Lately, Ah Du couldn’t help but notice that the name Wei Yao had been coming up in Yun Shang’s conversations far more often than before. It made him feel a little uneasy.
Ever since arriving at the palace, so many things seemed to have changed. Yun Shang’s world was no longer just him; there were other people now. He was no longer the only one by her side.
Every time he thought of this, a pang of bitterness filled his heart. All he wanted was to be the only one by his sister’s side.
“Wei Yao is His Majesty’s former favored consort. She’s now been neglected and, when she first saw me, she seemed to hold some resentment—as if she thought I had seduced His Majesty, causing him to ignore her. She even sent several letters to Duke An, asking him to investigate our identities. Ah Du, what do you think we should do? Should we just let it be?”
Yun Shang’s eyes narrowed slightly. Could Duke An have truly forgotten everything from all those years ago? Had he really forgotten that he had a son?
Well, it made sense. His children now each had significant roles to play. Losing one son from the past probably didn’t matter much to him—he’d likely just written it off as gone.
“I dislike whoever my sister dislikes.”
Ah Du’s gaze lingered on Wei Yao’s retreating figure, a trace of coldness and disdain in his eyes. He had a strange feeling, as if this person was not as simple as she appeared.
“Didn’t you have something you weren’t telling me, sister? Who exactly is this person? What does she have to do with me? And that Duke An—who is he, and how is he related to me? Why are you still hiding this from me?”
Pain flickered in Ah Du’s eyes. Those old, painful memories came rushing back.
He understood why Yun Shang had been bringing up these two people so often—they must have a huge connection to him.
“Ah Du, you’re very smart. You’ve already guessed, haven’t you? Duke An is your biological father, and Wei Yao… may be your sister. That’s why I brought you here—because one day, you’ll have to face them, won’t you?”
Back in the Heavenly Mechanism Palace, Ah Du still looked somewhat glum. Yun Shang comforted him gently. Even though he had grown older, seeing him now was like seeing the small, helpless child he once was.
If certain matters were left unresolved, they could cast a shadow over his heart for life. She knew this very well.
“Sister, are you worried I’ll be upset when I learn this? I’m not. I feel nothing. Because I have no ties or feelings for them.”
Ah Du’s expression was honest and unflinching. “I know you’re concerned about me, but you needn’t worry. I only feel hatred toward them. Even if Duke An truly is my father, what of it? He abandoned my mother, letting me be sold to some remote place and endure endless humiliation. In my heart, he might as well be dead.”
Those past pains felt like a dream now, distant and unreal. He only knew that his life had once plunged into darkness, as if he would never awaken.
Yet Yun Shang suddenly appeared in his world, and everything became filled with endless spring light.
“I know you’ve always been an obedient child. From the day you were born, you’ve quietly stayed by my side, never requiring me to worry or exert effort.”
Yun Shang sighed with emotion. With the system at her side, it felt as though everything could be properly handled, so she had never truly been anxious.
But in this world, every second was intensely real. These people were real, and she witnessed Ah Du grow from a small child into a young man, watching as the resentment in his heart gradually faded.
Recalling the original world’s plot, Ah Du would have been consumed by hatred, seeking revenge, only to have that hatred ultimately crush him.
But now? He could speak of these matters calmly—even knowing that the person before him was his sister, and that Duke An was his father—yet remain composed. This proved that her years of guidance had been effective.
“Father truly does favor the Heavenly Maiden and the Grand Tutor. At first, I didn’t believe it—I thought it was just amusing. But it’s been so long, and Father’s interest hasn’t waned; if anything, it’s grown.”
The Third Prince spoke with a hint of disdain. This so-called Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor were clearly nothing more than brazen impostors.
That Father could be fooled, perhaps, was understandable—old age made him more credulous—but that didn’t mean he should be deceived for a lifetime by these two.
“Your Highness, don’t worry. Father and I are already investigating the origins of the Heavenly Maiden and the Grand Tutor. There must be traces of their past lives. If they are truly impostors, the day of revelation will come. When His Majesty realizes he’s been deceived by these two, what face will he have? How could they escape justice?”
Recently, the An Duke’s residence had received many letters from the palace—either Wei Yao complaining that the emperor neglected her, or claiming that the Heavenly Maiden was deliberately seducing the emperor. The goal was always the same: to uncover the true origins of the Heavenly Maiden, and to determine whether she really possessed magical abilities.
Wei Heng, the Duke’s son, was on friendly terms with the Third Prince. Now, not only did Wei Yao dislike the Heavenly Maiden, but the Third Prince had also developed suspicions of the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor. This gave them a perfectly legitimate reason to investigate the pair.
“You’re thinking too simply,” the Third Prince said, his expression serious.
He knew his father too well. Once his father set his mind on something, no amount of evidence could sway him.
Having already decided that the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor possessed mystical powers and knew all things in the world, if they could not be exposed with a mistake, then all efforts by others would be in vain.
“And what do you propose we do, Your Highness?”
Wei Heng nodded slightly, acknowledging the reasoning, but considering his sister’s wishes, he still intended to investigate. Knowing the truth would at least provide clarity.
The Third Prince targeted the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor because he feared his father had been deceived.
If it were merely seduction, it might be tolerable. But if the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor were being bribed or manipulated by other princes, it could affect the succession to the throne—a matter far greater than the heavens themselves.
To prevent the Heavenly Maiden and Grand Tutor from being used by other brothers, it was better to deal with them now, removing a potential threat in advance.