Chapter 54: Exposed

Chapter 54: Exposed

The sight of her sister-in-law's uniquely beautiful and highly recognizable face made Lu Zhaoping's heart sink.

How could such a coincidence occur? She was merely acting out of love for her people, taking the initiative to maintain the capital's security, only to accidentally knock out her brother's pregnant wife...

What made matters more complicated was that her suggestive comments had partially unraveled the disguise her brother had painstakingly maintained for months. Should her sister-in-law sober up and ponder the situation, she might notice the myriad coincidences and loopholes, thus uncovering her brother's true identity.

As twins, Lu Zhaoping and her brother shared a deep connection. The emperor, going to great lengths to conceal his identity from his beloved, surely had his reasons!

Perhaps her sister-in-law was like those virtuous characters in stories, who despise engaging in romance with the likes of her brother, Nan Chu's most powerful figure!

The more Lu Zhaoping thought about it, the more she realized the magnitude of her mistake. Yet, she still hoped, reaching out to check the sleeping beauty's pulse...

...The pulse was steady, undeniably that of a pregnancy pulse.

There couldn't be many men in the world who could get pregnant and resemble her sister-in-law so closely.

Princess Zhao Yun's last shred of hope vanished like a burst bubble.

Seeing the princess's worsening complexion, an attentive guard inquired: "Your Highness, should we dispose of this offender who dared to affront you now?"

Lu Zhaoping, hearing this aggravating suggestion, shook her head vehemently. What a joke! That was her sister-in-law, carrying her brother's child! To "dispose" would mean killing two lives, plus condemning her deeply loyal brother to a lifetime of loneliness. Merely the thought was terrifying.

After halting the guard's dangerous suggestion, Lu Zhaoping pondered and began advocating for her "family member" in a way ordinary people could understand:

"I recognize this person and know he is not the type to kill innocents rashly. Moreover, his beautiful appearance and Zhang San's evasiveness suggest there's more to the murder. Likely, Zhang San and his accomplice harbored ill intentions towards him, leading to their death in self-defense."

Pausing, she suddenly looked up seriously at her shocked young guard: "According to our new laws, what is the punishment for accidentally harming someone in self-defense?"

The guard, catching on to the princess's intention, promptly replied: "Per the new laws mentioned by His Majesty and Prime Minister Ji, such cases are deemed not guilty."

Lu Zhaoping nodded in satisfaction: "Exactly! Since there's no guilt, you can't treat him as a criminal anymore. He should be immediately taken to the princess's mansion for proper care."

Her actions flowed seamlessly, astonishing the young guard with her decisiveness. Could the princess have taken a fancy to this handsome young man, intending to hide him away as a secret treasure?

The guard looked at the stunningly beautiful young man lying unconscious on the ground, then thought of the always virtuous and dignified Prime Minister Ji, feeling a deep sympathy for the high-ranking official.

Indeed, the old waves are pushed by the new waves, and one generation replaces the previous...

……

When Xie Xuan woke up again, he found himself far from the dim Drawing Spring Pavilion, in a room with finely carved beams and bright daylight filtering through curtains. Such meticulousness indicated it wasn't just any ordinary household...

However, that wasn't the main issue. What truly unsettled Xie Xuan was seeing the woman he had kidnapped in the pavilion sitting by the bed, smiling at him with a face that resembled Lu Gui Fei's to an unsettling degree.

Lu Gui Fei's face was beautiful, but on someone else, it just felt wrong to Xie Xuan.

If his Lu Gui Fei's smile was warm and inviting like a spring breeze, this "replica" seemed cunning and scheming.

Xie Xuan felt uneasy under her gaze and defensively rolled to the side of the bed, gruffly asking, "Who exactly are you?"

Hearing his blunt question, the replica Lu Gui Fei, still smiling, replied with dignity, "My name is Lu Zhaoping, and the current emperor is my brother."

Although Xie Xuan had suspected as much, hearing it directly still changed his expression—not just because of his fear of the opportunistic Emperor of Nan Chu but also because of what this Princess Zhao Yun had mentioned before fainting...

She had mentioned having a twin brother who sometimes impersonates her!

With Lu Zhaoping and Lu Gui Fei already so strikingly similar, what then would Emperor Lu Changping of Nan Chu look like?

Xie Xuan internally panicked. He had his suspicions about "Lu Gui Fei's" true identity but now hesitated to continue down that line of thought...

After a moment of silence, he smirked carelessly, asking nonchalantly, "So? What does the esteemed Princess of Nan Chu seek by finding me personally?"

