After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 472 The Emperor and Empress's Interrogation
The Sixth Prince affectionately pinched her nose, "I bought this to cheer you up because I was worried you were feeling unwell!"

Shen Tian realized, "Your Highness is referring to the Second Prince's Consort holding a flower-viewing banquet but excluding me?"

"Aren't you feeling uncomfortable?"

Shen Tian shook her head honestly, "What's there to be sad about? I never liked to pretend with them or put on an act. I'm happy to be left alone since they didn't invite me. Besides, didn't His Highness tell me to just watch the show? How long can Zhao Wanyi be so arrogant!"

Murong Chen was overjoyed, "It's good that you can figure it out!"

The Second Prince's wife felt frustrated while copying the scriptures, and since she couldn't fool the Empress Dowager, she felt increasingly aggrieved. So she sent a petition to the palace, hoping the Empress would intercede for her.

As a result, she didn't even get to see the Empress.

Those who had been keeping a close eye on the Second Prince's residence grew increasingly uneasy.

Just then, Cen Yingfan escorted the Second Prince back to the capital.

Having spent several years at the border, and weathered the storms of life, Murong Xu seemed to have matured considerably.

He looked at the towering city walls, his eyes flashing with a determined glint.

Cen Yingfan stepped forward respectfully and bowed, "Second Prince, may I escort you to the palace to pay your respects to His Majesty?"

The second prince nodded slightly. "Let's go!"

As the procession entered the imperial city, the Second Prince's Consort and her entourage were already waiting on the side.

When Zhao Wanyi saw Murong Xu on horseback, her eyes reddened and she exclaimed excitedly, "Your Highness!"

Murong Xu looked in the direction of the sound, his eyes somewhat dazed. Thinking of Zhao Wanyi's family background, a gentle smile appeared on his lips as he gazed at her tenderly.

Zhao Wanyi's heart pounded, filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion, and she followed the procession to the outside of the palace.

The eunuch sent by the emperor to greet them had been waiting for a long time. He bowed to Murong Xu with neither servility nor arrogance, saying, "Second Prince, General Cen, His Majesty and the ministers have been waiting in the main hall for a long time. Please!"

As he spoke, he looked at Zhao Wanyi beside him, his brows furrowing slightly, "Second Prince's Consort, if you wish to enter the palace, this servant will convey your message."

Zhao Wanyi snapped out of her daze, her face flushed with embarrassment, and quickly shook her head in refusal, "No need, I have matters to attend to at home, I will go back and wait for Your Highness."

Murong Xu was pleased with Zhao Wanyi's understanding of the bigger picture, and immediately instructed her, "Your concubine Cen and the child will go back with you. I will explain everything to you in detail later."

When Zhao Wanyi heard the word "child," her smile almost vanished. As soon as Murong Xu turned around, her face fell instantly.

With the help of his maid, he slowly walked towards the carriage and coughed lightly.

Cen Mingxue quickly carried the child downstairs and bowed to Zhao Wanyi.

Zhao Wanyi's icy gaze fell on the child, and she asked in a sarcastic tone, "Boy or girl?"

Cen Mingxue replied tremblingly, "Yes, miss."

Zhao Wanyi chuckled, her tone softening slightly, "Just this one?"

“Yes,” Cen Mingxue replied respectfully.

Zhao Wanyi's expression grew increasingly disdainful, "Having served His Highness for so many years, you've only managed to give birth to a little girl. You're utterly useless! Let's go back to the manor!"

Liu'er quickly helped Cen Mingxue into the carriage.

Feeling frustrated, he was about to speak.

Cen Mingxue shook her head at her, signaling her to be patient. Just as the carriage left the palace gates, Murong Xu and Cen Yingfan entered the main hall and respectfully bowed to the Emperor and Empress.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and Your Majesty!"

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."

The emperor looked down at the two men below without uttering a sound.

His silence puzzled Murong Xu and Cen Yingfan, and the ministers who had been optimistic about Murong Xu secretly changed their expressions and suddenly became uneasy.

Just as Murong Xu was filled with fear and unease.

The emperor coldly ordered, "Bring Lady Cen to me."

Holding her child, Cen Mingzhu, supported by palace maids, nervously entered the main hall. Upon seeing Cen Yingfan, she seemed to grasp at a lifeline and cried out in distress, "Father!"

"Mingzhu! What are you doing here?" Cen Yingfan was shocked, his face turning pale.

Murong Xu, who was standing to the side, suddenly had a bad feeling.

The ministers, however, were completely bewildered.

The emperor abruptly stood up, grabbed a memorial from beside him, and smashed it over Murong Xu's head, roaring angrily, "Murong Xu! Look carefully! Aren't these your woman and child?"

Murong Xu shook his head frantically, "Father, no, that's not how it is! Father, please let me explain!"

The emperor's anger surged to the top of his head. "Even now you still want to argue! Murong Xu, Murong Xu! Don't forget why you went to the border in the first place! For being licentious! I thought you would learn your lesson by going to the border to gain experience, but I didn't expect that I would let a tiger return to the mountain, allowing you to become even more unrestrained and reckless, even daring to lay hands on married women. You really are my good son!"

"Is there some misunderstanding?" The Grand Tutor staggered a couple of steps. Regardless of whether Murong Xu had really stolen a married woman, he had to find a way to exonerate Murong Xu.

The Third Prince was displeased. "Grand Tutor, what you're saying is ridiculous. Father Emperor has brought this woman and Second Brother's child here, so he must have already investigated thoroughly. Second Brother, you already have a child, you can't deny this. A man should be responsible for his actions, you can't let the woman and child shield you when something goes wrong!"

Murong Xu was so angry he felt like he was going to vomit.

The Grand Tutor's face turned pale and then red, and he was unable to refute it.

The Empress was so disappointed that she burst into tears and knelt down to beg the Emperor, "Your Majesty, please give the Second Prince a chance to explain. If it is truly his fault, I will accept it."

"Mother, Mother, that's not how it is! Your son is innocent!" Murong Xu cried bitterly, his former high spirits completely gone.

The Emperor took a deep breath and looked coldly at Murong Xu. "For the sake of the Empress, I will give you a chance to explain. If you dare to utter even the slightest lie, I will not let you off lightly!"

The ministers gasped, all looking at Murong Xu with tension.

Murong Xu was extremely flustered, his head lowered to hide his unease.

At that moment, Cen Yingfan kowtowed three times and cried out in remorse, “Your Majesty, please understand! This matter is indeed unrelated to the Second Prince. It is my fault for failing to properly educate my daughter! When my daughter was exiled to the border, she almost did not survive. The Second Prince was unaware of the situation when he first arrived at the border and saved my daughter.”

As a result, my daughter developed feelings for the Second Prince that she shouldn't have, and even tampered with his food. Fortunately, the Second Prince noticed in advance and didn't fall into the trap. The only person who had an affair with my daughter was one of the guards around the Second Prince.

Only the Second Prince and I knew about this matter; even my daughter was kept in the dark. Later, my daughter became pregnant, and I felt ashamed, so I had no choice but to beg the Second Prince to let my daughter return to Zhaohua County.

The Second Prince was unaware of these matters. I am guilty; it is all my fault!

"Dad! What did you say?" Cen Mingzhu tugged at Cen Yingfan's clothes in disbelief.

Cen Yingfan remained unmoved.

She looked at Murong Xu again, tears welling up in her eyes, "Your Highness! Even tigers don't eat their cubs, please say something, is this child your own flesh and blood?"