Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

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The night was deep and quiet.

Prince Jin sat alone in his room.

A shadowy figure pushed open the door.

Prince Jin glanced at the shadow cast on the floor and said irritably, "You've taken so long, I thought you had died up in the mountains."

The man wore a straw hat and a mask, with a black cape that almost blended into the night.

He entered the room and sent a palm strike to close the door, then walked over and sat opposite Prince Jin.

With a faint smile, the man said, "I've been here for a while, but Prince Jin was busy seeing the doctor. I thought it best not to disturb."

At the mention of this, Prince Jin's expression stiffened.

The man noticed the awkwardness in Prince Jin's demeanor and chuckled. "Did His Highness fail?"

Prince Jin naturally refused to admit he'd been played by Lu Yuan, who had used pig's blood and the hair of a brothel servant.

Keeping a straight face, he said, "The State Preceptor said that only Lu Qi might succeed."

The man mused aloud, "It seems you can't avoid relying on your own son after all."

Prince Jin scoffed indignantly, "What a pity this son of mine is not aligned with my interests."

The man said, "Blood is thicker than water, and the bond between father and son cannot be severed. The Commandery Prince is simply inexperienced in worldly matters and still carries a trace of feminine compassion."

Prince Jin sneered, "Feminine compassion—how could that accomplish great things?"

The man chuckled, "The Commandery Prince is clever and skilled in both literature and martial arts. It's just a touch of feminine compassion, easily removed."

Prince Jin replied, "Easy for you to say. How do we remove it? A bottle of that golden sore medicine was all it took to win him over. He even dared to defy my orders to save Lu Zhaoyan, and then had the audacity to put on an act for me!"

The man said, "Since you've resolved not to use this son, why not have another?"

Prince Jin was momentarily speechless.

He had already been vexed the entire day over pig's blood and the brothel servant's hair—he had no desire to revisit the topic.

Changing the subject, he frowned and asked, "You said this would be foolproof. Why is Lu Linyuan still alive and back here?"

The man sighed, "This was my miscalculation. I didn't expect the Miao King to reach the Imperial City so quickly. Counting on those useless specimens to hold him back longer in Miaojiang was clearly futile."

Prince Jin furrowed his brow. "Lu Linyuan was just bestowed the title of Qilin. With the Miao King here now too, dealing with him will be even harder."

The man smiled faintly, "Indeed. He enjoys your father's favor right now. Any overt attempts to deal with him would only backfire. The only option is assassination, but even that avenue is now blocked."

Prince Jin doubted him. "Is the Miao King truly that powerful?"

The man's smile turned icy. "Do you even know how many people your father sent to assassinate the Miao King?"

"My father… sent assassins after the Miao King?"

Prince Jin was hearing this for the first time.

Miaojiang's relationship with the Southwest was strained, though both sides had been careful to avoid open conflict due to Witch Mountain. Who could have imagined their clashes in the shadows would be so intense?

The man laughed. "The Miao King has caused your father no shortage of trouble in secret either."

Prince Jin narrowed his eyes. "If my father discovered the Miao King had infiltrated the Imperial City, what would happen, do you think?"

The man replied, "Do you think you can capture the Miao King? If you fail, it will be considered slander. Right now, your father does not favor you. I advise you to tread carefully and avoid reckless actions."

Prince Jin's gaze grew dark. "The Miao King must be hiding in the Crown Prince Mansion. If I capture the Miao King, I can prove that Lu Linyuan is actually Lu Yuan. My father will undoubtedly strip him of his title—and Lu Zhaoyan as well!"

Spring rain fell steadily through the night. At dawn the next day, the skies cleared.

Prince Jin entered the palace and met Emperor Liang at the Diligent Governance Hall. "Father, your son awoke early this morning and found a golden-winged sparrow perched on a branch. I thought Zhaozhao might like it."

Upon hearing it was for the little one, Emperor Liang's expression softened slightly.

Otherwise, he cared little for these sons of his.

