Chapter 462: The Liang Emperor's Favorite, Little Piggy

Chapter 462: The Liang Emperor's Favorite, Little Piggy

In broad daylight, the Prince of Jin acknowledged a child as his father.

The crowd gathered nearby couldn't help but suppress their laughter, almost bursting into laughter.

The Prince of Jin's face turned awkward.

In the bright sun and before so many witnesses, this was truly an embarrassing spectacle.

Who could tell him what was happening? Why was there a child in his grandfather's imperial carriage?

His grandfather had never shown any fondness for children.

Naturally, most children feared him, and upon seeing him, they would cry, not daring to approach him.

The Prince of Jin was perplexed and shocked. His first thought was, who was this child who didn't understand manners and climbed onto the imperial carriage to cause a ruckus?

When his gaze swept over the eunuchs carrying the carriage, he couldn't believe that a child could so casually bypass them and climb onto his grandfather's carriage.

Lu Qi, standing beside the Prince of Jin, spoke up, "It's Zhaoshao."

Having stayed in the palace for a few days and having met this little girl who could charm his grandfather, he recognized her voice.

He knew that his grandfather adored her, even more so than his affection for him, the eldest royal grandson.

Lu Qi didn't feel the need to compete with a child for his grandfather's favor. As the eldest royal grandson, his grandfather treated him with both strictness and kindness, not indulging him excessively, as he was being groomed to inherit the empire one day.

As for Zhaoshao, a mere little girl, no matter how favored she was, she could only become a minor princess in the future.

"It's that child."

The Prince of Jin suddenly understood.

Lu Qi hadn't spent much time with the Liang Emperor, so he wasn't surprised by the Emperor's special affection for a child.

Only the Prince of Jin, as his biological son, could deeply understand the significance of the little girl in the Liang Emperor's heart.

However, he wasn't worried.

He calmly said, "When Pingtong was young, your grandmother raised a cat. She loved it so much that even when it scratched Pingtong, she couldn't bear to throw it away. But the novelty would wear off eventually."

Lu Qi nodded, "I understand, Father."

The Prince of Jin didn't think much of it and said, "Using a child to vie for favor, the Crown Prince's Mansion has truly exhausted all means."

Lu Qi turned to look back and said to the Prince of Jin, "Your Majesty, they've arrived."

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Jin also looked back and saw Lu Zhaoyan and Lu Yuan approaching leisurely, looking relaxed and content.

The father and son also noticed the two of them.

Lu Yuan smiled casually, "Oh, what a coincidence. I thought we'd be half a day late due to the delay on the road, but it seems that Uncle is kind-hearted and waiting for us in the Imperial Garden."

A hint of sternness flashed in the Prince of Jin's eyes.

Lu Zhaoyan blocked the Prince of Jin's view and said to Lu Yuan, "Come and pay your respects to your two royal uncles."

The third prince, Prince Rui, son of the late concubine Liu, was posthumously granted the title of Prince Liu by the Liang Emperor after his ascension.

The fourth prince, Prince Qi, was the son of Shen Zhaorong.

Lu Yuan bowed and greeted them, "Third Royal Uncle, Fourth Royal Uncle."

The two princes nodded, and in front of so many witnesses, they treated Lu Yuan, their nephew, with courtesy.

As expected of the princes, they were more considerate than those short-sighted courtiers.

Earlier, in the carriage, Lu Zhaoyan had already told Lu Yuan about the backgrounds of the princes.

Among all the princes, the highest-ranking ones were the Prince of Jin, born to Consort Hu, and the Prince of Fu, born to Consort Jiang.

However, the Prince of Jin was the eldest, so his position as the heir was tacitly acknowledged by everyone.

The Prince of Fu didn't need to curry favor with his eldest brother like the other brothers.

"Second Brother, where's the sixth brother? Didn't he come with you?"

Prince Rui asked.

Lu Zhaoyan replied, "He went to buy lingzhi for Mother."

Prince Rui said, "The sixth brother is thoughtful."

The fourth prince, Prince Qi, asked in a peculiar tone, "Second Brother, the child is still young. You should teach her well."

Lu Zhaoyan's gaze turned cold, "Fourth Brother, what do you mean by that?"

