Chapter 486: The Liang Emperor's Favoritism Towards Bao Zhuzhu

Chapter 486: The Liang Emperor's Favoritism Towards Bao Zhuzhu

Upon hearing the Liang Emperor's words, everyone was left dumbfounded.

What did the Sire say?

Princess?

What princess?

Wasn't it Miss Zhao Zhao who bit someone earlier?

And wasn't it Huo Xiao Gongzi who got bitten?

Why does the Sire seem so sympathetic towards Miss Zhao Zhao, as if she had suffered a great injustice?

Bao Zhuzhu tilted her head and leaned against the Liang Emperor's embrace, her voice quivering as she asked, "What kind of princess is she? Can she be eaten?"

Hearing the little one's accent becoming more and more similar to Nie'er's, the Liang Emperor couldn't help but smile, "How did you learn to speak like Nie'er? Once you become a princess, you'll have endless glory and riches, and you'll never run out of delicacies from land and sea."

Bao Zhuzhu understood the last sentence, and tears of joy welled up in her small eyes.

The little one always had new tricks up her sleeve, and the Liang Emperor had never seen a more interesting child. He felt that all his sons and daughters were a waste compared to the adorable Zhao Zhao.

The Liang Emperor was so fond of her that he continued, "Most importantly, even after Tai Ye Ye passes away, no one will dare to bully Zhao Zhao."

"Sire!"

The crowd was shocked by the words "after Tai Ye Ye passes away," and they hurriedly knelt on the ground.

Bao Zhuzhu asked, "What do you mean by after Tai Ye Ye passes away?"

The Liang Emperor smiled calmly and said, "It means Tai Ye Ye won't be around anymore."

Bao Zhuzhu looked at him in confusion, "Why won't Tai Ye Ye be around?"

"Well..."

The Liang Emperor didn't know how to explain life and death to a two-year-old, so he decided not to explain it at all. "Does Zhao Zhao want to be a princess?"

Bao Zhuzhu asked, "If I become a princess, will Tai Ye Ye have to leave?"

The Liang Emperor was stumped again.

Strictly speaking, by the time the little one becomes a princess, he would no longer be in this world.

But this answer seemed too cruel for the little one.

Bao Zhuzhu shook her head, tightly hugging the Liang Emperor's neck, and said, "I don't want to be a princess, I want Tai Ye Ye! Tai Ye Ye, don't leave!"

She was willing to give up glory and riches just to ensure his longevity, and these were the purest words spoken by a child at the most innocent age.

The little one's hands were warm, and her chubby cheeks were covered in drool as she spoke.

The Liang Emperor was a tough man who shed blood but never tears, yet at this moment, his eyes suddenly turned slightly red.

At the entrance of Yu Hua Yuan.

Lu Zhaoyan witnessed the touching scene and asked Niezi in a daze, "Did you teach her that?"

Lu Yuan glared at him, "How could I possibly teach her that?"

He wasn't a god who could predict that the Sire would ask such a surprising question to the little one.

He had heard about the argument in the court, where almost everyone supported Prince Jin. He and his father-in-law rushed to the palace to stabilize the Sire.

But now it seemed that the Sire had already calmed down.

It was all thanks to the little one's efforts.

Lu Zhaoyan said, "You go."

Lu Yuan replied, "If I'm impeached, will you still become the Crown Prince?"

Lu Zhaoyan scoffed, "If I'm deposed, will you still become the Crown Prince?"

Lu Yuan played his trump card, "I have a daughter."

Lu Zhaoyan laughed, "The Emperor asked if Zhao Zhao wants to be a princess, not if you want to be a prince."

At first glance, they seemed similar, but there was a distinction.

There was more than one way to make Zhao Zhao a princess, and it wasn't necessary for Lu Qi to ascend the throne.

If Lu Qi adopted Zhao Zhao, when he rules the world, Zhao Zhao would naturally become the eldest princess.

