Misidentification

He Lin turned around first and frowned when he saw that her expression was not good.

He was still identified as Xi Chen, so there were some things he couldn't say directly. Wu Yuan asked on his behalf, "Jiang Yi, what happened? Why do you look so pale? What did His Majesty say to you?"

Jiang Yi took a few breaths, stood in front of He Lin, hesitated for a few seconds, and then said with difficulty, "Um, I'm sorry, I think I've messed up..."

Wu Yuan and Qi Junyuan looked at each other, wondering just how big of a mess she had gotten herself into.

He Lin left without saying a word, taking Jiang Yi's wrist with him.

Qi Junyuan was stunned, watching helplessly as the two walked away hand in hand.

"What... is going on?"

"..."

At the southwest corner of the palace, a group of guards arrived, bowed to He Lin, greeted him, and then marched away in formation.

Jiang Yi and He Lin stood facing each other, speechless for a moment.

"What happened?"

He Lin's voice was as calm and firm as ever, as if he could handle anything, which reassured people.

"I……"

Jiang Yi looked troubled, struggling with how to bring it up.

He Lin wore the golden mask, his dark eyes still bright. Jiang Yi reached out to take the mask off for him, but He Lin grabbed her hand halfway and stopped her.

"Don't take it. There are many eyes and ears in the palace. You'll be discovered."

Jiang Yi said "Oh" and slowly lowered her arm.

"He Lin, I'm sorry, but I told His Majesty that Mother is Consort Su's younger sister. His Majesty has probably already sent someone to invite her to the palace. I hope nothing bad will happen."

How did you know that?

Jiang Yi blinked and answered honestly, "I guessed. My mother mentioned before that she had an older sister who also had a jade bracelet like this. Ma Zhang had also seen this bracelet before, which is why he told me that story. And the woman in the story was named Su Wan, which is the same surname as my mother. So, I made a bold connection, and I didn't expect to guess it by accident..."

As Jiang Yi spoke, her voice grew softer and softer, clearly lacking confidence. She didn't know what the consequences would be and was worried that something might happen to Su Tong.

He Lin stared at her for a long time, making it impossible to figure out what he was thinking.

Jiang Yi lowered her head and admitted her mistake: "I'm sorry, I really didn't expect His Majesty to send someone to invite Mother to the palace..."

He Lin sighed softly and chuckled, "Jiang Yi, you are really smart."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi suddenly looked up at him.

"You're not angry that I was being nosy?"

What you said is true, why should I blame you?

Jiang Yi cautiously probed, "So, you're not angry with me?"

He Lin's fingers twitched slightly. He suddenly had a strong urge to reach out and pat her head. From the moment she arrived, she had been like a frightened little fox, blinking her big, bright eyes, admitting her mistakes and asking questions. She was inexplicably endearing, but because this was the palace, he managed to suppress the urge.

I'm not angry with you.

"Will it be alright for Mother to go to the palace?"

He Lin looked past Jiang Yi's shoulder toward the palace gate and said, "It's nothing. It's just that I might have to accompany Mother to meet the Emperor again as He Lin. Let's go, I'll see you to the gate."

Aren't you coming home with me?

"No, I'll leave after you leave. Ziyu will escort you back to your residence."

Thinking that He Lin might have other things to do, she nodded: "Okay."

Halfway there, Jiang Yi suddenly remembered that Xia Zhi was still waiting for her. Since she couldn't make a move on He Lin in the palace, she jogged along while urging He Lin to catch up.

He Lin watched her light and carefree figure disappear into the distance, and couldn't help but smile, before slowly lowering his lips and pursing them tightly.

He was quite curious to see what kind of expression the high and mighty emperor would have when he saw his face; it would definitely be quite a sight…

Inside the Taiji Hall, Emperor Liang sat on his dragon throne, his thumb constantly rubbing the thumb ring, his anxious heart tormented.

The chief eunuch, who had served Emperor Liang for many years, knew his thoughts and comforted him, saying, "Your Majesty, please don't worry. I have already sent someone to invite Lady Tong and Young Master Lin. They will be here soon. Here is some freshly brewed tea. Would Your Majesty like some?"

Emperor Liang waved his hand and pinched his brow as if he had a headache.

"No need, Li Shengquan. Do you think Su Tong knows the truth about Consort Su's death back then? And my Heng'er..."

The chief eunuch was sweating profusely. The deaths of Consort Su and Prince Heng had always been a deep-seated worry for Emperor Liang, a sore spot that could be touched with certain death. Even the imperial physicians who had tried to save them back then had all been buried with them...

More than a decade has passed in the blink of an eye, but it's safe to say I've never let go of it.

He stiffly twitched his lips again: "This...this servant does not know."

A moment later, a young eunuch entered the hall to announce: "Your Majesty, Lady Tong and Young Master Lin have arrived."

Emperor Liang's previously dull and lifeless eyes instantly brightened: "Send it over."

The chief eunuch saw this and secretly took a breath.

I've heard that the two Su sisters looked somewhat alike when they were young, but since they are now concubines of a subject, I hope nothing absurd happens.

The sunlight streaming in slanted into the main hall, followed by two figures, a man and a woman, whose faces were not clearly visible.

Su Tong and He Lin walked to the center of the main hall and knelt down to pay their respects according to the rules: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

No need for formalities.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Emperor Liang rose from his dragon throne and walked step by step down the steps. Li Shengquan followed two steps behind him, filled with worry and fear, hoping that the Empress would arrive soon.

Yes, that's right, he had already sent someone to inform them.

"Are you Su Tong?"

Su Tong lowered her eyes and replied, "Your Majesty, this humble woman is right."

