https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-527-Emperor-Liang-Meets-the-King-of-the-Miao/13464746/
Chapter 528: The Miao King's Deceptive Ways
Chapter 528: The Miao King’s Deceptive Ways
The Miao King threw the person into the air and realized he had used too much force when he saw the figure turn into a tiny black dot.
"Seems like I can’t catch him..."
Adhering to the principle that a dead friend is better than a dead poor monk, he quickly moved to the side.
Everything happened so fast that the Liang Emperor didn’t even have time to react before he was flying high into the sky.
Just as his eyes opened, he crashed back to the ground.
With a loud thud, the Liang Emperor landed face-first, utterly undignified.
The ground shook three times, and a crack appeared in the lawn.
The Liang Emperor clenched his fists, trembling with anger...
The Miao King felt the overwhelming killing intent.
He blinked guiltily and took another step to the side.
"You asked me to teach you, so don’t blame me."
The Liang Emperor gritted his teeth, managing to say, "I... asked you... to teach me this?"
The Miao King felt extremely wronged: "She loves this the most!"
The Liang Emperor’s face was buried in the dirt, and he growled, "Clearly—"
He was too angry to continue.
The Miao King thought hard and then had an epiphany: "Oh, you thought she loved weaving grasshoppers? Ha, you believe what children say? Children don’t lie, they just speak whatever comes to mind."
The Liang Emperor: "..."
The Liang Emperor was skilled in the art of rulership, wise and brave, adept at strategy and diplomacy, but he was utterly clueless when it came to children.
This wasn’t his fault; the Qin Wang Mansion had no tradition of soothing children.
His father was a strict parent, and he was the same.
If someone tried to assassinate him, he could kill them without a second thought, but the absurd actions of this future in-law truly confused him.
Had he ever been tricked like this before at his age?
The Miao King knew he was in the wrong, so he shifted his eyes and asked softly, "How about... I make it up to you?"
The Liang Emperor: "... Get lost!!!"
Lu Zhaoyan, after seeing off Prince Jin, returned to the small garden and heard the Liang Emperor’s thunderous roar from a distance. He was shocked and hurried over.
When he arrived, the Liang Emperor had just pulled himself out of the ground, covered in dirt and grass, looking utterly miserable.
Beside him stood the Miao King, looking up at the sky with an innocent expression that seemed to say, "It wasn’t me."
Lu Zhaoyan closed his eyes briefly, then stepped forward and supported the Liang Emperor. "Father Emperor! What happened? Was... there an assassin?"
That didn’t make sense.
What assassin could have left his Father Emperor in such a state?
The Liang Emperor glared coldly at the Miao King. "I want to execute him!"
The Miao King’s body trembled as he looked at the Liang Emperor in surprise. "You didn’t explain clearly. I was just trying to help, and you blame me for your own fall?"
"Teach... fall..."
His father-in-law had taught the Liang Emperor something?
Could it be... how to soothe a child?
Lu Zhaoyan, though not knowing the full story, had guessed the gist of it.
The Miao King sneered, "Ha, not much skill, but plenty of temper."
The Liang Emperor already found this man annoying, and the fall and argument pushed him to the brink.
He raged, "Bring me my sword! Today... I will execute him on the spot!"
Lu Zhaoyan’s heart skipped a beat as he threw himself in front of the Liang Emperor. "Father Emperor, calm down! Please, Father Emperor, calm down!"
The Liang Emperor growled, "Where is my sword?"
A skilled guard was about to step forward with the sword but was subtly stopped by Yu Gong Gong, who had just arrived.
Yu Gong Gong gave the guard a meaningful look.
The guard understood and stepped back.
"Father Emperor! Listen to your son!" Lu Zhaoyan hurriedly said, "You are a wise ruler, a good emperor who loves your people like children. On the day I was named Crown Prince, you taught me to serve the people. He is a citizen of Liang, one of your subjects. As their ruler, show some leniency..."
The word "subject" finally moved the Liang Emperor.
The Liang Emperor looked at the Miao King with a cold expression.
Treating this old man as a son might not be too much to ask for forgiveness.
Lu Zhaoyan’s voice was low, so the Miao King didn’t hear how he was persuading the Liang Emperor.
He was prepared to fight the Liang Emperor, but to his surprise, the Liang Emperor retracted half of his killing intent.
Only half.
He couldn’t retract any more.
The Liang Emperor still wanted to cut someone down.
After all, he often thought about disciplining his rebellious sons.
Their first meeting ended with both mentally adopting each other as fathers, barely averting a disaster.
"I’m not eating lunch."
He was too angry to eat.
"Your son will escort you, Father Emperor!"
Lu Zhaoyan hastily clasped his hands, fearing that if he was any slower, the Emperor would change his mind and leave.
The Liang Emperor glared fiercely at his rebellious son and swept out of the room!
The Miao King lounged on a rock, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth. With his arms behind his head, he crossed one leg over the other, looking utterly relaxed: "Comfortable!"
Boom!
The rock collapsed.
