Seeing Ziqing speak up, Jun Beiyue cast Prince Baxian a meaningful glance and quietly stepped back, his expression unreadable. Yet even without a word from him, his icy, forbidding expression alone was enough to leave the entire room on edge.

After all, this fellow had just flipped over a table—and not just any table, but the Emperor’s own table. The meaning behind that gesture could hardly have been clearer!

If Jun Beiyue managed to gain the upper hand in this matter, the consequences could truly be unimaginable!

Even Prince Baxian appeared notably cautious. Yet he remained resolute—he had to get to the bottom of Jun Beiyue’s true parentage!

“Prince Baxian, are you aware that the Second Miss Gu was already expelled from the Gu clan by its own Patriarch? For this king’s consort to even exchange words with her is already showing her considerable courtesy,” Ziqing said coldly.

Gu Suying immediately shot back sharply, “Han Ziqing, so what if I was expelled? The blood running through my veins is still the very same Gu blood that runs through Jun Beiyue’s! Jun Beiyue’s birth mother, Noble Consort Wan, seduced my father and became pregnant with Jun Beiyue before entering the palace and winning the Emperor’s favor. The Gu clan had no son, which is why my father passed down the Gu clan’s internal energy techniques to Jun Beiyue. And Jun Beiyue has already enshrined Consort Wan’s ashes in the Gu clan’s ancestral hall, formally acknowledging his roots and returning to the family!”

This news was even more shocking—after all, Consort Wan was supposed to be buried in the imperial mausoleum!

Yet Ziqing didn’t even spare her a glance, saying coldly, “Prince Baxian, is this what you call a witness?”

Prince Baxian nodded. “Yes. And there is also physical evidence, related to the Gu clan. Tenth Prince, please present it.”

The Tenth Prince flinched violently at these words—this item had been handed to him by the Seventh Prince!

Seeing Jun Beiyue’s gaze fall upon him, his scalp prickled even more. He hastily flung the item forward—an old painting.

Prince Baxian picked it up and unrolled it. Everyone gasped in shock—it was a portrait of Gu Jun, though painted in his youth, still clearly recognizable. Beside the portrait, the signature bore none other than Consort Wan’s own name, Li Wannian, and the date corresponded precisely to the period after Consort Wan had entered the palace!

Upon seeing the painting, Emperor Tianhui immediately roared in fury, “This painting… this… this is absolutely from Consort Wan’s own hand! I recognize her painting style!”

Consort Yi, beside him, spoke up as well. “Someone, bring out Consort Wan’s old paintings!”

All of this had clearly been arranged in advance, the painting styles already matched beforehand—otherwise, Prince Baxian would never have been so resolute. Presenting it now was merely for her and Jun Beiyue’s benefit.

Just as everyone marveled at how similar the styles and brushwork of the two paintings were, Ziqing didn’t even bother glancing at them, saying dismissively, “What utter nonsense—this so-called evidence, this so-called witness—daring to frame Prince Yao with such garbage? Gu Suying, do you truly think everyone here is a fool?”

“You! Watch your mouth!” Gu Suying shouted furiously. She wasn’t afraid at all—the Seventh Prince had promised her that as long as she brought down this woman and Jun Beiyue, he would guarantee she could return to the Isle of Immortal Retreat in glory.

“If this isn’t evidence, then what is?” Gu Suying said coldly. This was an enormous matter—even the slightest hint of suspicion would never be tolerated!

“Prince Baxian, to condemn her based on nothing more than a single painting by the Lady Wan—isn’t that being far too hasty?” Ziqing countered.

Prince Baxian himself harbored doubts, with no conclusion reached yet—otherwise, he wouldn’t have needed to bring this couple to the Ministry of Justice for confrontation at all; he would simply have arrested them outright!

He hesitated, but then Consort Yi gave a cold laugh. “How is that hasty? Aside from painting the Emperor himself, the Emperor’s woman is absolutely forbidden from painting any other man!”

“And if you painted your own father, could I then accuse you of having an improper relationship with him?” Ziqing shot back coldly.

