https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-470-The-Liang-Emperor-Protects-Xiaojiu/13112919/
Chapter 469: Lu Yuan's Complaint, The Fake Qilin
Chapter 469: Lu Yuan's Complaint, The Fake Qilin
Xiao Rong Er sat by Gongsun Liuying's bed, holding her daughter's hand, her eyes swollen from crying.
After waiting for what felt like an eternity for the two to return to their room, she finally spoke, her patience worn thin, "Is Liuying's destiny pattern unstable again? I knew it! After practicing the Thirteen Ghost Gates Needles for so many years, how could she possibly make such a mistake?"
Gongsun Yanming remained silent, seemingly agreeing with her.
Xiao Rong Er, perplexed, said, "But isn't that person dead? Burned to ashes, with no chance of survival."
She paused, her expression turning grave, "Could someone have used the same method to take Liuying's destiny pattern?"
This thought flashed through her mind, and she couldn't shake it.
Standing up, she clutched her handkerchief tightly, a cold glint in her eyes, "I know who it is—Yan Hanshuang!"
"Elder Yan?"
Gongsun Yu was taken aback.
Xiao Rong Er looked at her unconscious daughter with concern and said coldly, "It must be her! The incident from years ago, she must have discovered it. Do you remember that she was in charge of hunting down Shang Jiu, and it was she who reported that Shang Jiu had perished? But years later, Shang Jiu appeared in the Chu King's Palace at Yumen Pass. Thousand Mechanism Pavilion trusted her, and they didn't question her negligence. They thought she had been deceived. But now, I suspect that Shang Jiu was the one she escorted and sent away! This traitor! I should have guessed it!"
Gongsun Yu pondered, "That can't be right. Elder Yan personally killed her senior sister. If she were a traitor, why didn't she save her senior sister?"
Xiao Rong Er analyzed, "Because she couldn't save her. The senior sister knew she couldn't escape death, and rather than dying at the hands of others, she let Yan Hanshuang take her life to gain merit and earn the trust of Thousand Mechanism Pavilion."
"This..."
Gongsun Yu hesitated, "Sister-in-law, nothing is certain yet."
Xiao Rong Er huffed, "What certainty do we need? I've never heard her mention taking on a disciple, and suddenly she brings back a disciple. On the first day in the capital, she bullied Zi Yu, and then she pretended to be Liuying at Safehaven Hospital, treating the commoners. Now, she has taken Liuying's Phoenix Maiden destiny pattern. Can you honestly say this isn't intentional?"
Gongsun Yu turned to Gongsun Yanming, "Big brother, Sister-in-law is right. Could Elder Yan have turned traitor? She wants to avenge her senior sister and the child, using their methods against them—"
Gongsun Yanming's mind flashed to Meng Qianqian, who had brushed past him. He said calmly, "Yan Hanshuang doesn't have that ability."
Xiao Rong Er, filled with murderous intent, said, "I don't care if Yan Hanshuang has the ability or not. It was her disciple who harmed Liuying and left her in this state! I won't allow anyone to take what belongs to Liuying! I will kill them both!"
Gongsun Yu quickly said, "Sister-in-law, don't be impulsive. Elder Yan and her disciple are in the palace. We can't rush into the palace and kill them. We can deal with them when they return to Thousand Mechanism Pavilion."
He looked at Gongsun Yanming, "Big brother, what do you think?"
Gongsun Yanming's expression turned serious, "Gather the elders in the Hall of Discussion."
Gongsun Yu replied, "Yes, big brother."
After Gongsun Liuying was taken away, the Empress, feigning illness, returned to Kunning Palace, while Empress Dowager Hu, with a still-swollen face and a face turned green by Jiang Huifei's anger, went back to Changchun Palace.
The princes left, some on foot, others dispersing.
Yu Fei, steadfast, never made an appearance.
By the time Prince Ming arrived with the ginseng tribute for the Empress, the melon seeds were all gone.
Prince Ming was utterly bewildered.
Hey, why wasn't I invited to this palace intrigue?
After the acupuncture treatment, the Liang Emperor broke out in a sweat and returned to Qinzheng Hall to change his clothes.
His migraine attack wasn't a lie; he simply had a high tolerance for pain and didn't pay much attention to it.
