Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 503 - 441 The True Reunion

Chapter 503: Chapter 441 The True Reunion

This left Liu Qingyun in a difficult position.

It would be one thing to visit the Crown Prince Mansion, but the Imperial Palace? That heavily guarded place? Not to mention whether she could enter at all. Even if she did manage to get in, rescuing Treasure Piggy would likely be near impossible.

Unless she revealed her identity as the Princess of Miaojiang.

But doing so would also expose her son and daughter-in-law.

She didn’t know how her son managed to infiltrate the Crown Prince Mansion, but it must have required significant effort and planning.

Unless absolutely necessary, Liu Qingyun couldn’t let her son’s efforts go to waste.

At the side, after explaining the Crown Prince’s movements, Cui Hu had assumed the woman would throw a fit and demand to storm the palace to retrieve her child. To his surprise, she remained silent.

Though she seemed carefree, at critical moments, she could be strikingly composed.

Cui Hu couldn’t help but reevaluate her.

Liu Qingyun allowed her emotions to settle before asking Cui Hu, "What instructions did your Crown Prince give you?"

Cui Hu replied honestly, "Just told me to eat candied hawthorn sticks."

Liu Qingyun continued, "Did he tell you to capture me?"

"I couldn’t catch you anyway."

Cui Hu hadn’t forgotten her skill with Gu arts. He reckoned that before he even made a move, he’d be brought to his knees by her Gu worms.

Liu Qingyun thought for a moment and then asked, "Did he leave any message for me? For example, if he wants to meet the child, where should I wait for him?"

Cui Hu shook his head. "He didn’t."

Liu Qingyun was perplexed.

It wasn’t strange that the Crown Prince didn’t order Cui Hu to capture her—after all, he held a hostage and knew she’d eventually come to him on her own.

But he didn’t even leave a word. How was she supposed to walk into his trap?

The Crown Prince Mansion?

"He couldn’t seriously want me to go to the Crown Prince Mansion, could he..."

Liu Qingyun murmured, deep in thought.

"Let me ask you this: What kind of person is your Crown Prince? If you dare lie to me, I’ll put a Gu curse on you to kill you!"

Cui Hu quickly straightened up and said, "The Crown Prince is a good man."

Liu Qingyun retorted, "What kind of good man kidnaps other people’s children?"

Cui Hu was left speechless.

In truth, his Crown Prince was indeed an upright gentleman. He, too, couldn’t fathom what had possessed the Crown Prince to pull such a stunt.

Liu Qingyun didn’t plan on taking her anger out on a mere guard, so she asked, "Let me ask you again, how many sons does the Crown Prince have?"

Cui Hu replied, "Two."

"What are their names?" Liu Qingyun asked.

"Commandery Prince Jian, Lu Qi, and the newly arrived young master, Lu Linyuan."

These were public facts, so Cui Hu didn’t conceal them.

Linyuan... Linyuan... Isn’t that Yuan?

It had to be her son. No doubt about it.

Liu Qingyun then asked, "Are they both at the Crown Prince Mansion?"

Cui Hu hesitated, unsure whether he should answer.

Liu Qingyun wasn’t one to dally with politeness. She threatened coldly, "If you don’t speak, I’ll put a Gu on you. I have a Gu that forces people to tell the truth—you’ll talk whether you want to or not. But you won’t escape suffering first, perhaps something like ten thousand ants gnawing at your heart..."

Faced with the choice between loyalty and self-preservation, Cui Hu chose the latter. "The Commandery Prince and Young Master Linyuan have entered the palace."

Hearing this, Liu Qingyun felt relieved.

If her son was in the palace, he might be able to rescue Bao Shu. As for whether their cover would be blown, well, that couldn’t be helped now.

Survival came first.

The question she now faced was: Where should she look for the children?

Should she go to the Imperial Palace or the Crown Prince Mansion?

Leaving things as they were wasn’t an option.

Her son wasn’t carrying anything to prove his identity. If his cover were blown, the consequences could be severe—he could be accused of deceiving the emperor.

The Southwest’s Emperor Liang was far more ruthless and merciless than the Supreme Emperor.

After some thought, Liu Qingyun decided to wait outside the palace gates. At the first sign of trouble, she would reveal her identity as the Miaojiang Princess and request an audience with Emperor Liang.

"Take me to the palace."

Liu Qingyun instructed Cui Hu.

Cui Hu didn’t object; he went to hire a carriage from a nearby depot.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at the Great Liang Palace.

