Save my man, why does he always turn out to be the savior?

Chapter 406 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'

Consort Xian looked up at Tang Ruijing's appearance, which was so similar to that of the Qin family, and began to tremble.

At first, I felt something was off, and I felt that Tang Ruijing was very kind to me, but now, after hearing what Emperor Xinghe said, my inner suspicions seemed to be confirmed.

Tang Ruijing, is really her child!

Tang Ruiqian, standing to the side, was also completely bewildered. What did his father mean by that? Wasn't he his mother's child?

Tang Jingfan also looked surprised. He had no idea about this matter. So, Song Zhihua switched her own child with the Consort Xian's child?

Song Zhihua didn't dare look at Tang Ruiqian beside her. She retorted in a panic, "Tang Jinxuan, you're talking nonsense. How could Tang Ruijing not be my child?"

"Report—"

Just as Emperor Xinghe was about to say something to Song Zhihua, an urgent report came from outside the palace.

He turned his head and saw Qin Guan coming from the south to report.

"Your Majesty, the rebels have been captured, all nine gates of the capital have not been breached, and the palace and the capital are safe."

Upon hearing the news reported by Qin Guannan, Emperor Xinghe felt even more relaxed.

Emperor Xinghe beckoned: "It's just in time for Guan Nan to come. Come closer."

Qin Guannan was puzzled, but he still stepped forward after hearing about it.

Emperor Xinghe had Qin Guannan and Tang Ruijing stand side by side, and pointed at the two of them as he spoke to Song Zhihua.

"Look at these two faces, so similar, how dare you argue here?"

The striking resemblance between Tang Ruijing and Qin Guannan, which accounts for seven-tenths of their faces, has already proven everything.

Looking at Tang Ruiqian's face, which has absolutely no connection to the Qin family, what's there to argue about? Tang Ruijing is the child of Emperor Xinghe and Consort Xian.

Knowing that he had failed to capture the capital, Tang Jingfan knew that his plan had completely failed, the tide had turned, and there was no turning back.

Song Zhihua also lost hope. Tang Jingfan, whom she could rely on, had failed, and her own biological son had been discovered by Emperor Xinghe.

It's infuriating that all her plans were ruined just because of her face.

Song Zhihua glared at Tang Ruijing and said, "If I had known this would happen, I should have let you die in that fire!"

Hearing Song Zhihua's vicious words, Consort Xian couldn't hold back any longer. She rushed towards Song Zhihua without hesitation and slapped her twice.

"Song Zhihua, how could you be so vicious? What have I, Qin Lanxi, ever done to wrong you that you would scheme against me like this and separate my son from me for a full eighteen years?"

Song Zhihua, you're not human! ..."

With old grudges compounded by new ones, Song Zhihua couldn't help but attack her former rival. However, Su Jinyue was protecting Consort Xian, so whenever Song Zhihua tried to retaliate, Su Jinyue would stop her.

Seeing Song Zhihua, with her hair disheveled and clothes torn open, quickly defeated under the combined attack of Consort Xian and Su Jinyue, she was quickly overwhelmed.

Emperor Xinghe couldn't stand it anymore. Qin Guannan turned his face away, thinking that as long as his aunt didn't suffer any loss, everything would be fine.

Then, as if remembering something, Qin Guannan looked up and reported to Emperor Xinghe.

"Your Majesty, when I was counting the rebels, I found two suspicious people. After interrogation, I learned that these two people were Ye Jing'an from General Ye's mansion and his eldest son Ye Yunzhou."

General Ye was defeated in his campaign in the southern frontier at the beginning of the year and committed suicide out of fear of punishment. His eldest son, Ye Yunzhou, was killed in battle.

Little did they know, both of them had faked their deaths. They were actually remnants of the Song family, who had been instructed by the remaining Song forces to feign allegiance to Prince Jing.

Then, when the time was right, they rose up in rebellion, overthrew Prince Jing, and continued to serve the Song family.

Emperor Xinghe remained silent for a moment, then sighed, "The Song family was truly not unjustly destroyed. Even a centipede with a hundred legs does not die easily. I never expected that there would still be people loyal to the Song family even now."

Then, Emperor Xinghe looked at Tang Jingfan with great interest: "Prince Jing, you are so devoted to Song Zhihua that you even betrayed me for her."

I didn't expect that the Song family would look down on you, a prince, at all.

Moreover, you were unaware that Song Zhihua had switched my princes, were you?

You've opened your heart to someone, but they don't seem to treat you the same way...

Tang Jingfan looked up at Emperor Xinghe, who had pierced his heart, his eyes filled with lifelessness.

He then looked at Song Zhihua, who was lying limp on the ground, completely powerless against the beatings of Consort Xian and Su Jinyue. He wanted to say something, but his anger overwhelmed him, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Tang Jingfan felt that he had failed miserably in his life. He fell in love with the vibrant Song Zhihua when he was young and naive, but before he could express his love, she became his brother's concubine.

He was distressed and in pain, and in the end, this love twisted his mind.

He did many wrong things for Song Zhihua, and even betrayed his elder brother, whom he admired most in his youth.

However, the other party kept many things from me.

Perhaps he really loved the wrong person. When Song Zhihua gave birth, the Song family had not yet encountered trouble. However, Song Zhihua still planned and carried out the plan to switch the two princes during the delivery!

It is clear that Song Zhihua is not a kind person.

Tang Jingfan felt like a complete failure, and he even thought he could defeat his elder brother, the Emperor?

His methods are probably not worth mentioning in the eyes of the Emperor.

Judging from my brother's healthy appearance, he doesn't look like he's been poisoned at all.

