Qin Liuyan stopped crying.
She merely looked at Chu Qianli, her eyes filled with pity and sorrow.
"I am truly your mother, and you are my daughter… I'm sorry, sixteen years ago, it was my fault."
She lowered her gaze, tears falling one by one onto the ground.
Finally, she recounted the events of sixteen years ago, bit by bit.
"I knew that as long as Long Qianyue was around, I would never be able to hold my head up in front of the Master."
"As long as Long Qianyue's child was born, my child would forever have no future."
"It was precisely because of my poor background that I was unfavored in the mansion for so many years. I feared my daughter would tread the same path."
"Therefore, sixteen years ago, on the same night Long Qianyue gave birth, I bribed the midwife to find a way to swap Long Qianyue's child with mine."
"Coincidentally, on that very day, my fourth sister's daughter, Chu Feixue, was also born. The three children, with all the commotion, made it easier for the midwife to act."
"So," she raised her head, looking at Chu Qianli again, tears sliding down her cheeks once more.
"Li'er, you are my daughter, I am your mother!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I'm sorry, mother truly did it for your own good! Mother just loves you too much!"
Although Qin Liuyan had made a mistake, as a mother, her love for her child was great and not a sin.
Everyone present listened with a sense of desolation.
Only Chu Qianli remained expressionless.
She lowered her gaze to the woman who claimed to be her mother, her attitude still condescending, showing no trace of pity.
How could such arrogance be considered kind?
The Empress Dowager's dislike intensified upon seeing this.
The Emperor's expression grew even more grim: "Chu Qianli, you have impersonated Long Qianyue's daughter for sixteen years. Do you know your crime?"
Chu Qianli, however, felt like laughing: "May I ask Your Majesty, when did I know I was not Long Qianyue's daughter?"
"You…" The Emperor hadn't expected this mad girl to dare to talk back to him.
He held a high position; when had anyone dared to be so disrespectful in his presence?
For many years, there had only been one person, and that was Prince Xuan, Feng Yexuan!
It had to be said, this dead girl at this moment truly possessed some of Prince Xuan's aura.
However, the Emperor found himself unable to refute her words.
Eunuch Qing also didn't know what to say.
Even if she wasn't Long Qianyue's daughter, she only found out now, right?
This… couldn't be considered the crime of deceiving the emperor, could it?
As the imperial family remained silent, Chu Hongtao panicked and hurriedly said: "Wicked creature! How dare you be disrespectful in front of His Majesty! Kneel down and kowtow to admit your mistake!"
Chu Qianli, who didn't fear the Emperor, certainly wouldn't fear the so-called father who had never shown her any genuine affection.
She let out a cold laugh, her attitude utterly arrogant and presumptuous.
Long Ye wanted to say something, but in the end, not a single word escaped his lips.
Today, he was mentally exhausted and physically weak.
However, Long Feifan, standing beside Long Ye, looked at Chu Qianli with a hint of admiration in his eyes.
He had been fighting on the frontiers for many years and hadn't had much contact with his young niece.
He had only heard about her untamable nature.
But in his eyes now, the words "untamable" had become a compliment.
This unyielding spirit was incredibly endearing.
What a pity, why wasn't she Yue'er's daughter?
He realized he truly liked this little girl.
Chu Qianli continued to look at the Emperor and suddenly sneered: "Words are not proof. With just two mouths, who can guarantee they are telling the truth? I could also say that Qin Liuyan, to help her daughter Chu Huaiyu ascend, is slandering me, saying I am not Long Qianyue's daughter."
She took a step forward and smiled: "I do have a way to prove that I am truly Long Qianyue's daughter!"