How did such immense wealth fall into my family?

Chapter 162 No secrets stay hidden forever.
The Emperor thought for a moment. "You mean his aunt's remarriage?"

Consort Tao nodded. "Didn't his aunt treat her ex-husband's family very well after she remarried? Didn't she even arrange for the second sister of the Marquis of Weiyuan to marry her and her ex-husband's eldest son?"

Everyone says his aunt is sentimental and that his grandfather dotes on his grandson. But that's not the case at all.

"The aunt of the Marquis of Weiyuan was attracted to his former uncle because he was handsome and talented. However, he had extremely bad luck in the imperial examinations and failed to become a Juren even after more than ten years."

"Over time, his aunt grew to dislike his former uncle and started having an affair with his current uncle. When his former uncle accidentally discovered this, the two of them conspired to smother him to death."

"After his aunt confirmed that the person was dead, she found a doctor who said that the person died from an acute illness. His uncle's family was just an ordinary family, and they believed his aunt when she said that the person died from an acute illness. And guess what? The person had been lying in the coffin for a day and actually recovered."

"So, the old Marquis of Weiyuan married off another granddaughter to him?"

Consort Tao nodded. "If this gets out, none of the daughters of the Marquis of Weiyuan will be able to get married. His former uncle was worried that this would affect his children, and he also felt that he had disappointed his wife, which was why she had an affair. So he didn't pursue the matter further."

A glimmer of hope flashed in the Emperor's eyes. "How did you know?"

"The Marquis of Weiyuan's family has such a good reputation that your father wanted to choose one of your consorts when he was selecting a consort for you. The old Marquis of Weiyuan knows that there are no secrets that stay hidden forever. If someone were to report this to your father, his family would be accused of deceiving the emperor."

"Old Earl Weiyuan hesitated for a moment before telling your father. Your father then told your mother, and your mother then told me. Do you think that child might have just fainted like that person?"

The Emperor was now determined not to let any possibility slip by. "I'll go ask her right now what the child's characteristics are?"

"Alright. Don't rush. I've had many dealings with Master Daoyi. If Master Daoyi could see through that, he would have gone traveling long ago."

"I understand. You should rest."

After saying that, the emperor left in a hurry.

As soon as the Emperor left, Consort Tao summoned Granny Du. "Go and close the palace gates. From now on, no one is allowed to enter except the Emperor. Including Qinghe. If Qinghe insists on coming in, tell her that I dreamt of the late Emperor. He was very angry about my leaving the palace and punished me by confining me to my quarters to reflect on my actions."

"This……"

Consort Tao waved her hand. "Go."

"Yes."

The former Mrs. Ding, now the recluse of Jingyin, never expected the Emperor to come to see her. "You...you've come?"

The Emperor had no time for idle chatter. "I ask you," he said, "what were the characteristics of the child you gave birth to back then?"

How would she know? She hadn't even looked at it. "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

The emperor stared into her eyes and said, "Answer me."

"I...I fainted right after giving birth."

"Did she faint? Or did she already know that the Ding family wouldn't keep their promise?" The Emperor had previously suspected that she was using him to avenge her eldest son, and now he was almost certain.

The Pure and Silent Laywoman didn't want to admit it, nor did she dare to. Her parents, her brother and sister-in-law, and her nephews and nieces, though suffering, were still alive. If she admitted it, they would all die. "I don't know. I think I scared them."

The Emperor clenched his fist. "Who else saw that child back then?"

Midwife.

After finding out who the midwife was, the emperor left.

As the silent hermit walked back, she thought: Could it be that the child is still alive? If so, that child's life is too resilient. How could her Run'er's life be so fragile?
Thinking of her eldest son, the silent lay Buddhist's eyes reddened again.

The Emperor quickly found a midwife.

Unfortunately, the midwife didn't know either.

The midwife said that the baby was taken away by the maidservant next to Madam Ding as soon as it was born, and she only remembered that the baby cried very loudly.

The old woman she mentioned had already been executed by the Emperor. The Emperor was unwilling to give up. He sent men to the place of exile of the Ding family to see if any of the remaining members knew anything about the child's characteristics. He also ordered an investigation to find any children of similar age with unknown origins.

The emperor knew it was like finding a needle in a haystack, but he had no choice but to try.

He later had Physician Chang examine his other sons and grandsons. They were treated the same way as the Crown Prince and the eldest grandson of the Emperor. Some were just slightly less ill, but even that didn't help.

Governing a country requires not only mental strength but also physical strength.

Who would follow a sickly man?

After making the arrangements, the Emperor went to find Consort Tao. When he arrived, he saw that Consort Tao had ordered the palace gates to be closed.

The Emperor felt a warmth in his heart. "You don't need to do that."

Consort Tao poured the Emperor a cup of tea. "I'm getting old; it would be terrible if I became confused. I can't help you much, I can only ease your worries. What are the child's characteristics?"

She said she fainted right after giving birth.

Consort Tao frowned. "Then we'll have to think of another way."

The Emperor explained his arrangements.

Consort Tao sighed inwardly. That was all she could do. "Don't worry, what if you make Xiao Jiu anxious?"

"I know. Even if that child were still alive, he'd be about the same age as Eighteen... Eighteen?!" The Emperor suddenly remembered something: Eighteen was also a child of unknown origin. "How old is Eighteen this year?"

"Eight years old. What's wrong?"

The Emperor took a deep breath and looked at Consort Tao, saying, "Eighteen was found. If that child were alive, he would be exactly eight years old."

"You found Eighteen?" Consort Tao was very surprised.

"Hmm." After learning that Nineteen and Twenty were not Qian Laifu's sons, he asked Old Dong if Seventy-Eight was Qian Laifu's son. Old Dong said that Eighteen was adopted.

He then asked Dong Laoqi and Qian Laifu if they knew about Shiba's background. Dong Laoqi said they didn't know.

He didn't pay much attention at the time.

It's different now.

Eighteen could be his son.

The Emperor steadied himself. “You’ve lived in the Qian family for several years; I should invite Old Master Qian and Old Madam Qian to a meal.”

"I'll have Granny Du go and invite the old couple right away. When they arrive, I'll entertain Old Madam Qian, and you can entertain Old Master Qian."

The Emperor thought so too. "Thank you for your trouble."

“What’s the trouble? But I have to tell you in advance, even if Shiba isn’t your son, don’t be discouraged.”

“I know. The chances of that child being alive were already slim, and the possibility of him being eighteen was even smaller. I just didn’t want to let any possibility slip by.”

Consort Tao gently touched the Emperor's temple with heartache. "Take care of yourself, Xiao Jiu still needs you."

"I know, don't worry."

Qian Laifu and Granny Tian were discussing how to entertain Madam Jiang and her entourage when they arrived.

Granny Du arrived unexpectedly. After Granny Du explained her purpose, the old couple were both stunned!
Granny Tian: "The Emperor wants to invite us old folks to dinner?!"

Qian Laifu: "Can I bring my little granddaughter?"