High-Density Identity Revealed
Gu Liangzhe glanced to the side, just as Prince Ling entered the palace with Princess Ling Consort to pay respects to the Emperor.
Gu Liangzhe paused and said, "Your Majesty, I have a confidential report..."
Hearing there was a confidential report, Emperor Jin Xuan raised his brows and looked up at Gu Liangzhe. Then he said to Prince Ling and Princess Ling Consort, "Prince Ling, take Princess Ling Consort to greet your mother, the Empress."
"Yes, Father." Prince Ling led Princess Ling Consort out of the imperial study, heading straight to the Empress's palace.
Emperor Jin Xuan dismissed all the attendants, leaving only himself and Gu Liangzhe in the imperial study. "Gu Aiqing, you may speak now," said the Emperor.
A flash of hesitation crossed Gu Liangzhe's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a look of stubborn resolve. Gu Liangzhe solemnly declared to Emperor Jin Xuan, "Your Majesty, I must accuse someone of deceiving you, committing treason, and upending the natural order!"
"Oh? Who could be so brazen?" Emperor Jin Xuan's interest was piqued. Who could be important enough for Grand Tutor Gu to accuse before him?
Gu Liangzhe said, "It is none other than the Dean of the Royal Mathematics Institute, Professor Jade Evans!"
"Professor Jade Evans? The young prodigy who helped Jin win the championship at the Jin-Chu Masters Tournament?" Emperor Jin Xuan asked.
"That's right. It is indeed Professor Jade Evans!" Gu Liangzhe replied.
Emperor Jin Xuan grew even more puzzled. "From what I've seen, Professor Jade Evans is elegant and devoted solely to teaching. I've never heard of any scandals, nor seen him act out of line. Why would Grand Tutor Gu say he deceived me, committed treason, and upended the natural order?"
Gu Liangzhe took a deep breath and looked up at Emperor Jin Xuan. "That is because, Your Majesty, I have just discovered today that Professor Jade Evans is actually a woman!"
"What? Professor Jade Evans is a woman?" Emperor Jin Xuan was caught between laughter and disbelief. "Are you sure you haven't made a mistake? I've seen Professor Jade Evans's talents with my own eyes. How could such a renowned prodigy be a woman?"
Gu Liangzhe bowed and said, "I would never dare deceive Your Majesty. I have already investigated thoroughly. The true identity of Professor Jade Evans is Princess Lily Hayes, wife of Prince Alexander Hayes."
"Professor Jade Evans is actually Princess Lily Hayes!?" Emperor Jin Xuan stared at Gu Liangzhe's earnest expression, truly shocked.
Gu Liangzhe, a powerful and capable official, had come to report this matter with such seriousness that Emperor Jin Xuan knew he was neither joking nor mistaken.
Emperor Jin Xuan recalled the day of the tournament, when Professor Jade Evans defeated the scholars from Chu, and the day of Xiao Zetian's grand wedding, when the bold Princess Lily Hayes dared to ask him for the title of 'Imperial Merchant.'
If what Gu Liangzhe said was true—if Professor Jade Evans was indeed Princess Lily Hayes...
Then this woman had truly deceived the emperor, committed treason, and upended the natural order!
Emperor Jin Xuan suddenly felt he had been played for a fool by the Prince and Princess of Qin. Instantly enraged, he slammed what he was holding onto the floor and roared, "Well done, Prince Qin! Well done, Princess Qin! How dare you deceive me like this! In this world, women are born inferior to men, meant to stay at home and serve their husbands and raise children. Yet Princess Lily Hayes dares to show her face in business, and now, unbelievably, she disguised herself as a man and fooled me in front of everyone at the tournament! I even admired Professor Jade Evans and considered giving him an official post—who knew he was actually a woman! She truly has no respect for me!"