books44 Chapter 346 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'
Chapter 346 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'
Ever since Lady Hou came out of the inner room and started arguing with Lord Shen, the servants in the room have all wisely withdrawn.
However, as their masters, Shen Huaizhi and Su Jinyue couldn't leave directly. It was precisely because they didn't have time to leave that they were able to hear such explosive news.
Since it concerned Shen Huaizhi's biological mother, Su Jinyue glanced worriedly in Shen Huaizhi's direction, only to find that Shen Huaizhi showed no signs of shock or loss of composure, his expression as normal as if the person the Lady Hou was referring to was not his mother.
Shen Huaizhi noticed Su Jinyue's worried look, gave her a reassuring look, and indicated that he was alright.
Things had come to this point. The Marquis had stopped Lady Hou's actions, and neither of them seemed inclined to explain themselves to Shen Huaizhi and Su Jinyue. So, the two of them had no choice but to take their leave.
"Father, Mother, you are both busy, so I won't disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave now."
After Shen Huaizhi finished speaking, he bowed and then led Su Jinyue out briskly.
Lord Shen wanted to say something to Shen Huaizhi, but hesitated. By the time he tried to explain, Shen Huaizhi had already finished his greetings and turned to leave.
Lord Shen reached out his hand as if to persuade him to stay, but ultimately remained silent.
Su Jinyue followed behind Shen Huai and saw everything the Marquis Shen did. Su Jinyue felt that there must be something more to the story about Shen Huai's mother.
Lord Shen avoided the topic and kept it from Shen Huaizhi, perhaps for Shen Huaizhi's own good.
However, Su Jinyue felt that concealing the truth was not a good thing, even if it was a white lie. The poison in Shen Huai's body might be related to what happened back then.
Even if it's just for Shen Huaizhi, Su Jinyue has to find out what happened back then!
Su Jinyue quickly came up with a plan. She took out a small, portable recording device from her spatial storage. This was a real-time monitoring device from the interstellar era. Once the person following her was set up, it could automatically record their every move and word.
Su Jinyue felt that tonight was a good opportunity. Because of her daughter's matter, the Lady Hou was in a state of confusion and spoke recklessly about many past events.
It's possible that Lord Shen and his wife will continue talking after they leave.
Leaving the little bee behind, knowing she wouldn't miss anything afterward, Su Jinyue left it alone.
Su Jinyue was more concerned about Shen Huaizhi now. On the way back, Su Jinyue kept observing Shen Huaizhi's expression, but Shen Huaizhi's expression remained normal, without a trace of unusual emotion.
Back in the courtyard, it was long past lunchtime. Su Jinyue instructed the cook to hurry up and prepare lunch while carefully attending to Shen Huaizhi in various ways.
Shen Huaizhi accepted Su Jinyue's gentle care without changing his expression, and even seemed to enjoy it.
The two finished their lunch and, after digesting their food, went back to their room for a nap. Su Jinyue was still following them around expectantly.
Shen Huaizhi sat on the low couch, sighed helplessly, resignedly put down the book in his hand, and said to Su Jinyue, who was still staring at him intently.
"Okay, you win. Ask whatever you want."
Su Jinyue seemed to have her speech impediment broken, and finally smiled, then asked impatiently.
"How much do you know about your biological mother? Is what the Lady Hou said true?"
Shen Huaizhi did not answer Su Jinyue's question immediately, but looked around first. Fortunately, neither of them was used to being served by servants when they were resting, and at this moment, there were only the two of them in the room.
Shen Huaizhi took Su Jinyue's hand and pulled her to sit on the low couch with him before slowly speaking.
"At first, all I knew about my background was what outsiders had told me. It wasn't until three years ago, when I took Ping An in as my page, that I learned that my illness was caused by poisoning, and I began to doubt my background."
I investigated secretly for three years, but because so much time had passed, all the valuable clues had disappeared or been deliberately covered up by others.
I don't know much about it right now.
"So, there really was something fishy about what happened back then?" Su Jinyue asked, frowning.
Shen Huaizhi nodded and continued, "It's true that I was sent to the Xuanping Marquis's residence by that so-called mistress."
The father also admitted that he had kept a mistress before getting married, but he broke it off quickly. Unexpectedly, the mistress brought a son to his door to acknowledge him as her relative.
Logically speaking, a mistress who is forced into a relationship always wants something, whether it's money or wanting to enter the noble mansion.
But that woman didn't choose anything, just left me and disappeared.
I need to investigate my origins. The most direct way is through my biological mother. After a long time, I finally found out the house that my father's mistress rented when we were together.
But upon investigation, I found the dates didn't match!
Shen Huaizhi paused, took a sip of tea, and then continued.
"The house was rented out a few days before I was sent to the Marquis's residence."
According to his father, he had been keeping a mistress before he got married, and considering the time she was pregnant and giving birth, he must have been renting her place for at least a year or two.
But the people I spoke with repeatedly confirmed that the so-called mistress only rented that place temporarily for a month, and after sending me to the Marquis's residence, she disappeared.
After listening, Su Jinyue asked Shen Huaizhi, "So, you suspect that the mistress is fake? And Lord Shen knew that the other party was doing it on purpose, yet you still admitted to this absurd matter?"
Shen Huaizhi nodded slowly. He just couldn't understand what kind of leverage his father had that made him admit to such a scandal without saying a word.
Remembering what the Lady Hou had said, Su Jinyue had a sudden inspiration and said, "You heard what the Lady Hou just said. From what she said, Lord Shen used to have a white moonlight in his heart. Could that fake mistress be related to this mysterious white moonlight?"
"I've also investigated this matter. My father had several close friends when he was young. Among them, the closest ones were Tang Jingfan, the current prince, and Song Zhihua, the legitimate daughter of the former Marquis of Wu'an."
The three of them were of similar age and supported Emperor Xinghe, who was the crown prince at the time, so they had the best relationship.
If Father truly had a "white moonlight" (a term of endearment for someone deeply loved), it would be Song Zhihua, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu'an.
"Marquis Wu'an? Song Zhihua?" Su Jinyue felt that the name was familiar, but when she realized who this person was, she was immediately shocked.
"Song Zhihua?!" Su Jinyue exclaimed, then quickly covered her mouth and whispered to Shen Huaizhi to confirm, "The Consort De who set herself on fire in the palace 18 years ago?"
Shen Huaizhi nodded affirmatively, "That's the person."
Su Jinyue was already numb. Lord Shen and Song Zhihua were childhood sweethearts, but Song Zhihua entered the palace to become a concubine of the new emperor. Then, Song Zhihua's maternal family, the Marquis of Wu'an, was executed by the new emperor for treason. In the end, Song Zhihua died in the palace, holding the prince she had given birth to.