The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law
Chapter 916 - 910: The Child Was Swapped by Mistake Back Then

Chapter 916: Chapter 910: The Child Was Swapped by Mistake Back Then

"The jade pendant is mine."

Amidst the Empress’s vexation, she suddenly heard Jin Zijin utter such words.

The pieces she couldn’t connect in her mind immediately fell into place upon his declaration. His, his...

Right, Jin Zijin and Jin Fengzhao seemed to be about the same age. Back then, someone found Xiao Qinqin’s grave near Qi Mountain, and they saw an old crone worshiping there with a three-year-old girl.

At that time, whether it was people from the Crown Prince Residence or those secretly trained by the Ducal Residence, they had been searching for Xiao Qinqin for a long time.

They traced her to Lingnan but then lost her trail. She had already inquired about this, Xiao Qinqin had a special relationship with Yue Tingfang of the Lingnan Marquis Residence, suspecting that Yue Tingfang had hidden Xiao Qinqin.

The Ducal Residence had significant influence in Beijing, but it was not suitable to reach out to Lingnan... until years later, when someone discovered Xiao Qinqin’s grave at the foot of Qi Mountain.

It was then that she realized Xiao Qinqin had left Lingnan long ago, hidden by Yue Tingfang on Qi Mountain.

Her heart skipped a beat.

What if someone had deliberately switched the children?

She heard that Tian Jizi had also adopted Jin Zijin from a young age.

One stone stirred up a thousand waves, and there was no one present who wasn’t shocked.

Gu Youyou had clearly stated that she bought the stone from the Boater. The Empress Dowager watched her, and she didn’t appear to be lying. This... this child, this could be a crime of deceiving the emperor.

Gu Youyou didn’t know what to say, she tightly grasped Jin Zijin’s clothes and said, "You gave the jade pendant to the Boater instead of me; I thought it was too much of a waste to give such a nice thing to him. The Boater doesn’t know its value anyway, so I just took ten silvers and exchanged with him."

Jin Zijin said, "If no one cherishes the jade pendant, then it is only worth the boat fare. You want it, there are better things. It’s all right to give up this jade pendant."

He glanced at the emperor standing in front of him, saw that the emperor had no intention of making way, and had to speak up, "This is the truth, I’ve said it, can we leave now?"

Without waiting for his response, he had already embraced her and bypassed the emperor, striding away.

Yue Rujing watched his senior brother leave the Imperial Palace unhindered with Gu Youyou in his arms, then glanced at the emperor, who was in a daze, and ultimately decided to follow his senior brother.

This matter was of great significance; he thought the emperor might need a long time to digest it.

Not just the emperor, the Empress and the Empress Dowager also needed a long time to digest this.

By the time they came to their senses, the others were already far away.

The Empress Dowager guessed that Jin Zijin hadn’t left the palace so quickly and hurriedly reminded the emperor.

"Moning, the jade pendant is his. Perhaps we got it wrong about that incident back then. You must have someone stop them quickly."

The Empress’s face turned pale, and she staggered back two steps, barely able to stand.

This was like Cheng Yaojin appearing out of nowhere. She was fully confident in dealing with Sheng Qiaoyue and her son; what if the emperor was partial? The court’s ministers would not be.

Her son was the legitimate eldest son, traditionally, the eldest is recognized over the younger, the legitimate over the illegitimate; she gave birth to the eldest son, fittingly legitimate; who would dare to disobey?

But now, how had this... unexpected turn arisen?

The emperor sighed after a long while and said, "Mother, you are tired today; let your son take you back to rest first."

"Ah...?" The Empress Dowager was stunned and said, "How can I rest at such a critical moment? I won’t rest!"

Noble Consort Sheng’s behavior was the most unusual; she appeared very calm, and in a low voice, she advised the Empress Dowager, "Mother, the emperor needs to think about this carefully; you should return to the palace to rest first."

The Empress Dowager wanted to say more, but she ended up just sighing, allowing the palace maids to help her leave.

...