Chapter 339: The Hidden Heir

Although he clearly knew that he was no match for Keshun Sanfeng, Shang Qinghua still decided to give it a try.

At that moment, Yue Mingxuan emerged from the shadows.

His Ninefold Celestial Mystery Technique had been stuck at the fourth level for a long time and he had been searching for a way to improve his strength.

Real combat was the best way to refine one’s martial skills.

What he did not know was that when the emperor of Beirong saw his face, he was momentarily lost in memory.

Yue Mingxuan bore an uncanny resemblance to Empress Suyin.

It was as though the emperor had returned to the very first moment he met her, to that straightforward and vibrant woman.

The instant Shang Qinghua saw Yue Mingxuan step forward, he immediately altered his original plan.

Now, his priority was to ensure Yue Mingxuan’s safety while still finding a way to remove Keshun Sanfeng’s mask.

No matter what happened, Yue Mingxuan’s well-being mattered most to him.

In what felt like a flash of lightning, the mask on Keshun Sanfeng’s face was suddenly lifted by Yue Mingxuan.

He had used no weapon at all, just his bare hands and yet he remained completely unharmed.

The face beneath the mask bore an unmistakable resemblance to Rong Zishen.

It had to be said, Rong Zishen’s features carried traces of both Keshun Sanfeng and Concubine Keshun.

At a glance, it was clear.

He was the child of those two.

The emperor of Beirong was burning with rage.

He had always trusted Keshun Sanfeng, yet he never imagined that his own consort had been involved with this man and even borne his child.

What he found most unbearable was that this very person had nearly caused Shang Qinghua’s death.

If Shang Qinghua had not, by a twist of fate, been sent to Xieshang back then, he might have remained deceived for the rest of his life.

In those years, the person he loved most had been Empress Suyin and her death had left him burdened with deep guilt.

Now, he could not even protect the only child she had left behind.

A profound sense of helplessness weighed heavily on him.

Back then, that most exceptional woman had chosen him and he had felt immeasurably fortunate. Yet now, he realized that the son she bore had been secretly replaced with another child.

No wonder as Rong Zishen grew older, he found himself liking him less and less.

He had once believed it was due to his own failure in upbringing, but now he understood, it was simply because that child was not his and Empress Suyin’s at all.

His eyes grew moist.

Still, his martial foundation was far from weak.

Seeing Yue Mingxuan and Shang Qinghua fighting so desperately, he finally resolved not to remain hidden any longer.

He stepped forward and engaged Keshun Sanfeng in battle.

The fight was fierce and exhilarating.

He ordered Shang Qinghua and Yue Mingxuan to step back, choosing to clash with Keshun Sanfeng in a life-and-death struggle on his own.

The two were of similar age and the outcome was naturally that both were wounded.

However, his injuries were not too severe.

In the end, Keshun Sanfeng fled in panic, while he still had enough strength to remain standing.

Meanwhile, the jade pendant that Shang Qinghua had been carefully protecting was snatched away by Keshun Sanfeng in the chaos.

“F-Father… Your Majesty…” Though the words felt somewhat awkward, Shang Qinghua was, after all, his biological son.

During his years as a hostage in Beirong, although he had been a hostage in name, the emperor had treated him rather well.

“No wonder I always felt your features were somewhat familiar. As for that young man—” his gaze shifted to Yue Mingxuan, “who exactly are you?”

“You don’t recognize me anymore?” Yue Mingxuan stuck out his tongue slightly and said, “You really are forgetful.”

Hearing that familiar voice and seeing that familiar figure, the emperor could no longer hold back. “You are Prince Yue?”

“My apologies. Back then, in order to leave this place, I committed the crime of deceiving the emperor,” Yue Mingxuan lowered his head, looking deeply remorseful. “However, Rong Qinglei’s death… I was indeed partly responsible. He was killed by Rong Zishen.”

It was one thing that Rong Zishen was not his son, but Rong Qinglei was undoubtedly the emperor of Beirong’s biological child.

And among all his sons, he had once been the one he favored the most.

“So Qing’er died for your sake.” Even after learning the truth, the emperor was still deeply grieved, yet he knew that the dead could not be brought back.

Yue Mingxuan’s features bore an uncanny resemblance to Empress Suyin.

If it weren’t for the familiarity of Yue Mingxuan, he might have truly believed that the peerless woman had returned to life once more.

“I’m sorry… I couldn’t save him. Back then, I was far too useless,” Yue Mingxuan said, guilt weighing heavily on him.

“Concubine Keshun?” Shang Qinghua glanced around and noticed that Concubine Keshun had already collapsed to the ground.

The emperor was about to speak, but Shang Qinghua stopped him. “Spare her life. She might still know something about Keshun Sanfeng.”

Keshun Sanfeng…

He shivered at the name, his teeth grinding in hatred.

“That jade pendant—”

“It’s actually with me,” Yue Mingxuan said carefully, retrieving the jade pendant from his chest with extreme caution. “At the time, Prince Shang had already devised a plan to deal with Keshun Sanfeng. He feared that Keshun Sanfeng might seize the pendant, so he made a replica that closely resembled the original.”

“If it could be replicated so well, why then give me such a poorly made one? In all my life, I’ve never seen jade so inferior,” the emperor said, allowing a faint smile to slip through despite the heaviness in his heart.

“That’s just to save on craftsmanship costs,” Yue Mingxuan said with a shrug. “I’m quite poor, you see. All the family wealth has been taken by your own son!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep