"Lu Qing Wan!"
This time, it wasn't just Bei Ming Xue who was enraged. Bei Ming Kun's face turned crimson, as if he were about to rush over and lecture her.
Lu Qing Wan scooped the little bun into her arms, playfully pinching his cheek with a fierce look.
Then, with insincere apology, she said to the people opposite, "My apologies, my apologies, children are ignorant.
As esteemed elders of the sects, you wouldn't possibly hold a grudge against a four-year-old child, would you?
The main thing is, when I was teaching little Yuan'er this poem, I didn't know that in this world, there were actually people surnamed Bei Ming with the given name Kun!
This, this, this... there wouldn't possibly be someone named Bei Ming Peng, would there?"
With a snort, another person chuckled, followed by one, then two...
Lu Qing Wan looked at Feng Xi Wu in bewilderment, "Is there really someone named Bei Ming Peng?"
To have such a grand surname, yet to choose such two characters as a given name, was simply an insult to the surname Bei Ming.
Feng Xi Wu's lips curved as he stroked her head, "It is this King's fault for not informing the Princess sooner that the Heavenly Profound Sect and Heavenly Profound City have always been like twin blossoms.
Bei Ming Kun, the young master of the Heavenly Profound Sect, and Bei Ming Peng, the young master of Heavenly Profound City, are twin brothers from the same mother."
Lu Qing Wan, realizing the truth, muttered insincerely, "So it turns out I was ignorant. My apologies, my apologies..."
Bei Ming Kun and Bei Ming Xue's anger was stifled by their family of three's private conversation.
Just as they were about to say something, Tang Xiao returned, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the concubine Yu is brought."
Emperor Jing You calmly raised his hand, "Announce her."
Tang Xiao responded and stepped aside. As he stood beside Emperor Jing You, he gave Lu Qing Wan a subtle gesture.
Lu Qing Wan, holding the warm little bun, squinted and smiled, like a detached bystander.
However, those from the Heavenly Profound Sect were not so at ease.
As the concubine Yu walked into the hall on her own, before the people from the Heavenly Profound Sect could speak, the murmuring of ministers' families and dependents filled the hall.
"What's going on? Wasn't it said that the concubine Yu was seriously injured by the Regent's Consort and nearly lost her life? How is she looking perfectly fine now, as if she hasn't been injured at all?"
"Who knows? Wasn't it said that the concubine Yu is the daughter of Elder Yu? They must be bullying her with their status."
"If she doesn't play the victim, how can she demand a higher position for concubine Yu!"
...
Whether it was intentional or not, Emperor Jing You allowed the women to gossip about Concubine Yu's condition, remaining silent.
Seeing that the women were on the verge of guessing the Heavenly Profound Sect's scheme, Elder Yu could no longer hold back and spoke.
"My daughter was just injured, and Your Majesty makes her suffer such criticism in public. What is the meaning of this?"
Emperor Jing You cast a cold glance at Elder Yu and said without any emotion, "The Heavenly Profound Sect demands that I depose the Regent's Consort, that Concubine Yu be made Empress, and that her child be made Crown Prince.
These demands are not impossible, but the prerequisite is that the child in her womb is indeed our Imperial Son."
The hall was in an uproar. Elder Yu's face turned red with shame and anger, "What does Your Majesty mean?
Chu Wei is this old man's cherished daughter, and her status is no less than that of your Great Qian Princess. Would she really engage in illicit relations and become pregnant secretly?
How can you insult our Heavenly Profound Sect like this? Cough, cough..."
Elder Yu coughed again in his rage. This time, Emperor Jing You offered no words of comfort. "Whether Yu Chu Wei has engaged in illicit relations and become pregnant secretly must be admitted by Yu Chu Wei herself.
From now on, if anyone dares to interject, Tang Xiao, immediately throw them out."
Having said that, Emperor Jing You spoke directly and without preamble, "Yu Chu Wei, you have been living incognito in our Great Qian palace. What is your purpose?
Whose child is in your womb? Tell us truthfully, without a single word of deception."
Everyone in the hall stared at Yu Chu Wei in astonishment, but their hearts pounded. The Emperor's question was so direct; even if the concubine Yu had truly engaged in illicit relations, she wouldn't admit it, would she?
But just as everyone suspected their wise and mighty Emperor of losing his IQ at this critical moment, Yu Chu Wei, standing in the center of the hall, opened her mouth.
"The Sect Master learned that I bore a striking resemblance to the late Empress Dowager of Great Qian. Three years ago, he ordered me to enter the palace. After much effort, I was arranged in the Weiyang Palace.
When Your Majesty fell ill, I deliberately imitated the late Empress Dowager's makeup, styled my hair like hers, used the same incense she used, and pretended to inadvertently say things the late Empress Dowager once said..."
As soon as Yu Chu Wei said this, the Heavenly Profound Sect members realized something was wrong.
Elder Yu and Bei Ming Kun wanted to speak, but the sharp gazes of Feng Xi Wu and Emperor Jing You swept over them. Several black-clothed figures also appeared in the hall.
With swords at their throats, the few were forced to remain silent.
Over there, Yu Chu Wei continued, "Your Majesty did indeed notice me and conferred me the title of Concubine.
But I didn't expect Your Majesty to only give me a title and not touch me.
By chance, I overheard Prime Minister Wen discussing with Your Majesty and learned that Your Majesty had little time left. I feared that before Your Majesty touched me, he would pass away, and then I would not be able to complete the mission assigned by the Sect Master.
So, I used the name of Physician Meng to administer medicine to Your Majesty, got Your Majesty drunk, and slept with Senior Brother. Fortunately, I became pregnant with Senior Brother's child.
According to the Sect Master's instructions, I made this child an Imperial Prince of Great Qian.
To give the child a chance to grow, I pretended that after Your Majesty's death, an heir was needed, and voluntarily sought out Prince Chen..."
At this point, Concubine Yu's expression suddenly changed, and she slowly collapsed.
"Chu Wei!"
Elder Yu leaped up. The sword in the hand of the black-clothed man behind him was about to strike, but Emperor Jing You gently raised his hand, signaling them to stand down.
The black-clothed men retreated. Elder Yu rushed forward in three steps, holding Yu Chu Wei and shouting, "Fourth Elder, what are you still standing there for? Come and examine Chu Wei quickly!"
Now, she truly appeared as a loving father. However, the ministers and dependents of Great Qian could no longer feel any sympathy for him, given that he had condoned his daughter's actions.
Like an outsider, the Fourth Elder, who had been acting as a backdrop, stood up and stepped forward to examine Concubine Yu's condition.
Bei Ming Kun, upon regaining his freedom, also rushed towards Yu Chu Wei, but was blocked by Tang Xiao. Bei Ming Kun arrogantly bellowed, "Get out of the way!
If Sister Yu is in trouble, this Young Master will make you pay with your life!"
Tang Xiao drew his sword and stood firm before Bei Ming Kun. Emperor Jing You said leisurely, "I have never ordered anyone to harm Yu Chu Wei. You have no need to make a fuss.
On the contrary, Young Master Bei Ming is so concerned about her. The so-called Senior Brother mentioned by Yu Chu Wei, could it be you?"
Bei Ming Kun was speechless. Yu Chu Wei had already admitted that the child in her womb was not Emperor Jing You's. If he still denied it, Yu Chu Wei would be ruined.
But if he admitted it, he would have to bear responsibility for all the troubles the Heavenly Profound Sect had caused in Great Qian. He clearly lacked the courage for that, and was at a loss for what to do.