Qin Moyuan looked at the portrait on the table, a hidden current surging in his eyes. "After the blood-dripping paternity test, her last hope was shattered, and she threw herself to death in the cold palace."
"And I was also supposed to be drowned," he paused. "My imperial brother saved me, and it was he who painstakingly raised me when he himself could barely survive."
"Everyone disdained my birth, but my imperial brother was different. When I envied others for celebrating birthdays, my imperial brother promised me that he would prepare gifts for me every year on my birthday, and he kept his word."
It was just that the gifts became increasingly extravagant, yet he never felt the joy he had when receiving gifts in the cold palace back then.
Qin Moyuan's voice gradually softened. "Imperial brother wove a dream for me. He told me that our mother loved us dearly, that she lost favor due to being framed, and that she threw herself to death in the cold palace to save me."
"But paper can't wrap fire forever..."
As he gradually gained power, he uncovered the truth of those years himself.
However, the only thing he couldn't uncover was who his biological father truly was.
At this moment, Li Yue Shu suddenly understood why Qin Moyuan trusted and depended on the Emperor so much.
Regarding the Zheng family's affairs, although the Emperor was heartless and muddled, for Qin Moyuan, he was truly a good brother.
At least, he had raised Qin Moyuan with love.
Li Yue Shu didn't know how to comfort him, nor what she could do to help him.
All the relatives who could have confirmed Qin Moyuan's paternal bloodline were dead. It was impossible...
Wait, there was still the former Crown Prince!
The former Crown Prince was the son of the late Emperor. If they could prove the former Crown Prince and Qin Moyuan were brothers, then it could be proven that he was the son of the late Emperor.
Li Yue Shu glanced at Qin Moyuan hesitantly and asked, "Do you still want to know who your biological father is now?"
Seeing her gaze, Qin Moyuan seemed to understand her meaning instantly.
He glanced at the portrait on the table, then shook his head.
"It's not important anymore," Qin Moyuan's eyes were filled with frankness. "Those who cared about it are all dead. Those who are alive have no need to be trapped by these matters."
Li Yue Shu was somewhat surprised that he could see things so clearly.
Perhaps her suspicious expression was too obvious, Qin Moyuan couldn't help but explain, "Actually, I used to care a lot. Otherwise, I wouldn't have kept her portrait and yet dared not open it."
He looked at the portrait again, a hint of composure evident in his expression.
His gaze shifted to Li Yue Shu, his eyes seeming to twinkle with starlight. "After meeting you, and seeing all you've done for the children, I suddenly came to terms with it."
"Blood ties are important, but more important is the care and sincerity that a family has for each other when they are together. Since they didn't love me, why should I waste my energy on these people?"
A smile played on Qin Moyuan's lips, his gentle eyes seeming to overflow with tenderness. "I only need to care about those who truly care about me."
"Bang bang bang!"
For a moment, Li Yue Shu seemed to hear her own heartbeat.
She felt a tightening sensation in her hand and jolted back to awareness.
She looked down and saw that their hands were clasped tightly together.
When had they held hands?!
Li Yue Shu quickly withdrew her hand, feeling her cheeks and palms grow hot.
She suddenly stood up, her eyes darting away. "Um... it's getting late, I'll go back to bed now."
Saying that, without waiting for Qin Moyuan's reply, she quickly picked up the lantern and left the study.
The smile on Qin Moyuan's lips deepened, and all his gloom seemed to dissipate.
He suddenly felt that all the misfortunes of the first half of his life were meant to accumulate luck, to meet someone as wonderful as Ah Shu.
Qin Moyuan, who had been depressed all day, felt his mood instantly improve because of the midnight cake.
He was even too excited to sleep all night.
In the end, it was the unlucky tool, Xing He, who suffered.
Had His Highness taken the wrong medicine? Why did he always insist on practicing swordplay in the middle of the night!!!
Xing He wanted to cry but dared not resist.
He still hadn't understood why His Highness had punished him before. Now, he was cautious in everything he did, for fear of angering His Highness again.
Compared to Xing He's miserable state, Qin Moyuan, who had also stayed up all night, appeared refreshed and spirited the next day when he went to Ru Mo Residence.
Everyone could sense his good mood but didn't understand why.
Yesterday, the sixth day, was His Highness's least favorite day. How could he be so happy today?
Qin Moyuan felt their gazes and actually took the initiative to boast, "Ah Shu came to celebrate my birthday yesterday."
"She made a birthday cake specifically for me, and only the two of us ate it."
"She knew I didn't like celebrating birthdays, so she waited until after midnight to come."
Everyone: "..."
Was this really the Regent?
Had he been possessed?
Even the usually steady Chai Yang couldn't help but contort his expression.
Fortunately, Qin Moyuan didn't torment them either. He happily went to find Li Yue Shu.
However, Li Yue Shu was currently busy researching the Crimson Flame Vine and didn't pay him much attention.
As the saying goes, heaven rewards the diligent, and Li Yue Shu, being a diligent and talented person, truly found a way to detoxify.
However, she still needed a few more medicinal ingredients that were unique to this world.
Li Yue Shu listed the ingredients. Qin Moyuan glanced at the list and directly said, "The palace has all these things."
Li Yue Shu was overjoyed. "Really? That's great, can you get them?"
Qin Moyuan nodded affirmatively. "I will go to the palace tomorrow to retrieve them."
He knew how eager Ah Shu was about detoxification, so he dared not delay and entered the palace early the next day.
Qin Moyuan always had unimpeded access to the imperial palace. Even when he needed to retrieve items from the imperial treasury, no one dared to stop him.
He had intended to take the items and leave, but shortly after coming out, Cao Zhuang hurried over, saying that the Emperor wished to see him in the Imperial Study.
Qin Moyuan did not refuse, but he still had someone send the medicinal ingredients back to the prince's mansion before following Cao Zhuang to the Imperial Study.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Study, the Emperor was still in court. After serving tea, Cao Zhuang quickly returned to his post.
In the entire Chen Nan Kingdom, Qin Moyuan was the only one who could remain alone in this Imperial Study.
Qin Moyuan casually picked up a book from a bookshelf that others dared not touch and began to read while waiting for the Emperor to finish court.
The Emperor did not make him wait long, returning about fifteen minutes later.
However, he was accompanied by an old man carrying a medicine chest.
"Ah Yuan, I heard you went to retrieve some medicinal ingredients. Are you feeling unwell? I've called the head of the Imperial Hospital. Let him examine you quickly."
Before he could sit down, the Emperor spoke hurriedly.
The old man behind him respectfully bowed. "Your humble servant greets the Regent."
"Rise," Qin Moyuan closed the book, somewhat helplessly. "Imperial brother, your subject took those medicinal ingredients for another purpose, not for himself."
Hearing this, the Emperor seemed to recall something and waved his hand at the head of the Imperial Hospital.
The latter quickly left with his medicine chest, not daring to show any dissatisfaction.
After all the palace attendants in the Imperial Study had left, with only Cao Zhuang remaining, the Emperor finally spoke. "You took those medicinal ingredients for that woman in the prince's mansion?"