Chapter 239 - 239: Identity Exposed
Five Years Later, She Bombarded the Palace with a Miniature Version of the Regent
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Not long after, Liu Xiaolan was brought over. He was very calm at this moment. After all, he had heard the rumors regarding his background over the past few days so he had been prepared for this moment. However, there was one thing he did not understand. Why was the secret suddenly exposed?
Nan Xun narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Liu Xiaolan as soon as he saw the latter. After a moment, he said with a faint smile, âNo wonder I found you familiar before. As it turns out, my imperial sister is actually my Third Imperial Brother.â
After a beat, Nan Xun said meaningfully, âIf Imperial Father finds out that he has another son, Iâm sure heâll be very⦠happyâ¦â
Liu Xiaolan said, displeased, âNan Xun, thereâs no need for you to test me. I have no intention of participating in the struggle for the throne; I have no interest in the throne at all. Donât waste your effort to scheme against me.â
Nan Xun chuckled and said, âNinth Brother, based on your expression, it seems like you blame me for this matter regarding your identity. Iâm really innocent. I didnât deliberately investigate you after allâ¦
âIf it wasnât him, then who was it?â
After all, it was easy for Nan Xun to discover the truth as long as he spared a little effort to investigate the matter.
Seeing the skeptical expression on Liu Xiaolanâs face, Nan Xun said, âI only found out about this matter because someone wrote to me.
Liu Xiaolanâs expression changed upon hearing this.
Nan Xun took the initiative and asked someone to hand the letter to Liu Xiaolan, seeming very considerate.
Liu Xiaolan took a look. Indeed, someone had exposed his secret to Nan Xun. âHowever, why does the handwriting look a little familiar?â
At this moment, Feng Yijin, who had been silent, finally spoke up. He said lightly, âAs it turns out, Crown Prince Nan was informed of this matter through a letter. What a coincidence. I also sent people to investigate the matter because someone revealed the secret. Otherwise, I would have been kept in the dark. â
âSomeone revealed the secret to the Emperor as well? Who is trying to harm me?â Liu Xiaolan thought to himself, perplexed.
At this moment, Yu Yunxi returned with Qian Mei and Gao Shixuan in tow.
When Gao Shixuan saw Liu Xiaolan, she exclaimed in surprise, âSecond Senior
Brother, why are you here?â
Seeing the blood on Gao Shixuanâs dress, his heart tightened immediately. He rushed over to her side and asked worriedly, âWhat happened, Shixuan? Are you okay?â
âIâm fine. Itâs just that Qian Mei is under suspicion of attempting to assassinate the Empress Dowager. Sheâ¦â
Before Gao Shixuan could finish speaking, Liu Xiaolan immediately pulled Gao Shixuan away, creating a distance between Gao Shixuan and Qian Mei. He was worried that Gao Shixuan would be implicated.
Yu Yunxi and Qian Meiâs expressions turned slightly cold when they saw Liu Xiaolanâs reaction.
Gao Shixuan tugged at Liu Xiaolanâs sleeve and explained, âSecond Senior Brother, youâve misunderstood. This matter is still under investigation. Moreover, Iâm certain that Qian Mei is not the murderer.â
Only then did Liu Xiaolan realize he had overreacted. He quickly said, âIâm sorry. I was too nervous earlier.â
Liu Xiaolan was too concerned about Gao Shixuanâs safety. As soon as he heard that Qian Mei had attempted to assassinate the Empress Dowager, his first thought was to protect Gao Shixuan.
Liu Xiaolan looked at Qian Mei and said guiltily, âQian Mei, Iâm sorry. I justâ¦â
Qian Mei interjected expressionlessly, âYoung Master Liu, thereâs no need for you to apologize.â
After all, it was unreasonable to expect everyone to trust her wholeheartedly like Yu Yunxi did.
