Chapter 252: The Identification Scene

Chapter 252: The Identification Scene

"They really do look exactly alike."

The Crown Princess, examining the portrait, was astounded.

The Crown Prince, reluctant to scrutinize Lin Yun Wan openly, glanced at the painting and nodded.

Dowager Lady Lu, half-mad, half-coherent, murmured, "Yun Wan... Yun Wan..."

Qi Ling Heng frowned, "Such noise."

The Crown Princess then ordered, "Someone, please escort Dowager Lady Lu out."

And so, Dowager Lady Lu was escorted out first.

With things having reached this point, Ge Baor couldn't possibly allow Lin Yunwan even a sliver of a chance!

She knelt upright, speaking excitedly, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Princess, there is another witness in our mansion."

The Crown Prince spoke unhurriedly, "Bring them forth."

His strength seemed to wane even as he spoke, coughing with each word uttered.

Zhu Qing entered, accompanied by her daughter, Mu'er.

Today, she had dressed up specially; since becoming a mother, she had long stopped wearing the green dresses of her youth, but today she wore one again.

Her figure had changed over the years, but fortunately, the dress still fit.

Ge Baor turned and addressed Zhu Qing, "Haven't you always wanted to see our mistress? How many years have you longed for her? Won't you come and kowtow to her?"

Zhu Qing raised her head, looking towards Lin Yunwan.

Her eyes widened in shock, clutching Mu'er tightly, she suddenly choked up.

"Grandma..."

With tears blurring her vision, she stood dazed, not even knowing how to move forward.

Ge Baor was extremely pleased with herself.

She knew it; Zhu Qing couldn't resist! She didn't believe that Lin Yunwan could remain unaffected upon seeing these people.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Princess!"

With a head full of accusations and in front of a room full of witnesses, Ge Baor didn't even know where to begin.

The Crown Princess said to Zhu Qing, "Come forward."

Zhu Qing, coming back to her senses, walked forward with her head lowered and knelt down, saying, "I pay my respects to you, nobles."

Mu Er also knelt down beside her mother.

Lin Yun Wan, looking at the little girl's soft and pale cheeks, felt a sudden softness in her heart.

Such an adorable little girl, mostly resembling Zhu Qing, but also a bit...

She actually looked a bit like her.

The Crown Prince subconsciously touched his thumb, but his ring had already been given to Qi Zai Jun, leaving his finger bare.

He asked Zhu Qing, "Do you recognize Prince Huan's consort?"

Zhu Qing glanced at Lin Yun Wan again, shook her head, and said quietly, "I don't recognize her."

Ge Bao'er glared at her, "You're lying! If you don't recognize her, why did you look at Prince Huan's consort like that?"

Zhu Qing retorted with a glare, "My grandmother is fortunate to resemble Prince Huan's consort. But in this vast world, aren't there many who look alike? I was startled remembering my former mistress, is that not allowed?"

Lin Yun Wan smiled inwardly.

This Zhu Qing, still as articulate as ever.

Her argument was logical and well-founded.

Zhu Qing had even adopted a brazen approach, lowering her head and firmly saying, "I don’t recognize her! Even if the Emperor himself came, I would not tell a lie! Auntie Ge, you might be domineering at home, but this is the Crown Prince's residence, and I'm not afraid of you!"

It was as if Ge Bao'er was causing a scene for no reason.

"You!"

Ge Bao'er was infuriated, unable to come up with a reasonable counterargument.

Seizing the moment, Zhu Qing kowtowed to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, "Your Highnesses, please discern the truth. Auntie Ge and I have always been at odds. She wants to harm me!"

The Crown Prince, observing the gestures and expressions of the Lu family members, reminded Zhu Qing with a smile, "Your master is right here."

This matter was more than just a dispute between two concubines.

If she were smart, she wouldn't dare offend her master.

Zhu Qing's shoulders trembled, and she remained prostrate on the ground, silent.

She was stubbornly sticking to her story.

Not recognizing means not recognizing!

Qi Ling Heng spoke indifferently, "Is the Crown Prince inquiring or intending to interrogate?"

The Crown Prince replied, "Seventh brother, calm yourself. I was merely asking an additional question, nothing more."

Qi Ling Heng snorted softly.

Lin Yun Wan spoke calmly, "Are there no other witnesses or evidence?"

