"Xiao Lingchen, what do you mean?"

Emperor Xuanyi's expression tightened.

Xiao Lingchen's gaze swept over the panicked Xiao Qingwan, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

“What I mean is that in the past, Your Majesty made the decisions on matters of state. But now, these are matters of my household, and I should make the decisions—of course, if Your Majesty wishes to listen in, I would be more than happy to do so.”

He said he "could not ask for more," but once he said that, how could Emperor Xuanyi leave?

She had no choice but to turn around and sit down in a seat to the side, listening with a stern face as Xiao Lingchen "handled family matters".

The noble ladies exchanged glances, knowing that Xiao Lingchen was dealing with Bai Shu and Qing Wan's matter—since he hadn't told anyone to leave, and they were too curious to notice, they simply pretended not to see and shamelessly stayed.

"I'll be frank with everyone here. As you all know, I have two stepsisters, Xiao Baishu and Xiao Qingwan. They look so alike that it's hard to tell them apart. Sometimes, if they switched identities, no one would be able to tell them apart."

He looked at Xiao Qingwan meaningfully.

Xiao Qingwan's face tightened, her legs went weak, and for a moment only a few words echoed in her mind: "Does he know? Otherwise, why would he say that!"

Xiao Lingchen pointed at Xiao Qingwan and said, "Since you say you are Xiao Baishu, then you are Xiao Baishu. I see that you and His Majesty are in love, and His Majesty's harem is currently without a mistress. Why don't I take the liberty of sending you to join His Majesty in the palace? Are you willing?"

Entering the palace?

She can... she can enter the palace?!

Xiao Qingwan's eyes lit up with joy, and she nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay! I'm willing!"

But then she remembered something, turned to look at Tong Su, and smiled maliciously, "Then, brother, what are you going to do about Sister Qing Wan?"

"Qingwan, who said she was Xiao Qingwan?"

Xiao Lingchen raised an eyebrow.

Xiao Qingwan was taken aback.

Xiao Lingchen said calmly, "Although she is my stepsister, we are not related by blood. Why not remove her from the Xiao family genealogy and let her return to her mother's surname? From now on, she will be 'Ji Baishu'."

Ji Baishu!

Xiao Qingwan accidentally knocked over her teacup, her face paling as she cried out in alarm, "Ji Baishu! Brother, how can she also be named Baishu? This isn't—this isn't—"

Isn't this blatantly telling everyone that Xiao Qingwan plagiarized the identity of "Xiao Baishu"?

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, their gazes sweeping contemptuously over Xiao Qingwan: At this moment, who didn't realize that the real fraudster was none other than Xiao Qingwan!

Suddenly the tent flap opened, and Xiao Shisan led his men into the tent. He spoke politely but firmly to the noble ladies and guards inside, saying, "The Xiao family has urgent business to attend to. Please leave first."

The head of the academy glanced at Tongsu with concern, nodded, and left first.

The guards of the Helian Prince's Mansion gritted their teeth, helped up the still unconscious Helian Prince, and said, "The Zhenbei Prince's Mansion thanks Miss Xiao. If Miss Xiao needs anything, please feel free to ask the Helian Prince's Mansion." Then they left.

Seeing this, the others had no choice but to take their leave. Before long, only Emperor Xuanyi and the Xiao family remained in the tent.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty——"

Xiao Qingwan trembled all over, then her eyes lit up as she looked at Emperor Xuanyi. Now, only Emperor Xuanyi could help her!

Xiao Lingchen is nothing but a subject, while Emperor Xuanyi is the emperor—

"Was this all part of your plan? You've been lying to me from beginning to end, haven't you!"

To Xiao Qingwan's surprise, Emperor Xuanyi disgustedly shook her off and even pointed at her nose, cursing angrily!

"Last night I truly believed you were a pitiful victim being bullied. So all this scheming was just to get into the palace? I really misjudged you, you disgusting and treacherous woman!"