With the authorization Li Ji had granted them earlier, Li Xiao and Song Jin headed straight for the classified section.

The documents were not arranged by numerical order, so Li Xiao first logged into the query system to search for the electronic archive of the top-secret file ending in “99432”.

【No file with this serial number found.】

“As expected.”

Song Jin’s gaze swept across the densely packed documents on the surrounding shelves. “Let’s split up and search. It all comes down to our luck now.”

After searching for more than an hour, Li Xiao finally found the document box with the serial number ending in “99432” at the top of a corner shelf.

“Xiao Jin, I found it.”

Sitting on the ladder, Li Xiao pulled the file box out. The date of the file’s signing was handwritten on the label, matching what Yan Qing had verbally recounted.

Song Jin came around from the other side and climbed up the opposite side of the ladder. “Open it and take a look.”

There was a smart lock on the file box, requiring the reviewer’s iris scan to be registered every time it was opened.

Li Xiao quickly completed the access registration. Once the progress reached 100%, a window requesting approval popped up on the virtual screen, and the smart lock opened with a click.

It was rare for Song Jin to feel nervous. He stared intently as Li Xiao opened the file box, only to find it completely empty. He could not help but tsk in disbelief. “Isn’t your house-visiting grandfather being a bit too much? Was it really necessary to destroy it so thoroughly?”

Li Xiao could not help feeling disappointed, yet at the same time, he felt a sense of inevitability.

He opened the smart lock’s program and used the authorization given by Li Ji to check the historical access records.

Including this time, there were four access records in total.

The first was seventy-six years ago in midsummer; the visitor was Li Ye.

Calculated by time, this was six days after the incident with the Golden Finch Legion.

The second was thirty years ago in late autumn; the visitor was Li Xun.

The third was thirty years ago in early winter; the visitor was Gao Wanxin.

The time gap between the second and third queries was less than a month.

“Gao Wanxin?”

Song Jin frowned. “He was investigating this matter way back then? From what channel did he get his intel?”

Looking at this record, Li Xiao was filled with questions.

He had originally thought the Gao family had nothing to do with the whole affair, but looking at it now, not only were they involved, but their stance was also extremely delicate.

Li Xiao said, “The day before Gao Wanxin queried the file, Li Xun died in an accident.”

Song Jin looked thoughtful. “Could the file have been taken by him?”

Li Xiao put the document box back. “Let’s go see Jin Heng first.”

After his arrest, Jin Heng was detained at the military base behind the palace.

Li Xiao landed the vehicle at the prison entrance, and a guard on duty from the Royal Guard quickly came over to inquire about the situation.

“Take me to see Jin Heng. I have something to ask him.”

Guard: “Yes, sir!”

Li Xiao and Song Jin followed the guard into the elevator. As the numbers on the virtual screen flickered, they quickly arrived at the ninth underground floor.

When the metal doors slid open, a blast of cold air rushed in.

Li Xiao subconsciously looked at Song Jin, who was only wearing a loose, light-colored sweater. “Cold?”

Song Jin: “Are you going to give me your coat?”

Li Xiao walked out alongside the guard. “I was just asking casually.”

Song Jin: “…”

Teasing him again.

The deep, metallic corridor was dead silent, with only the echoes of their footsteps ringing through the space. Every ten meters or so, a heavy metal door stood on either side, guarded by personnel on duty.

The escorting guard led the two to an interrogation room on that level and instructed the staff on the cell block side to bring Jin Heng over.

“I’ll go to the observation room next door,” Song Jin said as he headed toward the room on the right.

Li Xiao pulled him back. “There’s no need to avoid him.”

“In my opinion, Jin Heng won’t tell the truth if I’m around.”

Song Jin smiled and patted Li Xiao’s face. “I appreciate your sentiment, but if you fail to extract anything useful again, I’ll feel like a fool for staying up all night.”

Li Xiao: “…”

The little lion, who hadn’t slept all night and was still running on an empty stomach, was throwing a tantrum.

Li Xiao fished a piece of chocolate out of his coat pocket and handed it over. “Line your stomach with this first.”

