Once you are included in the family tree, no matter what your surname or name was, you must respect the decision of your adoptive parents. Changing your name is the first and necessary thing to do.

On the surface, Li Yuan is indeed a member of the royal family, but——

After hearing what the emperor said, Li Hongtao suddenly showed a trace of uneasiness. What kind of person is Li Quan?

The instability in this was spotted almost immediately.

"Is there anything else you haven't explained?"

Li Hongtao's lips trembled, and under Li Quan's sharp gaze, he spoke intermittently,

"Li Yuan is just a concubine's daughter, and we don't know if she is a concubine or not, so she was not recorded in the family tree back then."

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Quan's expression suddenly became unfathomable.

"So, you are here to tell me that Li Yuan is just a ranking under your name, and in fact, there is no relationship between you and her at all?"

Even though Li Hongtao wanted to slap himself at this moment, things had come to this point, how could he change it?

I immediately nodded reluctantly.

Li Quan was filled with rage and pointed at Li Hongtao, but he couldn't utter a word.

What else can he say?

If he had the family tree, he could still blackmail Lingjiazhuang on this matter, or make an exchange condition. But now, they don't even have this, how can they stop others from changing their names?

"I ask you, does Li Yuan know about this?"

Li Hongtao shook his head uncertainly: "The child was so young at that time, and it was not something she could do. She probably didn't know about it."

"What I want is certainty, not the so-called should!"

"She doesn't know."

In desperation, Li Hongtao could only grit his teeth and confirm that the reason he gave himself was very simple. If Li Yuan really knew that he was not included in the family tree, why would he break off his relationship with him? There was no need at all.

In fact, the little idiot Li Yuan really didn't know that this was the case, because she had never thought about it at all.

If she knew the importance of the family tree, she would have severed all ties with Prince Kang's mansion long ago. How could they allow them to establish a relationship with her here? And use her to attack Wei Jie?

"Since she doesn't know, then it's easy. When you go back, immediately record Li Yuan's name in the family tree."

Li Quan's words made Li Hongtao stunned for a moment: "Now, now?"

"What? You dare to disobey my order?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant. What I meant was that if I record it now, it will be discovered."

You can't just add to a family tree whenever you want, especially a royal family tree, which is even more difficult. In Li Yuan's generation, there are more children born than just the ones under Li Hongtao.

There are probably more than a hundred members of the entire royal family. To change it now would mean moving it to the back. Once this is done, what is the difference between this and being a wise man after the event?

But what Li Quan said was understandable.

"What's the difference between joining now and joining in the past? Doesn't it mean that Li Yuan is a member of the Li family? Moreover, as long as she is recorded in the family tree before the Ling family, it means that she is a member of the Li family first and then the Ling family. If you want to get the custody of Li Yuan, you must get the approval of our Li family. Understand?"

As expected of an emperor, he had already thought about how to deal with the situation almost at the same time as making the decision. In comparison, Li Hongtao seemed to be in a panic when the situation really happened.

"Well, what happens after it's recorded? The Ling family's initiation ceremony will be on the 26th of next month. Before that, their people will definitely come to communicate with me. Does the emperor have any arrangements?"

This is the primary purpose of Li Hongtao's coming to the palace today. Now Li Yuan is no longer a member of their Prince Kang's Mansion, but a valuable person that the emperor cares about. Since it concerns her, he naturally cannot be careless.

Li Quan's eyes suddenly became deep and unfathomable. He walked to the window with his hands behind his back. Li Hongtao stood there, not daring to urge him, just waiting quietly.

The study was silent for a moment, so quiet that only the sound of one's own breathing could be heard.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Quan turned around, his voice faintly containing majesty and oppression: "If the people from Lingjiazhuang come, let them come to the palace to see me, and I will talk to them personally."

Somehow, Li Hongtao felt inexplicably uncomfortable after hearing the emperor's decision. No matter what, Li Yuan was still his daughter, so why did the emperor's attitude make it seem like he wanted to exclude him?

Perhaps Li Hongtao didn't manage his expression well for a moment, Li Quan said without even raising his head,

"Don't be unwilling. If I leave this matter to you, you may not be able to give me a good explanation. The Ling family wants to obtain the full custody of Li Yuan from the Li family, and only by negotiating with me can it work. And you, do you think they will take you seriously?"

Although these words were somewhat hurtful, there was no doubt that Li Quan pointed out the truth. Otherwise, why would the Ling family have so confidently announced it to the world without removing Li Yuan's royal identity?

That's because they are determined to get the custody of Li Yuan at all costs.

In Mei Country, there are people who have two identities at the same time, but judging from the scale of the Ling family's ostentation, it is obvious that they want to take the opportunity to help Li Yuan get rid of the Li family's identity. They say she is an adopted daughter, but in fact, after changing her name, what is the difference between her and her biological daughter?

Generally speaking, adoptees are either fatherless or motherless. If both parents are deceased, after being adopted, their names will be changed according to the adoptive parents' wishes.

Of course, there are also those who respect the parents of the adopted children and do not change their names, but they only account for a very small proportion.

After all, there is no special legal requirement for this, and everything depends on the discussion and decision between the adopter and the adoptee.

A situation like Li Yuan's is a different matter. First of all, her parents are still alive, so it cannot be called adoption. It can only be called fostering, adopting a foster daughter.

And you can only call the other person stepfather or stepmother, not father or mother.

As for having two identities at the same time, one can of course abandon one of them. Generally, the one who is abandoned is someone like Li Yuan who was abused in his biological parents' home.