So, all that illness before was just an act, right?

I was indeed no match for my elder brother.

Seeing Tang Jingfan's dejected appearance, Emperor Xinghe waved his hand dismissively, ordering his men to take Tang Jingfan and his entourage away.

Song Zhihua seemed to know that she really had no way out this time, and she struggled to crawl toward Tang Ruiqian.

"Ruiqian, my child, please, save me! I am your biological mother!"

Tang Ruiqian was startled by the scream, and then looked at Song Zhihua being dragged away, somewhat at a loss.

Emperor Xinghe frowned and ordered his men to drag Song Zhihua away immediately, so he wouldn't be an eyesore here.

Once something is done, one must be prepared to bear the consequences of failure.

Song Zhihua's previous actions still showed some maternal love in Tang Ruiqian's eyes, but now that his own life was at stake, he couldn't care less about anything else.

Tang Ruiqian watched Song Zhihua being dragged away, unsure of what to do.

"Ruiqian".

Tang Ruiqian looked up at Emperor Xinghe, his eyes filled with tears, and called out, "Father."

Emperor Xinghe walked over, sighed, and patted Tang Ruiqian's head to comfort him.

"Ruiqian, the past has nothing to do with you. You are my prince, you were, you are, and you will always be!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The first morning court session after the New Year

Emperor Xinghe announced the verdict against Tang Jingfan and his associates.

Those who participated in the rebellion, except for Tang Jingfan, were all sentenced to death for serious offenses.

Those implicated were also exiled and their homes confiscated by Emperor Xinghe.

Tang Jingfan and his descendants were exiled to the imperial mausoleum.

As a remnant of the Song family and the culprit behind the switching of princes and the confusion of the royal bloodline, Song Zhihua was naturally sentenced to death.

Faced with Emperor Xinghe's series of judgments, none of the court officials raised any objections.

Then, Emperor Xinghe waved to Xia Yuzhong, who knew it was his turn to step forward. He stepped forward and took out an imperial edict.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: ...The Fourth Prince Tang Ruijing was maliciously switched by the criminal woman Song Zhihua...Now his status as a prince is restored, and he is returned to the Virtuous Consort's side..."

Tang Ruijing's true identity was already known to the court officials at the palace banquet before the new year, and they had all anticipated that his identity would be restored.

However, after Xia Yuzhong announced the imperial edict restoring Tang Ruijing's status, he produced a second imperial edict.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Now there is a son of the Qilin, Jing, who is intelligent, wise, virtuous and talented, and is suitable to inherit the throne... Therefore, the Fourth Prince Tang Ruijing is hereby appointed as the Crown Prince... So be it!"

Unexpectedly, Emperor Xinghe actually appointed Tang Ruijing as Crown Prince. After so much strife over the succession, Emperor Xinghe remained silent, but now he suddenly issued an imperial edict?!

The court officials looked around, unsure of what to do.

However, Grand Secretary Qin and Lord Shen knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!", clearly indicating that they had already accepted the Crown Prince.

Seeing that someone had taken the lead, the other court officials, considering that among Emperor Xinghe's sons, only the newly recognized Tang Ruijing seemed suitable, all acknowledged Tang Ruijing's legitimate status.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The North, the Land of Exile

Su Jinlan had been in the exile village for less than a year, but she looked as if she had aged more than ten years.

However, thinking that she would be exonerated and return to Beijing in four years to enjoy wealth and honor, Su Jinlan was still full of hope.

Ye Jiazhou did not take good care of his health during his exile and fell ill in bed once he arrived at the exile village.

Su Jinlan's cheat system for signing in wasn't working well, so in order to survive, she ended up working as a servant to get food and preferential treatment.

Ye Jiazhou despised Su Jinlan's unchaste behavior, but he had no choice but to rely on her to survive, and in the end they could only make do with each other despite their mutual loathing.

That day, Su Jinlan managed to get two coarse cornbread buns by her own strength. Dragging her tired body, she went into the bedroom and gave one to Ye Jiazhou.

Ye Jiazhou took it and ate it silently.

The two were eating when they heard a noise outside, so Su Jinlan went out to check.

It turned out to be a yamen runner guarding them; the man simply pushed the door open and entered.

"The sinner Ye Jiaozhou, Ye Sushi, has received an imperial edict from the capital!"

Su Jinlan's eyes widened suddenly, her face filled with surprise and delight: "An imperial edict has arrived from the capital? Has the Ye family been exonerated? Can we return to the capital?"

The constables exchanged a glance and then burst into laughter.

"They've already been exiled, and they're still thinking about being exonerated?"

However, you can indeed return to the capital now. Ye Jing'an and Ye Yunzhou of the Ye family faked their deaths and defected to the rebel king Tang Jingfan, intending to rebel. They have now been captured by His Majesty.

"We're sending you back to the capital so you can be reunited as a family, and then go to the guillotine together!"

"Intending to rebel, he'll be sent to the guillotine?" Su Jinlan muttered to herself, then collapsed to the ground.

"Impossible, this is impossible! What happened to the promise of rapid advancement?"

Why did you lie to me? Everything was wrong, completely wrong!

Su Jinlan was insane. She was reborn to become someone of high status, but why was she suffering all the time, and now she was even sentenced to death?

She didn't believe it; maybe she could try again, and she was sure she could succeed!

Thinking this, Su Jinlan frantically slammed her head against the wall, finally closing her eyes as she wished.

However, the opportunity for rebirth is not always available. After Su Jinlan died, her golden finger was taken back by Su Jinyue, so her desire for rebirth was just wishful thinking.