April was a month of continuous major events.
First, there was the uproar Prince Ning caused in court upon his return to the capital, followed closely by the release of the spring imperial examination results. Although the top three scholars were not much to look at, the subsequent rankings saw many talented young men. It was rumored that influential officials had already scouted potential daughters-in-law, and while the "catching a son-in-law at the exam" tradition didn't immediately lead to weddings, several marriage announcements had already emerged before April concluded.
Each of these events could have been a topic of widespread discussion for a long time.
However, with a sudden "boom," the imperial family unexpectedly dropped a bombshell, shaking the capital thrice over.
The Emperor declared to the world that he had found his long-lost seventh prince, who was none other than the eldest young master of the Guangling Marquis's mansion, Gu Yan Chen, now the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He also decreed that the Ministry of Rites should prepare grand ceremonies for the seventh prince to be formally recognized by his ancestors.
Not only others, but the person involved himself was utterly bewildered.
Even after the blood test confirmed his father-son relationship with Emperor Chang Wu, Gu Yan Chen still felt disoriented. In the imperial study, he said to Emperor Chang Wu, who wore a face full of affectionate tenderness, "Your Majesty, please calm down. If my birth mother were truly Consort Rong, how could she have become my father's concubine?"
A palace consort remarrying – such a massive insult to the Emperor's honor, and he was broadcasting it to the world instead of hiding it? Did the royal family still care about their reputation?
Furthermore, wouldn't the Guangling Marquis's entire household be executed for this?
"The mother you speak of was your mother's lady-in-waiting, Ling Long," Emperor Chang Wu's smile faded slightly. "Your mother, Consort Rong, was once favored above all others in the harem. Jealous of her, other consorts, taking advantage of my absence on a pilgrimage, conspired to frame her, intending to kill her before my return. Fortunately, the person I assigned to her was skilled. Hong Dou donned your mother's clothes and died in that fire. Ling Long fled the palace with Consort Rong and you, though for some reason, you later became separated."
"Then where is Consort Rong?"
"There is no news of her yet."
Gu Yan Chen was adept at grasping the crucial points: "So my father knew from the beginning that I wasn't his biological son? Then why did he acknowledge me as his eldest son and register me under his principal wife?"
The title of eldest son by the principal wife carried significant weight. Firstly, a noble title was typically inherited by the eldest son. Even family property mostly went to the eldest son, with other children receiving only a portion to establish themselves.
The Marquis of Guangling wasn't foolish enough to acknowledge a son and then have him seize his biological son's inheritance.
Emperor Chang Wu coughed. "When the Marquis of Guangling met Ling Long, he had just been diagnosed with infertility... but somehow, he was later cured."
Gu Yan Chen: ...
What a massive revelation. If he weren't the protagonist, he would have savored this gossip with great delight. But with it happening to him, he felt completely overwhelmed. He looked up at the ceiling wordlessly, never imagining that a nonsensical joke he'd made would actually come true.
He really was the Emperor's lost son.
No wonder the Emperor had shown him special favor from the start and lectured him at every opportunity.
Emperor Chang Wu asked, "Do you have any other questions?"
Gu Yan Chen had lost the capacity to think and listlessly asked, "When did you find out?"
"The moment I first saw you. You bore at least an eighty percent resemblance to your mother."
"Then how come no one recognized me after so many years in the capital?"
Emperor Chang Wu sighed. "Consort Rong was a singer I brought back from Jiangnan during my southern tour. She had no acquaintances in the capital. That year, during the palace banquet, she was suffering from morning sickness and did not attend. Therefore, besides those in the palace, no one outside had seen her. And Gu Rong never brought you to any palace banquets, so naturally, no one recognized you."
Gu Yan Chen: ...
He left the palace in a daze.
Lu Nian Fu, who had already received the news, was also in a daze. Was Heaven playing a joke on her?
She had eagerly anticipated leaning on the seventh prince's power to contend with Si Tu Jue. But then the news told her Gu Yan Chen was merely a marquis's son, and not even a favored one, someone who could never contend with Si Tu Jue.
After finally accepting this scenario and peacefully deciding to avoid Si Tu Jue, even refraining from earning too much money.
Well, with a sudden "boom," the shocking news told her Gu Yan Chen was indeed the Emperor's son.
History had finally converged with her past life. Lu Nian Fu looked up at the clear blue sky, feeling as if another thunderclap would strike at any moment.
The thunder didn't come, but a dazed prince did. Their eyes met. Gu Yan Chen pulled at the corner of his mouth. "Congratulations, Madam. You're going to be a prince's consort. Tsk, how do you manage to pick such good husbands?"
Lu Nian Fu's lips twitched. All her emotions were instantly thrown to the winds. "Are you praising me or yourself?"
"Why must it be one or the other? Can't I praise us both?"
"Yes, why not? You're a prince, so naturally, you have the final say." She curtsied in response. "Your humble servant greets the Seventh Prince. May Your Highness live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years."
Gu Yan Chen: ...
"Speak normally."
Lu Nian Fu sighed. "I'm afraid I'll have to speak to you like this from now on, or it would be disrespectful to the royal family."
"Husband and wife are one. Haven't you heard of the wife sharing in the husband's glory? Our affairs are our own, and no outsider has the right to comment."
His tone was blunt and far from gentle, but Lu Nian Fu still felt a sweetness in her heart.