Repaying Malice with Virtue

Xihua supported the Empress Dowager as she walked forward. The Eldest Princess shot her a fierce glare, but she pretended not to see it and helped the Empress Dowager into a chair.

The Emperor, looking embarrassed, said, "Mother Empress, why have you come? Nothing is wrong..."

"You call something this big 'nothing wrong'? If Xihua hadn't told me, how long were you planning to hide this from me?"

The Empress Dowager interrupted the Emperor coldly. Her gaze fell on Wen Ying's face, who stood to the side with his eyes slightly lowered. She paused, then beckoned to him, "Child, come here."

Wen Ying walked forward, knelt before the Empress Dowager, and raised his head so she could see him clearly.

The Empress Dowager stared at him intently for a long moment, then sighed, "He truly resembles the late Emperor, even a bit more handsome than the late Emperor was in his youth. He is a child of our family."

In the corner, Ling Qiyan clenched his fists tightly, his ashen face completely drained of color.

The Empress Dowager's voice choked with a sob. "I am your grandmother. Good child, call me that once."

Wen Ying's lips moved, and he softly uttered, "Grandmother."

"Good, good. It's good that you're back. You've suffered for these twenty years. From now on, I'll have your Father Emperor and Mother Empress compensate you doubly. Get up, don't keep kneeling."

Lady Yun was still smirking. After speaking with Wen Ying, the Empress Dowager turned to her. Her expression was calm, devoid of anger, as she stared at and sized her up.

Lady Yun returned her gaze defiantly. Looking at her, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but recall the delicate, vibrant girl from years ago, who was like a flower bud. Back then, it wasn't just the Emperor who liked her; she herself was fond of this frank and cheerful prospective daughter-in-law.

But alas, fate plays tricks on people, and she had ultimately become what she was today.

A trace of pity entered the Empress Dowager's eyes as she said to her, "In terms of great righteousness, the Emperor does indeed owe your Marquis Zhenbei's Manor. But over the years, he has done his best to compensate. He helped clear your names, restored your title, and treated the surviving female relatives of the manor well. Of course, for the dozens of lives in Marquis Zhenbei's Manor, such compensation is indeed far from enough."

"In terms of personal feelings, I knew back then that the Emperor had you in his heart. After the incident at Marquis Zhenbei's Manor, I sent people with an edict to bring you out. Even if you couldn't be the principal consort, he could still keep you by his side. It was you who couldn't wait and ran away first. This matter can only be considered a twist of fate."

"As for what happened afterward, the hardships you suffered... it's only right that you resent and hate. But to have fallen to this point, a large part of it is your own responsibility. Whether you abandoned your husband and son to return to the capital for wealth and glory, or simply for the Emperor himself, you were wrong. At the very least, you wronged that Hunter Wen who took you in and helped you when you were most helpless."

"Your greatest mistake was swapping the two children. In all these old affairs, the most innocent ones are these two children. They should not have become the sacrifices of your revenge."

"The Emperor wronged you, but he also raised your son for you for twenty years. Your child grew up in silks and satins, while the Emperor's son lived a displaced and wandering life. Father and son met but could not recognize each other. For twenty years, you have indeed succeeded in your revenge."

"Qiyan was my most beloved grandson. Now I know he is not my biological grandson, but I raised him with my own hands, and I still dote on him. I cannot just turn my back on him. However, I also cannot disregard my own biological grandson, so I will no longer treat him as I did before."

"My resentment toward you is no less than the Emperor's and the Empress's, but it's meaningless for me to haggle over these things with you any longer."

"At this point, if you continue to be blindly entangled in hatred, it will only make you seem all the more pitiful and detestable. Why not let yourself go?"

Lady Yun's eyes widened, her lips trembled, and she wanted to argue with a hoarse voice, but upon meeting the Empress Dowager's calm and tranquil gaze, she couldn't utter a single word. She finally broke down completely and burst into tears.

The Empress Dowager called for people to take her away for now.

Lady Shen's voice suddenly rose sharply. "She has committed a crime worthy of exterminating nine generations of her clan! She must die! And this son of hers who usurped the nest must also die!"

She pointed a finger at Ling Qiyan and glared at the Empress Dowager, wishing she could drag both of them away to be executed by slow slicing right now.

Ling Qiyan kept his head down without a word, making it impossible for anyone to see his expression.

The Empress Dowager didn't look at him, nor did she pay the Empress any mind. She only asked the Emperor, "How do you plan to handle this matter? Do you want all the civil and military officials of the court to know?"

