Two weeks passed uneventfully. Jia Yi’s tummy had become more visible and rounder. Meng Yao rubbed the small baby bump and smiled in contentment.

Jia Yi, on the other hand, was working hard to hide his nerves. Today was the day Meng Yao would be tested to see if he is truly a royal. If the test didn’t show he was of royal blood then…

Jia Yi gently took his husband’s hand off of his stomach and placed it against his cheek before turning his face to kiss the palm of Meng Yao’s hand. Meng Yao, who was feeling more nervous than he would admit, was completely distracted by his wife’s lips against his hand. He raised his other hand to comb through Jia Yi’s silky hair.

"That's lovely, Jiajia, but would I prefer one on the lips," he murmured with a suggestive smile.

Jia Yi looked at him and blushed with embarrassment. Even now, when his life is on the line, his husband’s skin is as thick as ever. He has no sense of shame or embarrassment no matter how inappropriate he is! But Jia Yi couldn’t deny his handsome husband, especially not when he was scared it might be their last kiss. He raised his head, cheeks rosy and eyes misty with love, and gently kissed Meng Yao on the lips. Meng Yao was very pleased and immediately turned the kiss into a deeper one. Passionate, yes, but it was also a silent vow of love by them both. When they pulled away from each other, they were both breathing a little unsteadily.

"Don't worry, Jiajia. I will come back," Meng Yao promised with a confident smile.

Jia Yi nodded and smiled back. They both pretended his lips weren’t still trembling with anxiety.

Soon servants helped Meng Yao to dress for this occasion. Xiao Si insisted that he wear the imperial garments – the long pao. His robes were a dark navy color with silver designs and lines. Meng Yao refused to allow the servants to do his hair, however. Jia Yi had been doing his hair since they married and he declared that no one else could touch it. Jia Yi tried to argue that it would be better to allow the trained servants to do it but Meng Yao refused to budge. Only Jia Yi was worthy of fixing his hair.

Though it took some time, Meng Yao was finally ready. Several servants blushed as they looked at the handsome man they had just dressed. He was good looking every day, but in the royal robes with his golden coronet holding his silky, white hair Meng Yao looked like an immortal who had fallen to the earth.

Meng Yao had to be carried in a sedan according to royal etiquette. He hated it. Not only was he used to walking but he also knew he could walk much faster than the muscular men who were carrying his sedan with rigid pomp and ceremony. He also hated imposing on others so frivolously.

As they made their way along the wide pathways of the imperial palace, Meng Yao thought of all the hard work in his life. From the grueling training and chores of his childhood to the hustle of the many businesses he built in China followed by the effort that took him and Jia Yi from a tiny village to the center of the Imperial Court. Underneath the nerves from the impending test was one thought: ‘When will I be able to just relax?'

People were lined along the walls of the pathway to watch as Meng Yao was carried to the steps of the Hall of Wisdom where the court convened for the test. Enthusiasm was high because if Meng Yao were proven to be a member of the imperial family then he would replace Feng Huan as the eldest prince and Huan would be relegated to the position of second prince. But if the test failed, Meng Yao would be executed for the crime of deceiving the Emperor. Regardless of the outcome, there would be something exciting.

When the sedan reached the foot of the stairs to the Hall of Wisdom it was carefully lowered and Meng Yao was helped out. Everyone moved back and Meng Yao straightened his heavy robes before beginning to make his way up the stairs. Fortunately for him, there weren’t too many stairs. He wasn’t winded or tired when he reached the solid wooden doors decorated with gilt dragons. The two guards on either side of the doors opened them both in unison as the herald announced him to the gathered people in the hall.

"Lord Liang Meng Yao has entered the Hall of Wisdom!"

Soon the whole room was filled with the buzz of countless voices chattering to each other softly. It wasn’t just the officials who had gathered for this test. Many of the higher noble families were present. Many of the young she-men and even some of the older she-men found Meng Yao to be very attractive. More than a few dreamed that if he were actually proven to be an imperial prince, perhaps they would have a chance! If he were executed today, they thought, it would be a terrible loss of a good-looking man.

One she-man in particular couldn't help but be entranced by Meng Yao's beautiful looks and the elegance the air around. His noble bearing and the indifferent calm that surrounded him in this dire situation awoke a possessive desire in the she-man. He couldn’t help but want to claim Liang Meng Yao for himself.

Meng Yao reached the foot of the stairs leading to the imperial throne and bowed to the Emperor and the Crown Prince. The Emperor looked down at Meng Yao, the one who bore the face of his beloved Minister and the eyes of his own dear child. Reluctance filled his heart but he only showed an impassive face as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Meng Yao, this is where your claim shall be tried.”

He turned his eyes to his faithful aide and spoke again, the words feeling like heavy stones hitting his heart even though no one present could see his apprehension: “Bring it here"