Chapter 309: Joyous News
Chapter 309: Joyous News
"Who eloped with whom?"
The Retired Emperor asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Lu Shidai replied, "The Princess."
Retired Emperor: "Which princess?"
Lu Shidai hesitated, "Princess Wanping."
Retired Emperor, surprised: "With Lu Yuan?"
After three consecutive questions, Lu Shidai was left speechless.
Was the Retired Emperor shocked into stupidity? How did he connect Lu Yuan, the Marquis, to this?
Fu Gonggong muttered under his breath, "So, you knew about the Princess's feelings for Lu Yuan too..."
That was why Meng Qianqian was sent to find a husband for Princess Wanping. Anyone else would have agreed verbally but might not have truly put effort into this challenging task.
Only Meng Qianqian would genuinely want Princess Wanping to marry soon.
Experience truly comes with age; previously, he had been too shallow.
"Your Majesty, it's not Marquis Lu," Lu Shidai answered.
The Retired Emperor, puzzled, asked, "Then who could it be? Could she elope with another man?"
Lu Shidai: But she can't elope with Marquis Lu either.
After all, Lu Shidai was just a skilled imperial guard, unaware of the intricate details. He couldn't fathom his master's thoughts, so he gave up trying to guess.
He reported truthfully, "It's Yu Jiwei from the Shier Wei."
Retired Emperor: "..."
Fu Gonggong was also shocked, almost dropping his jaw. The Princess had nothing to do with the Shier Wei; if there was any connection, it would be with the Chancellor's newly adopted son, Chen Long.
However, Chen Long had recently lost a bet to Meng Qianqian, and the title was given to her.
"Are you sure it's Yu Jiwei, not Chen Long?" Fu Gonggong asked.
Lu Shidai responded to Fu Gonggong, "Fu Gonggong, are you questioning my intelligence? Princess Wanping and Yu Jiwei were seen together, and many from the Imperial Guard, Embroidered Robe Guard, and Capital Guard witnessed it. But on the same night, they both left the hunting ground, and soldiers saw them heading south. They left in a hurry."
Fu Gonggong stammered, "Seen together, leaving in a hurry... This is indeed an elopement."
The Retired Emperor's face darkened, "You good-for-nothing! How dare you abduct a royal princess! Your audacity knows no bounds. I'll make sure you regret this!"
Fu Gonggong asked, "Should we send troops to rescue the Princess?"
The Retired Emperor sighed, "Never mind. Let her go. She's as stubborn as a mule, and once she sets her mind on something, not even ten bulls can pull her back. If she's determined to elope, I won't force her. Otherwise, I'd be driving a wedge between us."
Fu Gonggong opened his mouth, "Your Majesty, do you mean..."
The Retired Emperor waved his hand, "Let the Heavenly Observatory choose an auspicious date for my daughter's wedding."
Fu Gonggong's mouth twitched; was the Retired Emperor being too hasty...
Lu Shidai asked, "Should we still summon the Majestic King?"
"Summon him!" The Retired Emperor picked up a white piece from the chessboard, "Separate matters. The Majestic King disrespected the court's laws, and the Royal Inspector must discipline him severely."
Fu Gonggong thought, So, you're passing this mess to the Royal Inspector.
---
During this autumn hunt, the Capital Guard emerged victorious, and the Majestic King was bestowed the title of Martial General.
Although the Majestic King couldn't sell the title of Martial General, mainly because no one dared to buy it.
However, he had successfully amassed a fortune through his tiger-catching business.
It was a fruitful trip for him.
Prince Zong Zhengxi also reaped a bountiful harvest.
In the palace, Lu Yuan not only pushed him to study but also taught him archery. He always felt Lu Yuan was too strict with him.
Now he understood Lu Yuan's good intentions.
He was like a child eager to prove himself to his parents, showing off all his prey to Lu Yuan.
"Lu Yuan, am I awesome or what?"
Praise me! Praise me!
And then his prey was snatched away by the Majestic King's tiger.
Prince Zong Zhengxi: "..."
The troops returned to the capital first, and the young lords and ladies, having rarely hunted, continued their hunting in the hunting ground for a few more days.
Even on the day of their return to the capital, Wanping Princess and Ji Li did not show up.
