Suddenly, a group of Gu people from the Southern Frontier appeared all around, far more numerous and more... dangerous than those previously mixed in with the guards of the Prefect's Mansion.
The King of Southern Xinjiang stared in horror at... Imperial Noble Consort Chen Jin'er.
The governor's wife was utterly shocked. "You—you are! You're still alive!"
Chen Jin'er was taken aback.
Suddenly, she had a feeling that she should... know this woman?
Seeing the unfamiliarity and confusion in Chen Jin'er's eyes, the prefect's wife suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, "Hahaha—you've forgotten? You don't remember me? You actually don't remember me!"
"You're just like your bitch sister!"
As long as her sisters are around, no one can see her!
On what grounds?
Why should I?!
Is that bitch born noble? They are both from the Southern Border King's lineage, but just because she was born into the Southern Border Queen's womb, she is showered with love and has everything she wants. That bitch clearly has everything, so why does she still want to steal her man!
From a young age, she knew that she was to be sent away for a political marriage and become the emperor's woman. She had also longed to be the most favored concubine in the palace, a consort, a noble consort... and even an imperial noble consort!
But--
The emperor merely glanced at that vile woman, then ignored her and took her away!
Upon hearing the news that that wretched woman had died in childbirth, she was overjoyed for three days and three nights... She thought the emperor would remember her and bring her into the palace, but she never expected that the emperor would forget her!
I completely forgot about her!
Now, they've actually bestowed the title of Imperial Noble Consort upon that vile woman's sister?!
"Kill her!"
The governor's wife grabbed the King of Southern Frontier and screamed, "Brother—kill her!"
The King of Southern Xinjiang's face was grim and almost ferocious as he stared intently at Chen Jin'er, filled with resentment. "You left Southern Xinjiang and abandoned me... all for him!"
They were betrothed since childhood, but she left without saying goodbye and has not been heard from since.
Unexpectedly, she ended up like her sister, entering the palace and becoming that man's woman!
Hearing these inexplicable words, Chen Jin'er was momentarily stunned. Some blurry fragments flashed through her mind: She... was the little princess of Southern Xinjiang?
Consort Yun's younger sister?
Jiang Jiaojiao was dumbfounded. What... is Xiao Jinjin's true identity?
She hurriedly looked at Prince Chen, but didn't see much surprise on his face. Did he... know?
Prince Chen met her concerned and questioning gaze and said in a low voice, "I only found out after I entered the Prefect's residence that she... is my mother's sister."
"Well……"
Isn't that too much of a coincidence?
Moreover, judging from the tone of the Southern Xinjiang King's words, Little Jinjin has a very close relationship with him.
After scrutinizing Chen Jin'er, the King of Southern Xinjiang's gaze turned sinister. "The life-giving Gu on your body—has actually fallen into a deep sleep?"
"No wonder I couldn't find you all these years!"
New and old grudges contorted the Southern Frontier King's face into a ferocious grin. "I will never allow you to escape again!"
At his command, a swarm of Gu worms instantly surged out and burrowed towards Chen Jin'er and the others!
Before they even reached their feet, the Gu worms suddenly seemed lost, frantically circling around them, unable to get any closer no matter how they circled...
The pills that Jiang Jiaojiao had just crushed to expel the Gu worms had taken effect. These were all prepared before she came to Shu County, and they had almost emptied her and the Imperial Hospital's storerooms.
Since Shu County is connected to the Southern Frontier, she naturally had to make some preparations, including suppressing the Gu worms in the old steward's family with pills.
Prefect Qian and the three strong men of the Qian family quickly shielded Qian Panpan in the middle, while Prefect Qian glared angrily at Magistrate Mei, "You really colluded with the Southern Frontier! This is treason!"
"You all forced this upon us!"
Prefect Mei roared, his anger raging, "Over the years, I have protected the peace of Shu County, and my merits are worthy of being ennobled! How dare a mere wealthy marquis try to bribe my men with money!"
"What princess, Prince Chen, Imperial Noble Consort?"
Prefect Mei nearly roared, "Today I will show you all that in this Shu Commandery, everything is decided by me! Even if you submit to the Southern Frontier, this Shu Commandery will still be under my control!"
After saying that, he burst into wild laughter.
"I will never allow you to cause even the slightest harm to Shu County again!"
"All troops, heed my command—"
"Prefect Mei is plotting treason; seize him!"
