Chapter 70: The So-called Truth
Emperor Mingde sat with an air of natural authority, his expression calm yet commanding. He sat upright behind the desk, where memorials and petitions were piled high before him. He casually picked one up, flipped through it without much interest, and then set it aside.
“This is the explanation you offer to me?”
His gaze fell upon Shen Jingxiao standing within the hall, his tone light yet sharp.
In that instant, an invisible imperial pressure spread forth — a dragon’s might so vast it seemed to crush mountains and seas, causing the entire hall to hum faintly under its weight.
“Your Majesty, this is precisely the matter this humble servant has returned to the capital to report,” Shen Jingxiao replied, bowing respectfully.
He wore a deep-purple robe embroidered with coiling serpents, a jade pendant at his waist, and a crown of violet jade upon his head. His bearing was refined, more that of a scholar than a general.
“Interesting.”
“Since you have been investigating this matter for years, why do you only bring it to me today?” Emperor Mingde’s tone remained mild, but his dissatisfaction was evident.
Shen Jingxiao’s expression did not change as he explained, “It is precisely because this matter is deeply entangled. The Nether Cult is vast and elusive, its roots buried within the capital for many years. If one were to act rashly without the proper timing, it would only alert the serpent in the grass. Now, circumstances have forced my hand.”
The assembled officials below — including Crown Prince Xia Chongming — were all bewildered.
They had no idea what explanation the Demon Suppression King had offered to make the previously angered Emperor Mingde gradually calm down.
Those memorials that had been submitted — only Emperor Mingde had seen them.
The Demon Suppression King’s return to the capital was supposed to be to address the rumors about the true and false heirs. Yet from the current situation, it appeared he had admitted to the matter.
In other words, the claim that Shen Yanzhou was a false heir had been all but confirmed.
By reason, such deceit against the throne was treason punishable by extermination of the nine clans. After all, for all these years, even His Majesty himself had regarded Shen Yanzhou as the true heir.
Moreover, the family of the Demon Suppression King had long been stationed in the capital — in part serving as hostages of loyalty.
And now, it turned out that the most important “hostage” among them was a fraud.
“Your Majesty, these are the evidences recently submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the Chilin Guards by several veteran generals of the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion. They have all been verified. The Nether Cult has indeed been plotting in secret. Based on this evidence, the Chilin Guards secretly dispatched experts the other day to destroy several strongholds of the cult hidden within the capital.”
“A total of more than thirty cultists were captured, including five senior members — two of whom are undercover agents from Beiyu.”
At that moment, a minister with a scar across his face stepped forward and handed up a stack of memorials — the Minister of Justice himself.
At these words, the hall fell silent for a moment. Many ministers could not help but feel astonished.
The Chilin Guards had completed such a major operation without anyone noticing.
The Nether Cult’s network in the capital had long been a thorn in everyone’s side.
To capture so many cultists in one sweep, including five senior figures — that was no small achievement.
Emperor Mingde accepted the memorials from the Minister of Justice. His thoughts stirred, and with a flash of divine perception, he finished reading them within a moment.
“So, this is the truth you wish to tell me?” he asked, looking at Shen Jingxiao.
Shen Jingxiao replied, “Your Majesty, heaven and earth bear witness to my loyalty. The sun and moon can attest to my sincerity. With rumors spreading throughout the capital, it is indeed necessary to give the people an explanation. Moreover, in the Southern Border, as the winter snow melts, the demonic beasts enter their breeding season — chaos may erupt at any moment.”
“This humble servant cannot remain long in the capital. The Nether Cult’s network has been set for years. Though it is not yet the most favorable moment, it is time to draw in the net.”
Emperor Mingde pondered for a moment.
He turned to Grand Eunuch Wei Gong, who stood beside him, and asked, “Have you discovered who spread the rumors in the capital? The Demon Suppression King has defended our Great Qian from southern demon invasions, preserving peace within our borders through great toil and merit. To see him slandered and framed so — it truly angers me.”
Wei Gong quickly stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, we have already investigated. The rumors were spread by several members of the Nether Cult. They deliberately used the mouths of beggars in the capital to incite panic and undermine the state’s foundation. They have now been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, awaiting the Ministry of Justice’s judgment.”
“Good.”
“The Demon Suppression King has journeyed from the Southern Border in great haste. He should return to his mansion and rest,” Emperor Mingde said with a nod.
However, Shen Jingxiao did not withdraw immediately. Instead, he bowed once more and said, “Your Majesty, the incident of the fire and attack on the Prince’s Mansion twenty years ago was also part of the Nether Cult’s scheme. The truth has now been uncovered, and I have one unworthy request.”
