Chapter 978: 457 Recognition (Second Update) Chapter 978: 457 Recognition (Second Update) “What are you yelling about! Who said I’m your aunt!” Eunuch Su chastised in a low voice, “Don’t think just because you look a bit like the young marquis you can come here and claim relatives willy-nilly!”

What would happen if the palace maids heard this kind of talk?

Xiao Liulang looked at Empress Xiao, who had stopped in her tracks. The empress didn’t turn around. His throat moved slightly, and he said with difficulty, “Has the little sapling Ahen planted in aunt’s Sleeping Palace grown tall?”

“Ahen, what are you doing?”

“I’m planting a tree; I want to plant a big, big tree for aunt! When spring comes, the tree will bloom with lots and lots of flowers! Peony flowers, Chinese Herbaceous Peony flowers, trumpet flowers… When autumn arrives, the tree will bear lots and lots of fruit! Jujube fruits, peaches, pears, and even chestnuts!”

“Chestnuts? Who taught you these words? Moreover, you have so many flowers, so many fruits, are they all coming from this one tree?”

“Yeah!”

“That’s not possible, you know.”

“Other people’s saplings can’t, but Ahen’s tree can!”

The little tike confidently patted his small chest and began to plant the tree in Kunning Palace, sweating profusely.

Xiao Liulang choked back his tears, “…has the tree Ahen planted for aunt borne jujube fruits, peaches, pears, and chestnuts yet?”

Ahen!

It’s her Ahen!

Empress Xiao suddenly turned around, staring in disbelief at Xiao Liulang with reddened eyes.

How could this be…

Was Ahen not already dead?

She had seen the body…

If he was Ahen, why hadn’t her elder brother mentioned it?

Why had he come to the palace so many times and never sought her out?

What on earth was going on?

Empress Xiao stared blankly as she walked towards Xiao Liulang.

Eunuch Su looked at his young master with a complicated expression, tactfully retreated to the side, and dismissed the unrelated palace maids to a distance of three zhang.

Empress Xiao approached Xiao Liulang, his eyes were red-rimmed, yet he stubbornly held back his tears from falling.

Empress Xiao raised her hand and gently touched his cheek, a tear drop falling down, “Are you really Ahen? You…”

Her fingertip rested on the mole under his right eye, “And this tear mole?”

“Gone,” Xiao Liulang said.

Empress Xiao said through teary sobs, “How could it be gone? What exactly happened back then? Tell aunt!”

Xiao Liulang didn’t know where to begin.

The mole was also a mystery to him; he had woken up lying in a dilapidated inn next to Xiao Liulang’s older brother, Xiao Su.

“Aunt, can you forgive Long Yi?”

“Don’t be angry with Long Yi.”

“Ahen asks for forgiveness on behalf of Long Yi to aunt.”

Empress Xiao was so angry that she pounded her fists on Xiao Liulang, tears streaming down, “You scoundrel! You wouldn’t come to acknowledge me if you weren’t begging for mercy on his behalf!”

The others had no clue what was going on; they only saw Xiao Liulang say something to Empress Xiao that made her break down in a fit of crying and start hitting him.

But it was evident to the discerning eye that her blows were without much force.

Before the crowd could understand what happened between Empress Xiao and Xiao Liulang, Eunuch Su, the trusted aid of the empress, came over with a whisk in hand.

He told the Imperial Guards, “The Empress has ordered; this has nothing to do with you, you may leave.”

Imperial Guards: What?!

The Crown Princess panicked.

While others were unaware, how could she not see what was happening?

Xiao Hen had clearly acknowledged his relation to Empress Xiao.

Having been back in the capital for so long without acknowledging anyone from his past, yet he chose this crucial moment to recognize Empress Xiao.

Why?

For this woman and this guard?

Just moments ago, she was still slandering Gu Jiao for instigating Long Yi, but now Gu Jiao had suddenly become the wife of Empress Xiao’s most cherished nephew. She dared not think about how Empress Xiao would deal with her next.

On the spot, the Crown Princess fainted, whether due to a miscarriage’s weakness or from being frightened by the consequences she was about to face.

Empress Xiao took Xiao Liulang back to Kunning Palace.

Originally, she wanted to bring Gu Jiao as well, but unfortunately, Gu Jiao had been whisked away by Long Yi.

Empress Xiao dismissed the servants and sat down to talk with Xiao Liulang in her room, with the windows wide open. From their perspective, they could clearly see the little sapling that Xiao Liulang… no, that should be said as Xiao Hen, had planted in his youth.

It was an orange tree, which bore no jujubes, peaches, or pears, and the chestnuts it failed to produce. Even the oranges were not particularly tasty.

Empress Xiao laughed through her tears, “The oranges you planted are really awful!”

Empress Xiao desperately wanted to know what exactly had happened all those years ago, but Xiao Hen was unable to speak of it.

Empress Xiao’s gaze fell again on the cane beside the chair, “How did your leg come to be like this? Is it the injury from four years ago?”

“No,” Xiao Liulang shook his head.

It was an injury sustained while saving Fen Lin.

One fire had taken lives because of him; another fire had given life because of him.

His leg was crippled, but it seemed as though the sins he bore were somewhat redeemed.

Though he couldn’t rid himself of all his sins, he could slowly atone for them with the pain he bore for the rest of his life.

