Xia Houzhe was lost in thought inside the hall when suddenly he heard that Emperor Chu had arrived. Hastily straightening his expression, he turned his head to see Emperor Chu walking in with Song Zhiyuan, and his eyes flickered involuntarily.

There was killing intent.

"Royal brother." Xia Houzhe cupped his hands in salute.

Emperor Chu came over, looked at him, and said, "Do not address me like that; I do not deserve it."

Xia Houzhe was taken aback and smiled bitterly, "Yes, I greet Your Majesty."

Emperor Chu instantly felt tired, touched the Jade Ring on his finger, and said, "Let’s not beat around the bush, nor play the guessing game. Let me ask you directly, do you want to live?"

Xia Houzhe raised his head and looked at him somewhat startled, instinctively realizing the forthcoming words wouldn’t be pleasant.

Emperor Chu observed his feigned innocence and felt an itching in his hand, glanced at Song Zhiyuan with a look of ’it’s your turn.’

Song Zhiyuan, helpless, stepped forward, straightforwardly asked, "Where is the real Prince Min?"

Xia Houzhe’s heart skipped a beat, fixated on Song Zhiyuan, then looked at Emperor Chu, "Did Your Majesty come just to humiliate my younger brother?"

What’s happening here? Could it be that Mr. Ning has already revealed the truth, saving the Ning clan?

Or is he trying to trap me?

Xia Houzhe displayed a sorrowful expression and cried out with anguish, "If Your Majesty wishes to deal with my younger brother, you might as well issue an edict. I would not have any complaints, so why humiliate him like this?"

Truly incorrigible.

Song Zhiyuan glanced at Eunuch Zhou, "Let two eunuchs come over to disrobe him."

Xia Houzhe’s pupils shrank.

Eunuch Zhou clapped his hands, two eunuchs entered, listened to the instruction, and stepped forward.

Xia Houzhe retreated two steps, "Prime Minister Song, do you dare?"

"I have given the order, they naturally dare. Disrobe him."

The eunuchs again displayed their quick and deft technique, Xia Houzhe was left limp, stripped instantly like a bare pig.

Xia Houzhe’s face turned purple with shame, wishing he could find a hole to hide in.

"Look at the area between his legs; there should be a small red mole." Song Zhiyuan added.

Xia Houzhe: "..."

A man can be killed but cannot be humiliated, Prime Minister Song, we are irreconcilable.

The eunuchs forcibly spread Xia Houzhe’s legs, swept through, nodded towards Emperor Chu and the others.

"So it really is you, Prince Min, or should I call you Xia Houzhe?" Emperor Chu laughed, "I truly have eyes but fail to see, searching throughout Great Qing for you, unaware you’ve already come under my nose. How does it feel watching me jump around like a fool, trying to find you? The cat and mouse game, did you enjoy it?"

His words sounded fun, laced with a hint of mockery, yet everyone in the hall could clearly sense the drop in temperature.

Heavy killing intent.

"What are you talking about?" Xia Houzhe, instead, remained calm.

"Oh you, your age is indeed young, overplayed it. Has Ning Hongde not taught you over the years that trouble leads to death? Or he taught you, but you weren’t content to be a good little boy and rather be a little mouse, jumping around and about?" Emperor Chu pointed to the sleeping hall, "Jumping and jumping, and you’ve jumped into my cage. Walked right into the trap, let me ask you, is it fun?"

Song Zhiyuan coughed lightly, wanting to remind, stop babbling, get to the main point.

But earlier he just had crossed Emperor Chu, now he’s still holding his frustration, let it be, it won’t differ much in a short while anyway.

Thinking of the past year and a half, Xia Houzhe impersonated Prince Min, portraying a picture of brotherly love and respect in front of Emperor Chu. Then thinking about how many orders Emperor Chu issued for those remnants, conducting investigations everywhere, nearly losing a son-in-law in the process.

Well, the fellow silently nestled under our noses, secretly laughed at our futile efforts.

The saying ’darkness under the lamp’ indeed is true.