CHAPTER 578: CHAPTER 578: DECEIVING THE EMPEROR

The next day, early morning court.

After discussing disaster relief with the officials, the Emperor was about to adjourn the court.

Imperial Censor Liu suddenly stepped forward to impeach the Prince, accusing him of concealing Xie Jingchen’s true lineage, whose biological mother was the Nanliang Donglin Prince Mansion’s Princess Hengyang.

This revelation sent shockwaves through the court.

The officials were astonished, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

The Emperor sat on the Dragon Chair, stunned by the impeachment from Imperial Censor Liu, unable to regain his composure.

The Prince furrowed his brows tightly.

The Emperor looked at Imperial Censor Liu and asked, "Why does Liu Aiqing think this way?"

Imperial Censor Liu presented a painting for the Emperor to examine.

Hmm.

It was not a copied painting.

Duke Chong had sent someone to steal the Prince’s original work.

Eunuch Fu descended the steps, took the painting, and unfolded it for the Emperor to view.

Even after bypassing the Emperor’s many concubines, the woman in the painting was strikingly beautiful.

"Who is this woman?" the Emperor inquired.

"Your Majesty, the woman in the painting is the Nanliang Donglin Prince Mansion’s Princess Hengyang," Imperial Censor Liu quickly replied.

"This painting was personally done by Prince Zhenbei."

The Emperor could also see the Prince’s distinctive brushwork in the painting.

He looked towards the Prince, waiting for his explanation.

The Prince’s expression was dour.

He looked at Imperial Censor Liu and said, "The Nanliang Donglin Prince Mansion was executed to the ninth degree of kinship seventeen years ago. I am curious as to how Imperial Censor Liu recognizes Princess Hengyang."

"Before I answer who my son’s biological mother is, I would trouble Imperial Censor Liu to first explain how this painting was acquired!"

The two questions left Imperial Censor Liu dumbfounded.

He did not recognize the Nanliang Princess Hengyang.

The painting was handed to him by Duke Chong.

But could he expose Duke Chong?

He didn’t want to risk his life.

"This..."

"The painting was delivered to my residence last evening and reported to me," Imperial Censor Liu said, sweating profusely.

Prince NanAn stood behind the Prince, looking at him worriedly.

Thinking of something, he remarked, "Someone said the person in the painting is the Nanliang Princess Hengyang, and Imperial Censor Liu believed it?"

"Without validating, you reported to the Emperor, impeaching Prince Zhenbei. Isn’t this improper?"

Imperial Censor Liu wanted to say that Duke Chong recognized it.

But he swallowed his words.

It was more appropriate for Duke Chong to say it than him.

Sure enough, Duke Chong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I had the honor of meeting the Nanliang Princess Hengyang once. She was exceptionally beautiful, and even after nineteen years, I still remember a bit."

Eunuch Fu showed the painting to Duke Chong.

Prince NanAn took the opportunity to glance at it, smiling, "Oh, this painting? What a coincidence, I have one too."

Duke Chong’s expression turned cold, "Is Prince NanAn covering for Prince Zhenbei?"

Prince NanAn frowned, "How does having a painting constitute covering for Prince Zhenbei?"

"And it’s not just me; Marquis Jingguo Mansion, Beining Marquis Mansion, and Duke Dingguo Mansion all have one."

Marquis Jingguo and the others were bewildered.

They had no idea what Prince NanAn was talking about.

How did they end up with a portrait of the Nanliang Princess Hengyang?

"If Duke Chong doesn’t believe it, I can send someone to fetch it," Prince NanAn said.

Duke Chong really didn’t believe it.

Prince NanAn looked at Eunuch Fu and said, "Eunuch Fu, could you send someone to find my son and bring the painting that Young Master Zhao used to search for someone?"

Marquis Jingguo suddenly realized, "Ah, so Prince NanAn was referring to that painting."

From that remark, it was clear it existed.

Duke Chong’s brow furrowed into a tight knot.

Prince Zhenbei had a painting of the Nanliang Princess Hengyang, making him suspicious that Xie Jingchen’s biological mother was the Princess Hengyang.

But if Marquis Jingguo and others had it too, did that mean Marquis Jingguo’s heir was also born of the Nanliang Princess Hengyang?

"What is going on?" the Emperor asked.

