"That’s because he has sothing to hide."
Dou Qingyi brushed the fallen leaves off her son’s shoulder and said, "Even if we take ten thousand steps back and assu he truly is another son of your father, so what? You are the future Monarch of Great Liang, the whole kingdom is yours. Why would you fear your father’s illegitimate children? You’re about to marry Liuying; don’t overthink things—soone else will deal with these matters for you. Besides, hasn’t your father already said he wouldn’t keep him in the mansion? If he can’t even live in the Crown Prince Mansion, how much importance could he hold in your father’s heart?"
Lu Qi tucked his uneasy feelings back into his chest. "I understand, Mother."
The study.
After the mother and son left, Lu Zhaoyan opened a morial and said:
"Drink the dicine. I’ll have Ji Feng escort you back."
Ji Feng—the Imperial Guard who had been stationed at the door the entire ti.
Lu Yuan didn’t respond.
Lu Zhaoyan rounded the partition screen, only to find Lu Yuan had already tilted his head and fallen asleep.
This ti, it wasn’t an act. He had truly drifted off deeply.
Running around exhaustively was real, acting in front of Lu Zhaoyan was also real, but pretending to sleep—it seed even he hadn’t anticipated this developnt.
Lu Zhaoyan glanced at the dicine bowl on the table.
Untouched.
Lu Zhaoyan sighed. "So stubborn."
Ji Feng asked from the door, "Your Highness, should I escort him out?"
Lu Zhaoyan looked at the deeply sleeping Lu Yuan. "Forget it, let him rest and send him away when he awakens."
Ji Feng asked, "Should I report back to you?"
Lu Zhaoyan frowned. "Hmm?"
Ji Feng formally clarified, "If he wakes while you are away from the mansion, should I escort him out imdiately or wait for your return before doing so?"
Lu Zhaoyan: "...Wait for to return."
Ji Feng: "Are you sure he’ll still want to leave by then?"
anwhile, in the courtyard, ng Qianqian sat with Si Snake, Chen Long, and Shangguan Ling on the stone bench, discussing the next phase of their plan.
Yu Zichuan sat on the rooftop, polishing his bow.
Ji Li lay on the rooftop, gazing at the moon.
Suddenly, a Hunting Eagle swooped down from the sky, whizzing past Shangguan Ling’s head.
Shangguan Ling jolted, nearly pulling his blade to strike at the bird.
The Hunting Eagle landed on ng Qianqian’s arm, which was clad in a protective cuff.
And then, it started its performance.
It raised its head, spread its wide wings, and fervently hugged ng Qianqian’s arm. "Chirp~"
Shangguan Ling: "What is it—"
ng Qianqian: "Lu Yuan calls him ’Father.’"
The Hunting Eagle gave a dramatic eye roll and collapsed flatly on the stone table.
ng Qianqian: "Lu Yuan fainted."
The Hunting Eagle struggled to rise and resud its act.
"Lu Yuan drinks dicine."
"Lu Yuan weeps pitifully."
"Lu Yuan begs for a hug..."
ng Qianqian’s mouth twitched. The eagle was overacting—it was supposed to perform, not go off-script.
Shangguan Ling shuddered.
Surely this was the Grand Commander? Soone who acknowledges a ’father’ like this without any dignity?
The Hunting Eagle: Dog n worth only two pieces of jerky don’t get to have dignity. Onward with the show!
At that mont, Lu Yuan was oblivious to the fact that his reputation as a noble warrior was being systematically destroyed by an eagle; if he had known, he would have killed the bird before falling asleep.
"It appears there’s no imminent danger with Lu Yuan for now."
ng Qianqian said earnestly.
Shangguan Ling’s expression turned indescribable. "Young Madam, you call this ’no issue’?"
"The Grand Commander has been driven to madness!"
ng Qianqian coughed lightly. "It’s a temporary asure. A great man must learn to compromise. Rember King Gou Jian of Yue lying on firewood and tasting gall..."
...She couldn’t keep spinning the narrative.
"Anyway, the key point remains—he managed to enter the Crown Prince Mansion. As for him, I’m more worried about Wuyou."
She quickly changed the topic, trying to salvage her husband’s dignity, though not much could truly be salvaged.
Shangguan Ling refocused as well. "I’ll head back to Thousand chanism Pavilion now."
ng Qianqian asked, "As an Outer Disciple, can you even et the Young Master?"
Shangguan Ling laughed. "If I can’t reach him, he’ll co to et ! Brother, deliver this ssage, won’t you?"
He reached out to stroke the Hunting Eagle’s head.
The Hunting Eagle skirted his hand with a slap of its wing—Stay away, fool!
-
Thousand chanism Pavilion.
Tan’er had just finished eating braised pork, her belly full. She walked out of Tingtai Pavilion to stroll around and digest her food.
"Thousand chanism Pavilion, pretty big, huh!"
She wandered seemingly aimlessly, weaving through a small garden, gliding along winding paths, and eventually arriving at a pavilion perched on a slope.
Standing at the pavilion, one could overlook half of Thousand chanism Pavilion.
"Now then, where does Gongsun Yanming live?"
Even though Thousand chanism Pavilion had just relocated, not even Shang Wuyou knew where the Pavilion Master’s residence was.
As she struggled to morize the layout, an arrogant voice ca from the side: "You, co here."
Tan’er continued to look around.
Gongsun Ziyu frowned. "I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear ?"
Only then did Tan’er turn to look at Gongsun Ziyu. Pointing at herself, she asked, "Are you calling ?"
Gongsun Ziyu got a better look at Tan’er’s face and couldn’t help but be secretly amazed. What a radiant little maid, more stunning than the noble ladies of the Imperial City.
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