"Impossible! Eunuch Liu just took this boy in to check, and there's no birthmark. You must be talking nonsense and disrupting the royal bloodline. Princess Pingning, what crime should you be punished for?"
Prime Minister Hou then came to his senses, scrambled to his feet, seized on Lin Yuxin's weakness, and directly convicted her.
Lin Yuxin rolled her eyes at the Prime Minister Hou, who had just sat up in shock from his deathbed, and cursed inwardly:
【idiot! 】
Then he turned to look at the Emperor and said:
“When I rescued Cheng Tinghao, he was covered in bruises from being beaten for a long time, and he was as thin as a monkey because he was often hungry. On the first day I brought him back to the manor, my maid noticed a birthmark on his lower back when she was bathing him.”
"However, at the time, I was so focused on treating his wounds that I didn't pay close attention to the shape of the birthmark. I thought it was just a scar removal treatment, so I treated the birthmark as a scar removal treatment!"
emperor:……?
Your unintentional act has deprived my son of proof of identity; you are truly a great contributor to my cause!
The ministers: ...?
Suddenly I realized that what the princess said made some sense! So what were they arguing about just now?
"So... now that Cheng Tinghao has lost that birthmark, it's impossible to confirm whether he is the Ninth Prince. Since you're the one who caused this, you'd better find a way to help me deal with it."
The Emperor said wearily, "If I knew that Lin Yuxin had removed my son's birthmark, I would drag that brat out and give her a good beating."
This troublesome thing, it's always causing trouble and ruining their plans!
"Isn't that simple? Just apply a hot compress to his lower back for a while, and the birthmark will come out. My medicine is specially made; it can effectively remove scars without leaving a trace, provided that it is a scar. But his birthmark isn't a scar! So I just hid it."
"My medicine loses its effectiveness when heated, and the birthmark naturally appears. How about that? Isn't my medicine amazing?!"
Lin Yuxin brazenly began promoting her medicine, her shamelessness astonishing all the civil and military officials present.
The ministers all looked at Zhao Shijie differently now. Did your granddaughter learn her shamelessness from you? She caused trouble herself, yet she acts so self-righteous. Shameless!
Zhao Shijie, however, stood there calmly and motionless, letting his child perform as he pleased! Hmm! As expected of a child from the Zhao family, truly impressive!
The emperor's teeth were grinding together, and his clenched fists were clenching and unclenching repeatedly. He was afraid that he would lose his temper and drag the person away to be beheaded.
You removed my son's birthmark, and you still have the nerve to boast about your medicine? Why don't you remove your own?
The Emperor took a deep breath before waving to Eunuch Liu.
Eunuch Liu understood and prepared to take Cheng Tinghao to the pavilion. However, this time Cheng Tinghao was not as calm as he was the first time. He was afraid that if he still couldn't get it this time, what should he do?
Cheng Tinghao didn't move, but looked at Lin Yuxin with a pitiful and uneasy expression.
Seeing this, Lin Yuxin sighed, walked over, patted his head, and comforted him:
"Go ahead, this time it won't happen again. But don't worry, even if you're not the emperor's child, not a prince, I have the ability to save you. We'll run away together, brother and sister! We won't stay in this godforsaken place!"
[The emperor is useless; he can't even protect his own son, so don't blame me for running away with him! Humph!]
Lin Yuxin pouted inwardly, but didn't show it on her face!
"Take me with you!"
Li Xiaochen also leaned over and whispered.
Lin Yuxin glanced at him but ignored him!
Cheng Tinghao's anxiety eased at that moment. He knew that his sister was his support! No matter what he did, there was always someone backing him up.
"good!"
Cheng Tinghao nodded seriously, and then followed Eunuch Liu into the pavilion.
The most uneasy people in the main hall right now are the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince. They were just happy to have it proven that the child was not the Ninth Prince. Why do they still need to investigate now?
What if it really happens this time?
The two exchanged a glance, both blaming Princess Pingning for giving Lin Yuxin a rather unfriendly look.
However, Lin Yuxin didn't cause any trouble this time, and ignored the stares from those around her. She just stood next to Li Xiaochen without moving, seemingly lost in thought.
I'm so hungry! I was called over first thing in the morning and haven't even had breakfast yet! I really want to eat the wontons from West Street, the mochi from North Street, and the roast duck from Fumanlou. I'm starving!
Li Xiaochen smiled slightly, thinking to himself, "This girl has really been wronged today!"
The officials in the court all kept their eyes down, not uttering a single word.
Hearing Lin Yuxin's words, the Emperor thought to himself: "A starving ghost reincarnated!"
However, he was still a little unaccustomed to the girl being so quiet.
He looked up at Lin Yuxin. Given this girl's personality, she shouldn't be this quiet. She wasn't even mentally complaining or cursing?
Although things haven't quieted down yet, something feels off! Very off! Could they be brewing some big surprise?
"Ahem! Pingning! You must be tired from your trip back from Jibei City. Since you're coming to the palace today, why don't you report on your official business as well?"
The Emperor tentatively opened his mouth and asked Lin Yuxin a legitimate reason.
Lin Yuxin's eyes lit up instantly. Right, she hadn't claimed her reward yet!
Lin Yuxin, no longer caring about being hungry, strode to the center of the hall and gave the Emperor a deep and respectful bow. Only then did she speak:
"Your Majesty, I have spent half a year in Jibei City planting trees, finding water sources, resettling people, growing grain, and improving their lives. The prince has told Your Majesty about all of this, right? Your Majesty, I have made such a great contribution, surely I deserve some reward?"
Lin Yuxin looked at the Emperor with starry eyes, eagerly waiting for him to speak.
emperor:……!
He just blurted that out! That girl is really taking advantage of my kindness!
"Ahem! Pingning did a very good job this time. Achen did report to me a few days ago about your contributions in Beicheng. I am very happy to have a princess like you who is so dedicated to the country and its people. It is a blessing for our Xia Kingdom! Oh, by the way, I heard that you also captured the Holy Maiden of the Northern Frontier? What do you want from the Northern Frontier this time?"
The Emperor praised Lin Yuxin earnestly, but did not mention any specific reward, and then changed the subject.
Lin Yuxin's starry eyes slowly turned into rolling her eyes and pouting.
[You stingy emperor! You've said all that just to avoid giving me a reward! Humph! When Xiao Hao becomes emperor, I'll go ask him for it! You old geezer!]
He still had to answer the emperor's questions, but the passion from before was gone.
"Your Majesty, the appearance of this Holy Maiden of the Northern Frontier in our Xia Kingdom was ill-intentioned from the start. Your Majesty can investigate this carefully. If the people of the Northern Frontier come to redeem the Holy Maiden, Your Majesty can decide for yourself what you want. However, I can give Your Majesty a heads-up: the list I gave you includes two medicines from the Northern Frontier!"
Although the emperor was stingy, she still had to help him. Despite her disdain, he was still Xiao Hao's father, and she had to give him face.
"really?"
The Emperor asked in surprise.
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