Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 491 - 433: The Mischievous Lu Yuan

Chapter 491: Chapter 433: The Mischievous Lu Yuan

Lu Qi waited a long time in the courtyard, intending to escort Your Majesty out when he departed the mansion.

Unfortunately, no matter how long Lu Qi waited, he only saw a bowl of medicinal soup being delivered inside, but Your Majesty still didn’t emerge.

What kind of tricks is that person playing again?

Does he intend to use such a lowly tactic to keep the Imperial Grandfather here?

Imperial Grandfather, who commands with resolute authority and dominates the battlefield, would fall for such an obvious ploy?

He saw Ji Feng leave his father’s room and walk toward that boy’s quarters, seemingly about to enter.

Yet Ji Feng only glanced inside from the doorway before quickly stepping back out, taking up a guard-like stance outside.

Lu Qi waited again for a while.

Eunuch Yu emerged.

Just as Lu Qi was about to call him, Eunuch Yu walked away.

He went to fetch a bowl of candied fruits.

Lu Qi was utterly bewildered.

Could it be that Imperial Grandfather... is trying to coax that boy into drinking his medicine?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

After waiting for an indeterminate amount of time, Eunuch Yu finally stepped out of the room again, heading towards him this time.

Lu Qi’s eyes sharpened: "Is it that Imperial Grandfather is ready to return to the Imperial Palace? I will escort him."

Eunuch Yu awkwardly glanced at Lu Yuan, who was basking in favor within Your Majesty’s presence, and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty instructed this servant to check who is standing in the way of the light outside."

Lu Qi: "..."

-

Dou Qingyi, though Lu Qi’s mother by birth, was not officially titled Crown Princess Consort, and thus could not meet Your Majesty without summons.

She had no choice but to wait in Lu Qi’s courtyard.

After waiting for a long time without seeing Lu Qi, she assumed that Your Majesty was assessing her son’s studies.

Looking up, she saw Lu Qi return to the house.

His expression didn’t look good.

Dou Qingyi hurried forward to ask, "Qi’er, what’s wrong? Did Imperial Grandfather test your knowledge and you couldn’t answer? Don’t let it weigh on your mind; you are your father’s only son, Your Majesty’s only Imperial Grandson, so of course their expectations for you are stricter."

"I didn’t meet Imperial Grandfather."

Lu Qi said.

Dou Qingyi was stunned: "Then, all that time just now, you were——"

Lu Qi said, "I was waiting outside."

Dou Qingyi: "The whole time?"

Lu Qi solemnly nodded.

Dou Qingyi muttered in disbelief, "How could this be? You didn’t even annoy Your Majesty today."

Emperor Liang was strict, but he wasn’t someone who lost his temper without reason.

Lu Qi felt that his mother’s understanding of Emperor Liang was far too superficial.

"Mother, that person isn’t simple. Earlier, Imperial Grandfather stayed in his room, watching over him for a long while. Mother, could it be that... he truly is Father’s son?"

Dou Qingyi furrowed her brows: "If he is truly your father’s son, then why did your father refuse to recognize him, insisting to you that he was merely the child of an old acquaintance? Today’s events clearly show that boy manipulating things, tricking Your Majesty while your father was away."

Lu Qi pondered aloud, "But Father has always protected him. If he’s not a true son, why would he do that?"

Dou Qingyi replied coolly, "Your father had a deep connection with that boy’s mother. Perhaps she was once his sweetheart. Your father shelters him out of helpless obligation; after all, if he does not acknowledge him, the boy becomes guilty of deceiving the Emperor and would be beheaded. How could your father bear to watch the son of his beloved die tragically before his eyes?"

Lu Qi frowned: "Sweetheart? Wasn’t Mother Father’s sweetheart?"

Dou Qingyi said steadily, "Men are never content. Their hearts won’t belong to just one woman."

Lu Qi said angrily, "This is outrageous."

Dou Qingyi sat in her chair, "These words must never be said in front of your father. You are your father’s flesh and blood, Da Liang’s heir—you must not stoop to disgraceful conduct."

Lu Qi’s expression grew complicated: "So we are just supposed to watch him continue to beguile Imperial Grandfather? I’ve never seen Imperial Grandfather favor anyone so much."