Cui Hu said to Liu Qingyun, "Madam, if you wish to see the Crown Prince, I’ll need to notify him first."

Liu Qingyun replied calmly, "No need. Where is the Crown Prince’s carriage?"

Cui Hu pointed it out. "That one."

Liu Qingyun walked over gracefully, climbed onto the Crown Prince’s carriage without a word, crossed her arms, and declared, "I’ll wait for him here."

Cui Hu: ... Is this her "let the chips fall where they may" approach?

What could Cui Hu say?

Besides, the Crown Prince hadn’t explicitly forbidden her from boarding the carriage.

Liu Qingyun’s gaze was icy, her mind racing with a hundred ways to make Lu Zhaoyan suffer. Preferably something that would make his life a living hell.

A Chicken Gu would be perfect—forcing him to disgrace himself in front of the ministers!

Liu Qingyun was already holding onto the Poison Bottle containing the Chicken Gu when fatigue from waking up early overcame her. Before she realized it, she dozed off, reclining onto the carriage’s backrest.

Lu Zhaoyan spotted Cui Hu as he exited the palace.

His eyes flickered slightly as he strode towards the carriage.

Cui Hu cupped his hands in greeting. "Your Highness."

Lu Zhaoyan glanced at the carriage.

Cui Hu whispered a warning, "She’s planning to curse you with Gu. Should I—"

"No need."

Lu Zhaoyan lifted the carriage curtain and climbed inside without hesitation.

Cui Hu didn’t even have time to stop him.

That woman was a Gu master, one capable of incapacitating two elite Imperial Guards. His Highness lacked martial skills—entering like that was extremely risky.

"Your Highness?"

"Return to the mansion."

"Huh?"

Cui Hu froze. Was there an issue or not?

If you’re being threatened, at least say something!

Lu Zhaoyan said calmly, "Why aren’t you moving yet?"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Cui Hu leaped onto the driver’s seat and tossed the reins to the Imperial Guard who had accompanied Lu Zhaoyan, instructing him to return the hired carriage.

The carriage began to roll forward slowly.

The spring breeze was gentle, and the sunlight spilled through the gaps in the foliage, casting dappled shadows on the carriage roof.

Liu Qingyun wasn’t one to let her guard down, yet somehow, she had dozed off so soundly in a strange man’s carriage.

In a hazy dream, she found herself back in a torrential rainstorm from many years ago.

...

Liu Qingyun was awakened by the hawking calls of a vendor selling candied hawthorn. As she opened her eyes, she realized she was lying in a stranger’s carriage, with a man seated beside her.

She immediately sat up, her eyes filled with wariness as she stared at him.

Lu Zhaoyan sat with his eyes closed, seemingly resting, and remarked calmly, "You got on the carriage yourself—forgot already?"

"You are..."

Liu Qingyun recognized his voice—it was the same person she had encountered earlier in the alley and at the restaurant, Lu Zhaoyan.

Previously, however, she hadn’t seen his face.

The carriage’s interior was dimly lit, but even from his silhouette, it was clear he was an exceptionally handsome man.

But that wasn’t the point.

The point was... when had this man boarded the carriage? And how long had it been moving?

She had fallen sound asleep next to a stranger—this was unacceptable!

Her face veil was still in place.

She glanced around and, noticing no third person in the carriage, asked sharply, "Where’s the child?"

Lu Zhaoyan replied, "In the palace, with your son."

Your son... How much did this man know?

Liu Qingyun drew her dagger and held it to his throat. "What exactly are you after?"

Lu Zhaoyan opened his eyes, showing no trace of fear. "Your son barged into the Crown Prince Mansion claiming to be my child. When I refused to acknowledge him, he clung to me. Then he used a self-inflicted injury ploy to get my father to accept him as his grandson. Shouldn’t I be the one asking what you and your son are plotting?"

Liu Qingyun clenched her fist. What a clever scheme—just what she would expect from her son!

Lu Zhaoyan stared at her intently, his hand tightening around the Poison Bottle containing the Chicken Gu.

"You’re so foolish. They bully you, and you don’t even talk back. Can’t you retaliate?"

"Here, take this Chicken Gu. Next time they bully you, curse them with it!"

"He’s under my protection! Let’s see who dares touch him!"

"You’re so heavy...skinny as you look...why do you weigh even more than my father...oh wait, I’ve never carried my father..."

"Don’t you dare pass out... I’ll stop the bleeding now..."

"Water’s here, water’s here!"

"I’m starving...but there’s only one bun left. You eat it. You’re under my protection—I have to take care of you!"