably involved in the heart-splitting case.

If Xie Zheng saw it, he would definitely inform the Three Judicial Departments and the Jinyi Guard immediately. With the Jinyi Guard involved, she would be rescued soon.

But unexpectedly, Prince Cheng not only didn’t trap her in the mansion but also let her return without worry, was he not afraid she would call for help?

The answer was definitely no.

Prince Cheng had reached the point of madness, and who knew what kind of people he had under him to be so seamless, allowing the Jinyi Guard to investigate for so long without finding a single clue.

These matters, Wen Wan did not tell Zhao Xunyin for fear of causing her worry and also to avoid alerting the snake, inciting Prince Cheng to slaughter more innocent children in anger.

After a day filled with anxiety, Wen Wan felt particularly exhausted, and after dinner and a bath, she went to sleep early.

The next day, Prince Cheng Mansion was selecting the Heir Consort.

Wen Wan accepted Princess Cheng’s invitation, dressed formally, and brought a post to attend the mansion’s banquet.

Several young ladies came today, all of whom had been chosen by Prince Cheng Mansion in the past.

Wen Wan looked at their youthful and radiant faces, and then thought of Zhao Shuo’s unhealthy appearance, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

During the banquet, Wen Wan left the table to visit the bathroom, and as she came out, she heard a noise in the nearby flower garden, Wen Wan leaned over to take a look and happened to meet Jinbao’s wide-eyed stare.

The little guy was hiding under a flowering tree, holding a large banana leaf above his head, as if afraid of being discovered.

Wen Wan glanced around, unsure if there were Hidden Guards, she could only ask softly, "Why are you here?"

The little guy remembered his father’s words not to randomly call Wen Wan "mother" outside, so he looked at her pitifully, "I got lost, can you take me back?"

"Come out." Wen Wan reached out her hand to him.

Jinbao dropped the banana leaf and stood up, holding his little skirt in one hand and giving his other hand to Wen Wan, and after coming out of the flower garden, he bent down to pat the mud off his pants, then said, "My dad is at Yilan Courtyard, but I forgot the way."

Wen Wan smiled, understanding that this was Song Wei wanting to see her, "Then I’ll take you."

There were guards outside Yilan Courtyard.

When Wen Wan arrived, she was directly stopped, but thanks to Jinbao, she said this was Mr. Wen’s daughter, lost, and she was sending him back.

The guards recognized "Little Flower", knew that this child was very favored by the Princess Consort, so they didn’t make things difficult for Wen Wan and let her pass.

Wen Wan took Jinbao and stepped inside.

Zhao Shuo was still sitting on the stone bench under the Albizia, but there was an additional person besides him.

It was Song Wei in disguise.

Having had previous experience going to Bei Yan, Wen Wan recognized him at once.

Seeing Wen Wan, Zhao Shuo looked puzzled.

Wen Wan did not go forward but pulled Jinbao from behind, "Heard this is Mr. Wen’s daughter, I happened to find her lost, so I brought her back."

Song Wei put down the book in his hand, walked up slowly, bowed to Wen Wan, and thanked the Princess for bringing back the mischievous child.

Afterwards, taking advantage of Zhao Shuo burying his head in reading, he lowered his voice, "How is the situation?"

From this tone, Song Wei already knew most of the matters of Prince Cheng Mansion, Wen Wan didn’t have to waste limited time explaining, so she lowered her voice to reply, "The Prince wants me to change the fate of the Heir, but that bracelet of the Yun Family, I wear it and my head aches terribly, I’m afraid for my life."

Song Wei listened and fell into a brief silence.

The couple both understood that Wen Wan could only change the fate for Song Wei, for anyone else it was impossible.

But Prince Cheng had already pushed the dagger to their throats, if they told him it’s impossible, it would only provoke his immense rage.

This was a mass murderer, not to be offended easily.

With this thought, Song Wei said, "Promise him."

Wen Wan was a bit surprised.

Song Wei gave her a reassuring look, "Don’t touch the bracelet, you only need to tell him, if he wants to change fate, the child’s crime is the father’s penalty."

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