Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 347 Heartbreaker, Heartbreaker

Chapter 347: Chapter 347 Heartbreaker, Heartbreaker

"Scholar Chen," the three words sent cold sweat streaming down True Person Zi Chen’s forehead.

He no longer questioned whether Princess Consort Ling was putting on an act to test him.

The number of people who knew he was Scholar Chen was extremely few. Back in the day, he had relied on his sweet-talking and charming looks to deceive at least five daughters of wealthy families.

And his identity as Scholar Chen was nothing but a fabricated one, much like his current title of True Person Zi Chen.

But if Princess Consort Ling could assert that he was Scholar Chen, it meant she must have witnessed the scene where he was exposed and had his limbs broken.

"Do you want me to continue speaking?"

Murong Jiu watched True Person Zi Chen leisurely.

True Person Zi Chen dismissed the two Taoist boys and lowered his voice, "Princess Consort Ling, what exactly do you mean by this?"

"It’s simple. You say you’re not up to the task of alchemy, so hand it over to me to take care of entirely."

True Person Zi Chen immediately shook his head, "No, I’ll be killed! If I’m useless, they’ll definitely kill me!"

Jun Yuyan then spoke slowly, "We know who’s behind you. If you can admit before the Emperor in person that your abilities are limited, I will personally arrange for someone to escort you out of the Capital City, and give you a hundred taels of gold."

His eyes lit up, but he was still very hesitant.

He had been found while engaged in his deceptions and was recruited to deceive the Emperor. Of course, he had refused at first out of fear, but he soon learned just how ruthless the people behind him were.

That’s why he had mustered the courage to deceive the lord of a nation.

What if he couldn’t escape? What if Prince Ling didn’t keep his word? Then he was surely on the road to death.

"Your real name is Chen Yuzong, from Jiangshui. Your parents are deceased, with no ties holding you back. However, there’s one thing you might not be aware of. There was a young lady named Su Qiaoyun. Perhaps someone like you would have no recollection, but she was deeply in love with you. She got pregnant with your child and adamantly refused to get rid of it. Time has passed, and it’s been over six years now. That boy must be nearly six years old."

Upon hearing this, True Person Zi Chen’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"I, I have a child? And it’s a son? Qiaoyun... I remember, it seems she said she had a surprise to tell me!"

Su Qiaoyun was the first young lady he had deceived. Naive and kind-hearted, she was easily enticed by his sweet words. He had successfully conned her into providing a large sum of silver coins for his exam in the Capital City, but of course, he never returned to her.

More than six years had passed since then, but with all he had been through, it felt not like six years, but rather a decade and more.

In his thirties, alone and drifting, not only had he been crippled by someone who broke his limbs, but someone had sabotaged him, rendering him infertile. It was impossible for him to have offspring.

Who would have thought, Chen Yuzong actually already had offspring!

Su Qiaoyun had actually given birth to his son!

The more True Person Zi Chen thought about it, the more excited he became; he couldn’t wait to find Su Qiaoyun and her son, to marry her, and to raise their son together!

Murong Jiu hid the sneer in her eyes and nodded,

"Indeed. If Su Qiaoyun didn’t love you, why would she bear you a child? Her parents have passed away from illness, and now she manages a vast estate. There are dozens of shops under her control and a thousand acres of good farmland, all reserved for your son. If she knew you were still alive, then of course, her man should run the big family business. However, True Person Zi Chen, if you’re not sincere toward Su Qiaoyun—if you play the faithless scoundrel—then it’s better if you don’t go and break her heart."

"Sincere! Of course, I’m sincere! She was my first woman. To me, she’s completely different from the other women, and besides, she gave me a son. How could I ever betray her again! I definitely won’t be a faithless scoundrel!"

True Person Zi Chen had truly not expected Su Qiaoyun to be so hung up on him, saving the family fortune for his son, which was essentially saving it for him.

After all, had his deceit and trickery not been just for some filthy lucre?