Emperor Mingde’s eyes narrowed slightly at those words.
After a pause, he said just one word: “Speak.”
Shen Jingxiao’s expression remained composed as he said, “This humble servant has investigated in secret and discovered that the Nether Cult deliberately exchanged my bloodline back then — they replaced my own infant son with a baby from Vermilion Bird Street, one who was supposed to have been drowned by a courtesan. Amidst the chaos of the fire, they then abducted my true son.”
The hall erupted into a commotion.
Although many ministers had already guessed what Shen Jingxiao might say, none expected him to declare it so openly before all.
Was this not a direct confirmation that Shen Yanzhou was indeed a false heir?
And that the true heir was someone else entirely?
Crown Prince Xia Chongming could not help stepping forward, his words tinged with mockery. “So, Demon Suppression King, are you saying that for twenty years, you never knew that Shen Yanzhou was not your biological son? You, of all people — the foremost warrior of our time, a Second Rank cultivator of the Nirvana Realm — could not sense the blood of your own flesh?”
Many officials revealed intrigued looks, waiting to see how the Demon Suppression King would explain himself.
If he had known that Shen Yanzhou was not his son yet allowed it, even under the guise of exposing the Nether Cult’s network, that would still constitute treason.
For years, many had believed the Demon Suppression King deliberately indulged Shen Yanzhou’s idleness and arrogance to put the emperor at ease.
In some sense, while he commanded the Southern Border armies — obeying orders yet acting independently, hoarding taxes and maintaining a private army — his immense power was a latent concern.
If his heir were also exceptionally talented, who could guarantee he would not harbor ambitions?
Shen Yanzhou’s reckless behavior had long been the capital’s reassurance.
But now… the Demon Suppression King was declaring that even that reassurance had been false.
“What the Crown Prince can imagine — would the Nether Cult not have anticipated as well when they made the switch?”
“This world holds countless secret arts. Even as one of Second Rank, I often find myself humbled by their mysteries. The Nether Cult is backed by the Path of Communion with the Netherworld, an ancient lineage of the Shamanic Path passed down from the age of antiquity. To deceive a mere martial practitioner like me — how difficult could that be?”
Shen Jingxiao’s expression remained unchanged as he replied.
Crown Prince Xia Chongming faltered, unable to find grounds to refute.
Indeed, if Shen Jingxiao claimed he could not perceive it — who could prove otherwise?
The officials’ thoughts were divided.
Few truly doubted Shen Jingxiao’s words. If the Nether Cult had gone so far as to exchange heirs, naturally they would have ensured the deception was flawless.
A man of his level would not have been easily fooled — unless the trick had been devised to deceive even him.
Emperor Mingde clearly did not wish to continue discussing the matter any further.
“You mean to announce this to the world and bring back the true heir?” He looked at Shen Jingxiao as he spoke.
“This humble servant wishes to bring him back and keep him in the capital to make up for the many years of neglect,” Shen Jingxiao replied.
“The capital is rife with rumors, unsettling the hearts of the people. I hope Your Majesty will grant me justice and reveal the truth to all,” Shen Jingxiao said with a bow.
Although the timing was far from ideal, there was no other choice. He had abandoned years of infiltration and groundwork within the Nether Cult just to secure this opportunity for Shen Tian.
In the future, keeping him in the capital would also help put Emperor Mingde’s mind at ease.
“Heh, you all greatly underestimate this emperor’s heart.”
“All of you spend your days second-guessing me. As long as I sit upon this throne, I am the master of these vast lands and the ruler of all under heaven.”
“A mere heir—could he possibly take my throne from me?”
Emperor Mingde waved his hand impatiently, his gaze in that instant seeming to pierce through the thoughts and schemes of everyone present.
At those words, everyone in the hall — Shen Jingxiao included — visibly paled.
“This humble servant would not dare…”
Shen Jingxiao immediately bowed low, kneeling in deep reverence, his hands clenched tightly beneath his wide sleeves.
“The Nether Cult seeks to disrupt the Great Qian Dynasty and throw the court into disarray. Such traitors should be eradicated.”
“The Demon Suppression King has found the true heir and restored the lineage of his house. This is a blessing for the Great Qian Dynasty and cause for celebration.”
“A man with the talent of a commander should be at the borders waging war, expanding our lands for the dynasty.”
“You wish to keep him in the capital—for me to watch him?” Emperor Mingde’s tone turned cold, his eyes revealing a flicker of disappointment.
“Your Majesty, please quell your anger.”
The officials within the hall hurriedly fell to their knees, bowing their heads low, not daring even to breathe too loudly.
