Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

“It’s not up to him to decide how things go!”

The fake heir suddenly rushed toward Madam Du, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. “Mother! Say something, Mother! I am the real one! I am!”

Madam Du slapped him sharply—smack—the sound crisp and loud.

The onlooking officials gasped, “Whoa!”

What a solid slap! His face swelled red, scratched by her nails, with blood seeping out—disfigured beyond repair. There was no doubt now—he wasn’t her biological son!

Madam Du hurried over to Xie Luoshui and coughed lightly. “Luoshui… what a lovely name. Luoshui, I am your mother! That scoundrel Wei Jin swapped you at birth just for a title. You must have suffered so much over the years. My heart aches like a knife twisting in it…”

Xie Luoshui snapped back to reality amidst the cacophony. She gazed up at Madam Du, her face pale as death. “When I was tricked into returning to the family by the heir—no, by Wei Min—you were furious, accusing me of seducing him. You only changed your attitude after barging into my room during my bath despite the servants’ protests. That was when you saw my feet. Afterward, you were so kind to me, often saying you thought of me as a daughter…”

Xie Luoshui stared at Madam Du, her tearful eyes blazing with fury. “Was it because you thought of me as a daughter, or because I am your daughter?”

A cold wind swept through. Madam Du shivered, clutching her arms, unable to utter a word under Xie Luoshui’s interrogation.

She had no intention of avoiding the topic or preserving her dignity. To her, such considerations were luxuries only the privileged could afford.

As a girl who had run barefoot in the fields, unbound by societal norms, her resilience was like a hardy tree growing freely and defiantly, glaring at anyone who wronged her.

“Madam Du, when I became pregnant, you were overjoyed, weren’t you? Hoping the marquisate would pass back into your bloodline. But you also sought the princess’ hand—if the emperor had truly favored you, would you have swapped my child with hers again?”

Her thoughts spiraled wildly, and Xie Luoshui barely noticed the emperor awaiting her answer.

The emperor didn’t press her. His focus was elsewhere—“This wretched family dared dream of marrying into my royal house? Am I so desperate?”

Xie Luoshui’s revelations were like a bombshell among the officials.

“They really have a death wish,” someone muttered.

Prime Minister Dou remarked, “Young people these days grow bolder and bolder…”

“Last time I saw such audacity was when Princess Wanshou’s consort demanded she be executed.”

Meanwhile, the crown prince strolled lazily, stopping by Prime Minister Dou. “Executed? What’s this about?”

The conversation shifted, but the Minister of Works whispered to his friend, “How could you casually chat with the crown prince about such trivial matters? Your duty is to guide him towards diligence!”

His friend, the temple minister, shrugged. “If the prince enjoys these anecdotes, let him. It’s harmless chatter.”

He glanced at Xie Luoshui, startled. “She’s gone to have her foot inspected? I thought she wanted answers.”

“Really?” The minister spun around and found she’d indeed stepped out.

Moments later, Xie Luoshui returned. She’d guessed the officials would object to her baring her foot in court, so she went to a private chamber.

The palace servants confirmed, “She has six toes.”

The evidence was indisputable. The Marquis of Kuaiji’s downfall was sealed.

Xie Luoshui confronted him. “Why didn’t you announce at my birth that I was a twin?”

The marquis sneered. “Twins must look identical. If they don’t, it arouses suspicion, making people question the heir’s legitimacy. Why risk that?”

“You’d rather kill me?!”

“What else? Had that foolish maid not hesitated and pushed you into the Luoshui River along with the basin, none of this would’ve happened!”

His cold indifference chilled her to the core.

Guards dragged the marquis and his family out. Execution awaited.

From a distance, Xu Yanmiao observed Xie Luoshui. The girl stood amidst the fading sunlight and dust, her face expressionless, her lips tight. Her eyes betrayed a confusion about her future.

[Poor thing.]@@novelbin@@

[In just a short time, she’s suffered a miscarriage, imprisonment, and the shock of learning her parents are scum. Now she’s left adrift…]

The emperor stifled a laugh, amused by Xu Yanmiao’s unexpected sentimentality.

[If only the emperor recognized how extraordinary Xie Luoshui is—]

[A woman who miscarried one day and rode forty miles the next. Who, despite severe injuries, spoke before the court without faltering. She’s unyielding, the perfect candidate for overseas exploration!]

[America awaits, with crops like corn—high yield, low cost, drought-resistant. One acre produces twice as much as millet.]

The officials were stunned.

“Such a crop exists?!”

The minister of works grabbed his friend’s arm. “I don’t believe it…”

But the temple minister ordered, “Bring paper and write this down immediately!”

[There’s also the potato—perfect for highlands, yielding ten times as much grain per acre!]

The crown prince grew serious. “How many treasure ships are seaworthy? How soon can we gather experienced sailors? Do we need to transfer food supplies from other regions for this expedition? Draft a report immediately!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

[And sweet potatoes—not affected by locusts, capable of re-sprouting after plagues, yielding ten bushels per acre!]

The room erupted.

The emperor, enraged at the marquis’ earlier mistreatment of Xie Luoshui, slapped him so hard he spat blood.

“Foolish wretches!” he bellowed. “You almost cost me a national treasure!”

Turning to Xie Luoshui, he grasped her hands. His gaze was fervent, almost reverent.

“Xie Luoshui,” he said, his voice thick with emotion, “have you ever considered becoming a marquis?”