Chapter 493: Riding and Archery, A Must-Win
Chapter 493: Riding and Archery, A Must-Win
The Liang Emperor was momentarily speechless, unable to refute.
Although a ruler's words are not to be taken lightly, he never anticipated her asking for a mother when he promised the little one.
If he were to blame Yan Xiaojiu for this, the Liang Emperor wouldn't believe it.
It's not that he trusted Yan Xiaojiu so much, but when she taught the little one riding skills, there were always court ladies accompanying them. As soon as she whispered something, someone would report it to the Jinluan Pavilion.
Moreover, the little one was so clever; who could possibly influence her?
Thinking of Nie'er, who followed the little one around all day, and the harem concubines who could never please her, the Liang Emperor felt that if she could really influence the little one, it was her ability.
The Liang Emperor's gaze fell on Meng Qianqian's face.
Since entering the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, Meng Qianqian had been wearing a veil, but one's eyes could not be deceived.
Regardless of her plans in the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, her feelings for the little one were genuine.
The Liang Emperor asked, "How old are you this year?"
Meng Qianqian replied, "Your Majesty, I'm eighteen."
The Liang Emperor hummed in acknowledgment and then asked, "Have you ever been betrothed?"
Meng Qianqian answered, "Never."
What business did she have with marriage in the Great Zhou when she was in Liang?
The Liang Emperor continued, "Are there any other family members at home?"
Meng Qianqian said, "There are no more relatives at home. It was my master who took me in, and now only my master is my family."
The Liang Emperor nodded.
Bao Zhuzhu seized the moment and cuddled up to the Liang Emperor, acting coquettish, "Tai Ye Ye, Bao Bao doesn't have a mother, so pitiful."
The Liang Emperor pretended to be stern, "You have Tai Ye Ye, and you're still pitiful? What did you say before? Having Tai Ye Ye is enough, isn't that what you said?"
Bao Zhuzhu had blown too many compliments, and she herself had forgotten, feeling a sudden twinge of guilt.
The Liang Emperor saw her rubbing her hands and her eyes darting around, almost holding back an internal injury.
Bao Zhuzhu mustered her last bit of stubbornness, "I just want a mother."
The Liang Emperor had already planned to arrange a marriage for Lu Yuan, but with Lu Qi's wedding approaching, he had to first handle this grandson's marriage.
Moreover, her identity as a mother wasn't clear yet.
The second son had once gone out and returned to the mansion, saying that he had married a girl in the folk. That girl had passed away while saving him, and he vowed never to marry again in this life.
Whether it was true or not, he was only the second son and didn't need to inherit the Qin Wang Mansion.
The Liang Emperor himself was not one to be entangled in emotions, so how could he have expected to give birth to a romantic?
Thus, the Liang Emperor once thought that his son had some hidden illness.
"You take her to ride first."
The Liang Emperor handed the little one over to Meng Qianqian.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Meng Qianqian held the little one's hand and went to the grassland specially prepared by the Liang Emperor for her.
The Liang Emperor instructed Yu Gong Gong, "Summon the Crown Prince."
Today, Lu Yuan had made a grand show, transforming from an idle imperial grandson to a talented individual who managed the universe and the earth. Many officials viewed him with new eyes.
Just after the court session, the father and son were immediately surrounded by the crowd.
Some offered congratulations, some flattered, some sought advice, and some were so angry their teeth itched, wishing they could kill the father and son with their eyes, like Zhang Qufeng and the Prince Jin's cronies.
There were also those like Meng Ge Lao, who tried to take the imperial grandson as a closed-door disciple.
The Grand Agricultural Commissioner: "Your Highness, let's plant some crops together another day."
Lu Yuan: "Sure, sure."
Lu Zhaoyan: "Others drink together, but when it's your turn, it's farming together."
The Liang Emperor's summons rescued the father and son from the crowd of officials.
The two hurried to the Qin Zheng Pavilion.
"Father Emperor."
"Grandfather Emperor."
The Liang Emperor saw that Lu Yuan had also arrived and nodded in acknowledgment.
