Chapter 695: Chapter 694: Debunking the Impostor
Everyone, including Lu Qing and Zhu Yu, was presently outside, waiting just for Hong Liu’er. Therefore, facing his scrutiny, no one had any intention of avoiding it.
Hong Liu’er surveyed everyone in the room, finally hesitated between Zhu Yu and Chang Yu.
In this room full of people, only these two matched the age of the long-lost Young Master. But looking at these two faces that bore no resemblance whatsoever to the Lan King’s family, Hong Liu’er couldn’t help but harbor some doubts in his heart.
Lin Kun confirmed that the door was firmly shut and tacitly moved to the windows to help keep watch. Only then did he gratefully clasp hands with the other two, turned his head, and slowly peeled off the fake skin on his face in front of Hong Liu’er, revealing his true appearance.
Seeing Lin Kun’s face, Hong Liu’er appeared somewhat dazed. Although he already knew Lin Kun’s identity when he came, seeing the face he hadn’t seen in over a decade, once familiar, reappear before him was still bewildering.
"Brother Lin, it’s been over ten years, and you haven’t changed at all!" Regaining his senses quickly, he excitedly grasped Lin Kun’s arm and scrutinized him closely. "After you left, the Prince intended to send us out to look for you but later changed his mind and sent the newer guards from the Prince Mansion instead.
He said the newer guards might not recognize you all, so he asked us old retainers from the mansion to help draw portraits of you to avoid erroneous searches.
We always felt something odd about this, just awkward, so when drawing the portraits... we did some adjustments.
Later, the portraits were submitted for the Prince’s inspection, and he didn’t notice anything amiss, allowing those people to use them as such.
After serving for many years without news of you, we initially worried but gradually grew numb over time.
Seeing you alive and well now is truly wonderful!"
"Of course, he couldn’t let you search for us; what if you conspired with us? It would ruin his plans!" Lin Kun snorted, "Back then, you all feared we betrayed the Prince, unwilling to believe the current Prince is an impostor.
Now it’s been over ten years; what do you have to say about this?"
Hong Liu’er sighed, shaking his head, "Over the years, the Prince’s actions have become increasingly unorthodox, a world apart from his past self.
We remaining old retainers in the mansion haven’t stopped pondering, but... the Young Masters have long passed, the Heir’s Consort was harmed by mountain bandits, the Young Master disappeared without a trace, and we suffer daily.
At first, we wondered if there was a treacherous influence around the Prince, but upon observation, there was no one by his side stirring trouble; many things were of the Prince’s own volition...
In our hearts, we’re at a loss, unable to betray our lord but also unwilling to watch Lan Country be destroyed before our eyes..."
"That one is a complete impostor; we came this time determined to stop him from continuing to harm Lan Country and to reclaim everything rightfully belonging to the Young Master." Lin Kun’s voice, though low, couldn’t conceal the hatred in it.
"The Young Master..." Hong Liu’er once again cast his gaze towards Chang Yu and Zhu Yu.
Chang Yu stepped forward slowly, like Lin Kun, peeling away the fake skin on his face bit by bit, revealing his true face.
Meanwhile, Liao Yu and the others fixed their eyes on Hong Liu’er, appearing motionless yet ready to act on Lu Qing’s command to silently deal with him if he showed any signs of deceit.
Seeing the fake skin on Chang Yu’s face being peeled away, Hong Liu’er dropped to his knees with a thud, his face devoid of doubt, only tears gushing from his eyes.
"Young Master!" His voice was choked with emotion, requiring great effort to suppress the urge to raise his pitch involuntarily, "You... you’ve grown so much now! You look exactly like your father did back then!
It’s my incompetence that let the Young Master suffer outside all these years!"
"Uncle Hong, please get up." Initially tense, Chang Yu found composure, stepping forward to help Hong Liu’er up from the ground, "Now is not the time for reminiscing. Let’s sit down quickly and discuss serious matters."
Hong Liu’er stood up with him, wiping his tears with his sleeve and wearing an expression full of excitement and relief.
Once seated again, Lin Kun promptly explained Lu Qing’s identity and their intentions for this journey to Hong Liu’er.
"What have you been doing for that impostor Prince? Just delivering messages?" Lin Kun asked.
"Pretty much," Hong Liu’er nodded, "The Prince seems to trust us old retainers for stability in handling things but doesn’t want us knowing too much about his affairs elsewhere. So mostly, we stay in the mansion following orders or doing message delivery like me."
"Where do you usually deliver messages for him?" Lu Qing asked.
Hong Liu’er replied, "Mostly to Jin Country, occasionally to Fan Country as well, but almost not in the last two years.
Sometimes I deliver messages, other times I regularly go to the border of Jin Country where someone will hand me letters to take back to the Prince."
As he spoke, he couldn’t help glancing back at Chang Yu, emotions difficult to calm, "Seeing the Young Master today finally sets my mind at ease!
With heirs for Prince Lan Mansion, we needn’t worry about future changes in Lan Country worsening the plight for the people!"
"Does he resemble the late Princely Heir that much?" Zhu Yu asked.
"Exactly the same, without the slightest difference!" Hong Liu’er answered decisively, "Anyone who sees him will have absolutely no doubts; it’s impossible for unrelated individuals to look so alike in this world!"
"But even so, it’s still not enough." Zhu Yu seemed uncheered by Hong Liu’er’s reaction.
"What do you mean?" Lu Qing asked her.
"Even if we can prove with Chang Yu’s appearance that he is indeed the long-lost Young Master, so what?" Zhu Yu spread her hands, somewhat helpless, "Back then, all four sons of Prince Lan were legitimate heirs, yet one by one they met their demise.
Merely proving Chang Yu as the genuine legitimate grandson of Prince Lan does not immediately reclaim what’s yours and only places him in danger.
So, more crucial than proving Chang Yu is the true heir is proving the current Prince is indeed a fake."