Prince NanAn looked at the Emperor and smiled, "Perhaps because the origins of Prince Zhenbei’s heir are unknown, any woman’s portrait in the Prince’s possession would be suspected to be the heir’s mother."

"This painting was created by Young Master Zhao. Eunuch Fu also knows him."

Eunuch Fu was a bit confused, "Do I know him?"

Prince NanAn mentioned stepping on the face of Princess Nanzhang, saying, "Didn’t Eunuch Fu once scold Princess Nanzhang in the streets and asked a scholar selling paintings to write a few words for you?"

Eunuch Fu twitched his mouth, "I remember now; that did happen."

Prince NanAn continued, "He came to the Capital City seeking someone, and because something happened at home, he had to rush back. So he left the painting with a few of my son’s friends to help with the search."

Duke Chong’s face turned green.

Prince Zhenbei had this painting sent to an artist’s workshop for multiple copies?

Did he guess wrong? Was Prince Zhenbei just helping to find someone?

But how could the Nanliang Princess Hengyang be in the Capital City?

Soon, the painting from Prince NanAn Mansion was brought back by the little eunuch.

Although the portraits were different, it was clearly the same person. Upon closer inspection, the earrings of the woman in the painting were identical.

Imperial Censor Liu hurriedly admitted his mistake.

The Prince said nothing.

His mind was in turmoil.

He forgot that Duke Chong recognized matters regarding Princess Hengyang.

Even if he found the person, he could not grant her the title of Princess Consort, reunite as a couple, and let her and Chenchen reunite as mother and son, unless...

Prince NanAn felt puzzled as he looked at the Prince.

The Nanliang Princess Hengyang was already dead. How did this painting end up in Imperial Censor Liu’s hands, almost causing unnecessary trouble for the heir?

Prince Zhenbei shouldn’t have been so careless.

"As an Imperial Censor, bearing the responsibility of correction and supervision, didn’t verify matters, and rashly impeached the Prince. Can just a simple admission of error suffice?" Prince NanAn said coldly.

Imperial Censor Liu quickly knelt.

"I believe Imperial Censor Liu cannot fulfill the duties of an Imperial Censor," Prince NanAn declared.

Duke Chong defended him, saying, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Censor has the power to report based on rumors and hasn’t overstepped. Besides, the lineage of Prince Zhenbei’s heir is a mystery; it’s reasonable for Imperial Censor Liu to believe such claims."

Duke Chong took the opportunity to press for Xie Jingchen’s lineage.

The Prince was somewhat angered, knowing it was Duke Chong causing trouble. He coolly said, "Chenchen is my son. Do I need to explain to others who his biological mother is?!"

"Even if Chenchen’s biological mother truly is the Nanliang Princess Hengyang, so what?!"

Duke Chong looked at the Prince and said, "If the heir truly is born of the Nanliang Princess Hengyang, then the position of the heir should naturally be relinquished."

"So Duke Chong intends to use this painting to frame Prince Zhenbei’s mysterious heir as being born of the Nanliang Princess Hengyang?" Marquis Dongxiang abruptly interjected.

Duke Chong was instantly enraged, "What do you mean I want to use this painting to frame Prince Zhenbei’s heir as being the Nanliang Princess Hengyang’s child?!"

Duke Chong’s voice was so loud it hurt people’s ears.

Marquis Dongxiang rubbed his ears, saying, "Your Majesty should ask Imperial Censor Liu again about how this painting came about."

"I believe the crime of deceiving the Emperor is something Imperial Censor Liu cannot bear?"

Imperial Censor Liu was anxious and uneasy.

Just as he was about to say the painting was given to him by someone, Marquis Dongxiang declared, "Think carefully before speaking. Sometimes if you lie, others may not cooperate perfectly."

"There are not a few people in the Imperial Censor Mansion. Surely someone can be found to tell the truth."

A blatant threat.

Yet so self-righteous.

How could Imperial Censor Liu then dare not to reveal? Marquis Dongxiang was someone who would do what he threatened.

Imperial Censor Liu trembled as he betrayed Duke Chong, saying, "The painting, the painting was given to me by Duke Chong."

Duke Chong’s face turned a glowing shade of green.

The Emperor took the opportunity to harshly reprimand Duke Chong.

Duke Chong didn’t dare to retort even once.

He left the court with a belly full of anger.