Chapter 224: Sister My Ass

Xiao Yang’s voice wasn’t loud, but her every word hammered into the souls of all the scholars who had been enjoying the show.

Whether the Royal Family had one more prince didn’t affect them much. But for their own hard-won recognition to be completely overshadowed by a person like this—that was truly infuriating.

’What good was watching a show compared to their own futures?’

Even the officials finally snapped out of their daze.

’So what if the late Emperor had another son? Did that affect the Empress’s firm grasp on the throne? Prince Jing, the Regent King, Grand Tutor Xu, Li Wei, Minister Mu, the Song Family, the Duke Liang Mansion—which of them didn’t recognize the Empress? The Emperor had practically culled half the court. Those who remained were either die-hard, hyper-competitive loyalists or pragmatic survivalists. Anyone who dared to show dissent was now mining in Beimeng. If a son of the late Emperor did pop up, he’d be made a Prince at best. He might even end up being worked to the bone like Prince Jing. But this unverified, supposed heir of the late Emperor was undeniably cheapening all their hard work.’

Having said all that needed to be said, Xiao Yang announced her decision.

"Ji Xuanmo has shown a lack of moral character. His examination results are hereby nullified. The rankings of all other candidates will be moved up accordingly."

"The imperial examinations are a hallowed institution. Disrupting them is an unforgivable offense. Ji Xuanmo is sentenced to thirty strokes of the cane as a warning to all."

"The matter of the Imperial bloodline is no trifle. Duke Liang and Marquis Pingchuan are to travel to Luo Mountain City and verify his identity. All proceedings will be conducted in accordance with the law."

Everyone proclaimed, "Your Majesty is wise! We shall obey Your Majesty’s decree."

A supposed heir of the late Emperor may have appeared, but they were all clear on who called the shots now.

However, while Xiao Yang handled matters by the book, Ji Xuanmo was not about to accept it.

He could not bear the punishments the Emperor had decreed.

He was indeed of royal blood, but the price of that recognition was his mother’s bones being ground to dust and scattered, and his uncle’s entire family being executed.

How could he possibly bear such a price?

"Your Majesty, I’m not lying! I am your older brother."

"I only came today to be acknowledged as your family. You’re my only blood relative left in this world! I’m the person closest to you."

"I never thought that I would come, full of joy, to meet my little sister, only for you to be so cruel and heartless." He wore an expression of pained resolve. "If this is how it’s to be, then I no longer wish to be accepted into the clan! Just pretend I never said any of this today."

Even now, he still projected an attitude of ’you’re being unreasonable, and I’m the bigger person making concessions’.

His profound sorrow only served to highlight the Emperor’s supposed cruelty and ruthlessness.

A vein bulged on Xiao Yang’s temple, and her eyelid twitched with fury.

Unable to tolerate it any longer, she finally exploded. "Fuck! Sister, my ass! Who the hell is your sister?!"

"Brothers, get him!"

Xiao Lv struck in an instant, and Xiao Hong, who had been standing at the fringes, followed in a flash.

’They were the Emperor’s only brothers!’

Prince Jing was so angry he started rolling up his sleeves. "What nonsense are you spouting?! The person closest to Her Majesty is me! Me!"

Watching from the side, even Xie Liuzheng wanted to go up and give him a beating, but she held back. Instead, she took Her Majesty’s hand and began to soothe her.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Don’t stoop to this idiot’s level. It’s not worth being angry over!"

Setting everything else aside, Ji Xuanmo’s last sentence made Xiao Yang so angry she could have coughed up blood.

’No wonder his attitude had been so strange. So that was it—he’d been thinking of himself as the Emperor’s older brother this whole time. He hadn’t come to see the Emperor; he had come to see his ’little sister’? No wonder he kept looking at her with that gentle, tolerant expression. He actually felt he was the older brother, graciously putting up with his little sister’s antics. To hell with his ’little sister’! Who would be the sister of some bastard of unknown origin? It was like a toad crawling onto your foot—not poisonous, just disgusting! He hadn’t even confirmed his own identity, yet there was already a subtle, preachy tone in his voice when he spoke to the Emperor. What was that about? Was he trying to fill the void left by the father she never had to lecture her?’

Seeing things spiral into absurdity, Grand Tutor Xu quickly had people help herd the spectating scholars out.