"Do you think they really eloped?" asked Bai Yuwei curiously.
Zong Zhengxi's expression turned serious. "What are you thinking? My imperial sister would never elope with someone else! The Rooster Guard is escorting her on a hunting trip!"
Tan Er pointed to the courtyard where the Tiger King was lying, sunning its belly. "What are they hunting? This Golden-Eyed Tiger?"
Zong Zhengxi spoke solemnly, "In any case, they are definitely innocent!"
Tan Er shook her head vigorously. "Mother said that when a man and a woman spend the night together, there's only one situation where they can be considered innocent!"
Zong Zhengxi quickly asked, "Which situation?"
Tan Er raised her eyebrows. "The man is dead!"
Zong Zhengxi: "..."
Just before their departure, a minor disturbance occurred in the East Yard.
Bao Shu and Lu Yuan had another argument.
It started because Bao Shu wanted to bring back all the small game she had caught—wild rabbits, wild chickens, roe deer, bamboo rats... and three wolf pups, totaling several dozen animals.
Naturally, Lu Yuan did not approve. "At most, you can bring a pair of wild rabbits."
Bao Shu: "I want them all!"
Lu Yuan: "In that case, you can't have any."
Bao Shu went to complain to the Retired Emperor.
The Majestic King, for once, did not side with her. He spoke with heavy-hearted sincerity, "Treasure Piggy, listen to your father. Just bring a pair of rabbits, and Taigong will help you pack them!"
He took a hemp sack and went to the backyard to select the rabbits.
Wu Ge'er and the others began loading the luggage onto the carriage.
The Majestic King, carrying a cloth bag, was also about to get on the carriage.
Lu Yuan stood guard outside the carriage and asked the Majestic King, "What's in the bag?"
The Majestic King replied, "Rabbits!"
Lu Yuan asked suspiciously, "Really?"
The Majestic King's expression turned serious. "How can it be fake!"
Lu Yuan said calmly, "Show me."
The Majestic King: "That's not necessary..."
Lu Yuan looked at him with utmost seriousness.
"Alright, alright, just one then."
The Majestic King took out a wolf pup from the hemp sack. "If I don't take it, will you be satisfied?"
Lu Yuan: "There's more."
The Majestic King: "I swear there aren't!"
Lu Yuan's gaze remained unchanged.
The Majestic King conceded and took out another wolf pup, then turned the sack inside out to show Lu Yuan, "See! It's empty!"
Lu Yuan reached out and shook the wide sleeves of the Majestic King.
A third wolf pup fell to the ground.
Lu Yuan opened the Majestic King's large cage, and as expected, a Golden-Eyed Tiger, looking utterly bewildered, stared back at Lu Yuan.
Man and tiger, their eyes locked in a standoff.
Lu Yuan asked Yu Zichuan to release the three wolf pups back to their pack and set the Golden-Eyed Tiger free in the Mountain Forest.
On the journey back to the capital, Zong Zhengxi rode in the Marquis's carriage.
After traveling for a while, autumn rain began to fall again.
The group sought shelter at a nearby post station.
When the rain stopped, they set off once more.
But after taking only a few steps, Meng Qianqian spotted a wolf pup eagerly following the carriage.
She quickly got off the carriage and picked up the wet little wolf pup.
It had chased after them the whole way, its little claws worn out and bloody.
"Do you want to come with us?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Meng Qianqian held up the wolf pup, the same one that had bitten Zong Zhengxi. It had a tuft of milky white fur on its head, making it easily recognizable.
Meng Qianqian carried the wolf pup onto the carriage.
Bao Shu wanted to bring it, but Lu Yuan disagreed.
When Meng Qianqian had brought it on board, he remained silent.
The wolf pup looked around, seemingly searching for something.
"Is it looking for Bao Shu?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Meng Qianqian dried the wolf pup and placed it next to the sleeping Bao Shu.
The wolf pup licked Bao Shu's face, then jumped down and walked to Zong Zhengxi's feet.
Zong Zhengxi, leaning against the carriage wall and dozing off, suddenly felt a warm sensation on his instep.
The wolf pup had peed on his dragon boots again!!!
It's 3 am, double the countdown, the last two days, continue clearing tickets, striving not to waste.
(End of Chapter)
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