Prince Qi glanced at the tightly closed curtains of the imperial carriage and said mockingly, "Although it's just a girl, she is still of royal blood. Such a lack of manners will make people laugh at our royal family for being ill-mannered."

"Who do you say is ill-mannered?"

A voice of utmost authority resounded from behind the crowd.

Everyone was shaken by the emperor's aura, their hearts trembling. They quickly turned around and respectfully bowed.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Imperial Highness!"

The Liang Emperor walked to the front of the crowd and glared at Prince Qi.

Prince Qi's scalp tingled, "Your Majesty, the child is running around. I was just worried that she might bump into you, so I reminded her."

The Liang Emperor scolded, "A child can offend me? Am I a tyrant?"

Prince Qi was speechless, "Your... Your Majesty, that's not what I meant."

Lu Yuan added, "Heartless, seeing everything as filth."

Prince Qi: "..."

From within the carriage, Little Piggy poked her round little head out of the curtains, "Great-Grandfather! Baby is here to pick you up after court!"

The Liang Emperor's expression instantly softened, and he happily hugged the little girl, "Oh! Baby is so well-behaved!"

Little Piggy asked, "Great-Grandfather, who are they? Why are they arguing with Grandpa and Daddy?"

Everyone was stunned.

Don't talk nonsense!

Who was arguing with your grandpa and daddy?

Children don't lie, and the Liang Emperor's gaze instantly turned cold and stern.

Look at his sons; before the Crown Prince is even deposed, they can't wait to take action.

He then turned his gaze towards Lu Zhaoyan and Lu Yuan.

The father and son's expressions were perfectly synchronized as they lowered their eyes, both silently enduring.

Anyone could see they looked like they had been severely bullied.

The crowd was utterly bewildered.

Who bullied the two of you? How shameless!

"Come up here."

The Liang Emperor said to Lu Zhaoyan.

Lu Zhaoyan replied, "Your child subject dares not."

The Liang Emperor said, "Yuan Er, come up."

Lu Yuan cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Your Imperial Majesty!"

Lu Zhaoyan was dumbfounded. Weren't they supposed to rise and fall together? Why did you leave your father behind?

Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly, and with his adaptability, he climbed onto the imperial carriage.

He glanced at his little son, "Give your father a hug."

"No!"

The little piglet twisted her small body and buried herself in the Liang Emperor's embrace.

The Liang Emperor held the little one and proceeded to Kun Ning Palace.

Gongsun Liuying had arrived early.

When the three of them entered the inner hall, she was massaging the acupoints for the Empress.

The Empress was the Liang Emperor's first wife, and although they had been married for many years, their relationship was not as close as glue and lacquer, but they still respected each other.

She stood up to pay her respects to the Liang Emperor.

The Liang Emperor, holding the sleeping Treasure Maiden, sat down next to the Empress, "You're still unwell, please sit."

"Is Zhaozhao asleep?"

The Empress asked with a smile.

The Liang Emperor replied, "She just fell asleep."

The Empress instructed the female official beside her, "Take Zhaozhao down, be careful not to tire His Majesty."

"I'm not tired."

He loved holding her.

Even while sleeping, the Treasure Maiden held her chin up, her little expression full of pride.

The more the Liang Emperor looked, the more he liked her.

Such a cute little one, he really wanted to give her the best things in the world.

The Empress took a sip of tea without showing any reaction.

Gongsun Liuying bowed to the Liang Emperor and Lu Zhaoyan, "Liuying greets Your Majesty and greets the Crown Prince."

Her peripheral vision swept over Lu Yuan, and she vaguely guessed his identity.

She also gave him a slight bow.

"How is the Empress's health?"

The Liang Emperor asked Gongsun Liuying.

Gongsun Liuying replied, "In response to Your Majesty, Her Majesty caught a cold. As long as she takes the medicine I prescribed on time, within three days, she will surely recover."

"Hmm."

The Liang Emperor nodded, as he trusted Gongsun Liuying's medical skills.

The Crown Prince and Lu Yuan bowed to the Empress to greet her.

"Mother."

"Imperial Grandmother."

Lu Yuan had stayed in the palace for several days, and this was his first time meeting the Empress.

The Empress, dignified and noble, exuded a gentle yet imposing aura, "You must be Yuan Er, come here and let me have a look at you."

