Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 41
byChapter 41 The Truth (Part 3)
In the main hall, everyone looked toward He Chen.
Except for He Yarun, and He Siyuan, who was groaning and twitching in her arms.
“What evidence do you have?” the Emperor asked He Chen.
“That year on Pingchang Star, I once bought the belongings of my father, Jing WendÃ, from the jailers.”
“Bought belongings?” The Emperor heard that term for the first time.
“Your Majesty, privately… that is indeed the case,” a flicker of embarrassment crossed Fang Kaiyu’s honest face. “In some places, especially places like Pingchang Star, jailers have limited salaries, and they’ve developed the bad habit of taking whatever they can get, squeezing every last drop.”
“After a convict dies, their clothes and personal items are supposed to be claimed by family members. If they are temporarily unclaimed, they should, by rights, be sealed and stored. If they remain unclaimed after a certain number of years, they are to be uniformly destroyed.”
“But this claiming process…”
“But this claiming process requires money to pave the way.” Old Man Fang snorted, looking at He Chen. “Good child, how much did you spend?”
“Not much, three thousand Star Coins,” He Chen replied.
Old Man Fang frowned. “I heard you… had a difficult childhood. Where did three thousand Star Coins come from?”
“I earned it working odd jobs,” He Chen answered calmly.
Sleeping under bridges, eating leftovers, scrimping and saving, he accumulated it over a year.
“Good child, you are loyal and devoted.” Old Man Fang looked at him, praising him with emotion, then quickly asked, “Where are those belongings now?”
“I have sent someone to retrieve them; they will be delivered soon.”
“Hiss!” He Siyuan seemed to be in severe pain, letting out a cry of agony. His fingers clenched He Yarun’s arm tightly, the force almost digging into her flesh.
He Yarun, however, remained grim-faced, letting He Siyuan pinch her, seemingly oblivious.
Old Man Fang’s gaze swept over He Yarun, then turned to He Siyuan, his voice aged and authoritative. “He Siyuan, there is another set of belongings. I must ask you, where are they now?”
“What belongings?” the Emperor asked.
“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Old Man Fang replied, “After meeting He Chen and sensing something amiss, I tried every means to contact another soldier from the He Family Army who had helped rescue me alongside He Xiangye back then.”
“From him, I learned that during a year of rotation, he had the opportunity to come to Star Capital and managed to meet the young master he thought was the one—He Siyuan—and handed He Xiangye’s belongings to him.”
“According to him,” Old Man Fang looked at He Chen, slowing his pace, “He Xiangye was taciturn, only mentioning once to his comrades that he might have a child. For this child, he personally crafted some small trinkets, carving them day and night…”
Hearing the words “carving them day and night,” He Chen paused, suddenly avoiding everyone’s gaze and lowering his head.
“That young comrade met He Siyuan and gave him the hard-to-find photo of He Xiangye, along with those items.”
“However, according to the comrade, when the young master saw the photo, his expression was very strange, almost as if he was startled.”
“Nonsense.” He Siyuan groaned. “I don’t remember. That didn’t happen…”
Old Man Fang ignored his denial and continued, “Later, that young comrade quickly left Star Capital to report to his garrison. Coincidentally, he encountered an unknown attack halfway, outnumbered and nearly lost his life—”
“He Siyuan harmed him!” Chu Yunqi exclaimed, almost perfectly timed.
“Whether it is true or not is difficult to verify. However, the time when that young comrade handed over the belongings is very close to the time He Siyuan sought out the laboratory and was blackmailed. Moreover, both incidents occurred precisely after He Chen was recognized and brought back to Star Capital.”
“So he saw He Xiangye’s photo, realized that He Chen looked more like that man’s child, and then decided to investigate his own parentage!”
Chu Yunqi meticulously analyzed the situation, his deduction earning a look of appreciation from Old Man Fang. “Your Highness’s words are exactly what this old man was thinking.”
“These are all stories you’ve fabricated!” He Yarun’s face was as dark as water. “Your Majesty, Siyuan is not in a good state. May we allow him to rest and receive treatment first?”
