Shirou's clones number 30 million

"I can't wait any longer."

"Very well, I will immediately summon all civil and military officials to begin the court meeting."

After the minister left in a hurry, Esdeath couldn't help but ask:

"What's wrong with the minister? He looks quite different from Najendan, whom you control."

“I’ve already killed the minister. That was a body double I found.”

"I see. No wonder I felt he wasn't quite like the ministers I used to know."

……

Inside the palace, in the main hall.

All the civil and military officials gathered, with Shirou and Esdeath standing side by side on the side of the military officials.

Compared to yesterday, today the little emperor has long hair and a more girlish face, looking like a cute girl.

Shirou glanced at the minister without changing his expression, thinking to himself:

Is this the surprise he was talking about? What's the point of turning the emperor into a young girl?

Around them, many officials were discussing the young emperor's attire today.

"Why is Your Majesty dressed like this today? It's really outrageous!"

"Has Your Majesty suddenly developed a fetish for cross-dressing? What a misfortune for the empire!"

"His Majesty was perfectly fine yesterday, how did he suddenly become like this today?"

"Speaking of which, it's so late, why are you calling a meeting? Do you know what it's about?"

"Didn't General Adris set off this morning? He's back so soon, could it be that he's already successfully quelled the rebellion?"

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the minister slowly stepped forward and solemnly said:

"General Adris set out this morning and returned to the capital this evening, bringing back the heads of the revolutionary army leader and all the traitors. I have sent people to verify his merits, and the matter of rewards will be discussed at the morning court meeting tomorrow."

"The reason I called everyone here tonight is for something even more important."

"Just two days ago, I suddenly received some outrageous intelligence. It is said that General Esdeath is a descendant of the royal family who was left outside the palace."

“After that, I have been investigating this matter, and now, the truth has finally been revealed: General Esdeath is indeed a descendant of the royal family.”

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, you are no longer alone."

The young emperor's face lit up with joy, and he instinctively looked at Esdeath, saying happily:

"So General Esdeath is my sister. No wonder I've always felt a connection with you. In that case, I'll immediately bestow upon you the title of Princess of the Royal Family."

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! And congratulations, General Esdeath."

After the minister spoke out, many officials began to echo his sentiments.

Only General Bud and Esdeath herself were present, one filled with anger and the other with bewilderment.

"Edriss, what exactly is going on?" Esdeath leaned closer to Shirou and asked in a low voice.

"Congratulations, you will now be the Imperial Princess."

Shirou smiled. As for replacing the young emperor, he would first build Esdeath's reputation in the capital for a while. Once everything was ready, someone would naturally push her to the throne.

"Edris! I won't agree until you explain this clearly." Esdeath glared at Shirou, her expression like that of an enraged lion.

"Trust me, Esdeath."

Shirou didn't say much, but just that one sentence was enough to completely silence her.

Chapter 83 I never expected you to see through me.

Chapter 83, Section 84: I never expected you to see through me.

"Nonsense!"

General Bude suddenly stepped forward, glared angrily at the minister, and said, word by word:

“Ernest! As a soldier, I can only turn a blind eye to your misdeeds in court, but I can no longer tolerate your deception of His Majesty and your falsification of the identity of a member of the royal family.”

The minister did not respond, but turned to the young emperor and said:

"Your Majesty, General Bude has accused me of fabricating evidence. Please, Your Majesty, do me justice."

"Did you lie?"

“Absolutely not. I have verified this through numerous investigations before confirming General Esdeath’s royal status. Your Majesty, please issue the decree immediately.”

"Alright, I will issue a decree immediately to bestow upon General Esdeath the title of Princess. By the way, when I woke up this morning, I found that something was missing from my body, and my hair had grown very long overnight. Could you take a look at it for me later?"

"Your Majesty, to prevent General Bud from having something to say again, how about letting General Bud take a look as well?"

"Alright, then let General Bud come along too."

Seeing that the two of them had settled Esdeath's matter in just a few words, General Bud's anger intensified.

Other things can be ignored, but this is something we absolutely cannot stand idly by.

