The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1486: 726 Recognition (First Update)

Chapter 1486: 726 Recognition (First Update)

Xiao Hen’s attire was not made of particularly expensive fabric, but when he wore the plain robe, he still looked like a graceful tree amidst the breeze, magnificent and elegant.

The room was very quiet.

No one knew if it was the sight of him that mesmerized everyone, or if it was the reaction of their sovereign that left them all too afraid to even breathe.

Or perhaps it was both.

The Crown Prince mustered his courage and called out, “Father, Your Majesty?”

The sovereign did not hear him, or if he had, he did not acknowledge him.

The distance from the doorway to the bedside was merely a few short steps, but the sovereign took a long time to traverse it.

He was no longer at an age where he would get excited or agitated over something; all his myriad emotions were hidden in those weathered eyes.

He stood before the child.

The last time they were face to face like this, the Prince Royal was just a five-year-old child, and he had returned to Shengdu with Shangguan Yan when he was not yet two.

At three, the Xuanyuan Family plotted a rebellion.

At four, the Xuanyuan Family was annihilated.

At five, he was imprisoned in the Imperial Mausoleum along with the Princess.

Since then, the sovereign had been able to see him only once every two years from afar at the National Master Hall.

But each time, the sovereign had the National Master paint his portrait, so he recognized the child, whether from near or from a distance.

The sovereign paused, staring fixedly at Xiao Hen, “…Qingqing.”

A trace of surprise flitted across Xiao Hen’s eyes, “Your Majesty?”

Everyone was taken aback.

The sovereign was stunned, “You still remember me?”

Xiao Hen: Wait, shouldn’t “I” remember you? “I” return to Shengdu every two years, haven’t you and your grandson met?

Of course, a small situation like this wouldn’t stump Xiao Hen.

Xiao Hen glanced at the Crown Prince who was still in shock at the doorway and said calmly, “That person called you ‘Father Emperor,’ I thought, apart from Your Majesty, there’s no one else in Yan Country who could shoulder this title.”

Realization dawned on the sovereign, “So you recognized me just now. No wonder last time, on the carriage, you left so abruptly.”

It took a moment for Xiao Hen to realize which carriage and which last time he was referring to.

You’ve got to be kidding.

Was that bald old man you?

This happened on the night when Han Ye tried to assassinate him; the loyalists who came to rescue him had thrown him into a carriage which was then split open. He only recognized Zhang Dequan.

The sovereign asked, “Since you’ve come to Shengdu, why have you not revealed yourself? Why didn’t you return to the palace to see me?”

Xiao Hen lowered his gaze, a look of distress crossing his face as he spoke, “Because someone was trying to assassinate me. Mother told me to stay hidden and not to come out, but when I heard that mother was injured, I couldn’t continue to hide any longer.”

The sovereign’s expression darkened instantly.

The Crown Prince was a bit out of the loop.

Firstly, he hadn’t recognized Xiao Hen; at first glance, he truly thought that Shangguan Qing had returned.

It wasn’t until he heard the word ‘assassination’ that he awoke from his reverie.

He had never sent anyone to assassinate Shangguan Qing; all along, he had been dealing only with Xiao Liulang.

The lad’s original name was Xiao Hen, son of Xiao Ji, Marquis Xuanping of Zhan Country. At fourteen, he had sent men to assassinate Xiao Hen, not knowing Xiao Hen had faked his death and survived under the name Xiao Liulang.

The Crown Prince sometimes called him Xiao Liulang out of habit.

But that wasn’t right either, the tear mole under Xiao Hen’s right eye had already been removed, hadn’t it?

So was this Shangguan Qing or Xiao Hen?

He felt the likelihood of it being Xiao Hen was higher, especially since Xiao Hen was in Shengdu, while Shangguan Qing had been out of touch for quite some time.

But wasn’t Xiao Hen unaware of his own background?

How could he possibly come here impersonating Shangguan Qing?

The Crown Prince’s mind was a mess, and he had no way of sorting out his thoughts in such a setting.

Meanwhile, the Little Princess hopped into the room cheerfully.

The sovereign introduced her, “Xiaoxue, he is Shangguan Qing… by relation, you should call her ‘little aunty.’

Having spent too much time at Lingbo Academy, always with the young monk Xiao Jingkong, the Little Princess had almost forgotten that she was a little elder herself.

She quickly straightened her little back, put on a serious face, and looking up at Xiao Hen, she said, “I am Shangguan Xue…”

Wow, wow, wow!

This person is so good-looking!

She really wanted to pinch that little face and scream!

The Little Princess had actually seen Xiao Hen on her first day of classes at Lingbo Academy, but at that time, Xiao Hen was dressed in the uniform of the Lanlan Women’s Academy and wore a veil over his face, which prevented others from seeing his features.

Xiao Hen pretended as if it was his first time meeting the Little Princess, knelt on one knee to meet the little tyke at eye level, and smiled slightly, “Hello, little aunt Xiaoxue.”

Countless pink bubbles appeared above the Little Princess’s head.

This nephew is so cute!

Not like that annoying little Ming Princess!

Starting today, she was going to look out for him!

The Little Princess’s eyes shone like twinkling stars, though she tried hard to maintain her composure and dignity as she said, “Yes, hello little nephew.”