The Miao King was buried.
Lu Zhaoyan, hearing the commotion from the small garden, turned back with a puzzled look.
The Liang Emperor, feeling thoroughly relieved, said with a clear mind and a calm spirit, "Back to the palace."
---
Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion.
Tan Er pushed aside the curtain and entered Gongsun Liuying's chambers. "Miss, Yan Girl is here."
Gongsun Liuying was playing a game of chess. "Let her in."
Meng Qianqian entered the room.
Gongsun Liuying continued to arrange the pieces on the board, not even glancing up at her.
Meng Qianqian walked forward and knelt down opposite her.
Gongsun Liuying asked lightly, "How have you considered the matter I discussed with you?"
Meng Qianqian replied, "I've considered it and I disagree."
Gongsun Liuying's hand, which was holding the chess piece, paused, and she shot Meng Qianqian a sharp look. "What did you say?"
Meng Qianqian patiently explained, "I said that I disagree with your proposal for me to leave Gongsun Yanming."
Gongsun Liuying's lips curled coldly. "Didn't you accept my gift?"
Meng Qianqian's face showed no trace of guilt or remorse as she said calmly, "I did, so I spent the entire night thinking about it seriously."
Gongsun Liuying said sternly, "Then you should agree!"
Meng Qianqian's lips twitched. "I can't agree at all."
Gongsun Liuying's eyes turned cold. "Yan Xiaojiu!"
Meng Qianqian glanced at the chessboard, picked up a white piece, and placed it on the board. "My senior sister is getting married the day after tomorrow. I wish her and her husband a smooth and harmonious marriage, and a lifetime of happiness."
With that, she stood up calmly and left with a composed and carefree demeanor.
Gongsun Liuying was so angry her heart ached.
Tan Er's eyes darted around.
You're dead, you're dead!
She sprang up, storming towards the door, but was stopped by two female disciples.
One of them said, "Miss, the Pavilion Master has ordered you to stay in your room and await the wedding."
Gongsun Liuying said with authority, "I want to go out."
The female disciple replied, "Miss, this is the Pavilion Master's order. You are not allowed to step outside the door."
A cold light flashed in Gongsun Liuying's eyes. "Are you saying... Father has put me under house arrest?"
The female disciple lowered her head. "Mingyue dares not."
The other also lowered her gaze.
Gongsun Liuying's gaze swept over their faces, and she said coldly, "I see you are very brave!"
The two remained silent but refused to move.
Gongsun Liuying looked towards the courtyard. They were no threat, but the outside was heavily guarded, and she couldn't leave.
"Tan Er."
"Miss!"
"Go to Mother's courtyard and tell her I want to see her."
"Okay!"
Tan Er nodded and hurried off.
Gongsun Liuying looked meaningfully at the two female disciples. "If I can't go out, Mother can surely come in, right?"
The female disciple replied, "Of course, Miss."
Gongsun Liuying said mockingly, "Huh, since when does the Pavilion Master's wife need your permission to enter my chambers?"
The two quickly knelt down.
Gongsun Liuying swept back into her room.
Tan Er disappeared in a flash.
She first found Meng Qianqian and told her about Gongsun Liuying's request to see Xiao Rong'er.
Meng Qianqian paused. "You can go and inform her. Even if Gongsun Liuying doesn't ask for Xiao Rong'er, Xiao Rong'er will still go to see her."
Her expression was calm. "A mother always appears at her daughter's wedding."
Tan Er thought of Meng Qianqian's birth mother, Lady Yu, who had failed to fulfill her duties as a mother during her two sisters' weddings.
She crossed her arms. "Pah!"
Meng Qianqian's lips curved. "Go on."
Tan Er went to inform Xiao Rong'er.
Gongsun Liuying now trusted her greatly, but Xiao Rong'er was very cautious. She asked Tan Er to wait outside the courtyard, leaving only Hong Xiu to guard the door.
"Mother, please help me!"
Gongsun Liuying pleaded.
Her daughter was a proud and independent girl, who, from a young age, had only ever looked up to Gongsun Yanming, even in front of her own birth mother.
The sudden request from her daughter made Xiao Rong'er feel a bit sentimental.
Xiao Rong'er sighed. "Your father won't let you out, and you know how stubborn he is. Once he makes up his mind, no one can change it."
Gongsun Liuying grabbed Xiao Rong'er's hand and spoke earnestly. "Mother, I am the Phoenix Daughter. I can't marry Lu Qi! My husband must be the true State Guardian Qilin!"
Xiao Rong'er was taken aback. "You..."
She glanced back at the tightly closed door and lowered her voice. "Do you want to break off the engagement? Did you talk to your father about it?"
Gongsun Liuying nodded.
Xiao Rong'er suddenly realized, "That explains why he suddenly stopped letting you leave the house."
Gongsun Liuying pleaded, "Mother, you don't want me to marry Lu Qi, do you?"
