Of course, though he was excited inside, he still had to keep up appearances.
"Why?" Liu Xie frowned, looking at Kong Rong with uncertainty. "What doubts do you still have?"
"Wait, could it be..."
Liu Xie's puzzled expression changed, his face filling with fury. "Have you believed the likes of Fu Wan and Yang Biao, my minister? Have you believed the words of my empress and consorts?"
Kong Rong's expression was conflicted. He rose, walked to the center of the Xuan Room, and knelt to kowtow to Liu Xie. "Your Majesty, I cannot tell. I truly cannot tell."
His thoughts were a tangled skein, and he had no way of judging which was real and which was false.
The Son of Heaven before him possessed extraordinary imperial majesty. His words, conduct, bearing, and presence were all beyond reproach, incomparably superior to the weak Son of Heaven in Xu County.
In his heart, he very much hoped this one was real, too.
But... he could not make that decision.
He could not be certain that the man before him was genuine. What if he was merely deceiving him?
Although the Son of Heaven in Xu County was somewhat weak, he had felt exceptionally genuine, and the emperor's close ministers, empress, and consorts had all borne witness.
Neither Son of Heaven seemed false.
He could not tell. He truly could not tell.
"Enough, enough." Liu Xie waved a hand, disappointment covering his face. Seemingly drained of spirit, he leaned wearily against the couch. "My empress, consorts, and close ministers are all in Xu County. It is understandable that you were deceived. Withdraw. I am tired."
Seeing the Son of Heaven like this filled Kong Rong with bitterness and heartache. How could he bear to leave?
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
"I thought