Chapter 524 - Chapter 524: Is He Dumb? (1)
Chapter 524: Is He Dumb? (1)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Your, your, your majesty, could this be a mistake?” Xie Heng looked dismayed. He pretended to be in disbelief as he said, “l grew up with my brother since I was young. I’ve never heard our parents say that Junjun isn’t their real son. There are a lot of people who look alike in his world. So this could be a misunderstanding.”
“This isn’t a misunderstanding.”
“Your majesty, the royal bloodline has no room for errors. So please be cautious about this. I don’t want my brother to be used by someone with malicious intent to defraud you, your majesty.”
Xie Heng kneeled on the floor and lowered his head to the ground. He appeared to be adamant that this wasn’t possible.
Xie Heng didn’t look like he was acting. His reaction wasn’t one of joy when he learned about Xie Jun’s real identity. Instead, he simply looked nervous and anxious. He clearly hoped that Xie Jun wasn’t part of the royal family.
It seemed that Xie Hengs love for Xie Jun wasn’t an act.
If someone else had learned that their brother was part of the royal family, they would’ve been thrilled and started thinking about what they could get out of all this.
“Isn’t it good that Xie Jun is a prince?” asked the emperor.
Xie Heng answered, “My parents died a long time ago. He is my only family.
This could all be a trap set up by someone trying to frame him and make him a criminal for trying to defile the royal bloodline. 1 cannot take responsibility for this, and I wouldn’t be able to face my parents, who are watching me from above. I sincerely hope that you can investigate this thoroughly, your majesty.”
“Get up. I’ve already done that. Your parents probably didn’t tell you because they didn’t want to get into trouble. Xie Heng, I know you’ve cared for my ninth son for many years. I will remember what you’ve done.”
“Please, your majesty, investigate this thoroughly. My brother is definitely not a prince.” Xie Heng continued to insist.
The emperor felt rather speechless.
Is this young man actually dumb?
He heard that he’s pretty intelligent. Why is he so stubborn when it comes to this?
Is it not a good thing that Xie Jun is a prince?
Why is he so scared?
The emperor couldn’t help but wonder.
But Xie Hengs reaction convinced the emperor that he genuinely cared for Xie Jun as a brother.
Otherwise, the emperor would immediately execute Xie Heng, lest he try to use Xie Jun.
After all, Xie Heng said that the two of them grew up together. As a result, their relationship was stronger than most.
“Xie Heng, I order you to get up,” said the emperor. “l have already investigated this thoroughly. Xie Jun is my ninth son who went missing years ago. He’s not your brother.”
Xie Heng stood up. He looked so upset and depressed, and the emperor couldn’t spot any semblance of joy on his face.
“Why? Are you not happy that he’s my son?”
“l wouldn’t dare. I’ve never imagined that something like this would happen.” “Enough. You can leave now. 1 will reward you later.”
“No need for that, your majesty. I don’t need any rewards. But if we find out that Junjun isn’t a prince, I hope you will spare his life, your majesty. He is innocent.”
The emperor was furious.
Xie Heng kneeled down again.
“Never mind, stand aside and stop talking. I feel angry just looking at you.” The emperor shook his head and said, “Tell Xie Jun to come in.”
Xie Heng stood at the side, looking rather upset. It seemed like no one could do anything to cheer him up at that point.
The eunuch went out and invited Xie Jun into the room.
Xie Jun held Zhao Chuchu’s hand and refused to let go.
“Please go inside. Don’t keep the emperor waiting,” the eunuch said.
“Sis, can you go inside with me, please?” Xie Jun looked at Zhao Chuchu and said, “I’m scared. Brother didn’t come out. Something bad happened to him.” “The emperor is inside. Nothings going to happen to him. So go in. I’ll be waiting for you right here. Don’t worry. The emperor won’t eat you. He’s quite kind, actually,” Zhao Chuchu said softly. “If you don’t go in now, the emperor might get angry, and your brother would be in a dangerous spot.”
Xie Jun immediately let go of her hand and entered the room.
Zhao Chuchu looked at Xie Jun’s back. She was reluctant to let him go as well.
No one could dislike a kid who was as obedient as Xie Jun.
She was no different.
After Xie Jun returned to his real family, it would probably become very difficult for her to see him again.
The moment Xie Jun stepped into the room, the emperor stared at him without moving his eyes. The more he looked at Xie Jun, the more he felt like this boy resembled him.
Xie Jun cautiously looked up to sneak a glance at the emperor. He happened to meet eyes with the emperor, which scared him and made him look back down. He kneeled and said, “Your, your majesty, please let my brother go.”
The emperor was speechless.
He didn’t do anything to Xie Heng. So vvhy was his son acting like he would kill Xie Heng?
“Get up first. I wasn’t planning to do anything to him,” the emperor said helplessly. He felt somewhat guilty toward Xie Jun.
The emperor walked out from behind the table and came to Xie Jun.
He reached out and rubbed Xie Jun’s head as he said, “My ninth son, I’m sorry for what you’ve been through all these years.”
“Your majesty.” Xie Jun kneeled down and said, “This must be a mistake.”
“This isn’t a mistake. You are the real ninth prince. Do you know how much you resemble your third brother when he was young? The moment I saw you, I knew that you were my son. Are you blaming me for not taking care of you back then?”
Xie Jun didn’t dare to say anything.
Although he already knew about this, when this day really came, Xie Jun didn’t want to believe that it was real.
He preferred to live with his bro and sis. He preferred to be by their side, waiting for his sis to give birth to a little nephew for him.
The royal family… he had never thought about a life like this.
Xie Jun’s silence made the emperor think that he was scared.
“Xie Heng, go outside first. There’s something that I want to talk to him about.’
“Yes, your majesty.”
Xie Heng looked at Xie Jun worriedly, then left the room. He looked very helpless.
The emperor’s mother, who was sitting behind the screen, walked out.
When she saw Xie Jun, her eyes started to turn red. “This is definitely your ninth son. He looks exactly like Yanyan when he was young. Thank God we finally found him. Good boy, please stand up. We are all your family; don’t be scared.’
Xie Jun glanced at the emperor’s mother and immediately retracted his gaze. His cautious behavior made the emperor’s mother feel very sympathetic, which prompted her to pull Xie Jun into her embrace as she started crying. Xie Jun’s body tensed up completely. Then, a while later, he tried to pat her back and said, “Please, please don’t cry. I’m not good at consoling old people.”
The emperor’s mother laughed.
It’s been a while since she’s seen a child who was so pure and innocent.
Every one of her grandsons tried their best to say whatever she liked to hear.
No one was nearly as genuine as Xie Jun.
“Good boy, there’s no need to be scared. He is your father, and I am your grandmother. We will protect you so you don’t have to suffer in poverty and live such a treacherous life.’
“I’m not living a treacherous life. My brother cares a lot about me. Other than the illness previously, I’ve never suffered from anything. My brother would rather starve than let me go hungry. You don’t know this, but he is the best brother in the world.’
Xie Jun tried to speak out for Xie Heng softly.
Of course, the emperor’s mother knew why Xie Jun was ill.
It was the same as Xie Yan. They were born with poison in their blood.
It’s just that Xie Jun was a lot luckier than Xie Yan. He had met Zhao Chuchu, who managed to neutralize the poison.
But Xie Yan… The emperor’s mother couldn’t help but feel heavy about this.
This was all the emperor’s fault. But the emperor is her son. So how could she blame him for it?
All she could do was find out who poisoned their mother and punish him to seek revenge for Xie Yan and Xie Jun..