Emperor Liang instructed Xiao Dazi to take the golden-winged sparrow to find the child.

"Achoo!"

Emperor Liang sneezed heavily.

Prince Jin quickly said, "Father! Shall I summon the Imperial Physician?"

Emperor Liang waved his hand. "It's nothing."

Eunuch Yu interjected, "You've been sneezing all night. Perhaps you should let the Imperial Physician take a look?"

Emperor Liang said imposingly, "I know my own body. I'm not ill."

In truth, he wasn't feeling unwell. He simply couldn't explain why he'd been sneezing so incessantly the previous night.

Prince Jin hesitated for a moment and then said, "Seeing Father's health, I suddenly thought of Yuan'er's injury. How is he today?"

Emperor Liang frowned. "Yuan'er was injured?"

Prince Jin looked confused. "Your son… assumed Father was aware. After the conferral ceremony yesterday, I heard Second Brother advising Yuan'er to avoid horseback riding to prevent tearing his wound further."

With such heavy rain yesterday, if there were indeed tearing injuries, who knew how much worse they had become?

Fortunately, today was a day of rest. Emperor Liang didn't even bother sending someone to the Crown Prince Mansion—he decided to go himself.

Treasure Piggy happened to appear with the golden-winged sparrow to express thanks. Upon hearing Great-Grandfather's intention to leave the palace, she immediately clung to his leg. "I want to go."

Emperor Liang brought the child along.

Prince Jin expressed strong concern and joined them.

Lu Zhaoyan spent the entire night drinking with the Miao King to curry favor with his father-in-law and scheming against his own father. By the time he emerged, he was thoroughly intoxicated.

Fortunately, he didn't have court today.

But before he could catch up on sleep, his father arrived.

He sat up in shock, hurriedly washing up and loosening his attire.

"Father!"

Breathless, he rushed to the small garden where Emperor Liang was waiting and bowed respectfully.

Prince Jin smiled and said, "Second Brother—is this… just woke up? Yuan'er's conferral of the Qilin title must have delighted Second Brother so much that he celebrated all night."

Emperor Liang asked coldly, "I hear Yuan'er is injured?"

Lu Zhaoyan exclaimed, "Yuan'er isn't injured! How did Father hear such a thing?"

Emperor Liang replied, "Your older brother."

Prince Jin said, "Yesterday, outside the altar, I overheard you advising Yuan'er to refrain from horseback riding to avoid tearing his wound."

Lu Zhaoyan said gravely, "I never said that."

Prince Jin chuckled. "Perhaps I misheard. As long as Yuan'er is fine, Father can rest assured. By the way, where is Yuan'er? I haven't seen him."

If the Emperor visits and his grandson fails to greet him, isn't that a clear breach of filial piety?

Lu Zhaoyan said calmly, "Qi'er is about to marry Miss Gongsun. Yuan'er was dissatisfied with the gifts prepared earlier and went out to select more for him."

Selecting gifts for your brother's wedding—how's that for brotherly affection?

Prince Jin smiled warmly. "Thoughtful."

"Grandpa! Grandpa!"

Treasure Piggy ran toward Lu Zhaoyan, clutching her little golden-winged sparrow.

Lu Zhaoyan's heart softened, his gaze filled with affection as he scooped the little one into his embrace. "Did you miss Grandpa?"

"Missed you!"

Treasure Piggy nodded without hesitation and added, "But Baby missed Great-Grandfather the most!"

Prince Jin's mouth twitched.

At last, he understood why the little one could charm his father to such an extent.

Who taught her this?

Treasure Piggy wanted to show Lu Zhaoyan her new pet.

But at that moment, the previously docile golden-winged sparrow suddenly escaped her small hand, flapping its wings and flying away.

Treasure Piggy cried, "Birdie! Baby's birdie!"

Prince Jin leaped into action. "Grand-Uncle will catch it for you!"

Lu Zhaoyan, once I uncover the Miao King's whereabouts, you're finished!