Seeing Xiao Jincheng kneeling so humbly before her, Duanmu Junyu felt a mix of emotions.

This man was once her lawfully wedded husband. If it weren't for the war that led her to meet Su Renzhong, he would have become her true husband, bearing her children and managing her harem.

Even though she never truly loved him, that doesn't change the fact that they were husband and wife!

She understood his inner plea and saw through his compromise and concession.

When Duanmu Shenghua saw Xiao Jincheng make such a compromise and heard his almost pleading words, her heart ached so much it felt like it was going to break.

At the same time, she resented Duanmu Junyu even more.

She knew perfectly well that it wasn't his fault, so why was she still pressuring him like this?

Even if Duanmu Shenghua is dissatisfied with Duanmu Junyu now, she has to compromise at this moment because she cannot let Duanmu Qingxin verify the marriage in front of everyone.

Duanmu Shenghua took a deep breath and knelt down before Duanmu Junyu: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on welcoming back the two princes and adding another branch to the Western Liang royal family."

Duanmu Shenghua knelt down, and her king and daughters followed suit.

Only Duanmu Qingxin remained standing there stubbornly.

Seeing that Duanmu Qingxin didn't move, Xiao Jincheng even raised his eyes and gave her a reproachful look, signaling her to kneel down quickly.

Duanmu Qingxin glanced at Duanmu Junyu, who was waiting for her to come over for a marriage verification, and then at Su Xuening and Su Yun'an, who looked exactly like her, and a raging murderous intent surged in her heart once again.

She wanted nothing more than to rush forward and kill them all, to skin them alive and leave no one alive.

But now, she simply can't do it...

Duanmu Qingxin concealed the frenzied killing intent in her eyes, lifted her robe, and knelt down before Duanmu Junyu: "Congratulations, Mother Empress!"

Hearing Duanmu Qingxin's voice, filled with hatred yet forced to compromise, Duanmu Shenghua felt a pang of heartache once again.

Duanmu Junyu, Duanmu Shenghua will remember this debt. She will make her husband and daughter pay a hundredfold in the future for humiliating her like this!

Duanmu Junyu glanced at them indifferently. All their expressions were visible to her. She knew better than anyone what they were thinking, but she couldn't be bothered to care.

"Today is the little prince's full moon celebration, we mustn't overshadow the main event, let's leave the kinship verification here!"

As soon as Duanmu Junyu relented, Xiao Jincheng almost fainted on the spot from exhaustion.

Duanmu Shenghua also silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Duanmu Qingxin was also relieved. Although she was not afraid of the blood test to verify kinship, she felt ashamed. Her mother was no longer forcing her to undergo the test, which must be out of consideration for her.

Seeing that Duanmu Junyu was no longer pressuring Duanmu Qingxin to verify the kinship, Prince Hua quickly smiled and said, "Yes, yes, today is the little prince's full moon celebration. We shouldn't let other things take over the event."

Duanmu Junyu glanced at Hua Wang and said, "Put the bloodstone away, we can use it next time."

"Yes." King Hua immediately responded and put the bloodstone away.

Duanmu Junyu then looked at Prince Hua and said, "Now that the kinship has been verified, you should also make arrangements for the matter of recognizing the ancestor."

King Hua quickly bowed and said, "Then let's find an auspicious day to formally allow the two princes to acknowledge their ancestors and return to their clan?"

Duanmu Junyu didn't want to wait even a day longer: "Today is an auspicious day. The matter of Ning'er and An'er recognizing their ancestors will be held together with the little prince's full moon banquet."

The matter of recognizing one's ancestors cannot be delayed any longer. Today she has subdued Duanmu Shenghua, but who knows what kind of trouble she might cause in the future!

Seeing Duanmu Junyu's resolute attitude, the Prince of Hua dared not refute her. In any case, the bloodline had been verified and she was indeed His Majesty's. Since that was the case, it would be a good thing to acknowledge her ancestors and return to the clan as soon as possible.

The King of Hua bowed and replied, "Yes, then please Your Majesty, the two princes, and the young grandson go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple first."

Duanmu Junyu glanced at Su Xuening and Su Yun'an. They went to the ancestral hall to acknowledge their ancestors first, and then came back to hold Xiaobao's full-month celebration. That would be the most perfect arrangement.

Since Su Xuening and Su Yun'an have decided to acknowledge their ancestors and return to their clan, they naturally have no objections.

Seeing this, Duanmu Junyu glanced at the others present and said, "In that case, let's all move to the Imperial Ancestral Temple together!"

No one dared to refute Duanmu Junyu's words.

Of course, even those who are not directly involved want to join in the fun, as the ritual of royal family recognition is quite interesting to watch.

At Duanmu Junyu's command, everyone present moved to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Fortunately, the Imperial Ancestral Temple is not far away, as it is located within the city of Kyoto.

When the group arrived at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, they found that only members of the royal family, and those with royal blood, were allowed to enter the main hall. Even someone of Empress Xiao Jincheng's status could only have his memorial tablet enter the temple after his death; he was not qualified to enter while he was alive.

Therefore, those who followed Duanmu Junyu into the Imperial Ancestral Temple were only people with the surname Duanmu, such as Prince Hua, Duanmu Shenghua, Duanmu Shenghua's two daughters, Duanmu Qingxin, and other members of the Western Liang royal family. Of course, there were also today's protagonists, Su Xuening and Su Yun'an, and Xiao Bao.

As for the officials and other people of different surnames, they could only wait at the entrance of the main hall.

Since the bloodstone test had already been conducted to verify kinship, there was no need for further testing now, and the ceremony of recognizing one's ancestors could begin directly.

Su Xuening and Su Yun'an went together to offer incense and kowtow before all the ancestral tablets of the Western Liang royal family.

Duanmu Junyu had also made preparations. As Su Xuening and Su Yun'an kowtowed to their ancestors, Jinzhu at the door began to read the imperial edict: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: My two children, left behind abroad, have returned to their ancestral home and are bestowed the surname Duanmu. My eldest daughter, Duanmu Xuening, is intelligent, dignified, and composed; she shall be the Crown Prince of Xiliang. My second son, Duanmu Yun'an, is strong and capable in both literature and martial arts; he shall be the Prince of Herui. Duanmu Xuening's son, Duanmu Xi, is clever, charming, and lovely; he is my eldest grandson, whom I love dearly; he shall be the Grandson of Changqing. This imperial edict is hereby proclaimed to the world, so that all may hear it. This is the imperial decree!"

Upon hearing Duanmu Junyu's imperial decree, everyone finally realized how much His Majesty doted on these two newly arrived princes.

Not only did the prince lose his title, but even the young prince, who was just a prince, received a title. And that wasn't all; the tiny grandson, barely a month old, also received a title. It's rare for even princes to receive titles, let alone grandsons. There's no precedent for this; they're the first in the history of Western Liang!

After the imperial edict with golden pearls at the door was read out, the King Hua inside copied Su Xuening and the others' names and titles into the genealogy of Xiliang.

Under Duanmu Junyu's name, in addition to Duanmu Qingxin, several other names have been added: Duanmu Xuening, Duanmu Yun'an, and Duanmu Xi.

Once the ancestral recognition ceremony inside was completed, a group of people knelt outside, saying, "Your subjects pay their respects to Your Highness, Prince Herui, and Grandson Changqing!"