Before Magistrate Qian's angry shout had even faded, Prefect Mei followed up with a loud command: "All soldiers, listen to my command—"
"The imperial edict has arrived! Magistrate Qian has conspired with the Jin family to impersonate the prince and imperial concubine. Will you join him in this rebellion, or will you help me capture the traitor and be promoted and live a life of luxury?"
At the same time, Prefect Mei raised the imperial edict high.
The soldiers were in a dilemma. Disobeying the imperial edict was a capital offense, punishable by death and the extermination of their entire family!
"Heh...an imperial edict?"
Chen Jin'er sneered and stepped forward, "I happen to have an imperial edict here as well, Prefect Mei, why don't you listen to it?"
The words fell.
Chen Jin'er stretched out her jade-like hand and took out a bright yellow imperial edict—
With arms outstretched and a loud voice, he declared: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees—"
"The seventh prince, Li Yan, is of pure and virtuous character, possessing both benevolence and wisdom, and exceptional talent and intelligence, making him fully capable of shouldering great responsibilities. He is hereby appointed Crown Prince to inherit the throne. If I were to encounter any misfortune one day, Li Yan must immediately ascend the throne without fail! This is my decree—"
As the last word fell, the entire palace fell into a deathly silence.
Along with the imperial edict, the imperial seal was also held high!
Judge Qian looked horrified and was the first to kneel down, crying out, "Long live the Crown Prince!"
The entire hall trembled, and under the imperial seal's majestic power, they all knelt down and kowtowed, "Long live the Crown Prince!"
The imperial edict was issued.
Not to mention the Jin family, even Jiang Jiaojiao and Prince Chen were shocked and knelt down to receive the imperial decree.
A glint appeared in Prince Chen's eyes.
After receiving the imperial edict and looking at the seal affixed to it, he realized that this must have been written before they left the capital. His father truly intended to pass the throne to him, and even gave him a legitimate reason to suffer misfortune.
It is clear that the emperor's father also guessed what kind of obstacles he would encounter in passing the throne to him.
When Prince Chen held up the imperial edict, everyone knelt down and bowed again, saying, "Long live the Crown Prince!"
Prince Chen actually became the crown prince under these circumstances.
Magistrate Mei could not believe it and roared angrily, "It's fake—it must be fake!"
"Whether it's true or false, we'll know once we verify it."
Prince Chen raised his head, his face cold and stern, exuding an air of noble authority and intimidation.
A figure flashed by and instantly snatched the imperial edict from Magistrate Mei's hand. The two identical imperial edicts from Emperor Ming were unfolded in front of everyone!
"By the mandate of Heaven:..."
"By the mandate of Heaven:..."
The contents of the imperial edict were as they had just been read, except... the seal that was affixed to the edict at the end was completely different.
The imperial edict in Magistrate Mei's hands—
It was the Crown Prince's seal that was affixed, not the Emperor's imperial seal!
The crowd gasped and whispered amongst themselves.
No wonder Prefect Mei dared not unfold the imperial edict to verify it!
Prefect Mei stared at the imperial edict bearing the emperor's seal, furious. "The emperor is seriously ill, and the crown prince is overseeing the country. What's wrong with this edict bearing the crown prince's seal? On the contrary, the edicts you... you must have forged!"
"Heh, I've never seen a thief cry 'Stop thief!' before!"
Jiang Jiaojiao sneered.
"Surrender immediately!"
Qian Pangpang poked his head out and roared, but was then pushed back down by his older brother and father.
Today... it's either you die or I die!
"King of Southern Frontier—make your move!"
Magistrate Mei roared, and the King of Southern Xinjiang waved his hand. Thousands upon thousands of Gu worms, like ants, instantly swarmed into the magistrate's mansion. The guests were so frightened that they ran away with their heads in their hands, screaming in panic.
Jiang Jiaojiao's expression changed, and she took out the exorcising powder in her hand and sprinkled it out!
The Gu worms would avoid the powder, but the area was too large and there were too many Gu worms. In places a little further away, Jiang Jiaojiao's powder could not reach them.
The Gu worms were about to pounce on the troops brought by Magistrate Qian.
A thunderclap boomed from the ground, "Step back—"
Upon hearing those two words, the Gu worms seemed to have encountered their natural enemy, and retreated like a raging tide.
The King of Southern Xinjiang's expression changed drastically.
The mansion gates were wide open, and an old man with white hair and beard strode in.
The old man looked travel-worn and had rushed over. As soon as he entered, he set his sights on Prince Chen. When he saw Chen Jin'er, he could no longer contain his excitement.
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