At the ugly hour, all was silent.
However, the palace was ablaze with lights.
Hearing the noises from outside, Yuan Rui stared out of the window with extremely cold eyes.
Then, his window rattled.
Yuan Rui frowned and glanced at his secret guard.
The man's face also darkened.
Someone actually dared to break into the emperor's sleeping quarters at night!
Before the secret guard could rush over, several figures flipped in through the window.
Just as the secret guard was about to throw a hidden weapon, he was stopped by the emperor.
Yuan Rui pursed his lips and looked at the visitor somewhat helplessly, saying, "Auntie... You should be resting well at this late hour. If word gets out that you've come to my place... it won't do you any good!"
Chu Qing waved her hand nonchalantly and said, "Your Majesty, don't be in a hurry. I've come here to tell you something extremely important."
Only then did Yuan Rui look behind her, and there was actually a man and two women...
Moreover... one of the ragged - clothed women was looking at him with tears in her eyes.
This was...
Chu Qing looked solemn. She told Wei Sheng to stand guard by the window.
She directly brought Qin Zhen out.
It was just that she really didn't want to deal with Xiao Ran, that is, the Empress Dowager. And she had unconditional trust in her grand - nephew, the emperor.
Letting out a soft sigh, Chu Qing brought Qin Zhen in front of Yuan Rui. Then she patted her on the shoulder, signaling her to speak.
Qin Zhen looked at Yuan Rui very nervously and didn't quite know where to start.
It wasn't until Chu Qing gave her an encouraging look that she whispered, "I..."
The words got stuck in her throat and she couldn't say them smoothly.
Seeing this, Chu Qing had no choice but to speak herself. "Your Majesty... How do you think the Empress Dowager treats you?"
Yuan Rui was taken aback, and his face instantly darkened.
How should he answer...
Say that the Empress Dowager treats him badly?
But... no matter how close he was to this auntie, he was well - aware of his relationship with the Empress Dowager.
Blood is thicker than water...
Even if she was not kind to him... she was still his mother...
However... after seeing Chu Qing's eyes, he just couldn't tell the lie he was about to make up.
So...
He could only remain silent.
Yuan Rui's reaction was within Chu Qing's expectations. Her face became even more serious as she continued, "Don't you think... the things the Empress Dowager has done... are not what a real mother would do?"
At this point, seeing that Yuan Rui still looked a bit dazed and Qin Zhen also looked blank, Chu Qing frowned in annoyance. Her tone became a bit impatient. "Time waits for no one. If you don't say it now, you may never get the chance."
Qin Zhen's face turned pale. It was as if she had just come to her senses. Finally, she stammered, "Your... Majesty... Do you have a red birthmark on your chest?"
Hearing this, Yuan Rui was greatly shocked. He covered his chest and took a few steps back. "Who... Who are you! How do you know about the birthmark on my body!"
Although the birthmark was on his chest, not many people knew about it.
Because the emperor had a special habit when favoring his concubines. He liked to turn off the lights.
In the darkness...
Only the queen and... the Empress Dowager, who had a closer relationship with him, knew about the birthmark.
Seeing this, Qin Zhen finally trembled as she spoke, "My child... I'm... I'm your real mother!"
Sure enough, Yuan Rui's eyes widened, and he stood there like a soulless puppet.
Seeing that Qin Zhen's emotions were a bit unstable, Chu Qing patiently explained the whole thing herself.
Yuan Rui looked even more dazed.
Seeing her grand - nephew so shocked, Chu Qing felt a bit heart - ache. She walked over with her pregnant belly and stood between the two of them. Then she took Qin Zhen's hand and placed it in Yuan Rui's.
In an instant, the two of them looked up and stared at each other.
Just one look, and Yuan Rui believed.
It was only now that he saw the woman's face clearly.
He actually resembled her a great deal!
If his father hadn't passed away so early, he would surely have noticed this!
But... the truth had been hidden by the Empress Dowager for decades!
He had been the son of his enemy for over twenty years!
At this moment, Qin Zhen's eyes were full of love and guilt as she looked at Yuan Rui. This softened Yuan Rui's heart, and he was even more certain of her identity.
A mother's look at her child couldn't be faked; it couldn't be wrong.
Seeing the mother and son reunited, Chu Qing couldn't help but turn her head and wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
She just couldn't stand this kind of scene.
However, the more touched she was, the more she wanted to tear Xiao Ran into pieces.
Thinking of this, Chu Qing turned to Hong Ling and asked, "Can you do makeup artistry?"
Hong Ling scratched her head shyly and said slowly, "I can... but... my skills are not as good as Wei Zhi's."
Wei Zhi?
I wonder how that little girl is doing.
When Chu Qing thought of Wei Zhi, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.
"It doesn't matter. Since Wei Zhi is not here, you can help me. Being able to do it is better than not being able to. Just make me look like an ordinary person. Oh, and..." Chu Qing suddenly called out to the emperor and then continued, "Your secret guards here are not up to par. When the Prince of Ning comes back, ask him to train them well."
Yuan Rui: "..."
Qin Zhen: "..."
A certain secret guard: "???"
After Hong Ling simply did the makeup artistry on Chu Qing, Chu Qing leaned towards Yuan Rui with a sly smile on her face. "Grand... um, Your Majesty, do you want to go to the Changle Palace with me?"
"What do you plan to do?"
"You should hear it with your own ears, shouldn't you?"
"But Auntie... Your belly..." Yuan Rui held back his laughter.
Chu Qing was taken aback and then looked down.
How unlucky! She had actually forgotten that she was pregnant!
...
Wei Ying adjusted his state and then summoned his personal guards, as well as Gerile and Wen Yi.
"Three days from now, this king will attack the Western Liang Kingdom."
Everyone was shocked.
Seeing their reactions, Wei Ying continued expressionlessly, "Gerile, Wen Yi, you don't need to participate. Just help this king defend the Chuanzhou City and prevent the common people in the city from... suffering such a disaster again."
Gerile immediately stood up and said seriously, "Prince of Ning, are you sure you don't need our help? We people from the northern grasslands don't care about those so - called reputations. You helped us pacify the grasslands, and the children of the grasslands will never let you fight alone."
Wen Yi, who had looked rather complicated before, also stood up in a hurry and said, "This prince came here by the order of his father to assist you! This prince doesn't care! Wherever you are, this prince will be! Otherwise... this prince won't be able to explain it to his father when he returns to Dongyi!"
Looking at Wen Yi's awkward appearance, Wei Ying thought for a moment and then said, "Are you sure you want to attack the Western Liang with this king?"
Wen Yi averted his gaze, but his voice remained firm. "This prince is sure."
Wei Ying squinted his eyes and looked at him again. Then he smiled slightly. "Alright, since you're determined to follow this king, then... life and death are up to fate."
Only then did Wen Yi look back at Wei Ying and puff out his chest. "If this prince dies, it's just bad luck. I won't blame you! As long as... you take me with you!"
"Prince of Ning!" Gerile frowned and called out.
If the Prince of Ning took this pretty boy with him, then... what about her?
If she couldn't be of any help, she wouldn't be able to explain it to Batel when she went back!
"You should stay in the Chuanzhou City. You should know that guarding our rear is just as important to this king." Wei Ying still firmly insisted that Gerile stay.
Seeing that Wei Ying was very determined, Gerile had no choice but to agree.
"My Lord! In a small courtyard in the city, a mother and son who seem not to have been infected with the strange disease have been found!"