Rumors spread like wings, flying to every corner of the capital.
It turned out the infamous Cheng Wang, who had committed countless misdeeds and whose six wives had all died, was actually a man with homosexual preferences. And his lover was none other than Second Master Liu from Duke Chu’s household. The two of them, disregarding all social norms, were caught in an illicit affair during Old Madam Wang’s sixtieth birthday banquet.
After being discovered by a maid, they killed her to silence her. In the end, they had a falling out, and Second Master Liu accidentally killed Cheng Wang.
The sensational nature of this incident rivaled the most popular storybooks circulating in the capital.
No, even the storybooks weren’t this outrageous!
Whether it was true or not didn’t matter—what mattered was that the rumors outside were becoming more and more outrageous by the minute.
When Duchess Chu woke up, she was so furious her stomach cramped. Her whole body trembled as she smashed the medicine the maid handed to her into pieces.
It was an utter disgrace!
A humiliation beyond compare!
Since she had married into Duke Chu’s household as his second wife, she had never suffered such shame.
The way all the guests had looked at her back then—it was as if knives were slicing her body inch by inch, cutting her into a bloody mess.
Duke Chu hadn’t fared any better.
Even the most iron-willed man has his weaknesses.
For Duke Chu, losing two sons in succession was a blow beyond imagination.
The most painful part was that his eldest son’s death, at least, was dignified. He had fought to grant his eldest son posthumous honors—glory that most people could never attain in a lifetime.
In this way, it could at least be considered a form of consolation to Liujinghong.
But the second son was different.
He was caught in front of half the nobility.
Lying naked beneath Cheng Wang, his face twisted in pain and horror.
That scene…
Duke Chu would never forget it for the rest of his life.
But the more you fear something, the more it comes.
Not long after, the steward of the Duke’s household carefully stepped inside, his lips trembling as he cautiously reported, “Your Grace… Xia Gongong from the palace is here.”
Xia Gongong—Grand Eunuch of Yongchang Emperor, the most powerful man among the inner palace eunuchs.
Duke Chu immediately threw off his blanket: “Quickly, let him in!”
Xia Gongong hurried up the steps, only to see the pale-faced Duke Chu already standing outside his door.
He quickly stepped forward, grabbed the Duke’s wrist, and said in a low voice, “Your Grace, you’re unwell. There’s no need for this.”
Duke Chu gave a bitter smile: “Since you’ve come, this must be the emperor’s will. How dare I remain lying down? Please, speak freely.”
Xia Gongong sighed, “Your Grace, this time… the scandal has gotten far too out of hand.”
Just that one sentence made Duke Chu almost cough up blood again.
He knew better than anyone—his son was innocent.
What homosexual affair? What illicit relationship?
It was all Qi Yuan’s trap!
But now both people involved—Cheng Wang and Second Master Liu—were already dead, and worse, they had died in such a publicly disgraceful manner.
It was like mud splattered on his pants—whether it was feces or not, it was feces now.
No matter how he explained it, it would only get worse.
Clenching his fists tightly, Duke Chu forced himself to close his eyes, then suddenly dropped to his knees. “This old subject is guilty! I failed to discipline my household, I failed to teach my son properly…”
Every word was forced out between clenched teeth.
He had fought countless battles, holding life and death power in his hands. Never in his life had he been so humiliated.
Xia Gongong sighed, “Please restrain your grief. This kind of matter…”
He paused, then said seriously, “His Majesty is also in a very difficult position. This morning, Imperial Censor Tie entered the palace and bluntly stated that this scandal has disgraced the nation. He called Cheng Wang a national disgrace who shamed the dynasty and the emperor, dishonored the late emperor, and is unworthy of being part of the royal family…”
If it had only been about toying with a few women, it wouldn’t have blown up like this.
After all, everyone had long suspected that the deaths of Cheng Wang’s previous wives were not as simple as they seemed.
But as long as such things were kept quiet and didn’t provoke public outrage, the court could still handle it.
But this time was different.
Cheng Wang and Second Master Liu had an illicit relationship, murdered a maid to cover it up, and then killed each other. The way they died was utterly disgraceful.
It wasn’t just the censors who were crying that morality was in decline and begging the emperor to strip Cheng Wang of his title and severely punish Duke Chu’s household.
Even Emperor Yongchang himself was furious.
Duke Chu immediately understood the unspoken message behind Xia Gongong’s words.
He knew full well what Xia Gongong meant.
Xia Gongong was the emperor’s closest confidant—his words and actions practically represented the emperor’s will.
For him to say these things now…
Duke Chu’s heart pounded violently. “Then His Majesty…”
“His Majesty’s intention is for you to cut off the diseased limb for the sake of the whole body—to sacrifice your own for the greater good.” Xia Gongong helped Duke Chu to his feet. “Your Grace, you must also consider the reputation of the Noble Consort and the young prince. The public is now saying Duke Chu’s household is a cesspool of filth…”
Duke Chu understood.
His legs faltered as he stared deeply at Xia Gongong. “Please, tell me—how should I make the cut?”
Xia Gongong didn’t hesitate: “Strike his name from the family registry. Do not allow him to be buried in the ancestral tomb. You must act as if this son never existed.”
Duke Chu heard every word clearly.
But for some reason, when those words came together, all he could hear was a buzzing in his ears, his mind going completely blank.
In the end, he could only see Xia Gongong’s lips moving, but couldn’t hear a single word. Suddenly, he collapsed backward.
Xia Gongong shouted, “Quick! Help the Duke back inside! Call the imperial physician immediately!”
Duke Chu’s household fell into chaos.
When the Duke finally regained consciousness, night had already fallen.
Duchess Chu sat by his bedside, watching him anxiously. As soon as he woke, she threw herself onto him. “Your Grace, you’re finally awake! I was so frightened! I thought you wouldn’t wake up!”
Duke Chu felt like a thousand-pound stone was pressing down on his chest, suffocating him.
He instinctively patted the Duchess’s back, then asked in a hoarse voice, “What time is it?”
The Duchess choked back tears. “It’s almost the third watch (midnight)!”
So late?
The Duke rubbed his brow and rang the bell by the bed. When the steward came in, he ordered, “Summon the scholars in residence to my study. Also, bring in Second and Third Granduncles.”
These were his younger brothers.
The Duchess quickly asked, “Why summon so many people so late at night?”
Why?
The Duke’s eyes were filled with pain. Enduring the dull ache in his chest, he squeezed out two words: “Expel from the clan.”
Expel from the clan?!
Duchess Chu asked in shock, “Expel who?!”
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