Lu Yuan said, "...It doesn't matter if I become a prince or not. I just don't want my daughter to acknowledge a random father outside the palace."

After speaking, he straightened his collar, took a deep breath, stretched out his hand, and thought of his grandfather with tears in his eyes, "Emperor... Grandfather..."

Lu Zhaoyan covered his eyes with one hand.

He couldn't bear to look.

---

Huo Xiao Gongzi was taken back to Changchun Palace by his wet nurse and palace maids.

When Empress Hu saw that her nephew's face was swollen like a steamed bun, with several clear tooth marks still visible, she immediately became furious, "Who did this?!"

The wet nurse, being the Empress's maternal aunt, had a high status in the palace, and her arrogance was evident. She quickly exaggerated the incident that happened in Yu Hua Yuan.

Although Huo Xiao Gongzi had initiated the fight, she claimed that Nie'er had bullied him first and then called upon the Sire's favorite, Zhao Zhao, to support him.

The two of them had beaten up Huo Xiao Gongzi.

Huo Xiao Gongzi didn't want to cause trouble for his mother, so he endured and didn't fight back.

Empress Hu was heartbroken.

The palace maids looked at each other, feeling that Hu's wet nurse was exaggerating.

The wet nurse wiped her tears and continued to complain, "The Sire is biased. My nephew has suffered such a great injustice, yet the Sire only favors Miss Zhao Zhao."

The palace maids sighed in exasperation.

Behind the scenes, there were those who criticized the Emperor, wishing to bring calamity upon the Empress.

Upon hearing this, Empress Hu's expression turned somewhat dejected. "Even my family, as close as they are, are still outsiders. But he is the Emperor's own great-grandson; the difference in closeness is clear."

Thinking of this, she became even more convinced that only by having her son ascend the throne could she redress all the grievances her family had suffered.

The wet nurse said, "Your Majesty even wants to bestow the title of Princess upon Zhaozhao."

Empress Hu's face changed, "What?"

She immediately turned to the four palace maids accompanying her, "You tell me, what exactly happened?"

The leading palace maid cautiously replied, "His Majesty only asked if Miss Zhaozhao wanted to be a princess. However, Miss Zhaozhao refused."

She recounted their conversation word for word.

To be a senior palace maid by Empress Hu's side, one must possess such abilities.

Empress Hu mocked with a smile, "Oh, so even children are being used in the struggle for the throne!"

She didn't believe that a child could say such words on their own; it must have been Lu Zhaoyan and Lu Lin Yuan who put them up to it.

"Someone, come! Go to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion on my behalf and deliver a message to Palace Master Gongsun!"

---

After Gongsun Liuying fell ill, Gongsun Yanming had been absent from court for several days. The Liang Emperor, considering his care for his daughter, didn't pressure him to attend.

It was precisely because of his absence that the dispute in the court remained unresolved.

If he had immediately expressed his stance, the conflict between the Crown Prince's Mansion and Prince Jin's Mansion would likely have already concluded.

After Lan Yuelue detoxified Gongsun Yanming, Gongsun Yanming spent another Great Zhou Heaven's cycle recuperating on the Han Bing Chuang, restoring fifty percent of his cultivation. In a few more days, he should fully recover.

He went next door to see Shang Wu You.

Shang Wu You had awakened.

But he didn't want to talk to anyone, only turning his back to him.

"Big brother."

Gongsun Yu waved at him from outside the door.

"Rest first, I'll come back to see you later."

After speaking, Gongsun Yanming stood up and walked out.

"How long will you keep me locked up here?"

Shang Wu You asked coldly.

Gongsun Yanming said, "Once your injuries are healed, I will let you out."

Shang Wu You mocked, "Why did Mother want to kill me? When do you plan to answer this question for me?"

Gongsun Yanming wanted to speak but stopped.

"Big brother!"

Gongsun Yu urged.

Gongsun Yanming sighed, his expression complicated as he left the room.

He closed the door behind him, "What is it?"

"There's a message from the palace."

