We'll have you impersonate the Crown Prince and create a prosperous era for the Great Qian Dyna

Zhou Tiancheng released Guli's hand and slowly took a step forward.

In just a moment, his gaze changed.

Those eyes, filled with grief and indignation and tinged with despair, stared straight at the old emperor Zhou Rui.

Feeling somewhat guilty under the gaze, Zhou Rui turned his head away.

Immediately afterward, a choked and trembling voice entered his ears.

"Father, could it be... that even you wish for your son to be a fake?"

Who is Chou Tien-cheng?

The king of kings!

At that moment, he seized upon the inner conflict of Zhou Rui and unleashed his most ferocious attack!

This one line showcased his acting skills and delivery of lines to the fullest!

In Zhou Rui's heart, there was a sliver of hope that the Crown Prince would die soon.

In this way, he wouldn't feel guilty towards the deceased empress, nor would he have to bear the bad reputation of not being able to educate his son well.

Zhou Tiancheng's words completely exposed Zhou Rui's thoughts!

The more direct it was, the more painful it felt for Zhou Rui!

He lowered his head deeply, not daring to even look at Zhou Tiancheng!

Some of the veteran officials also decisively withdrew their gazes, exchanging glances that could not conceal the surprise and doubt in their eyes.

The crown prince, who has always only resorted to crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide, has now developed such cunning.

Or perhaps, it was just luck?

Or is he really an imposter?

Everyone's mind is a mess.

Except for Zhou Rui!

He was already somewhat unwilling to continue the investigation!

He couldn't face his own unbearable side!

But how could Zhou Tianze possibly give up?

He took two quick steps and grabbed Zhou Rui's sleeve.

"Father! He's an imposter! You mustn't be soft-hearted!"

"Shut up! That's your brother!"

Turning his head, Zhou Rui shouted at Zhou Tianze.

Zhou Tianze was so startled that his mind went blank.

Until Zhou Rui spoke.

"Let this matter rest. The Crown Prince is the Crown Prince, and no one is allowed to speak nonsense."

Zhou Rui has defined the nature of this matter.

Because he was fooled by Zhou Tiancheng's acting skills!

He had only one thought in his mind.

If this person is not the crown prince, what gives him the right to indulge in debauchery in broad daylight and act so recklessly?

If this person isn't the Crown Prince, why did he just blurt out those words with such sincerity and despair, making me so afraid to face them?

Zhou Rui believed that he was the real crown prince, because only the real crown prince could see through his heart!

But how could Qin Zhi'ang let him go so easily?

He stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke sharply.

"Your Majesty, public opinion is far more important to guide than to suppress!"

"If we don't resolve this matter today, are we going to wait until later and let others use it as an excuse to start a war?"

"It's just a birthmark. His Highness can simply remove his outer garment to verify his identity. What's wrong with preventing it before it happens?"

Zhou Rui was stunned.

Whether he admits it or not, once Zhou Tianze uttered those words, there was no shortage of rumors and gossip from the outside world.

If this isn't resolved, someone will definitely use this incident to make an issue of the Crown Prince when he passes away!

Zhou Tiancheng laughed in exasperation.

He secretly wished he could kill Qin Zhi'ang and whip his corpse!

If he were the real crown prince, I wouldn't be afraid, but the problem is he's an imposter!

He himself didn't even know if he had a birthmark on the back of his neck, so how could he dare to verify his identity?

All I can do is start resorting to sophistry and unreasonable arguments.

"Lord Qin, how then can I reclaim my dignity as the Crown Prince?"

"Does this mean that just because my third brother raised a question, I must be forced to undress in front of everyone like a thief?"

When Qin Zhi'ang was questioned, he not only didn't get angry, but he actually laughed.

Does that useless crown prince have that ability?

This prince must be an imposter!

He became increasingly certain and calmly asked the question.

"What is Your Highness's opinion?"

Zhou Tiancheng shook his long sleeves and pointed directly at Zhou Tianze.

"If I remove these clothes, I want nothing else but that he leave the capital and take up his fief, never to return to the capital again!"

hum!

The moment those words were spoken, all the faint sounds in the entire imperial study vanished.

The eunuchs all bowed their heads as if they were mere decorations.

Even the highest-ranking officials held their breath!

Zhou Tianze was so angry that he trembled all over, his eyes wide open, and he angrily rebuked Zhou Tiancheng.

"On what grounds?"

To take up a fiefdom?

If he were to take up his fiefdom, how would he compete for the position of crown prince?

He won't agree!

Zhou Tiancheng suddenly turned his head, his eyes becoming incredibly fierce!

"On what grounds? Just because your mother, who controls the harem, couldn't even keep an eye on a few barbarian women, allowing them to enter the Eastern Palace!"

As soon as Zhou Tiancheng finished speaking, Zhou Tianze trembled with fright.

Especially when he saw Zhou Tiancheng's eyes, which seemed to want to devour people, he couldn't help but feel a bit of fear.

But he finally mustered up the courage to speak.

"Wasn't it your Eastern Palace guards who forcibly abducted them? Why are you blaming my mother?"

Zhou Tiancheng smiled slightly.

"Hu Nu Guli is a beauty that the Rong Kingdom presented to my father, and now I have brought her here."

"Third brother, do you want to ask her how she got to the East Palace?"

Only at this moment did the people in the Imperial Study realize that there was another woman in the room!

Looking at that exotic face, their expressions remained completely unmoved, as if they were looking at a vase or an ornament.

Zhou Rui then directly inquired about it.

"Gul, you Hu woman? Tell me, how did you get to the Eastern Palace?"

Guli glanced at Zhou Tiancheng, then lowered her head and spoke in a trembling voice.

"A guard went with a maid."

Zhou Rui smiled.

"One guard? Only one guard?"

Guli remembered Zhou Tiancheng's words: she had come to accuse a guard!

She nodded slightly to Zhou Rui, looking timid and afraid of trouble.

Zhou Rui's smile grew even more exaggerated, but his eyes were devoid of any warmth!

"Very well! In my vast palace, how come I didn't know that a mere guard could smuggle someone out of my harem?"

As he spoke, he looked at Zhou Tianze.

But there was no warmth left in those eyes.

Because Zhou Tianze's birth mother, Consort Liu, was the head of the imperial harem!

This matter would have been absolutely impossible to achieve without Consort Liu's approval!

Zhou Tianze was so frightened that he knelt on the ground.

"Father, I am innocent! Mother is innocent!"

"It was clearly him... That's right! He brought this Hu woman with him; he must have forced her to frame my mother!"

"Father, you are wise!"

Zhou Rui slowly put away his smile, but his eyes no longer fell on Zhou Tianze.

Regardless of the truth of the matter, the suspicion against Consort Liu cannot be completely cleared!

The Hu woman, who should have stayed in the inner palace, appeared in the East Palace, while the third prince, born to Consort Liu, the head of the inner palace, was still vying for the throne with the crown prince.

You could say that if mud gets stuck in your pants, even if it's not poop, it's still poop!

Of course, since Zhou Tiancheng didn't mention it, Zhou Rui was too lazy to think about the clues.

Now that Zhou Tiancheng had brought it up, Zhou Rui felt increasingly uneasy.

Could it be that my eldest son was framed and became so infamous, making me increasingly disappointed?

Zhou Rui was still pondering the shady dealings involved, while Zhou Tianze was now utterly speechless!

He had no idea how to explain it, so he could only turn to look at Qin Zhiang.

Now, the only one who can save his mother is his maternal grandfather, Qin Zhi'ang!