Chapter 239 - Chapter 239: Identity Exposed
Chapter 239: Identity Exposed
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, “No wonder I found you familiar before. As it turns out, my imperial sister is actually my Third Imperial Brother.”
After a beat, Nan Xun said meaningfully, “If Imperial Father finds out that he has another son, I’m sure he’ll be very… happy…”
Liu Xiaolan said, displeased, “Nan Xun, there’s 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. Don’t waste your effort to scheme against me.”
Nan Xun chuckled and said, “Ninth Brother, based on your expression, it seems like you blame me for this matter regarding your identity. I’m really innocent. I didn’t deliberately investigate you after all…
‘If it wasn’t him, then who was it?’
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 Xiaolan’s face, Nan Xun said, “I only found out about this matter because someone wrote to me.
Liu Xiaolan’s 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. ‘However, why does the handwriting look a little familiar?’
At this moment, Feng Yijin, who had been silent, finally spoke up. He said lightly, “As 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. ”
‘Someone revealed the secret to the Emperor as well? Who is trying to harm me?’ 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, “Second Senior
Brother, why are you here?”
Seeing the blood on Gao Shixuan’s dress, his heart tightened immediately. He rushed over to her side and asked worriedly, “What happened, Shixuan? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s just that Qian Mei is under suspicion of attempting to assassinate the Empress Dowager. She…”
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 Mei’s expressions turned slightly cold when they saw Liu Xiaolan’s reaction.
Gao Shixuan tugged at Liu Xiaolan’s sleeve and explained, “Second Senior Brother, you’ve misunderstood. This matter is still under investigation. Moreover, I’m certain that Qian Mei is not the murderer.”
Only then did Liu Xiaolan realize he had overreacted. He quickly said, “I’m sorry. I was too nervous earlier.”
Liu Xiaolan was too concerned about Gao Shixuan’s 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, “Qian Mei, I’m sorry. I just…”
Qian Mei interjected expressionlessly, “Young Master Liu, there’s no need for you to apologize.”
After all, it was unreasonable to expect everyone to trust her wholeheartedly like Yu Yunxi did.
At this time, Gao Shixuan tugged at Liu Xiaolan’s sleeve nervously and asked, “Second Senior Brother, what’s going on? Why’s everyone looking at you strangely?”
Liu Xiaolan sighed, looking helpless. Then, he said, “Shixuan, in fact, there’s something that I’ve been hiding from you… I… I’m actually a prince of Nanyue.”
“What? Second Senior Brother, you… you’re a prince of Nanyue?” Gao Shixuan looked at Liu Xiaolin in shock and instinctively took a step back. After a moment, she asked, looking betrayed, “Second Senior Brother, why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“I’m sorry. My identity will only bring us trouble, and I don’t want you to bear this burden with me,” 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, “Ninth
Imperial Brother, don’t you think you should explain yourself to me?”
Feng Yili’s 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, “Imperial Brother, I can handle such a small matter on my own. There’s 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 doesn’t interfere in the country’s affairs, it doesn’t matter if he’s a prince or not.”
“How is this a small matter? If I’d known he was a prince, I could’ve asked for…”
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 Xiaolan’s 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, “I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Your Majesty. In Nanyue, my Imperial Brother isn’t even worth a single cent.” These words somehow comforted Feng Yijin and crushed Liu Xiaolan’s dignity at the same time.
“Crown Prince Nan, your words…” Gao Shixuan was furious. She wanted to stand up for Liu Xiaolan.
However, Liu Xiaolan held Gao Shixuan back and said, “Shixuan, it’s fine. After all, my situation in Nanyue is just as he said.”
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, “Shixuan, don’t you think this handwriting is very familiar?”
Gao Shixuan looked at the letter in disbelief before she asked softly, “Second
Senior Brother, could there be a misunderstanding?”
“I also hope that it’s a misunderstanding,” Liu Xiaolan said darkly as he gripped the letter tightly.
At this moment, Feng Yijin looked at Yu Yunxi sharply and said, “Alright, let’s talk about the Empress Dowager first. Yu Yunxi, you said that you’ll give me an explanation after two hours. What’s your explanation?”
Instead of responding, Yu Yunxi asked, “Your Majesty, has the Empress
Dowager woken up?”
“Of course not. What? Are you going to wait for her to wake up so she can testify for you?” Feng Yijin asked frostily.
“Of course not. I was just asking,” Yu Yunxi replied. Then, she walked over to the imperial doctors and asked, “Do you remember the location of the Empress Dowager’s wound?”
“Yes, yes. It’s right above the Empress Dowager’s heart. It was very close to her heart. It would’ve been fatal if it was a little closer.’
The other imperial doctors hurriedly agreed.
Yu Yunxi pretended to be puzzled and asked, “Are you sure? You’re saying it’s below the right shoulder.. How could the Empress Dowager’s heart be on the right?”