Otherwise, that bastard Ernest could make Esdeath a royal princess today and his son a prince tomorrow.

"Your Majesty! General Esdeath's return to the Imperial Family is a matter of great importance and must be handled with utmost care. It is not that I do not trust Minister Ernest, but this matter concerns the reputation of the Imperial Family. I urge Your Majesty to consider this carefully before proceeding."

"General Bud, why are you so hostile to Minister Ernest? I believe he is telling the truth."

"I am only doing this as a precaution. How can I convince the public if I don't conduct a bloodline test on General Esdeath?"

“Very well.” The minister suddenly spoke up, “I have a clear conscience. Since General Bude suspects my motives, let’s conduct a bloodline test in front of all the civil and military officials.”

Seeing his firm tone and the lack of any guilt, Bud felt a little suspicious:

Could it be that Ernest has already prepared a way to fool the bloodline detection? No, the bloodline detection is absolutely foolproof.

What exactly does he want to do? If he wants to seize the country, he should have prepared a more suitable candidate. General Esdeath doesn't seem like the kind of person who would listen to him blindly.

Could it be that this is to win over Adris?

But even so, shouldn't there be a better way?

The bloodline detection equipment was quickly prepared and carried into the main hall by several guards.

Just to be on the safe side, Bud tested it several times, and even tried it himself once.

Let's begin!

Esdeath turned and glared at Shirou before slowly stepping forward to begin the examination.

Naturally, there was no surprise whatsoever.

Amidst the astonished and bewildered gazes of the officials, Esdeath accepted the young emperor's investiture and became the empire's eldest princess.

During this time, General Bud did not utter a word and offered no further objections.

……

After the impromptu court meeting in the evening, in the young emperor's bedroom within the palace.

"Minister Ernest, General Bud, please take a look at me. Why is it that I suddenly have nothing down there?"

Just as Bud was about to stop the young emperor's indecent behavior, he suddenly noticed his lower body and gasped.

Your Majesty has become a woman!

No, I have never heard of any technology that can turn a man into a woman.

In other words, Your Majesty has always been a woman, but has been raised as a man.

The late emperor deceived everyone.

Of course, there is another possibility: the little emperor was switched!

However, the first one is more likely.

“Your Majesty, please put on your clothes immediately!” Bud looked down at the ground while blocking the minister’s view. “It is most appropriate for the palace maids to answer your questions. Minister Ernest and I will take our leave now.”

In closing, he bowed slightly in apology, then led his ministers away from the emperor's bedchamber with a slightly firm tone.

"Minister Ernest, I want to apologize to you. I'm sorry."

The Shirou clone resembling Ernest paused, looking at him in surprise.

What's going on? Could it be that he discovered it was me who turned the little emperor into a woman?

No, he's not Sherlock Holmes, how could he be that smart?

"What is General Bude saying?"

“Minister Ernest, I now understand your good intentions. The late emperor had few children, and the other princes died young one after another. The reason you are so eager to bring General Esdeath back to the royal family must be for the sake of the royal family’s survival.”

"I never expected you to figure it out. Since that's the case, I'll be frank. The young emperor is actually a woman. If this gets out, it will definitely cause a huge upheaval."

General Bud nodded slightly and added:

"Moreover, Her Majesty is too young. Once she finds out that she is actually a woman, it's hard to say what she will think."

"For the empire to survive, the royal family must expand as soon as possible."

"And Her Majesty, who has always considered herself a man but is actually a woman, is hard to say whether she would strongly resist marriage."

"Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking," the minister said with a smile. "I never expected that the two of us would have such a tacit understanding."

Bud's face darkened, and he took a half-step back, saying expressionlessly:

"This is the only time. Apart from the matter of working together to conceal His Majesty's identity, I will have nothing else to do with you."

……

at the same time.

On the way back to the mansion after leaving the palace.

"Edris, what exactly do you mean?" Esdeath asked again.

As she spoke, she stared intently into Shirou's eyes, her face filled with anger.

"Trust me, Esdeath."

"Of course I believe you, but have you ever believed me?"