"Yes!"
Eight Imperial Guards surged forward, surrounding Lu Yuan completely.
In a nearby alley, ng Qianqian witnessed this perilous scene and held her breath alongside Shangguan Ling.
"If it really cos to a fight, I’ll go. You stay here and wait for ."
"That won’t do."
Shangguan Ling said, "The Grand Commander has ordered to protect the Young Madam. Even without that order, there’s no logic in sending a woman to die."
ng Qianqian replied, "I have the amulet from Witch Mountain. You’re a fugitive of the court."
Shangguan Ling was left speechless.
He gritted his teeth. "It’s my fault. I even got the movents of the Crown Prince and Prince Ming completely wrong."
"The Crown Prince sent his trusted aides to et Prince Ming outside the city. Anyone could have made a mistake."
ng Qianqian wasn’t excusing Shangguan Ling, just stating the facts.
Still, Shangguan Ling deeply blad himself.
How could he have ssed up so badly?
If the Grand Commander were truly captured today, there was no way he’d leave the Crown Prince Mansion alive.
Even his Witch Mountain identity would be useless, or worse, bring an even crueler death upon him.
The Thousand chanism Pavilion and Pri Minister Xun had colluded. The Grand Commander had eliminated Pri Minister Xun and abducted the Shang Family’s dragon-and-phoenix twins. If the Thousand chanism Pavilion learned he was in the Imperial City, they would stop at nothing to kill him.
Could it be that the plan would be cut short before it even began?
Lu Yuan had long realized ng Qianqian and Shangguan Ling had followed him all the way here.
At this critical juncture, whether he wanted to or not, he had no choice but to acknowledge this "father."
Otherwise, with that girl’s temperant, she was highly likely to charge out and sacrifice herself to save him.
As this thought flashed through his mind, his expression turned icy. He spoke coldly: "How dare you! I am my father’s true son. Who gave you the audacity to defy heaven and earth?"
Years in the court were not spent in vain—the aura of a cunning courtier was as overpowering as it could get.
That single roar froze the eight Imperial Guards in their tracks.
It was as if an oppressive force descended upon them, crushing their fighting spirit.
The steward stared, dazed, for quite so ti.
Soon, he snapped out of it.
Having served the Crown Prince for many years, the steward had been cautious during the tis when the Crown Prince wasn’t the favorite son.
Now, having finally risen to prominence, was he going to let a petty scamr intimidate him?
He rolled up his sleeves and walked toward Lu Yuan arrogantly. "You charlatans who engage in petty thievery—I’ve seen too many like you. Speak, who sent you? I don’t believe you have this kind of courage on your own. Spill your master’s na, and perhaps I’ll show great rcy and let you die with your body intact!"
Lu Yuan said indifferently, "Leaving a body intact counts as rcy? Why not offer yourself so?"
"You—"
The steward choked, enraged beyond words. "You’d better take this kindly offered drink before being forced to drink the bitter wine. Do you really think the Crown Prince Mansion is a place you can co and go as you please? Don’t think I don’t know what sly sche your master is plotting. Is it to infiltrate with a couple of spies and assassinate the real Imperial Grandson, so you can sleep soundly?"
A faint smirk appeared at the corners of Lu Yuan’s lips. "Isn’t he the Guardian Qilin? If he’s so easy to kill, then he must be fake."
"You—you—you—you—!"
The steward was so furious that he staggered, pointing a trembling finger at Lu Yuan. "Such slippery words! Soone, cut out his tongue for !"
Killing intent flashed in ng Qianqian’s eyes.
Lu Yuan’s hands were hidden behind his back, and his index finger made subtle movents.
ng Qianqian understood.
Lu Yuan was telling her to stay calm.
Could it be... Lu Yuan still had a hidden move?
But in an instant, two Imperial Guards had already seized Lu Yuan.
The steward swaggered up to Lu Yuan. "Speak. Why aren’t you talking now?"
Lu Yuan’s face remained expressionless as he said, "I’ll give you one last chance—let go. Otherwise, when my father cos back, your role as the steward will co to an end."
"Hahaha!"
The steward threw back his head and laughed. "I don’t know which mutt on the street you’re calling your father, but your life is as good as gone. Drag him away! Find a secluded spot, carry out the execution, and make sure to clean up the blood. The lady and the Commandery Prince dislike gore."
Two Imperial Guards dragged Lu Yuan into a side alley.
ng Qianqian had reached the end of her patience.
Just as she decided to strike, a carriage ca from the side and stopped in front of the Crown Prince Mansion.
The steward and the Imperial Guards hurriedly saluted.
From inside the carriage ca a man’s voice, gentle yet authoritative: "What is going on here?"
The steward quickly reported, "Your Highness, yet another scamr has co, and this one had the audacity to target Prince Ming. His cris are unforgivable! I was just about to chase him out!"
"Ming is back?"
"He just entered the mansion!"
The carriage fell silent.
The steward respectfully stepped aside.
The carriage rolled through the main gates of the mansion, its curtains montarily lifted by the cooling breeze.
Lu Yuan didn’t look at the person inside.
Nor did the person inside look at Lu Yuan.
The two briefly crossed paths.
Suddenly, Lu Yuan spoke faintly: "Have you been to Miaojiang? Ever t a girl fond of laying tiny Gu in people?"
Thud.
Sothing heavy plumted from the carriage to the ground.
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