Hearing him repeatedly refer to Bai Fuya, Xuanyuan Peng gave him a disgruntled glare: "She's your mother!"

Xuan Yuanzhan pursed his lips, not refuting her. Of course, she was his mother: "Why did you take the sword for her?"

Xuanyuan Peng also fell silent, and after thinking for a while, he said, "I didn't think much about it, it was just instinct."

When the sword came piercing him, he didn't have time to think about anything else. He only knew that he couldn't let Ya'er get hurt, and he couldn't bear to see her get hurt.

Only after he revealed his own answer did Xuanyuan Peng realize how moving Xuanyuan Zhan's answer truly was.

So at that time, he acted on instinct, instinctively not wanting him to get hurt. Although he had never really liked him and there was a deep rift between them, he still instinctively shielded him from the sword. In fact, he probably considered him his biological father. He had always known everything, but he just couldn't accept it in his heart. Or perhaps he was just concerned that he couldn't openly give them the status of mother and son.

Regardless of the reason, he definitely cared about his biological father; otherwise, he wouldn't have shielded him from the sword without hesitation. That almost damaged his heart meridian, and could have cost him his life.

Let alone Zhan'er, even the eldest, second, and Yu'er, none of them would be so selfless as to shield him from a sword! Among these three sons, not one would risk their life for him like Zhan'er!

Thinking this, Xuan Yuanpeng became increasingly moved, and his gaze towards Xuan Yuanzhan became even more loving.

Xuan Yuanzhan felt his scalp tingle under Xuan Yuanpeng's gaze and awkwardly looked away: "I took the sword for Bai Fuya, not for you!"

Xuanyuan Peng was amused by him. How could this child be so honest and straightforward? The three older brothers would always come to him to take credit for even the smallest things they did, but this kid was different. He didn't say a word when he took a sword for him, and even seemed afraid of taking credit, so he was in a hurry to distance himself from him.

However, this child has always been honest and straightforward. Even when bullied, he would never complain. On the contrary, those three were the ones who always did the dirty work and bullied others, but when it came to tattling, they were all incredibly good at it!

Thinking of all the slander and abuse Xuan Yuanzhan had suffered over the years, as well as so much unfair treatment, Xuan Yuanpeng's heart ached. He looked at Xuan Yuanzhan with pleading eyes and said, "Zhan'er, this time when you come back, don't go back to your fiefdom. Stay in the capital and help me with official business!"

Xuanyuan Zhan lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment before coldly saying, "You have Xuanyuan Yu and the others, which is not enough for you. Why do you need me! My fiefdom is in Xiangnan, that is where I belong!"

Xuanyuan Peng frowned. Xuanyuan Zhan's meaning was clear: he had no intention of vying for the throne. This made Xuanyuan Peng feel very uncomfortable.

He understood that he couldn't openly legitimize the relationship between the mother and son, which meant Zhan'er would have no chance of inheriting the throne. If the child wanted to fight for it himself, perhaps his guilt would lessen. But the child was far too sensible, which only intensified his guilt!

The topic was somewhat heavy, and the atmosphere in the room became a little stiff, so the two of them fell silent.

At this moment, Zong Jiu entered the hall and reported: "Your Majesty, all the ministers request an audience."

Xuanyuan Peng snapped out of his daze: "Let him in."

"Yes," Zong Jiu replied and left.

A short while later, he brought Zhu Yu in.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and Your Highness the Holy King."

As soon as Zhu Yu entered the hall, he bowed to Xuan Yuanpeng and Xuan Yuanzhan.

"How's the trial going?" Xuanyuan Peng thought he had come to report on the trial results.

Zhu Yu bowed: "The trial is still ongoing."

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Peng frowned and gave him a disdainful look.

Why did he come here while they were still interrogating him?

"The Third Prince just went to the Dali Temple."

Zhu Yu didn't stand on ceremony and told Xuan Yuan Peng everything that Xuan Yuan Yu had said and done at Dali Temple.

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Peng instantly flew into a rage: "This beast dared to collude with Shao Kun! Keep a close eye on him! He is not allowed to see either Su Renyi or Shao Kun!"

"Yes," Zhu Yu replied immediately.

"No one should be allowed to see them!" Xuan Yuanpeng added, still uneasy, and then asked, "Did Su Renyi confess who ordered him to hire someone to assassinate the Holy King's family?"

Speaking of this, Zhu Yu felt somewhat ashamed: "Not yet, Lord Su still insists that he did not hire someone to kill!"

Xuanyuan Peng snorted angrily: "That Su Renyi, now that the evidence is conclusive, he's still being stubborn. Then let me torture him properly. I want to see if his mouth is tougher, or if these instruments of torture from the Three Departments are tougher!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yu hurriedly agreed, and only after seeing Xuan Yuanpeng wave to him did he bow and step back.

After Zhu Yu left, Xuan Yuanzhan said quietly, "My mother isn't here again. I don't know who you're putting on this show for!"

These words immediately darkened Xuanyuan Peng's face: "What are you saying?"

Xuanyuan Zhan raised his eyes and looked coldly at Xuanyuan Peng: "Isn't that right? You know who's behind Su Renyi, I know, and my mother knows too. Is there any need for interrogation? Isn't your behavior just an attempt to protect that woman?"

Who else could be behind Su Renyi besides Su Huiyan?

Even a fool knows this, doesn't he understand? Why does he need to be interrogated? What is he doing if he's not acting?

Xuanyuan Peng was heartbroken by Xuanyuan Zhan's questioning: "Why do you think of me like this? If I really wanted to protect Consort Su, I would have just dealt with Su Renyi directly. Why did I have to have the Three Judicial Offices conduct a strict investigation?"

This explanation failed to satisfy Xuan Yuanzhan: "You are the emperor, you can do whatever you want to anyone. The fact that you didn't kill Su Renyi directly might mean you wanted to protect him!"

If it were him, he would kill Su Renyi first, then Su Huiyan, without even needing a trial.

Of course, he wouldn't want so many women and so many sons, or to cause such a bloody conflict!

With such conclusive evidence, why would he still hand Su Renyi over to the three judicial authorities for joint trial? He couldn't think of any other excuse for Su Renyi except to protect him.

Xuan Yuanzhan's cold words hurt Xuan Yuanpeng's heart once again: "Is that all you think of me? Do you think that you and your mother are less important to me than Su Renyi?"

"That's a question for you to answer. Whether my mother and I are more important than Su Renyi and that woman, that will depend on the outcome of your final judgment." Xuan Yuanzhan looked intently at Xuan Yuanpeng.

Those gray eyes were full of distrust, which made Xuanyuan Peng a little angry: "I'll tell you right now, I will definitely give you and your mother an explanation!"

After saying that, Xuanyuan Peng turned around and left angrily.

But halfway there, he stopped and said, "I am the emperor, but that doesn't mean I can do whatever I want to anyone. I have my reasons!"

Xuanyuan Zhan completely ignored his predicament and coldly said, "I'll wait and see the result."

Don't bother talking to him about these useless things; he only cares about the results!