"My real name is Qin Yi. My birth mother was Consort Rong of the palace, and my maternal grandfather was from the Zheng family, whose entire clan was executed for treason years ago."
Shen Yimin's tone was calm, but his hands, resting on his knees, slowly clenched.
Even though Mo Lian had been mentally prepared, he was still taken aback by Shen Yimin's confession.
No wonder Yimin had often been seen staring blankly at records concerning the Zheng family in the study of the prince's mansion during this period.
Shen Yimin took a deep breath and slowly recounted incidents he had witnessed firsthand during his grandfather's birthday celebration at the Zheng family's home. "At that time, although I wasn't favored by that person, I had my beloved mother and grandfather..."
Under the faint moonlight, even the night seemed to carry a tinge of sorrow.
A dim candlelight emanated from the lantern, and finally, with the passage of time, it gradually extinguished.
The moment the lantern went out, Shen Yimin's carefully maintained composure suddenly crumbled. His straight back slowly bowed.
Mo Lian couldn't see the expression on his face clearly, but he could clearly feel the sadness radiating from him.
After a long silence, Shen Yimin spoke again, "Tomorrow, Father will take me into the palace to clear the Zheng family's name and restore my identity. I will... no longer be Shen Yimin."
Mo Lian's heart jolted. He suddenly understood why the man had been restless these past few days.
"Why can't you be Shen Yimin anymore?" Mo Lian asked, his voice firm. "As long as you still acknowledge this identity, you will always be the Shen Yimin I knew in Tongmu County."
Shen Yimin instinctively turned to look at him, his expression unclear in the night.
Mo Lian didn't need to see his expression clearly to convey his meaning. "Young lady has always respected your decisions, and I have long considered you my close friend. No matter what choice you make, you will always be the Shen Yimin in our hearts."
Although he was young, he was sharp enough.
If Yimin only wanted to clear the Zheng family's name, he wouldn't have sought to reclaim his princely identity.
Shen Yimin, being intelligent himself, understood that Mo Lian had guessed his intentions.
He slowly clenched his fists, his voice tinged with an emotion he had never expressed before. "A Lian, I want that position."
Such ambitious words were not easily uttered even by the Crown Prince, yet Shen Yimin's tone was filled with unwavering resolve.
He spoke slowly, "I want to be the one at the pinnacle of Chennan Kingdom, protecting everyone I wish to protect."
"I don't want to witness my grandfather die before my eyes again, nor do I want to be separated from my mother for so many years with endless longing."
Mo Lian sat quietly beside him, a tempest brewing within his heart at Shen Yimin's words.
After an unknown period, Mo Lian let out a light chuckle. "Heh, Yimin has grand ambitions!"
He stood up, facing Shen Yimin in the moonlight, as if bathed in a glow.
"Yimin, even if the road ahead is filled with mountains of knives and seas of fire, I will accompany you through it all."
His greatest wish had been to achieve official status and provide a good life for his mother.
Now that his mother was under the care of the young lady, her later years were secured. Naturally, he was willing to face any challenges with his close friend Yimin!
Mo Lian's voice was calm, devoid of any fiery declarations, yet it carried a weight that seemed to strike Shen Yimin's heart with every word.
Looking at his dear friend before him, Shen Yimin's anxieties of the past few days seemed to dissipate in that instant.
He was no longer alone since coming to Chongzhou from Tongmu County.
He had brothers behind him, friends, a stepmother who treated them with her whole heart, and his mother waiting for him in the cold palace. He was not fighting alone.
At that moment, Shen Yimin felt an inexhaustible surge of fighting spirit and motivation.
He also stood up, facing Mo Lian. "Good. If I attain a high position, you will be my chief minister. Together, we will protect those we wish to protect!"
The promises of youth, often more sincere, pure, and profound than oaths sworn with one's life.
In this life, it is difficult to find a soulmate.
But they were fortunate to have met the best friends of their lives during their most desperate youth.
Unbeknownst to the two boys, their every word and action reached Qin Moyuan's ears within moments.
Upon hearing Shen Yimin's words, Qin Moyuan was not surprised.
If he had only wished for his family's name to be cleared after the events of that year, without taking responsibility himself, he would not have been secretly cultivating him for so many years.
Moreover, when he left Chongzhou back then, he had seen unresignation and resentment in the boy's eyes, guessing that he would definitely contend for that position upon returning to Chongzhou.
He only hoped that he would not lose his original heart in the process.
Qin Moyuan had seen too many people forget their original intentions in their pursuit of power. He did not want A'Min to become one of them.
Otherwise, A'Shu would be saddened.
...
The next morning, Qin Moyuan and Shen Yimin boarded a carriage.
This was the first time the gates of the prince's mansion had been opened since their arrival in Chongzhou.
Li Yue Shu and Mo Lian stood at the entrance to see them off.
They both knew what the two were about to do. Though no words were exchanged, the encouragement in their exchanged glances was unspoken.
The carriage slowly set off towards the highest seat of power in Chennan Kingdom.
Despite having prepared himself mentally, Shen Yimin still felt a wave of nervousness as he sat in the carriage.
But he knew that since he had decided to vie for that position, today was the first battle he had to fight, and it was the most important one.
Shen Yimin slowly adjusted his breathing, his emotions stabilizing.
Qin Moyuan had been observing his reactions. Seeing that he quickly regained his usual gentle demeanor, a hint of admiration flickered in his eyes.
The carriage slowly entered the imperial palace. The plaque of the Regent's Mansion hanging above was ostentatious and eye-catching. Everyone who passed by instinctively moved aside.
All those entering the palace were required to dismount and walk, without carrying sharp weapons.
However, throughout the entire Chennan Kingdom, only Regent Qin Moyuan was the exception.
The Regent's Mansion's carriage drove directly to the gates of the imperial court.
Before disembarking, Qin Moyuan glanced at Shen Yimin, who returned a firm nod.
And so, the Regent, who had been missing for many years, suddenly returned to court, bringing with him Prince Qin Yi, who was believed to be long dead, to vindicate the Zheng family, who had been accused of treason years ago, directly stirring up waves of controversy in the imperial court.
This morning's court session lasted for a full three hours, ultimately concluding with the Emperor issuing a decree to exonerate the Zheng family, restore Qin Yi's princely status, and release Consort Rong from the cold palace.
Exiting the imperial court and gazing at the sky enclosed by the towering city walls, Shen Yimin's eyes reddened slightly.
Grandfather, you told Zi'Min to escape this cage of Chongzhou, but Zi'Min has returned. Will you be angry?
You must be angry, but Zi'Min doesn't want to live under someone else's wing forever. Zi'Min also has people he wants to protect.
Qin Moyuan, standing behind him and observing his expression, felt a pang of sympathy for what this child had endured.
He walked over and gently patted Shen Yimin's shoulder. Although it was somewhat cruel, some words still needed to be said, "Since you've chosen this path, you must endure any hardship. There's not much this Prince can do to help you."
Given his status, any involvement in the struggles between the princes would likely throw the entire Chennan Kingdom into chaos.