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Chapter 163: The Truth Unveiled
Chapter 163: The Truth Unveiled
It wasn't until everyone had walked away that Fu Gonggong heaved a heavy sigh and said, "Who would have thought that Lu Yuan had such a plan in mind?"
Even if the Jin Yiwei had come today, they might not have been able to snatch the person away from the Imperial Guards. But it just so happened that it was the Old Dowager Countess—
"No wonder he dared to go up the mountain alone. He must have known that the Old Dowager would come looking for him."
No, it wasn't that he had calculated it; he had planned everything from the very beginning.
Fu Gonggong couldn't help but think of the late Great Marshal Chu, who had been equally meticulous in his calculations on the battlefield. The difference was that the Great Marshal Chu had only been skilled in warfare and put aside all his schemes once he left the battlefield.
As for Lu Yuan, no matter where he was, he was always plotting, always calculating. Anyone could be used by him—even his bed partner, the Old Dowager, or even himself.
The group of the Old Dowager left the temple.
On the way up the mountain, it had been Tan'er carrying the Old Dowager on her back, and the young girl had been like a firecracker, leaving the Old Dowager's heart in her mouth. On the way down, the Old Dowager flatly refused to let the little crazy girl carry her anymore.
It was Lu Yuan who carried her on his back.
Lu Yuan walked with steady steps, and the Old Dowager, lying on his back, soon fell asleep.
She had worn herself out looking for her great-grandson-in-law all night.
Both Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan were silent, hardly speaking a word during the journey. Only Tan'er kept chattering away, first complaining about mosquitoes, then asking who the monk beside Fu Gonggong was and why so many Imperial Guards listened to him. Meng Qianqian explained that he was the Grand Emperor.
Tan'er's eyes widened in surprise, "So he's the Grand Emperor! How could he have such a young son?"
She was referring to the young emperor, Zongzheng Xi.
The Grand Emperor and Lu Lingxiao's grandfather were of the same generation, but the Grand Emperor looked much younger and more vigorous than his actual age.
"Since ancient times, emperors have had three palaces and six courts. His Majesty is the youngest son of the Grand Emperor, so it's not surprising," Meng Qianqian explained.
Tan'er pouted, processing Meng Qianqian's words in her mind before finally accepting them with a nod, "Okay."
"How did you find the temple?" Meng Qianqian asked Tan'er.
Tan'er shrugged, "The Old Dowager and I walked around the streets. When we returned home, we found that Sister wasn't there, so I asked where she had gone. They said Sister had gone to the temple, so I came to look for her with Wu Ge. The Old Dowager insisted on coming along, so I had to bring her too!"
As they spoke, the group arrived at the foot of the mountain, where two carriages were waiting in an open space.
Ceng Guanshi and Wu Ge were waiting by the carriages.
Seeing that all four of them had safely descended the mountain without any injuries, Ceng Guanshi breathed a sigh of relief. He knew how nervous he had been when the Imperial Guards had rushed up the mountain.
Wu Ge, unaware that the Imperial Guards had come to detain his master, was not as tense as Ceng Guanshi. His only concern was the difficult journey at night, and he worried that Miss and the others might fall and hurt themselves.
Now that he saw them unharmed, his worries were clearly unnecessary.
The four of them boarded Wu Ge's carriage, which was the one that Ceng Guanshi had specially prepared for Meng Qianqian. It was spacious and comfortable.
The Old Dowager was fast asleep, snoring softly. Tan'er, who had been chattering away, suddenly fell silent as well.
Just like Bao Zhu Zhu, she had the amazing ability to fall asleep anywhere.
Meng Qianqian pulled a thin blanket from inside the carriage and gently covered the two of them.
Her mind kept replaying the events that had transpired. The Grand Preceptor had only returned to the capital for less than three days, and the Grand Emperor had already been "released." This was probably just the beginning. It seemed that all of Lu Yuan's evil deeds would be brought to light and judged by the Grand Preceptor.
With the Grand Preceptor's return, not only did he bring the military achievements of pacifying the Western Regions, but he also ignited the hope of rooting out evil and upholding justice for the officials and the people.
When the Grand Preceptor called for action, the officials would admire him, and the people would follow him.
