By now, the news of what happened to Prince Deng's family had spread throughout the entire Palace. In fact, there was no other topic people were discussing more than this. Especially since Bahuan was still under the close care of the royal doctors. They had successfully set the broken bone in her thigh, but she suffered a severe spinal injury, and no one was certain she would ever walk again.
Dowager Ruyan had personally gone to visit them at the hospital, including Prince Deng, who himself was badly battered by Husan's attack. As she was leaving, escorted by Daneen and her loyal attendants such as Banou, King Yibo's entourage approached the clinic as well.
Dowager Ruyan's gaze fixed on him for a long moment—the way he walked with unshaken pride and authority, the powerful scent that reached them even before he did. But there was a storm buried beneath his expression, darker than usual, revealing a hidden weight he carried.
She lowered her eyes, smiling warmly as a rush of affection surged through her heart again. She loved her grandson with a force she could hardly measure.
The kneeling of her attendants snapped her back to the moment; King Yibo had already reached them. She bowed her head in respect. His eyes had already fallen on her from the moment he approached. Yet he could not stop for her....not when he's the King now, not her grandson. Deep within him, he cherished this woman with a kind of love he allowed no one else to understand.
After they entered, she turned to Daneen with a small smile. Daneen smiled back, but said nothing as they headed toward their car.
His face was rigid, carved with a threatening sternness that reflected the overwhelming authority he now carried. Prince Deng stood speechless before him, unable to even raise his eyes. King Yibo's presence felt more commanding than ever. He had walked in without saying a single word, the sharpness of his gaze hidden behind dark glasses meant to conceal the storm beneath.
Only Prince Aoying spoke, updating him on the situation, while King Yibo remained silent, his mind seemingly divided somewhere far beyond the room.
After about five minutes they moved to Bahuan's room. Upon seeing that King Yibo himself had come to visit, Bahuan burst into tears. He only closed his eyes briefly, and it was Prince Aoying who tried to comfort her. They stayed no longer than a few minutes before leaving.
Prince Langya and Prince Aoying returned with him to his private living room, along with his most trusted guard who never left his side, and heavily armed security guards.
Everywhere they passed, attendants dropped to their knees, their hearts swelling with pride despite not being able to see his face clearly. It was an honor just to glimpse their king once... even if he would never reveal his face to them again.
A few minutes after they entered, the Chief of Security requested permission to come in. Already informed of his arrival, Prince Aoying respectfully notified King Yibo and apologized for the urgency. King Yibo signaled for him to enter.
Prince Langya clenched his jaw in irritation, shooting Prince Aoying a sharp side glance.
The security chief bowed deeply and offered his greetings, which were answered on King Yibo's behalf by his trusted aide. He sat where Prince Aoying indicated, lowering his head again in respect as he handed over three files.
"We have completed the investigation as promised," he reported. "We apologize for the delay due to certain complications. These are the files of all three cases. We have successfully identified the servant who smuggled the royal consort from the prison and threw him into the swimming pool. He is now in custody, as he was caught on Monday night attempting to flee the empire."
"We identified him through the fingerprints we recovered on the prison door, which matched one of our recorded samples. He confirmed that he had been used by someone, although he does not know who. He also admitted that this was not the first task of a similar nature he was ordered to carry out. The second file concerns the murder of Prince Maiqing…"
A heavy, painful thud struck Prince Langya's chest, as if his heart would burst through his ribs.
Unaware of the emotional storm in the room, the Chief of Security continued,
"…we discovered that he was taken to a back room near the old prison, where he was brutally tortured and killed. During our investigation of the room, we recovered his ring, shards of broken glass from one lens of his eyeglasses, along with the uniform of the servant who tortured him. The DNA traces from his eyes confirmed match with the killer. The delay in our report came from identifying the servant responsible, because he had fully concealed his face during the act. He also claims he was manipulated by someone, but he refuses to reveal who...most likely because he knows them personally, unlike the first suspect."
Prince Langya nearly lost control of his bladder; his entire body trembled violently as he fought to stay composed.
The Chief continued:
"The third file concerns the source of the poisoned milk that was delivered to the Royal Consort's Chamber...."
(We are dead, Deng.) Langya mind screamed in terror. He forced down a dry swallow, struggling to catch breath that seemed to escape his lungs.
"The milk originated from the Southern Residential Wings of the palace. It was transported from there to the Great Lady quarters with falsified documentation. Therefore, our suspect must be among the six household staff listed in the file. On the night in question, one of our officers witnessed a figure in disguise exiting through a hidden passage unknown even to us. We have tracked four individuals connected to this route, but their identities are still unclear due to their disguises. However, this is not an issue...we have reliable means of confirming their identities and are proceeding carefully to avoid mistakes. The good news for this case is that the person who provided the snake venom has been arrested. He was taken into custody early this morning."
For the first time, King Yibo allowed a slow, thin smile to escape....so chilling that Prince Langya felt his vision blur. He wished he could close his eyes and find himself anywhere but here: in his own wing, at Prince Deng's clinic, or even at that spiritual Barbushi's den...anywhere but under King Yibo's gaze.