“I think he can still hold on,” the Emperor said slowly and ominously.
“Your Majesty, I have another important question to ask,” Fang Kaiyu said sternly. “A large amount of hidden explosives was discovered on the bottom of the spaceship that failed to escape. I must ask Minister He, where did these explosives come from?”
“Explosives?” Chu Yunqi raised an eyebrow. “So you were planning to wipe out those people in one go, afraid they would expose your secrets?”
“Nonsense! What explosives? I don’t know. I don’t know anything.” He Siyuan shook his head, shaking it incessantly, looking utterly deranged.
“Minister He’s condition is indeed poor. To prevent him from becoming violent and harming others, Your Majesty, should we temporarily suspend the interrogation and allow me to treat him?” Lu Changqing spoke slowly.
But as soon as he spoke, He Siyuan trembled even more violently, shaking his head harder. “No, no, don’t! He wants to harm me, they all want to harm me!”
“Siyuan, calm down, don’t be afraid. You need treatment now.” He Yarun firmly gripped his arm, her gaze resolute, and looked back at Lu Changqing. “Please, Dean Lu.”
Lu Changqing glanced at her face, said nothing, and reached out toward He Siyuan.
“No!” He Siyuan desperately hid behind He Yarun, pushing her with his hands, tightly gripping her arms, using her as a shield in front of him to block Lu Changqing. “I won’t be treated, I won’t be treated!”
He Yarun frowned, trying to break free from him and trying to make him sober up. “Siyuan, you—”
“Shut up!” He Siyuan suddenly erupted. “You caused all of this! Everything is your fault! You’re a pervert, you’re a lunatic! You just want to control me, control everything, just to prove yourself!”
“I hate you! I hate all of you! You made me feel like a worm in a gutter! I hate you!” He roared fiercely, his hateful gaze suddenly turning toward He Chen. An orange-yellow figure rushed out of his body, violently attacking He Chen!
A roar of furious wolf howls faintly echoed in the void beside He Chen, and the temperature in the hall instantly plummeted. But before the Snow Wolf could truly manifest, Lu Changqing had already acted, grabbing the throat of the orange-yellow spiritual entity.
After a faint spatial distortion, the spiritual entity, which had been struggling under Lu Changqing’s hand, inexplicably calmed down.
Everyone saw that it was a monkey in a terrible state.
“Damn,” Chu Yunqi muttered in a low, complaining voice. “No wonder you never show your spiritual entity in public.”
“Your Majesty, to prevent injury, I suggest temporarily isolating Minister He and his spiritual entity.” Lu Changqing looked at the Emperor.
The Emperor nodded and ordered men with special chains to take the spiritual entity away.
Just then, the belongings He Chen had sent for arrived. The criminal investigators from the Patrol Bureau immediately took samples, found detached hair, and conducted a genetic comparison.
The facts confirmed everyone’s suspicions.
“Bastard! Foolish!” The moment he saw the results, He Hongyi was filled with hatred and slapped He Yarun across the face. “How could you do such a thing!”
He Yarun did not dodge or avoid the blow. She took the slap, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, her expression still arrogant. “I didn’t like the person you chose for me!”
“You didn’t like him, or he didn’t like you?” Consort He suddenly spoke.
“My dear sister, you hated him so much that you sent his biological child away to suffer. Was that because you didn’t like him? Would you care so much about someone you didn’t like?”
He Yarun’s grim but composed face finally twisted for a moment since she appeared. “Shut up! My thoughts are not for you to guess!”
“Not for the Empress’s consort, then for whom? Me?” The Emperor sneered. “But I am too lazy to guess your thoughts, Fang Kaiyu!”
“I am here.”
“He Siyuan inherited his father’s ambition and plotted treason. He Yarun substituted the identities and shielded a criminal. Mother and son are to be detained and strictly interrogated together!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty—” He Hongyi opened his mouth to speak.
“What, do you have any dissatisfaction?” the Emperor raised an eyebrow.