Xiao Rong'er pondered, "Lu Qi is Prince Jin's biological son. Prince Jin's Mansion is immensely powerful, far more so than the Crown Prince's Mansion. It's still uncertain who will end up on top."
Gongsun Liuying's expression turned serious. "Mother, if Prince Jin's Mansion rises to power, the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion can always arrange for my sister to marry into it. But right now, we must secure the true Qilin."
Xiao Rong'er fell into deep thought.
Gongsun Liuying implored earnestly, "Mother! I've already lost my position as the Phoenix Daughter, I can't lose the Qilin husband too! Besides, my proposal is foolproof. Rather than placing all our bets on one, we should hedge our bets on both sides!"
Xiao Rong'er was somewhat swayed.
But after a moment, she rejected her daughter's suggestion.
"It won't work", Xiao Rong'er said.
Gongsun Liuying countered, "How will you know if you don't try?"
Xiao Rong'er spoke earnestly, "Prince Jin is no fool. Why would he accept the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion again after they betrayed him? Not only would he never agree, but even your father, the Emperor, wouldn't give it a nod."
Gongsun Liuying sat back on the stool, dejected. "So... do I really have to marry Lu Qi? Marry a false Qilin who has deceived the entire world?"
She laughed until tears streamed down her face. "I, Gongsun Liuying, destined for the Phoenix, end up like this?"
Seeing her daughter's tears, Xiao Rong'er's heart softened.
She sighed, "Do you truly not want to marry Lu Qi?"
Gongsun Liuying lifted her gaze, tears in her eyes, and looked at Xiao Rong'er. "Mother, is there a way?"
Xiao Rong'er picked up the scissors and trimmed the burning wick of the candle. "For the next two days, focus on preparing for the wedding. Mother will take care of everything."
Gongsun Liuying looked deeply at Xiao Rong'er and asked tentatively, "Mother, can you tell me what you plan to do?"
Xiao Rong'er smiled, stroking her daughter's cheek gently. "If I tell you now, there won't be any surprise. Consider it your wedding gift from Mother."
Gongsun Liuying repeated, "A wedding... gift."
"Look at you, you didn't sleep well last night, did you? You look so pale. Come, lie down."
Xiao Rong'er took her daughter's hand and laid her on the soft bed, pulling the covers over her. She looked at her tenderly and indulgently. "You've always admired your father. Mother wishes you would see her too."
Gongsun Liuying opened her mouth to speak, "Mother... I..."
"Mother knows", Xiao Rong'er smiled. "How could I refuse your first request? Sleep now, Mother promises you will marry the State Guardian Qilin."
Gongsun Liuying looked deeply into Xiao Rong'er's eyes, seeing the fierce determination in them.
Her expression relaxed, and she nodded obediently.
"That's right."
Xiao Rong'er stayed by Gongsun Liuying's bedside until she fell into a deep sleep, then got up and left the room.
Tan Er pushed the door open. "Mistress... she's asleep?"
She scratched her head. "Strange, what did Xiao Rong'er tell Gongsun Liuying?"
"Madam, shall we return to the courtyard?"
Hong Xiu asked.
Xiao Rong'er replied, "No, I'll go see Ziyu."
Hong Xiu held the lantern and led the way for Xiao Rong'er.
Tan Er followed them from a distance, not daring to get too close.
She saw them enter Gongsun Ziyu's courtyard. A short while later, Hong Xiu came out and went to Gongsun Liuying's side, carrying a pile of clothes.
They were covered with red silk, but a corner of the fabric was visible, revealing its true nature.
"It's a bridal gown, Gongsun Liuying's bridal gown."
Tan Er continued to keep watch outside for over an hour before Xiao Rong'er and Hong Xiu left.
"Sister!"
Tan Er climbed through the window into Meng Qianqian's room.
She recounted everything she had observed to Meng Qianqian in detail.
"Why did Gongsun Liuying's bridal gown end up in her sister's courtyard?"
"Yes, it's strange! Not just the bridal gown, but a lot of jewelry too! I recognize them!"
Tan Er had followed Gongsun Liuying for so long that she could identify the jewelry boxes at a glance.
"Who else went there?"
Meng Qianqian asked.
Tan Er thought for a moment. "Um... the embroidery ladies from the pavilion."
"Embroidery ladies, bridal gown, jewelry..." Meng Qianqian furrowed her brow. "Could it be... Gongsun Liuying doesn't want to marry Lu Qi, so she and Xiao Rong'er came up with a plan to have her sister marry in her place?"
Tan Er was enlightened. "That makes sense! No wonder the embroidery ladies were needed to adjust the gown's size!"
Meng Qianqian's frown deepened. "But something still doesn't add up."
Tan Er tilted her head. "What's wrong?"
Meng Qianqian pondered for a moment and said, "This could have been done more secretly in Gongsun Liuying's courtyard. Why go through the extra trouble?"
Tan Er tilted her head again. "Yes, that's true."
Meng Qianqian smiled. "I understand now. Xiao Rong'er is trying to mislead me. The person she truly intends to send to the wedding carriage is me." (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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