frightfiction Chapter 269 Recognizing a Son
Chapter 269 Recognizing a Son
Consort Li raised an eyebrow. She knew of Qiao Qingshu's name, but had never had any interaction with her.
What is she doing here on the eve of the investiture ceremony?
Consort Li's brows furrowed slowly, and she said with some wariness,
"Go in, please come in."
She got up and, with the help of the palace maids, put on the magnificent phoenix robe.
Qiao Qingshu walked slowly over, and looking at the once incomparably noble Consort Li now wearing a phoenix robe, she couldn't help but curl her lips into a cold smile.
"This humble woman, Qiao Qingshu, pays her respects to Consort Li."
Consort Li didn't want to waste time with pleasantries and idle chatter, so she went straight to the point.
"With the grand ceremony approaching, I'm really busy. Just say what you need to say."
Qiao Qingshu smiled and tilted her head back, saying...
"Consort Li is enjoying immense prestige now, but do you still remember that child from Xiaolan Mountain?"
These words startled Consort Li, causing her to stumble backward, trip over her skirt, and nearly fall.
The maidservant behind her rushed forward to help her, but was scolded by Consort Li.
"Get out! Get out! All of you, get out!"
All the maids and eunuchs in the room were kicked out.
Only Qiao Qingshu and Consort Li remained standing in the vast palace.
Consort Li's face was filled with terror and panic; even her lips trembled as she spoke.
"Who told you all this!"
When Consort Li was still known as Li'er, she was Prince Yong's plaything in the North. When Li'er became pregnant, she happily told Prince Yong, but he coldly told her that she was not allowed to keep the child.
That was their first child. How could she be willing to abort the child like that? Feeling resentful, she ran away.
She hid in Xiaolan Mountain for a long time before giving birth to her child. She then handed the child over to a local farming family before daring to return to the Yongwang Mansion.
She lied to Prince Yong, saying that the child was gone, which is why she returned.
Seeing that she was distraught, the Prince of Yong did not pursue the matter further and soon sent her to the Nanzhao Kingdom for the imperial concubine selection.
The secret of Xiaolan Mountain is unknown to anyone; only Li'er knows the inside story.
She stared at Qiao Qingshu with a terrified look, her eyes blazing with boundless hatred.
"What exactly do you want?"
Qiao Qingshu smiled and stepped forward, saying,
"Consort Li, I am now offering you a way out. If you disappear during the coronation ceremony, the child of Xiaolan Mountain will certainly be safe and sound. But if you insist on becoming empress, you will have to bear the consequences."
Each word pierced Consort Li's heart like a needle; it was her first child, how could she bear to part with it?
After protecting the child who has been hidden for so long, must I now be sacrificed for him?
Consort Li trembled as she tried to say something, but Qiao Qingshu had already turned and left.
"Consort Li, please weigh the pros and cons carefully and make your choice."
When they returned to the front hall, Xiao Zhijie greeted them, saying with concern,
"Shu'er, did it go smoothly?"
Qiao Qingshu nodded and smiled.
"No matter what she chooses, I have a way to deal with her, so there's no need to worry."
The noisy sound of gongs and drums rose in the front hall, signaling that the auspicious time had arrived.
Music played, white flowers bloomed in celebration, and everything was ready.
Qiao Qingshu stared intently at the only passage.
Consort Li, dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe, slowly walked towards them from afar, while the old emperor on his high throne watched this scene with an expression of appreciation and pride.
Consort Li walked with trepidation, each step filled with anxiety and fear.
Her eyes searched the crowd and met those of Qiao Qingshu.
Qiao Qingshu smiled faintly at her, a smile that seemed to say, "I'm sure I'll get you."
Consort Li looked at Prince Yong again, trying to signal to him that someone was causing trouble, but Prince Yong didn't seem to notice anything unusual about her.
He looked at her with eyes full of anticipation.
Her mind was in turmoil, torn between her only child and the man she loved, Prince Yong.
Suddenly, her gaze sharpened; she saw her child in the crowd.
She would secretly visit the child who had lived in Xiaolan Mountain for ten years, bringing him food and drink once a year. The farming family didn't hide anything and told the child that she was his biological mother and they were just his adoptive mothers.
The child was always very happy to see her, and would stand on the hillside from afar, waving and calling out to her.
"Mother, Mother! I'm here!"
Her heart was stirred, and suddenly she saw the children in the crowd with expressions of surprise and delight when they saw her.
The child suddenly stood in the crowd and shouted loudly.
"Mother! Mother, I'm here!"
The child's shrill screams attracted the attention of many people, who all turned to look at the child.
Qiao Qingshu gently patted the child's head, and the child, as if greatly encouraged, pounced on Consort Li.
The little boy hugged Li Fei's leg and said sweetly,
"Mother, I miss you so much. You haven't come to see me in so long."
The entire hall was shocked. Consort Li also hurriedly pushed the child away, but the child stuck to her leg like a leech.
Consort Li looked panicked and glanced at the old emperor.
The old emperor stared at her and the child at her feet with a cold expression.
Even the Prince Yong, sitting to the side, frowned deeply and stared at her with a vicious look.
In her haste, she shoved the child away.
"Where did this wild child come from! Men, drag him away right now!"
Several guards immediately stepped forward to pull the child away, but the old emperor rebuked them.
"Bring it up to me!"
The guards, of course, obeyed the emperor's orders, picked up the child, and brought him before the old emperor.
The old emperor stared coldly at the little boy, who was a spitting image of Consort Li.
The entire court of civil and military officials were all discussing it amongst themselves.
"This child calls Consort Li 'Mother,' and the child looks to be around ten years old. Does that mean Consort Li gave birth to this child before she entered the palace?"
"Perhaps it's not Consort Li's child, or perhaps they've called the wrong name?"
"Take a closer look, the blood relation between mother and child is undeniable; they look almost exactly alike!"
"Yes! This child looks so much like Consort Li. If you said he wasn't her child, no one would believe it."
"But why do I feel that this child also resembles Prince Yong somewhat?"
Upon hearing this, everyone stared in surprise at the person who had raised the question, who immediately covered his mouth and dared not say another word.
The old emperor gazed at that familiar face; the child was almost certainly Consort Li's.
He sighed deeply and shot a fierce look at Consort Li.
Consort Li shrank back in fright, looking very timid.
The old emperor waved his hand and said...
"Someone, perform a blood test to determine kinship."
Several guards and eunuchs rushed forward; some grabbed the little boy, while others dragged Consort Li up.