Lu Yuan walked up to the Empress.

The Empress summoned a court lady to offer Lu Yuan a seat and held his hand, examining him up and down, "You look exactly like His Majesty when he was young."

The Liang Emperor nodded, pleased to hear this.

The Empress continued, "I heard you were ill recently. Are you feeling better now?"

Here it comes.

Lu Yuan smiled and replied, "I've worried you, Imperial Grandmother. Yuan Er's body has fully recovered."

Not a single mistake in his speech and mannerisms!

The Empress sighed, "I feel like you've become too thin. His Majesty was much sturdier than you when he was young."

The Liang Emperor said, "When I was young, I had to fight in battles, but he doesn't need to."

The Empress said to the Liang Emperor, "I'm also worried about my grandson. He fell ill soon after entering the Crown Prince's Mansion, and then he escaped from the fire... I'm concerned that he might have lingering health issues. It's fortunate that Liuying is here today. Let's have her check Yuan Er's pulse."

Lu Zhaoyan glanced at the Empress and Gongsun Liuying without showing any reaction.

A woman who sold out her conscience for personal gain; it's fortunate she didn't become his daughter-in-law.

The Liang Emperor was also concerned that Lu Yuan might have lingering health issues, as ever since Lu Yuan entered the Imperial City, he was either pretending to be sick or on the verge of getting sick.

Since Gongsun Liuying was there, it was a convenient matter, and he had no reason to refuse.

"Then please trouble Miss Gongsun to check my grandson's pulse."

"Liuying will obey Your Majesty's command."

Gongsun Liuying approached Lu Yuan.

She wore a veil, revealing only her smooth forehead and delicate eyebrows and eyes.

Lu Yuan confidently extended his wrist, "Miss Gongsun, please be careful."

Gongsun Liuying placed her fingertips on his wrist, "Has Young Master Lin Yuan been feeling unwell recently?"

Lu Yuan replied indifferently, "There are many, headaches, backaches, and pain all over."

Gongsun Liuying asked further, "How is your appetite?"

Lu Yuan spoke slowly, "I can't eat or sleep in peace."

Gongsun Liuying's eyes flickered slightly.

Obviously, she didn't expect Lu Yuan to react this way.

She opened her mouth, "Your pulse... doesn't seem to match these symptoms."

Lu Yuan pretended to ask, "Oh? Could it be that your medical skills are not refined enough? Can't you even diagnose what illness I have?"

A sharp glint flashed in Gongsun Liuying's eyes, "I've diagnosed it. Young Master Lin Yuan suffers from a cold syndrome, with pain all over his body, difficulty sleeping and eating, all because the cold syndrome has invaded his five viscera, six bowels, and his very bones."

Lu Yuan thought to himself, "She's really good at making things up."

The Empress exclaimed, "Cold syndrome?"

Liuying, is this illness serious?"

Gongsun Liuying replied calmly, "It's almost incurable. Unless we have the red Ganoderma from Wushan in Miaojiang, but as far as I know, all of Wushan's red Ganoderma has been used to treat the Grand Commander of Da Zhou."

The Empress was surprised, "That Grand Commander also has a cold syndrome?"

They were in perfect harmony, almost as if they were about to write 'Lu Lin Yuan is Lu Yuan' on their foreheads.

Lu Yuan asked, "What cold syndrome? I've never heard of it. Are you sure you got it right?"

Lu Zhaoyan inquired, "Is it just a minor illness? Isn't Miss Gongsun being a bit too hasty?"

Lu Yuan sighed, "Exactly. How reliable is your medical skill?"

Are you the only ones who can play off each other?

Let them see what it means to have a father and son fighting side by side.

Gongsun Liuying spoke arrogantly, "In Liang, if my medical skills are second, no one dares to claim first."

As soon as she finished speaking, a young eunuch arrived at the door and whispered something to Eunuch Yu, who quickly entered the inner hall, "Your Majesty, something has happened."

The Liang Emperor frowned, "What is it?"

Eunuch Yu replied, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort Huifei's grandnephew was scratched by the Princess Consort Guifei's white cat. Princess Consort Huifei brought people to Princess Consort Guifei's palace and wanted to kill the cat, causing a ruckus."

