First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

“This is none of your business,” Gu Junxi said. “I’m only giving you three counts of time. Whether you confess or not is up to you. One, two, three…”

If the Crown Princess overhears what he said and wants to pursue the matter further, it's no different from being caught by Consort Li.

Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get stabbed anyway, so you might as well die sooner and be reborn sooner.

The two old women exchanged a glance, and the one with the scars on her face spoke up: "His Highness Prince Xuan is the child of this old servant and the Emperor."

Things turned out exactly as expected, but hearing what the old woman said herself still shocked me.

Gu Junxi paused for a moment, then stared at the old woman with a cold expression and a threatening tone.

"Do you know that if this is a lie, it is a crime of deceiving the emperor? Even if you had ten heads, it wouldn't be enough to cut them off."

The old woman pursed her lips, tears welling in her eyes. She said with aggrieved resentment, "I didn't lie. I have evidence, and I can confront Consort Li face to face."

Hearing the old woman's certain tone, Gu Junxi had no more doubts.

Actually, she already believed it when the old woman said she was Mu Lingxuan's mother. No one would be so bold as to impersonate a prince's mother.

Gu Junxi's eyes flickered slightly; she already had an idea.

She changed her expression and stepped forward to help the old woman up with a gentle smile: "May I ask how you are addressed, Madam?"

The old woman stood up and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve: "This servant is Fang Shuyan, the half-sister of Consort Li. When I was young, I looked about seven-tenths like Consort Li. If you don't believe me, you can ask around. Many people in the older generation should know this servant."

Gu Junxi stared intently at Fang Shuyan's face and discovered that Fang Shuyan did indeed resemble Consort Li somewhat.

The reason it's not obvious now is probably because Consort Li has maintained her appearance for many years, while Fang Shuyan was disfigured and has been hiding everywhere.

Therefore, he looked much older than Consort Li.

Gu Junxi nodded: "Aunt Fang, from what you just said, you seem to have a deep attachment to Prince Xuan. Then I will help you recognize Prince Xuan. Consort Li has only ever used Prince Xuan. Just a few days ago, Prince Xuan was heartbroken because Consort Li treated him badly. You probably don't want Prince Xuan to keep recognizing his enemy as his mother and being kept in the dark, do you?"

Fang Shuyan opened her lips, her subconscious reaction being refusal, after all, Consort Li was about to become Empress. Having an Empress as a mother could only benefit Mu Lingxuan's future.

But she had nothing.

She wanted to refuse, but when she met Gu Junxi's smiling eyes, she knew that she no longer had the right to refuse.

"I can see that Prince Xuan cares about you. No matter what your relationship with Prince Xuan is now, please don't hurt him, okay?" Fang Shuyan pleaded.

She and Mu Lingxuan are mortal enemies. If she doesn't harm Mu Lingxuan, he will force himself on her.

Gu Junxi naturally refused, but when she saw the sincere request in Fang Shuyan's eyes, she was willing to tell some white lies.

"Don't worry, Aunt Fang, I will not harm Prince Xuan."

Gu Junxi had just finished talking with Fang Shuyan when the two guards who had been assigned by Mu Lingxuan to protect her came looking for her anxiously.

Gu Junxi put her veil back on and gestured to take Fang Yanshu and the old woman who were with Fang Shuyan with her.

The two guards found it strange that Gu Junxi took the two old women away, but since Mu Lingxuan had given instructions beforehand, they did not stop her and followed his orders to bring Fang Shuyan and the other woman back to the courtyard.

Because he was busy with the matter of Consort Li's coronation as empress, Mu Lingxuan did not return to the palace until nightfall.

Upon hearing that Gu Junxi had brought Fang Shuyan back, they felt a little strange, but more than that, they felt that Gu Junxi had taken a liking to Fang Shuyan and wanted Fang Shuyan to serve her personally.

Mu Lingxuan took a bath and changed his clothes before going to Gu Junxi's courtyard.

When she arrived, Gu Junxi was already in the flower hall, holding a book in her hand, as if she had been waiting for her.

Mu Lingxuan sat down opposite Gu Junxi and spoke first: "I heard you brought two old women from the manor to the courtyard. Actually, I also think the old woman in charge of sweeping is quite good. Although she is a bit ugly, she is reliable in her work."

Upon hearing this, Gu Junxi put down her book and looked at Mu Lingxuan: "You only think that the old woman in charge of sweeping is reliable? You don't have any other thoughts!"

"Why would I have any feelings for a cleaning woman?" Mu Lingxuan frowned, thought for a moment, and said with a puzzled look, "It's strange, but I always feel a sense of familiarity whenever I see that cleaning woman."

It seems there is still a telepathic connection between mother and son. Hearing Mu Lingxuan say this, Gu Junxi knew that her preparations were almost complete.

She stood up, glanced into the inner room, and said, "You can come out now."

After saying that, Fang Shuyan came out accompanied by another old woman.

Fang Shuyan glanced uneasily at Mu Lingxuan before continuing to lower her head.

Over the years, in order to avoid Consort Li, Fang Shuyan has been living a life of hiding and running away, and has long been used to keeping her head down in front of anyone.

"Xixi, what are you doing?" Mu Lingxuan couldn't understand why Gu Junxi had called Fang Shuyan to her.

Gu Junxi didn't answer. She walked directly to Fang Shuyan, lifted Fang Shuyan's face, and asked Mu Lingxuan, "Take a close look at her face. Can you see anything?"

Mu Lingxuan frowned in confusion.

Gu Junxi brushed all the hair that was covering Fang Shuyan's face aside, and then reached out to temporarily cover the scar on Fang Shuyan's face.

"Mother." Almost the instant Gu Junxi covered up her scars, Mu Lingxuan blurted out.

He saw a Consort Li who was more than ten years older.

Why did this cleaning woman look so much like his mother? He knew all of his mother's brothers and sisters, but none of them were like this.

The more Mu Lingxuan thought about it, the more his brows furrowed, and a bad feeling crept into his heart.

Gu Junxi lowered her hand from Fang Shuyan's scars, said nothing, and handed the "stage" over to Fang Shuyan.

Fang Shuyan breathed a heavy sigh of relief before daring to look up at Mu Lingxuan: "Your Highness, I am actually your biological mother."

"How dare you!" Mu Lingxuan shouted, instinctively unwilling to accept it. "Do you know that what you just said could lead to the extermination of your entire family and the immediate removal of your head?"

As he spoke, he pointed angrily at Gu Junxi: "It was you, you taught her to say that, didn't you? You hate me that much? I've given you my heart, isn't that enough? You just want to see me suffer, to see me make a mess of things?"

Gu Junxi's eyes were indifferent: "I didn't teach her, it's all true. She has evidence."

Then, he looked at Fang Shuyan and said, "Aunt Fang, show me your evidence."

Fang Shuyan's eyes reddened as she recalled the past, and tears streamed down her face.

At this moment, she mustered up her courage and stared at Mu Lingxuan's face so carefully for the first time, finally no longer having to sneak around.