Lu Zhaoyan felt that his father was truly a distant relative. If Ming Wang had come instead, he would have been chased away by his father long ago.
"So, did you come because you were summoned?"
The Liang Emperor said to Lu Yuan, "Tomorrow's Riding and Archery Competition, I'll have your mother come to the Palace as well."
Lu Yuan was surprised, "My mother will compete too?"
The Liang Emperor said, "...to observe."
Lu Yuan replied, "Oh."
He felt a little disappointed.
He really wanted to see White Xiu Bo causing a scene in the palace.
The Liang Emperor still had memorials to review, so he let the two of them leave first.
Regarding Lu Yuan winning two rounds today, surprising everyone, he didn't say much about it.
After leaving the Qin Zheng Hall, the father and son had originally planned to go to the Grass Field to chat with Meng Qianqian and Zhao Zhao, but unexpectedly, the mother and daughter were invited into the palace by Jiang Huifei.
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The two had no choice but to give up.
On their way back, Lu Zhaoyan tried to remain calm, but the Great Thief's sharp eyes saw through him.
Convenient Father was clearly more nervous than usual.
The tension only arose after they left the Imperial Study, so it wasn't for the competition between him and Lu Qi, but for his mother.
"Are you this worried about my mother entering the palace?"
"I'm afraid she won't want to go, and will be wronged in the palace."
"Don't worry, my mother won't be."
The excitement in the palace is worth seeing.
As for being wronged, it's not possible.
White Xiu Bo won't let anyone wrong him.
Lu Zhaoyan sighed, "As long as she's willing to go, that's good. I'll protect Xiaobai and won't let her be wronged."
Even when facing Lu Yuan, Lu Zhaoyan still mostly called Liu Qingyun by name, rather than using 'your mother' as a substitute.
In Lu Zhaoyan's heart, Xiaobai was first her own, and only then the son's mother.
"You must win tomorrow, don't embarrass yourself."
Lu Yuan asked strangely, "Didn't you say that winning or losing didn't matter? If the son is not taught by the father, then it's the father's fault. If I embarrass myself, it's your fault."
Lu Zhaoyan paused, "I can be embarrassed, but not Xiaobai."
Lu Yuan's mouth twitched; in his twenties, he still had to eat the dog food fed by his parents...
On the other side, Prince Jin and Lu Qi also boarded the carriage back to the mansion.
Gongsun Yanming was there too.
The beginning didn't go well, and both father and son looked a little upset.
"I didn't expect that kid to hide so deeply!" Prince Jin clenched his fist, "Isn't he just an incapable person? Where did he get this ability from? Could it be that the questions were leaked?"
He absolutely couldn't accept that an incapable person could surpass his own son, especially in the Four Books, which his son excelled at.
Gongsun Yanming said, "The questions were set last night, and which questions to test were entirely up to the two of them to draw at the time. Even if someone leaked the questions, if he could remember so many answers in one night, it's enough to show his ability."
Prince Jin's expression changed, "It's just good luck! Tomorrow's Riding and Archery Competition, even if the questions are leaked, it doesn't matter. One can memorize essays overnight, but martial arts skills aren't achieved in one go."
Gongsun Yanming said, "I still say, don't underestimate the opponent."
Prince Jin said unhappily, "Why would the National Teacher boost others' morale and diminish his own? It's just two rounds, isn't the National Teacher scared?"
Gongsun Yanming said calmly, "If the Imperial Grandson keeps winning, it won't take two rounds to completely win over people's hearts."
"Win over people's hearts?"
Prince Jin frowned.
Gongsun Yanming spoke slowly, "His Majesty's purpose in having the two Imperial Grandsons compete is not to distinguish their abilities, but to introduce the two Imperial Highnesses to the court officials. The Prince of the Commandery's true win is not in the competition, but in winning over people's hearts. Even if Lu Yuan wins the competition, but if he loses the hearts of the people, he will lose His Majesty's favor and the support of the court officials."
Lu Qi clenched his fist, "I will win the competition, and I will win over people's hearts too!"
The latest chapter is out!
(End of Chapter)
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