12dz Chapter 383 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'
Chapter 383 The Prince's Mystery: The Cannon Fodder Bride Forced into a Substitute Marquis'
Emperor Xinghe was anxious and wanted to speak up in his defense, but Shen Huaizhi stopped him by raising his hand.
"You don't need to explain, just listen to me. I understand that identity is the original sin."
When I was little, I envied my younger brother. He had a mother who loved him and a father who taught him. I thought that I was unloved because I was not worthy of these things because of my status.
After getting married, I had a wife, and I thought that I didn't necessarily need to beg for their love, so I decided to stay away.
However, the Song family suddenly came and told me that I was not a child of the Marquis of Xuanping's family, but rather the child of Song Zhihua and you.
However, after learning the truth, I wasn't happy because I found that the situation hadn't changed.
I am still that child who was not wanted by my parents, and even my birth was a mistake..."
Emperor Xinghe seemed to have something stuck in his throat; he wanted to explain, but didn't know what to say.
He could only mutter, "It's not like that, it's not like that..."
Emperor Xinghe regretted it. He shouldn't have let the child stay in the Xuanping Marquis's residence because of a momentary hesitation and his dislike for Song Zhihua.
If Shen Huaizhi had grown up in the palace, he might not have received emotional reciprocation, but at least he would have lived a better life materially.
Emperor Xinghe wondered why he hesitated. The Song family was gone. Even if Shen Huaizhi had Song family blood, how much turmoil could he cause?
If Shen Huaizhi had been brought back to the palace back then, and Emperor Xinghe had seen how much he resembled the Qin family members, perhaps he would have discovered the fact that the two had been switched earlier, and things wouldn't be in such a passive situation now.
Emperor Xinghe wanted to explain that your identity was not a sin. You are the child of me and Consort Xian. You should have received a lot of love. Everything that Qian'er should have now should be yours.
However, eighteen years have passed, and even if things are set right now, the wounds caused by the past will not be easy to heal.
Mentioning the favor and privileges bestowed upon his adopted son again seems to be another blow to Shen Huaizhi.
Emperor Xinghe was heartbroken. These were all his children. Shen Huaizhi had saved his adopted son before, and he couldn't bring up the son's favored status again, lest it cause resentment in Shen Huaizhi and create a rift between the brothers.
Emperor Xinghe gripped Shen Huaizhi's hand tightly, disregarding everything else, and said, "I was wrong. Come, come back to the palace with me now, and I will restore your status as a prince immediately."
Shen Huaizhi was somewhat bewildered. Had he gone a bit too far in complaining? Had Emperor Xinghe forgotten that he was still an emperor, acting so recklessly in response to the provocation?
Shen Huaizhi grabbed Emperor Xinghe's hand and hurriedly said, "Father, there's no rush regarding our identities. The Song family is still eyeing the royal family covetously. It's best not to alert them now."
Emperor Xinghe was suddenly stunned, and looked straight up at Shen Huaizhi: "What did you call me?"
Shen Huaizhi, not understanding, repeated, "Father, don't worry, this matter needs to be discussed in detail."
Emperor Xinghe's expression was a mixture of sorrow and joy. He felt happy that Shen Huaizhi had called him father, and even more so, he was gratified that the other party was still thinking of him at this time.
Then, Emperor Xinghe felt an overwhelming hatred for Song Zhihua. It was all because of her and the Song family that his child had been left alone for eighteen years, that father and son had been separated, and that they had not been able to enjoy family life.
Overwhelmed with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow, Emperor Xinghe finally coughed up the blood that had been stuck in his throat.
Shen Huaizhi saw Emperor Xinghe vomit blood, and then Emperor Xinghe's body went limp and he collapsed to the ground.
Shen Huaizhi's eyes showed horror. He stepped forward, hugged Emperor Xinghe, and called out "Father" repeatedly. Xia Yuzhong was also panicked when he saw Emperor Xinghe vomiting blood. Everyone around was in chaos.
Seeing that he couldn't wake Emperor Xinghe, Shen Huaizhi seemed to remember something and quickly sent someone to call Su Jinyue.
When Su Jinyue returned from catching fish, she saw this chaotic scene.
Upon learning that it was Emperor Xinghe who was in trouble, Su Jinyue rushed to him, grabbed his wrist, and began to take his pulse.
At this moment, Su Jinyue no longer cared about hiding her medical skills. All she knew was that Emperor Xinghe could not be harmed, at least not in front of her and Shen Huaizhi.
After taking his pulse, Su Jinyue breathed a sigh of relief. He was no longer in immediate danger, but Emperor Xinghe's condition was quite critical.
Su Jinyue took out silver needles and inserted them into Emperor Xinghe's body several times. Emperor Xinghe's complexion visibly improved.
As Su Jinyue removed the silver needles, she said to Shen Huaizhi and Xia Yuzhong beside her, "It's a good thing that he vomited blood due to anger, but he also has other symptoms. It's not convenient here; it would be best to go to the estate..."
At this moment, Emperor Xinghe also recovered. He lay in Shen Huaizhi's arms and winked at Xia Yuzhong, meaning to do as the other party said.
Since there are no objections, let's all go back to the estate.
After settling Emperor Xinghe in and dismissing his attendants, only Emperor Xinghe, Xia Yuzhong, Su Jinyue, and Shen Huaizhi remained in the room.
Shen Huaizhi hadn't forgotten what Su Jinyue had said. Judging from her words, Emperor Xinghe's health was also in trouble.
"Jinyue, is there something wrong with Father's health?"
Su Jinyue raised an eyebrow, not expecting that Shen Huaizhi would call for his father so soon, after only half a day.
Shen Huaizhi also noticed Su Jinyue's surprise. He felt helpless; he had only blurted it out in a moment of panic, and now that he had admitted it, it wouldn't be good to change it.
Su Jinyue looked at Emperor Xinghe lying on the bed, her eyes showing some hesitation, as if she didn't know whether she should tell him the truth.
Emperor Xinghe noticed that Su Jinyue seemed hesitant, and quickly said, "Just say it, I can handle it."
Su Jinyue's eyelids twitched. This father and son were both incredibly impolite.
Su Jinyue took a deep breath and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you've been poisoned!"
"Poisoning?!" x3
Shen Huaizhi and Xia Yuzhong never expected that Emperor Xinghe, as an emperor, would be poisoned.
Emperor Xinghe was initially surprised, but then seemed to be deep in thought. He had indeed been ill for the past six months, and the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital had treated him repeatedly, but he still could not get better.
If we say he was poisoned, then that would be somewhat reasonable.
After the three of them finished expressing their surprise, Su Jinyue continued, "This poison is a slow-acting poison that gradually erodes your body and is not easy to diagnose."
You've been poisoned for quite some time, at least half a year.
You've probably been getting sick frequently during this period, but the doctor can only treat you based on the symptoms you're experiencing, without being able to find the root cause.
Treating the symptoms only doesn't address the root cause, and your condition will only worsen.
At this point, Su Jinyue glanced at Shen Huaizhi and continued, "Most importantly, the poison you've been afflicted with is the same one as one of the poisons my husband has been afflicted with!"
Shen Huaizhi looked surprised and suspicious. He hadn't expected that Emperor Xinghe and he had been poisoned by the same kind of poison, which meant that the person who poisoned them was also the same.
There don't seem to be many people who connect Emperor Xinghe with Shen Huaizhi.
Emperor Xinghe had reviewed Shen Huaizhi's previous medical records, but he felt that Shen Huaizhi's symptoms seemed different from his own. Emperor Xinghe thought this, and that's why he asked the question.