Song Jin took the opportunity to dig into Li Xiao’s other pocket. “It’s just one piece, not even enough to fill the gap between my teeth. I’d rather not eat it at all.”

“Then give it back to me.” Li Xiao reached out to snatch it, but Song Jin dodged.

Song Jin tore open the wrapper, popped the chocolate whole into his mouth, turned around, and headed straight for the observation room. “Hurry up. I give you five minutes to finish questioning. I’m already starving.”

Li Xiao: “…”

What a carefree kid.

When Jin Heng was brought into the interrogation room, Li Xiao was the only one inside.

Observing Jin Heng’s reactions and micro-expressions, Li Xiao took the initiative to speak. “You don’t seem surprised to see me?”

Jin Heng sat down in the interrogation chair and allowed the guards to lock his ankles in place.

“I passed the age of being easily startled long ago.”

Li Xiao waved a hand to signal the guards to leave, letting 09 take control of the smart system here, and leaned against the edge of the interrogation table facing Jin Heng. “Is the DNA report circulating online really a forgery?”

Jin Heng interlocked his hands in front of him and remained silent for a moment. “That is correct. Admiral Meng threatened me with my family. I am sorry for causing you such a massive negative impact.”

Li Xiao: “So, in reality, am I actually biological to my Queen Father?”

Jin Heng kept his head down. “Yes.”

Li Xiao: “By what method was I born?”

Jin Heng: “When the late Queen Father was three months pregnant, the embryo was transferred to an artificial gestation pod. Eight months later, the indicators met the requirements for birth.”

Li Xiao: “Did you handle all of it?”

Jin Heng: “I am not an obstetrician. Only the pre-birth DNA report was made by me. You should be able to query the relevant documents in the palace database.”

Li Xiao nodded unhurriedly, then barked out in a low voice, “Liar!”

Jin Heng’s hands tightened in front of him. He hesitated before raising his head, only to meet Li Xiao’s icy eyes in the very next second.

In an instant, it was as if he had been locked onto by a giant beast. Instinctive terror made him tremble uncontrollably.

“Did you really think that with my Queen Father gone, I’d have no way to investigate my own origins?”

Seeing Jin Heng’s expression finally break, Li Xiao continued, “A simple DNA comparison with my brother would make it crystal clear whether we are full blood brothers.”

Jin Heng’s eyes flickered nervously. “Have you already performed the comparison?”

Li Xiao spoke flatly, “Tampering with a prince’s DNA report without authorization is a far heavier offense than defaming the royal family. Have you made up your mind to spend the rest of your life rotting in prison?”

“I did not tamper with the DNA report without authorization!”

Panicking, Jin Heng argued back, “All my operations were executed according to instructions from above!”

“Instructions from above?”

Li Xiao scrutinized him. “My King Father instructed you to make a fake report? What necessity would he have to do such a thing?”

Jin Heng lowered his head once more, pressing his lips together and refusing to speak further.

Li Xiao: “Over thirty years ago, you worked at the Z152 base in the Zifu constellation, didn’t you?”

Jin Heng’s brow twitched. He hurriedly averted his eyes from Li Xiao. “Perhaps. It was too long ago, I forgot.”

Li Xiao projected the video of the abandoned base exposed online. “Take a look. Is it here?”

Jin Heng raised his eyes in confusion, his pupils shrinking instantly.

“How could you know…”

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Jin Heng abruptly stopped, not daring to say another word.

“This is the place where the Meng family secretly detained the warriors of the Golden Finch Legion. How did you end up there?”

Li Xiao asked in a cold voice, “Are you in league with them?”

“I am not!” Jin Heng hastily explained, “Back then, I was invited to the Z152 biological research lab for an academic exchange. I never expected them to bring me to that place! At the time, I truly did not know that members of the Golden Finch Legion had been imprisoned there!”

Li Xiao pressed harder: “You didn’t know members of the Golden Finch Legion were kept there, yet you knew that the incomplete clone being cultivated was named Wei Feng?”

Jin Heng’s face drained of color completely. “How could you possibly know all this?”

Li Xiao countered, “Wasn’t it you who guided me to investigate it?”

