"I want you to reveal the truth regarding Fang Chen. To him… and to your wife." Sect Leader Su slowly put forward his condition.
Prime Minister Fang frowned, "Alright. But will that make Fang Chen like you?"
Sect Leader Su narrowed his teeth, "At least he will know how much of a hypocrite you are."
"...What truth are you talking about?" Madam Xin asked in confusion.
Madam Fang Bai pursed her lips and looked at her brother. Sect Leader Su lightly smirked and gestured with his eyes to Prime Minister Fang to speak up.
Madam Xin didn't know that Fang Chen was in fact, not her birth son. Rather, he was Su Ming and Fang Bai's son.
Prime Minister Fang sighed.
Before deciding to meet Sect Leader Su, he knew that this conversation would come up. At that time, he had thought he would be able to tell the truth to his wife, but now he was hesitating.
He was feeling guilty, but this was not the main reason. Rather, he was now worried about how bad it would affect the relationship between Fang Chen and Madam Xin, who considers the former her son.
Taking a deep breath, Prime Minister Fang closed his eyes and said, "It's the truth about Fang Chen."
"About Fang Chen?" Madam Xin narrowed her eyes, "What about him?"
"He's not your son." Prime Minister Fang didn't beat the bush and directly came to the point, "He's Bai'er's and Su Ming's son."
Madam Xin froze for a moment and then stared at Prime Minister Fang wordlessly.
Prime Minister Fang's heart faltered. No matter how cold and calculating he was against his enemies, but in front of his wife, the last thing he wished for was to disappoint her.
And now, he knew things were going in the worst possible direction.
But he was not planning to back down. Keeping the truth in his chest for all these years had always given him a lot of worries. Every time he looked at Fang Chen, he dreaded this very moment when he would have to tell the truth to his wife.
'I must set myself free from this.'
Prime Minister Fang kept his eyes closed as he continued, "Sixteen years ago, you were not the only one in the house who was pregnant. Bai'er was also pregnant. But I couldn't let this news be leaked. Partially I didn't like Su Ming, but mostly it was me being afraid of King Xin's reaction."
"And coincidentally, both of you gave birth to your sons on the same day. But there was one problem. Our son was… born dead. And I, who was already stressed about your pregnancy, and King Xin's reaction, switched the babies. I didn't hide it from Fang Bai, but I had to hide it from you.
Fang Chen is not our son. Rather, we are his uncle and aunt."
The hall turned silent.
Sect Leader Su's smirk had receded, and a tinge of surprise was visible on his face.
He was surprised that Fang Yuan would reveal the truth on his own accord.
'...Does he really wish to reconcile?'
Sect Leader Su just considered it.
Asking to reveal the truth was just the first step. His forgiveness was not easily earned.
Besides him, Fang Bai had lowered her gaze and was staring at the floor.
For sixteen years, she had watched her son call someone else' mother'. It had pained her a lot, and many times she had almost spilled out the truth to Madam Xin.
But every time, she stepped back at the last moment.
Not because she didn't wish to, but rather, she couldn't go through this decision.
Growing up as an orphan, Madam Fang Bai has rarely received any love in her whole life. Even though they cared a lot about her, her two brothers were busy establishing a foothold for the family.
And later, her lover had a lot of hard times because of her. Then, even her son was separated from her.
However, after a few months of Fang Chen's birth, when her eldest brother Fang Yuan brought her to the main clan, she officially met with her Sister-in-law, Madam Xin.
Before meeting her, she loathed Madam Xin and was fully ready to reveal the whole truth, but the first meeting alone changed everything.
Madam Xin didn't have the airs of a princess; rather, she was just like her. A simple young lady who cared a lot about her family. In fact, in some cases, Madam Xin was much better than her. Not only was she very calm and caring, but she also taught a lot of things to Fang Bai.
And now, sixteen years have passed.
In Fang Bai's heart, Madam Xin held the position of not only a sister-in-law but something more than that.
Madam Xin was like a mother she never had.
And as her eldest brother spoke the truth, with every instant, Madam Fang Bai didn't feel any satisfaction; rather, she felt anxious, afraid, and worried.
She was afraid her sister-in-law might not like her anymore. She was scared that she was about to lose someone very close.
Sect Leader Su had sensed her disarrayed emotions. He moved his hand and tightly held hers.
The three of them waited for Madam Xin's response.
And the person in question was simply staring at her husband, who had his head lowered and eyes closed.
After a long silence, she spoke her mind.
"I knew about this." She spoke, stunning the others in the room.
"What!?" All three of them turned their heads towards her in shock and surprise.
"I knew about this." She repeated herself in a calm tone, "But I chose what I saw fit - I chose to treat Fang Chen like my own son. And even if he knows the truth, I will still treat him like my own son."
"You…" Prime Minister Fang couldn't help but ask, "And why didn't you confront me about this then?"
Madam Fang Bai replied, "Maybe because of Fang Chen, or maybe because I am selfish, I don't know. He was already a grown-up. And if I had told him, he would have hated both of us. I couldn't make myself speak up and chose to continue to treat him like my own son."
"But Sister-in-law, why didn't you tell me?" Fang Bai asked.
Fang Yuan frowned, "You aren't the one who told her about this?"
"No, of course not." Fang Bai shook her head.
Madam Xin said, "It was not her."
"Then who?"
"My brother."
"Your brother… King Xin!?" Prime Minister Fang Yuan opened his eyes wide.
"Yes."
"That... bastard!" Prime Minister Fang rubbed his face, "Sigh…."
"King Xin knew?" Sect Leader Su frowned, "How did he find out? Didn't Fang Yuan say he was keeping it a secret from him?"
Prime Minister Fang nodded, "I was. But a few years ago, he summoned me and said that he knew the truth about Fang Chen. However, he didn't seem angry or annoyed with this; rather, he was nonchalant. He even promised me that he wouldn't tell this secret to anyone unless I agreed to reveal it."
"Then why did he reveal everything to Sister-in-law?" Fang Bai asked.