Prince Aoying could only rub the back of his neck, stunned by how unreal everything sounded....like a scene from a dramatic film.
King Yibo's trusted aide Ghazi felt a surge of satisfaction, especially witnessing that rare and priceless smile on his ruler's face. And beyond that, they were all eager to see justice served after they nearly spent a month of suffering in the prison interrogations.
Ghazi had long believed that the Royal Consort Zhan could not have carried out such an act alone...there must have been a far more dangerous mastermind behind it. And now he felt a deep protective sympathy toward Zhan, especially after realizing there was something unspoken between him and the King, despite King Yibo's attempts to hide it.
And truly, no one knew King Yibo as well as he did apart from Zhan. They were separated only by sleep...unless the King locked himself in his room for an entire day. On any normal day, he saw the King more than five times, far more than anyone else except Zhan himself.
He began delivering formal praise to the chief of security's, honoring him and his efforts, while King Yibo remained silent after the smile. The aide spoke in his stead, as his voice was understood to represent the King directly.
And for him, that smile alone was enough proof that the King genuinely approved of the security team's work... even without speaking a word.
Prince Langya's body was drenched in sweat, his sight swimming with dizziness. He stole a quick glance at King Yibo, but the King's expression showed no interest in him...nor did Prince Aoying's. His throat felt painfully tight, and he somehow stayed seated until the Chief finished and left.
There was no sign that King Yibo intended to comment further. Prince Aoying then cautiously steered the discussion toward Prince Deng and his family...and toward the Prince's child who was still in Dowager Ruyan's wing.
Prince Langya struggled to keep his composure while speaking, terrified of provoking King Yibo into turning on him instead. Because he knew better than anyone: King Yibo was terrifyingly unpredictable, every ounce the fierce son of his father, only even more unyielding.
The conversation lasted a while longer, and it was nearly 7 p.m. before they adjourned.
In a state of overwhelming panic, Prince Langya rushed to the clinic. He was relieved to find Prince Deng awake and asking why he looked so shaken.
Instead of answering, he burst out,
"Arrange for your discharge from this clinic tonight."
Prince Deng stared at him in confusion.
"Discharge? Have you seen the state I'm in? That brat nearly cracked my skull open. My neck—if they hadn't put this brace on, I swear it would have snapped."
He gestured to the medical support around his neck.
Prince Langya scoffed, fighting the urge to choke him himself.
"What Husan did to you is nothing compared to what's about to hit your life."
Lowering his voice sharply, wary of being overheard, he added,
"If you stay here another two hours, regret will be your closest companion forever...that is, if that merciless King even lets you leave alive."
With that, he stormed out of the room in quick, frantic steps.
★… ★….
Instead of returning to his own quarters, King Yibo took the hidden route and entered Dowager Ruyan's wing. She looked up to find him standing there. He often visited her this way, but usually at dawn, not at night.
She watched him quietly, full of concern. He walked away from the golden armchair he had sat on earlier and slowly lowered himself onto the soft carpet beside her, resting his head on her lap. His eyes drifted shut, and from the tension in his face she could tell his worries had grown even deeper than earlier.
A gentle smile softened her expression.
(Ah… and tonight he wants to be spoiled, she thought.)
Outwardly, she simply placed a hand over his thick dark hair and began to massage his head slowly.
His eyes relaxed further, heavy with exhaustion and the pull of sleep. Nearly three minutes passed before she spoke softly:
"Who laid a hand on my Lion?"
He didn't move, silent for several seconds. Then his eyes opened slightly, hazy with fatigue. He turned his face away, expression clouding.
She cupped his face between her palms with a warm smile.
"Oh, oh… my beautiful Lion, tell me."
He shut his eyes briefly, then muttered with difficulty,
"I just wanted to feel your warmth, Grandma."
"Hmmm. And what about my other grandson? Why did you leave him alone?"
He stayed silent again, as though refusing to answer. Then, with a deep frown, he turned away.
"He's noisy. And he talks too much."
Dowager Ruyan couldn't help laughing softly, still composed and dignified.
"Oh my....and you dislike noise and chatter. Well, I'm glad...maybe he'll teach you how to answer five out of every ten questions. That would be wonderful, because he's your perfect match."
Her voice was filled with warmth and delight. Deep inside, King Yibo smiled as well, struck again by how deeply his beloved grandmother cared for the noisy boy. He had never doubted her sincerity...if she loved someone, she did with her whole being; and if she hated someone, it was equally true.
As if reading his thoughts, she continued stroking his hair, still smiling.
"Yibo, I truly love that boy. I don't even know why. Something about him reminds me of many things...strange things. He has a way of getting into the heart, and there is something mysterious about him. This is the third time I have secretly sent people to locate his parents, and every time I am told they are not home. On the last search, I uncovered the real reason they left their house. I even traced his grandfather to their old village....only to find no trace of them there either.
