The reason for returning the portrait to him was to tell him that Lu Linyuan is not Lu Yuan.
Gongsun Yu was no fool. With a slight contemplation, he grasped Emperor Liang’s intent: "But I still don’t understand—why does Your Majesty not trust Big Brother?"
Gongsun Yanming gazed into the distance and said, "I never claid that Lu Yuan is Lu Linyuan. I rely inford His Majesty that the two of them bear similar appearances."
Gongsun Yu frowned. "Even so, surely Your Majesty grasped the implication."
Gongsun Yanming replied indifferently, "A child disrupted everything."
Gongsun Yu was taken aback. "A... child? Whose child?"
Gongsun Yanming didn’t respond to Gongsun Yu’s question but instead asked, "You didn’t make a mistake, did you?"
"Big Brother, I can swear— the person in the portrait truly is Lu Yuan! Ah, I’ve got it!"
Suddenly rembering sothing, Gongsun Yu exclaid with excitent, "Lu Yuan once suffered from a cold ailnt. Big Brother, you just need to have Liuying check Lu Linyuan’s pulse, and the truth will be obvious! Big Brother, if Lu Linyuan truly is Lu Yuan, then he’s guilty of deceiving the emperor. Forget about being the Guardian Qilin—he might not even get to keep his title as Commandery Prince of the Crown Prince Mansion!"
"Moreover, while others might not know about the relationship between Miaojiang and the Southwest, surely Big Brother does. Years ago, the old Miao King nearly annexed the Southwest. There’s still an unresolved debt between us and Miaojiang. If he is the Guardian Qilin, who knows whether he guards Miaojiang or Liang Country?"
After a mont of thought, Gongsun Yanming went to Xiao Rong’er’s room. "Go and tell Liuying to accompany to the palace tomorrow."
Xiao Rong’er inquired, "Is it a summons from His Majesty?"
Gongsun Yanming replied, "No, it’s for sothing else. Has her hand injury improved?"
Smiling faintly, Xiao Rong’er asked, "Why the sudden concern? Is so noble lady in the palace unwell and needs Liuying to tend to her? Her hand injury isn’t fully healed yet, I’m afraid..."
Gongsun Yanming said lightly, "It’s just to take a pulse."
Xiao Rong’er responded tenderly, "Alright, I’ll speak to Liuying. I’ll accompany her to the palace tomorrow."
"That won’t be necessary."
With those words, Gongsun Yanming turned and left the room.
Xiao Rong’er took a deep breath and calmly trimd the flowers on the table, cutting one branch at a ti.
Midnight.
ng Qianqian had just changed into her night clothes. As she opened the door, she ran right into Lady Yan.
ng Qianqian blinked. "Greetings, Master."
Lady Yan snorted, "You seem to be enjoying yourself here at the Thousand chanism Pavilion."
"I... couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk."
"A walk? Dressed like this?"
"I didn’t want to cause any misunderstandings or trouble for you, Master."
Living under soone else’s roof, propriety had to be maintained.
Lady Yan said flatly, "What exactly have you two been up to?"
ng Qianqian feigned ignorance. "We didn’t do anything. I spend my days drying herbs or brewing dicine. Tan’er occasionally keeps company. That’s all."
Lady Yan replied coldly, "You know I’m not talking about you two. If you don’t speak truthfully now, don’t bla if your man gets into trouble in the Imperial Palace tomorrow."
"Master, please take a seat!"
With an exaggeratedly fawning deanor, ng Qianqian helped Lady Yan to the main seat, removed her face covering, poured a cup of hot tea, and respectfully handed it to her. "Master, please enjoy so tea!"
Lady Yan took a sip of the tea.
ng Qianqian then picked up a fan and began to fan her.
The late-March evening breeze was gently cool, but Lady Yan was lightly sweating—evidently, she had hurried over.
ng Qianqian was not an ungrateful person.
The past enmity between Lady Yan and the Shang Family was real, and Lady Yan’s current protection of her was genuine as well.
Whether Lady Yan was seeking redemption or had other motives, ng Qianqian couldn’t tell.
At least for now, she hadn’t sensed any malice from her.
Lady Yan assud a serious tone. "Tell first—what ss have you stirred up this ti?"
ng Qianqian cleared her throat. "It’s not much of a ss—just had Mr. Zimu go to His Majesty and tell a little lie, claiming that Lu Yuan is the True Qilin and Lu Qi is the false one."
This matter wasn’t exactly a secret in the palace. There were even whispers about it in the streets. However, Lady Yan had been busy with the affairs of the Thousand chanism Pavilion and hadn’t heard the "rumors" yet.
Lady Yan was dumbfounded. "And you don’t consider that a huge ss?"
ng Qianqian raised an eyebrow and said, "Lu Yuan is Emperor Liang’s true grandson. If there is indeed a Qilin, why couldn’t it be Lu Yuan?"
Lady Yan shook her head. "You don’t understand the Pavilion Master. If Lu Yuan were truly the Qilin, the Thousand chanism Pavilion wouldn’t have ignored him all these years. They wouldn’t have allowed Pri Minister Xun to tornt him."
"But what if Gongsun Yanming calculated the augury wrong? What if Pri Minister Xun interfered and concealed Lu Yuan’s identity as the Imperial Grandson?"
Pri Minister Xun wasn’t trustworthy. His dealings with the Thousand chanism Pavilion were tantamount to bargaining with a tiger. There was no way he hadn’t kept an escape route for himself.
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