Chapter 122 The Struggle for Fatherhood

Chapter 122 The Struggle for Fatherhood

"That was the arrow used to assassinate Xie Yu. Are you afraid I'll destroy the evidence? Or protect the mastermind behind it all?"

Xie Yan guessed what she was thinking.

Shen Nanzi recognized the three arrows; they were his elder brother's personal arrows.

It's the same group of people as before.

The person behind this not only wants to kill Xie Yu and ruin her reputation, but also wants to drag her brother down with her. Should she be eager to get those arrows back?

Shen Nanzi's silence made Xie Yan laugh in exasperation.

Neither side would yield; neither would take anything, and the other would remain silent.

They walked silently toward the front hall.

Seeing that he wouldn't give her any arrows, and not wanting to waste time with him, Shen Nanzi tried to break free of his restraints by swinging her wrists.

"Let go, I need Shutang to pick up Cheng'er and go back to the manor together."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yan loosened his clenched fist and pondered for a moment before saying, "Let's go together."

Shen Nanzi thought she had misheard and looked him over. "I'm going to pick up Cheng'er. What are you doing following me?"

Immediately realizing what was going on, she asked, "Are you going to pick up Xue Qingning's son, Xie Hongrui?"

No wonder they went together, Shen Nanzi realized, and naturally didn't hold it against him.

We're almost at the school. If Cheng'er sees them arguing again, the child will definitely be unhappy.

“I’m not going to pick up Hong’er; someone else is picking him up,” Xie Yan said, his tone tinged with helplessness.

Hong'er?

They called each other so affectionately, Shen Nanzi scoffed, feeling sorry for Cheng'er.

She could sever the marital relationship, but her son Cheng'er could not sever their father-son relationship.

Upon entering the study, Shen Nanzi searched for Cheng'er's figure.

However, he was not seen at his desk.

Shen Nanzi walked up to Mr. Du and asked, "Dr. Du, has Cheng'er been taken away by someone?"

Dr. Du was looking at the collected student assignments when he looked up and saw Shen Nanzi and Xie Yan.

She quickly cupped her hands in greeting, "Prince Jing, Princess Jing."

"Prince Chengze hasn't been picked up yet; he must have gone to play in the back."

What Dr. Du mentioned is the Royal Study, and behind it is an open space where children can play during their breaks.

Shen Nanzi hurriedly went to the backyard, and Xie Yan followed closely behind.

Most of the children had been picked up, and there were only a few children left in the backyard. Cheng'er was spotted at the plum blossom stakes.

Shen Nanzi also saw a familiar figure from behind. It was Xie Hongrui. The two of them were standing on adjacent plum blossom stakes with their backs to them.

Shen Nanzi found it strange; how did those two end up playing together?

The next moment, Xie Hongrui's voice could be heard.

"Xie Chengze, do you know that people outside are saying that you are the son of the Sixth Imperial Uncle?"

"Xie Hongrui, don't talk nonsense!" Xie Chengze tilted his head to the side, his voice clearly filled with anger.

“How could I lie? The whole school knows, except you. I’m telling you out of kindness, so you don’t not even know who your real father is.”

"Xie Hongrui!" Xie Chengze's voice carried a warning.

"Don't get angry! You need to go back and ask your mother about this. Also, I'll tell you a secret."

Xie Chengze clenched his fists, his small frame and back were already stiff, his shoulders were like a fully drawn bow, and his arms were gathering strength.

Xie Hongrui leaned closer to him, "Guess why Third Imperial Uncle often teaches me riding and archery, but never you?"

Xie Chengze was still a child, and Xie Hongrui's question went straight to the thing he cared about most and hated most.

"Because the Third Imperial Uncle is my father, only a biological father would teach his own son. From now on, you are not allowed to call him father. If you want to call him father, go find the Sixth Imperial Uncle. That is your biological father."

Xie Chengze suddenly jumped down from the plum blossom stake and punched Xie Hongrui in the face.

"I'll teach you to talk nonsense!" Then another punch landed. "I'll teach you to talk nonsense!"

Xie Hongrui was rather thin and weak, and was immediately knocked to the ground by Xie Chengze.

At the same time, Shen Nanzi, who was standing not far away, seemed to understand what had happened and looked at Xie Yan in shock.

Is Xie Hongrui really his son?

Now that you put it that way, everything seems to make sense!

When they first got married, he didn't even lift her veil, leaving her in the bridal chamber and then disappearing for months.

Even after returning, he stayed at the Pear Courtyard, remaining chaste for Xue Qingning. It turns out the Second Prince was the biggest bastard.

Even the child isn't his.

Now he's working so hard to seize the throne, not only for himself, but also for his own son.

No wonder he dislikes Cheng'er; it turns out Xie Hongrui is his biological son!

His biological son with Xue Qingning!

Tsk tsk!

Shen Nanzi felt that everything made sense and was reasonable.

Hearing such a shocking truth from Xie Hongrui today truly enlightened her.

How could a child's words be false? He must have heard Xue Qingning and Xie Yan's words to be so certain.

In a split second, Shen Nanzi strode to Xie Chengze's side, watched as he beat the brat a few more times, and then picked Xie Chengze up.

"Alright! Cheng'er, stop hitting! Mother's here!"

Shen Nanzi held Cheng'er, who was as indignant as a little cheetah, in her arms, supporting his little bottom with one hand and stroking his back with the other.

"Don't be angry, don't be angry!"

"Mother is here!"

Xie Chengze's chest heaved, causing his small body to convulse.

Clearly still not appeased, Shen Nanzi continued to soothe her.

Then Xie Yan stepped forward, grabbed the wailing Xie Hongrui, and made him stand in front of him.

When Xie Hongrui saw Xie Yan, he cried even more fiercely, tears streaming down his face as if they were free.

Pointing at Xie Chengze, she complained, sobbing, "Uncle, he beat Hong'er."

"Uncle, will you avenge Hong'er?"

"Hong'er's chest hurts so much!"

Xie Yan frowned at him, her voice stern, "Who taught you to say those things just now?"

Xie Hongrui said with a wronged expression, "Everyone says that Xie Chengze is the son of the Sixth Imperial Uncle."

Xie Yan asked sternly again, "I'm asking you, who said you're my son?"

"Hong'er."

Shen Nanzi heard the voice behind her and recognized it as Xue Qingning. She turned around and looked at the person.

She wore a simple and elegant dress, with a wooden hairpin in her hair, a thin layer of powder on her face, and a touch of light red on her lips. She was as simple as could be.

However, she looked somewhat anxious at the moment.

As they passed by her, their eyes didn't even linger on her, as if she didn't exist at all.

Hearing the sound, Xie Hongrui looked up and cried even louder.

"Mother, Xie Chengze hit Hong'er! Mother, Hong'er was hit so hard! Hong'er's chest hurts so much!"

As he spoke, he clutched his chest and tried to fall onto Xie Yan.

Xie Yan grabbed him and said, "I'm asking you! Who told you those words?"

Seeing that Xie Yan wasn't holding him, Xie Hongrui turned to Xue Qingning and cried, "Mother, Hong'er's chest really hurts!"

"Please come and save Hong'er!"

Xue Qingning picked up Xie Hongrui and said anxiously to Xie Yan, "Hong'er is sick! Can you take us there?"