Chapter 36: Huarong
Leaving the great hall, Li Yuanling led Li Musheng to her room in Aurora Pavilion.
"Let's speak frankly. Who exactly are you, Miss Li?"
Li Musheng casually sat down on a stool in the room, looking at ease as he gazed at the handsome-featured young person before him.
Li Yuanling remained silent for a moment, then sat down across from Li Musheng. She picked up the teapot from the table and poured him a cup of water, then propped her chin on her hand and asked, "How much do you know about the Seventh Prince's affairs?"
Li Musheng raised his eyebrows, "Which aspect is Miss Li referring to?"
"For instance, do you know what kind of person the Seventh Prince's mother consort was? Or do you know he has an older sister who is the current eldest princess? Or how much do you know about the Seventh Prince's maternal family?"
Hearing this, Li Musheng studied her suspiciously for a moment, then said, "Could it be that you are that eldest princess of Great Li?"
Li Yuanling rolled her eyes and said, "She wouldn't come to see you. That eldest princess is busy running around everywhere trying to rescue the fake prince from the heavenly prison. She even knelt in front of Tianqian Palace for several nights some days ago."
Li Musheng's gaze flickered as he asked, "Then who are you?"
"Guess?" Li Yuanling's eyes revealed a trace of anticipation. Li Musheng stroked his chin and said with narrowed eyes, "I guess... you must be that naturally beautiful and incomparably talented Princess Huarong."
Hearing this, Li Yuanling's expression froze for a moment, then her face lit up with joy as she nodded, "You guessed right!"
Then she blinked her eyes and said with unexpected delight, "Moreover, you speak quite pleasantly."
Li Musheng showed an expression of 'just as I thought.'
Regarding the Seventh Prince's affairs, he had naturally heard Cang Yinyue mention them on the road to Shangyang City.
The Seventh Prince's mother was Consort Jing, though she had passed away three years ago.
He also had an older sister, who was Great Li's eldest princess. However, that eldest princess didn't seem concerned about finding her real younger brother, but instead cared extraordinarily about the fake prince.
Not only had she repeatedly begged Emperor Yuanwu to show mercy and release him, she had also been constantly trying to find ways to rescue him.
Besides this, the Seventh Prince also had a sworn younger sister who was originally the only daughter of Great Li's Prince of Zhennan.
However, after the Prince of Zhennan and his wife died in battle at Tianqiu City ten years ago, she was adopted by Consort Jing as her sworn daughter and kept by her side. Emperor Yuanwu, remembering the contributions of the Prince of Zhennan and his wife to Great Li, specially issued an edict conferring upon her the title of "Princess Huarong."
Consort Jing doted on this sworn daughter extremely, and the relationship between them was no different from that of a real mother and daughter.
This was also why Li Musheng guessed her identity. That Princess Huarong's name was Li Yuanling, similar to the name of the young person before him. Additionally, given her personality, she truly would come to Aurora Pavilion to meet this sworn brother she had never met before.
However, after studying her for a while, Li Musheng still asked with some curiosity, "You seem very certain that I am the real Seventh Prince?"
Li Yuanling nodded seriously and said, "The first moment I saw you, I knew you must be my sworn brother without a doubt. Not only do you resemble His Majesty a little, you're even sixty percent similar to my godmother."
Then she stuck out her tongue and said with a smile, "When you said earlier that you're handsome, it's all inherited from my godmother's beauty."
Hearing this, Li Musheng touched his own face and suddenly remembered that Cang Yinyue had also been deeply convinced of his identity as the Seventh Prince.
Besides being quite confident in her professional abilities, it was probably also because of his face.
Thinking of this, Li Musheng actually began to truly believe to some degree that he was the Seventh Prince. After all, genetic factors were truly universal.
"Alright, since you've already met me, you should go back to wherever you came from next and leave this troublesome place of Aurora Pavilion as soon as possible."
At this point, Li Musheng waved his hand and stood up, preparing to leave.
Since he had confirmed Li Yuanling's identity and resolved his doubts, naturally there was no need for him to stay any longer.
To be honest, Li Musheng didn't have many thoughts about his identity as the Seventh Prince or the series of interpersonal relationships it brought with it.
What interested him most about coming to the Great Li imperial capital was still martial Dao transcendence.
"You meet this sister of yours and aren't excited at all? Don't want to stay and talk with me?"
Li Yuanling suddenly stood up, extending her hand to block Li Musheng's path, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
Li Musheng glanced at her, thought for a moment, then shrugged and said, "Miss Li, all of this has happened too suddenly. You need to give me some time to adjust. Everything must come slowly."
With that, he pushed her hand aside and walked straight out the door.
Li Yuanling turned around suspiciously, watching Li Musheng's departing back, feeling that he was being somewhat perfunctory.
Saying it was too sudden and he needed time to adjust.
But she hadn't seen the slightest trace of surprise or happiness on Li Musheng's face just now.
"I won't leave. I'm staying here to protect you for my godmother."
Li Yuanling called out to Li Musheng's retreating back.
Hearing this, Li Musheng waved his hand without looking back, then walked along the corridor upstairs and returned to his own room.
Closing the door, Li Musheng glanced at the young armored soldier under the bed and saw his eyes flickering as if he had something to say.
However, he remained unmoved and shook his head, saying, "I gave you a chance earlier and you were useless. Now if you want to talk, it's too late. Wait until tonight and you'll suffer for it."
With that, Li Musheng paid him no more attention.
After all, even if the other party was willing to speak now, he couldn't be sure whether what he said was true or false. It was better to hand him over to Cang Yinyue to deal with, to avoid wasting time.
Next, Aurora Pavilion became lively. Not only the Tianjin Guards, but Six Doors also sent a bunch of people.
The chief eunuch of the Palace Supervisor from the palace and the Vice Commander of the Tianjin Guards personally took charge, taking over all matters of Aurora Pavilion.
All the guards of Aurora Pavilion were completely replaced, and security was several times stricter than before. It could truly be said that not even a fly could enter.
The young people in Aurora Pavilion underwent another more careful inspection. After confirming that everyone was fine, Aurora Pavilion finally settled down temporarily.
At the same time, the Tianjin Guards and Six Doors were doing their utmost to pursue the escaped armored soldier.
Not only because he had killed and caused chaos, leaving Northern Qi Dark Energy in the bodies of those ten young people in Aurora Pavilion.
Moreover, Yu Jin, including the four supervising eunuchs An Quan and the others, as well as Ji Feiyun and Gong Lishan, had also been struck by that armored soldier's Northern Qi Dark Energy.
Although Yu Jin and the other experts could suppress it with their own true qi, it was still a major hidden danger. They still needed to capture that armored soldier to completely resolve the problem.
However, all of this didn't have much to do with Li Musheng.
And as time passed, the sky finally darkened.