Today, Nangong Zeyue was dressed in a moon-white robe with dark patterns, spotless, with a jade pendant engraved with a crescent moon hanging at her waist.
His black hair was tied up high, and he exuded an air of grandeur.
When he arrived at the main hall, the emperor was already seated on the throne.
The Empress sat below, looking over with gentle eyes.
After performing the kneeling ceremony, Nangong Zeyue gave the Empress a reassuring look.
Looking up and to the side, I saw two richly dressed men sitting at the lower end of the table.
As expected of royalty, they are all extremely handsome.
The man had a handsome face with a gentle demeanor, exquisite features, and clear, calm eyes.
With a straight nose, red lips and white teeth, he had a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth as he stared intently at Nangong Zeyue in the main hall.
His black hair was tied up on top of his head and secured with a jade crown inlaid with gemstones.
As someone entered the main hall, a gentle breeze blew in, causing a strand of hair hanging in front of his ears to sway lightly on his handsome face, adding to his charm.
His temperament was as gentle as a spring breeze, making people feel peaceful and comfortable. With just one glance, Nangong Zeyue determined that this person was the Second Prince Mo Ziqian.
The boy beside Mo Ziqian must be Mo Ziyan.
He was scrutinizing Nangong Zeyue with a sinister gaze. She was sixteen or seventeen years old, the same height as an adult man, but lacked the sunny and clear appearance that one would expect. She seemed to be scheming and deep.
He was dressed in a magnificent dragon robe, with an indescribable air of wicked charm between his brows, and a playful smile on his lips, as if everything was under his control.
Emperor Liang raised his hand, gesturing for Nangong Zeyue to sit down.
Nangong Ze turned around and saw a round seat and a small table not far from the Empress.
Nangong Zeyue stepped forward.
At this moment, Emperor Liang looked at the Empress below him, and the Empress nodded.
The emperor then said to the palace maid beside him, "Summon the ministers to the palace."
The palace maids went out, and a large group of people walked in from outside.
Nangong Zeyue looked up and saw that Gong Xishuo was among them.
Upon seeing the ministers enter, the empress reached out to the palace maid behind her, who quickly presented the brocade box she was carrying with both hands.
Emperor Liang coughed twice and placed his hands on the armrests of the chair.
He glanced at the crowd and said solemnly, "The Crown Prince has been missing for more than twenty years without cause. Now that he has returned safely, I ask all my ministers to be witnesses to verify his identity and ensure the rule of my Liang Kingdom."
"Your Majesty, now that the Crown Prince has returned, I believe we should investigate the truth behind his disappearance back then."
"I second that opinion. To be able to seize a royal heir in full view of everyone shows how arrogant they are. If we don't find them and wipe them out in one fell swoop, and they repeat the same trick in the future, the Liang Kingdom will be in danger."
The two who stepped forward to speak were veteran officials of the Liang Kingdom.
Nangong Zeyue glanced across the hall unintentionally and saw Mo Ziyan looking at the two old ministers in the main hall with a cold gaze and a sinister smile on his lips.
Emperor Liang nodded slightly. “What you two ministers say is absolutely right. Let’s first establish the Crown Prince’s status today, and then we can discuss this matter again after we’ve finished this.”
Just as Nangong Zeyue thought the imperial physician was about to perform the blood-drop kinship test, the Empress stood up, glanced at Nangong Zeyue, and then looked at the ministers and asked:
"My beloved ministers, please look, don't his eyebrows and eyes resemble mine?"
"So alike, so very alike! I was stunned when I first saw Your Highness."
It was Gong Xishuo who spoke, and the other ministers all looked over at Nangong Zeyue.
"It's similar, very similar."
"They look alike, at least nine-tenths alike, if not exactly the same."
"Heaven has eyes, and Her Majesty the Empress has done good deeds and has finally brought back the Crown Prince."
Inside the main hall, a group of veteran officials were so excited that tears welled up in their eyes; they were practically saying that the family recognition ceremony was unnecessary.
At this moment, a minister who looked to be about thirty years old stepped forward unhurriedly.
“Your Majesty, there are countless people in the world who look alike. This person was brought back from Wanling. No one can say for sure whether it was a case of Emperor Wanling playing a trick on us.”
After he finished speaking, some of the wavering ministers broke out in a cold sweat.
It should be noted that this identity is extraordinary; it is possible that someone from Wanling Sect impersonated the eldest prince of Liang.
With the Emperor's health deteriorating, if the eldest prince were to ascend the throne, the Liang Kingdom would be Wanling's for the taking.
"No, impossible! Of course I know my son!" The Empress suppressed her agitation and objected sternly.
"Your Majesty understands your longing for your son. Please calm down and think it over carefully. What do an infant and a grown man have in common?"
Finally, the Empress couldn't hold back any longer and pointed at the minister, shouting, "Stop talking nonsense! Sowing discord! I am of one heart with him and his son. He still has the jade pendant that I personally put on his head back then. Whether he is my son or not is none of your business!"
The minister naturally dared not contradict the Empress, and raised his eyes to look at Mo Ziyan beside him.
Mo Ziyan revealed a wicked smile and said, "Mother, don't worry. The imperial physician will be testing your blood in a little while. The truth will prevail. The jade pendant may be genuine, but the person who took it can be replaced."
“What the Third Prince said is absolutely right. After all, the First Prince was just an infant who knew nothing back then. It is not impossible for someone with ulterior motives to steal his jade pendant.”
Emperor Liang narrowed his eyes, his heart beginning to waver.
That makes sense; an infant in swaddling clothes naturally has no ability to protect itself.
None of the elderly people who returned with us could testify.
The abduction of the prince was blatant, and the other party naturally knew the identity of the eldest prince.
It's not impossible that someone might have planned everything, including the return of the legitimate son, with the sole purpose of arranging for someone to succeed the Liang throne.
The Emperor of Liang looked at Nangong Zeyue with a somewhat ambiguous expression.
Nangong Zeyue watched the heated debate in the hall with a calm gaze, as if it had nothing to do with him.
The Empress and the Emperor were husband and wife, so she could naturally understand the questioning look in his eyes.
She staggered forward a few steps, tears welling up in her eyes, "Your Majesty, don't listen to their nonsense, he is our Xuan'er."
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Take out the jade pendant to verify it first."
Just moments before, she had questioned whether the jade pendant had changed hands, leaving the Empress heartbroken and unsure of how to persuade the Emperor.
She hadn't slept well all night, and had already made up her mind that if anyone interfered and prevented her son Xuan'er from being recognized as a member of the family, she would give up her position as empress and leave with her son.
At this moment, Gong Xishuo cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have investigated the Crown Prince's growth trajectory in Wanling, and there is absolutely no conspiracy or trickery as they have speculated. I can guarantee it with my own head."
Emperor Liang swayed slightly, "Really!"
“It’s true. My colleagues who went to Wanling can testify to this. Also returning with His Highness are his senior brothers who grew up with him.”
The Emperor heard Gong Xishuo recount yesterday about Nangong Zeyue being adopted by a chivalrous martial arts master.
Even if there is witness testimony or physical evidence, neither can be fully trusted.
Emperor Liang looked at the Empress and nodded slightly. "Examine the jade pendant."
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