https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-36-The-Grand-Governor-Takes-the-Initiative-Part-2-/12582422/
Chapter 37: The Scheming Grand Preceptor
Chapter 37: The Scheming Grand Preceptor
As the matriarch prepared to descend the mountain, the Second Madam immediately sent her personal maid to look for Lu Linglong. However, they couldn't find her, and instead, the maid returned with news that Lu Linglong had been taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The Second Madam's face drained of color as she asked, "Tell me again! Who took Linglong?"
"The... Embroidered Uniform Guard!" the maid replied fearfully. "They also took the First Young Madam and her maid, Tan'er."
Lu Erye frowned and asked, "Why would the Embroidered Uniform Guard take Qianqian and the others? Are you sure there's no mistake?"
The maid sobbed, "This servant saw it with my own eyes!"
Lu Erye hurriedly asked, "Where are they now?"
The maid pointed with her hand and said, "They just... left the temple!"
Lu Erye rushed to catch up but soon returned with a grave expression.
"Well?" The Second Madam asked anxiously.
Lu Erye sighed and said, "It's true. The Grand Preceptor was attacked by assassins at the temple, and Linglong and Qianqian happened to be nearby. The Embroidered Uniform Guard suspects that they lured the assassins there."
The Second Madam was astonished. "The Grand Preceptor was also at the temple?"
Lu Erye replied, "That child from earlier... she's the Grand Preceptor's daughter."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed.
The baby that Meng Qianqian held for the entire afternoon... was actually Lu Yuan's daughter?
No wonder that nanny was dressed so peculiarly. Despite being a servant, her clothes were comparable to those of a wife from a wealthy family.
The Second Madam said, "We didn't know she was from the Lu family... But what does this have to do with Linglong? Linglong didn't hold the baby... She left the meditation room because she found the child annoying! We should have listened to Linglong and minded our own business! Now look what's happened! She's been accused of being an assassin, and she's dragged Linglong into this mess, too! Why does she always cause trouble for our family?"
Lu Mother didn't like hearing this. She said sternly, "How did Qianqian implicate Linglong? I think Linglong followed her on her own accord."
It wasn't the first time Lu Linglong had picked on Meng Qianqian.
The Second Madam retorted, "The child provoked her! If she didn't provoke the Grand Preceptor's people, she wouldn't be in this mess!"
The matriarch coldly interrupted, "Enough! The Buddhist temple is a place of tranquility. Stop bickering here. Let's return home and think of a solution there."
The Second Madam muttered under her breath, "Mother is probably afraid that the Grand Preceptor's people will come and arrest us as well..."
Lu Erye glared at her.
The grand matriarch was asleep, so she was unaware of the situation. Lu Mother hired a palanquin outside the temple and had the grand matriarch carried down the mountain.
Lu Xingzhou, who had just returned from escorting Lin Wan'er to meet the young emperor, immediately went back to the Lu family residence after hearing about the incident that had occurred in his absence.
He was currently with Lu Lingxiao.
Father and son listened to the servants' report, both deep in thought.
Lu Xingzhou mused, "The Grand Preceptor was recently attacked by assassins and severely injured. His Majesty must have thought he was still recuperating in his residence, which is why he secretly left the palace. Who would have thought that he would be at Hanshan Temple? This man is truly cunning and treacherous! Could it be that... he found out about His Majesty's meeting with Wan'er and wanted to give our Lu family a warning?"
Lu Lingxiao furrowed his thick eyebrows and said, "Father, you took Wan'er to meet the emperor? Doing so could put her in danger!"
Lu Xingzhou replied, "The Lu family will protect her, and so will His Majesty."
Lu Lingxiao clasped his fists and said, "His Majesty has not yet assumed full power. His actions are still restricted by Lu Yuan. I fear that Lu Yuan will take action against Wan'er."
Lu Xingzhou said, "She's useful to him, so Lu Yuan won't kill her."
Lu Lingxiao still disagreed with his father's decision. Although he also wanted to help the emperor get rid of Lu Yuan as soon as possible, he didn't want to involve Lin Wan'er in this matter.
He threw off his covers and got out of bed.
Lu Xingzhou asked curiously, "What are you doing?"
Lu Lingxiao took his clothes and said, "I'm going to the Grand Preceptor's residence."
Just as Lu Xingzhou was about to say something, Lu Lingxiao had already dressed and left the room.
At the door, he ran into Lin Wan'er, who had come to visit him.
He paused and said, "I told you not to come here. I'm covered in medicinal ointment, which isn't good for the baby."
