Yu Yi then recounted the events: “Reporting to Your Highness, the young master just returned from the study and was washing his hands when the Princess Consort came and questioned why he recovered so quickly…
“
“
Tong shi heard Xun Qin’s account was factual but sounded wrong, making her seem like she wanted Ming Xu to remain ill longer. She quickly interjected: “You shameless servant, I…”
Yan Bo coldly interrupted: “Silence. Let Xun Qin finish. I will judge the truth myself.”
Yu Yi continued: “Then the Princess Consort ordered the servants to kneel in the courtyard and wanted to replace all the servants in Xing He Yuan. The young master didn’t want to change servants and argued with the Princess Consort. The Princess Consort tried to drag away the young master and hit him.”
Tong shi could no longer contain herself. She said aggrievedly: “Your Highness, the young master was the first to…”
Yan Bo spoke coldly: “Even if Ming Xu’s servants made mistakes, you could have punished those specific servants. Why replace all of them?”
Tong shi explained: “Your Highness, Ming Xu is only six years old. He learned to fake illness and deceive others because these servants misled him. If such servants are left by his side, won’t they corrupt him? Your Highness, this concubine is doing this for Ming Xu’s good.”
Yan Bo snorted coldly: “For Ming Xu’s good? By replacing all servants in Xing He Yuan with your own people?”
Since learning that Tong shi deliberately let him hear that Ming Xu was not his biological son, he had been looking deeper into her actions. Replacing all loyal servants around Ming Xu with her own people was essentially putting Ming Xu completely under her control.
Tong trembled and shook her head: “This concubine does not know if Ming Xu is truly… This concubine only knows that the person, like Ming Xu, has an abnormal right foot.” Suddenly she remembered something and said excitedly: “Blood verification! The county prince can verify through blood, so we can know if Ming Xu is truly the prince’s son.”
Yan Bo’s face darkened: “Even if Ming Xu is not my son, it cannot change what you have done. As long as I have not deposed him, he remains the county prince’s heir. You ordered someone to stab horses, poison and plot to harm the heir, and after the plot was exposed, you used Wen Yiniang as a scapegoat, poisoning Ting He to silence her. Your actions are so vicious that I cannot keep you…”
Tong was terrified, kneeling and kowtowing, begging: “County Prince, spare my life, this concubine will never do it again, this concubine was momentarily confused…”
“Momentarily confused? You have been plotting against Ming Xu for two years, wanting me to depose him and establish your own son as the heir. Dare you say you were momentarily confused?
“
Tong dared not argue, only continuing to kowtow, hoping Yan Bo would show mercy.
Yan Bo closed his eyes. He also wanted to spare Tong’s life, to punish her with a beating and then divorce her. However, Tong was so cruel that if he let her live, she might plot against Ming Xu again for Ming Yao’s sake.
But if Ming Xu was not truly his son, then Ming Yao would be the future heir. If he executed Tong for another’s child, Ming Yao would surely blame him when he grew up.
Yan Bo sighed deeply, ordering servants to bind Tong and imprison her for now. He would decide her fate later. As he had promised to spare Ting He, he would beat Tong twenty times and then expel her from the household. The groom, though acting on Tong’s orders, had still committed the crime of attempting to harm his master and would be executed.
—
Yu Yi and Mi Yin accompanied Yan Ming Xu in Xing He Yuan. Soon, they saw Yan Bo enter with two close guards and a medical official, dismissing everyone else from the room.
Yu Yi and Meng Qing exchanged glances, understanding that Yan Bo was about to proceed with blood verification.
Yan Bo said: “Bring a clean small bowl.” He had heard of blood verification but was unsure of the exact process and how to determine the results. Not wanting to expose any mistakes, he had delayed this moment until now, but Tong’s actions forced his hand.
Yu Yi rushed ahead of Mi Yin to fetch a white porcelain bowl, placing it gently on the table.
Yan Bo ordered: “Everyone except Doctor Zhang must leave.” He did not want others to know the results. If Ming Xu was not his son, he would find another reason to remove him as heir.
Ming Xu felt uneasy, looking at Yu Yi outside, her encouraging smile calmed him slightly.
Yan Bo looked at Ming Xu: “Ming Xu, what happens next must not be told to anyone.”
Ming Xu nodded: “Ming Xu understands.”
Yan Bo pressed: “Can you truly do this?”
Ming Xu looked up: “Ming Xu is the county prince’s heir, will inherit father’s title, so Ming Xu must keep his word and be a responsible man.”
Yan Bo was surprised by these resolute words from the child he had always considered weak and timid. Perhaps he had been too distant and cold towards Ming Xu.
His lack of care might have caused Ming Xu’s timid nature. But he had grown, become brave, resisted Tong, and wanted to be responsible. If only he were truly his son!
Yan Bo drew out a silver knife: “Ming Xu, extend your hand.”
Ming Xu looked at the knife and placed his small hand in Yan Bo’s large palm. Seeing Ming Xu’s trusting gaze, Yan Bo’s emotions were complex.
He guided Ming Xu to the table, holding his hand over the bowl: “It will hurt a bit, endure it.”
Ming Xu nodded, involuntarily tensing.
The sharp knife pricked his little finger, instantly creating a crimson blood flower in the white porcelain bowl.
Yan Bo pricked his own finger, dropping blood into the flower’s center. As Doctor Zhang examined the bowl, even the experienced Yan Bo held his breath.
After a long examination and careful tilting, the doctor finally spoke: “Blood matches, undoubtedly his son.” Yan Bo felt immense relief.
Ming Xu timidly called: “Father?”
Yan Bo, filled with guilt, embraced Ming Xu, stroking his head and holding him close, unable to speak.
Yu Yi and Meng Qing, listening through the room’s monitor, smiled at each other. The mission was complete.
Yu Yi returned to Xiye Mountain Villa at the same moment she had left. She decided not to sleep and instead walked out to the courtyard, gazing at the fading starlight in the western sky. She thought about never seeing Ming Hu’s ink-black eyes again, never hearing his youthful voice, and felt a hint of reluctance in her heart.
This was the first time she had developed such strong feelings for someone in a mission, and although reluctant, she had to let go.
Someone behind her said, “Do you miss me?
Yu Yi didn’t turn back and casually replied, “No.”
“I miss…” Meng Qing said softly, “…is there any breakfast in the kitchen?”
Yu Yi turned and glared at him, “No. Why did you come back here?”
Meng Qing shrugged, “Where else could I go?”
Yu Yi was surprised, “Go home.”
“I’m an orphan. I have no home. Actually, I’m even more miserable than Yan Minghu. He at least has a cold father.”
Yu Yi felt a bit of compassion and guilt, not expecting to inadvertently touch on his painful past. Her situation was perhaps better than his; at least she still had her mother and sister. She recalled what Boss had said – only those in absolute despair who wanted to die would be chosen by the system and pass the test to become mission executors. Did this mean he had also once contemplated death?
Meng Qing curved his mouth, “Would you accept someone like me as a boyfriend?”
Yu Yi was stunned by his sudden topic change. Feeling slightly embarrassed, she joked back, “If you’re willing to marry into my family, I might consider it.”
Yu Xin noticed the awkward atmosphere and softly said, “Sister, why don’t you and Hui swap rooms? Sister doesn’t mind the cold much.”
