He Zhiran moved aside, and Fei Nanyu appeared before Granny Wang.
Granny Wang stared at the person in front of her carefully.
"So alike... they look so alike..." His features were practically carved from the same mold as the Noble Consort.
Surprised, Granny Wang hurriedly stepped aside, allowing He Zhiran and Fei Nanyu to enter.
As the two men walked in, they saw Mo Jiuye holding someone in his arms, startling Granny Wang.
"This... this is?"
Mo Jiuye strode into the room carrying the person, still displeased from Fe Mama's earlier outburst that nearly caused trouble. Thus, upon entering the room, he threw the person to the ground carelessly, without regard for their safety.
The Noble Consort Yuan had regained much of her health and could now walk.
Upon hearing the conversation at the door, she came with Emperor Shunwu to investigate.
When the two of them saw Fei Nanyu, they were stunned.
Because Fei Nanyu's appearance was truly similar to the Noble Consort Yuan.
After hearing Mo Jiuye's account yesterday, and now seeing Fei Nanyu's likeness in person, it was difficult not to believe they were blood-related mother and son.
Emperor Shunwu spoke first.
"What is your name?"
At this moment, Fei Nanyu's heart was no longer as calm as he had imagined.
After all, his birth parents stood before him. Although these two had wronged him over the years, the saying "blood is thicker than water" was not merely a cliché.
Fei Nanyu tried his best to compose himself, but he could not face his birth parents with equanimity.
Given Fei Nanyu's usual courteous demeanor, he would have respectfully greeted the Emperor and Noble Consort. However, today he could not bring himself to do so.
He stood upright, his tone devoid of any warmth.
"My name is Fei Nanyu."
Although Emperor Shunwu was somewhat incompetent, he was not entirely devoid of emotion.
Of his several sons, aside from his dislike of Nan Rui and neglect of the Fourth Prince, he deeply loved Nan Heng and Nan Qi.
Especially considering that if the person before him was truly his son, he had never enjoyed the privileges of a prince from birth and had suffered greatly in the outside world. Emperor Shunwu felt an inexplicable heartache.
"Fei Nanyu, Fei is clear, but what about Nan? Is that from the surname?"
Fei Nanyu had calmed down considerably by now. Upon Emperor Shunwu's inquiry, he solemnly replied, "Because Nan is the imperial surname, commoners cannot use it casually. Thus, when my father named me, he chose the character 'Nan' from the word for wood."
Emperor Shunwu could calmly ask these questions, but his consort, the Noble Consort Yuan, could not maintain her composure. She had rushed over and grasped Fei Nanyu's arm tightly.
As Fei Nanyu was tall, the Noble Consort Yuan could only look up at him.
"You must be the Noble Consort's own son, there is no mistake. It is the Noble Consort who has wronged you..."
Saying this, the Noble Consort Yuan pulled Fei Nanyu's arm, urging him to strike her.
"Child, you have suffered. It was the Noble Consort's fault back then. For my own selfish desires, the Noble Consort sent people to abandon you in the commoner's world to suffer. All of this was the Noble Consort's fault. Hit the Noble Consort... Woo woo..."
The Noble Consort Yuan had not finished speaking before she broke down in tears.
Seeing this, Granny Wang was about to step forward to comfort her, but to her surprise, Fei Nanyu forcefully withdrew the arm that the Noble Consort Yuan had grasped and retreated several steps, keeping a distance from her.
Compared to Emperor Shunwu, Fei Nanyu harbored deeper resentment towards the Noble Consort Yuan, his birth mother.
After all, it was she who had sent him away for her own status, while his birth father, Emperor Shunwu, was unaware.
He steadied himself, and his gaze fell upon Emperor Shunwu once more.
"If a blood test is required to prove kinship, I can comply." He then pointed to the still unconscious Fe Mama on the ground.
"As for a witness, this person served the Noble Consort back then and was responsible for swapping me with Nan Qi."
As Fei Nanyu's words fell, Emperor Shunwu, the Noble Consort Yuan, and Granny Wang all turned their attention to Fe Mama.
Earlier, their focus had been solely on Fei Nanyu, otherwise the Noble Consort Yuan and Granny Wang would have recognized Fe Mama at first glance.
Recalling Fe Mama's actions in the past, and her recent theft of the Noble Consort's jewelry before fleeing the palace last year, Granny Wang was fuming.
She stepped forward and kicked Fe Mama viciously.
"You treacherous, ungrateful wretch! Just wait until I beat you to death!"
Seeing Granny Wang's agitated state and her intent to continue the assault, He Zhiran stepped in to stop her.
They had risked bringing Fei Nanyu and Fe Mama here, not to witness the Noble Consort's faction purge. Moreover, the palace was rife with danger, and unforeseen circumstances could arise at any moment.
"Granny, if you wish to deal with her, you will have plenty of time after we get to the bottom of this."
Hearing this, Granny Wang realized she had acted rashly in her anger and quickly retreated a few steps.
"Yes, yes... this servant has overstepped her bounds."
Fe Mama had initially been knocked unconscious by He Zhiran's hand strike, but her state of unconsciousness was not deep.
The kick from Granny Wang had roused her, and she was beginning to regain consciousness.
He Zhiran picked up a cup of water from the table and poured the remaining water onto Fe Mama's face.
This fully revived Fe Mama, and she slowly sat up.
The surroundings were all too familiar to her - this was the Noble Consort Yuan's bedchamber.
She looked up and saw Emperor Shunwu and the Noble Consort Yuan.
Fe Mama instinctively shrank back, but quickly regained her composure and knelt before them.
"This servant is guilty, please spare my life, Your Majesty, Noble Consort."
Spare her life?
Emperor Shunwu now felt like killing her himself, but of course, he also harbored resentment towards the Noble Consort Yuan. However, given the tense situation, he had no time to deal with these matters.
"You indeed deserve to die."
Fei Nanyu had not brought Fe Mama here for her to be executed immediately.
"Fe Mama, I made a promise to you, and today the Emperor and Noble Consort Yuan are before you. Shouldn't you also fulfill our agreement?"
The others did not know the deal between Fei Nanyu and Fe Mama, but Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran could guess the general idea.
Although Nan Qi had sent people to kill Fe Mama, she was still his biological aunt. After ensuring her safety, she gradually abandoned the idea of exposing Nan Qi's true identity.
The only way for Fei Nanyu to make Fe Mama willingly reveal the truth about the past to Emperor Shunwu and the Noble Consort Yuan was to use Nan Qi's life as leverage.
Once Fei Nanyu's princely status was restored, Nan Qi's life would surely be forfeit.
Fei Nanyu had completely taken advantage of this point to strike a deal with Fe Mama.
Fe Mama would reveal Fei Nanyu's true identity before Emperor Shunwu and the Noble Consort Yuan, and in return, Fei Nanyu would find a way to spare Nan Qi's life after regaining his status.
This was indeed the deal Fei Nanyu had made with Fe Mama.