He was also aware that this illness couldn't be cured completely, and the treatment was often ineffective and painful.
If it weren't for testing Gongsun Liuying's medical skills, he wouldn't have mentioned it at all.
However, to his surprise, after the young girl's acupuncture treatment, his headache genuinely lessened, and his mind felt clearer.
It was as if he had returned to his younger, healthier days.
He had always thought migraines weren't a serious illness, just a headache, and he wasn't afraid of pain. He could endure it.
But at this moment, experiencing the long-lost tranquility and comfort, he realized how many years it had been since he felt like a normal person.
"Tai Gega, Tai Gega!"
Bao Zhuzhu tilted her head, looking at him with adorable eyes.
The Liang Emperor picked up the little one, whose eyebrows and eyes were now clearer than before.
It seemed that the migraine not only caused him headaches but also affected his senses. He had thought it was just old age.
"Tai Gega!"
Bao Zhuzhu rubbed her head against the Liang Emperor's neck, like a clingy little cat.
Who could refuse a soft, cuddly baby?
The Liang Emperor couldn't.
With just a little cooing, she could have the stars plucked for her.
On the other side, Meng Qianqian and Elder Yan sat in the small garden of Qinzheng Hall, waiting for the Liang Emperor's summons.
After sending Gongsun Liuying away, the Liang Emperor kept them there, indicating he had something to say.
Eunuch Yu instructed the palace attendants to prepare tea and snacks and assigned some to wait upon them.
Then, Lu Yuan sent the palace attendants away.
Only the master and disciple remained in the small garden.
Meng Qianqian gently caressed the Qinglian Sword on the table, her expression solemn and devout.
She had waited two lifetimes for this day.
She had finally regained her destiny pattern.
But this was not the end.
Her revenge had just begun.
Yan Madam said, "You shouldn't have done this. It was too risky."
Meng Qianqian calmly replied, "What did I do? I don't quite understand. Please enlighten me, Master."
Yan Madam hesitated.
Meng Qianqian spoke up, "If Master won't say it, I will. Thousand Mechanism Pavilion took something from me, and I took it back."
"Madam Yan opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Meng Qianqian drew her Qinglian Sword, "It's them who should worry. There's a god watching over every three feet, and if the gods won't kill, I will!"
Madam Yan was stunned.
Xiao De Zi took a step forward into the small garden and politely said, "Elder Yan, Miss Yan, His Majesty summons you!"
Meng Qianqian sheathed her sword with a clatter.
Madam Yan closed her eyes and said to Xiao De Zi, "Please lead the way."
Xiao De Zi led the two of them to Bao Zhuzhu's private garden.
Although it was called a garden, it was more like a small paddock with some potted plants in the corner.
At that moment, a small chestnut-colored foal stood beside the Liang Emperor.
Bao Zhuzhu looked up, her eyes wide with excitement, as she stared at the foal.
"We've seen His Majesty," Elder Yan said, and they both bowed to the Liang Emperor.
Bao Zhuzhu heard their voices and turned her head, trotting over with her short legs. She slid to a stop in front of Meng Qianqian and opened her arms, hugging Meng Qianqian's leg.
The Liang Emperor looked at the little one with affection and said to Elder Yan, "You've taught a good disciple. Zhaoshao likes her very much."
The Liang Emperor's standard for good and bad was simple: if Zhaoshao liked it, it was good; if she didn't, it was bad.
Elder Yan replied, "Your Majesty is too kind."
Then, turning to Meng Qianqian, he said, "You can play with Miss Zhaoshao for a while."
This was the moment Meng Qianqian had been waiting for.
Heaven knew how much Meng Qianqian had missed the little one. When she learned that the child had come to the capital, she wished she could fly to her side immediately. Today, when Madam Yan brought her to the palace, she thought it was only to deal with Gongsun Liuying. She had no idea that Meng Qianqian also wanted to see the child.
Meng Qianqian held the chubby little one in her arms.
The child snuggled against her shoulder and whispered, "Mama."
Meng Qianqian's heart was filled with emotion, and she softly replied, "Yeah."
The child was so happy that she squirmed in Meng Qianqian's embrace.
The Liang Emperor called the two of them over for two main reasons.