"So that's how it is," Meng Qianqian exhaled. "Grand Marshal, may I ask you a few questions?"
"Speak," Lu Yuan instructed.
Meng Qianqian paused for a moment, considering her words. "Let me think... Which question should I ask first?"
"Go ahead," Lu Yuan replied impatiently.
"Grand Marshal, was it my great-grandmother who petitioned for my decree of severed ties?" Meng Qianqian inquired.
"Indeed," Lu Yuan confirmed.
"Did you know about this beforehand, Grand Marshal?" Meng Qianqian's eyes narrowed.
Lu Yuan's voice turned cold. "If not for my tacit consent, that decree would never have made it down from the mountain."
Meng Qianqian had already suspected as much, and now she was simply seeking confirmation. "So, you've known about the Emperor Emeritus' favor towards the Grand Dowager all along. And tonight, as long as the Grand Dowager showed up, there was an eighty to ninety percent chance that you would be taken down from the mountain with her."
Lu Yuan did not deny it. "So what? I've warned you before that I only use people. The Grand Dowager is no exception. I intentionally sought to please her to gain her favor, just so I could use her when the time came."
Meng Qianqian shook her head, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Grand Marshal, must you always wrap your true feelings in the cloak of 'utilization' to reassure yourself? One day, when my great-grandmother regains her sanity and remembers who she is, if she leaves you, will you tell yourself, 'I was just using that old woman, and it's only right that she's gone'?"
Lu Yuan huffed in annoyance and turned his face away.
Meng Qianqian thought to herself that she and Lu Yuan were truly different. Her family had showered her with love and indulgence, so when they died one by one before her eyes, the pain had been unbearable, and she had gone mad with a desire for revenge.
The calm she felt now was merely the quiet before the storm of her vengeance.
Despite losing her family, she was not afraid to find new family.
Lu Yuan, on the other hand, was the opposite. He dared not welcome anyone into his heart as family.
Was it because the hurt and despair brought on by family were more intense and hopeless?
In the latter half of the night, the carriage arrived at the Grand Marshal's residence.
Lu Yuan spoke up. "Didn't you say you had several questions?"
Meng Qianqian smiled faintly. "I already have the answer to my other question, so there's no need to ask it."
With that, she gently shook Tan'er awake. "Tan'er, we're here."
"We're here...?" Tan'er mumbled groggily as she stood up, only to stumble out of the carriage.
Fortunately, Lu Yuan was quick to catch her, preventing her from face-planting on the ground.
"Huh?" Tan'er rubbed her eyes and asked in confusion, "Grand Marshal, where's the guy with the sword? When the Imperial Guards came to arrest you, where did he go?"
This was the second question Meng Qianqian had wanted to ask Lu Yuan.
With such a huge commotion caused by the Imperial Guards, it was impossible for the Secret Police to remain unaware. Yet, neither Shangguan Ling nor any of his subordinates had shown up.
Even Qing Shuang and Yu Zichuan were absent.
There was only one explanation: they were the Chancellor's people or were about to become the Chancellor's people.
In the dark alley, Shangguan Ling steadied the embroidery spring dagger at his waist and said to Yu Zichuan, "Serve the Chancellor. He can give you whatever you desire. The Grand Marshal also serves the Chancellor. Isn't it better to be loyal to a more powerful master?"
Yu Zichuan glanced at Qing Shuang, who was standing beside Shangguan Ling, and asked, "Are you also the Chancellor's person?"
Qing Shuang lowered her eyes and replied, "I'm sorry."
Yu Zichuan's expression remained unchanged as he said, "This time, I cannot go with you."
Qing Shuang looked at Yu Zichuan and said, "Then let me come with you."
Shangguan Ling was taken aback. "Qing Shuang?"
Qing Shuang resolutely moved to Yu Zichuan's side and drew her sword, pointing it at Shangguan Ling. "Shangguan, will you let us go, or will the two of us defeat you and then leave?"
Shangguan Ling suppressed his shock and sighed. "Go. I will tell the Chancellor that the two of you are incompetent and unworthy of serving him. But one day, you will understand that everything the Chancellor does is for the Great Zhou, for the stability of the nation, and for the welfare of the people!"
(End of Chapter)
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