Dou Qingyi lifted her teacup: "As long as Mother becomes Crown Princess Consort, you will be the legitimate heir. A fake son like him—how could he possibly surpass you? Besides, you have the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion behind you. And what does he have? Nothing but the lowly blood of a commoner, insignificant as an ant. You don’t need to lower yourself to compete with him."

Lu Qi fell silent.

Dou Qingyi stirred the tea leaves in her cup gently with the lid: "Do you know what kind of women men can never forget?"

Lu Qi said, "I don’t know."

"The ones they can’t have," Dou Qingyi said. "Perhaps that woman died long ago, arranging her son’s future before her passing."

Lu Qi paused: "But what if she’s still alive? What if she comes to the Crown Prince Mansion and bears Father another child?"

Dou Qingyi placed her teacup firmly on the table: "Your father’s side can only have me."

She wouldn’t allow any other woman to enter the Crown Prince Mansion.

Night fell.

After making trouble all afternoon, Lu Yuan finally wore himself out and lay down on his bed padded with thick cushions, sinking into a deep sleep.

Emperor Liang couldn’t bear to wake him; he reached out to stroke his hair.

Eunuch Yu whispered cautiously, "Don’t, don’t stroke it—you’ll make it bald."

Emperor Liang smacked his lips, reluctantly withdrawing his hand, and asked Eunuch Yu, "Do I treat Qi’er this well too?"

Eunuch Yu hesitated: "... You treat both Imperial Grandsons pretty well."

Emperor Liang nodded: "I think so too. I am not a partial man."

Eunuch Yu, inwardly: Yes, yes—you’re not partial; you just wish you could tuck this Imperial Grandson in your robes and take him back to the palace.

"I..."

"Your Majesty."

Emperor Liang swallowed the rest of his words, stood, and said, "I will come see him again in three days."

Emperor Liang exited the room.

Lu Zhaoyan and Prince Ming were waiting in the courtyard.

Lu Zhaoyan bowed: "I respectfully bid farewell to Father."

Emperor Liang nodded lightly.

Prince Ming, his face swollen like a slapped shoe, stammered: "Farewell..."

Emperor Liang left.

Prince Ming wanted to cry but had no tears: Wretched—how did he end up in such bad blood with that boy? He had fallen out of favor with Father!

Dou Qingyi and Lu Qi waited in the small garden Emperor Liang would pass through on his way out of the mansion.

When they saw Emperor Liang appear, the two hurried forward to pay their respects.

"Greetings, Imperial Grandfather."

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Qingyi has brewed some ginseng soup, intending to send it to you and the Crown Prince—"

Emperor Liang nodded slightly: "It’s already late; take it to the Crown Prince instead."

"Understood."

Dou Qingyi obeyed respectfully, but inwardly was rather disappointed.

She had positioned herself along Emperor Liang’s path to remind him about her formal elevation to Crown Princess Consort, yet it seemed Your Majesty hadn’t thought of it at all.

All because of that boy, who had charmed Your Majesty to the point of distraction, causing him to forget such an important matter.

Lu Qi said, "Imperial Grandfather, let me see you off."

Emperor Liang did not refuse.

Watching her son escort Your Majesty, Dou Qingyi adjusted her hair and walked with the food box to the Crown Prince’s courtyard.

"Madam has arrived."

A servant reported outside the study.

Inside, Lu Zhaoyan was reviewing memorials, and upon hearing this, he merely responded with a faint nod.

Dou Qingyi carried the food box inside, coming to the desk with soft words: "Your Highness, Qingyi has brewed ginseng soup; Your Majesty instructed me to deliver it to you."

Lu Zhaoyan said, "Don’t bother entering the kitchen yourself next time. Such things can be handled by the cooks. You’ve worked hard looking after Qi’er already; you shouldn’t tire yourself further."

"To serve Your Highness is Qingyi’s greatest honor; I don’t feel tired at all."

Dou Qingyi spoke gently and opened the food box with her delicate fingers, serving a steaming bowl of ginseng soup, "Your Highness, take a short rest, drink this soup before continuing with the memorials."

Lu Zhaoyan accepted the soup, and his gaze inadvertently caught sight of the crimson dainty color newly painted on her nails.

A faint fragrance lingered, filling the room with her subtle aroma.