“I dare not.” He Hongyi calmed down and bowed his head. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your magnanimity!”
Avoiding the charge of “rebellion” was good enough. He Siyuan definitely couldn’t be saved. As for He Yarun, what happened today was her own fault; letting her suffer for a few days was fine.
But while He Hongyi remained silent, Old Man Fang suddenly spoke up. “Your Majesty, there is still one more case to investigate.”
“When the rebellion case occurred that year, Jing Wendà was convicted, and He Xiangye coincidentally disappeared. This allowed He Yarun to manipulate and switch the two infants. I humbly request Your Majesty to permit the Patrol Bureau to open a case and investigate the circumstances of He Xiangye’s disappearance.”
“Granted.”
The Emperor said, pinching his throbbing brow from watching the drama, ready to dismiss the court and ask Lu Changqing to relieve his tension. Looking up, he inadvertently saw He Chen standing beside Lu Changqing.
His brow moved. “You have suffered.”
“The He family should clear your name, and they should compensate you for the poor treatment you received all these years.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, they should compensate—” He Hongyi began, but was interrupted halfway by He Chen—
“Thank you, Your Majesty, but there is no need.”
He Hongyi instinctively frowned. “Chen’er—”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for presiding over justice for your subject.” He Chen knelt, but his spine was straight. “Your subject only asks for the investigation into the disappearance of his biological father. As for the He family—”
He Chen’s eyes were cold as frost and snow, sweeping a glance in He Yarun’s direction. “Your subject severs all ties with the He family starting today. I ask for Your Majesty’s permission.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Chen’er, your uncle knows you have grievances. The family will certainly—”
“Are you serious?”
He Hongyi’s words were interrupted again, but this time it was the Emperor.
“I am serious.” He Chen looked at Chu Jianheng on the imperial seat, his expression solemn, carrying three parts of loyalty and honesty. “Your subject will not be a son of the He family, but a citizen of the Star River and a subject of Your Majesty. I humbly request Your Majesty’s permission.”
He finished speaking with powerful clarity, then neatly bowed and lowered his head, awaiting the Emperor’s decree.
“Good. I grant it!” After two seconds of silence, the Emperor spoke, his voice clear and pleased.
“Today, order has been restored, and I am greatly comforted. He Chen has merit in protecting the borders and securing the populace. His virtue is manifest, combining benevolence and righteousness. He is a fine jewel of our Star River. I bestow upon him the title of Fourth-Rank Earl, hereditary and perpetual!”
Fourth-Rank Earl? No joy was visible on He Chen’s face; instead, it grew colder by a degree, but that coldness vanished in an instant.
His voice was clear and bright, and he properly kowtowed. “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great favor!”
“He Yarun shielded a rebel and harbored disloyal intentions. He Siyuan had the actual intent of rebellion. The He family failed in their oversight and management. He Hongyi, I will not delve into how much you participated or the extent of your crimes. The Hanhe Base is remote and weak. The Pingshan Base borders Hanhe, so half of it will be allocated to Hanhe!”
“Your Majesty—” He Hongyi’s face drastically changed!
“Enough! My mind is made up. Everyone may disperse!”
*
“Fourth-Rank Earl, even if it’s an honorary title, it’s still impressive. Few among your peers achieve it. In the He family, only He Zhongsu is a Fourth-Rank, and Cousin, you even got half of Pingshan!”
Emerging from the hall, Chu Yunqi cheerfully congratulated He Chen.
Then he looked at He Chen’s expression and coughed. “Well, don’t worry too much about the past.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” He Chen said, then turned to Consort He. “Thank you, Imperial Consort.”
Consort He helped him up, her expression gentle. “In the past, we only had speculation and couldn’t confirm it. I hope Chen’er doesn’t blame your aunt for not presiding over justice for you sooner?”
He Chen shook his head and looked at Consort He. “Regarding my father, He Xiangye—” He Chen spoke the name somewhat dryly. “Does the Imperial Consort know anything about him?”
