Upon hearing that Duanmu Junyu still wanted to arrest Duanmu Qingxin, Duanmu Shenghua immediately became furious: "Duanmu Junyu, I've already said that I did it, why are you dragging innocent people into this?"
Duanmu Qingxin hadn't expected that even though Duanmu Shenghua had already taken the blame, Duanmu Junyu would still arrest her. She hurriedly said, "Mother, it really wasn't me who did it. I've been wronged. Please, Mother, investigate thoroughly!"
Duanmu Qingxin shouted and kowtowed twice to Duanmu Junyu.
But Duanmu Junyu completely ignored her and walked directly to Duanmu Shenghua: "If she really has nothing to do with this, why would she know it was you who did it?"
This question left Duanmu Shenghua speechless.
Duanmu Qingxin's face turned ashen instantly, and she couldn't utter a single word.
Even the most bewildered royal relatives and ministers around them now understood what was going on.
Duanmu Qingxin was so anxious that she crawled directly to Duanmu Junyu, grabbed her skirt and cried, "Mother, I really didn't participate in this matter. Those assassins have nothing to do with me. I would never dare to send anyone to assassinate you. Please believe me, Mother."
Duanmu Junyu looked down at Duanmu Qingxin with disgust: "You suggested today's hunt, those murderers pointed the finger at you, and even the Prince Hui, who confessed to the assassination, is trying his best to protect you. How do you think I should believe you!"
The three suspicious points about Duanmu Junyu completely crushed Duanmu Qingxin.
"Mother Empress..." Duanmu Qingxin stiffened and wanted to explain something, but Duanmu Junyu didn't give her the chance at all: "Don't call me Mother Empress. I never expected that you would disregard family ties and be so narrow-minded as to want my life just because you didn't get the position of Crown Prince. You have really disappointed me too much!"
Duanmu Junyu's words pierced Duanmu Qingxin's heart like a knife, making her so ashamed that she wished she could disappear into the ground.
Seeing Duanmu Qingxin being humiliated like this by Duanmu Junyu, Duanmu Shenghua felt an overwhelming pang of heartache: "Duanmu Junyu, that's enough!"
Duanmu Shenghua's sudden outburst of anger amused Duanmu Junyu: "What? Are you feeling sorry for her?"
Duanmu Junyu stared at Duanmu Shenghua, a wicked smile playing on her lips: "Have you forgotten that she is now my daughter, not yours!"
When Duanmu Junyu said this, everyone present was dumbfounded, and no one knew what she meant.
Even Duanmu Qingxin stared blankly at Duanmu Junyu, forgetting even to cry.
"Duanmu Junyu!" Duanmu Shenghua shouted anxiously!
The more afraid Duanmu Shenghua was, the more excited Duanmu Junyu became: "Duanmu Shenghua, you have times when you're afraid too. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that I will expose the fact that you plotted to assassinate me several times twenty years ago? Or are you afraid that I will expose the fact that you replaced me for twenty years, slept with my imperial consort, and gave birth to this bastard child, Duanmu Qingxin?"
"Duanmu Junyu, are you crazy!" Duanmu Shenghua screamed in fright when she saw Duanmu Junyu reveal everything.
The surrounding royal relatives and ministers were all dumbfounded, their heads buzzing, unable to believe what they were hearing.
What exactly is Your Majesty saying?
Did King Hui attempt to assassinate His Majesty twenty years ago?
That's not the most important thing. The most important thing is what it means that King Hui replaced His Majesty for twenty years.
Did the Prince Hui sleep with His Majesty's consort? Is His Majesty referring to the Phoenix Prince?
And the Second Prince is actually the son of Prince Hui? How is that possible? How could the Second Prince possibly be the son of Prince Hui?
At this moment, the ministers' minds were completely blank, and they could no longer understand what Duanmu Junyu was saying.
Duanmu Qingxin was utterly shocked. She stared blankly at Duanmu Junyu: "Mother, what are you saying? What bastard? How could I be a bastard?"
Isn't Duanmu Xuening the bastard?
She was born to the Empress and grew up in the palace. How could she be a bastard?
Duanmu Junyu looked at Duanmu Qingxin with disgust, and explained as if she had taken pity on her, "Don't you understand? My Ning'er and An'er are not bastards at all, you are!"
Duanmu Qingxin's head buzzed again, and at that moment, her mind went completely blank. It was as if countless images flashed through her mind.
For example, why did the Queen Mother suddenly stop liking her?
For example, why does Duanmu Shenghua, who has no connection with her, support her so much?
For example, why did her father suddenly fall out of favor and stop her from competing for the position of Crown Princess?
For example, why would Duanmu Xuening come up to her and say that she wasn't a bastard?
Things she couldn't understand before seemed to have a reasonable explanation at this moment, but she still refused to believe what her mother had said.
Seeing that Duanmu Junyu was really going to say it, Duanmu Shenghua became even more anxious: "Duanmu Junyu, how dare you say that!"
Duanmu Junyu was so angry at Duanmu Shenghua that she laughed: "Why shouldn't I dare? Who do you think you are? You've been acting as my successor for twenty years, and you think you're the empress? You even dare to order me around?"
Who does she think she is, daring to yell at her in public?
Duanmu Shenghua glared at Duanmu Junyu with a fierce look in her eyes, gritting her teeth and lowering her voice, "Do you really have to tell me all this?"
Isn't she afraid of the military power she holds?
Furthermore, isn't she afraid that the people and officials of Xiliang will find out that she has been the empress all these years?
She did not see the Western Liang dynasty being poorly governed when she became empress. Wasn't she worried that the people and officials would realize that even someone not recognized by the Vermilion Bird could still be a good empress?
Unfortunately, Duanmu Junyu didn't care at all about the things she thought she had in control of.
Since Duanmu Junyu was able to say these words, she already intended to make everything public.
She had long wanted to settle accounts with Duanmu Shenghua, and today was the perfect opportunity.
Duanmu Junyu's gaze swept directly over all the imperial relatives and civil and military officials present: "Twenty years ago, when I personally led an expedition to the border to fight against Eastern Chu, I was pushed into an abyss by Duanmu Shenghua. Fortunately, I was protected by the late emperor and rescued by General Su of Eastern Chu, surviving the ordeal. However, I was severely injured and lost my memory. Duanmu Shenghua then led the Western Liang army back to Western Liang. She thought I was doomed after falling off the cliff, so she wore a veil and mask and impersonated me as empress for twenty years. It wasn't until recently, when I regained my memory, that I summoned the Vermilion Bird divine beast and returned to Western Liang."
For the past twenty years, all the masked empresses you've seen have been imposters. Besides Duanmu Shenghua impersonating me, there have also been puppets she hired. And my Phoenix Lord—since our marriage, I've never consummated our marriage, yet when I returned, there was a new woman in the palace, Duanmu Qingxin. Who Duanmu Qingxin's mother is, I don't need to say; you all know. I wanted to swallow this insult, but Duanmu Shenghua is so aggressive, even sending assassins to kill me. Today, I will not let this go!"
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