Listening to her daughter's heartfelt words, the pregnant Lady Hou went on a killing spree.

Even before entering the Golden Palace, Princess Qixia had considered many possibilities.

But she never expected that as soon as she entered the Golden Palace, she would see Consort De holding Ye Simiao and crying uncontrollably. She was immediately unable to accept it and couldn't help but ask a question.

Looking at Qixia, whom she had raised as her own daughter since childhood, Consort De's gaze was incredibly complex.

The hatred of Wang's swapping of her daughters was so great that she could be considered an enemy, but this child was someone she had raised herself.

The emperor waved his hand, and Chief Steward Yu immediately understood the meaning. He quickly prepared another bowl of water and brought it over, placing it next to the original bowl.

"Qixia, come here."

A flicker of panic crossed Princess Qixia's eyes, but she had no choice but to step forward since the emperor had spoken.

The emperor removed the cloth covering the wound on his index finger, squeezed out a drop of blood into the bowl, and signaled to Qixia that it was her turn.

Princess Qixia took a deep breath, stepped forward, took the knife, and made a cut on her index finger, a drop of blood falling into the bowl.

The emperor frowned as he watched the two drops of blood in the bowl gradually merge together.

Originally, I had Qixia get tested again just to be on the safe side, but now what exactly is going on?

Seeing the Emperor's strange expression, Consort De put Ye Simiao down and came to the Emperor's side. When she saw the two drops of blood that were also mixed in the water, she immediately exclaimed in shock.

"How is this possible!"

Perhaps the only person who can tell her the answer now is the unconscious Mrs. Wang.

Consort De, enraged, went up to Lady Wang and, with the small knife she had used to cut her finger, stabbed her hand through it.

Wang groaned in pain and slowly woke up. Consort De rushed forward and grabbed her collar like a madwoman.

"Tell me quickly, who is my biological daughter? And why is Qixia's blood compatible with the Emperor's?"

Wang's previously somewhat cloudy eyes suddenly became clear.

"Impossible. Qixia really is my biological daughter. I recognized her in the palace more than half a month ago."

Prime Minister Ye had mentioned this before, and now that it's being said by Lady Wang, it seems even more credible.

Why?

The ministers in the hall immediately began to discuss among themselves.

Prime Minister Ye was puzzled as to why things had turned out this way, but he believed that what Miao Miao said was true, otherwise Princess Qixia would have no reason to attack the Prime Minister's residence.

Ye Simiao firmly believes she is the emperor's daughter, but how to prove it is another matter.

She has done all she could; there is nothing more she can do. Let fate decide what happens next.

Princess Qixia's eyes were red and tears were already streaming down her face.

"Father, Mother, I am truly your biological daughter. Don't you want your daughter anymore?"

Her pitiful appearance made Consort De feel an urge to go forward, hug her, and gently comfort her, but she resisted the urge.

Having managed things in the palace for many years, Consort De was no fool.

The emperor waved his hand, and Steward Yu went down and brought up another bowl of water.

After all these events, the Emperor was now almost convinced that Ye Simiao was his biological daughter.

But it's useless if he believes it, and it's useless if the ministers believe it. The key is to produce substantial evidence. Otherwise, no matter how much time passes, the daughter who was recognized will be questioned.

"Qixia, test it again."

Princess Qixia looked devastated, her eyes filled with the Emperor's distrust of her as his daughter.

But he still stepped forward, dripping another drop of blood into the bowl.

The emperor was very close to her and did not miss the fleeting smugness in her eyes.

Hmph! She had already taken the medicine before entering the palace, so now anyone's blood can mix with hers, no matter how many times it is tested.

Fearing her true identity would be exposed, she had already made preparations.

Chief Steward Yu presented the knife, and the emperor took it. Under Qixia's relaxed gaze, he grabbed Chief Steward Yu's hand and made a cut on his finger.

A drop of blood fell into the bowl as Qixia watched in shock.

"Thump!"

The change came too suddenly, catching all the ministers in the hall off guard, and Consort De also realized the emperor's intentions at this time.

Qixia was initially shocked, but after the shock subsided, she stepped forward and tried to knock over the bowl on the table.

Chief Steward Yu saw through her intentions and swerved to the side, knocking her aside.

At this moment, the two drops of blood in the bowl had already mixed together.

What is there that the Emperor and Consort De do not understand now?

Consort De looked up at Qixia with eyes full of disappointment.

If Qixia had readily admitted her identity before entering, although she would have been angry with Wang Shi for it, she wouldn't have done anything to her out of consideration for the twenty years of nurturing she had received.

She hadn't planned to take back everything she'd been given before, but now Consort De's thoughts had changed.

Chief Steward Yu came to the bowl and exclaimed in surprise.

"Your Majesty, who in the palace doesn't know that this old servant was castrated when he entered the palace at the age of five? There's no way he could have his own children. How could Princess Qixia possibly be this old servant's daughter?"

Chief Steward Yu's words immediately made the court officials understand: the two men's blood had just dripped together and mixed together. What exactly was going on?

"Director Chen, go and take a look at Qixia."

Following the emperor's orders, Chen Yuanzheng stepped forward to take the pulse of Princess Qixia, who was slumped on the ground.

A few breaths later, he withdrew his hand, dabbed some blood on the princess's bleeding index finger, and brought it to his nose to smell it.

"Your Majesty, Princess Qixia must have taken a medicine that can make blood compatible, which temporarily changed the properties of her blood."

"Qixia, what do you have to say now?"

"Father, I was so afraid that I wasn't your biological daughter and that you wouldn't treat me as well as before, which is why I did something wrong. Please forgive me, Father and Mother."

As she spoke, Qixia was already in tears.

Having lived in the palace for more than ten years, she had long since learned how to assess the situation.

Knowing that the outcome could not be changed, they immediately made the response that was most advantageous to themselves.

The emperor snorted and quickly made his decision.

Qixia was quite bold; when she was his own daughter, the emperor admired her daring.

But now that the other party is not his biological daughter, keeping her by his side is like raising a tiger to cause trouble. He will not allow anyone to have the possibility of harming his own bloodline, not even Qixia, whom he raised from childhood.

Royal family members are the best at making choices when it comes to family ties, especially an emperor who emerged victorious from the struggle for succession among five princes.

"A decree is drafted to restore Ye Simiao's status as a royal princess, bestow upon her the name Xiao Zheng, and the courtesy name Chang'an."

Ye Simiao knelt down to receive the imperial decree.

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

Consort De, who was standing next to her, also knelt down.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After the imperial decree of bestowing honors was drafted, the emperor looked at Qixia.

Qixia looked at the emperor at the head of the table with a pitiful expression, awaiting her fate.

"The former Princess Qixia has been demoted to a commoner, stripped of her princess title, and her residence has been taken back. From this day forward, she is forbidden from entering the palace without an imperial edict."

"Father, you can't do this to me! You can't! Mother, save me!"