Emperor Changde also observed Yue Heng's actions. Seeing him dare to choke Cao Lan’er, his feelings were mixed - anger at the disrespect, yet grim satisfaction at Cao Lan’er’s suffering.
As for Yue Heng's mention of a "mother," Emperor Changde couldn’t care less. All he wanted was for Cao Lan’er to die here and now, so he could immediately order Yue Heng's execution, with no objections from the ministers.
But Yue Heng had other plans. He began recounting the past.
"Does anyone here remember Concubine Li?"
"Concubine Li?" A junior minister looked puzzled.
"The one who was confined to the cold palace over a decade ago and later died?" An elder official recalled.
Few knew the real reason for her confinement, only that she had committed some grave offense.
Emperor Changde’s brow twitched at the mention of Concubine Li. A sense of dread washed over him.
Sure enough, Yue Heng declared, "I'm Concubine Li’s son."
Even those who had guessed as much were stunned to hear it confirmed.
"Back then, the deposed empress and my mother were pregnant at the same time. Cao Lan’er gave birth to a deformed stillborn - an ill omen. Fearing the loss of favor and her position, she forced my mother into premature labor with drugs," Yue Heng explained, recounting the contents of Concubine Li’s letter.
Not only had Cao Lan’er switched the babies, she had framed Concubine Li and persuaded Emperor Changde to banish her to the cold palace. To tie up loose ends, Cao Lan’er eliminated all witnesses and used bloodbone insects to kill Concubine Li in the cold palace.
Her cruelty didn’t end there. She also drugged Yue Heng as a child, making him chronically ill and earning him the nickname "the sickly prince." She also allowed eunuchs and maids to bully him, often withholding food. Though intelligent, Yue Heng had suffered greatly in his youth.
Fearing exposure, Cao Lan’er kept Yue Heng confined to Changning Palace, rarely letting Emperor Changde see him - all while playing the doting mother in public. Emperor Changde had even praised her for it.
When Yue Heng received Concubine Li’s letter at age ten, he was already a frail shadow of himself. He often wondered whether he would have survived much longer under Cao Lan’er’s abuse without it.
The letter not only detailed Concubine Li’s suspicions but also left him a lifeline - a path to his martial arts master, who turned out to be his sole surviving uncle.
Yue Heng learned to protect himself, plotted revenge, played the filial son to Cao Lan’er, cultivated loyal followers, and bided his time until today.
"Deposed Empress, is what I’ve said true?"
Silence fell. The ministers’ gazes fixed on Cao Lan’er.
She sneered. "Yue Heng, with the entire Hall of Governance under your control, you can say whatever you please. What does the truth matter now?"
Yue Heng ignored her and turned to Emperor Changde. "Father, did you truly know nothing back then? A wise ruler like you, I refuse to believe a mere woman could deceive you so thoroughly."
Cornered, Emperor Changde’s pride flared. He couldn’t admit knowledge, nor could he feign complete ignorance. Slamming the table, he barked, "Cao Lan’er! Confess your crimes at once! If you cooperate, I may spare your life!"
Cao Lan’er: "Nonsense! These are vile lies! The Sixth Prince is my son! Concubine Li’s death has nothing to do with me! If Your Majesty and the ministers doubt me, investigate! I fear nothing!"
With her chin raised, she radiated defiance.
Jiang Lin, who had been watching the spectacle, stepped forward. "Oh? Not afraid at all? Then let’s start with a blood test. That should settle whether you’re his mother. And while we’re at it, let’s summon the crown prince, having him here would make comparisons easier."
At the mention of the crown prince, Cao Lan’er’s gaze turned icy. "Jiang Lin, royal affairs are none of your concern. Stay out of this if you know what’s good for you."
But Yue Heng overruled her, ordering the crown prince’s immediate summons. Cao Lan’er panicked. "No! Yue Heng, you promised me!"
Yue Heng replied coolly, "Don’t worry, Deposed Empress. Just a drop of blood, it won’t kill him."
Cao Lan’er’s frantic protests only made her seem guiltier.
Yue Heng laughed. "Look at you, squirming like this. Do you not realize how suspicious you appear? Or did you think I’d spend years plotting without gathering evidence?"
Realizing she’d been tricked again, Cao Lan’er seethed, but Yue Heng ignored her. He produced Concubine Li’s letter and summoned two elderly women into the hall.
The women knelt before Emperor Changde. Yue Heng introduced them: one was Concubine Li’s former maid, presumed dead after Cao Lan’er’s purge but secretly rescued by his uncle; the other was the cold palace concubine who had delivered the letter, swapped out years ago without notice.
Emperor Changde recognized the latter’s face despite the years. Seeing her, he knew Yue Heng had come prepared, and he could finally rid himself of Cao Lan’er.
For the first time that day, Emperor Changde smiled. Were the ministers not present, he would have loved to ask Cao Lan’er: When you betrayed me to testify against me, did you ever imagine you’d end up in my grasp again?
Playing his part, Emperor Changde thundered, "Cao Lan’er, you vicious witch! How dare you refuse to confess?"
"With witnesses and evidence before us - child-swapping, framing, murder, abuse, what do you have to say for yourself?"
He then turned to the Minister of Justice. "What is the sentence for such crimes?"
The minister wasn't a fool, he understood this was a marital feud turned deadly. The emperor wanted Cao Lan’er to be executed.
Between a deposed empress with blood on her hands and the Sixth Prince’s vendetta, the choice was clear.
"Execution by beheading, public display."
The words sent a chill down the minister’s spine as Cao Lan’er’s hateful gaze burned into him.
Emperor Changde nearly smiled. "Then take this vile woman to the dungeons. She will be executed in autumn."
The imperial guards, suddenly available, moved to seize Cao Lan’er.
She resisted wildly. "I’m innocent! I’ve done nothing wrong! You can’t condemn me!"
Turning to Emperor Changde, she wailed, "Your Majesty, I’m innocent! Concubine Li’s death wasn’t my doing! Yue Heng is lying! The letter is forged, the witnesses imposters! You mustn’t believe them!"
The tables had turned swiftly, from haughty accuser to condemned prisoner.
What a spectacle.
Emperor Changde had no patience left. Whether guilty or not, he wanted her dead.
Waving a hand, he snapped, "Take her away! Guard her closely, let no one free her!"
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