Consort He shook her head. “I regret that I never met him. But Old Man Fang—”
She looked at the old man standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Lu Changqing a few steps away, then slightly frowned. The Second Prince, Chu Yunlan, had appeared outside the hall at some point and was speaking with Lu Changqing and Old Man Fang.
“Why is he here, to watch the He family’s joke?” Chu Yunqi grumbled discontentedly.
He Chen didn’t react much; he just watched Lu Changqing talking to Chu Yunlan, his eyes deepening.
Lu Changqing happened to look over at him, meeting his gaze, and signaled for him to come over.
He Chen then bid farewell to Chu Yunqi and his mother and walked toward them.
Consort He and Chu Yunqi watched his retreating back simultaneously.
“Mother, is Chu Yunlan trying to steal my credit?” Chu Yunqi whispered.
“He wouldn’t dare,” Consort He scoffed softly.
“What do you mean, Mother?”
“Idiot.” Consort He pulled him and turned away. “Why do you think Chu Yunlan is favored by your Imperial Father? Your Imperial Father wants to use the new nobility to counterbalance the aristocratic families. Chu Yunlan isn’t stupid; he won’t get entangled with the martial power factions.”
At least, not openly. Consort He’s eyes grew cold.
“Mother,” Chu Yunqi suddenly said, “If he’s not stupid, do you mean I am?”
Before Consort He could answer, he changed the subject abruptly. “You said affection and loyalty were useless, but I feel like in this round, affection and loyalty won…”
*
On the steps outside the hall, Lu Changqing introduced Chu Yunlan to He Chen. “General He, this is the Second Prince. Your Highness, this is—”
“No need for introduction. General He is a heroic figure. I’ve long admired you.” Chu Yunlan was sincere and friendly, without putting on airs, and cupped his hands toward He Chen.
He Chen returned the gesture, calling him “Your Highness,” and said little else.
Chu Yunlan was very understanding. “You must have other matters. I won’t disturb you. Farewell.”
He Chen bowed, watched him walk away, staring at his back for a moment, then turned around to face Old Man Fang, bowing deeply and respectfully. “Old Man Fang, I have no way to repay your great kindness.”
“Good child, your father was kind to me. Everything I did was what I should do; there’s no need for this.”
Old Man Fang said, helping him stand up, and looked him over with endless emotion. “You have suffered.”
After a moment of emotion, he cheered up and patted He Chen. “You are also excellent, very excellent. Your father, if his spirit is in heaven, must be proud of you.”
“Spirit in heaven?” He Chen’s fingers subtly tightened.
Old Man Fang sighed silently. “So many years have passed, and there has been no news of your father. I fear the worst.”
“Do you think… she did it?” He Chen asked, his voice exceptionally dry.
Lu Changqing couldn’t help but look at him.
“A case has been filed for investigation. Dwelling on this will not help you,” Old Man Fang said.
“Yes.” He Chen didn’t obsess over it but looked at Old Man Fang. “What kind of person was my father, I wonder?”
“He looks very much like you, but his demeanor was more serious. As for martial arts, he was very skilled, but I’m an outsider in that regard.” Old Man Fang said, laughing briefly to lighten the mood, then quickly became solemn. “Kind-hearted and steady in his actions, your father was an upright and honorable man.”
“However, I didn’t interact with him much. If you want to know more, I can introduce you to his comrade.”
“Thank you, Old Man Fang,” He Chen said.
“You’re welcome.” Old Man Fang glanced at his complexion. “Changqing said your spiritual power is unstable, and you are receiving treatment. Don’t think too much. Go back and rest first. I have things to attend to and must also take my leave. We will contact each other another day.”
He Chen nodded, watching him leave.
“Let’s go. Leyan is waiting for you for lunch,” Lu Changqing said behind He Chen, his spiritual domain quietly extending to sense He Chen’s state.
He Chen’s voice was calm. “Senior Brother, please go ahead. I have one more thing to do.”
“What is it?” Lu Changqing frowned.
“I need to go to the He family and demand something.”