I'm afraid someone in this palace may have orchestrated something terrible involving them. What happened between you and that boy was planned. You won't understand that unless you let yourself get close to him.
And that closeness is now my greatest wish. More than anything, I want to see a bond of blood between you. Every time I think about it, the image of that boy appears in my heart as the one destined to be the mother of your children."
The conviction in her voice made him slowly open his eyes and look at her...a serious, steady gaze. He sat up, facing her completely, silent.
She had already given up expecting an answer.
But then, softly, he said,
"Grandma."
"Yes, my Lion?"
She replied gently.
His sharp eyes, calm but luminous, lifted to hers....tonight carrying a deeper shade than usual. In a voice pushed from deep within, he asked the question she never imagined would come from him:
"The birthmark shaped like a dot...does every descendant of this royal line carry it, or only a few?"
Dowager Ruyan stared at him, unable to hide her shock. The sudden seriousness in his voice unsettled her.
"I don't know why you're asking this, or what it is you want to know. Tell me....what happened?"
He shook his head, indicating it was nothing. Then, quietly, he replied,
"I just want to understand."
Her heart refused to believe it was such a simple curiosity, yet she did not press him. If he chose silence, it meant he had a reason....and when the time came, he would tell her himself.
"Well," she began gently, "as long as you are a direct descendant of Wang Qui, your great-grandfather, this birthmark confirms your bloodline. But it is not the only proof. When a newborn is delivered and the cord is cut, that is the second thing they check for. The tradition began because of your fourth ancestor who carried the mark....Wang Qui's father.
When Wang Li was born without the mark, unlike his siblings who all had it, enemies used that as a weapon to challenge his right to inherit the throne. It caused an uproar that shook the entire kingdom. A full investigation was launched into the bloodline of Wang Li and his father."
She paused, and he listened in complete stillness, his expression unreadable though his heartbeat thundered beneath the surface.
"After Li eventually ascended the throne," she continued, "every child of the royal family without the birthmark had an official seal placed on them to validate their lineage, with documented proof. And whenever a child was born—after the cutting of the cord—that was the second thing checked. If the mark was not present…"
He finally shifted, voice low and tense.
"Has the mark continued to appear often? Or are those who received the artificial seal now the majority?"
Silence stretched for several seconds. Dowager Ruyan exhaled slowly before answering.
"From what I've learned in historical records, there are eras when many children are born with the mark, and other times, almost none. It seems to rise and fall like cycles....century by century. It comes, and then it fades."
Without another word, he rose, as she had suggested. He helped her into her wheelchair, then guided her straight toward the grand portrait of his ancestor, King Tengshan, mounted across the wall. It felt almost as if the king were waiting to speak to him.
She raised her index finger toward the portrait and gently traced the face within the frame. Suddenly, the large framed painting rolled upward like a carpet being lifted, revealing a hidden doorway behind it.
King Yibo showed no sign of surprise—he had known of this door long before now. This entire wing where Dowager Ruyan now lived originally belonged to his ancestor, King Tengshan. It was filled with secrets known only to her, and to those she chose to tell.
With his help, she entered, and he followed behind.
The room was narrow but lined with shelves stacked with countless books and manuscripts. A layer of dust covered everything, showing that almost no one had been allowed inside for a very long time.
She wheeled herself toward the northern wall, scanning the rows of ancient volumes. King Yibo stood silently in the center of the room, watching her with poised authority. When she turned to him, she motioned with her hand for him to come closer. With that same powerful, assured stride of his, he approached.
She pointed to two thick, heavy books.
"Bring those down for me."
He reached up, slightly wrinkling his brows at the dust. When he lifted them, a cloud burst upward, forcing him to step back until she finished shaking them clean.
She motioned again, and he stepped forward. Taking his soft, steady hands in hers, she placed the books into his grasp.
"These will help you find every answer you're searching for. Every member of this bloodline...whether born with the birthmark or marked later...is recorded here. Guard them well. They carry a significance few in this kingdom even know exists."
He nodded once, slowly, closing his eyes briefly before opening them again to meet hers.
★★
Zhan tried to convince himself to ignore King Yibo's command to meet him after eight o'clock, yet his heart refused to cooperate. Instead, he found himself taking another shower and changing into a luxurious robe made of smooth white silk embroidered with large golden flowers. Tiny white stones were stitched into the design, sparkling with every movement like diamonds.
He looked stunning—beautiful enough that even an enemy would admire him. Zhan had always been the kind of young man who captured attention effortlessly, naturally elegant in everything he wore.
He reached for King Yibo's perfumes, intending to use them lavishly, then changed his mind. He used the ones he had bought himself....and then, only a touch of King Yibo's. The combination created a scent so subtle and rare that even the King himself would struggle to recognize its origin.
Zhan walked with quiet confidence, almost like he was gliding.
He headed toward the bedroom from the night before, certain that was the most likely place to find King Yibo, though he was not completely sure.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