nycdaug Chapter 9: The resemblance is uncanny!
Chapter 9: The resemblance is uncanny!
As Xianglan slowly revealed her true form before him, Li Longji's memorial slipped from his hand, and he rose from his seat.
As if frozen in place, he stood there staring blankly at Xianglan, his gaze unfocused, unable to recover for a long time.
"It looks like! It's so similar!"
Li Longji murmured to himself, his expression like that of a traveler lost in memories of the past.
Li Mao, who had been observing Li Longji's expression, slightly raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a subtle, almost imperceptible smile.
Although Xianglan only resembled her mother by about 80%, she was carefully trained by her uncle Wuzhong.
Today, she is elegant and charming in every move, and her every smile and frown is full of charm, as if Consort Wu Hui has been reincarnated.
After a moment, Li Longji seemed to wake up from a dream and slowly sat back down on the dragon throne.
Yet his eyes still held a trace of confusion and bewilderment, as if the scene before him was a dream, making it difficult for him to distinguish between reality and memory.
Li Longji remained silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to Xianglan again and said softly, "Come closer and let me take a good look."
Upon hearing this, Xianglan slowly approached as instructed.
And so, Li Longji carefully examined Xianglan's face, as if trying to find more familiar traces in her.
Gradually, he discovered that Xianglan not only looked somewhat similar to Consort Wu Hui, but also exuded an aura that subtly resembled that of Consort Wu Hui.
However, Li Longji's vigilance, which had been ingrained by years of experience in court intrigue, was not diminished.
The image of Yang Yuhuan involuntarily surfaced in his mind, and he pondered to himself.
Could it be that this Eighteenth Prince is trying to use this woman to distract me from my infatuation with Yang Yuhuan?
Thinking of this, Li Longji frowned slightly, and the vigilance in his deep eyes grew stronger, like a bottomless cold pool.
He slowly sat back on the dragon throne, his gaze fixed on Xianglan like a hawk, as if trying to see through her.
"Where are you from?"
Seeing this, Xianglan felt a little nervous, but she forced herself to calm down.
She curtsied slightly, her movements elegant and graceful, revealing a woman's gentleness and humility.
"Your Majesty, I am from Chang'an."
Her voice was soft and melodious, like a clear mountain spring flowing gently through the oppressive atmosphere, yet a slight tremor betrayed her inner unease.
"Where do you live, and how many people live in your family?"
Li Longji then asked, his eyes growing increasingly sharp.
Xianglan bowed again and replied, "My home is in a village outside Chang'an City."
"As for my parents, they have long since passed away, leaving only my younger brother and sister to depend on each other for survival."
At this point, tears welled up in her eyes.
The glistening tears, like cold stars twinkling in the night sky, conveyed endless sorrow and desolation.
After asking these questions, Li Longji fell into deep thought.
What exactly is Shibalang's intention in doing this?
But looking at Xianglan, who resembled Consort Wu Hui so much, he couldn't help but waver and fell into a vortex of confusion.
Li Mao stood quietly to the side, leaning slightly forward with a smile on his face.
He was eager to see what kind of effect his move would have...
At this moment, Li Longji's gaze sharpened, and he looked directly at Li Mao, his eyes full of scrutiny.
"What is the purpose of bringing this person here?"
Under Li Longji's watchful gaze, which felt like a thorn in his back, Li Mao's expression instantly turned utterly desolate. He gently wiped his face with the back of his hand, and tears streamed down his face.
"Father, since Mother passed away, you have been unable to eat or drink, and have been immersed in sorrow all day long. Your health has also been deteriorating."
“Father, I see this and it pains me deeply. So I spared no effort to search everywhere and finally found a woman who resembles my mother.”
"Your Majesty, I only wish that she could stay by your side, serving you tea and extinguishing the lamps, so as to ease your longing for me."
Gao Chen, who was standing to the side, was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
Who would have thought that Prince Shou had this trick up his sleeve!
It seems they'll escape unscathed again this time...
Damn it, such a great opportunity...
Gao Chen gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with resentment and anger, his expression like that of a beast that had seen its prey escape.
Even after receiving Li Mao's answer, Li Longji remained suspicious. He scrutinized Li Mao, who was kneeling before him, and asked indifferently.
"But is it true?"
Faced with Li Longji's questioning again, Li Mao, who was kneeling on the ground, quickly shouted, "Your subject's heart is as clear as the sun and moon, and there is absolutely no falsehood in it."
"I only hope that Father Emperor will be happy, then I will be content."
Li Longji nodded slightly, but a trace of doubt remained in his eyes as he spoke a warning.
"As a prince, you should know what to do and what not to do. Step down!"
"My son, please retire."
Li Longji casually waved his hand, slowly withdrawing his gaze from Li Mao and turning his attention back to Xianglan.
At this moment, his eyes gradually became unfocused, and his face became slightly flushed, as if he were immersed in some complex emotion.
Seeing this, Li Mao took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
"My son, please retire."
……
After leaving the Imperial Study, Li Mao's lips curled into a cold smile.
Even the cheap emperor has fallen for the trap!
Although his father, the emperor, had some doubts about his true intentions, so what?
He walked right into the trap he set for himself.
From the very beginning, when I brought Xianglan here, my purpose was never to dissuade my father, the emperor, from coveting my wife!
Xianglan's existence was merely a way for him to divert his father's attention from him.
With Xianglan by her father's side, it will be easier for her to do things more freely in the future.
With this in mind, Li Mao strode out of Xingqing Palace in high spirits.
But before he could take more than a few steps, a sinister voice suddenly rang out from behind Li Mao.
"Prince Shou, congratulations! You've escaped another calamity!"
"But next time, that might not be the case."
The voice was sharp and piercing, filled with hostility and threat.
Hearing that shrill voice, Li Mao knew without turning around that it was Gao Chen, that dog of a eunuch, who had followed him!
That bastard, he's like a persistent ghost!
Li Mao cursed inwardly, but showed no sign of anger on the surface.
She simply turned around with a cold smile, looking at Gao Chen expressionlessly.
"I thank Eunuch Gao for the reminder."
After saying that, Li Mao ignored Gao Chen and strode away from Xingqing Palace.
As Li Mao's figure gradually disappeared from sight, Gao Chen's face instantly darkened like a sky filled with dark clouds, and he angrily flung the whisk in his hand.
Damn it, how did that damned Prince Shou escape again!
No, we simply can't swallow this insult.
"Prince Shou, just wait and see. Next time, we won't let you get away with it!"