Xie Jingrun squinted at him, "I respect you as an elder, so I won't fight you." With that, he used a clever move to push him away.

Xiao Zhen stumbled a step after being pushed, before regaining his balance, but his face was already quite pale.

Shangguan Boyan immediately stepped forward to mediate, saying, "Prince Su, please don't take offense. Commander Xie had no other intentions. If anyone is to blame, it's me for not making myself clear." With that, he helped Xiao Zhen to sit down.

Because of this incident, the atmosphere in the Imperial Study became tense for a moment.

Emperor Zhaojing secretly rebuked Xie Jingrun. That brat really says whatever comes to mind. Xiao Zhen clearly thought that Xingxiu had done something to Rong Qingqing, which is why he couldn't stand it anymore and wanted to beat him up.

However, this also confirms that Rong Qingqing is indeed Xiao Zhen's daughter.

Shangguan Boyan only said that Lan was already pregnant when she married Rong Shiqing, but Xiao Zhen himself must know the length of time he spent with Lan. That's why Xiao Zhen thought of something else when Xingxiu said that, and then became angry.

Xiao Zhen commanded thousands of troops to fight against the Xiongnu. He was not only resourceful but also had unparalleled martial arts skills. He was afraid that Xiao Zhen would injure Xing Xiu when he suddenly attacked.

However, it seems that his son is no pushover either.

He suppressed the upturned corners of his mouth and said with a straight face, "Prince Su, don't take Xingxiu seriously. He never speaks in a pleasing way, so just ignore him."

Xiao Zhen had calmed down by now, but his anger hadn't subsided. He understood that Emperor Zhaojing's words, while ostensibly a demotion of Xie Jingrun, actually contained an element of protection. Looking at Xie Jingrun, who stood calmly to the side, his aura even more imposing than Emperor Zhaojing's, a thought flickered in his mind. He said calmly, "Your Majesty is too kind. Commander Xie is young and impetuous, with extraordinary martial arts skills. I am no match for him." Then, he changed the subject, glossing over the matter, "The Prime Minister just said that you didn't explain yourself clearly. Please enlighten me."

Shangguan Boyan sighed inwardly.

I think that once he knows the truth, he probably won't let things go well either.

But since things had come to this point, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and tell the truth.

"The story goes like this: Originally, Miss Rong was engaged to the Third Prince, but later, due to some reasons, she was deposed and the engagement was called off. To protect his reputation, Minister Rong had no choice but to marry Miss Rong into the Marquis of Weiyuan's household. At that time, the old Marquis of Weiyuan was seriously ill and hoped to use the auspicious occasion to dispel his illness. However, unexpectedly, the old Marquis passed away shortly after Miss Rong entered the household, before the wedding ceremony was even completed. Now, Miss Rong is nominally Commander Xie's heir..."

Shangguan Boyan's voice abruptly stopped, and he swallowed the word "mother" back.

Why did he feel a chill run down his spine, a feeling that made him shudder?

Looking back, I saw Xie Jingrun withdraw his gaze.

So that deathly, menacing look just now came from Xie Jingrun?

Shangguan Boyan: "..."

Xiao Zhen understood what he meant.

Thinking of the little girl he met on the street that night, he had a feeling that she was the daughter Lan Yin had given birth to for him.

The thought of how much she had suffered without his knowledge filled him with immense pain.

That was his daughter, the daughter Lan Yin bore for him, yet he only learned of her existence now.

He is not worthy to be her father.

He has wronged Lan Yin...

He closed his eyes.

Past events suddenly flooded his mind, causing a metallic taste to rise in his throat, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Prince Su?" Shangguan Boyan was taken aback and quickly helped him up.

Emperor Zhaojing also stood up. "Haifu, quickly summon the imperial physician!"