Lu Yuan whispered, "That's high-level."

Lu Zhaoyan whispered, "It wasn't me."

Lu Yuan asked in confusion, "Didn't you say you had a plan?"

Lu Zhaoyan's lips twitched, "I did have a plan, but I arranged for Princess Consort Yuhui, not Princess Consort Huifei."

Princess Consort Huifei came from a noble background, and even Prince Jin didn't bother to curry favor with her. How could Lu Zhaoyan have the ability to bribe her to put on a show?

The Liang Emperor instructed Eunuch Yu, "Take Miss Gongsun to Princess Consort Huifei's palace to save the child first."

"Yes."

Eunuch Yu hurriedly said to Gongsun Liuying, "Miss Gongsun, please follow me."

Gongsun Liuying composed herself and followed Eunuch Yu out of the Kun Ning Palace.

Princess Consort Huifei had a fiery temper, and when she caused trouble, she could really turn the harem upside down.

The Liang Emperor immediately went to Princess Consort Huifei's palace.

When men fought, a single punch could end the conflict.

But when women got involved, the Liang Emperor was at a loss.

It took him great effort to separate Princess Consort Huifei and Princess Consort Huifei.

Princess Consort Huifei's face was swollen and bruised, and she was fuming.

"Your Majesty—"

She was on the verge of tears and was about to file a complaint.

However, before she could open her mouth, bad news came from Princess Consort Huifei's palace—Gongsun Liuying had fainted her grandnephew.

Princess Consort Huifei couldn't be bothered to argue with Princess Consort Huifei anymore and asked in a daze, "Fainted? What does that mean?"

"If anything happens to my child, I'll make the Hu family pay with their lives!"

Princess Consort Huifei finished speaking with a murderous aura and hurried back to the palace to see her child.

At this moment, half a day had passed since Gongsun Liuying entered the palace.

The Pavilion Master's carriage stopped at the entrance of Yan Elder's courtyard.

A disciple said, "Elder Yan, the Pavilion Master urgently summons you to the palace."

Yan Madam turned and glanced at Meng Qianqian, who was drying medicinal herbs in the courtyard.

That girl had guessed correctly.

In less than an hour, Gongsun Yanming indeed sent someone to escort her to the palace.

Meng Qianqian asked softly, "Master, are you taking me?"

Yan Madam brought Meng Qianqian into the palace.

Gongsun Yanming saw that she had brought her disciple and didn't say anything.

It was only natural for a master to bring their disciple to the palace to broaden their horizons.

Moreover, it was inappropriate for Meng Qianqian to carry such a valuable medicine box, so it was best for her to accompany her master.

However, as Gongsun Yanming passed by Meng Qianqian, he felt a strange sensation.

He turned to look at Meng Qianqian's back, his eyebrows furrowed.

The Empress, feigning illness, went to Princess Consort Huifei's palace, and Princess Consort Huifei was also there.

Princess Consort Huifei didn't want to come, but Gongsun Liuying was her future daughter-in-law.

She suspected that Princess Consort Huifei was deliberately making things difficult for Gongsun Liuying, so she came to check.

But she didn't expect the child to have truly fainted.

The imperial physicians didn't dare to take any risks.

After all, the child had fainted in Gongsun Liuying's hands, and if something went wrong, it would be her responsibility.

But if the child died in their hands, even a hundred heads wouldn't be enough to pay for it.

Yan Madam and Meng Qianqian entered the room.

At this moment, no one paid attention to the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion disciple beside Yan Madam.

Yan Madam spoke solemnly, "The young master needs to be treated with needles. Please everyone leave."

The wet nurse pointed at Gongsun Liuying and scolded, "She also asked us to leave just now, and as a result, the young master—"

"Has no pulse."

Meng Qianqian said, holding the child's wrist.

Yan Madam angrily said, "Hurry up and get out, or do you want to kill this child?"

Princess Consort Huifei spoke sternly, "Everyone, follow me out!"

The crowd left the room.

Yan Madam opened the child's eyelids and examined his pupils, her expression grave, "This child's condition is not good. You should also leave."

Meng Qianqian grabbed Yan Madam's hand as she was about to take the silver needle, and said firmly, "I'll save him."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end