Xiao Liulang: “Aunt, about this matter…”

Empress Xiao said, “I understand. Although I don’t know why you did it, your aunt believes you must have had your difficulties. When you are willing to tell your aunt, then come find me.”

Neither of them mentioned Wo Linlang.

What was past was past, and Empress Xiao would have agreed to the marriage precisely because she had thought Xiao Hen was dead. Otherwise, she would not have allowed him to compete with his cousin for a fiancee, even if it meant breaking the crown prince’s legs.

Empress Xiao patted the back of his hand, “Your aunt won’t tell anyone about your affairs, rest assured.”

“Thank you, Aunt.”

Xiao Liulang stood up and left.

As soon as he had left Kunning Palace, Empress Xiao summoned her trusted secret guard, “Go inform my brother at once, tell him Ahen is still alive!”

The secret guard uttered in surprise, “My lady, didn’t you promise him you wouldn’t tell anyone?”

Empress Xiao stated righteously, “When has my brother ever been considered a person?”

The secret guard: “…”

This was the worst Marquis Xuanping had ever been slandered…

…

Killing King Ning was a certainty, but under what charges would depend on the Emperor’s decision.

The dirty laundry was not aired in public; King Ning’s private affairs with the crown prince’s wife were not disclosed, but Wo Yang and Xiao Hen’s experiences at the hands of King Ning were declared to all under heaven.

The motive proclaimed to the public was to strike at the crown prince, one being the crown prince’s younger brother-in-law and the other his first cousin; it did seem that King Ning was indeed targeting those around the crown prince.

Wo Yang, a man of poor reputation, while Young Master Xiao had once been the pride of Zhaodu, celebrated throughout the world, and the white moonlight in the hearts of many.

When word spread that he had died at the hands of King Ning, there was an outcry among the public.

Of course, there were those who tried to absolve King Ning, believing that the present Holy Emperor had been deceived.

“How could His Highness King Ning, with such integrity and honor, commit such a vicious act? Could it be that someone is targeting His Highness King Ning?”

“I hope the Emperor does not believe in slander, that His Highness King Ning will not suffer unjustly.”

“Could it be the work of the crown prince? Think about it, the crown prince married Young Master Xiao’s fiancee. If Young Master Xiao hadn’t died, could he have married Miss Wo? As for Wo Yang, he’s nominally the crown princess’s brother but is completely worthless! Killing him is actually avenging the crown princess!”

The number of those seeking justice for King Ning in the streets and alleys grew, whether it was truly public opinion or someone intentionally guiding it was unknown.

But what was certain was that no matter the public opinion, the Emperor had no intention of pardoning King Ning.

Grand Tutor Zhuang requested to see the Emperor and was directly rejected.

Grand Tutor Zhuang then went to Renshou Palace, hoping Empress Dowager Zhuang could order the Emperor to pardon King Ning.

“Order?” Empress Dowager Zhuang laughed at the presumption, “Since when could I command the Emperor?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang snorted coldly, “Hasn’t the Empress Dowager done exactly that all these years? The Empress Dowager has confronted the Emperor on multiple occasions. Why is it ineffective when it comes to King Ning?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at him with piercing eyes, “You know better than I do how King Ning step by step fell to where he is today.”

Grand Tutor Zhuang said coldly, “King Ning had the ambition and strength of an emperor. What’s wrong with me supporting him?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at him with a cold expression, “The ‘strength’ you speak of includes seizing a brother’s wife and murdering people indiscriminately?”

After all, Grand Tutor Zhuang was King Ning’s maternal grandfather; he surely knew some things that the public didn’t.

He did not try to exculpate King Ning but clenched his fist and said, “Great achievements are not concerned with trifles. Empress Dowager, it was you who told me this. Are you now planning on contradicting yourself?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang said nonchalantly, “What if I am?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang choked on her reply.

Then, his eyes slowly filled with disappointment, “Empress Dowager, you’ve changed. Since you drew close to Xiao Liulang, you’ve stopped prioritizing the Zhuang family in your heart.”

This method of provocation was useless against Empress Dowager Zhuang, who snapped back fiercely, “Do not drag Xiao Liulang into every issue! Do you hope to make me feel guilty? It won’t work on me! Whom I choose to dote upon is my business! And whom I choose to neglect is also my decision! Don’t think that by accusing me a few times, you can make me feel like a terrible sinner, that I’ve let down the entire Zhuang family. I’ve done enough for the Zhuang family over the years! Besides, didn’t I warn you long ago that great success could suddenly collapse, and that it’s wise to retreat from danger? Yet you insisted on having your own way! Who emboldened King Ning? Who increased his power? And who was determined to push him into the vortex of a succession struggle? Now that you’re protecting him, didn’t it cross your mind that pushing for the throne could get him killed?”

“In short, the Empress Dowager simply wants to ignore King Ning!” Grand Tutor Zhuang laughed coldly, “I want to know, if it were Xiao Liulang who was demoted today, would the Empress Dowager also stand by and watch?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang declared powerfully, “What a coincidence, I’d like to know too.”

Grand Tutor Zhuang: “…”

The forever uncooperative Empress Dowager Zhuang.

As Grand Tutor Zhuang left, he looked deeply at the Empress Dowager, “I hope that in the future, the Empress Dowager will not regret everything she has done.”

Empress Dowager Zhuang’s eyes flashed, “The same words, I return to you.”