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Chapter 519: The Final Move
Chapter 519: The Final Move
Prince Jin's eyes darkened momentarily.
His attendant had gone to General Hu and returned to Prince Jin's side shortly, whispering, "The witness is gone."
Prince Rui and Prince Qi, along with Lu Qi, overheard the attendant's report.
Lu Qi's expression remained unchanged.
Prince Qi's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. "How could the witness just disappear? What kind of job is Hu Lie doing?"
Prince Rui was also puzzled. "General Hu is usually reliable. Why would something like this happen?"
The attendant replied, "I don't know, Your Highness."
Prince Rui's gaze fell on Lu Yuan, who was waiting for his enthronement. "This boy is truly bizarre. We set up a web of traps, thinking he would either die or be severely wounded. Yet, he managed to arrive at the ceremony unscathed."
Prince Qi said with disdain, "He was just lucky."
Prince Qi was the most impatient of the brothers, and his voice was louder than intended, catching the attention of Lu Zhaoyan and the Grand Minister of Agriculture.
Lu Zhaoyan spoke with his usual refined manner. "Fourth Brother, luck isn't something everyone can have."
The Grand Minister of Agriculture added, "His Highness the Crown Prince is right. Only those who follow the Mandate of Heaven receive divine protection, good fortune, and prosperity."
Elder Meng stroked his beard. "Indeed, the Crown Prince's destiny is clear. This only proves that he is the chosen one, destined to protect the greatness of Great Liang."
Mr. Ziwu, standing behind Lu Zhaoyan, was half-asleep. When he heard the mention of destiny, he lifted his eyelids slightly.
That boy has had a rough life. The hardships he endured in his early years would have broken any of you.
Even now, you can't say he's just lucky.
The title of Qilin has brought him honor, but also endless trouble.
He didn't survive wave after wave of plots by mere luck. He refused to accept his fate.
His fortune is something he earned himself.
If you ask him, where in the world do you find people who can find gold just by walking down the street?
"Hmm, what's this?"
Meng Qianqian bent down and picked up a gold ingot. "Mr. Ziwu, is this yours?"
Mr. Ziwu: "……"
The officials from the Ministry of Rites presented the Qilin ceremonial robes, custom-made for the Crown Prince.
The high priest, responsible for the sacrificial rites, personally draped the Qilin robe over Lu Yuan and placed the Qilin crown on his head.
The dust and weariness from Lu Yuan's journey instantly vanished, and he exuded a powerful and commanding presence.
The civil and military officials were momentarily stunned.
They had witnessed the Crown Prince as a distinguished scholar in the Golden Hall, reciting poetry and writing with immense passion, and they had also seen him as a fearless warrior during the Horseback Archery Contest, showcasing a spirit that rivaled the heavens.
They thought they had seen all there was to see, but now, they witnessed another side of the Crown Prince.
His every movement was measured and graceful, befitting his noble birth and royal lineage.
Even his steps up the stairs carried an imperial aura.
He ascended the altar, approaching the stern-faced Emperor Liang.
The Emperor watched him intently, like a battle-hardened dragon king gazing at his young dragon.
Lu Yuan came before the Emperor and bowed solemnly. "Grandfather."
The Emperor nodded.
He turned and led Lu Yuan to pay respects to the heavens and the ancestral tablets.
Kneeling on the mat, he said solemnly, "Heaven above, ancestors above, today we bestow upon the thirty-seventh generation descendant of the Lu family, Lu Lin Yuan, the title of Guardian Qilin, to protect Great Liang and ensure a peaceful and prosperous era for generations to come!"
Lu Yuan knelt devoutly, bowing his head.
His manners were impeccable, and if one didn’t know he was from the common folk, anyone would assume he had been raised in the Qin Wang Mansion as a future heir.
The High Priest said, "Please, Your Majesty, light the incense."
The Liang Emperor stood up and took the incense from the official of the Ministry of Rites, lit it, and placed it in the incense burner before the memorial tablet.
The High Priest then turned to Lu Yuan, "Please, Crown Prince, light the incense."
Lu Yuan also took a few sticks of incense.
However, at that moment, an unexpected incident occurred.
The incense he lit immediately went out as soon as it was placed in the incense burner.
Everyone was surprised.
"The incense, it went out?" Duke Jiang rubbed his eyes, suspecting he had seen wrong. "It didn’t light up!"
The Liang Emperor’s expression remained unchanged, and he looked at the High Priest with a serious face.
The High Priest calmly said, "Please, Crown Prince, light the incense."
Lu Yuan tried again.
But as expected, the incense burned well in his hand, yet the moment it was placed in the incense burner, it went out immediately.
A faint, barely noticeable smirk appeared on Prince Jin’s lips.
Prince Rui and Prince Qi simultaneously glanced at their elder brother, then exchanged knowing looks and averted their gazes.
Prince Rui said with a composed demeanor, "No wonder, this move is truly impressive, big brother."
Prince Qi, relishing the misfortune, added, "Who would have thought? The ancestors must be rejecting him! His incense was extinguished by the ancestors themselves!"
"The incense went out... it must be a sign from the late emperor and the ancestors..."
"I told you, the Prince of the Commandery is the true guardian Qilin. The Crown Prince doesn’t have the qualifications!"
Tan'er was furious. She turned around and glared at the gossiping commoners, "The Crown Prince won both the literary and martial exams! He is highly talented, skilled in martial arts, and both wise and brave. Most importantly, he is generous! If he doesn’t have the qualifications, then who does? Some pretty face?"
"Hey, who are you calling a pretty face? That’s Prince Jian!"
"Exactly, what good is being both literate and martial if the ancestors don’t recognize him? He has no right to sit on that throne!"
"Come down! Angering the ancestors will bring disaster!"
"Every year in the Southwest, the weather has been favorable, but this year we are facing a severe drought. Could it be because of a disaster star?"
This comment sent the crowd into an uproar.
A disaster star causing the drought—it wasn’t impossible!
"Disaster star! Disaster star!"
The commoners began to curse Lu Yuan.
Prince Qi tried to suppress his smile but couldn’t hide the satisfaction in his eyes. "Well said, it’s because of this national disaster that the people of Great Liang are suffering from the drought, living in hardship."
"Lu Lin Yuan, what tricks do you have now?"
Lu Qi said calmly, "Father, so this was your trump card all along."
Prince Jin glanced at his son meaningfully. "One day, you will understand that having a powerful father is far better than one who only offers empty words of comfort. How do you like this grand gift, Qi'er?"
Lu Qi replied, "Father, this is a very risky move. Grandfather isn’t easy to deceive."
Prince Jin smiled confidently, "I didn’t deceive your grandfather."
The Liang Emperor’s cold gaze fell on the Minister of Rites.
The Minister of Rites hurriedly said, "Your Majesty! I would never tamper with the incense. Please, Your Majesty, believe me!"
The Liang Emperor grabbed a handful of incense, lit a few sticks himself, and placed them in the incense burner. He then handed the remaining sticks to Lu Yuan.
His incense burned well, but Lu Yuan’s incense continued to go out as soon as it was placed in the incense burner.
If it was the incense’s fault, even the Liang Emperor wouldn’t believe it.
(End of Chapter)
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