The imperial father and son had come to an understanding.
That afternoon, the gates of Taiji Palace were thrown open, and several high-ranking court ministers were urgently summoned.
The secret meeting lasted well into the night.
That night, Xie Jinbai did not return.
The next day coincided with the semi-monthly grand court assembly.
The long-absent Emperor sat upon the throne in Jinluan Palace.
In open court, he announced a secret sufficient to cause turmoil among all the officials.
Prince Yu was not the Empress's biological son.
His birth mother was the late Consort Lian.
Back then, the Empress and the Imperial Concubine had both given birth at the same time.
One mother died, but her son survived. The other's son died, but she survived.
The young Prince had lost his mother, and the Empress had lost her child.