Gongsun Yu handed him a sealed letter.

After reading it, Gongsun Yanming's expression turned serious, "Prepare the carriage, I'm going to the palace."

---

Gongsun Yanming rode his horse into the imperial palace and sought an audience with the Liang Emperor in the imperial study.

He didn't make a fuss about his poisoning.

The Liang Emperor noticed his slightly pale face and attributed it to fatigue and excessive worry over the past few days, "Has Liuying awakened?"

Gongsun Yanming bowed, "Reporting to Your Majesty, she just woke up this morning."

The Liang Emperor nodded, no longer inquiring about Liuying or the matter of the real Phoenix Maiden. "The National Teacher has a request to see you?"

Gongsun Yanming maintained his composure, "Your Majesty, I have come regarding the Qilin matter."

The Liang Emperor said, "Coincidentally, there's a distinguished guest who has also come for this matter."

Gongsun Yanming turned around in confusion, looking towards the outside of the imperial study.

An elderly man with a celestial aura and a bearing like a Daoist master strode in, carrying a tray.

"This commoner pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

He respectfully bowed, a stark contrast to his previous haughty demeanor.

If not for the Liang Emperor's personal invitation, one might have thought his arrogance was just a rumor.

The Liang Emperor said, "Please be seated, Master Zi Wu."

Xiaodezi brought chairs for Master Zi Wu and the National Teacher.

Master Zi Wu didn't rush to sit.

Gongsun Yanming discreetly gestured, "Senior Master, please."

Only then did Master Zi Wu brush his wide sleeves and sit down gracefully.

The Liang Emperor asked Gongsun Yanming, "National Teacher, you've been absent from court these past few days. Are you aware of what's been happening there?"

Gongsun Yanming nodded, "I've heard that the ministers are quarreling incessantly over the position of Crown Prince, and many are advocating for Prince Jin to be established as the Crown Prince."

"What's the National Teacher's opinion on this?"

The Liang Emperor inquired.

Gongsun Yanming's expression turned serious, "In my opinion, the second prince was established as the Crown Prince because of Prince Jian. Now that Prince Jian has acknowledged his biological father, the position of Crown Prince should rightfully return to its original owner."

Master Zi Wu stroked his beard, "Oh, returning to its original owner! Does a fake Qilin deserve it?"

Gongsun Yanming remained calm, "Senior Master, you are of a higher generation than me, and I should respect you. However, this matter concerns the fate of the Great Liang Kingdom, so I implore you not to cause trouble.

"Zi Wu Xian Sheng let out a cold huff, "Am I the one causing trouble, or is someone else stirring up chaos?"

Gongsun Yanming replied, "Master Uncle."

Zi Wu Xian Sheng clicked his tongue, "I heard that your daughter isn't Lady Feng. She can't draw out the Feng Nu Jian of Wushan. Others might not understand, but I won't blame them. Now, please tell His Majesty, in front of him, whether the Feng Nu Jian of Wushan is real or not."

Gongsun Yanming calmly said, "Master Uncle, the sword is real, but that doesn't mean the one who draws it is the rightful owner."

The Liang Emperor, puzzled, asked, "What do you mean, Royal Tutor?"

Gongsun Yanming explained, "Liuying's fate has been tampered with."

The Emperor's eyebrows furrowed.

Zi Wu Xian Sheng glanced at the Luo Pan in his hand, "Tian Fu Shuang Xing, there might be great chaos. But today, with the Tian Fu already in place, the first chaos has been averted."

The Emperor turned his gaze towards Zi Wu Xian Sheng.

Gongsun Yanming's eyes fell on Zi Wu Xian Sheng's Luo Pan, "Master Uncle, the Luo Pan in your hand looks somewhat familiar. Could it be the Tian Gang Luo Pan that went missing from Qian Ji Ge not long ago?"

Zi Wu Xian Sheng's eyes flashed, "What Tian Gang Luo Pan?"