Therefore, even Li Quan couldn't be sure what Li Yuan would choose in the end.

"I dare not. I will go back and arrange the family tree. Your Majesty, please allow me to leave first."

Li Quan waved his hand and approved Li Hongtao.

As he left the Qinzheng Hall, the cautiousness on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by a complexity that could not be expressed in words.

Finally, ten days later

Although he had prepared himself mentally, Li Hongtao was still shocked when he saw Ling Wuya and Mu Qing coming to his house in person.

Because, he saw from this how much the Ling family cherished Li Yuan. How could this be something that his adoptive father and mother could do?

They are not biological children but are better than biological children. Does such family love really exist in the world?

I thought they would have to be polite, but I didn't expect that after they arrived at Prince Kang's mansion, they just nodded as a greeting and got straight to the point.

Li Hongtao obviously couldn't accept this way of greeting: "Why? Wuya and Qingmei finally came to my house, are they going to talk to me in such a blunt way?"

Ling Wuya glanced at Li Hongtao calmly: "Brother? If you really care about our friendship, why would you kidnap Yuan'er without even saying hello?"

"She is my daughter. Do I need to report to you when I teach my daughter a lesson?"

Mu Qing said indifferently: "Since there is nothing to talk about, let's get down to business now. Let's set a condition. How can we remove Li Yuan from the royal family tree?"

Li Hongtao's body trembled, his eyes widened, and he stood up in an instant: "What do you mean by this, Sister Qing? Haha, make an offer? Lingjiazhuang is really arrogant. Why do you want to remove my daughter from my family tree? Do you know what you are doing? This is forced buying and selling!"

Ling Wuya's eyes were filled with endless irony: "Your daughter? Have you ever really considered her your daughter? We are not here to pursue the past with you, but just to get a letter of expulsion. It would be best if you can sever your father-daughter relationship with Li Yuan."

"What if I don't?"

Li Hongtao didn't expect that the development of things would be completely out of his control. No matter what, he should be the active party and the one who should control the other party, so he can offer the conditions he wants. But why is it Ling Wuya who is forcing him to submit now?

"If not, we don't mind making the scandal of Prince Kang's Mansion public!"

Mu Qing suddenly stood up, with endless contempt on her beautiful face.

"I used to respect you as my brother, but I never thought you would do such a cruel thing. How could you have the heart to do that to your own daughter? You have to agree today, even if you don't agree. We want custody of Li Yuan. At worst, we will die together and no one will be happy!"

The more Mu Qing thought about it, the angrier she became. Seeing that she even resorted to threats, Ling Wuya hurriedly whispered to comfort her: "Qing'er, why are you so anxious and angry? What did you say when you came here? Be good, sit down first and let me talk to him."

Li Hongtao looked at the two people being so affectionate with each other without any scruples and felt annoyed. Just then he heard the voice of Princess Kang. Li Hongtao was about to send them back, but for some reason he thought of it and let her in.

This was not the first time Mu Qing had seen this woman, but he had never felt as disgusted by her as he did now. Thinking of all the evil deeds this woman had done, Mu Qing suddenly stood up, pushed the man beside her away, and raised a graceful smile that even Ling Wuya was stunned by.

"Oh, isn't this the famous Princess Kang? It's been a long time since we last met. After so many years, you are still so dignified and bright!"

"This morning, the magpies in my Hibiscus Garden kept chirping. I thought they had brought me some great news. It turned out that Madam Ling, the number one lady in the martial arts world, who is worth seeing, had arrived. The arrival of a distinguished guest really brightens up my humble abode. Seeing Madam Ling again is even more stunning. I'm afraid all the flowers in the garden can't stand up to Madam Ling's beautiful smile!"

Mu Qing raised an impeccable smile, walked to the side of Princess Kang, and bowed generously, "Mu Qing greets Princess Kang, long live the princess."

"Sister, please get up quickly. We are all family, why do we have to be so polite?"

Princess Kang gave Mu Qing a false support, with a hypocritical expression on her pretty face.

Ling Wuya and Li Hongtao on the side just stared blankly at the sister and sister scenes they performed one after another for a while, and finally turned the topic to today's protagonist.

"Yuan'er has never had a mother's love since she was young. Although I am the legal mother, I also have several children. Sometimes I can't help but neglect them. I didn't expect that the servants would bully this child when I wasn't paying attention. By the time I found out, the child had already run away. It's a pity that this child has been lonely and wandering outside for so many years..."

No matter how well-mannered Mu Qing was, when he saw Princess Kang shedding crocodile tears in all seriousness, he couldn't help but twitching his eyes. He tightly clenched Ling Wuya's hand, gritted his teeth, and endured it.

This woman, does she really think these people are stupid? Who are you crying for?

"Li Yuan has been doing well these years. She has not been wandering around or lonely. She has lived a comfortable and carefree life. So, let the past be the past. What we are going to talk about today is Li Yuan's family tree."

Princess Kang was slightly stunned. "Family tree? I'm afraid this is not easy to handle. As you know, the Li family is so important and the rules are so strict that we can't solve it with just a few words. I'm afraid you have to go to the emperor for this matter."

emperor?

Mu Qing and Ling Wuya exchanged glances quickly, and couldn't help but look at Li Hongtao beside them: "May I ask King Kang, is it possible to take us into the palace now? Or, can you inform him for us?"

Before Li Hongtao could speak, the butler outside the door ran over breathlessly, "My Lord, Your Majesty, the Emperor has sent someone to deliver a message."