Chapter 460

"Second brother, are you just going to stand there and watch?!" The utterly helpless Pei Shangling again started asking Pei Shangjue.

Pei Shangjue: "I'm helpless."

He only said it lightly, but in his heart there was a hint of bitterness.

That so-called brother Mu Mingcheng, at a glance he's not a good person.

But what about them?

Are those few of them good people? Or rather, haven't they made her sad and upset?

Pei Shangjue glumly poured himself a cup of wine.

Pei Shangling was unwilling; if this Mu Mingcheng really were Ah Zhi's brother, that would be fine, but he isn't! He's an impostor! On what basis!

"Fourth brother, stop being resentful, learn to accept." Pei Shangnian patted Pei Shangling's shoulder.

"Old Fifth, you're an idiot, I won't waste more words on you." Now Pei Shangling isn't in a good mood to attend to her younger brother's feelings.

Pei Shanghua: "Don't bother with him, he's just eating sour grapes for no reason."

"You two fence-sitters, shut up!" Pei Shangling snapped.

Pei Shanghua, who never had any brotherly authority to speak of, just snorted and stopped paying attention to Pei Shangling.

At this moment, Pei Shangling wanted to rise, but then the Emperor set down his cup, looking as if he were about to speak, so she could only hold back.

Originally such an ancestral worship ceremony required the senior generation to preside over the proceedings, but the Grand General's household had already passed away; the Emperor, out of pity, personally presided, which is truly the highest honor.

Mu Yuanzhi then stood up at that moment, and everyone looked at her, including the Emperor.

Mu Mingcheng also stood up, walked over, and softly said to Mu Yuanzhi: "Little sister, are you too nervous and forgot the procedure?"

He smiled while looking at Mu Yuanzhi.

Mu Yuanzhi also looked at Mu Mingcheng.

He was certain she had no way out!

Rongjin hasn't returned yet; I don't know if General Qi has found out the result.

And Mu Mingcheng appeared as if victory were already in his grasp.

"Little sister, there are so many guests watching." Mu Mingcheng reminded again.

No one knew what those two siblings were whispering; they exchanged glances, you looking at me, me looking at you.

The atmosphere was a bit strange; the Emperor, as always, wore a smiling countenance, the Empress kept glancing over, and the Grand Empress Dowager calmly turned her Buddhist Prayer Beads.

Xixi was so nervous she couldn't take her eyes off; she very much wanted to go over and communicate with Mu Yuanzhi, but she knew that in this atmosphere she shouldn't move about recklessly.

Pei Si glanced at the empty seat beside him, sipping his tea alone, seemingly unaffected by the strange atmosphere.

In such an occasion, Cao Xiumi would not appear; he hid in a corner of the Grand General's residence, silently on standby, like a hidden post, concealing himself.

Mu Yuanzhi swept her gaze over everyone, then her eyes returned once more to Mu Mingcheng.

At this moment the Emperor spoke: "Protector of the State Princess, do you have something to say?"

Mu Yuanzhi met the Emperor's gaze.

The Emperor differs from the Deposed Emperor; the Emperor is a ruler appointed by heaven, a wise sovereign, but the Emperor is ultimately the Son of Heaven, with his own considerations; moreover, under the eyes of all, if we fail to overthrow Mu Mingcheng this time, we would merely give him an undeserved great advantage!

Mu Yuanzhi bit her lower lip, her heart torn as to whether to take a gamble.

Suddenly, a whistle sounded from outside the courtyard.

This whistle was a bit far; if you didn't listen carefully you couldn't hear it clearly, only a few people turned back to locate the source.

But Mu Yuanzhi heard it loud and clear—it was Gu Rongjin's voice!

He hadn't arrived yet, but he used the whistle to notify her first!

Mu Yuanzhi understood!

With this reassuring whistle, she knew he had already confirmed the answer!

Mu Yuanzhi lifted her smile again, glanced at Mu Mingcheng, then went around him and bowed to the Emperor: "Your Majesty! I'm sorry to only tell you now, for I too only just learned of this matter."

What matter?

Others didn't understand why?

Isn't the point now to have Master Mu acknowledge his ancestry and return to the clan?

Could it be that the situation has changed?

The banquet hall began to buzz with whispers.

"What is it? Princess, speak freely." The Emperor still smiled.

Mu Yuanzhi composed her expression and spoke solemnly: "Mu Mingcheng is neither my brother nor the son of the Grand General; I implore Your Majesty to see clearly!"

"What?!"

The scene instantly exploded in an uproar.

"Not?"

"Haven't we already done a blood-test to verify kinship?"

"Saying it's not at this point? That's too childish!"

"What's going on?"

Mu Mingcheng's eyes flickered with a fleeting oddity, but quickly a sense of grievance welled up; he stumbled back a step in disbelief: "Little sister, what are you saying?! Weren't we fine? Why are you suddenly refusing to acknowledge me as your brother? Did I do something wrong?"

This clumsy performance, just like Pei Yunxi's, stirred up bad memories among the Pei brothers; the more they looked at Mu Mingcheng, the more disgusted they felt.

The Emperor listened, still silent, when the Empress beside him spoke: "Could this be some misunderstanding?"

It was clear the Empress had been blinded by Mu Mingcheng's so-called life-saving favor; that's exactly the effect he wanted.

The Empress's words made the Emperor frown; he said to Mu Yuanzhi: "Princess, if you say that, do you have any new evidence?"

After steadying his emotions, Mu Mingcheng's gaze showed no flaw; he appeared wronged but holding it in, his voice choked as he called Mu Yuanzhi "little sister."

"Of course..."

Of course we have!

A lazy voice drowned out Mu Yuanzhi's words; everyone turned and saw Gu Rongjin striding over, head held high, and the people following him instantly made Mu Chengcheng's eyes widen.

How could Qi Shihuai be here?!

Beside Qi Shihuai was Pei Di, who had vanished at the outset; the master and disciple both stared at Mu Chengcheng, leaving Mu Chengcheng trembling with fear.

Pei Si put down his wine cup and finally fixed his gaze on this farce.

Reporting to Your Majesty, we have ample evidence proving that blood-drop kinship testing is completely unreliable! Gu Rongjin shouted loudly.

Nonsense!

No one knew who had spoken, but many people chimed in.

Blood-drop kinship testing is a precious legacy handed down from our ancestors! It's been this way for a thousand years—how could it be unreliable?

I think it's you, Young Master Jin, who's unreliable!

Young Master Jin is still too young; young people are prone to arrogance and complacency, and with a little achievement they dare to deny our ancestors' teachings.

The Prince of Pingnan drank, acting as if it had nothing to do with him; besides, he wasn't getting involved—his son's affairs were his own to settle!

Gu Rongjin really couldn't stand these old fogeys; he just uttered a sentence, as if stepping on their tails, and fortunately he spoke before little Mu Yuanzhi did, otherwise these guys would have found fault with her.

What's the rush, ladies and gentlemen? I, the Young Master, haven't even gotten to the main point yet.

Even the emperor was startled by Gu Rongjin's words and asked him, 'Young Master Jin, do you have any method to prove that blood-drop kinship testing is unreliable?'

First, please have Master Mu prick his finger. Gu Rongjin said with a smile.

Isn't this still blood-drop kinship testing? someone muttered.