Several pairs of eyes immediately turned towards them as the question was posed.
*Ah.*
This was precisely what they wanted everyone to hear.
Zhan Tianye's cold gaze swept over Xie Jin. "Indeed, it's not easy to swallow."
Yun Shu's lips twitched subtly. Were these two deliberately trying to cause trouble for the Emperor of Xixia?
Her eyes flickered as she raised her teacup for a sip. She hadn't had a chance to savor it in the Imperial Garden, but now, she agreed with Xie Jin. "Compared to Dongning Kingdom, it indeed falls short."
Zhan Tianye looked towards a nearby palace attendant. "Go and fetch plain water."
If the taste was unpleasant, plain water would be preferable.
Xie Jin concurred. "Plain water, while tasteless, is not unpleasant."
The implication was clear: the tea of Xixia Kingdom was unpalatable and difficult to swallow.
The surrounding palace attendants listened in stunned silence, their gazes darting from Zhan Tianye to Xie Jin, and then to Yun Shu. For a moment, their understanding of the world seemed to crumble. The palace's tea was always exquisite, and the finest leaves were used to entertain envoys from all nations. How could the taste be poor?
And why was Prince Jin also expressing his disdain?
The actions of this young master Xie from Dongning Kingdom were far too ostentatious!
Some attendants took their orders to fetch water, while others quietly departed.
Yun Shu glanced at the departing attendants and smiled faintly. "Isn't Prince Jin from Xixia Kingdom?"
This question drew even more gazes.
How could Prince Jin *not* be from Xixia Kingdom? If he weren't, why would the Emperor have recognized him? But! Zhan Tianye looked at Yun Shu with a gentle gaze. "Indeed, I am not."
This statement caused a ripple effect. Another palace attendant by the door quickly left.
Xie Jin chuckled.
Yun Changfeng, who was resting with the three children in the room, deepened his gaze. It was good to instill a sense of urgency in the Xixia Emperor. Did he truly believe he could completely control Prince Ye? Did he think Prince Ye would allow himself to be deceived?
However, he couldn't quite ascertain whether Prince Ye was truly the Xixia Emperor's son. An astute man like the Xixia Emperor, who never suffered a loss, would recognize someone who wasn't his own flesh and blood? The entire affair felt peculiar. It would be best if Prince Ye and the Xixia Emperor were not father and son, otherwise, their departure from Xixia Kingdom might not be so straightforward in the future.
While Yun Changfeng worried about this matter, the Emperor, who had only recently returned to the Imperial Study, heard the report from a palace attendant. Li De and Princess Ningde were also present in the Imperial Study. The moment they heard the report, both of their expressions changed drastically.
After the palace attendant retreated, Princess Ningde abruptly grabbed her chair and stood up, her expression filled with anxiety. "Has Prince Jin perhaps remembered something?"
And now he had seized an opportunity to meet with Yun Shu. The information conveyed in their words seemed to suggest he already knew something. Moreover, he trusted Yun Shu and Xie Jin! This was more troublesome than they had anticipated. It was proving more difficult to control than she had imagined. It was exceeding their grasp.
"Impossible. For Prince Jin, his past is a complete blank. No one can recall what was, and Prince Jin will be no exception. It must be that the Ye Wangfei and the others said something to bewitch Prince Jin," Li De stated resolutely, confident in his actions. The fact that Zhan Tianye had been brought from Dongning Kingdom to Xixia Kingdom meant he had made thorough preparations and possessed sufficient confidence. However... the development of events was somewhat beyond expectations. Why would Prince Jin believe what Yun Shu and the others said?
The Emperor's expression grew somber. "He knew the palace attendants would relay their conversation to me, indicating he has become suspicious of everything. But it also means he currently has no evidence, and indeed, has not recovered his memories."
"He hasn't recovered his memories now, but with Yun Shu's medical skills, she might be searching for various methods to try. She is a divine physician," Princess Ningde said, her lips pressed tightly together, a sense of foreboding growing in her heart.
Li De's brows furrowed. "Even if Prince Jin recovers his memories, so what? He will merely resent us for bringing him from Dongning Kingdom to Xixia Kingdom without his consent. But the ironclad fact is that he is a prince of Xixia Kingdom. With the evidence before him, he can never return to be Prince Ye. He can only be Prince Jin of Xixia Kingdom."
Although the Emperor's face was grave, his eyes were sharp, conveying a confident air of strategizing. "The Great General speaks correctly. What I am eager to see now is how Yun Shu will help him recover his memories. At this point, recovering his memories may not be a bad thing." Everything would become clear, and Zhan Tianye's suspicions and defenses would dissipate, allowing him to truly recognize him as his father.
Princess Ningde saw that both of them were unfazed, even changing their perspectives to anticipate Zhan Tianye's memory recovery, while she feared it. He was already unusually attentive to Yun Shu, and upon seeing her, his eyes only held her, rendering everyone else, including herself, insignificant. Once he recovered his memories, her strenuous efforts would be in vain! Therefore, Princess Ningde lowered her head, her mind racing with countless thoughts. Some things were inevitable and could not be delayed.
...
Whispers were circulating throughout the palace about Prince Jin and the Ye Wangfei. It was said that Prince Jin and the Ye Wangfei from Dongning Kingdom had tea in the palace for a full half hour. Everyone was remarking on the Ye Wangfei's exceptional beauty, suggesting that even Prince Jin could not escape her allure. Furthermore, the three daughters-in-law of the Li family had intentionally or unintentionally let slip that the Ye Wangfei had flirted with their husbands when she was at the General's mansion, stirring their hearts. Consequently, many had formed a preconceived negative impression of Yun Shu, viewing her as a vixen, even before meeting her.
Women who entered the palace with their husbands began to admonish them, offering various warnings and disparaging Yun Shu. Of course, Yun Shu and the others were unaware of these developments in the palace at this time. They only emerged from the palace after the allotted time, when a palace attendant notified them that the banquet had begun. After Zhan Tianye left, they had all rested for a while and fallen asleep. Therefore, when they appeared before everyone, they were radiant and rosy-cheeked. Already possessing outstanding looks, they now appeared even more picturesque, like a group of celestial beings descending from heaven.
In the eyes of the assembled guests, the first to be noticed was the Ye Wangfei, who had already become the subject of much discussion in the palace in a short period. The women's eyes flickered with jealousy and envy.
"She is the Ye Wangfei!"
"I saw her when I entered the palace. I couldn't see her clearly from afar then, but I was already astounded by her beauty. Now, seeing her up close, she is even more breathtaking! She is like a fairy who has stepped out of an ancient painting, so beautiful!"
"She is more beautiful than Princess Shengyue!"
At this moment, a distinct voice cut through the admiration. "Beauty is all well and good, but who knows how sullied she is within."