Who put the yellow robe on me?

Empress Defei moved her lotus steps lightly. Although there were waves in her heart, she did not show it on her face, and walked slowly towards Wanhe Hall.

The wind outside the palace blew past, and she felt a hint of coolness. She thought to herself, "I wonder why His Majesty summoned me?"

Entering the hall, Concubine De bowed gracefully and said softly, "Your Majesty, I am honored to meet you!" Her voice flowed like a clear spring, full of respect and tenderness.

Emperor Liang nodded slightly, his eyes deep, as if he was thinking about something. He gestured to Zhao Ji beside him, who immediately stepped forward and handed a letter to Concubine De.

Defei took the letter, touched the letter paper with her fingertips, felt the coldness of the paper, and her doubts deepened.

Emperor Liang's voice echoed in the palace: "Defei, take a look at this and see if it was written by you?" His tone was calm, but there was a hint of imperceptible nervousness.

Concubine De lowered her eyes, gently unfolded the letter, and silently read: "Sixteenth Prince, pretending to be a royal descendant."

After seeing these eight short words, Concubine De took a deep breath, calmed herself down, bowed again, and said firmly, "Your Majesty, this letter was not written by me!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief, and the tense atmosphere in the hall eased slightly.

Emperor Liang's expression relaxed a bit, and he sighed softly, "Alright, this is clearly the work of a traitor! Lord Bai, please get to the bottom of this..."

However, before Emperor Liang could finish, Mu Shenru stepped forward and interrupted him, "Your Majesty!" There was a hint of urgency in his voice.

Emperor Liang frowned slightly and asked, "Lord Mu?" There was doubt in his tone.

Mu Shenru took a deep breath and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I am familiar with calligraphy in the world and will not make a mistake." His tone was full of confidence.

Emperor Liang's eyes became sharp and he asked, "Are you saying that my beloved concubine would lie to me?" His voice was low but full of majesty.

Mu Shenru quickly bowed and explained, "That's not what I meant!" His tone was filled with awe.

Emperor Liang frowned and continued to ask, "Then you...?" His words were full of doubts.

Mu Shenru turned to face Empress Defei and asked respectfully, "Your Majesty, can you recognize that this font is Bo Li?" There was anticipation in his eyes.

Defei stared at the letter, nodded after a moment and said, "Lord Mu, this is indeed Bo Li!" There was affirmation in her tone.

Mu Shenru continued to ask, "Your Majesty, in this capital, besides you, are there any other women who are proficient in this calligraphy?"

Defei pondered for a moment and replied, "My maid Xia Zhu is a relative who followed me to the capital. This girl can also write this calligraphy." There was a hint of hesitation in her voice.

Mu Shenru turned to Emperor Liang and said solemnly: "Your Majesty! I think that this letter slanders the identity of the Sixteenth Prince, so it should be thoroughly investigated. Otherwise, how can we explain to our ancestors?" His tone was full of justice.

Emperor Liang snorted coldly and ordered majestically: "Call Xia Zhu!" His voice echoed in the hall, revealing unquestionable authority.

After a while, Defei's personal maid Xia Zhu was summoned to Wanhe Hall.

The atmosphere in the hall became increasingly solemn, and everyone's eyes were focused on Xia Zhu.

She was dressed in the simple and elegant attire of a palace maid, and her steps were light, yet there was a hint of nervousness that was difficult to conceal.

Her gaze swept across the hall, finally stopping at Emperor Liang. She knelt on her knees, her voice trembling, "Your servant, Xia Zhu, pays homage to His Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

Emperor Liang's gaze was as sharp as a knife, staring coldly at Xia Zhu, as if trying to discern something from her expression. He waved his hand, signaling Prime Minister He to hand the letter to Xia Zhu.

Prime Minister He bowed slightly, presented the letter with both hands, and whispered, "Xia Zhu, take a look at this!"

Xia Zhu took the letter, her fingers trembling slightly. She slowly opened the letter, her eyes falling on the eight words, and her face turned pale instantly.

Her hands were shaking, as if she was holding not a piece of paper but a piece of hot charcoal.

"Xia Zhu!" Prime Minister He's voice suddenly rose, with a hint of majesty in his tone.

Xia Zhu's body trembled violently, as if his heart was seized by an invisible force.

She knelt on her knees, her voice trembling: "Your Majesty, please spare me! Prime Minister, please spare me!"

Prime Minister He turned his gaze towards Emperor Liang, nodded slightly, and then continued to ask, "Xia Zhu, did you write this?"

Consort De's face turned pale instantly, and a trace of disbelief flashed in her eyes. She stepped forward quickly, her voice filled with anxiety: "Xia Zhu, did you really write this?"

Xia Zhu's body trembled even more violently, like a trapped animal cornered in a corner. She lowered her head, her voice trembling, "Your Majesty, this was written by me!"

"How dare you!" The voice of Annan General Zhong Xiaodan exploded in the hall like thunder, shaking everyone's heart.

His eyes were as sharp as a knife, staring coldly at Xia Zhu, with a hint of murderous intent in his tone: "Xia Zhu, do you know that forging a letter and slandering the prince is a capital crime!"

Xia Zhu's body trembled violently, as if an invisible force had seized her heart. She lowered her head, her voice trembling: "Your servant... Your servant..."

A hint of pride flashed in Mu Shenru's eyes, and he continued to ask: "Xia Zhu! Is what you wrote true?"

Xia Zhu's lips trembled slightly, and her voice was as low as a mosquito: "I... I..."

Upon seeing this, Yang Zhengming, the Minister of the Dali Temple, frowned slightly, and a hint of deep thought flashed in his eyes.

He stepped forward quickly, his tone soothing: "Xia Zhu! Tell us everything you know, and His Majesty will make the decision for you!"

Xia Zhu's body trembled even more violently, like a trapped animal cornered. She took a deep breath, her voice trembling, "Yes! Your Majesty, the man in the hall is indeed the fake Sixteenth Prince!"

As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar broke out in the hall. Everyone's eyes turned to the Sixteenth Prince Jiang Chen, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

The sixteenth prince Jiang Chen said nothing, as if what Xia Zhu said had nothing to do with him!

Xia Zhu's voice trembled as she continued, "His Sixteenth Prince's personality changed drastically a year ago. Before, he was lustful and abused many of the young ladies in the palace. But in the past year, His Sixteenth Prince hasn't done anything and has even led troops into battle. This..."

Before she finished speaking, the ministers in the hall began to whisper to each other and discuss one after another.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Xia Zhu, as if waiting for her to uncover a secret that could overthrow the court.

Xia Zhu's voice echoed in Wanhe Hall, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.

Every word she said was like a sharp knife, pointing directly at the mystery of the identity of the sixteenth prince Jiang Chen.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense, and everyone's eyes were focused on Xia Zhu, as if waiting for her to uncover a secret that could subvert the court.