Gongsun Yanming gave him a deep look, "The Tian Gang Luo Pan was a gift from my grandmaster to my master, a pair with the Di Sha. Together with my uncle's Gui Jia, they can predict all affairs."

Zi Wu Xian Sheng exploded, "Nonsense! The Tian Gang Luo Pan was clearly gambled away by you to my master! You're pulling a fast one!"

Gongsun Yanming said indifferently, "So, Master Uncle admits that the Tian Gang Luo Pan now belongs to Qian Ji Ge?"

Zi Wu Xian Sheng coughed lightly, "Yes! I brought it here today specifically to return it to its rightful owner. But seeing your attitude, I've changed my mind. You're aiding the tyrant and disregarding the rules. I, as a stand-in for my junior, am taking back this Luo Pan!"

Scared the living daylights out of this old man, almost couldn't keep up with the lies!

Zi Wu Xian Sheng, seizing the moment, said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, the Tian Gang Luo Pan has calculated that the Qilin is the son of the Crown Prince, Lu Lin Yuan."

Gongsun Yanming's expression turned serious, "Master Uncle, you might have calculated incorrectly. When it comes to divination, Di Sha surpasses Tian Gang."

"What if we add the goddess's Gui Jia?"

Zi Wu Xian Sheng took out Ji Li's thing.

Thankfully, thankfully, he didn't find it troublesome and throw it away on the road.

The Liang Emperor almost understood. The Royal Tutor and Zi Wu Xian Sheng, one using Di Sha and the other Tian Gang, had both divined a Qilin.

Speaking of discrepancies, there weren't any, after all, Lu Qi and Lu Lin Yuan were both grandsons of the Liang Emperor.

But since it concerned the fate of the nation, not even a tiny error was tolerable.

Gongsun Yanming, composed, said, "Master Uncle, wasn't it because of a divination loss that you gave the Tian Gang Luo Pan to my master? It's not about having more weapons, but about one's abilities."

Zi Wu Xian Sheng glared, his eyes wide, "Don't push me—I'll slap you!"

The Emperor watched Zi Wu Xian Sheng, who was about to blow the roof off, and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. Was it just his imagination, or had Zi Wu Xian Sheng gone a bit crazy after staying in the Crown Prince's Mansion for a few days?

Zi Wu Xian Sheng: Your grandson threatens me daily, how can I not go crazy?

The Emperor sighed and slowly said, "I understand what both of you mean. I believe in your loyalty, and I know you're both doing this for the kingdom of Liang."

Zi Wu Xian Sheng stood up and bowed, "Your Majesty, this commoner has something to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

The Emperor said, "Please, Master, speak.")



Zi Wu Xian Sheng said, "Since both claim to be the Qilin, why not have a competition?"

The Emperor frowned, "A competition?"

Zi Wu Xian Sheng cupped his hands towards the sky, "Heaven's mandate will be revealed, and the true Qilin will not lose to a counterfeit. What do you think, Junior?"

Gongsun Yanming asked, "How does Master Uncle suggest we compete?"

Zi Wu Xian Sheng said, "I said, Heaven will protect those destined, and a counterfeit cannot defeat the true. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

The Emperor asked, "....shall we leave the decision to me and the Royal Tutor?"

"Exactly!"

Zi Wu Xian Sheng raised his eyebrows.

His confident demeanor made the Emperor hesitate.

To be honest, he believed in his heart that Lu Qi was the Qilin, but he also had a soft spot for the little one and didn't want Zhao Zhao to suffer any grievances.

Could it be that Yuan'er was the real Qilin?

"You're not backing out, are you?"

Zi Wu Xian Sheng looked provocatively at Gongsun Yanming.

Gongsun Yanming said, "I'm merely stating my opinion. I'm not afraid, as in terms of talent and knowledge, the Prince seems to surpass the Crown Prince."

Zi Wu Xian Sheng had been waiting for this, "Inferior in every way, yet winning in every way, that's what we call fate. Junior, are you up for it?"

Seeking votes for the Qilin, muah~

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end