A public blood test to confirm paternity!

Hearing those words, Ziqing’s heart lurched violently. She instinctively looked toward Jun Beiyue, and Jun Beiyue was looking back at her at the very same moment!

In ancient times, this blood test was considered the most authoritative method of confirming parentage!

There were two methods of blood testing.

One was called the “bone-drip method,” in which a living person’s blood was dropped onto a deceased person’s bones to observe whether it seeped in. If it did, this was taken to indicate a blood relationship such as parent-child or sibling.

The other was the “blood-merge method,” used when both parties were living. Blood drawn from each person was dropped into a vessel to see whether the two drops merged into one. If they merged, this indicated a parent-child or sibling relationship.

Jun Beiyue knew perfectly well that he was not Emperor Tianhui’s own flesh and blood. Once the blood test was performed, everything would come to light.

But what alarmed Ziqing was that this wasn’t the “bone-drip method,” but the “blood-merge method.”

A dead person’s bones were always porous, so blood would seep in regardless of any actual blood relationship. But Emperor Tianhui was still alive, and Jun Beiyue had so many brothers—there was no way Prince Baxian would use the bone-drip method!

What Prince Baxian intended to use had to be the blood-merge method.

In the modern era, this kind of blood-merge test for confirming kinship was utterly absurd. Human blood came in several types, the most common being the A, B, and O blood groups.

If a father had type A blood (genotype AO) and a mother had type B blood (genotype BO), then according to normal genetic recombination, their child’s blood type could be AO, BO, AB, or OO—meaning the child could end up with type A, type B, type AB, or type O blood.

The ancient practice of blood-merge testing required the blood of two living people to mix together in order to confirm a blood relationship!

But in reality, only blood of the same type could actually merge!

In other words, this was purely a matter of luck, and had almost nothing to do with actual blood relation!

Even if Jun Beiyue truly were Emperor Tianhui’s son, their blood might not necessarily merge at all!

Prince Baxian had gone through such an elaborate scheme, all leading up to this blood test!

And Ziqing, who knew the truth, how could she not be alarmed?

What should she do?

If the blood failed to merge, Jun Beiyue would inevitably be forced into rebellion!

And then, in this very hall, he would be facing not just this group of people, but the refusal of the entire continent of Longyuan to recognize him!

If he were forced into rebellion over this, he would inevitably lose a portion of the people’s support, and he would be facing not just Emperor Tianhui and Consort Yi, but the entire Jun clan, Prince Baxian included!

Such chaos would utterly destroy everything he had painstakingly built for Great Zhou over the years, everything he had established along the nation’s three borders!

This would throw all his plans into disarray, delay the critical timing of the war between Xijing and Xichu, and delay their search for the Solitary Isle as well!

If Great Zhou fell into chaos, the entire balance of power across the continent of Longyuan would inevitably be reshuffled!

This was surely exactly what Xuanyuan Lige wanted to see!

Ziqing had considered all of this long before now—otherwise, she wouldn’t have spoken up ahead of Jun Beiyue earlier. This man, having flipped over Emperor Tianhui’s imperial table, must have already anticipated Prince Baxian’s final move.

Jun Beiyue had indeed anticipated it. His estimation of Xuanyuan Lige ran far deeper than Ziqing’s own—the mastermind behind all this was him, so how could this matter possibly be simple?

“Don’t worry. If Great Zhou falls into chaos, this king will also have…”

Just as Jun Beiyue was about to make up his mind, Ziqing stopped him. “No. If the emperor’s rule falls into ‘chaos,’ how many years will the common people suffer displacement and ruin? I have a way!”

Jun Beiyue frowned, about to ask, but Ziqing gave him a reassuring glance.

Jun Beiyue didn’t stop her, though he was filled with doubt—what could she possibly do? A blood test for confirming parentage was about as concrete evidence as it got! Otherwise, how could he possibly have failed to think of a solution himself?

