ng Qianqian said softly, "For a lady, so reservation is always necessary."
Lu Yuan’s fury instantly dissipated with a puff.
He cleared his throat and asked, "So does that an you agree?"
Without waiting for ng Qianqian’s response, he took the Houyi Bow from his back and handed it to her. "For you."
To accept his bow was to accept him.
ng Qianqian’s eyes flashed with surprise. "For ?"
Yu Zichuan, who had just finished gathering the kite strings and ca to claim credit from Lu Yuan: Not for ?!
Lu Yuan unerringly stated, "When the Houyi Bow appeared, your expression imdiately changed."
Did she really think he wouldn’t notice?
He wasn’t blind.
The arrival of Ji Li, Chen Long, and Si Snake with Yu Zichuan to Princess Consort Chen’s palace saw the trio exchanging knowing glances.
Ji Li: "Did her expression change? Did it?"
Si Snake: "Too far, couldn’t see clearly."
Chen Long: Damn it, my little sister’s unusual behavior was detected by this brat first!
ng Qianqian took the Houyi Bow, feeling its cold weight, and gently ran her fingers along its string. "Indeed, a bow like this is rare."
Lu Yuan asked, "Does this bow have a story?"
ng Qianqian shook her head. "I can’t rember."
Lu Yuan said coolly, "You four, co in."
The four entered the backyard.
Yu Zichuan and Chen Long ca openly, their path clearly indicated.
Si Snake and Ji Li relied on Qinggong to slip in discreetly.
All of them had already paid their respects to Princess Consort Chen.
A young palace maid approached them, saying, "Prince Changsun, Her Highness asks this servant to escort the guests to the flower room to admire the blooms."
Understanding her intent, they followed the maid into Princess Consort Chen’s flower room.
The flower room was spacious; its rear led to the Buddhist Hall, and its sides to small courtyards. Anyone passing by would be spotted at a glance.
A fine place for conversation.
Ji Li shook his folding fan. "Princess Consort Chen is very thoughtful."
The palace maid offered refreshnts. "Please enjoy, I won’t disturb you."
After she left, Yu Zichuan climbed to the rooftop to keep watch.
The Hunting Eagle on the roof was gnawing on jerky—ten pieces in total, exchanged for feathers from its own body!
The group gathered around the table and sat.
Lu Yuan asked, "Chen Long, are you familiar with the Houyi Bow?"
Chen Long shook his head. "I’ve only heard of it, but its true origins remain unclear."
Si Snake spoke, "The Houyi Bow first appeared in the martial world forty years ago, when the old Pavilion Master of the Thousand chanism Pavilion acquired it by chance, later giving it to a fateful individual."
Ji Li clicked his tongue. "That fateful individual wouldn’t happen to be Consort Hu’s elder brother, Hu Lie, would it?"
ng Qianqian pondered aloud, "If that’s the case, Hu Lie’s connection with the Thousand chanism Pavilion and Gongsun Yanming’s collusion with the Hu Family cast doubt on the seemingly chance discovery of Dou Qingyi and her son."
Si Snake added, "Gongsun Yanming is a clever man. Even after witnessing Lu Qi lose two consecutive days, he remained unshaken. No wonder he earned Your Majesty’s trust. If I were in his position, I’d find it hard to question his motives as well."
Ji Li scoffed, "Really? For , he’s nothing but suspicious!"
ng Qianqian remarked, "Well, it’s clearer from the sidelines."
Ji Li was about to retort but decided against it. "Fine, in honor of Emperor Liang showing so boldness today, I’ll let him off!"
Si Snake asked, "Don’t you think Lu Qi’s skills are extraordinary?"
ng Qianqian nodded. "To last so many moves against Prince Changsun, his martial arts must indeed be remarkable. Brother, since you are the most skilled in martial arts, can you discern where his techniques hail from?"
Lu Qi, who had always wandered the common folk, having impressive knowledge was one thing; his martial arts must clearly have an origin.
ng Qianqian’s words not only praised Lu Yuan but also flattered Chen Long, successfully diffusing a tension that could have escalated.
Chen Long recollected, "His Qinggong resembles that of dicine King Valley, his archery stems from the Hu Family, but his hand technique eludes at the mont."
Ji Li stroked his chin. "There’s martial arts even you can’t identify?"
ng Qianqian nodded. "No wonder his Qinggong felt faintly familiar to earlier. Mao Tu also used it once, but later, likely to conceal her connection to dicine King Valley, she no longer utilized it frequently."
Ji Li leaned closer. "Little Yin Hu, you’re quite familiar with Mao Tu, aren’t you?"
ng Qianqian replied nonchalantly, "Oh, we fought in the Capital City."
Ji Li asked curiously, "When? Why didn’t this Commander Guard know?"
Si Snake said, "You’re not her husband; why does she need to inform you?"
Ji Li slid off his stool to sit beside Si Snake. "Snake, you’re acting odd."
Around the table, apart from Ji Li, everyone else knew ng Qianqian’s true identity.
The group exchanged tacit glances.
Lu Yuan said, "Rooster, stop causing trouble."
Ji Li bristled. "Call Rooster again and I’ll fight you! Don’t think becoming Prince Changsun will stop from punching you!"
ng Qianqian interjected awkwardly, "Alright, stop bickering and focus on the next steps. Today, His Majesty officially nad a new Qilin, and in three days, there will be an inauguration ceremony with the public in attendance."
Si Snake told Lu Yuan, "Though you’ve earned the courtiers’ approval, the common people still see Lu Qi as the Qilin. Jin Prince Mansion and Thousand chanism Pavilion will undoubtedly seize this opportunity to incite the masses and hinder the ceremony."
Ordinary citizens may appear weak and powerless, yet they are the hardest to handle.
Inciting them is easy, but enlightening them is difficult; any mistake could lead to a riot.
ng Qianqian and Lu Yuan, experienced in leveraging public will during their struggle against Pri Minister Xun, understood better than anyone the principle that water can both carry and overturn a boat.
Lu Yuan smirked. "When soldiers co, we block them; when floods arrive, we dam them. If I can beat him once, I can beat him a hundred tis!"
-
Lu Qi returned to Jin Prince Mansion.
As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, Dou Qingyi dismissed the servants and interrogated him. "Why haven’t you used the Gu your mother gave you?"
Lu Qi held the golden sore dicine in his hand, his face expressionless as he looked at her. "This is the first thing you wanted to say to tonight?"
Dou Qingyi was startled by his calm yet manic gaze.
But in just a mont, the madness vanished.
Dou Qingyi convinced herself she’d imagined it, composed herself, and said, "Qi’er, you lost the competition; I know you’re upset. I’m upset too. Your father, your uncle, Consort Hu... they’re all... upset."
Lu Qi replied, "What you an is disappointed."
Dou Qingyi was speechless.
Lu Qi said coldly, "You only care if I win. You don’t want a son, nephew, or grandson. You want a tool that wins for you."
"Qi’er!"
"But rest assured, it’s not over yet. I will win."
With that, Lu Qi brushed past Dou Qingyi, entering his room decisively.
Dou Qingyi suddenly felt estranged, as though she’d never truly understood her son.
Star-picking Tower.
Prince Jin and Gongsun Yanming sat in silence.
Who knows how much ti had passed before Prince Jin asked the last question of the day: "State Preceptor, I just want to know—Is Qi’er truly the Qilin?"
Gongsun Yanming picked up a chess piece and placed it on the board. "I’ll make sure he is."
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