Pan Yuanzhou and the others looked at this and that, their hearts filled with shock—Ye Qingxue had never told them about this before, was it true or false?!
Surely Prince Ding must be a prince?
However, even if Ye Qingxue was extremely angry, given her character, she would never spread such rumors, right?
They looked at the emperor again.
But the emperor stood still, without even blinking or trembling his eyelashes.
Either he already knew about this, or he thought Ye Qingxue's words were too absurd to be true, so he was reluctant to give even the slightest reaction.
After a long while, the emperor slowly retreated and sat on the couch, still remaining silent.
As for Prince Ding Yunchi himself?
After a brief, intense tremor in his heart, he quickly calmed down. His mother was right; Ye Qingxue had indeed walked into the trap they had dug.
Thinking of this, Yun Chi smiled.
He walked to the emperor's side, knelt at his feet, looked up at him, and said gently, "Father, I have grown up by your side since I was a child. I remember when I was six years old, you personally held my hand and wrote the character '仁' (ren, benevolence). At that time, my teacher said that the strength of my brushstrokes was very similar to that of you when you were young."
"When I was ten years old, I went hunting with you and shot down a deer. All the officials praised Father for his skill, and I thought I wouldn't be any less impressive."
"Later, as I grew older, I followed my father in doing many things. Everyone said that all my virtues were inherited from my father."
"How could such a son not be Father Emperor's son? In this world, besides Father Emperor, who else could pass on so many virtues to me?"
Yun Chi slowly tightened his grip on the emperor's hand, his gentle tone gradually becoming low and forceful, as if giving a final definition to the matter:
"Their doubt about my bloodline is their doubt about you, Father!"
The emperor suddenly looked up and his gaze fell on Ye Qingxue.
He clearly took Yun Chi's words to heart. The royal bloodline is a matter of national importance and cannot be slandered or defamed by anyone!
Yun Chi stood up, stood beside the emperor, and looked at Ye Qingxue again.
He smiled again.
But now that smile has become extremely bloodthirsty and sinister.
"Miss Ye, in order to avenge my past annulment of our engagement, you falsely accused me of destroying the dam. I may spare your life and even plead for your life."
"But you have spread rumors about my background, falsely accusing me of not being a prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, not being of my father's bloodline, and attempting to shake up the country and the state. I will not tolerate you."
"Father, I believe that Miss Ye's actions deserve the death penalty!" Yun Chi's murderous aura emanated from between his teeth.
Pan Yuanzhou and others believed that Yun Chi's last words were a request for the emperor to execute Ye Qingxue directly.
However, Yun Chi knew that he was using the effects of the "Pulling Silk" drug to control the emperor and kill Ye Qingxue on the spot.
Ye Qingxue closed her eyes!
The emperor's hand, which was resting on the table, suddenly tensed up, his nails almost digging into the wooden board.
He stared intently at Ye Qingxue, his jawline taut, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"Ye Qingxue..." the emperor finally spoke, his killing intent like a sharp knife piercing through the air towards Ye Qingxue, "Clang..."
The next word to be said is "诛" (zhū), right?
Everyone's nerves suddenly tightened, as if a guillotine was hanging high above their heads, and the slightest movement would result in their death!
But at that moment, Ye Qingxue suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze sharp as torches: "Your Majesty, I have evidence to prove that Prince Ding, Yun Chi, is indeed not of the bloodline of the Great Zhou royal family!"
The word "execute" was forced back into the emperor's throat by Ye Qingxue's voice.
However, before the emperor could speak, a clear, cold voice came from outside the hall.
"Oh? Chi'er was born from my ten months of pregnancy, and I didn't even know that he wasn't a prince of the Great Zhou?"
It is Empress Shen who has arrived.
After entering the palace, she paid her respects to the emperor.
Then she said, "I have heard that Your Majesty and all the officials have been working hard day and night to deal with this flood, so I asked the nanny to prepare some tea and invite you all to have some tea in the side hall."
"After waiting for a long time, His Majesty did not summon them again. I was afraid that His Majesty was too tired, so I came to find out what was going on. I never expected to hear such terrible words from Miss Ye! I was really frightened!"
The emperor took her hand and made her sit beside him.
Ye Qingxue said, "In the Empress's Phoenix Palace, there is a painting that the Empress has carefully stored and treasured."
"The painting depicts a twelve-year-old girl, who is the Empress's true child! Your Majesty, simply send people to search the palace, and you will know whether what I say is true or false!"
Empress Shen froze instantly.
Ye Qingxue actually knew?
How could she have known!
Seeing Empress Shen's reaction, Yun Chi immediately realized that what Ye Qingxue said must be true!
However, it doesn't matter. They have a "tethering thread," and Ye Qingxue's statement about it being just a painting won't affect the overall situation.
Moreover, matters of bloodline are of utmost importance, and even Ye Qingxue cannot be easily swayed; for the time being, they still possess the emperor's trust.
However, before the emperor could be enraged, Ye Qingxue spoke first: "Your Majesty, for the sake of the royal bloodline, please be sure to send people to search Fengwu Palace!"
"Your Majesty, if you have nothing to hide, then have someone search your Phoenix Palace! That painting is hidden in a secret compartment by your bedside!"
"Ye Qingxue even knows the exact location?" Empress Shen's eyes narrowed slightly as she suddenly recalled that not long ago, she was falsely accused of using witchcraft.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