Jin Heng was deeply astonished. “I… How could I possibly…”

Li Xiao: “You know Qiu Bin, don’t you?”

Jin Heng’s brow furrowed tightly. As if suddenly remembering something, his expression grew even more stunned.

“How could that be…”

Li Xiao: “I handed him a vial of blood for analysis. Not long after, he received two whole crates of misdirected blood. Coincidentally, you shared a research project with him and had the opportunity to discover that vial in his hands. Don’t tell me that was just a coincidence.”

“How could that be…”

Jin Heng clutched his head, falling into confusion. “That person… turned out to be you…”

As Li Xiao observed Jin Heng’s reaction, 09’s voice sounded in his ear.

09: 【Madam wants me to tell you that his stomach is already growling violently.】

Li Xiao: “…”

09: 【He says if you don’t finish questioning within a minute, he’s going back to the main hall to eat first. The desserts at your elder brother’s place are plentiful and delicious.】

Li Xiao: “…”

This brat had abandoned him so easily.

He had no choice but to speed up the process.

“In reality, you had already been bought out by the Meng family long ago, deeply participating in the research of the Danse race’s genes—especially Wei Feng’s.”

Li Xiao continued, “Nineteen years ago, when Queen Father transferred the embryo out of his body, you tampered with it to confuse the royal bloodline. Six months ago, when you discovered I was investigating, you used those two crates of blood to lure me to Z152, pitting me against Raven to spark a civil war using the hatred between the royal family and the Danse race, paving the way for the Meng family to seize power.”

Li Xiao looked at him with an indifferent gaze. “From the moment you became an accomplice to executioners, you ceased to be worthy of the military uniform on your back!”

“I am not!” Jin Heng snapped his head up to meet Li Xiao’s gaze, his eyes rimmed with red. “I have never betrayed this country!”

Li Xiao’s face darkened, and he demanded sternly, “Then why do you still refuse to tell the truth?!”

Jin Heng clutched his hands tightly, hesitating for a long while. “It was Admiral Gao… He was the one who instructed me to go undercover at the Z152 underground base.”

Li Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly. “Gao Wanxin? What did he have you go undercover for?”

Jin Heng took a deep breath. “To figure out what exactly was being researched there. Because I transferred mid-way, they didn’t trust me and gave me low security clearance. It took me a long time to reach the core technology, which was when I discovered they were researching the genes of the Danse race.”

Li Xiao: “And after you discovered it?”

Jin Heng: “I reported it truthfully and left, never going back again. Until nineteen years ago, I was suddenly summoned by the late King His Majesty for a private meeting, where this matter was brought up once more.”

At this point, Jin Heng paused. “Wei Feng’s genes were superior to ordinary people’s in every aspect. His Majesty also wanted a child bearing Wei Feng’s genes to improve the royal family’s bloodline. But this matter could not be leaked to the public; it had to be carried out behind everyone’s back.”

Listening to this, Li Xiao’s expression remained largely unchanged, though the hand resting on the table tightened unconsciously.

“So an embryo was created by combining the genes of my King Father and Wei Feng?”

Jin Heng shook his head. “His Majesty believed that Prince Li Xun, who had passed away years ago, possessed better genes than his own. Thus, he ordered me to use gene-editing technology to combine Prince Li Xun’s genes with Wei Feng’s. The embryo was placed into the royal gestation pod, and to the outside world, it was claimed to be his child with the Queen.”

Jin Heng looked up at Li Xiao. “From embryo creation to cultivation, and right up to the post-birth DNA analysis, every single step was strictly supervised. Without His Majesty’s explicit command, how could I have hidden it from everyone?”

Li Xiao neither confirmed nor denied it, following up with another question: “Then why did you send those two crates of blood to the lab six months ago?”

“I didn’t send those.”

Jin Heng lowered his eyes slightly. “I inadvertently caught Qiu Bin analyzing that blood. Fearing something might go wrong, I secretly reported it to Admiral Gao. As for the misdirected blood, that might have been Admiral Gao’s arrangement.”

The interrogation ended, and Li Xiao called the guards in to take Jin Heng back to his cell.

Just as he reached the door, Jin Heng turned his head to look at Li Xiao. “His genes possess extreme self-repair capabilities, able to make up for the defects of artificial editing. That you were able to grow up healthy to this day is the result of many people’s joint efforts.”

“You are our final hope.”

Li Xiao kept his back turned to him the entire time, saying not a word.

Urged on by the guards, Jin Heng turned around and walked into the narrow corridor. In the blink of an eye, the panic at the bottom of his eyes vanished completely.

In the observation room, Song Jin waited until Jin Heng left before stepping out. He walked up to Li Xiao and wrapped his arms around him. “If I knew this earlier, I would have saved half that chocolate from before.”

Li Xiao rested his forehead against Song Jin’s chest, the eyes he cast downward failing to hide his disappointment. “Did you think I was like you, where eating a piece of candy changes my mood?”

Song Jin patted his head. “I meant saving it to eat now so I’d have the strength to comfort you.”

No sooner had he spoken than a series of loud growls echoed in Li Xiao’s ear.

Li Xiao: “…”

It seemed he really was starving.

Song Jin was longing for the desserts at the main hall, and Li Xiao happened to need to report the situation to his elder brother anyway. After leaving the underground prison, he drove the vehicle toward the main hall.

Halfway there, 09 notified him that an incoming video call from Old Liu was connecting.

Li Xiao looked at Old Liu on the screen. “Uncle Liu, what’s the matter?”

Old Liu: “His Majesty wishes to ask if you and the Crown Prince Consort would like to come to the main hall for breakfast.”

Li Xiao: “We are on our way right now.”

Old Liu acknowledged, adding, “Admiral Gao arrived just a moment ago. It seems he has something important to discuss.”

Li Xiao and Song Jin exchanged a glance.

Just as they finished interrogating Jin Heng, Gao Wanxin delivered himself right to their door. Had he come prepared?

Once Li Xiao ended the call, Song Jin rested his chin on his hand, mulling over Jin Heng’s confession. “How much of that do you think is believable?”

Li Xiao: “The part about King Father instructing the creation of the embryo and the fake DNA report is pretty close to our previous guesses.”

Song Jin: “But I don’t feel like Li Su would create an embryo using Li Xun’s genes simply because Li Xun had better genes.”

Li Xiao held the steering wheel, not picking up the conversation.

He didn’t know how to respond either.

The two fathers he possessed genetically—one died seventy-six years ago, and the other thirty years ago. Setting feelings aside, they weren’t even from the same era and didn’t know each other at all.

Using the genes of two completely unrelated alphas to create an embryo, solely to improve the royal bloodline.

If this was the truth, it was far too insane and cold-hearted.

In the eyes of his King Father and Queen Father, had he been nothing more than a “tool” from start to finish?

“Your brother said before that Li Su and his brother had a very good relationship.”

Song Jin turned his head to look at Li Xiao. “I think Li Su wanted to help his late brother leave behind a bloodline.”

Li Xiao snapped back to reality. “Comforting me?”

Song Jin: “I’m not coaxing you. That was a serious analysis on my part.”

Li Xiao ruffed his hair. “Thanks for your analysis. I feel much better.”

Song Jin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, leaning back against the seat relaxed, and smiled with self-assurance. “There is no elder brother more thoughtful than me. You’d better cherish me well.”

Li Xiao let out a chuckle. “Kid.”

Song Jin snorted softly. “Old geezer.”

By the time they reached the main hall, Li Ji was already eating breakfast. Two virtual screens hovered in the air above the dining table, displaying news from the Xingya social platform.

Li Xiao and Song Jin greeted him and sat down to eat to Li Ji’s left.

“Gao Wanxin is here?” Li Xiao picked up a boiled egg, peeled it, and casually handed it to Song Jin.

Li Ji held his teacup, looking at the news. “Yeah. He’s waiting in my office.”

It was inconvenient to speak about Jin Heng at the dining table, so Li Xiao decided to wait until after meeting Gao Wanxin to talk.

“The Meng family still dares to jump out?”

Song Jin took a big bite straight from Li Xiao’s hand, looking up at the screen in mid-air.