First, Meng Qianqian had successfully treated Nie'er, and not only did Huifei want to reward her, but the Liang Emperor also had a generous reward in mind.
Second was his migraine.
The Liang Emperor, who had never taken medicine and disliked seeing doctors, was now actively seeking medical treatment.
"Can my migraine be completely cured?" he asked.
Madam Yan replied, "With Your Majesty's cooperation in treatment, using acupuncture and moxibustion along with herbal medicine, you will surely recover soon."
The Liang Emperor decided against treatment when he heard about the medicine, "Never mind, forget I asked."
Madam Yan was speechless.
The Liang Emperor watched the large and small figures running back and forth in the distance and asked, "How is your disciple's riding skills?"
Madam Yan thought for a moment and replied, "Excellent."
The Liang Emperor had only asked casually and didn't expect the other party to actually know how to ride, "That's great. Zhaoshao wants to learn to ride, and I've been worried about finding a suitable teacher. Let your disciple teach Zhaoshao how to ride."
Madam Yan was dumbfounded, "Miss Zhaoshao... is only two years old."
The Liang Emperor said, "So what if she's two? I also started riding at the age of two!"
Madam Yan replied, "As you wish, Your Majesty."
This was good; with the identity of Zhaoshao's teacher, it was like having an extra layer of protection. If the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion wanted to harm her, they would have to think twice.
Bao Zhuzhu pulled Meng Qianqian's hand to see the little horse.
Zhaoshao, was she really that amazing?
Meng Qianqian curved her lips, "She's truly amazing."
Meng Qianqian first took the little one to get familiar with her horse.
The Liang Emperor asked many questions about Meng Qianqian, and Madam Yan answered them one by one.
She was from the southwest, an orphan, and she had taken her in during her travels. The child was naturally gifted, showing great potential in martial arts and medicine, a rare talent not seen in a hundred years.
In the study of Qinzheng Hall.
Lu Yuan frowned as he flipped through a book.
Lu Zhaoyan said, "You want to go out?"
Lu Yuan hummed in response.
Lu Zhaoyan spoke seriously, "Behave yourself. You're not allowed to go out for your own good. Look at yourself, so unmotivated. Your eyes seem to be glued to Xiaojiu. Do you think your Imperial Grandfather can't see through you?"
Lu Yuan coldly huffed, "Can't I be a romantic?"
Lu Zhaoyan was speechless.
"You can go if you want."
Lu Yuan threw the book on the table and left without looking back.
Lu Zhaoyan asked, "Where are you going?"
Lu Yuan replied, "To find a wife."
Lu Zhaoyan exclaimed, "Rebel!"
Lu Yuan's timing was unfortunate, as Meng Qianqian and Madam Yan had just left.
Looking at the empty paddock, his anger had nowhere to go.
Someone had to bear the brunt of his anger.
"Where's my Imperial Grandfather?"
He asked a little eunuch who was sweeping.
The little eunuch replied, "His Majesty has gone to the Imperial Study."
Lu Yuan turned and headed for the Imperial Study, "Imperial Grandfather!"
The Liang Emperor had just opened an imperial edict when he raised his eyes to see someone with a huffed-up expression. He smiled and said, "Yuan has come? Why do you look so unhappy? Who has offended my Imperial Grandson?"
Lu Yuan opened his mouth to speak, "The Thousand Mechanism Pavilion!"
The Liang Emperor's eyes narrowed, "What about the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion?"
Lu Yuan's face was filled with suppressed anger, "The Thousand Mechanism Pavilion presented a fake Phoenix Maiden to the royal family. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. And what about the State Tutor? Can't even distinguish between a real and fake Phoenix Maiden? Or do they know it's a fake but still want to pass it off as real? What are the intentions of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion?"
The Liang Emperor watched him speak passionately and said, "Continue."
Lu Yuan huffed, "And since the Phoenix Maiden is fake, who can guarantee that the Qilin they found is real?"
The Liang Emperor looked at Lu Yuan with a smile, "If Qi Er is fake, what about you?"
Lu Yuan's expression remained unchanged, "My Imperial Grandfather is the Son of Heaven. Whoever you say is real, is real."
Happy New Year, everyone! Wow, the monthly votes are almost at 10,000! Let's break the record on the first day of the New Year!
(End of Chapter)
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