Lu Zhaoping's candid self-introduction aimed to forge a good relationship with her sister-in-law and also to probe how much Xie Xuan knew about her brother.

Seeing the fragile beauty on the bed not only remain calm but also willingly take a sip of tea, Lu Zhaoping realized he had not yet fully uncovered her brother's true identity.

At that moment, Xie Xuan was also weighing how to extract more useful information from the Princess of Nan Chu.

For a time, both parties sat in silence, each harboring their own thoughts, until Lu Zhaoping broke the silence, attempting to probe with near casualness: "Judging by your accent, you're not from Nan Chu, are you? I still don't know your name."

Having just swallowed the last sip of cold tea, Xie Xuan responded dismissively after a brief glance at her: "Xie Yan. From Bei Wei."

"So, you're Master Xie," the premier beauty of Nan Chu smiled charmingly, then steered the conversation to her point: "The person you're looking for must resemble me closely, right?"

Xie Xuan was momentarily dazzled by her Lu Gui Fei-like smile, but remembering Lu Gui Fei's abandonment over the past half-month, he couldn't help but retort: "Similar in appearance, perhaps, but merely of ordinary beauty."

His words were tantamount to a severe provocation against the aesthetic standards of the entire nation of Nan Chu. The palace maids in the room glared at the impudent man.

Yet, Lu Zhaoping seemed unfazed, leaning in to probe further: "Then... have you ever met my imperial brother?"

For the tyrant, this was not an easy question to answer. He had indeed encountered the Emperor of Nan Chu several times but only heard his voice, touched his face, and even eaten his cooking...

In truth, he had never seen Emperor Lu Changping of Nan Chu's face.

If asked about his impression of the Emperor of Nan Chu from their interactions, it would be that he is shamelessly lascivious, a fact Xie Xuan found hard to reconcile with the pure and noble Lu Gui Fei being the same person.

Seeing the handsome young man named "Xie Yan" furrow his brow in silence, Lu Zhaoping also felt uncertain, curious and nervous, wishing she could interrogate her brother about his unspeakable deeds behind the little sister-in-law's back.

After a long pause, the tyrant begrudgingly admitted, "He's not a good man." An unexpectedly frank answer, Lu Zhaoping silently shed tears for her brother's precarious image in her sister-in-law's eyes: "You're mistaken, Master Xie. While my brother may not always be conventional, he has his merits."

She began listing his good points: "For instance, he looks truly stunning in women's attire. Believe it or not, when he disguised himself as me to meet with your tyrant from Bei Wei for the marriage alliance, I even discreetly asked our envoy Cui Yue about it afterward. I heard that tyrant was so enchanted by my brother's beauty in drag that he wanted to make him his empress, haha..."

Lu Zhaoping, not considering the little sister-in-law a stranger, laughed heartily, slapping the table, unaware her brother-in-law's face was turning from white to red to green.

Xie Xuan suppressed his fury, his voice tinged with icy coldness: "Is it that funny?"

Lu Zhaoping then remembered her sister-in-law was from Bei Wei, also surnamed Xie, likely related to the tyrant. Laughing at one's relatives indeed seemed impolite.

Regaining her composure, she reassured with a serious tone: "Don't worry, this matter is known only to the heavens and us. Even if that tyrant from Bei Wei is audacious, he definitely can't reach Nan Chu's Princess Mansion."

"Is that so?" Xie Xuan responded noncommittally, then, amused by some thought, smiled charmingly, "Then continue, what other merits does your brother have?"

Seeing her previously uninterested sister-in-law suddenly showing encouragement, Lu Zhaoping's spirits lifted even more:

"Besides beauty, there's also talent! My imperial brother excels in both letters and martial arts, versatile in many skills. He can compose thousands of words in literary essays and lead troops into battle to slay enemies. Unlike those in the capital who only know petty tricks, his spear technique is founded on basics honed from childhood."

The tyrant casually agreed, "Oh? He's also skilled with a spear?"

Zhao Ping treated the conversation as casual chat to bond with her sister-in-law, completely unaware she had laid bare her brother's prowess without reservation. She nodded seriously, stating:

"Of course! From a young age, my brother disdained those who casually claim mastery of martial arts after swinging a sword a few times, thus he chose spear technique, which demands both physical strength and skill. Our father also supported this, even going so far as to invite a renowned master into the palace for lessons."

Xie Xuan Yuan listened with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, then couldn't help but recall the scene of Lady Lu wielding a spear to discipline the Princess of Changle. He had been worried about Lady Lu being bullied back then, but now it seemed more like Lady Lu was the one spoiling for power and bullying others.

