Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 504 - 442: The Truth of the Past

Chapter 504: Chapter 442: The Truth of the Past

Liu Qingyun temporarily couldn’t determine what her son had talked about with this man, but she was certain that the Emperor Liang had acknowledged her son. This meant her son and Bao Shu were safe in the Imperial Palace, at least for now, before their identities were exposed. Even the Crown Prince couldn’t bring the two of them down.

As for why the Crown Prince hadn’t exposed her son, the only explanation she could think of was that the Crown Prince lacked evidence.

What did this imply?

It implied this man was reckless and promiscuous, sleeping around with several women and leaving behind children he wasn’t even aware of.

"Scumbag."

She muttered coldly.

Lu Zhaoyan glanced at her oddly. "What did you say?"

"Nothing."

Liu Qingyun decided to keep her mouth shut tightly, to avoid giving this man any leverage.

From now on, she would be a mute.

Liu Qingyun crossed her arms and stopped talking to Lu Zhaoyan.

But she showed no intention of getting off the carriage.

Cui Hu tentatively asked, "Your Highness?"

Lu Zhaoyan responded indifferently, "Just keep driving."

Cui Hu: He’s not kicking her out?

Suddenly, Liu Qingyun thought of something and looked down at her feet.

Lu Zhaoyan asked, "What are you looking for?"

Liu Qingyun used her gaze to signal her refusal to communicate.

She remembered she had taken out a Poison Bottle before she fell asleep—how did it vanish?

She glanced at Lu Zhaoyan with suspicion but saw that he remained calm and composed with his eyes closed, appearing restful. This led her to think it likely had not been stolen by him.

Who would bother stealing this?

If anything, discovering her attempt to curse him should certainly have led him to kick her out of the carriage.

Speaking of being kicked out of the carriage...

Kicked out for what?

Her son and Treasure Piggy were in the Imperial Palace; if she just left now, it wouldn’t make sense.

She had the status of a princess from Miaojiang as her amulet, so at worst, she’d just confess everything.

With this thought, Liu Qingyun decided to go to the Crown Prince Mansion with him.

That was the closest place to her son. Once her son returned from the palace, she could deliberate plans with him further.

Liu Qingyun threatened, "I warn you—if you dare harm those two children, I’ll kill you."

Lu Zhaoyan chuckled faintly. "Not playing mute anymore?"

Liu Qingyun awkwardly turned her face away.

How did he know she’d intended to play mute?

-

The news that the imperial edict had been destroyed finally reached Dou Qingyi.

A little eunuch from the Household Affairs Office personally came to deliver the message to Eunuch Zhen.

Outside the room, Eunuch Zhen asked softly, "Is this true?"

The little eunuch replied, "Godfather, it’s absolutely true! I wouldn’t dare deceive you even with a hundred lives."

Eunuch Zhen stroked his horsetail whisk in puzzlement. "Who dared destroy His Majesty’s imperial edict?"

The little eunuch said, "It’s rumored to be the Crown Prince and Young Master Linyuan."

Eunuch Zhen analyzed, "The Crown Prince wouldn’t do such a thing. He’s been His Majesty’s son for many years and knows His Majesty’s temperament well. He would never defy him. But that Young Master Linyuan... He’s been rather favored lately, acting so presumptuously. Would His Majesty punish him?"

The little eunuch was equally astonished. "Not at all. His Majesty kept him in the palace. There’s also another matter."

Eunuch Zhen: "Speak!"

The little eunuch said, "The Crown Prince brought a two-year-old child into the palace."

Eunuch Zhen was shocked. "Another son?"

Does the Crown Prince have too many children?

It’s been just a few months, and now there are three?

The little eunuch quickly responded, "A girl."

Eunuch Zhen paused. "A daughter?"

"I’m not sure."

The little eunuch hadn’t seen it firsthand and was only describing what the palace attendants said.

According to the palace attendants, they’d only seen the Crown Prince holding a small tiger cub as he entered the palace. They didn’t know the identity of the child, while the imperial edict had been destroyed in the Imperial Garden. At that time, aside from Chief Yu, who had gone to deliver the edict, there were only the Crown Prince, Young Master Linyuan, and the two-year-old child.

How could the small child have destroyed the edict?

Thus, the palace attendants unanimously believed the culprit was either the Crown Prince or Young Master Linyuan.

"Did news arrive from the palace?"

Inside the room, Dou Qingyi pretended to remain calm as she inquired.

"It seems there’s been a change..." Eunuch Zhen murmured, his gaze flickering. He entered the room, smilingly saying to Dou Qingyi, "Not sure what Chief Yu is stalling for. I’ll head to the palace and urge him!"

With that, he bowed respectfully, exited the room, and briskly left.

He needed to find out what was going on as soon as possible.

Too bad about the box of Dongzhu pearls—his savings from years of hard work.

Dou Qingyi noticed Eunuch Zhen slipping away faster than a rabbit and immediately sensed something wasn’t right.

Could there really be a change?

Impossible. The imperial edict had been issued. Apart from the State Preceptor, no one could persuade His Majesty to rescind it.

The State Preceptor was her in-law and would never do such a thing.

Yet why was the uneasiness in her heart growing stronger?

She called her personal maid. "Find someone to enter the palace and deliver several changes of clothes to the Commandery Prince."

"Yes."

The maid had just stepped out when she hurried back into the courtyard. "Madam, His Highness has returned to the mansion!"