Shen Jingxiao too dared not speak.
Crown Prince Xia Chongming, for his part, had never before seen his father so enraged. For years, the emperor had resided deep within the Hall of Nurturing Heart, cultivating his body and spirit, seeking longevity.
Even when major affairs of the court arose, he rarely showed such visible anger—let alone like this.
His earlier summoning of the Demon Suppression King to the capital had already shown displeasure, but nothing compared to this.
“Court dismissed.”
Emperor Mingde waved his hand wearily.
Eunuch Wei Gong immediately followed closely behind him.
Moments later, once the emperor had departed, the oppressive atmosphere in the hall finally eased. The officials slowly rose, and several stepped forward to help the Demon Suppression King.
Crown Prince Xia Chongming gave a cold snort. “Demon Suppression King, how very bold of you—to deceive and conceal the truth! Father has overlooked your offenses for the sake of your past merits, yet you dare to press your luck further and demand justice?”
“You truly think others cannot see through your little schemes?”
“Your Highness, please watch your words…”
Several ministers’ expressions changed at once. They quickly moved forward to stop him—words like these could not be spoken recklessly. If spread, they would damage the Crown Prince’s reputation and virtue.
Shen Jingxiao had maintained a stoic expression ever since he rose. Even when faced with the Crown Prince’s ridicule, he remained unmoved.
After a brief silence, he simply brushed the nonexistent dust from his sleeves and walked out of the hall as if nothing had happened.
——
The Demon Suppression King’s audience in court, where he revealed that Shen Yanzhou was a false heir, soon became the talk of the entire capital.
No one had expected the rumor to turn out true.
However, new information also spread — that the false heir Shen Yanzhou had not been deliberately raised by the Demon Suppression King, but had been switched by the Nether Cult years ago.
This revelation shocked many.
“Then who is the true heir?”
“The Demon Suppression King has not yet said, but judging from today’s events in court, he will likely bring him back soon.”
“Heh, I always said — how could someone like the Demon Suppression King possibly have sired a wastrel like Shen Yanzhou, who knows neither discipline nor virtue?”
“Well, now that he’s lost the title of the Demon Suppression Prince’s heir, let’s see how arrogant that wastrel dares to be in the capital!”
“Whatever the case, the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion has restored its rightful lineage — a cause for joy indeed.”
From street corners to taverns and inns, even within the academies and schools, people buzzed with discussion.
——
Shen Jingxiao’s return had restored the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion to its former glory. The previous rumors and doubts were completely dispelled.
That very day, many officials came bearing gifts of congratulation, but Shen Jingxiao declined them all, using his desire to reunite with family as an excuse.
The mansion was filled with joy and liveliness, like a festival celebration.
Several family elders conversed with Shen Jingxiao in the reception hall, mentioning that Shen Yanzhou had already been placed under confinement.
“This brat hid his true self well. If not for your warning, Jingxiao, we might have been fooled by his facade.”
“Tian’er’s disappearance is definitely connected to him.”
“Think of a way to make him speak. If he refuses, use harsher means if you must…”
“Now that all of the capital knows about the true and false heirs, it hardly matters anymore.”
Shen Zhigao and the others had not imagined that Shen Yanzhou had been deceiving them for years, hiding behind the mask of a frivolous wastrel.
Anger festered within their hearts as they recalled how he had mocked them before the gates of the mansion.
“Don’t rejoice too soon. His Majesty likely knows more than he lets on — he simply chooses not to interfere.”
“The matter of Hidden Moon Mountain clearly involves many parties, and Shen Yanzhou is a key piece among them,” Shen Jingxiao said, his gaze deep and cold.
It had been a long time since he had felt so humiliated. Facing Emperor Mingde today, that old sense of fear had returned.
The feeling was unbearable — and infuriating.
“So, Jingxiao, you mean to say we leave Shen Yanzhou be for now?” Shen Zhigao could not help asking.
“Of course.”
“Not only that, but we must protect him well. That brat is far more cunning than all of you combined,” Shen Jingxiao said calmly.
Shen Yanzhou’s public disruption at the mansion gates, deliberately drawing attention, was clearly meant to shift the blame for the Hidden Moon Mountain incident onto the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion.
The elders had failed to see this, believing instead that Shen Yanzhou had been manipulated by others.
But Shen Jingxiao knew better — it had been entirely intentional.
For now, he had merely suppressed the issue temporarily. It was far from resolved, with many loose ends still to be tied.
“I’ll go to the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard first.”
Leaving those words behind, Shen Jingxiao turned and walked toward the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard, where Yu Chenyu usually rested.