Chapter 333: Overwhelming Evidence
Chapter 333: Overwhelming Evidence
Xun Qi spoke coldly, "Is there no end to the Duke's Manor's antics? First, the Majestic King of Miaojiang caused a scene, and now you're following suit. Who's next in line to put on a show at the Chancellor's Mansion?"
Meng Qianqian replied, "I'm here to see my husband. What show are you talking about?"
Xun Qi smugly said, "Lu Yuan isn't even at the Chancellor's Mansion—"
Before he could finish, a law enforcement officer from the Ministry of Punishment shouted from outside the courtyard, "We've found the Grand Marshal! We've found him!"
Xun Qi's expression froze.
Zongzheng Xi abruptly stood up.
At this moment, he had lost all semblance of imperial dignity and rushed out like a child.
The officials in the banquet hall exchanged glances, equally stunned.
Upon seeing the Emperor leave the hall, Chancellor Xun slowly rose from his seat.
Xun Qi looked at Meng Qianqian suspiciously, "What game is the Duke's Manor playing now?"
Meng Qianqian calmly replied, "It's a dead man's game, but it's you who will die."
"Oh! It's really my grandson—!"
The Majestic King's wails of grief echoed from outside, shaking heaven and earth.
Immediately after, Zongzheng Xi's anxious voice followed, "Lu Yuan! What happened to you? Lu Yuan, wake up! Father-in-Law!"
Meng Qianqian stumbled.
Your Majesty, calling him 'cousin' is enough.
In the courtyard, Lu Yuan leaned against the Majestic King's embrace, looking disheveled and unconscious.
The Majestic King roared towards the sky, "Grandson, you've suffered such a tragic death—"
Meng Qianqian, walking towards the Majestic King, covered her mouth with her hand and whispered, "Grandfather, this isn't the right play."
The Majestic King's eyes flashed, "Ah! He's still breathing! Granddaughter-in-Law, you're a divine physician, quickly examine him!"
"Yes, Grandfather."
Meng Qianqian crouched down and took out a silver needle from her bosom.
Zongzheng Xi's eyes were red, and tears had already welled up when he heard the Majestic King's words, "You've suffered such a tragic death."
The Majestic King patted his shoulder, "Grieve appropriately."
Zongzheng Xi: "..."
Majestic King: Oh, the play has gone off-script again!
Minister of Rites Xing was interrogating the three law enforcement officers who had brought Lu Yuan back to the banquet hall.
They had found the Grand Marshal near an ancient well in the southeast corner of the Chancellor's Mansion and brought him directly there.
Upon seeing Lu Yuan, Xun Qi heaved a sigh of relief.
Judging from his attire, who else could it be but Luo San?
Lu Yuan's human skin mask was put on by Xun Qi himself.
But it was strange; wasn't Luo San taken away by his adoptive father's men?
Why did he suddenly reappear?
Could this also be his adoptive father's arrangement?
He turned to look at his adoptive father, but was knocked aside by Liu Qingyun, who suddenly rushed into the mansion.
"My son—I've finally found you—"
Xun Qi stumbled back several steps, glaring at Liu Qingyun with both anger and annoyance.
Didn't this woman leave?
Why did she reappear?
Liu Qingyun hadn't left; she had simply gotten up early, caused a ruckus in the morning, and then caught up on sleep in the carriage.
When Bai Yuwei and Tan Er returned to the carriage, she knew the show was coming to an end.
"He's been drugged. My acupuncture won't work on him."
Meng Qianqian said solemnly.
Xun Qi's last shred of concern vanished, as Luo San had been fed a sedative by his adoptive father's expert before being taken away.
Celestial Dragon, with his superior martial arts skills, would wake up in a few hours, but a showy person like Luo San might not regain consciousness for three days and nights.
Although finding Luo San in the Chancellor's Mansion was unfavorable for them, it was still the lesser of two evils.
As long as Luo San remained unconscious, they could claim ignorance and blame someone else for throwing him into the Chancellor's Mansion, thus overcoming the current crisis.
And in three days, they would have enough time to deal with Luo San.
With this thought, Xun Qi had an idea.
Liu Qingyun spoke sternly, "My son was found in your Chancellor's Mansion, and you even drugged him. What more do you have to say for yourselves?"
Xun Qi smiled faintly, "Miaojiang Princess, do you really think he's Lu Yuan?"
Liu Qingyun said, "How could I not recognize my own son?"
Xun Qi slowly approached Lu Yuan.
Liu Qingyun blocked his way, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Xun Qi looked at everyone, his confidence unwavering as he said, 'I'll prove to everyone who he really is.'