With Prince Ling’s hundred taels of gold, and Su Qiaoyun’s family wealth, he wouldn’t have to worry about the second half of his life! And in his old age, he would have sons and grandsons to honor him.

Jun Yuyan could tell from Murong Jiu’s sly and cold eyes that everything she said afterwards was made up.

Ah Jiu greatly detested Chen Yuzong.

He began, "It seems that True Person Zi Chen is also a man with deep affections. This prince will certainly shield you from prying eyes and secretly send you to the Su Family. You’ll be given a new identity, and no one will notice. Upon returning, you will be able to enjoy the bliss of family life, indeed a profound blessing."

True Person Zi Chen had a smile all over his face.

Two Taoist boys were sneaking glances over here, acting all furtive.

The smile on True Person Zi Chen’s face slightly stiffened.

"True Person need not worry. The connections of this prince are incomparable to those of other princes. Nothing untoward will happen to you," he said.

Jun Yuyan spoke calmly, confident and assured. Such presence, True Person Zi Chen thought, was truly incomparable to other princes.

"What would the Prince and Princess Consort have me do? I am eager to return home, only wishing to swiftly reunite with Qiaoyun and my son!"

Had he not known about his son, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now that he did, his heart was ablaze with urgency.

"Since True Person is in such a rush, let’s do it this way: during the production of this batch of elixir, you and I will have a disagreement. The alchemy furnace will explode from the altercation, leading to an accident. When the Emperor arrives at the scene, you simply have to report to him that you realized your own inadequacies. The rest will be handled by us," she said.

True Person Zi Chen thought this wasn’t bad at all. It wouldn’t be a capital offense that would result in beheading, and once he left the Imperial Palace and was quietly sent out of the Capital City, he could go find Qiaoyun and his son.

The Fourth Prince certainly won’t be able to find him. Apart from the Princess Consort Ling, who somehow knew of his affair with Su Qiaoyun, there weren’t many who were aware of it.

After the Taoist boys came in, the two of them began arguing over the alchemy materials. The commotion was so loud that many palace maids and eunuchs quietly gathered around.

One Taoist boy even snuck out, likely to pass a message to someone, and took a while to return.

Soon enough, to everyone’s surprise, the Fourth Prince walked in.

"I didn’t expect the Eldest Imperial Sister-in-Law to be skilled in alchemy, truly unexpected," he said.

The Fourth Prince appeared to be merely curious, coming in to have a look, his demeanor still somewhat timid and eager to please, as before.

But when Murong Jiu exchanged a glance with him, she saw a fleeting cold murderous intent in his eyes.

Murong Jiu was not afraid.

This was the Imperial Palace, not a place where he could act recklessly.

She said out loud, "There are many things the Fourth Imperial Brother does not know about. What, are you interested in alchemy as well? Would you like to give it a try?"

"Is that so? Would the Fourth Imperial Brother also like to have a go?" Jun Yuyan chimed in after his wife.

True Person Zi Chen started to panic at the sight of the Fourth Prince, his complexion turning pale.

He feared the Fourth Prince. Who could have expected that this seemingly inconspicuous Fourth Prince would be as terrifying as a dark venomous snake?

The Fourth Prince said with a smile, "How could I know how to make elixir? I escorted the Western Region Prince to meet with the Emperor. Hearing that the Emperor’s health had greatly improved after taking an Immortal Pill, I specifically came to have a look. It seems you two are in a dispute, and I am somewhat concerned."

"As you’ve said, you don’t understand, so what’s there to be worried about?" Murong Jiu replied abruptly, without giving face, and then turned to look at True Person Zi Chen.

She said coldly, "True Person, if you insist on being stubborn, then so be it. In any case, if anything goes wrong, a hundred of your heads wouldn’t be enough to answer for it."

Her words reminded True Person Zi Chen that he had to choose between dying in the palace or going out to enjoy the joys of family life.

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