The Emperor's face was ashen, and he couldn't speak. Of course he didn't want that. He valued his reputation above all else. If people knew that he had been fooled by a woman like an idiot, raising someone else's son for twenty years, he would lose all face completely.

This was something he could not tolerate.

The Empress Dowager guessed his thoughts and ordered people to take Ling Qiyan away as well.

"Mother Empress!" Lady Shen's eyes were red with anger as she questioned the Empress Dowager recklessly, "Are you still trying to protect that bastard even now? Don't forget, the one standing before you is your real grandson!"

The Empress Dowager still ignored her and said to the Emperor, "Have Qiyan taken away for now. Find a palace to hold him temporarily. We'll decide what to do after we've figured out how to conclude this matter. I won't take him to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, lest people say I'm favoring him."

The Emperor nodded with a cold and stiff expression.

Lady Shen was furious. "Wait for what! He must die! A cup of poisoned wine will solve it directly!!"

Ling Qiyan had already walked out of the great hall's doors, his figure gradually receding into the distance. The unrestrained and unconventional Prince Yu of the past seemed to be gone forever.

Wen Ying watched in silence until he had completely disappeared from view.

Lady Shen was consumed by hatred and questioned the Empress Dowager once more: "What do you mean, not favoring him! You clearly want to protect him! Even now, you still want to protect that bastard?! Then what about my son?! Was my son supposed to have his identity usurped by him for twenty years for nothing?!"

The Empress Dowager's face darkened, but she ultimately held back. Skipping over the topic, she asked the Emperor about another, more important matter, "This child's identity, how do you plan to explain it to the outside world?"

The Emperor was hesitant for a moment. Prince Jing thought for a bit and suggested, "It's best not to let the matter of the swapped children spread, to avoid more gossip and damaging the imperial family's reputation. Why not say that Imperial Sister-in-law gave birth to twins back then, and this child's fortune was read by an eminent monk who said he had to be raised among the common people and could only be acknowledged after turning twenty, otherwise he wouldn't live long. Now that he is twenty, he must naturally be acknowledged and return to the clan. Afterwards, we can amend the imperial genealogy, ranking this child first in seniority, and the others can be moved down in order."

Although this explanation was preposterous and absurd, and perhaps no one would believe it, as long as it could barely justify itself and prevent the matter of "swapping a leopard cat for the prince" from becoming known to the world, preserving the imperial family's face, it was enough.

"I don't agree!" Before the Emperor could state his position, Lady Shen was the first to object. "Why should I have to acknowledge that little beast as my son again! He's a bastard born to a village woman from the mountains who stole my son's identity for twenty years. On what grounds should he continue to enjoy wealth and glory under the title of a prince! I don't agree!"

"Then can you think of a better idea?" The Empress Dowager finally asked her coldly.

Lady Shen's face flushed red. She gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "Then let him die a sudden death! Even if he holds the title of a prince, he must die! If he dies, the others won't need to be reordered, and Qiyu will still be the second son!"

"Let him live."

Before the Empress Dowager could say anything, Wen Ying, who had been silent all this time, spoke unexpectedly, "I ask Father Emperor, Mother Empress, and Grandmother to show mercy. Please spare the lives of Prince Yu and that Lady Yun."

Lady Shen was stunned, then raised her voice in anger, "Are you insane? That mother and son pair harmed you to this extent, and you still want to plead for them?!"

Wen Ying looked up at her, his expression composed and calm. "Consider it as accumulating blessings for me. I have only just been acknowledged. I do not wish for too many people to die because of me. I hope Mother Empress will show mercy."

"You are a kind-hearted child," The Empress Dowager spoke first. "Qiyan can't threaten you in any way. That you have such tolerance and are willing to repay malice with virtue and let him off, you will surely be blessed in the future."

Lady Shen was seething with rage and wanted to say more, but the Emperor had completely lost his patience and ordered coldly, "Let's leave this matter as is for now. Keep them in custody for the time being, and allow Us to think it over. We will discuss it again later."

He didn't have the same resolute determination to kill them as Lady Shen did. Although he was utterly disappointed in Lady Yun, she was, after all, a woman he had once genuinely loved and thought of for twenty years. As for Ling Qiyan, he had raised him by his side since he was a child. Even if he was unlearned and unlikable, it would be a lie to say there was no father-son affection at all.

What he cared about most was his face. As long as this matter could be smoothed over on the surface and his own exceptionally outstanding biological son could return, he could just about suppress his anger.

He naturally knew that the Empress Dowager couldn't bear for Ling Qiyan to die. Although she appeared on the surface not to care much about Ling Qiyan anymore, it was only to protect him. Even for the Empress Dowager's sake, he couldn't actually have him killed.