After the events of last night’s farewell banquet were exposed online, the heat had not subsided even now; instead, it continued to climb. The top thirty trending topics on the Xingya platform were all related to the Meng family.

Rushing to the very top spot was actually #Great-Grandson of Zhan Qiming Assassination at Farewell Banquet#. Under the topic, many people pitied the Gaofeng tribe, but a considerable number were enraged by the assassin’s actions.

【I know they were backed into a corner, but killing people is wrong!!】

【To even mistake their enemy—if it wasn’t stopped in time, that military academy teacher would have died in vain!】

【The Gaofeng tribe previously used props of the Golden Finch Legion warriors for their ritual! I’m getting more and more disgusted by the Gaofeng tribe.】

【The tragic ones are the Golden Finch Legion and the Danse race. They did nothing wrong, yet were harmed like this!】

【Shouldn’t the people of the Gaofeng tribe step out and apologize?!】

【@RoyalFamily, investigate Major General Zhan Qiming’s other descendants. Maybe they were involved in persecuting the Danse race too. It must be strictly investigated!】

Song Jin scrolled down rapidly. The voices condemning the Gaofeng tribe were growing louder and louder, while the true culprit, the Meng family, had seamlessly turned invisible.

“This time they’re using the Gaofeng tribe as a human shield again. That Meng family loves hiding behind others to pull sneaky tricks.”

Li Ji gestured to Old Liu. “Coordinate with Xingya Network and handle those accounts driving the narrative.”

Old Liu: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Li Xiao: “No need. I’ll have Zhan Yue handle it.”

Li Ji was puzzled. “Who is Zhan Yue?”

“The ritual actor.”

Li Xiao sent Zhan Yue a message. “The real great-grandson of Zhan Qiming.”

Both Li Ji and Old Liu were surprised.

It always felt as though Li Xiao possessed an endless supply of chess pieces, as if every step the enemy took had been precisely predicted by him.

Before breakfast was even finished, a new trending term on the Xingya platform, #Zhan Qiming’s Great-Grandson Clarifies#, quickly shot to the top of the hot search list.

The hottest post under the topic was an update published by an account named “Actor Zhan Yue”.

【I am the ritual actor Zhan Yue. First of all, I apologize to everyone once again for the previous ritual performance. We should not have recklessly used dummies of Imperial soldiers as props before investigating the truth. We violated Imperial law and insulted the Golden Finch warriors who died for the Gaofeng tribe. I am sorry.】

【Apart from my identity as an actor, I am also the only great-grandson of Major General Zhan Qiming. I do not know the assassin from the farewell banquet. He was an imposter using the name of the Gaofeng tribe and my great-grandfather to commit murder, attempting to provoke conflict between the Gaofeng tribe and the Danse race to divert attention. I hope everyone will not be deceived.】

Attached beneath the text were Zhan Yue’s personal profile and family genealogy tree.

As soon as the post went live, the volume of discussion skyrocketed exponentially.

【??? Daring to impersonate someone to commit murder, isn’t that way too absurd?!】

【I didn’t expect a plot twist like this! Then who on earth is that assassin?】

【This is ridiculous. Who did the Gaofeng tribe provoke? They’re already miserable enough, yet they got dragged into the headlines and cursed out for no reason.】

【The direction of public opinion felt off since after midnight. Isn’t it completely obvious who is pulling the strings?】

【The murderer turned invisible, while everyone lashed out at the victim. Bring some brains with you when following the crowd, people!】

【Align your guns at the Meng family, folks! Don’t get led astray!】

Military District, Meng Family.

Lin Xu knocked and opened the door to Meng Zai’s study, nearly choked by the dense smell of smoke.

Amidst the swirling smoke, Meng Zai sat behind the office desk, his face dark as he looked at the jumping online comments on the screen while simultaneously on a video call with his elder brother, Meng Tu.

“The Shengya Empire has completely withdrawn its troops. There are conditions, but have things really reached this desperate of a point?”

On the other end of the screen, Meng Tu’s expression was grim. “Starting a war now—favorable timing, geographical advantage, and popular support—we don’t possess a single one.”