Lin Wan'er, wearing a veil, signed with her hands, "General, your injuries haven't fully healed yet. Are you in such a hurry because of the First Young Madam's matter?"
Lu Lingxiao didn't deny it.
Lin Wan'er continued, "The innocent will be proven innocent. I believe the First Young Madam will be fine. Once the Grand Preceptor investigates and uncovers the truth, he will surely release her."
Her reasoning made sense, but Lu Lingxiao still felt that something was amiss.
Lu Lingxiao shook his head. "You don't understand Lu Yuan. He's ruthless and quick to use private jails and torture. Now that Meng Qianqian and Linglong are in his hands, what if they're subjected to torture..."
Lin Wan'er asked, "Are you worried that they might be forced to confess under duress?"
Lu Lingxiao was taken aback.
He hadn't considered that possibility. He simply didn't want the Lu family's women to be mistreated by the men from the Grand Preceptor's office.
Lin Wan'er looked into his eyes and signed, "If Lu Yuan forces her to frame you, will you blame her?"
She was, of course, referring to Meng Qianqian.
Lu Lingxiao finally realized what felt off. Although two people had been captured, Lin Wan'er only ever mentioned Meng Qianqian.
Lu Lingxiao took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Wan'er, I went to rescue her because she's my wife, and I have a responsibility toward her."
Lin Wan'er's eyes turned red. "When you were unconscious, she stayed by your side for three days and nights. Are you really telling me that you don't have any feelings for her at all?"
"She stayed by my side because..."
Lu Lingxiao would have been better off not bringing this up, as it only caused him inner turmoil.
However, he couldn't exactly explain himself either, as he also had his pride.
He held Lin Wan'er's hand and assured her, "Rest assured, you're the only one in my heart, and I won't fall in love with another woman."
Lin Wan'er gently snuggled into his embrace and wrote in his palm, "General, Wan'er only has you."
At the Grand Preceptor's residence, Tinglan Garden.
Lu Yuan had regained consciousness and was sitting lazily in an exquisite and luxurious official hat chair.
The court physician had rebandaged Lu Yuan's back and noticed the bloodstains on the white cloth. He said to Lu Yuan, "Grand Preceptor, this is Luolan Poison, one of the three great poisons of the Miao borderlands. It's extremely toxic, and if the antidote isn't administered within three hours, the poison will attack the heart, leading to death."
The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard paled. "Grand Preceptor..."
The court physician continued, "Fortunately, the Grand Preceptor had his acupoints sealed with silver needles, protecting his heart meridian and dispersing a lot of the poison. Otherwise, even with my detoxifying panacea, it would have been too late."
Lu Yuan casually played with the silver needle in his hand. "You may leave now."
"This official will take his leave."
After the court physician left, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard asked curiously, "Does the Second Young Madam know medicine? Does Lu Lingxiao know that his wife has such hidden talents? Also, why did you save her? She barged in herself; it wouldn't have mattered if she had been accidentally killed..."
Lu Yuan lifted his gaze slightly. "Have the assassins been caught? Has the mastermind behind the attack been interrogated? Are you still alive?"
The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard rushed out. "Yu Zichuan! Where have you been? Go and interrogate the prisoner!"
In the side room, Tan'er was sleeping sideways on a bench.
Lu Linglong had woken up once midway and learned that she had been captured as an assassin and brought to the Grand Preceptor's residence, which scared her unconscious again.
Meng Qianqian sat quietly in the room, recalling the events in the meditation room. The more she thought about it, the more something felt off.
It wasn't surprising that Lu Yuan had been targeted by assassins; after all, there were plenty of people who wanted him dead. She could only blame her bad luck for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
As for Lu Yuan saving her, it was most likely because of Baoshi's face. However, he could have easily pushed her away, rescuing her without injuring himself in the process.
Unless... he was testing her?
Testing her martial arts skills and even... deliberately exposing himself to poison to test her medical skills.
Meng Qianqian slowly clenched her fingers.
Didn't he fear that she might guess wrong?
What a madman!
Knock, knock... knock.
As Meng Qianqian was deep in thought, she heard a series of knocks on the door that sounded rather labored.
Meng Qianqian's eyes flickered, and she quickly got up to open the door.
There was Baoshi, dressed up as a little tiger cub, sitting on the ground with her legs crossed in an extremely cool pose—her chubby face turned to the side, her little chin raised proudly, and a small flower in her mouth.
"Meow~"
As if she was asking, "Am I beautiful tonight?"
Well, the flower was a nice touch.
Baoshi: Terrified JPG.
(End of Chapter)
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