Now that some of his reason had returned, he recalled what Lady Shen had said when she lost her composure—that she had deliberately used a corpse to deceive him. The Emperor couldn't help but feel a little annoyed with her, and he was even less inclined to let her have her way.

So, he signaled for the Eldest Princess and Xihua to escort the Empress Dowager back first, then had Lady Shen return to the Palace of Phoenix Grace. The Emperor kept Wen Ying behind alone. He had just acknowledged his son and still had a bellyful of things to say.

Wen Ying was not a man of many words. He only answered what the Emperor asked. When speaking of past events, he summarized them in just a few words, with no resentment or complaint in his tone. This made the Emperor very gratified and emotional. For a young man of only twenty to be so steady, calm, and unfazed by favor or disgrace was truly rare.

The more the Emperor looked at this son, the more satisfied he became. Wen Ying was handsome and distinguished, a man of outstanding talent, and truly skilled in both literature and martial arts. In scholarship, he could achieve four consecutive first places and possessed the talent of a top scholar. In martial arts, he could personally kill a khan and achieve the highest merit, rising to the rank of a fifth-grade garrison commander in just three short years. If he hadn't been swapped, no one would have been more suitable to be the Crown Prince of the nation.

Thinking of this, the Emperor couldn't help but feel some regret. Although Ling Qiyu was also clever, he paled in comparison to Wen Ying. His cleverness seemed more like cunning than great talent, and the boy's thoughts had been growing more and more crooked in recent years, making him increasingly dissatisfied. But as long as Ling Qiyu didn't make a major mistake, it was not easy for him to replace him. After all, the matter of deposing and appointing a Crown Prince concerned the fate of the nation and could not be taken lightly.

It was truly a great pity.

Palace of Phoenix Grace.

As soon as Lady Shen returned, she began to throw a tantrum and smash things. The servants in the hall knelt on the floor, trembling with fear.

After she had vented enough, she drove everyone out, leaving only an old headservant, Lady Liu.

Lady Liu was the maid who had fled with her back then. For the past twenty years, she had been her confidante and the most respected person by her side, but now Lady Shen had directed her anger at her.

"For a whole month back then, you didn't realize that hunter's wife was that bitch Lady Yun?! You didn't realize that this Palace's child had been swapped?!"

Lady Liu was terrified. She knelt on the ground, trembling for a long time before saying, "This servant had never seen Lady Yun before. This servant also never imagined the young prince would be swapped. This servant deserves death..."

She didn't dare to say that she had actually had her suspicions. As Ling Qiyan grew up, she would occasionally look at Prince Yu's face and inexplicably recall the hunter's wife from all those years ago, who had been exceptionally beautiful.

She didn't know that person was Lady Yun, and even if she had, she wouldn't have dared to say it.

Ling Qiyan resembled Lady Yun by sixty to seventy percent. Before knowing his relationship with Lady Yun, even Lady Shen had never connected the two. She had just assumed this son was naturally incompatible with her. It was like how, if one didn't know Wen Ying was the Emperor's son, no matter how much he resembled the late Emperor, no one would have thought anything of it, even subconsciously ignoring it.

But Lady Liu had seen that hunter's wife. Seeing Ling Qiyan grow to resemble that young woman more and more, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. But so many years had passed, how could she dare to raise questions? She simply let the matter rot in her stomach, never expecting it would eventually be exposed.

Seeing her reaction, Lady Shen guessed that she had probably discovered the truth long ago. Her anger flared up even more, and she immediately ordered people to drag her away.

Ling Qiyu entered the door just in time to see this scene. Seeing Lady Liu being dragged away while begging for mercy, his expression faltered. He asked Lady Shen, "What has caused Mother Empress to be so angry? Your son heard that you, Grandmother, Aunt, and Fifth Imperial Uncle all went to Xingqing Palace earlier. What happened? Can you tell your son?"

Lady Shen gritted her teeth and recounted the matter.

Ling Qiyu stood there, stunned in astonishment. "Is it true?!"

"It's true," Lady Shen said hatefully. "If the Empress Dowager hadn't stopped it, that mother and son would already be dead with no place for burial!"

She didn't hold much anger towards Wen Ying at the moment. She just thought that Wen Ying, having just returned, was naively trying to show his magnanimity by pleading for Lady Yun and Ling Qiyan. She even felt that the reason Ling Qiyan disgusted her and was a jinx to him was because he was that woman's spawn. If it had been her own flesh and blood, even if he had been snatched away by the Empress Dowager, he would definitely have been on her side and close to her!

