Lin Qingge's words were met with a cold glare from Leng Ningyue, who proceeded to shoo her away.
Only after being unceremoniously expelled outside did Murong Bai couldn't help but pout,
"I say, Lin Da, what's so good about a woman fiercer than a tigress?
Look at you, you're already the emperor, the entire world is within your grasp, how frightening can a mere woman be…"
Suddenly, the door behind him was pushed open from within.
Leng Ningyue, clad in a phoenix robe, walked past the two of them with icy eyes. Murong Bai swallowed hard and immediately changed his tune,
"Indeed, indeed, quite frightening."
The new emperor cast a subtle glance at Murong Bai, his schadenfreude evident as if to say, 'Brother, don't be a coward, if you're so capable, then go ahead.'
Unable to confront the other person directly, Murong Bai pouted and steered the conversation,
"Lin Da, you seem to have known her identity for a long time?"
The new emperor remained silent, a tacit admission.
With his guess confirmed, Murong Bai murmured to himself,
"Since Lin Da, you already knew, then Rong San must have known as well.
But judging by her demeanor, it seems she didn't recognize you two initially, nor did she know your identities.
So, you and Rong San knew the real Lin Jingxing?
That makes sense, if you didn't know Lin Jingxing, Mo'er wouldn't have been entrusted to his care."
"Mo'er's existence was indeed revealed to me by Lin Jingxing, though I didn't believe it at first."
"You didn't believe it?"
"Yes, I didn't believe it."
The new emperor repeated, explaining,
"Being schemed into marrying Prime Minister Shangguan's daughter was already enough to infuriate me, and then a son suddenly appeared. How could I possibly believe it?
But whether I believed it or not, I sent Rong San to investigate, and he actually uncovered some clues.
I had already felt that the Crown Princess was somewhat strange; her personality and behavior were vastly different from the person in my memory.
After the investigation, it was discovered not only that the Crown Princess had been swapped, but also that there were many abnormalities around Madam Xiahou, Prime Minister Shangguan's concubine.
Later, when I contacted Lin Jingxing again, he had already sent Mo'er back to his hometown.
Considering the circumstances at the time, placing Mo'er in Lin Jingxing's hometown was indeed a good solution."
Upon hearing this, Murong Bai clicked his tongue,
"I say, Lin Da, you still think it's a good thing that your son was sent back to Lin Jingxing's hometown?
Aside from his looks, which he inherited from you, Mo'er is otherwise a perfect replica of someone.
Be careful, when he returns for his ancestral recognition, the first thing he'll do is empty your national treasury!"
"Bai Er, if I recall correctly, Mo'er's current tutor is you, isn't it?"
"Uh…
It seems there is such a thing."
Murong Bai gave a dry laugh and couldn't help but change the subject again,
"By the way, did you and the others appear in Changzhou County previously to see that Lin Jingxing?"
The new emperor nodded, "I suddenly received a message from Lin Jingxing saying that he might face danger soon and asked me to bring Mo'er back as soon as possible.
Additionally, out of gratitude for him saving Mo'er's life, he hoped I could take his sister and look after her as well."
"Face danger? Lin Jingxing knew he was going to die?"
"Presumably."
At this point, the new emperor sighed heavily, "Unfortunately, I was still a step too late.
But to my surprise, not only did Lin Jingxing's sister impersonate her brother and serve as an official in his stead, but she also formed a fake marital relationship with the real Shangguan Wan'er."
"After hearing you say that, Lin Da, I've become quite curious about Lin Jingxing."
"Lin Jingxing is indeed full of mysteries. Although I've only met him briefly a few times, it's not hard to see that he is a man of deep schemes and possesses the demeanor of a great general.
Alas, heaven envies talent. If he were still alive, he could have been an equal to Feng Si."
"It's rare to hear you, Lin Da, praise someone so highly. It seems Lin Jingxing was indeed a talented individual.
However, since Lin Jingxing knew he might face danger soon, with his intelligence, shouldn't he have been able to find a way to avert it?"
"Neither you nor I can read Lin Jingxing's mind, so how can we know what he was truly thinking?
But you should still be grateful to Lin Jingxing.
I heard from Rong San that when your father's fake death was exposed, he was hunted down, but it was Lin Jingxing who saved him and then kept him hidden at Putuo Temple all these years.
Though you cannot repay such a great favor to Lin Jingxing, repaying his sister is just as good."
"How do I repay? Do I have to offer myself?"
As if surprised to hear this from Murong Bai, the new emperor said with a smile,
"It's not impossible. Shall I issue a decree for a marriage later?"
"Forget it, your tigress will skin me alive if she finds out.
Besides, I'm used to being alone. If someone suddenly starts managing my purse strings, I fear I won't be able to sleep at night."
"Tsk, you and Rong San are truly cut from the same cloth!"
Hearing the new emperor's undisguised mockery, Murong Bai rolled his eyes to the sky and said irritably,
"Don't lump me in with that lunatic.
By the way, you mentioned just now that Rong San told you about my father?
That damned scoundrel, he didn't say a word to me about it!"
"Didn't say a word about what?"
Hua Jinrong, who had just narrowly escaped Ling Han's relentless attacks, approached fanning himself.
Murong Bai narrowed his eyes and repeated,
"I said, you clearly knew my father was still alive but didn't say a word to me about it!"
With that, Murong Bai casually tossed a handful of powder.
Caught off guard, Hua Jinrong hurriedly shielded himself with his fan but inadvertently inhaled some. The prescient new emperor had already retreated a safe distance away.
"No, Bai Er, what is this you're throwing?
Ah, Ah-choo—"
"Nothing, just sneezing powder and itching powder. Perfect for curing your foul mouth and mischievous nature."
"Bai Er, we're sworn brothers, how can you do this to me? You… you— Ah, Ah-choo—"
"I must be heartless."
Murong Bai nodded and continued,
"Also, let me correct you. The so-called sworn brotherhood means your life was saved by me. Next time, don't be so vague.
Otherwise, others might misunderstand."
"Bai… Ah, Ah-choo—"
Hua Jinrong was overcome with intense itching and sneezing violently. Just then, Lin Qingge, now in women's clothing, pushed the door open and emerged.
Fortunately, her Ningyue sister hadn't put her in such overly elaborate gowns and accessories this time, making it relatively easier to move.
"Alright, let's go."
"Wait, I'll accompany you."
As he spoke, Leng Ningyue crossed the threshold and walked out with Lin Qingge.
"Your Majesty, you still have court tomorrow morning. Why don't you go back and rest… Ah, Ah-choo—"
Watching the two figures walk away hand in hand, the somewhat disheartened new emperor shook his head, "No need. I won't be able to sleep anyway if I go back to rest."