“Grandfather and Father have both been locked up, and my son has been locked up too! If we don’t act now, when else are we supposed to wait?!”

Meng Zai had two dark circles under his eyes, his tone anxious and irritable. “Prepare yourself first. I think Father will make a move over there very soon.”

Meng Tu: “Starting a war recklessly—the win rate is far too low.”

Meng Zai stubbed out his cigarette butt in the ashtray, puffing out a cloud of white smoke. “Wealth is sought amidst danger! The royal family’s blade is already resting against our necks. If we keep dithering, we can only wait for death!”

On the other side of the screen, Meng Tu fell silent for a moment. “I understand. Take care of yourself.”

Lin Xu waited until Meng Zai hung up before stepping forward. “The materials are ready.”

Meng Zai took them, flipped through two pages, and handed them back. “Have someone write a nice, polished essay and post it across the entire network.”

Lin Xu acknowledged it, then asked with some concern, “But if we do this, the Old Master’s reputation will be completely ruined.”

“Reputation?”

Meng Zai let out a cold laugh. “If it weren’t for that old thing talking nonsense, the Meng family wouldn’t have ended up like this! He still wants to preserve his reputation? Dream on! Dying earlier would have saved us from being dragged down by him. What a nuisance.”

Less than half an hour after Zhan Yue published his new post, Meng Zai’s personal account posted a very long update.

The essay spanned over a thousand words, offering apologies in every way imaginable, and attached Meng Shan’s health status report and psychiatric evaluation.

Within minutes, the comment section exploded.

【What do you mean?! Meng Shan has a mental illness?!】

【Don’t think a mental illness exempts you from criminal law!】

【Key takeaways: The video is real, but what Meng Shan said is fake. The Meng family is very innocent, very aggrieved, and begging for comfort.】

【Stop playing pity! It’s far too easy to forge a psychiatric evaluation!】

【Meng Shan’s mental state in the video did look wrong indeed—way too hysterical, like a madman.】

【Who on earth am I supposed to believe?!】

【Great, no need to go to work today either. The boss is leading the charge in eating popcorn to watch the drama.】

While a new wave of public opinion was being stirred online, Li Xiao and Song Jin were sitting in Li Ji’s office, listening to what Gao Wanxin had come to discuss.

“You certainly are proactive. Knowing you couldn’t escape it, you came to surrender voluntarily.”

Li Ji set down his teacup and looked at Gao Wanxin sitting opposite his desk. “Jin Heng helped Meng Jian bully Xiao Xiao. There’s no way I’m letting this slide, so save your breath if you’re here to plead for leniency.”

“I have no intention of pleading for leniency.”

Gao Wanxin had a heavy expression. “That fake DNA report circulating online—I was the one who instructed Jin Heng to make it.”

A single sentence left everyone in the office dumbfounded.

Ignoring their reactions, Gao Wanxin continued on his own: “Strictly speaking, it was made when the Second Prince was three years old.”

Li Xiao scrutinized him, his eyes probing. “Why?”

Gao Wanxin turned his head to look at Li Xiao. “Because you exposed your unique traits. Your identity could no longer be hidden, and I had no choice but to do so.”

“Exposed?” Li Xiao pressed further.

Gao Wanxin nodded. “The Meng family had long placed the royal family under full surveillance. There were Meng Jian’s people around His Majesty, and there were also people around you—specifically, your playmate who was three years older than you, Meng Fei.”

Speaking of Meng Fei, Song Jin let out a cold snort, thoroughly displeased. “What else did he pull?”

Gao Wanxin pointed to his own eyes. “The Second Prince could see things others couldn’t. As a child, he didn’t know how to hide it. This point was discovered by Meng Fei and reported to Meng Jian. If Meng Jian came to know that the Second Prince possessed Wei Feng’s genes, it wouldn’t have been as simple as an assassination attempt. I had to find a way to cover it up.”

Li Ji narrowed his eyes slightly. “You knew about Xiao Xiao’s true background?!”

Facing Li Ji’s sharp gaze, Gao Wanxin confessed openly, “Back then, the late King His Majesty formulated the bloodline improvement plan, and I was the executor of that top-secret plan—”