At these words, the entire hall fell silent. Even the corner of Jun Beiyue’s mouth twitched involuntarily—he knew this woman was truly furious now.

Consort Yi suddenly leapt to her feet, roaring in fury, “Han Ziqing, do you think I won’t tear that mouth of yours apart right now!”

“Consort Yi, a living, breathing person being falsely accused makes you this furious—how much more so for Consort Wan, someone who has already passed away? Your Majesty, is there any point in insulting the dead?” Ziqing said, suddenly turning serious!

It was true that Consort Wan had indeed been involved with the Patriarch of the Gu clan, and it was true that the blood running through Jun Beiyue’s veins was indeed Gu blood. But so what?

Consort Wan and the Patriarch of the Gu clan had been together first, and she had entered the palace afterward—how did that constitute an affair, an improper relationship?

After all, a palace maid becoming pregnant was a capital offense. To protect her child, Consort Wan had gone to great lengths to attach herself to a man she didn’t even love—even if this was wrong, it was a wrong committed out of noble desperation!

Not only would Ziqing never let Gu Suying succeed today, but she wouldn’t allow anyone to insult Consort Wan’s honor and reputation either!

Watching Ziqing’s earnest, unwavering resolve, Jun Beiyue felt a warmth spreading through his chest. He had originally intended to speak up himself, but now he chose to remain silent and let her continue.

“This… this palace…” Consort Yi stammered, momentarily at a loss for words after Ziqing’s counter.

But Gu Suying remained sharp-tongued. “Han Ziqing, this isn’t an insult, this is exposing the truth! What does it matter that she’s dead? If someone dares to deceive their superiors and secretly swap the truth, they deserve punishment even after death!”

“Empty words prove nothing. Even setting aside whether such a painting constitutes evidence at all, even if it did, this king’s consort could paint an identical one this very instant!” Ziqing said, glaring at Prince Baxian. If it was a game of fabricating evidence and framing someone, she knew how to play that game too!

“The Gu clan’s own daughter isn’t evidence enough—must we summon the Patriarch of the Gu clan himself!” the Second Prince finally interjected, unable to hold back any longer.

At these words, Gu Suying was struck with sudden alarm—this was precisely what she feared most!

“Very well! Summon him immediately! Until this matter is fully clarified, no one leaves this room. And once it is clarified, certain people won’t be walking out of here either!” Ziqing declared harshly, then sat down to one side.

Gu Suying had allied herself with the Seventh Prince, but had forgotten that the Second Prince and Seventh Prince were bitter rivals—clearly, they hadn’t coordinated their plans well at all.

But to everyone’s surprise, Prince Baxian said seriously, “Ziqing, in this matter, shouldn’t the Patriarch of the Gu clan recuse himself out of propriety? This king believes the Second Miss Gu’s testimony carries more impartiality.”

Jun Beiyue and Han Ziqing had brought considerable glory to the Gu clan back at Qinse Valley, publicly announcing Jun Beiyue as an adopted son. Inviting the Patriarch to testify now would surely raise suspicions of favoritism and bias!

Whereas the Second Miss Gu, having been cast out of the Gu clan, no longer carried any suspicion of trying to protect the family’s interests!

That was the implication behind Prince Baxian’s words. Ziqing snorted coldly—it seemed there truly was no point in wasting further words on Gu Suying, on Consort Yi, or any of them. Prince Baxian was the one who truly mattered here.

What clever scheming from the Seventh Prince—no, more precisely, from Xuanyuan Lige—to have persuaded Prince Baxian so thoroughly.

“Prince Baxian, do you truly intend to condemn Beiyue based on nothing more than a painting that could easily be forged, and the words of a woman who could easily be lying?” Ziqing asked earnestly.

Gu Suying still wanted to argue further, but Prince Baxian raised a hand to stop her. He glanced with some concern at Jun Beiyue, who had remained coldly silent throughout. After a long moment’s hesitation, he finally spoke flatly, “Beiyue, you should know that this king wishes for nothing more than to never have to doubt you. But… let us do this—a public blood test to confirm paternity before everyone here. Surely, whatever the result, no one will have any grounds for complaint.”