Chapter 1172: The Princess Consort Whose Memories Were Altered (47)

“Your younger brother can say with certainty that the woman who spends every day by my side is my Princess Consort. There is no mistake,” Shangguan Jing said calmly. “So perhaps it is Imperial Brother who has mistaken things. You must have been too busy these past days and have grown distant from Consort Jiao, which is why you have this illusion that the two have somehow been switched.”

Seeing Shangguan Yi's murderous gaze and his inability to refute him, Shangguan Jing felt a faint sense of satisfaction.

He had held this resentment in his heart for over a year.

Back then, they had both fallen in love with Tang Jiao. Yet simply because Shangguan Yi was the Emperor, he could take Tang Jiao into the palace as his consort. Not only that, in order to sever Shangguan Jing's feelings, he had bestowed Tang Jiao's elder sister upon him as his Princess Consort.

How could he possibly accept that?

The only woman he loved was Tang Jiao.

He had never cared about that identical face.

The shell might be the same, but the soul inside was different, and that difference changed everything.

“Imperial Brother, perhaps this is merely your misunderstanding. Why not ask Consort Jiao herself?”

Seeing Shangguan Yi remain silent, Shangguan Jing turned his gaze toward Tang Guo, subconsciously ignoring the ugly bruises on her pale neck. He asked, “Consort Jiao, may I ask whether you and the Princess Consort devised some trick to deceive His Majesty and myself?”

Naturally, Tang Guo shook her head.

“No.”

“So, Consort Jiao, your current identity is indeed Consort Jiao, correct?”

“Yes.” Tang Guo nodded firmly, though her expression grew somewhat dim. “But His Majesty refuses to believe me. He thinks I have some ulterior motive and nearly strangled me to death. Fortunately, Prince Jing has arrived. Elder Sister is Prince Jing's Princess Consort. Since you've lived with her day and night, surely you can tell at a glance whether I am Tang Jiao or Elder Sister.”

Shangguan Jing froze for a moment.

Though they had not spent much time together, he really could distinguish Tang Jiao from Tang Guo at a glance.

Remembering that Shangguan Yi was still present, he quickly said, “This prince can confirm that you are indeed Consort Jiao, not my Princess Consort. This prince lives with the Princess Consort day and night, so naturally I can recognize her with a single glance.”

“Thank you, Prince Jing, for helping prove my innocence.”

Tang Guo visibly relaxed, but the sight left Shangguan Jing with mixed emotions. She truly regarded herself as Tang Jiao now.

Perhaps that was for the best. Once this matter passed, Imperial Brother would no longer trouble her.

Seeing Shangguan Yi's face darken, Shangguan Jing said, “Imperial Brother, it seems you have made a mistake.”

Shangguan Yi had no idea what scheme Shangguan Jing had used to erase Tang Guo's identity so thoroughly that she now insisted she was Consort Jiao.

But now he understood.

If he wanted to find the key to this mystery, it would have to come from Shangguan Jing.

“I don't believe it!”

Shangguan Yi glanced at Tang Guo. “Who knows whether the two of you have colluded to deceive me? I want to see… the Princess Consort.”

He practically ground out the words “Princess Consort” through clenched teeth.

“It's already late,” Shangguan Jing replied. “The Princess Consort is likely asleep. This subject cannot bear to have her troubled. Imperial Brother, since Consort Jiao hasn't left the palace for some time, why not bring her to the manor tomorrow instead?”

His face full of vigilance, he added, “To be honest, Imperial Brother's current state worries me. If I bring the Princess Consort into the palace, who knows whether she would be allowed to leave? This subject treasures the Princess Consort's safety dearly. I beg Imperial Brother's forgiveness.”

“Shangguan Jing, very good. Very good indeed!”

“You truly are my good younger brother!”

Shangguan Yi laughed in anger, his teeth grinding audibly.

“Fine. Tomorrow morning, I will personally bring Consort Jiao to Prince Jing's Manor and see for myself.”