Hearing Lin Qingge’s question, the delicate Princess Changle was stunned in place.
“My lord, how…how did you find out?”
“Although your disguise was lifelike, the traces of your performance were too obvious.
Your hands and feet were large, and your hips were slightly wide.
The most crucial thing was that the padding in your chest was too big.”
Lin Qingge’s voice carried a hint of gritted teeth as she spoke the last sentence.
“Really?”
The one impersonating Princess Changle reached into their robes, pulled out two buns, and muttered softly,
“You call this big?
I specifically found the smallest buns I could.
If I went any smaller, I’d have to use small steamed dumplings…”
Hearing that familiar voice, Lin Qingge narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Are you, Lu Mingxuan?”
“My lord is amazing, to recognize me from this!”
“What’s going on?”
“My lord, I was merely following Master Hua’s orders.
As for this makeup, it was done by Eunuch Cai, brought by Prime Minister Feng.”
Seeing his lord’s displeased expression, Lu Mingxuan used the excuse of removing his makeup and changing clothes to slip away.
Immediately after, the new Emperor and Empress also arrived at the Longevity Palace.
Following them were two Prime Ministers.
Lin Qingge and the new Emperor exchanged a glance and proceeded into the main hall of the Longevity Palace. One sat in the main seat and dismissed all the attending servants, while the other silently closed the hall doors.
The two, in rare alliance, cast unfriendly gazes at the two Prime Ministers standing in the center of the hall.
“You two, speak.”
Lin Qingge crossed her arms, a half-smile playing on her lips, but her tone was as cold as if she were interrogating a criminal.
“My lord, you are angry with your student~
But your student was also forced to do this~
My lord, you don’t know, but your student only received the news just before the banquet was about to begin~”
The string of melodious tones sent goosebumps all over Lin Qingge’s body. She rubbed her arms and said with a forced smile,
“Tsk, you are the Tenth Prince and the Right Prime Minister, yet you address yourself as ‘student’. Truly, you flatter this official too much.”
However, Hua Jinrong dismissively fanned himself, “My lord, as your student has said, no matter my status, you will always be my lord~”
“I dare not accept such a title. This official’s skin is not thick enough to be the lord of a reigning prince and prime minister.”
“My lord, you jest~
When my lord can make the Crown Prince call you father and the Empress call you husband, what’s wrong with your student calling you lord?”
After Hua Jinrong finished speaking with a sly grin, he received, as expected, three pairs of glares.
As if completely oblivious, Hua Jinrong feigned a pouting sound, “Ah~”
“Oh right, if we’re being strict about it, this is all your fault, my lord~”
“My fault?”
“Yes, my lord~
If it weren’t for your friend Xie Lingyun, a military advisor from the Hanlin Academy, finding Feng Si before the banquet began and truthfully informing him of a plan overheard concerning General Xu.
Feng Si wouldn’t have conspired with me, planning such a brilliant show.
But I must say, my lord, you are quite the troublemaker.
It’s been so long since you graduated from the Hanlin Academy, yet Xie, the military advisor, still can’t forget about you. Truly a sin, a sin~”
“If you can’t speak properly, then shut that babbling mouth of yours.
Also, it was my elder brother who studied at the Hanlin Academy, not me!”
Lin Qingge said this while glaring fiercely at Hua Jinrong, but inwardly she was somewhat surprised.
She hadn’t expected Xie Lingyun, who seemed difficult to get along with as a military advisor in the garrison, to actually be such a helpful and warm-hearted person?
“Although my lord possesses a jade pendant representing the former Emperor’s personal visit, even if the cross-dressing was exposed on the spot, there would be no danger to life. However, it ultimately emboldened their arrogance.
Therefore, your student found Lu Mingxuan, who resembles my lord in build and knows my lord’s every move intimately.
And had Eunuch Cai disguise him as my lord, to help my lord prove his innocence.
This way, even if my lord walks with his wife while dressed as a man, you won’t be afraid of people seeing and gossiping~”
“What, do you expect me to thank you?”
“My lord, there’s no need to be so polite~
Given my lord’s relationship with your student, such a small matter is nothing to mention~”
Hua Jinrong said, his eyebrows raised, only to be met with Lin Qingge’s undisguised eye-roll.
“According to Master Hua’s explanation, finding someone to impersonate me was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Then, was the call for all the civil and military officials to donate to the disaster areas, issued through my mouth, a well-planned scheme?”
“My lord, initiating a donation drive is a good deed that accumulates merit. How can it be called a well-planned scheme~
And although the news of the flood arrived a bit earlier than the message sent by Military Advisor Xie, it was only received today.
Your student originally intended to find a few corrupt officials, seize their homes on some pretext, and use the confiscated assets for disaster relief.
But Feng Si absolutely refused, so I had to trouble my lord for this small favor~”
It was unclear which word in Hua Jinrong’s statement struck a nerve with Feng Qingchen, as the latter put her hands on her hips and adopted a shrewish demeanor.
“What do you mean, this Prime Minister Feng refused outright?
Rong San, you are a prince, can’t you use your brain before acting?
As soon as His Majesty ascended the throne, he forced Prime Minister Shangguan into retirement, causing widespread unease.
If there’s a large-scale confiscation of property, who would dare to stay in the capital?
They’d all follow Prime Minister Shangguan’s example and retire!
Or, do you think this Prime Minister can handle all their work alone?”
“It’s not entirely impossible…”
“Rong San, what did you say?!”
“I said, it is absolutely impossible!
Yes, absolutely impossible~”
Watching the two clowns before him, the new Emperor rubbed his throbbing temples, doubting whether the empire’s foundation could be maintained in his generation with these two as Prime Ministers.
“Although the matter of soliciting donations for disaster relief was somewhat fortuitous, the outcome was ultimately good, even exceeding expectations.
In this regard, Lord Lin has made an indispensable contribution.”
Upon hearing the new Emperor’s words, Lin Qingge’s spirits immediately lifted. Rubbing her small hands, she said with a fawning smile,
“Your Majesty, are you intending to reward this minister?
This minister is easily appeased. As long as Your Majesty transfers the Jubaozhai to this minister’s name!”
The Emperor’s mouth twitched violently. Too lazy to bother with the person, the Emperor turned his gaze back to the two Prime Ministers.
“Although now is not the best time to announce Mo’er’s identity, the die is cast.
Tomorrow’s court session will likely have voices questioning Mo’er’s identity, so you two must prepare yourselves.
Furthermore, Mo’er’s safety is also extremely important.
If possible, the Empress should stay with Mo’er in the Longevity Palace recently.”
Leng Ningyue did not reply. Seeing this, the new Emperor shifted the topic.
“Oh, right. I possess a document personally written by the late Emperor.
The document clearly records Mo’er’s birth date and birthmark characteristics, as well as the detailed reasons and process for entrusting him to Lord Lin’s care. kuAiδugg
This document should be sufficient to prove Mo’er’s identity.”