At this time, Gao Shixuan tugged at Liu Xiaolanâs sleeve nervously and asked, âSecond Senior Brother, whatâs going on? Whyâs everyone looking at you strangely?â
Liu Xiaolan sighed, looking helpless. Then, he said, âShixuan, in fact, thereâs something that Iâve been hiding from you⦠I⦠Iâm actually a prince of Nanyue.â
âWhat? Second Senior Brother, you⦠youâre a prince of Nanyue?â Gao Shixuan looked at Liu Xiaolin in shock and instinctively took a step back. After a moment, she asked, looking betrayed, âSecond Senior Brother, why didnât you tell me about this?â
âIâm sorry. My identity will only bring us trouble, and I donât want you to bear this burden with me,â Liu Xiaolan said as he shook his head with a complicated expression on his face.
Meanwhile, Feng Yijin turned to look at Feng Yili and asked coldly, âNinth
Imperial Brother, donât you think you should explain yourself to me?â
Feng Yiliâs expression did not change at all; he was very calm. He moved to stand next to Yu Yunxi before he replied in a deep voice, âImperial Brother, I can handle such a small matter on my own. Thereâs no need to trouble you over such a small matter. Moreover, Liu Xiaolan came to Tianxia with the identity of my junior brother. As long as he doesnât interfere in the countryâs affairs, it doesnât matter if heâs a prince or not.â
âHow is this a small matter? If Iâd known he was a prince, I couldâve asked forâ¦â
Feng Yijin was so angered by the matter that he almost blurted out his true thoughts. Fortunately, he stopped himself in time.
However, even if Feng Yijin did not finish his words, almost everyone knew what he was going to say. If Feng Yijin had been aware of Liu Xiaolanâs identity earlier, he would have an additional hostage. This would mean that he could demand more from Nanyue. Perhaps he could ask for another city from the Emperor of Nanyue.
Nan Xun glanced at Feng Yijin from the corners of his eyes before he said knowingly with a faint smile, âIâm afraid Iâll have to disappoint you, Your Majesty. In Nanyue, my Imperial Brother isnât even worth a single cent.â These words somehow comforted Feng Yijin and crushed Liu Xiaolanâs dignity at the same time.
âCrown Prince Nan, your wordsâ¦â Gao Shixuan was furious. She wanted to stand up for Liu Xiaolan.
However, Liu Xiaolan held Gao Shixuan back and said, âShixuan, itâs fine. After all, my situation in Nanyue is just as he said.â
The more Nan Xun and the others looked down on him, the safer it would be for him and his loved ones. In the past, he was very carefree, but now that he had Gao Shixuan and Feng Zixiu, he had to be more careful.
Suddenly, Liu Xiaolan brought the letter out and showed it to Gao Shixuan. He asked, âShixuan, donât you think this handwriting is very familiar?â
Gao Shixuan looked at the letter in disbelief before she asked softly, âSecondn/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Senior Brother, could there be a misunderstanding?â
âI also hope that itâs a misunderstanding,â Liu Xiaolan said darkly as he gripped the letter tightly.
At this moment, Feng Yijin looked at Yu Yunxi sharply and said, âAlright, letâs talk about the Empress Dowager first. Yu Yunxi, you said that youâll give me an explanation after two hours. Whatâs your explanation?â
Instead of responding, Yu Yunxi asked, âYour Majesty, has the Empress
Dowager woken up?â
âOf course not. What? Are you going to wait for her to wake up so she can testify for you?â Feng Yijin asked frostily.
âOf course not. I was just asking,â Yu Yunxi replied. Then, she walked over to the imperial doctors and asked, âDo you remember the location of the Empress Dowagerâs wound?â
âYes, yes. Itâs right above the Empress Dowagerâs heart. It was very close to her heart. It wouldâve been fatal if it was a little closer.â
The other imperial doctors hurriedly agreed.
Yu Yunxi pretended to be puzzled and asked, âAre you sure? Youâre saying itâs below the right shoulder.. How could the Empress Dowagerâs heart be on the right?â