strictlysupreme Chapter 232 Examination
Chapter 232 Examination
The eunuch led the other sixteen members of the Xiao family back to the palace to report. Xiao Chengyan, who was mixed in with the crowd, curled up a wicked smile.
Last night, he sent men to lure Xiao Zhijie out and tie him up in a dilapidated temple in the suburbs, which is why they couldn't find him anywhere.
He also learned by bribing people in the palace that the emperor was preparing to examine the birthmark, so he was naturally prepared.
Last night, he had someone strip Xiao Zhijie naked to get a clear look, and indeed there was a birthmark. So he had someone make a copy, and then he drew it on himself last night.
If he goes to the palace today, he won't have to do anything. He just needs to wait to be inspected, and he can easily obtain everything.
The carriage soon entered the palace, where everyone waited in the Emperor's Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The descendants of the Xiao family were all confused and unsure whether this trip to the palace would bring them good fortune or misfortune.
Xiao Qiaoen, the eldest son of the third branch of the family, was somewhat frightened. However, seeing that among the crowd only Xiao Chengyan appeared relaxed and even happy, he couldn't help but step forward and say...
"Second Brother, we are all so scared, but you don't seem scared at all. Do you know what the Emperor is planning to do?"
Xiao Chengyan glanced at the crowd with a nonchalant smirk. Indeed, everyone looked tense and frightened. He adopted the demeanor of an elder brother.
"What's there to be afraid of? Our Xiao family has always been loyal subjects, and the Emperor knows this. We will be fine. The Emperor probably just summoned us for questioning."
Xiao Mingliang, the illegitimate son of the fourth branch of the family, stamped his feet in protest.
"Second Brother, don't you see what kind of situation we're in? The Crown Prince, the Empress, and the Imperial Concubine have all run into trouble. Summoning us to the palace at this time can't possibly be anything good!"
After saying this, his brows furrowed deeply, and his body trembled slightly.
Just as everyone was speculating, Li Pu stepped forward and reprimanded them.
"What's all the noise about? Hurry up and come in, the Emperor is here."
The people outside the hall straightened their clothes and nervously stepped into the hall.
The palace was filled with a chill. The emperor, dressed in a dragon robe, sat upright at the top, exuding an aura of majesty that made people afraid to look him in the eye.
All the disciples knelt down and kowtowed in respect.
The emperor slowly waved his hand, while Li Pu called out from the side,
"Get up."
The crowd slowly stood up and lined up in a row. A few of the more timid ones were still trembling.
At this moment, the Emperor slowly spoke,
"Raise your heads, everyone."
Everyone looked up, and the Emperor scanned them one by one, trying to find a familiar pair of eyes and brows.
But no, these young men all looked unfamiliar. It seemed that his son, whom he hadn't seen for many years, had grown into someone he didn't even recognize.
If one had not read Consort Xiande's letter, one would probably not recognize one's own son even if he stood right in front of them.
He sighed slightly and gestured for Li Pu to go and check.
Li Pu hurriedly stepped forward and told everyone to take off their shirts and expose their backs.
Everyone was somewhat incredulous; what did this mean?
But no one dared to object, and they all obediently took off their shirts and turned their backs to the emperor.
Li Pu checked them one by one, shaking his head each time. When he reached Xiao Chengyan, he stopped.
After a moment, he shook his head, looked up at the emperor sitting on the dragon throne, and said...
"Your Majesty, no."
Xiao Chengyan had just been smiling, waiting for Li Pu and the Emperor's surprised voices.
But what came was Li Pu saying, "Your Majesty, no."
How could that be? He personally had someone draw the birthmark on it last night, and he even checked it. It's exactly the same, down to the last detail.
How come it disappeared once we got to the Golden Palace?
He wondered if Li Pu was simply too old and blind to see it!
He couldn't help but excitedly raise his head and turn around, saying...
"Your Majesty, yes! Yes!"
Seeing that Xiao Chengyan had offended the Emperor, Li Pu pulled out his whisk and smacked him, saying rather irritably,
"I see it clearly, and if I say it's not there, then it's not there. Why are you being so nosy!"
Xiao Chengyan frowned, wanting to argue, but just as he was about to open his mouth, he saw the old emperor slowly walk down from the dragon throne.
Xiao Chengyan was overjoyed, knowing that the Emperor was going to inspect it personally, and he felt a surge of secret delight.
He quickly turned his back and bent over so that the emperor could clearly see his birthmark.
The old emperor slowly strolled over and walked to the crowd, examining each person carefully.
He looked at it carefully and attentively, not missing a single detail.
When he walked up behind Xiao Chengyan, Xiao Chengyan became inexplicably excited. With just one glance, he knew his fate was about to change.
He will become the only prince of the Southern Zhao Kingdom and the future emperor of the Southern Zhao Kingdom!
Thinking of these things, he trembled with excitement. The old emperor held him down from behind, and he held his breath with a slight smile on his lips, but dared not move again.
He waited for that gasp.
But what came was a sigh, and the Emperor said in a disappointed tone,
"Let them put on their clothes and go back."
what happened!
how so!
How could it not be?
The throne that was about to be in his hands just slipped away like that?
Xiao Chengyan was momentarily flustered and confused. He simply straightened up, turned around, and said...
"Didn't Your Majesty see clearly?!"
These words were so outrageous that Li Pu was startled and grabbed Xiao Chengyan by the neck, forcing him to kneel down.
"Insolence! Kneel down now!"
Even after kneeling down, Xiao Chengyan stubbornly raised his head and persisted.
"Your Majesty, please take a closer look!"
The emperor frowned slightly. He glanced at Li Pu, then turned back to look at Xiao Chengyan kneeling on the ground.
"I have seen it clearly. There is no crescent-shaped birthmark on your lower back near your waist dimple, but there is a red heart-shaped birthmark on your shoulder."
He stared intently at Xiao Chengyan again, and said coldly,
"You are not the person I am looking for."
As soon as he finished speaking, a hurried voice came from outside the door.
"Your Majesty, a member of the Xiao family requests an audience."
Li Pu frowned and quickly stepped forward.
"Aren't all the Xiao family descendants here? Why are there others outside?"
As a palace servant, Li Pu did not know exactly how many children the Xiao family had. He simply instructed his eunuchs to bring them all into the palace.
But unexpectedly, one person was still missed among those below.
Li Pu looked at the Emperor with some fear, but a flash of joy appeared in the Emperor's eyes. He did not blame Li Pu, but instead waved his hand and said...
"Bring it up!"
Xiao Zhijie was helped in by Qiao Qingshu. Last night, he went out to a banquet at the invitation of a friend, but was kidnapped on the way.
He remembered being hung up, stripped of his shirt, having his birthmark traced, and then being untied and bound tightly.
He struggled to untie the ropes binding him, but the ropes were tightly knotted and he couldn't untie them at all.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw Qiao Qingshu standing in front of him, looking travel-worn, with several highly skilled guards from the Bai family beside her.
After untying Xiao Zhijie, the two exchanged a knowing smile.
Xiao Zhijie smiled and said,
“I think I understand why you covered up the birthmark on my lower back with makeup and drew a heart-shaped birthmark on my shoulder before you left last night. These people must have kidnapped me here because of the birthmark.”