Blood Oath

Xiao Qianyì thought that once he said this, everyone would be shaken, especially Xiao Qianyu, who would panic.

To his surprise, Emperor Yongchang appeared very indifferent. The Empress's expression twisted, and she ultimately looked toward the Emperor, as if following her husband as her guiding principle in all things.

Xiao Qianyu remained completely unruffled.

Only the Empress Dowager showed a slight stir, but the emotions in her eyes were too complex to read.

Xiao Qianyì's heart tightened. He knocked his head heavily on the ground. "Father... no, Your Majesty, give me a chance. I will soon prove that I am not impersonating the Royal Bloodline. Once the bloodline is proven genuine, Xiao Qianyu's so-called 'miracle' will collapse on its own."

Others might believe that the gods favored Xiao Qianyu, even sending down lightning to protect him, but Xiao Qianyì did not believe a word of it.

Though the common people had been superstitious about gods and spirits since ancient times, fearing ghosts and deities, who had ever actually seen a divine being manifest in the world? No one.

All the myths, all the demons and monsters, were nothing but legends—passed down through books and oral stories from generation to generation, but never witnessed by anyone.

Xiao Qianyì was more inclined to believe that all of this was nothing but lies fabricated by people.

He didn't need to figure out how the 'miracle' was faked; it was probably just some charlatan's trick from the streets. As long as he was certain it was false, that was enough.

Xiao Qianyu let out a cold sneer. "Stubborn resistance, refusing to repent even in death."

Emperor Yongchang had also grown impatient. For the Empress Dowager's sake, he asked, "I will give you one last chance. How do you intend to prove it?"

Xiao Qianyì spoke with confidence. "Please, Your Majesty, have someone prepare a bowl of clear water."

Emperor Yongchang was suspicious, but he held back his temper and gave a slight nod. Defu bowed and turned to prepare it himself.

The hall fell into dead silence, everyone waiting for the water to arrive.

Before long, Defu returned with a bowl of clear water.

He walked over to Xiao Qianyì and said, "The water is here. Now what?"

Xiao Qianyì glanced at the bowl, then said with full assurance, "Find a knife as well. The Emperor and I will perform a Blood Oath in front of everyone. If our blood merges, it proves that the Emperor and I are father and son. I believe my adoptive parents would never lie to harm anyone."

He was absolutely certain. His adoptive parents were not fools. If his identity weren't real, why would they, burdened by guilt and wanting to make amends, go so far as to confess to the Emperor and then take their own lives in atonement?

What benefit would that bring them?

If they were plotting rebellion, wouldn't they have told him and consulted him? But the truth was, they had said nothing to him.

So Xiao Qianyì was utterly convinced of his identity. He was the eldest son of the Emperor and Empress.

Xiao Qianyu scoffed. That was it?

"How dare you! You presume to harm the Father Emperor's sacred body? Do you even deserve it?" The first to object was the Second Prince.

He didn't like either of them, so he seized any chance to trample on one.

The Emperor's body was supremely honored. A Blood Oath would require Emperor Yongchang's blood—an act of grave disrespect.

"Your Majesty, I only need one drop of blood, just one drop. I swear it won't harm your body. Would you rather be deceived and let their scheme succeed?" Xiao Qianyì grew frantic.

But Emperor Yongchang's expression was cold, showing no interest in the Blood Oath. "I will not agree to a blood test. Do not mention it again."

Xiao Qianyì was baffled. "Why? Just one drop of blood, and it will prove that I am not lying. All those miracles are false."

The Empress Dowager could no longer bear it. She looked at her son. "Emperor, why not grant him a drop of blood? This concerns the true dragon bloodline of the royal family. If by some chance... wouldn't that be a betrayal of our ancestors?"

Xiao Qianyu lowered his eyelids. In the end, she still hadn't given up hope. She didn't believe he was the true Crown Prince.

Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, Emperor Yongchang had to show some face. With a weary frown, he said, "Fine. As the Empress Dowager wishes. I will grant a drop of blood, so he can finally give up."

Xiao Qianyì was overjoyed, but he cast a wary glance at Xiao Qianyu, afraid he would deliberately obstruct.

To his surprise, Xiao Qianyu only raised an eyebrow, leaned back in his chair in a relaxed posture, and looked utterly disinterested with his eyes half-lidded.

A flicker of unease stirred in Xiao Qianyì's heart, but he quickly reassured himself. It would be fine. Xiao Qianyu could just wait to be exposed and sent back to the Execution Platform.

With the Emperor's permission, Defu carried the bowl of water forward, had someone bring a Silver Needle, and personally held Emperor Yongchang's finger. He carefully pricked it, and a drop of bright red blood oozed out, falling into the bowl.

The Empress stepped forward to apply ointment to Emperor Yongchang's finger herself.

Defu then brought the bowl to Xiao Qianyì. Without hesitation, the man bit his thumb, broke the skin, and squeezed a drop of blood into the bowl.

Defu carefully held the bowl in his hands, raising it high so that Emperor Yongchang and the Empress Dowager could see clearly.

In the clear water, the two drops of blood slowly drifted toward each other and then gradually merged.

Defu couldn't help but tremble. "Your Majesty, the blood has merged."

A wild joy flashed in Xiao Qianyì's eyes. He knew he was real.

Emperor Yongchang's lazy expression shifted to surprise. "How... impossible?"