Everyone present here, aren’t you all a bunch of old schers?
Can’t you see through these petty tricks of self-preservation?
Lu Zhaoyan said earnestly, "Yuan’er, in my opinion, it’s better to trust Miss Gongsun."
Lu Yuan replied, "She almost killed soone, and you’re sure I should listen to her? Are you even my real father? Or are you just reluctant to let go of that bastard Lu Qi?"
Lu Qi looked utterly baffled, wondering why they dragged him into their argunt.
Lu Zhaoyan said solemnly, "Miss Gongsun is a successor of the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles."
Lu Yuan sneered, "Who’s to say it’s not a lie? Maybe soone else cured the patient, and she just claid the fa afterward! If she were to make a move herself, wouldn’t she ss it up?"
"ssed it up!"
Outside the hall, Treasure Piggy echoed while playing with mud.
Nie’er flailed his limbs and chid in, "ssed it up! ssed it up!"
Gongsun Liuying, Consort Hu, Prince Jin, and the Empress all felt a mont of awkward silence.
Lu Zhaoyan maintained his serious expression, "Miss Gongsun is the Phoenix Girl!"
Lu Yuan rolled his eyes, "Almost killed soone—a fake Phoenix Girl, perhaps."
Treasure Piggy squeezed mud together, "Fake Phoenix Girl."
Nie’er clapped his hands, "Fake Phoenix Girl! Fake Phoenix Girl!"
Indeed, following the leader’s footsteps is the mark of a true sidekick.
The wet nurse hurriedly covered the young master’s mouth.
"Oh dear ancestor, one tiger in our household is enough; you mustn’t end up fiercer than the Lady herself!"
Lu Zhaoyan’s voice grew serious, "Enough! You shouldn’t talk so recklessly just because your imperial grandfather pampers you! Miss Gongsun did indeed make a mistake today, but we cannot deny her past achievents or her identity as the Phoenix Girl because of one error!"
"She claims she’s the Phoenix Girl—does she have any evidence? Well, I might as well claim I’m the Phoenix Girl too!"
Lu Yuan gestured towards ng Qianqian, "Hey, Phoenix Girl."
Treasure Piggy parroted, "Phoenix Girl."
Nie’er jumped up, "Phoenix Girl! Phoenix Girl!"
The wet nurse failed to keep up and cover his mouth in ti, nearly fainting in fright.
Emperor Liang’s sharp gaze swept across everyone’s faces, lingering slightly longer on Gongsun Liuying, before finally landing on Elder Yan. "My recurring headaches have flared up again; does Thousand chanism Pavilion have any redies for alleviating my pain?"
Lady Yan responded, "Among the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles, there is a thod to ease headaches. However, my talent is limited, and I have not grasped its essence."
Emperor Liang turned to ng Qianqian, "Miss Yan?"
ng Qianqian replied, "This thod involves forty-nine needles. If Your Majesty trusts , I am ready to perform the needling imdiately."
Lady Yan retorted coldly, "Outrageous! Do you dare to treat His Majesty’s sacred body? Know your place!"
ng Qianqian responded with poise, "Birth status may vary, but there is no distinction in dical skills. If I can treat, why shouldn’t I?"
Emperor Liang studied ng Qianqian deeply, "Very well. You will treat ."
ng Qianqian bowed respectfully, "As you command."
Lady Yan opened her mouth, "You..."
The Empress spoke with concern, "Your Majesty, please think carefully."
Princess Consort Hui instructed, "Bring the screens."
Consort Hu glared at her, "Are you trying to kill His Majesty?"
Princess Consort Hui, who felt no attachnt of a wife to her husband, thought, "Let the old man court his demise. It’s none of my concern."
The palace attendants brought in the screens and a rattan chair.
Emperor Liang kept only Eunuch Yu at his side behind the screen.
"Please remove Your Majesty’s robe," ng Qianqian said.
Eunuch Yu assisted Emperor Liang in disrobing.
Everyone held their breaths collectively, their hearts pounding.
Even Lu Zhaoyan appeared uneasy on behalf of his daughter-in-law.
The only calm person was Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan sidled over to Lady Yan, and asked casually, "Elder Yan, I’ve heard that only heaven’s chosen can practice the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles to perfection. Is that true?"
Lady Yan pondered and said, "The Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles left behind by our ancestral master is incomplete. Over the years, no one has fully comprehended the technique. Gradually, rumors arose that only heaven’s chosen could decipher the remaining volus."
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and glanced past Lady Yan at Gongsun Liuying, "Has Miss Gongsun deciphered it?"
Gongsun Liuying ignored him.
As ng Qianqian continued needling Emperor Liang, he closely observed her.
Calm in the face of crisis, composed and unwavering, unshaken by taphorical mountains collapsing. She was soone destined for greatness.
"Thirty-seven needles."
After each needle, Eunuch Yu announced the count.
"Thirty-eight needles."
"... Forty-seven needles."
"Forty-eight needles."
"Wait."
Just as ng Qianqian was about to deliver the last needle, Emperor Liang seized her wrist.
Commanding without wrath, he said, "Miss Gongsun, you shall deliver the final needle for ."
Gongsun Liuying froze in place.
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