On Our Wedding Night, I Discovered the Crown Prince's Hidden Illness-Chapter 202 - The Source of Beauty

Chapter 202 -202 The Source of Beauty

In his home, Lai Ran had endured the pain of drawing blood once, and whenever he recalled it, his heart ached immensely.

At this moment, faced with baseless accusations, he couldn’t bear to see his precious daughter’s finger pricked again.

The person who had just clamored that Leng Yu Yan, if not Lai Ran’s biological daughter, should be executed, raised his voice again, “Does Prince Zhenbei have any other method? Merely avoiding is not a solution, Prince Zhenbei is showing too much disrespect to the Emperor!”

Hearing this, the Emperor secretly nodded.

This man had indeed voiced his inner thoughts.

Lai Ran glanced coldly at the man, his eyes carrying an unmistakable chill. The man had a sharp, monkey-like face, full of deceit, a parasite that should not remain in the court.

Seeing Lai Ran ignoring Liu Ming, the Emperor spoke, “Prince Zhenbei, if you have any method, please feel free to speak.”

Lai Ran smiled faintly, “Then I’m sorry, but could the Emperor find someone to shave me?”

At these words, the whole room erupted into murmurs.

The Emperor’s eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he gestured for Eunuch Ye to summon the Imperial Cleansing Master.

Soon, the Emperor’s Imperial Cleansing Master arrived at Xiande Hall.

Little eunuchs brought in a reclining chair.

Xiande Hall, the place for court sessions and significant palace banquets, had now become Prince Zhenbei’s private bathroom.

Suddenly, whispers among the guests rose.

Lai Ran, as if oblivious, lay down on the reclining chair—the Emperor wanted to embarrass him, but how could he not turn the tables?

The Cleansing Master glanced at the Emperor, who gave him a look, and he quietly nodded.

He picked up the scissors, first trimming Lai Ran’s long beard, then wrapped a hot towel around his face. Moments later, he applied a fine brush dipped in fragrant cream to the beard.

Just as the Cleansing Master was about to wield the knife, Leng Yu Yan saw that the blade was aimed not at the beard, but at her father’s neck.

Startled, she called out, “Father King, let us verify our kinship with blood instead.”

“The pain of pricking Yan’er’s finger is the pain in Father King’s heart.”

Lai Ran sat up from the reclining chair, his thick, calloused hand gripping the Cleansing Master’s wrist.

“This craftsman shaves the Emperor’s face every day, there’s no reason he should be aiming at my neck, right?”

Caught in their scrutiny, the Cleansing Master’s back was covered in cold sweat, and his hands trembled uncontrollably before he finally said, “Your Highness is correct, I only shave beards.”

Lai Ran released his grip.

It took a while for the Cleansing Master to calm down before he shakily resumed the shave.

On the Dragon Chair, the Emperor’s hands underneath the table clenched visibly.

Such an opportunity, missed.

He had not detected any malpractice in the Cleansing Master’s movements; yet Leng Yu Yan and Lai Ran had spotted something amiss.

Lai Ran was indeed a man who couldn’t be kept!

However, having missed this chance, he would have to wait for another.

At least for now, no further moves could be made.

A cup of tea’s time passed, and Lai Ran’s face was cleanly shaven.

He tore off the bib around his neck, threw it onto the reclining chair, stood up, and majestically adjusted his robe.

Immediately, his gaze swept around coldly.

The civil and military officials present, including all the princes, princesses, and even the seated Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Consort Xian, were all so shocked that they were lost for words.

The untidy Prince Zhenbei, whose appearance, apart from his great stature, had always resembled a typical military officer.

But now, with his now long beard shaven clean, his features were strikingly handsome.

Handsome enough to make women feel ashamed of their plainness.

It’s no wonder, as Prince Zhenbei had entered the capital city always with his unkempt beard, never having shaved in the capital to reveal his true face.

In Tiancheng, it was already a popular custom for men to grow beards, adding to their handsome appearance.

Suddenly, it dawned on people that Leng Yu Yan’s beauty came from him!

This father and daughter shared a striking resemblance in their features.

Only two points remained, her father favored handsomeness, her daughter gentleness.

Pondering a blood test seemed unnecessary, it was clear at a glance that they were biologically father and daughter!

After his initial shock, the Emperor chuckled, “Prince Zhenbei has found his daughter, this truly calls for celebration. Since the matter has been clarified, let the banquet begin.”

Unexpectedly, a minister spoke up, “Though Princess Beilan is indeed Prince Zhenbei’s daughter, it raises a question for me, how did Prince Zhenbei have an affair with Marquis Ningyuan’s wife which led to the birth of Princess Beilan?”

The turn of events caught everyone off guard.

Many eyes shifted to Leng Zongfa of Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion.

The whispers and snickers grew louder.

One minister, who had been on good terms with Leng Zongfa, asked loudly, “Could it be that Prince Zhenbei, relying on his power, assaulted the man’s wife?”

The crowd burst into speculation.

Some even demanded Leng Zongfa to stand and say a few words.

Leng Zongfa’s face went from pale to green, “Mrs. Zhang, she was unfaithful…”

He hadn’t finished speaking when he saw Lai Ran looking at him dispassionately.

The Emperor watched the scene with keen interest; should Lai Ran’s reputation be ruined over this, he would have bested him.

“Prince Zhenbei, please clarify this matter.”

Unafraid, Lai Ran merely smiled faintly, “Isn’t it Leng Zongfa who’s been cuckolded?”

“How could any of you judge the affairs of the past when none of you were involved?”

“The truth is, both the mother of Yan’er and I were harmed by others. If any of you continue to speculate, I have reason to believe that those gossips have a hand in the past events, aiming to ruin my reputation.”

“If anyone dares slander Yan’er’s mother now, I will believe that very slanderer is the one who took her life!”

By the time Prince Zhenbei had finished speaking, the murmuring quickly ceased.

The death of Mrs. Zhang always carried an air of mystery.

How could the people of the capital be unaware?

Before Mrs. Zhang died, her son Leng Yi was killed in battle. After her death, her daughter was abandoned in the mountains.

Who were they, outsiders, to try and unravel such a story with but a few words?

Moreover, Lai Ran in battle was known as the Ghost Face Military God.

Despite his extraordinary handsomeness now, his methods of killing made people shiver.

Momentarily, most sided with Lai Ran.

“Speaking of which, this affair has its roots sixteen years ago, just when Prince Zhenbei took over his title from Old Prince Zhenbei.”

“Yes, it was a setup!”

“Somebody must have envied the prosperity of Prince Zhenbei Mansion.”

“With the many branches of the Leng Family, such schemes are very probable.”

The crowd’s eyes turned towards the table of Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion.

Overwhelmed by humiliation, Leng Zongfa turned deathly pale, but what could he say now? Mrs. Feng beside him even broke a fingernail in an effort to remain composed.

Suddenly, many ladies also spoke up in support.

“Everyone knows the profound love between Prince Zhenbei and Princess. There are no other women in the back hall of the Prince Mansion.”

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“We truly envy them for this!”

To think, such a handsome Prince Zhenbei, who had defended Mrs. Zhang even just for one night’s sake, cherished his Princess even more, inciting both jealousy and admiration.

And yet their husbands, not only less attractive, indulged in philandering.

Suddenly, many of the ladies began to openly question their own husbands.

The unexpected developments took the Tian Family by surprise.

The Emperor cleared his throat, “Alright, alright, it’s getting late, let the banquet begin.”

But shortly after the banquet started, a loud announcement came from outside the hall, “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!”

The bustling scene inside the hall went silent instantly, as people turned their heads toward the entrance…