Concubine Xie curled her red lips slightly, and suddenly revealed a smile that she thought was peerless.
"Oh, why does it seem to me that although my sister and the king are old acquaintances, they seem very unfamiliar?"
Her eyes moved, and she pretended to be puzzled and asked, "Could it be... that you are deliberately avoiding suspicion?"
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.
These words were like a poisoned needle, piercing straight into Concubine Jiang's heart.
Sure enough, Concubine Jiang's face turned pale, and she clenched the handkerchief tightly with her hands at her side, and she managed to maintain her composure with great difficulty.
"You are joking, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is an honored guest. How can I be impolite?"
However, Concubine Xie still didn't care. "I just saw that the King of the Western Regions was quite appreciative of my sister just now, but now my sister is... like she is hiding from something. It's hard not to think too much."
"You--" Concubine Jiang looked up suddenly, her face turned red in an instant, and anger appeared in her eyes for the first time.
Amur's face instantly darkened, and his fists on his knees were already clenched until they made crackling sounds.
If the timing hadn't been wrong, he would have stood up and slapped the ugly woman.
Before Amur could get angry, Chu Hong stood up first, and his voice was sharper than ever before: "Your Highness, be careful with your words. My mother has been in the palace for twenty years and has strictly abided by the palace rules and never overstepped the line. The past events on the grassland are a thing of the past. Why do you have to bring up the past to humiliate my mother?"
"Prince Rui, are you blaming me for being too talkative?" Concubine Xie sneered.
"I just think that when old friends meet, they should be more cordial."
"That's right." Seeing Chu Hong speak, Chu Lang was not to be outdone and suddenly said, "The Imperial Concubine is also worried and confused. After all, the King of the Western Regions and Concubine Jiang have an old friendship. It's inevitable that people will think too much when they meet now but they are so unfamiliar."
After saying this, he looked at Amur meaningfully.
On an occasion like today, of course, we hope that Chu Hong and his mother will lose all face and never be able to rise again.
If Chu Hong was punished, he might have a chance to regain his position as crown prince.
"Enough!" Chu Hong said angrily.
"My mother is now my father's concubine, and the king is a distinguished guest of the Western Regions. Are you trying to make people in the world misunderstand that the harem of Da Chu is unclean, or are you trying to sow discord between the two countries?"
Chu Lang was rebuked but was not annoyed. Instead, he curled his lips, took a step forward, bowed to Emperor Chu and said:
"Father, I am young and hot-tempered. I don't understand the good intentions of the Imperial Concubine. The Imperial Concubine just mentioned it casually, but I am so excited. It seems that I am guilty. In my opinion, it is better to let Concubine Jiang tell us what her relationship with the King was on the grassland back then."
His words seemed fair, but in fact they were pushing Concubine Jiang into a desperate situation.
Admitting intimacy in public is considered immoral in the harem.
To say that there is no connection at all contradicts the claim that Amur is an "old friend".
Concubine Jiang's face was pale, completely devoid of blood.
Amur saw his beloved being bullied by Chu Lang and his mother, but he dared not say anything. His hawk-like eyes stared straight at Chu Lang, and he could not control the murderous intent in his eyes.
He slammed the wine cup down on the table, and the sound was like ice that could not be melted.
"Your Highness, are you questioning my character, or are you humiliating the harem of your Great Chu?"
"It is true that this prince and Madam Jiang Concubine have known each other since we were young, but I have always treated her with courtesy and never overstepped the boundaries. After Madam Jiang entered the palace as a concubine, this prince has been even more conscientious in fulfilling his duties and has never had any improper thoughts. However, the Second Prince..."
He turned his head suddenly and looked at Chu Lang, his eyes like knives: "Today, you repeatedly forced me in front of everyone, and also guided and hinted at me. What are you thinking?"
Chu Lang's face froze, but he still didn't give up. "Your Majesty, why should you be angry? I just think that it is better to stop than to stop. Rumors are spreading everywhere, all questioning that my third brother's bloodline is not pure. It happens that both parties are present today. Why not ask father for permission to let the king and my third brother verify it on the spot, so as to stop the gossips."
This statement was equivalent to bringing up the old matter of the blood test again.
Chu Hong could no longer hold back, and was about to rush up to Chu Lang to argue with him with his fists clenched, but was held back tightly by Jiang Pin.
Her hands were very cold, but surprisingly strong, leaving red marks on the back of Chu Hong's hands.
"Mother?!"
Chu Hong was a little confused.
Chu Lang had bullied them so much, but his mother was still the same as before, asking him to endure it every time something happened.
But the moment Chu Hong raised his head, he happened to meet Jiang Pin's pleading and humble eyes.
Chu Hong was stunned.
Is she scared?
What are you afraid of?
In front of so many people, are they really afraid that Chu Lang and Concubine Xie will eat them?
Although Chu Hong was held down by Concubine Jiang, he was still burning with anger.
"Brother!" He shouted at Chu Lang, "Every word you say today is full of thorns. What do you want to do? My mother is innocent. How can you slander her at will?
If you dare to talk nonsense again, don't blame me for not considering our brotherhood!"
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense and all the ministers were silent.
The Emperor of Chu also had a gloomy face and dark eyes, and no one knew what he was thinking.
At this moment, Chu Qingluan walked out of the banquet with her skirt lifted up and reported to Emperor Chu:
"Father, I have something to say."
Emperor Chu raised his eyes and said, "Speak."
"My brother and Prince Rui are both my father's bloodline, so why should we take a few provocative remarks to heart?"
She turned to look at Chu Lang, her eyes were calm, but with a sharp insight into people's hearts, "Blood test is a folk method to identify parents and children. Regardless of its accuracy, just asking the king and his brother to perform this ritual is trampling on the dignity of the Chu royal family.
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