When Prime Minister Wen saw the face of the person in the room, he froze, even rubbing his eyes in disbelief. "Am I... missing my son so much that I'm hallucinating, seeing my Han'er sitting there?"
"Prime Minister, the person inside looks exactly like Consort Wen, which is why we asked you to identify him," Zhan Tianque whispered, as they had all witnessed Wen Mohan's burial.
Prime Minister Wen pushed open the door and strode up to the man, scrutinizing him closely. He resembled him so much, as if carved from the same mold. Although his demeanor was cold and his gaze unfamiliar, Prime Minister Wen felt that this was his son!
"Han'er?" Prime Minister Wen called out tentatively.
Tianze looked at the elder before him expressionlessly. "I am looking for Xiao Junyan. Where is he?"
The elder took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. His Han'er was dead. He had personally witnessed his burial. It was impossible for him to be alive. This person was not his son, merely a striking resemblance! Su Dan Novel Network
"May I ask your name, sir?"
"Tianze."
"Young Master Tianze, what business do you have with our Emperor?" Prime Minister Wen asked, sitting down opposite him after calming down. He watched Tianze drink tea and speak, every movement identical to his deceased son's!
"You will know when you see him."
"May I ask where you come from?"
Tianze did not answer, gently setting down his teacup. The man behind him immediately stepped forward. "How dare you! My lord has come to see Xiao Junyan, and you, old man, are obstructing us. What is the meaning of this?"
"This is the Blue Moon Empire," Prime Minister Wen said, his expression turning cold as he put away his doubts. "It is improper for you to address our Emperor by his personal name."
"Such a presumptuous cur from a lower realm!" The man stepped forward, about to make a move. The guards, seeing this, drew their swords. Tianze raised a hand to stop his subordinate.
"Our visit is solely for him. Hand him over, and all will be well. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."
Prime Minister Wen was shocked, but he was also certain that the person before him was an enemy, not a friend, and was after the Emperor, his good grandson. This person could not be his son. How could his son possibly attack his own child!
"Who exactly are you?" Prime Minister Wen asked, guarding himself, then tentatively inquired after a moment, "Do you know... Xiao Man?"
Upon hearing the name Xiao Man, the expressions of the men behind Tianze changed drastically. Prime Minister Wen, being astute, could not miss the hostility in their eyes. They knew Xiao Man and harbored animosity towards her!
"Hand over Xiao Junyan, and we will spare your lives!"
At this moment, guards entered in an orderly fashion. Zhan Tianque strode forward, blocking Prime Minister Wen. "Guards, escort the Prime Minister back first."
"General Zhan, Xiao Man is alive! They know Xiao Man's whereabouts! They are here to capture the Emperor," Prime Minister Wen said excitedly. For twenty years, he had believed Xiao Man had perished. He never imagined that twenty years later, they would receive news of Xiao Man!
"We were worried we had the wrong person, but it seems we were right. They are Xiao Man's accomplices!" one of them said bitterly. "Lord Tianze, let's finish this quickly. We need to report back as soon as possible."
Tianze's expression remained calm. "Capture these two."
Zhan Tianque sneered. "Do you think you can capture us? Escort the Prime Minister away first."
Tianze picked up his teacup and continued to drink tea, making no move. Their cultivation was suppressed here, but it was enough to deal with these people.
Ordinary soldiers were easy to handle, but Zhan Tianque was a formidable opponent, capable of contending with someone whose cultivation had been suppressed to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Zhan Tianque never expected the people Tianze brought to be so formidable. "Form the formation!"
Tianze flicked his eyelids, glancing at them. "Teaching a tiger to hunt. Enter through the Kun gate, three steps left, then strike."
Zhan Tianque's eyes widened. Wen Mohan was merely a frail scholar. He would never know how to break formations. This further confirmed that the person before him was not Wen Mohan.
When Xiao Luo arrived, he happened to see guards escorting Prime Minister Wen out. "Uncle, why are you here? Quickly go back to the Emperor's side. These people are here to capture the Emperor. They want to capture the Emperor to threaten the Empress. The Empress is alive!"
Xiao Luo was both shocked and delighted. Shocked that the enemy had come directly for Xiao Junyan, and delighted that Xiao Man was indeed still alive.
"My sister... is my sister truly alive?"
"Of course, she is alive, otherwise, why would they capture the Emperor?" Prime Minister Wen grabbed Xiao Luo. "Don't go inside. General Zhan is fighting them. These people are very powerful. Quickly go back to the Emperor's side."
"Prime Minister, who are these people?"
"I..." Prime Minister Wen stammered, "I don't know who he is. He looks exactly like Mo Han, and even his habits and small gestures are identical. But... but I personally saw Han'er buried..."
"Did General Zhan bring back Wen Mohan?" Xiao Luo was also greatly startled, clearly not expecting the person Zhan Tianque brought back to be Wen Mohan.
"He... he is not my son. If he were truly my son, why would he bring people to capture the Emperor?" Prime Minister Wen shook his head. After a moment, as if making a decision, he said, "Yes, he is not my son. Absolutely not!"
Xiao Junyan, following quietly behind, was also very shocked by the conversation. Wasn't his father already dead? Buried in the imperial mausoleum. How could Uncle Zhan have brought his dead father back? Was he arresting a ghost?
Xiao Junyan was genuinely curious. Just as he was about to sneak into the main hall to see if his father looked exactly like the portrait, several people were flung out of the hall, crashing onto the open ground outside. Zhan Tianque was among them.
Xiao Junyan quickly hid. Wasn't his father a frail scholar, unable to lift anything? How could he have sent Uncle Zhan flying out? Had he turned into a vengeful spirit?
A moment later, several people appeared at the entrance. "Where is Xiao Junyan? Come out now, or we will kill everyone in this palace."
"What a boastful tone, to kill everyone in our palace." Palace guards entered in an orderly fashion, surrounding the group.
Tianze slowly walked out from inside, his demeanor calm and elegant. Xiao Junyan stared at Tianze for a long time and asked the eunuch beside him.
"Is this my father?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Wen passed away long ago."
"That's true. He looks about my age. How could he have a son as old as me?" Xiao Junyan agreed. "Grandpa said they know my mother's whereabouts."
"You rebels! Trespassing into the imperial palace and acting with such impunity, you shall be executed without mercy."
"You are no match for us. My only target is Xiao Junyan. Hand over Xiao Junyan, and we do not wish to kill innocents."
"You want to capture our Emperor and then ask us to hand him over? Are you joking?" Zhan Tianque wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "You're dreaming!"