Chapter 3: Crisis of Identity

On this day, Yang Kang lay in bed, listening to the noisy footsteps outside. The maid and wet nurse beside him were forcibly dragged away by the aggressive soldiers, and the entire royal residence was filled with shouts and cries.

Apart from the managers, Yang Kang only came into contact with the miscellaneous servants, and he had merely heard of the slaves.

Since we have come, we shall make ourselves comfortable

However, his range of activities is very limited, as he can only be carried around the mansion, leading a life that is almost isolated from the world, with a very singular source of information, primarily derived from the conversations of the servants

The rumors align with the actual situation, but who would dare to slander the person that Wanyan Honglie is protecting within the royal palace? Yang Kang was utterly perplexed.

In the story, after eighteen years, Wanyan Honglie and Yang Kang share a deep bond, akin to that of a father and son. This is likely a father-son affection that has gradually accumulated over the eighteen years of their relationship. Even when raising a small animal, feelings will develop over time.

Yang Kang began to pay attention to everything around him, whether it was the conversations of the servants or the written words he happened to see, in order to determine whether this world was the one he had imagined.

However, things did not go smoothly, and troubles continued to arise m.hetushucom.com

Taking the royal residence as an example, the servants within the royal residence are divided into three ranks. The first rank is the steward, who is held by the Jin people

Regardless of whether Yang Kang is the biological son of Wanyan Honglie, he is recorded in the family genealogy as a royal descendant. The concubines did not dare to take action against Yang Kang and could only resort to targeting this frail woman

From the conversation of the servants, he sensed a hint of crisis; in their whispered exchanges, Yang Kang heard rumors about Bao Xiruo and himself

As time passed day by day, Yang Kang was slowly absorbing and digesting everything about this world. At this moment, he had already confirmed his identity, having learned everything from the occasional mutterings of Bao Xiruo's memories.

This indirectly validates Yang Kang's conjecture; if it were his biological father, such a situation would never occur, as the joy that comes from being a father would naturally arise from within.

Yang Kang can only gain an understanding of the true living conditions of the lower-class people in the Jin Dynasty.

As an infant, he experiences a profound sense of powerlessness; faced with the impending dangers that he cannot alter, he can only await the dictates of fate, which leaves him exceedingly displeased

No one would expect that a small baby is constantly eavesdropping on the conversations of those around them; they speak without any reservations, completely unguarded

Until late at night, a new-faced wet nurse brought him into his mother's room, where he saw his pale-faced mother and the pained expression of Wanyan Honglie

As soon as she regained consciousness, Bao Xiruo's first thought was to see Yang Kang

The fox charms the ruler

The servants always engage in conversations about trivial family matters, lacking substantive content, and they do not discuss national affairs, as that is considered a taboo subject

After spending the initial few months of his journey through time, Yang Kang's restless mindset began to calm down. Whether it was befriending renowned figures or plotting to become emperor, those were matters for years or even decades to come. His current task was simply to live well.

The concubines expressed such evaluations of Bao Xiruo, and discontent began to accumulate within the royal residence, ultimately leading to the formation of a plan.

When Bao Xiruo first arrived at the Wang residence, she had not yet aroused the vigilance of those concubines; after all, she was merely a Han woman, of a status inferior to theirs. Once the novelty wore off for Wanyan Honglie, she would likely be relegated to the status of a maid.

At this moment, Yang Kang realized that those concubines had instructed a maid to poison Bao Xiruo. Fortunately, Bao Xiruo had consumed little, and with the urgent rescue efforts of the imperial physicians at the Tai Hospital, she managed to survive.

He closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, beginning to seriously study the Hangzhou dialect, which is currently an important means for him to acquire information

Yang Kang reminded himself to be cautious and prudent, and not to do anything out of line. His survival now is entirely thanks to his mother; if it were not for Wanyan Honglie's affection for Bao Xiruo, he would have likely been thrown into a stinking ditch long ago

Wanyan Honglie visited the inner residence frequently, but each time it was to see Bao Xiruo, showing a certain indifference towards this child. Yang Kang could sense this; even when Wanyan Honglie was playing with the child, he seemed somewhat distracted.

If Wanyan Honglie were to discover the unusual look in his eyes, he would likely be stifled in his cradle before he could even finish dreaming of being emperor

After all, he is not the biological child of Wanyan Honglie. Moreover, Yang Tiexin's fate is uncertain, which is directly related to Wanyan Honglie. When seeing this child, it is inevitable to feel some emotional distance.

Wanyan Honglie was handsome and charming, youthful and dashing. Before meeting Bao Xiruo, he already had several concubines. However, royal marriages are difficult to decide on one's own; a true princess must be determined by the royal family

However, the development of events was beyond their expectations. Wanyan Honglie first requested the Grand Council to register the child of that Han woman in the family genealogy, granting him legitimate inheritance rights. As if that were not enough, the Sixth Prince recently even demanded that the royal family confer the title of princess upon that Han woman

He spent the entire day in a state of anxiety, uncertain about what was happening outside, but he was certain it was somehow related to him, with countless speculations flashing through his mind.

The third class consists of slaves, who perform the dirtiest and most laborious tasks, and they are all Han people

Could it be that his crossing over has caused some unknown change in this world

This unsuccessful poisoning ended with the deaths of countless individuals. Wanyan Honglie, in order to provide an explanation to Bao Xiruo and to solidify his own resolve, not only executed a large number of servants who spread rumors but also those concubines who conspired in the plot. From then on, only one female master remained in the royal residence.

This recently emerged rumor was suppressed in a bloody manner, much like the use of illustrations in books, and thereafter, no one doubted Yang Kang's lineage. A few months later, Bao Xiruo was conferred the title of princess of the Zhao royal residence.

The second class consists of various menial workers, among whom there are both Jurchens and Han people. The Jurchens serve important figures, while the Han people are only responsible for the more menial tasks

At this moment, those concubines could no longer remain calm. Is the prince out of his mind? Appointing a Han woman as the princess is completely against ancestral customs

At this point, the matter was not yet resolved. The maidservants began to investigate the background of Bao Xiruo and ultimately confirmed her identity through the personal guards who had accompanied Wanyan Honglie southward. Bao Xiruo was merely the daughter of a private tutor from Niujia Village and was already a married woman.

There is actually nothing difficult to understand; it is merely an ordinary palace intrigue.

The servants did not dare to speak freely, yet in front of a small infant, they lost all restraint

Emotions are cultivated gradually

The origin of this rumor is unknown, yet it has spread within a small circle in the royal residence. The background of Bao Xiruo has become the focal point of discussion, with rumors suggesting that she is a woman taken by the Sixth Prince from the Southern Dynasty, and moreover, that she is a married woman. This has led to suspicions regarding Yang Kang's identity, claiming that Yang Kang is not the son of the Sixth Prince