Chapter 278 focuses on a character's proactive confession, flattering the emperor.

Emperor Longqing was so startled that he suddenly stood up.

"Are you serious?"

Shen Qingshuang nodded, "Even if you gave me a hundred lives, I would not dare to deceive Your Majesty."

This Shen Chu is a fake. My mother was persecuted to death because she discovered his secret.

I have not only a blood-written letter left by my mother as proof, but also the Taoist priests of Baiyun Temple in Huzhou as proof.

The two Taoist priests are now waiting at the palace gate; Your Majesty can ask them directly.

The Longqing Emperor's face was extremely gloomy. "Guards, bring those two Taoist priests into the palace."

A eunuch immediately trotted away.

Chen Chu's heart sank lower and lower, his back felt icy cold.

Pei Yuan had just fallen into the treasure trap when her identity was exposed.

This is clearly a series of schemes targeting them.

She clenched her hands tightly, quickly calculating in her mind how to respond.

It's unclear where Shen Qingshuang found the Taoist priest, or whether he was real or fake.

As she was pondering this, the eunuch led in two Taoist priests, panting heavily.

Upon seeing the thin Taoist priest following behind, Shen Chu's expression changed slightly.

She remembered the Taoist priest.

After getting to know Achu, she often went to Baiyun Temple to play when she was tired of studying.

Every time, he would bring delicious snacks or dishes for Achu. Several times, he would run into this skinny Taoist priest lingering outside Achu's courtyard.

Curious, she asked Ah Chu if the young Taoist priest had something on his mind.

Ah Chu covered her mouth and laughed, "He has a really keen nose, he must have come looking for food by smelling the aroma."

The Chen family sent men to set fire to Baiyun Temple, but unexpectedly, the two Taoist priests escaped death and even made their way to the capital.

Both of them had seen her at Baiyun Temple.

It seems that her identity will be fully exposed today.

Chen Chu closed her eyes somewhat unwillingly.

It was just one step away.

Father and the Ning'an Marquis's Mansion will soon be exonerated.

As for the tall and thin Taoist priests, they have been eating and drinking well at the Marquis of Changning's place for the past two days. Apart from not being allowed to go out, they can eat whatever they want.

This morning, Shen Qingshuang told them that as long as they were willing to expose Shen Chu's identity to his face, they would enjoy endless wealth and glory in the future.

The two were overjoyed, but when they realized they would be exposing him in front of the emperor, their legs went weak.

Especially now that he had entered the imperial study, the thin Taoist priest was so frightened that he trembled all over and knelt down on the ground with a thud.

The Taoist priest, however, remained somewhat composed, kneeling down with trembling legs, "I...I have met Your Majesty, I...I was wrong..."

Before he could finish his stammering words, Shen Chu's crisp voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, I am indeed not the real Shen Chu."

A deathly silence suddenly fell over the imperial study.

Everyone looked at Shen Chu in disbelief.

The Taoist priest was startled at first, then his expression changed.

Before they could even expose it, the other person admitted it themselves.

Does this count as them exposing it?

Doesn't this person even try to explain or defend themselves? They just admit it so readily?

Shen Qingshuang's face lit up with ecstasy, "Your Majesty, listen, he personally admitted that he is not the real Shen Chu."

This is a crime of deceiving the emperor! Your Majesty, I beg you not to tolerate or condone him!

The Longqing Emperor turned his head and looked over, his gaze sharp and piercing.

"So, you're admitting it willingly? Do you know what crime it is to impersonate someone and participate in the imperial examination?"

Shen Chu knelt on the ground, her face calm.

"I know that the punishment is exile or beheading, but even so, I will not regret it."

"Because His Majesty instructed me to do it this way."

The Longqing Emperor was furious.

"Insolence! Nonsense! I have never met you before, how could I possibly teach you to do something that violates the laws of the court?"

Shen Qingshuang sneered, her gaze towards Shen Chu filled with disdain.

"At a time like this, you still dare to spout nonsense. Do you think that a few offhand remarks can erase your crime of impersonating someone else and participating in the imperial examination?"

Shen Chu ignored Shen Qingshuang, her face still bearing a gentle and refined smile.

"It was His Majesty who wrote the Ode to the Eight Graces. The Ode to the Eight Graces taught me to do this."

"The Eight Graces?"

Emperor Longqing was stunned.

That was an article he wrote to instruct young people across the land when he first ascended the throne, full of ambition.

I never imagined that more than 20 years would have passed in the blink of an eye.

The Longqing Emperor seemed lost in thought. "You've read my 'Eight Graces' Ode?"

Shen Chu nodded, speaking calmly and slowly.

"I lost both my parents at a young age. I studied some books with my teacher and learned some of the principles of sages."

One day, I read an essay titled "Eight Graces" written by Your Majesty when you were young, and there are two lines in it that I have always regarded as the guiding principle.

His Majesty said there are eight kinds of grace in the world, and the most important thing is to know and appreciate it. One of them is the grace of knowing and understanding each other, and another is the grace of helping others in times of emergency or danger.

His Majesty also wrote, "Grateful for Your Majesty's great kindness, I would gladly give my life to repay your kindness."

The real Shen Chu was my savior. He saved me from danger and had a great kindness in helping me in times of crisis.

We hit it off immediately, and I felt like we'd known each other for ages. He was a true friend to me.

Later, Lady Chen, the wife of the Marquis of Changning, sent people to set fire to Baiyun Temple. When I arrived and rescued Shen Chu, he was already on the verge of death.

Before he died, he asked me to come to the capital to take care of his birth mother.

This was his only dying wish. As his only friend, knowing that he had been murdered, how could I not avenge him?

As his confidante, how could I bear to tell his only concern, his mother, this news?

My only friend has passed away, and I am heartbroken. After much thought, I have decided to live as Shen Chu from now on.

To avenge him, to take care of his mother, even if my identity is exposed and I am beheaded in the future, I will have repaid his kindness.

Therefore, Your Majesty, you see, all my actions are in accordance with your "Eight Graces Ode."

After listening to the story, the Longqing Emperor frowned and couldn't help but sneer.

"That's just sophistry. According to you, if I were to kill you, wouldn't that be preventing you from repaying my kindness?"

My decree instructs you to repay a debt of gratitude, not to break the law. Do you think that by flattering me, I will spare your life?

Shen Chu smiled and shook her head.

“It is a fact that I impersonated someone else to participate in the imperial examination. I have no way to refute it. If Your Majesty wishes to punish me, I am willing to accept the punishment.”

I have learned the principles of being a good person from Your Majesty's writings, and I have done what I should do according to these instructions. I have a clear conscience.

"I beg Your Majesty to grant me pen and ink, so that I may now write my confession and voluntarily disclose all the details."

Emperor Longqing frowned, staring intently at Shen Chu, but his expression was no longer as unpleasant as before.

Shen Chu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, at the crucial moment, she remembered an article that His Majesty had once written.

At that time, in order to prepare for the imperial examination, her master specially found the material for her to memorize.

One of the exam techniques her master taught her was: if she really couldn't answer the questions, she should write down the emperor's writings.

Master said that no matter who is grading the papers, they would not dare to give the emperor's paper a zero score.

I never expected to use this article today!

As long as His Majesty doesn't order her to be beheaded in his rage, she still has a chance to save herself.

Before Chen Chu could even catch her breath, the eunuch's voice came from outside.

"Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience!"

Chen Chu's heart suddenly jumped again.