The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 641: A Loyal Minister Would Never Let the Emperor Act Recklessly

Chapter 641: A Loyal Minister Would Never Let the Emperor Act Recklessly

Ye Siheng raised an eyebrow and glanced at Wang Huai. "Oh? Is that so?"

The atmosphere became heavy with a murderous intent.

Wang Huai shuddered, his entire body trembling slightly. His throat was dry, and he couldn’t find his voice.

Elder Cao, frustrated by Wang Huai’s ineptitude, interjected, "Everyone here has already heard what he just said!"

Ye Siheng remained calm and composed, saying, "But this person... his leg is crippled, and his fingers are calloused. If I’m not mistaken, he must be a compulsive gambler who loves playing dominoes, correct? A gambling addict like him—how much silver did Elder Cao spend to bring him into the palace as a witness?"

"You..." Elder Cao, unaccustomed to fabricating lies, flushed red before retorting after a moment, "He was starving, so I gave him ten taels of silver. Before entering the palace, he swore an oath that everything he said today was true!"

Wang Huai, knowing that his life was hanging by a thread, frantically kowtowed. "I’ve sworn an oath! I’ve sworn that everything I said is true!"

Seeing his panic, the onlookers began to doubt the gambler’s words.

"Merely ten taels of silver, and you sold your conscience to tell lies..." Ye Siheng pressed further.

"When my royal brother learned that the palace maid was pregnant, he feared that someone might use her and her child to make accusations against him. So, he pleaded with Duke of Anguo—my father-in-law—to send her out of the capital overnight. Out of pity, my father-in-law settled her in a village at the border with the Wei people. Tragically, the maid had a short life and passed away shortly after giving birth to Chu Yan."

"My father-in-law, out of kindness, didn’t want the imperial bloodline to suffer at the border, so he brought Chu Yan back to raise him."

"Chu Yan is half Qi, but he is also my royal brother’s biological child! He is a descendant of the Ye family!" Ye Siheng then turned to Wang Huai. "You used to serve under my father-in-law. He never mistreated you, did he? Yet today, for ten taels of silver, you’ve conspired with Elder Cao to slander the Ye family’s royal bloodline!"

Wang Huai panicked, shaking his head vigorously. "No, no, no! I don’t know anything else. I only followed Elder Cao’s instructions to testify in court that the fifth son was adopted and not Duke of Anguo’s biological child. I know nothing more!"

With just a few words, the situation took a slight turn.

Wang Huai’s testimony could only prove that Chu Yan wasn’t a member of the Chu family but couldn’t establish anything further.

"Utter nonsense!" Elder Cao, livid, shouted, "The Emperor has never been one to covet beauty! How could he have had an illicit affair with a palace maid? Moreover, His Majesty is a man of great responsibility. If the maid had truly been pregnant, he would have kept her in the palace, not sent her away!"

Emperor Muwu’s lips moved slightly.

Being trusted so deeply by his minister stirred genuine emotion in him.

But...

Emperor Muwu sighed, his face filled with guilt. "Elder Cao, men occasionally make mistakes, don’t they? It’s all my fault for being momentarily careless. Later, when I explained the truth to Chu Yan, he refused to acknowledge me as his father and insisted on remaining the son of the Chu family! Ah, I’m reaping what I’ve sown, truly reaping what I’ve sown!"

As he spoke, he appeared heartbroken and regretful.

Although Chu Yan was aware of Emperor Muwu and Ye Siheng’s intentions, he was momentarily stunned.

The royal bloodline... how could it be so chaotic?

Everyone turned their gaze to Chu Yan, whispering amongst themselves.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Chu Yan hesitated. "Your Majesty..."

Emperor Muwu quickly approached and grasped Chu Yan’s hand. "But just now, you risked your life to save me, fighting the ferocious Emperor Qi and killing him! I knew it—you’ve already let go of your hatred and forgiven me, haven’t you?"

His eyes were red, brimming with emotion.

Prime Minister Lu and Elder Xu, among others, couldn’t help but feel their noses sting with emotion.

Previously, they had pitied Emperor Muwu, who, despite gaining the throne, had lost both of his sons.

But now, a new son from the Chu family had emerged—what a turn of events!

Chu Yan, bracing himself, looked at the crowd.

Nanli gave him a subtle nod.

Summoning his resolve, Chu Yan finally said, "Your Majesty..."

"Why are you still calling me ’Your Majesty’? Call me Father!" Emperor Muwu urged eagerly.

"..." Chu Yan hesitated for a moment before tremblingly uttering, "F-Father... You had no other choice back then. I... I don’t blame you."

"Good, good!" Emperor Muwu, relieved at Chu Yan’s cooperation, heaved a sigh of relief.

Elder Cao, seeing this heartwarming display of fatherly love, was livid, practically fuming.

Now he understood why Ye Siheng and his wife had so graciously provided him with a Heart-Protecting Pill—it was all so he could witness this scene. They were truly malicious!

But he hadn’t lost yet!

"Your Majesty!" Elder Cao shouted. "A few words from me can’t prove much, but neither can the words of Your Majesty or the Ninth Prince! The royal bloodline must not be muddied!"

He grabbed the bamboo tube at his waist, his hands trembling.

"I have long prepared the Bloodline-Enchanting Bug from the Border Nation. The Ninth Princess is now the ruler of the Border Nation. Surely she knows what this bug is for?"

Nanli narrowed her eyes. "It’s used to verify blood relations. Indeed, it’s far more reliable than the traditional blood-dripping method."

This bug fed on blood and had a unique trait: once it consumed a person’s blood, it would never feed on anyone else’s. However, if the second individual was related by blood to the first, the bug would also consume the second individual’s blood.

This method was how the Border Nation verified blood ties.

"Exactly!" Elder Cao nodded. "Your Majesty, to ensure the purity of the royal bloodline, you must use the Bloodline-Enchanting Bug in front of all the ministers!"

Emperor Muwu, however, flatly refused, furious. "How dare you question my words and suggest using this ridiculous bug on me?!"

"Your Majesty, you’re clearly guilty!" Elder Cao exclaimed triumphantly.

Elder Xu, after his initial wave of emotion, quickly snapped back to reality. Bowing, he said, "Your Majesty, I implore you and the fifth son to use the Bloodline-Enchanting Bug to prove the truth!"

Prime Minister Lu, curious to see if this was all fabrication, joined in the plea. "Please, Your Majesty, and the fifth son, use the Bloodline-Enchanting Bug!"

"Please, Your Majesty, and the fifth son, use the Bloodline-Enchanting Bug!"

The other ministers also chanted in unison.

Emperor Muwu’s face darkened, but he declared, "If the Bloodline-Enchanting Bug proves that Chu Yan is my son, I shall name him the Royal Heir. Will you have no objections then?"

Chu Hanlin’s head shot up.

Chu Yan was equally shocked.

Nanli frowned. This was taking things too far.

She wanted to stop it but was held back by Ye Siheng.

"A’Li, this is my royal brother’s decision."

Nanli turned to meet his gaze.

Eventually, she gave a slight nod.

Elder Cao, utterly unconvinced by Emperor Muwu’s words, said, "If Chu Yan truly is a descendant of the Ye family, what harm is there in naming him the Royal Heir?

"But if he isn’t, Your Majesty must write a self-criticism decree and publicly declare today’s absurdity to the world! And Chu Yan... must be executed as an enemy spy!"

As a loyal minister, he would never let the emperor act recklessly!