Just as he puzzled over this, he heard Ziqing generously agree, “Very well, let’s proceed with the blood test!”

Seeing Ziqing’s confidence, Gu Suying grew suspicious, and Consort Yi and the others were equally doubtful. They all watched with interest, eager to see what tricks Han Ziqing could possibly pull off this time!

The blood test would have to be conducted in full view of everyone—there would be no room for her to tamper with anything!

Prince Baxian, meanwhile, felt a quiet sense of relief in his heart. No one wished less than he did to see Ziqing and Jun Beiyue looking guilty or afraid.

“Someone, bring a bowl of water and a dagger—this king will personally conduct the examination!” Prince Baxian said seriously.

He knew, of course, that tampering was possible with either the water or the dagger during a blood test. To ensure there could be no error whatsoever, Prince Baxian personally tasted the plain water in front of everyone, then inspected it repeatedly, and thoroughly examined the dagger as well. Only then did he say seriously, “Beiyue, you first.”

A complex flicker passed through Jun Beiyue’s eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, he extended his hand. In an instant, every eye in the room turned toward him. Even Gu Suying couldn’t help but rise to her feet, tension mixed with barely concealed satisfaction on her face.

In full view of everyone, a single drop of Jun Beiyue’s blood fell into the bowl, brilliant red against the water. Prince Baxian, ever fair, lowered the bowl so everyone could see clearly, then said respectfully, “Your Majesty, it’s your turn now.”

With that, Emperor Tianhui, unwilling to wait for Prince Baxian to come to him, eagerly strode forward himself. But at that very moment, Ziqing spoke up flatly. “Wait a moment!”

“Han Ziqing, don’t even think about pulling any tricks! What is there to wait for!” Gu Suying suddenly cried out. How frightened she must have been, to be so impatient. Even Consort Yi, seated above, couldn’t help but smile—was there anyone more eager than her to see Han Ziqing and Jun Beiyue destroyed?

“Afraid of something? Feeling guilty?” Ziqing shot back.

“You! You’re the one who’s guilty! If there’s nothing wrong, what is there to wait for?” Gu Suying said coldly.

Ziqing gave a cold snort. “Second Miss Gu, it’s not your place to speak here. By the rules of the Ministry of Justice and the rules of the palace, no one asked for your opinion. You’d best hold your tongue.”

As she spoke, Ziqing turned to look at Consort Yi, asking with a smile, “Consort Yi, isn’t that indeed how the rules work?”

This smile, this question, came so suddenly, so inexplicably, that a chill ran down Consort Yi’s spine. What exactly was Han Ziqing trying to do?

Despite her unease, Consort Yi replied coldly, “Han Ziqing, I think it’s you who’s feeling guilty. What exactly are you waiting for?”

Ziqing smiled again. “His Majesty is supreme and noble beyond all others—how could he possibly shed blood? The blood used for the merge test doesn’t have to be His Majesty’s own. I simply meant to suggest that the Second Prince could act in his stead.”

If anyone else had said this, it would have seemed perfectly reasonable—it truly wasn’t fitting for the emperor’s sacred body to shed blood, and having a prince act on his behalf was only natural!

But such a considerate suggestion, coming from Han Ziqing’s mouth—how could it not arouse suspicion?

There had to be some scheme behind this!

And yet, aside from Han Ziqing’s attitude itself, there was nothing else here that seemed suspicious at all! Let alone everyone else—even Jun Beiyue himself couldn’t quite figure out what she was up to!

Whatever she was planning, Consort Yi wanted to refuse outright. But Ziqing’s words sounded so gracious, so considerate and concerned for Emperor Tianhui’s wellbeing, that Consort Yi found it difficult to object!

Not only could she not refuse, but the Second Prince should have volunteered on his own already—yet even he hesitated.

However, Emperor Tianhui, who was rather squeamish about blood himself, immediately retreated at Ziqing’s reminder. “Chen’er, you go!”