The thought of Lady Lu, strong and robust yet often playing the role of a delicate flower in front of others, involuntarily clenched his fist.

Zhao Ping praised her brother's literary and military strategies before circling back to her main point:

"It is said in stories that precious treasures are easy to find, but a devoted lover is rare. The greatest virtue of my brother is his unwavering loyalty and affection. Despite his good looks, he never flirts outside the palace, and at his age, he has yet to marry or take concubines. Whoever wins my brother's heart truly has fortune built over many lifetimes."

Xie Xuan Yuan couldn't help but scoff, "After all is said and done, he's just an old bachelor."

Zhao Ping thought she had been making progress in persuading her sister-in-law, but was caught off guard by the term "old bachelor," inadvertently including herself, who shares the same birthdate as the Emperor. She couldn't help but raise her voice in retort, "Who are you calling old?"

The tyrant, already harboring resentment towards Lady Lu and her brother, stood his ground, "I hear the Emperor of Southern Chu is already twenty-three. At this age, still unmarried, isn't he considered an old bachelor left behind?"

Zhao Ping's cheeks flushed with heat as she defiantly countered, "May I ask how old Mister Xie is this year?"

Xie Xuan Yuan was unflinching, "I'm three years younger than your brother, and already married." He almost subconsciously touched his stomach through his clothes after speaking. Though currently married, what the future held was uncertain...

Zhao Ping was genuinely shocked by her sister-in-law's true age, causing her earlier anger to dissipate significantly. Considering her sister-in-law's youth, she felt it was unreasonable to hold a grudge.

It turns out, both siblings have unconventional tastes. The brother married someone three years his junior, while the sister chose a husband five years their senior.

While Zhao Ping was still trying to untangle this confusing web of ages, Xie Xuan Yuan had already taken out the jade amulet given to him by Lady Lu from his close-fitting pocket.

He carefully wrapped the amulet's red cord around his fingers, presenting it just under Zhao Ping's eyes: “Do you recognize this?”

Upon seeing the "peace" character on the amulet, Zhao Ping instinctively reached out for it. However, Xie Xuan Yuan, cherishing the amulet greatly, quickly withdrew it as soon as she attempted to touch it.

Uncertain, Zhao Ping discreetly pressed her chest through her clothing. Only after feeling the familiar hardness beneath layers of fabric did she truly relax.

Thankfully, her own amulet was safe. Thus, the one in Xie Yan's possession must indeed come from the Emperor himself.

Her brother’s affection for his wife extended to giving away his personal life-preserving jade amulet.

Despite recognizing the familiar item, Zhao Ping hesitated before vaguely responding, “Not very familiar…”

She had no intention of being the one to strip her brother of his disguise.

Her role was merely to praise her brother in front of her sister-in-law, fostering understanding between them. As for revealing the truth... that was better left to her brother.

Xie Xuan Yuan noticed Zhao Ping's subtle reactions and did not miss her slightly guilty demeanor as she answered. He asked with a sneer, “Is that so?”

As Zhao Ping felt the grip of being caught tighten, uncertain of how to deflect, she suddenly heard a messenger outside: “Princess Zhao Ping, the Grand Secretary Ji has arrived at the entrance, insisting on an urgent matter that requires your attention.”

Hearing this, Zhao Ping's anxiety spiked. She hurried out of the room, whispering to the servant who had come to report, “Did the Grand Secretary mention what the emergency was?”

The maid looked around cautiously, then showed a troubled expression. She leaned closer to the princess, lowering her voice as much as possible, "Your Highness, who in the capital does not know what Hui Chun Tower is? The matter of you bringing someone back from Hui Chun Tower yesterday has already spread throughout the capital... It's no wonder Secretary Ji couldn't sit still after hearing about it."

Lu ZhaoPing felt indescribably troubled upon hearing this. Brother Ji claimed he had urgent matters, but it was clear he came to catch them in the act!

Just as she resolved to explain everything to Brother Ji later, the maid cautiously added another piece of information:

"Your Highness, the issue with Secretary Ji is not the most pressing... This morning, some court officials have already informed His Majesty about the incident. It's said that His Majesty was shocked upon hearing this and mentioned he would personally visit to see the situation..."

The author has something to say:

I'm sorry for the late update on this chapter as well. I've been busy with real-world matters recently, and couldn't sort out my thoughts over the weekend, so I had to finish writing on Tuesday night and publish it then.