Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 538 - 462: Treasure Piggy’s Show of Strength

Chapter 538: Chapter 462: Treasure Piggy’s Show of Strength

Having been robbed of five thousand taels by the rebellious son, Lu Zhaoyan, under the stern gaze of Liu Qingyun, affectionately pulled the rebellious son along, fatherly and son-like, as they boarded the carriage heading to the Imperial Palace.

"Rebellious son."

Lu Zhaoyan let go of Lu Yuan’s wrist.

Lu Yuan extended his hand: "No credit given."

Lu Zhaoyan’s face darkened.

After all, Lu Yuan earned a household allowance of five thousand taels of silver. Having a former estranged father become a real one wasn’t without its benefits, at least the silver was provided sufficiently.

"What kind of person is that Empress?"

Now that he had the silver, Lu Yuan got back to the main topic, discussing official matters with his estranged... real father.

Lu Zhaoyan thought to himself that this brat changes his face faster than flipping a book and seriously doubted the brat’s intention of acknowledging him as a father, suspecting it was just to extort him.

He suppressed his anger and said in an even tone: "The Empress is your Emperor grandfather’s legitimate wife, a marriage arranged by their families, with one daughter under her. When your grandfather ascended the throne, he bestowed the title of Princess Pingyang on her. Except for Consort Hu and Consort Jiang, who were concubines at the time, with the privilege of raising their own children, the other concubines and consorts could only send their children to Princess Qin’s yard. When there were too many children to be raised, they stopped sending them there. Your sixth uncle, Prince Ming, grew up with his birth mother."

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Sounds like it doesn’t matter to her who becomes the Crown Prince." fre eweb\(n)ovel(.)co(m)

Lu Zhaoyan nodded: "Indeed, when I was Crown Prince, she did not obstruct or utter a single word against it. Now that Prince Jin has better odds, she has chosen Jin Prince Mansion."

Lu Yuan commented: "In the end, she still trusts the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion."

The father and son were both smart people, and many things didn’t need to be spelled out to be understood. The Empress falling ill at this critical moment, letting all phoenix sons and dragon grandsons go to serve, was clearly a pretext to send both Lu Yuan and Gongsun Liuying into the Imperial Palace simultaneously.

As long as Gongsun Liuying publicly "confirmed" Lu Yuan’s identity, the Qilin competition would end before it even started.

Lu Yuan looked at him with a faint smile: "Aren’t you going to ask if I really am Lu Yuan?"

Lu Zhaoyan replied: "There’s no need to. Whether you are or not, you are still my son."

After a pause, he continued, "If I could choose, I would hope you are not."

Lu Yuan gave a playful smile: "True, if I were Lu Yuan, given the old grievances between Miaojiang and the Southwest, you probably would never become Crown Prince in this lifetime."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoyan, rare for him, didn’t scold the rebellious son.

He remained silent for a long time, then spoke in a low voice: "I don’t want you to go through those things."

Lu Yuan paused.

-

Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

Gongsun Yanming and Gongsun Liuying were also preparing to set off.

Gongsun Ziyu tugged at Gongsun Yanming’s sleeve: "Dad, please let me go. I also want to enter the palace!"

Xiao Rong’er chided: "Your dad and sister aren’t going to the palace for fun. If you inadvertently cause trouble for your sister while the Empress is unwell, it’ll be trouble." fr\eewe.bn(o)v\el.c(o)m

Gongsun Ziyu muttered discontentedly: "Am I that type of person?"

At this moment, Shang Wuyou arrived with Tan’er.

With her eyes above the veil, Gongsun Liuying’s brows relaxed: "Wuyou."

"Elder sister."

Shang Wuyou greeted Gongsun Liuying and then paid his respects to Gongsun Yanming and Xiao Rong’er, "Father, Mother."

Xiao Rong’er gently smiled and adjusted his headdress: "You’ve grown taller again, child."

"What are you here for?"

Gongsun Ziyu asked Shang Wuyou in a huff.

Shang Wuyou didn’t give her a friendly face: "Entering the palace, of course."

Gongsun Ziyu was furious and complained to Xiao Rong’er: "Mom! Why does he get to go? His medical skills are not even as good as mine!"

Gongsun Liuying said: "I asked him to go."

Gongsun Ziyu stomped her feet in frustration: "You’re biased! You take him but not me!"