Liu Qingyun tried to stop him, but Ling Shangguan easily blocked her with a single move.
Meng Qianqian was about to administer an acupuncture treatment but was stopped by Ling Shangguan's Spring Saber, which was pressed against her neck.
'Majestic King, I advise you not to be reckless,' said Ling Shangguan.
The Majestic King's fist froze in mid-air.
If they hadn't intervened, Xun Qi would have doubted them even more if they had let him prove it openly.
But they were restrained by Ling Shangguan, and Xun Qi's last shred of doubt vanished.
'Everyone, watch closely. He... is... who?' Xun Qi's hand reached for Lu Yuan's face.
But when he touched it, he froze.
Where was the mask? The human skin mask? He tore it.
It wasn't there.
He tore again, but it was gone!
'Hey! What are you doing touching my husband's face?' Meng Qianqian exclaimed.
Xun Qi panicked, 'Impossible... It must be a new disguise technique...'
Just as Xun Qi was about to peel off Lu Yuan's human skin mask again, a cold palm grabbed his wrist.
Lu Yuan opened his eyes, and a fleeting look of disdain for all things flashed through them, 'Young Master Qi, that's not a good habit. I'm not Xun Yu, and I have no interest in men.'
'Ahh!'
Xun Qi straightened up and took a step back, bumping into Minister of Rites Xing behind him.
Minister of Rites Xing steadied him with a hand, 'Young Master Qi, be careful.'
Xun Qi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
He looked at Lu Yuan in disbelief.
Isn't Lu Yuan dead? How could this be? If the person before him was Lu Yuan, then whose body did Bai Qingchen and the Escort Agency send to Miaojiang? Could it be... could it be...
Meng Qianqian whispered to Lu Yuan, 'He seems to have figured it out.'
Lu Yuan replied, 'He's realized it a bit too late.'
'Father-in-Law!'
Zongzheng Xi rushed into Lu Yuan's embrace, and the Emperor's dignity shattered once more.
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and gently patted his head.
Meng Qianqian thought, You're so dramatic. I'll make you change from "Father-in-Law" to "Cousin" soon enough.
The Majestic King pushed away Ling Shangguan's Spring Saber, 'Do you still want to fight?'
Ling Shangguan glared at him, her eyes full of anger, 'You're really not dead?'
The Spring Wind Painting was saved!
It's a rare copy, who would understand it? It's hard to come by! Minister of Rites Xing calmly asked, 'Grand Marshal, could you please tell us what happened and how you ended up in the Chancellor's Mansion and were drugged?'
Lu Yuan rubbed his temples as if in pain and recalled, 'I was abducted by Celestial Dragon and brought to the Chancellor's Mansion. I didn't see who drugged me, but when I opened my eyes, it was just now. However, I remember being captured in Luo San's courtyard.'
Minister of Rites Xing signaled to the law enforcement officers below.
The officers hurriedly went to search.
The Majestic King rolled up his sleeves and glared at Chancellor Xun, 'Chancellor, what more can you possibly deny at this point?'
Everyone turned to look at Chancellor Xun.
Chancellor Xun touched his left thumb, where the jade finger ring had been.
Xun Qi gritted his teeth, 'It's clear that the Duke's Manor set up the Chancellor's Mansion!'
They had been played by the Duke's Manor. From the moment of Lu Yuan's death, it was all a setup, a trap that the Chancellor's Mansion couldn't escape.
'Minister Xing! We found it!'
The law enforcement officer who had gone to search Luo San's courtyard returned with a medicine bottle.
'Lady Lu, please take a look.' Minister of Rites Xing said to Meng Qianqian.
Meng Qianqian opened the bottle and sniffed, 'It's definitely a sedative. If the esteemed officials don't believe me, we can ask the Imperial Physician to examine it.'
'Is Li Taishi here?' Minister of Rites Xing asked.
Li Taishi, who had been hiding at the back of the crowd trying to remain inconspicuous, reluctantly stepped forward.
During the treatment of the epidemic in the palace, he and Meng Qianqian had disagreed.
Meng Qianqian remembered him well.
Li Taishi examined the medicine bottle and sighed, 'It is indeed a sedative.'
Xun Qi clenched his teeth, 'My adoptive father is innocent! Someone must have framed him!'
'Whether it's a frame-up or not, I will investigate and find out,' Minister of Rites Xing said to Chancellor Xun, making a gesture with his hand. He spoke calmly, 'Chancellor, please.'
This calls for a celebration!
(End of Chapter)
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