Ge Bao'er and Lu Zhengliu remained silent.

Hearing the silence in the hall, Zhu Qing spoke with a trembling voice, "...Your Highness, the eldest young master of the Lu family also brought two witnesses. They might help clarify the situation."

Ge Bao'er exclaimed in surprise, "What?"

She hadn't arranged for Lu Changgong to come!

He was a hot potato, a thorn not to be touched or handled!

Qi Ling Heng said, "Since they are here, let them come in. Let this prince witness once and for all," he chuckled lightly, "the capabilities of your Marquis of Wuding's household."

Lu Changgong arrived.

This year's young successful examination candidate, tall and handsome, entered with a gentle stride, exuding a scholarly aura.

Who could tell that he was once just a poor, inconspicuous boy from a distant branch of the Lu family?

"Your name?"

The young man's elegance impressed even the Crown Prince.

Lu Changgong, neither humble nor arrogant, stepped forward, never glancing at Lin Yun Wan.

He bowed deeply, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, I am Lu Changgong."

"Your courtesy name?"

"I have yet to choose one."

The Crown Prince pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you recognize Prince Huan's consort?"

Lu Changgong, as if fearing to offend, looked down and said, "As a humble student, I dare not disrespect a noble person. Two senior maids who accompanied my mother in the past are with me today. I brought them here to help identify her."

More people coming?

The Crown Prince smiled, "Your Lu family is like a gourd vine. Let them all come."

The two maids, Ping Ye and Tao Ye, entered together, their hair done in women's buns, wearing knee-length robes, with silver hairpins securing their hair.

After bowing, they glanced at Lin Yun Wan.

One wept profusely, while the other bit her lip, refusing to shed a tear.

The Crown Princess couldn't help but remark, "It seems my sister-in-law does bear a striking resemblance to that legitimate daughter of the Lin family."

With so many old acquaintances present, not one could hold back their emotions.

Lin Yun Wan, composed as ever, softly asked the two maids, "Do you recognize me as the Princess Consort?"

Ping Ye shook her head desperately, clutching the hem of her robe, "I do not recognize you!"

Tao Ye's voice was calm and gentle, "I also do not recognize her. Although she resembles our young lady, she is certainly not her."

The Crown Prince curiously asked, "How can you be so sure?"

Tao Ye replied, "Just as a mother knows her child, I know my mistress. It's not her."

Her assertion was firm.

Lu Changgong added, "Your Highness, there are other servants in the Marquis of Wuding's household. If further questioning is needed, perhaps we should ask the older ones who have been there for decades."

The Crown Prince chuckled.

Can the truth even be discerned at this point?

One after another, they all claimed not to recognize her.

Qi Ling Heng, growing impatient, coldly asked, "Is there anyone else?"

The Crown Prince looked at Lu Zhengliu and Ge Bao'er.

Lu Zhengliu had no response; he hadn't expected Lu Changgong and the two maids to deny recognizing Lin Yun Wan. It was outright falsehood!

Ge Bao'er, anxious, disregarded propriety, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, the biological sister of Prince Huan's consort, another legitimate daughter of the Jiang and Lin families, personally testified that the Princess Consort's identity is questionable!"

Lin Yun Wan furrowed her brows.

She seemed to be getting nervous.

The Crown Princess withdrew her gaze and gently asked Ge Bao'er, "Do you have such evidence?"

"...No."

Ge Bao'er said, "Your Highness the Crown Princess, the younger Miss Lin of the Lin family herself told me that the Princess Consort is not her biological sister! But she only told me this in secret..."

Qi Ling Heng scoffed, "Is that so?"

He signaled Ah Fu with a glance, and Lin Yun Jiao entered.

Upon entering, Lin Yun Jiao addressed Ge Bao'er, "I never said that! You're slandering me."

Lin Yun Wan couldn't help but glance at Qi Ling Heng.

Had he arranged for her to come?

Lin Yun Jiao paid her respects, then said, "My husband has no intention of leveraging my sister and brother-in-law's status. Since our arrival in the capital, we haven’t disturbed Prince Huan's residence. Yet, some have construed this as a rift between sisters."

"What nonsense is this!"

"Prince Huan's consort is indeed my biological sister! Though she was born before me, I certainly recognize my own sister."

"Your Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, please see through the malicious intentions of the Lu family's aunt!"