Xiao Rong’er tugged at her, her tone a bit stern: "Alright, stop causing trouble. If you delay your dad and sister’s important matters, those ministers will surely say that our Thousand Mechanism Pavilion is arrogant."

Gongsun Ziyu, cheeks puffed with anger, glanced around in irritation, and her eyes finally fell on Tan’er. In a delicate voice, she said: "Then she’s not allowed to go!"

Shang Wuyou told Tan’er: "Get in the carriage."

Tan’er stuck her tongue out at Gongsun Ziyu: "Bleh."

Tan’er and Shang Wuyou sat in Gongsun Liuying’s carriage.

Gongsun Liuying softly said: "Tan’er, don’t provoke Ziyu in the future."

Tan’er nodded obediently: "Got it!"

Shang Wuyou watched her innocent demeanor and thought to himself, she’s really good at pretending.

Whose orders do you listen to other than that woman’s?

Meanwhile, Lady Yan was in the yard watching Meng Qianqian drying herbs.

Lady Yan said lightly: "The Pavilion Master has already left, he didn’t bring me to the palace."

Meng Qianqian placed the herbs one by one on a sieve and smiled: "In less than an hour, someone will come to take us to the palace."

Lady Yan glanced at Meng Qianqian with a peculiar look: "If you have a plan, you’d better tell me. Don’t blame me if something goes wrong because I didn’t catch on."

Meng Qianqian gave a slight smile: "You are you, I am me. You just need to take me when entering the palace. As for what to do, it’s up to you."

Lady Yan suspiciously furrowed her brows.

She felt that this girl had something up her sleeve.

She stood up and walked out.

Meng Qianqian asked: "Master, where are you going?"

Lady Yan coolly said: "I never do anything I’m not sure of. I’m worried that if I take you to the palace, you’ll take the opportunity to seek revenge on me and get me killed."

Meng Qianqian hugged her arm and said fawningly: "Master, how could your disciple harm you?"

Lady Yan said coldly: "Then explain honestly, what do you plan to do in the palace?"

Meng Qianqian replied: "To deal with Gongsun Liuying."

-

On their way, Lu Zhaoyan and Lu Yuan’s carriage was blocked by a carriage from Jin Prince Mansion.

Prince Jin lifted the curtain: "Second brother, elder brother is in a hurry to see the Empress, I’ll go ahead."

Lu Zhaoyan smiled: "Please, elder brother."

Prince Jin acknowledged with a hum.

The carriage driver, full of arrogance, drove the carriage forward swiftly.

When both carriages arrived at the Imperial Palace, the treatment by the palace attendants towards Jin Prince Mansion and Crown Prince Mansion was markedly different.

The attendants surrounded Prince Jin and Lu Qi with great flattery, whereas those serving Lu Zhaoyan and Lu Yuan were few and their attitudes were perfunctory.

"The sedan chair is smaller, the pace is slower, they’re aiming to make us the last to reach Kunning Palace."

Lu Yuan sat in the swaying sedan chair, clicking his tongue, "Your brother hasn’t even become the Crown Prince yet. If he does, the Imperial City may have no place for us."

Lu Zhaoyan looked at him speechlessly: "No need to provoke, the fight is already on."

Lu Yuan said: "Oh."

He’s become used to being the treacherous minister.

Lu Zhaoyan instructed: "Stop the sedan chair."

Lu Yuan asked puzzledly: "Why stop the sedan chair?"

"As you said, it’s slow, by the time we get to Kunning Palace, the dish will be cold."

"It won’t get cold." .com

Seeing Lu Zhaoyan’s insistence, Lu Yuan sighed, "Alright, alright, let’s get off the sedan chair. It’s your decision to walk, don’t blame me if your legs get sore later."

The father and son got off the sedan chair.

What Lu Zhaoyan did not expect was that all the princes who entered the palace before him, including Prince Jin, were blocked near the Imperial Garden.

It was none other than the Emperor’s chariot that blocked them.

The dazzling chariot filled the entire palace path.

Everyone got off their sedan chairs and bowed in unison to the Emperor’s chariot.

There was no movement from the Emperor’s chariot.

No one dared to move, nor did they dare to rise.

Prince Jin furrowed his brows in doubt, boldly calling out: "Father?"

Inside the Emperor’s chariot, Treasure Piggy lay on a soft pillow, holding a small sugar-coated haw, lazily stretching his little legs, and responded spiritedly: "Hey!"

Prince Jin: "...!!"