After the Emperor heard what Ruan Jiu said, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Although he was ill, he wasn't so old and muddle - headed.
As soon as Ruan Jiu stepped into the Golden Hall just now, the Emperor recognized at a glance that she was the legitimate daughter of the Shen family who had been lost since childhood.
Moreover, she had an extraordinary affection with Xie Jingchu.
But if Ruan Jiu were to admit in front of everyone that she and Xie Jingchu were already in love,
Wouldn't it be equivalent to admitting that Xiao Wang had forcefully taken another official's wife?
As the crown prince of a country, if such a label were to be put on his head, how could he convince the public in the future!
The Emperor's eyebrows relaxed a little. He looked at Xie Jingchu and said, "Jing'er, it seems that she's not the one you're looking for."
Xie Jingchu looked at Ruan Jiu in disbelief.
The alienation and confusion in Ruan Jiu's eyes instantly made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
He exclaimed, "A Jiu! Have you lost your memory?"
Ruan Jiu nodded and then lowered her eyelids.
Seeing this, the Emperor's heart tightened again.
Xie Jingchu said to the Emperor in surprise, "Your Majesty, she is the one I'm looking for! She just lost her memory!"
However, Xiao Wang slowly curled his lips and sneered, "Young Marquis Xie, why don't you let her tell you herself who she is?"
Everyone's gazes were fixed on Ruan Jiu.
For a moment, the Golden Hall was deathly quiet.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Ruan Jiu to speak.
"I... I'm the cousin of the Prince of Song's Mansion and the adopted daughter of the Prince of Song."
Ruan Jiu's words stabbed Xie Jingchu in the chest once again.
"No! You're not!" Xie Jingchu shouted.
Then, regardless of his own injuries, he stumbled and ran in front of Ruan Jiu.
He tightly held Ruan Jiu's hand. "A Jiu, look at me carefully again, okay?"
His tone was filled with a hint of pleading.
But Ruan Jiu was frightened by Xie Jingchu's appearance. She suddenly pulled back her hand and took several steps back.
Her delicate little face was full of panic.
As Ruan Jiu pulled her hand away, a part of Xie Jingchu's heart seemed to be empty.
Just then, Xiao Wang immediately stepped forward and stood between the two of them.
He scolded Xie Jingchu, "She has said that she doesn't know you. Don't pester her anymore!"
"What on earth did you do to her!"
"You keep saying that she's your wife. Then ask everyone in this hall if anyone can testify for you?"
Xiao Wang coldly scanned all the court officials in the hall.
The court officials all lowered their heads. None of them dared to stand up and speak.
Xiao Wang then looked at Xie Jingchu coldly. "What else do you have to say now?"
"And the Prince of Song!" Xie Jingchu shouted. "Since you say she's the adopted daughter of the Prince of Song, then call the Prince of Song to testify!"
Xiao Wang waved his hand.
He immediately sent someone to bring the Prince of Song here.
As soon as the Prince of Song stepped into the Golden Hall, beads of sweat fell from his forehead one after another.
Even with his head down, he could clearly feel two sharp gazes on him.
He couldn't stop trembling all over.
This was really a disaster!
A few days ago, Xie Jingchu had locked him in the mansion without food or drink, torturing him day and night. And today, he was brought to the Golden Hall.
What kind of things were these!
"Prince of Song, do you recognize the woman behind you?" the Emperor said coldly.
The Prince of Song carefully raised his head.
Only then did he clearly see Ruan Jiu's appearance. Her eyes, like autumn water, were indeed extremely similar to Song Qingyu's.
No wonder Xiao Wang had spared no expense to keep this woman in the Eastern Palace.
Before the Prince of Song could speak, the Emperor said in a deep voice again, "This matter concerns the reputation of the crown prince. You must look carefully."
Hearing this, the Prince of Song trembled even more.
Xiao Wang smiled and said, "Why are you trembling, Prince of Song? Are you afraid that someone is threatening you?"
After saying that, Xiao Wang gave Xie Jingchu a half - smiling look.
The Prince of Song nervously swallowed his saliva. He looked up at the Emperor sitting upright on the dragon throne, looking solemn.
After much thought, he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, this is indeed the adopted daughter of my Prince of Song's Mansion."
"You're lying!" Xie Jingchu shouted at the Prince of Song.
His sharp eyes seemed to tear the Prince of Song apart.
The Prince of Song's whole face was contorted. He forced out a bitter smile. "Young Marquis Xie, I'm not so confused as to not recognize my own daughter."
It was better to be tortured by Xie Jingchu than to offend the Emperor and the crown prince.
The Prince of Song then raised his hand towards the Emperor. "Your Majesty, previously, because of the death of A Yu, my daughter was extremely grief - stricken, which damaged her mind. So she lost her memory and was taken to the Eastern Palace by His Highness to recuperate."
To make it seem more real, the Prince of Song walked in front of Ruan Jiu. He lovingly took Ruan Jiu's hand and gently patted it in his palm. "You've suffered. After you've recovered, Father will come and pick you up immediately."
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu frowned tightly.
When Xie Jingchu had held her hand just now, although she had immediately pulled it back, there was no trace of resistance in her heart.
But now, when the Prince of Song held her hand, she felt a sudden sense of disgust.
Also, she remembered that Xiao Wang had said that she had lost her memory because of an injury during the palace coup.
But why did this Prince of Song say that she had damaged her mind because of extreme grief?
Thinking of this, the words of the Princess Royal echoed in her mind again.
Could it be that all of this was really a lie fabricated by Xiao Wang?
The Emperor let out a heavy breath and said coldly, "Since the Prince of Song has said so, it must be that Jing'er has mistaken someone. It's just a misunderstanding."
After hearing this, Xie Jingchu's dark eyes were bottomless.
He understood that the Emperor was deliberately protecting Xiao Wang.
Even if the person standing in front of him was Ruan Jiu!
But he still held on to the last glimmer of hope in his heart. He gritted his teeth and said, "There's also the Princess Royal. The Princess Royal has seen A Jiu before. She will definitely recognize her!"
Hearing this, Xiao Wang sneered contemptuously. "The Princess Royal, out of concern for Father's illness, has specially gone to the Ten - Thousand Buddha Temple to fast and pray for Father. She probably won't be back for a while."
As long as a few more days passed, Ruan Jiu would completely fall in love with him.
By then, even if Xie Jingchu found Mr. and Mrs. Shen to testify, nothing could be changed.
Hearing Xiao Wang's words, a hint of surprise flashed in Ruan Jiu's eyes.
Wasn't the Princess Royal with her at the Star - Picking Tower just now?
How could she suddenly go to the Ten - Thousand Buddha Temple to pray?
Could it be that because the Princess Royal had taken her out, Xiao Wang had sent the Princess Royal away?
Everything that had happened today was telling Ruan Jiu one thing.
Xiao Wang really had something to hide from her!
Just then, the Emperor sitting upright on the dragon throne said in a deep voice, "That's enough, Young Marquis Xie! Today, I won't pursue the matter of your slandering the crown prince. You should immediately return to your mansion for self - reflection. Don't continue to damage the crown prince's reputation here!"
Xie Jingchu tightly clenched his fists. The veins on his forehead bulged.
His deep eyes turned blood - red. He stared fixedly at Ruan Jiu without moving.
What should he do?
What else could he do?