That was why she hated Ling Qiyan to the core and wished he would die immediately.

Ling Qiyu came back to his senses. His eyes darted around quickly, his expression exceptionally dark. "Mother Empress is saying that Wen Ying is my real elder brother?"

Seeing him like this, Lady Shen thought he was having unnecessary thoughts and advised him, "Your elder brother has suffered a lot over the years. Now that he has finally returned, you should give way to him a little. Your Father Emperor will definitely find ways to compensate your elder brother, but the position of Crown Prince is yours; he can't take it away. You don't need to worry about that, nor is there any need to create a rift between you. He is a capable person. If you two can get along well, he will be a great help to you in the future."

Mentioning this, Lady Shen couldn't help but feel a little smug. That bitch Lady Yun's son was indeed just like her, all beauty and no substance. Only she could give birth to such a fine child like Wen Ying, who was skilled in both literature and martial arts!

Ling Qiyu lowered his eyes, hiding the shadow in them. "...Your son understands."

An hour later, Wen Ying came to the Palace of Phoenix Grace to pay his respects to Lady Shen.

Ling Qiyu sat beside Lady Shen. Watching Wen Ying, whom he hadn't seen in three years and who had now transformed into his biological elder brother, walk through the door, he couldn't stop feeling irritated.

When Wen Ying raised his eyes and his gaze inadvertently turned to him, a trace of fear inexplicably rose in his heart.

'How could this person have such good luck? I failed to kill him three years ago, and in the future, I'm afraid this person will become my greatest trouble.'

The more Ling Qiyu thought about it, the more resentful he became, but he didn't show a hint of it in front of Lady Shen. With a smile still on his lips, he proactively stood up to greet Wen Ying.

Wen Ying's expression was indifferent, but flawless.

Lady Shen called him over to sit down, had someone bring tea and snacks, and put on the air of a loving mother, her eyes even reddening. "Mother Empress doesn't know what you like to eat. My poor child, you're already so grown, and Mother Empress only just found out about your existence..."

Wen Ying said in a low voice, "Mother Empress need not be too sad. The matter is in the past."

Ling Qiyu also took the opportunity to comfort Lady Shen with a few words.

Lady Shen dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and sighed, "You two are so considerate. One's own flesh and blood is truly different."

She then asked Wen Ying, "Why did you speak up for that mother and son? They got what they deserved and should be cut into a thousand pieces. Why do you pity them?"

Before Wen Ying could speak, Ling Qiyu said with a faint, mocking smile, "Elder Brother used to be a retainer in Prince Yu's Manor and had a deep friendship with him. I suppose he couldn't bear it."

Lady Shen frowned. She naturally knew about this. That little beast had even flaunted it in her face before. The mere mention of it angered her, and she began to lecture Wen Ying, "Kindness gets you bullied. What does that little bit of friendship count for? Didn't he drive you out of the manor later on and even ruin your official career? Besides, that Prince Yu's Manor should have been yours. He usurped your place, yet you still speak up for him."

Wen Ying explained calmly, "It's not that I'm speaking for him. It's for my adoptive father. My adoptive father didn't know about the child swap. He always treated me as his own son and was very good to me. I just want to preserve my adoptive father's bloodline. Although Lady Yun never raised me, my adoptive father thought of her until his death. I don't want him to be saddened by this matter in the underworld. I hope Mother Empress will show mercy."

Lady Shen's face darkened, but Wen Ying was being so respectful, as if begging her. She couldn't bring herself to get angry with the son she had just acknowledged. After holding it in for a long time, she said, "Repaying malice with virtue is certainly a good thing, but some people are so wicked that they are not worthy of it."

Wen Ying lowered his gaze and didn't respond.

After staying in the Palace of Phoenix Grace for an hour, Wen Ying still had to go to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, so he took his leave and left first.

Just as he walked out, someone behind him called out, "Big Brother Wen!"

Wen Ying turned around. It was the Sixth Prince, Ling Qining. The child ran over with big steps and looked up at him. "I heard everything at the hall entrance just now. You're my real big brother, and the old big brother was a fake, right?"

This Sixth Prince was only twelve years old. Lady Shen had clearly not told him about this. Wen Ying had played pitch-pot with this child years ago and remembered him. He nodded, "Yes."

Ling Qining opened his mouth, unsure of what to say for a moment, but his eyes reddened slightly. "Then... the old big brother, will he die?"

After a moment of silence, Wen Ying softly uttered two words: "He won't."