Hou Ye's palm heart is a black lotus

Chapter 719 Father and Son (Second Update)

Zheng Baosu was bewildered.

Don’t know what?
Furthermore, what was the meaning behind the first thing the eldest princess said when she came in?
Fan Chengzhuo suddenly became agitated, straightened up, and looked bewildered and flustered.

"The Eldest Princess—"

"What, even now, Lord Fan still refuses to explain himself?" The Princess interrupted him. "You've painstakingly planned for him for so many years, are you really willing to let it end so muddledly?"

Everyone was completely confused, not knowing what the princess meant by those words.

But Fan Chengzhuo understood.

He opened his mouth to beg, but when he caught a glimpse of the lingering hatred on Zheng Baosu's face, he suddenly lost all his strength.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally knelt back down in dejection.

Emperor Muwu saw this scene and already guessed what was going on.

"What do you mean by that, Your Highness?"

The princess paused for a moment before finally speaking, word by word.

“Zheng Baosu. You just questioned why Fan Chengzhuo specifically chose you to go to the northern frontier, pushing you to this point. You thought he wanted to drag you down and harm you. But you seem to have forgotten that if this hadn't happened today, you would still be living a good life as General Xianwu in Jingyuan, running rampant in all directions.”

The princess's expression turned cold, and although her voice was not loud, it carried a faint, chilling pressure.

"Guarding the border is an arduous task, but ask yourself honestly, have you truly suffered any hardship or torment over the years? You didn't fight the battles, yet the credit is attributed to you. Which of those soldiers who truly risked their lives has had a more comfortable life than you?"

His words were calm yet firm, making Zheng Baosu feel guilty and his eyes darted away.

The eldest princess, having fought on the battlefield herself, naturally despised such people the most, and her expression at this moment was filled with undisguised contempt and mockery.

"A life like this would be the envy of anyone else, but you've turned it into Fan Chengzhuo deliberately harming you? You really can't tell right from wrong."

"I--"

Zheng Baosu was speechless.

He had indeed had a very smooth life from childhood to adulthood, so when he was questioned by the princess, he naturally couldn't say anything.

The eldest princess gave a light snort and said coldly,
"Do you really think you could have gotten to where you are today with your mediocre skills? And yet, in the end, you blame it all on others. How ridiculous."

As she spoke, she looked at Fan Chengzhuo again, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Fan Chengzhuo, being forced to this point by your own flesh and blood is something you probably never imagined, right?"

As soon as the words were spoken, the enormous Qiyuan Hall froze!
Xie Anjun stared wide-eyed at Fan Chengzhuo in disbelief!
My own flesh and blood!?
So, does that mean Zheng Baosu and Fan Chengzhuo are—

"impossible!"

Zheng Baosu suddenly shouted out.
"I have my own parents, how could it be him—it's absolutely impossible!"

"presumptuous!"

Emperor Muwu spoke coldly.

The guards nearby immediately pinned Zheng Baosu to the ground.

Zheng Baosu struggled desperately, his face flushed red and veins throbbing, but he could no longer utter a single word.

Emperor Mu Wu looked at Fan Chengzhuo, his voice devoid of emotion, yet carrying an imposing authority that commanded respect.

"Fan Chengzhuo, tell me yourself, what exactly is your relationship with Zheng Baosu?"

Fan Chengzhuo had already closed his eyes tightly the moment the princess spoke.

At this moment, he only hated that he wasn't dead yet! Or even if he fainted again, that would be better, so he wouldn't have to face this embarrassing scene!
This shouldn't be happening, it shouldn't be like this...

Today he risked his life to enter the palace, and he was prepared to do so. Even if it cost him his life, he would try one last time.

But he didn't expect that before he could do anything, things would completely spiral out of control. Zheng Baosu was the first to expose himself, and in desperation, he dragged him and Xie Anjun into the fray.

Fan Chengzhuo was willing to die for him, but Zheng Baosu's reaction and words just now were no different from an extremely sharp dagger piercing his heart.

Now, the princess's question has completely shattered all their hopes.

Forget it.

Forget it...

Fan Chengzhuo slowly opened his eyes, his face ashen.

"Your humble servant...is guilty."

He pressed his forehead against the cold ground, feeling the bone-chilling cold.

Even though it was already March, he felt colder than ever before.

He spoke each word with a stiff, numb expression, as if he were a piece of wood.

"Your Majesty, I have deceived you... Zheng Baosu is my only son..."

Zheng Baosu was completely stunned.

Fan Chengzhu coughed, and bright red blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.

“He… he… when he was born, I happened to be in the capital taking the imperial examination. Later, I passed with flying colors, just as I was about to be transferred, but my wife happened to die of illness. I was afraid of being affected by this, so I… so I lied, and his existence was also concealed…”

Fan Chengzhuo was riding high at the time and did indeed think about finding a noblewoman from an outstanding family in the capital to pave his way to success.

However, for some reason, the matter did not come to fruition.

Later, rumors began to circulate that he had remained chaste for his first wife, and even many officials in the same court praised him highly.

He could do nothing more and could only wear this mask for more than ten years.

For Fan Chengzhuo, not having women wasn't the most important thing.

But he couldn't abandon the son he left behind in his hometown.

At first, things were fine, but then Fan Chengzhuo had no other children born, so he started worrying about his only son.

"I entrusted him to my relatives for upbringing, and I have felt deeply indebted for it over the years. So I tried every means to recommend him to the army..."

Fan Chengzhuo slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a crimson stain that looked particularly eerie.

He gave a bleak smile.

"Later, it was my own greed that led me to take advantage of his dealings with the Wa people in the northern frontier, and trick him into exchanging those supplies and weapons for real gold and silver, which I then pocketed..."

Emperor Muwu stared at him with a deep and somber expression.

"So, you admit that what he just said was true?"

Fan Chengzhuo's breathing was unsteady, as if he might faint at any moment.

He was panting and nodded slowly.

"...Yes, yes...I did everything I could to accomplish this. He...he was merely deceived by me. My death would be enough to atone for even a fraction of his crimes. I only beg...I only beg...Your Majesty, please show mercy and forgive him..."

Emperor Mu Wu laughed in anger.

"At this point, you still dare to beg for mercy from me?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Anjun finally came to his senses.

——It’s over!
Fan Chengzhuo also confessed!
Xie Anjun finally realized what was happening and was so angry he felt like his lungs were about to explode.

No wonder!
No wonder Fan Chengzhuo had previously been so protective of Zheng Baosu, and was even more anxious after learning that Zheng Baosu had been escorted back to the capital. It turns out... that was his own son!
These two, father and son, are really something else! Aren't they teaming up to screw him over?!