"Out, everyone out! Go on your celebratory parade, announce the rankings! Don’t dawdle!"

The scholars: "..."

They weren’t in any hurry. They wanted to watch that moron get a beating, and if Her Majesty was willing, they’d be more than happy to lend a hand.

The scholars were reluctantly herded out. The other officials got back to their posts—those with business to attend to handled it quickly, while those who could leave made a hasty retreat. Her Majesty was in a rage; it was best not to provoke her.

Finally, a punch from an unseen fist knocked Ji Xuanmo unconscious.

Xiao Lv and Xiao Hong might be small fry in front of Li Wei, but they were anything but when facing others.

Xiao Lv reluctantly stopped. ’It would have been cleaner to just beat him to death,’ he thought, ’but unfortunately, he’s been seen by too many people. We can’t just kill him off so directly.’

Seeing that the man was unconscious, Prince Jing took a deep breath to calm his rage.

The day’s events had been too bizarre. Even now, his heart was still pounding.

The good news: this wasn’t a mess of his own making.

The bad news: it was the late Emperor’s doing.

He’d almost rather it have been his own mess.

If Ji Xuanmo’s identity was real, he would be the late Emperor’s only son—and the eldest one, at that.

Regardless of whether the man himself had any ill intentions, Imperial Power had a way of driving people mad. And countless others would be eager to push him into that abyss.

That would surely lead to a bloodbath, and the one who would suffer the most would certainly be the Little Emperor.

The Little Emperor was so wonderful; how could she be made to suffer like that?

And as for the things that Ji Xuanmo had said—it was as if he were a lunatic.

Prince Jing awkwardly tried to comfort the Emperor. "Your Majesty, don’t be sad. This is the late Emperor’s fault for being so unscrupulous. Later, I will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and report him to Emperor Taizhong! I’ll have him scold the late Emperor for you. If that’s not enough, I’ll have your great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather scold him too! They’ll give him a good thrashing!"

If nothing else, he was a professional at tattling.

Prince Jing certainly knew how to comfort someone; at least, Xiao Yang was very satisfied with his words.

"In that case, Uncle, please bring some delicious food for my grandfathers later. As for my father the Emperor... just leave him some bitter melon."

Prince Jing said indignantly, "He deserves nothing but bitter melon! Give him a couple of salted fish, too. Let him rot in the stench!"

Xiao Yang couldn’t have agreed more. "You’re so thoughtful, Uncle."

The two huddled together, plotting these wicked things as if no one else was there, not treating the others like outsiders in the slightest.

Xiao Lv and Rong Yin exchanged a glance. ’She’s still up for making mischief, so the Emperor must be fine.’

Ji Xuanmo was dragged away and locked up. Everything else would have to wait until the investigation was complete.

As for the thirty strokes of the cane... since the man was already unconscious, they’d put it on his tab for now.

When Prince Jing said he was going to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he meant it. He immediately ordered people to prepare offerings so he could go and file his complaint.

The Regent King escorted the Emperor back to Zichen Palace. She was dizzy with anger and needed to rest.

Xiao Hong glanced at Xiao Lv and Xie Liuzheng huddled together, then thought of Xiao Ziling, who was nowhere to be seen all day. He let out a cold snort and departed with an air of aloofness.

Xie Liuzheng actually wanted to accompany Her Majesty, but she felt she would be playing the third wheel.

She sighed. "What a mess this all is."

Xiao Lv, who had just worked up a sweat, elegantly rolled up his sleeves and smoothed out the wrinkles on them. "Don’t worry," he said. "Her Majesty is fine."

Xiao Lv knew Her Majesty well enough. She was mentally strong. She probably didn’t care that much about Ji Xuanmo’s identity; it was mainly his actions that had provoked her.

No one else could truly empathize with the situation quite like Xiao Lv. After all, just a moment ago, he’d almost thought the man was his own brother.

’The thought of an older brother of unknown origin suddenly appearing... well, no one would be happy about that. And this man had the audacity to keep lecturing. Even he couldn’t stand it. Worse, the man had shown contempt for the Emperor. Killing him for that would have been a light sentence. The fact that Ji Xuanmo was only knocked unconscious just proved that Her Majesty was far too merciful.’