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Chapter 507: Win Him a Hundred Times!
Chapter 507: Win Him a Hundred Times!
Meng Qianqian whispered, "A lady must always maintain some reserve."
Lu Yuan’s blazing anger was instantly doused.
He cleared his throat and asked, "So, you’re agreeing?"
Without waiting for Meng Qianqian to respond, he unslung the Houyi Bow from his back and handed it to her. "I’m giving it to you."
By accepting his bow, she would become his.
Meng Qianqian’s eyes flickered with surprise. "You’re giving it to me?"
Yu Zichuan, who had just finished winding up his kite and came to claim his reward, exclaimed, "Not to me?!"
Lu Yuan hit the nail on the head. "When the Houyi Bow appeared, your eyes lit up."
Think he didn’t notice?
He wasn’t blind.
Ji Li, Chen Long, and Si She, who had followed Yu Zichuan to Chenfei’s Palace, exchanged glances.
Ji Li: "Her eyes changed? Really?"
Si She: "It was too far to see clearly."
Chen Long: Damn, my sister’s unusual behavior was noticed by this kid first!
Meng Qianqian took the Houyi Bow, feeling its cold, heavy weight. She gently caressed its bowstring. "It truly is a rare and fine bow."
Lu Yuan asked, "Does this bow have a story?"
Meng Qianqian shook her head. "I can’t remember."
Lu Yuan said coolly, "You all, come in."
The four of them entered the back courtyard.
Yu Zichuan and Chen Long walked in confidently, having taken the direct route.
Si She and Ji Li used their lightness skills to get there.
They had already paid their respects to Grandma Chenfei.
A young palace maid approached them. "Prince Changsun, Grandma has asked me to take you all to the flower house for a tour."
They nodded in understanding and followed the maid to Chenfei’s flower house.
The flower house was spacious, with a Buddhist hall at the back and small courtyards on either side. If anyone passed by, they would be easily spotted.
A great place to talk.
Ji Li fanned himself. "Grandma Chenfei is thoughtful."
The maid served them tea and snacks. "Please enjoy, I won’t disturb you."
After she left, Yu Zichuan went up to the roof to keep watch.
The Hunting Hawk was on the roof, eating strips of dried meat, a total of ten, which he had earned by trading his feathers!
They all sat around the table.
Lu Yuan asked, "Chen Long, do you know anything about the Houyi Bow?"
Chen Long shook his head. "I’ve only heard of it, but I don’t know much about its origins."
Si She spoke up. "The Houyi Bow first appeared in the martial world forty years ago. The old pavilion master of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion came across it by chance and later gifted it to someone with a special connection."
Ji Li whistled. "That special someone wouldn’t be Empress Hu’s brother, Hu Lie, would it?"
Meng Qianqian pondered. "If it was him, Hu Lie has had dealings with the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion for a long time. Gongsun Yanming has been colluding with the Hu family, so the story of him finding Dou Qingyi and her son by chance is worth questioning."
Si She said, "Gongsun Yanming is a clever man. Even when Lü Qi lost two days in a row, he never lost his composure. No wonder he has the emperor’s trust. If I were in his shoes, I’d find it hard to doubt him too."
Ji Li dismissed it. "Really? I find him suspicious all over!"
Meng Qianqian said, "You see things more clearly as an outsider."
Ji Li was about to argue but thought better of it. "Fine, in light of the Liang Emperor’s boldness today, I won’t nitpick anymore!"
Si She asked, "Have you noticed that Lü Qi’s skills aren’t simple?"
Meng Qianqian nodded. "To be able to hold his own against Prince Changsun for so many moves, his martial arts are indeed exceptional. Brother, you have the highest skills. Can you tell which school or style his techniques come from?"
Lu Qi had always roamed among the common folk. To have such a good education could be considered a rare talent, but his martial arts must have come from somewhere.
Meng Qianqian's words not only praised Lu Yuan but also Chen Long, successfully quelling a brewing conflict.
Chen Long recalled, "His lightness technique seems to be from the Medicine King Valley, his archery is from the Hu family, and as for his palm technique, I can't quite figure it out yet."
Ji Li stroked his chin, "There's still something you can't figure out?"
Meng Qianqian nodded, "No wonder I felt his lightness technique seemed familiar earlier. Mao Tu once used it, but later, to conceal her identity from the Medicine King Valley, she stopped using it frequently."
Ji Li leaned in, "Xiao Yin Hu, you're quite familiar with Mao Tu, aren't you?"
Meng Qianqian remained calm, "Oh, we've crossed paths in the capital."
Ji Li asked curiously, "When? Why didn't I know about it?"
Si She said, "You're not her husband, so she doesn't have to tell you everything."
Ji Li slid off the bench and moved to Si She's side, "A She, something's off with you."
Everyone at the table, except Ji Li, already knew Meng Qianqian's true identity.
They exchanged meaningful glances.
Lu Yuan said, "You, don't stir up trouble."
Ji Li bristled, "If you call me 'You' one more time, I'll get angry! Don't think just because you're Prince Changsun, I won't dare to beat you up!"
Meng Qianqian tried to defuse the tension, "Alright, stop arguing. Let's focus on the plan. His Majesty has appointed a new Qilin, and the enthronement ceremony will take place in three days. At that time, there will be commoners in attendance."
Si She said to Lu Yuan, "Although you have the support of the court officials, the common people still believe Qilin is Lu Qi. Prince Jin's Manor and the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion will seize this opportunity to incite the people and disrupt the ceremony."
Commoners may seem weak, but they are the hardest to deal with.
It's easy to incite them, but hard to educate them. The slightest misstep could lead to a riot.
Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan had used public sentiment to their advantage in their struggle against Prime Minister Xun, so they understood better than anyone that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.
Lu Yuan smiled, "When the enemy comes, we'll meet them. I can win once, I can win a hundred times!"
---
Lu Qi returned to Prince Jin's Manor.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Dou Qingyi dismissed the servants and confronted Lu Qi, "Why didn't you use the poison Mother gave you?"
Lu Qi held the golden wound medicine in his hand, his expressionless gaze fixed on her. "Is this the first thing you want to say to me tonight?"
Dou Qingyi was taken aback by his calm yet fierce eyes.
But the fierce look vanished in an instant.
Dou Qingyi thought she must have been mistaken, and she steadied herself, "Qi'er, you lost the competition. Mother knows you're upset, and Mother is also very upset. Your father, your uncle, and the Guifei... they are all very... upset."
Lu Qi said, "Mother means to say disappointed, right?"
Dou Qingyi was speechless.
Lu Qi said coldly, "You only care if I win or lose. You don't want a son, a nephew, or a grandson; you want a tool that can win."
"Qi'er!"
"But don't worry, it's not over yet. I will win."
Lu Qi said this calmly and then ignored Dou Qingyi, resolutely entering the house.
Dou Qingyi felt a sudden sense of estrangement, as if she had never truly understood this son.
At Zhaixing Tower.
Prince Jin and Gongsun Yanming sat in silence.
After a long while, Prince Jin asked the final question of the day, "Imperial Tutor, I only want to know, is Qi'er truly the Qilin?"
Gongsun Yanming picked up a chess piece and placed it on the board, "I will make him be."
Lu Qi, if you're having a hard time, why not stay with your brother and sister-in-law? (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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