"Is your sister Su Wan?"

Su Tong then looked up at him, her eyes unusually firm: "Yes, my sister is Su Wan, the former Consort Su, daughter of the Governor of Yangzhou."

"you……"

Upon seeing Su Tong's face clearly, Emperor Liang froze for a moment and unconsciously took a step back.

The person opposite her really looked exactly like Su Wan back then. The only difference between the two was in the lower half of their faces. Su Wan was a typical Jiangnan beauty, gentle and dignified, while Su Tong had a bit more sharpness in her eyes.

Li Shengquan quickly reached out to support him, and softly called out, "Your Majesty..."

After a long pause, Emperor Liang continued, "You really look like your sister."

For an emperor to speak such words to the wife of one of his ministers is inherently frivolous. Li Shengquan dared not even breathe loudly, especially since it was in front of her son. If word got out, who knew what people would say about him in private?

Su Tong gave a silent, ambiguous laugh, with a barely perceptible hatred hidden deep in her eyes.

"Your Majesty flatters me. How could I possibly compare myself to Consort Su?"

"Madam Tong, you..."

Emperor Liang raised his hand to stop Li Shengquan's reprimand in time.

He mustered his courage and turned his gaze to He Lin. "This must be General He's second son. May I have the honor of looking up?"

He Lin curled his lips into a sarcastic smile and slowly raised his head as instructed.

Emperor Liang's eyes widened instantly, his expression shifting between laughter and disbelief. He stepped forward and tightened his grip on Heng'er's arms, exclaiming, "Heng'er! You are my Heng'er, aren't you? That's wonderful! You're not dead! I knew you weren't dead! Hahaha..."

At that moment, He Lin cruelly said, "Your Majesty has mistaken me for someone else. I am He Lin, the son of General He Wei and Lady Tong."

Emperor Liang was stunned, staring intently into his eyes. He shook his head in denial, but firmly said, "No, I would not mistake my own son. You are my Heng'er!"

Su Tong closed her eyes and then opened them again, her voice echoing throughout the hall.

"Your Majesty! He is my son, not Consort Su's child! You have mistaken him for someone else."

Emperor Liang seemed to be under a spell, insisting that He Lin was Qi Junheng, and gripped his arms tightly with both hands as if he were afraid that He Lin would disappear.

"No, Li Shengquan, come and see."

Li Shengquan hurriedly stepped forward to identify him. At first, he was also startled. The person in front of him was simply a combination of Emperor Liang and Consort Su. His eyes and brows had both the Emperor's heroic and handsome appearance and Consort Su's gentle and mild temperament. It would be hard for anyone not to have doubts.

But thinking about it carefully, He Lin is Su Tong's son and a cousin of the deceased Prince Heng. They share the same blood, and the two Su sisters look alike, so it's understandable that He Lin bears a slight resemblance to Su Tong.

He carefully reminded him, "Your Majesty, Young Master Lin resembles Madam Tong, while Prince Heng resembles Consort Su. It's normal for them to look alike."

"He... Lin?"

"Yes, I am He Lin, not Your Highness."

"I don't believe it! Li Shengquan, summon the imperial physician! I want a blood test to prove kinship!"

Su Tong and Li Shengquan were both taken aback.

Li Shengquan immediately knelt down and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please reconsider! Young Master Lin is the son of General He Wei. A blood test to verify kinship would likely cause controversy among the people. Moreover, Your Majesty's precious body cannot be harmed! Your Majesty! Prince Heng... he passed away with Consort Su when he was only five years old..."

"Insolence! I demand to see him alive or dead! You never even found Heng'er's body back then, yet you dare to curse my Heng'er! Are you tired of living?!"

"His Majesty!"

"Hurry up and go!"

Li Shengquan, who was quite old, had just gotten up from the ground and was about to run out to summon the imperial physician when a dignified and solemn female voice came from the doorway.

"Your Majesty! I think you've become confused!"

Looking back, I saw that the Empress Dowager and the Empress were both present.

A group of guards and maids remained at the entrance of the main hall, while only the Empress and the Empress Dowager entered the hall.

The Empress Dowager first glanced at Su Tong and commented, "Madam Tong is indeed worthy of being Consort Su's sister; they do look very alike."

Su Tong nodded slightly: "This humble woman is terrified."

The Empress Dowager snorted: "Fearful? If you were truly fearful, you wouldn't have brought your son into the palace today."

Su Tong and her son's entry into the palace was by His Majesty's decree, and no one could disobey it. The Empress Dowager's words were clearly intended to make things difficult for her and embarrass her.

Then her gaze fell on He Lin. Although her hair was already gray, she was, after all, a woman who had survived the treacherous battles of the harem, and her eyes were extremely sharp.

She lifted her leg away from the Empress's support and stopped in front of He Lin.

The most unexpected thing happened. The Empress Dowager's eyes gradually softened from their strong gaze. She sighed deeply, raised her hand to stroke He Lin's cheek, and gently stroked his sideburns.

"Heng'er was well-behaved and intelligent. He could learn poetry and literature at the age of three. All the palace servants loved him. Whenever they came to my palace to play, they knew to give the best food to their grandmother first. If he were still here, he would be about your age. It's just a pity..."

The Empress Dowager slowly lowered her eyes and withdrew her hand. She turned to Emperor Liang and said, "Your Majesty, He Wei and his son are guarding the border for you. How could you mistake his son for someone else and even do something as absurd as blood kinship testing? What do you intend for the world to think of you as a monarch?"

"Mother!"

"Alright, that's enough for today. From now on, without my imperial decree, Lady Tong is not allowed to step into the palace."