Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Damn it, can someone tell him how this group managed it?

He's dying of curiosity!

It's not an exaggeration to say he's scratching his head!

Duan Wenliang said seriously, "Fourth brother, should we return to the Imperial City and inform Prince Jin about the Eldest Princess's matter?"

Duan Mingyue lifted his teacup, speaking indifferently, "Whoever can give me the medicine guide, that's who I'll make a deal with."

-

Black Armor Army's camp.

Lu Qi and Lan Yeyue were locked in the same tent.

Both of their hands and feet were shackled with Mystic Iron Shackles; Lu Qi tried several times to use Inner Strength to break them, all ending in failure.

In contrast, Lan Yeyue seemed resigned from the start, silently accepting her fate.

Lu Qi asked strangely, "Don't you want to escape?"

Lan Yeyue replied coolly, "Why escape?"

Lu Qi said, "You're very odd."

Lan Yeyue smiled, "What's strange about me?"

Lu Qi stated seriously, "You're not someone who would willingly become a prisoner."

Lan Yeyue sneered, "Mind your own business."

Her reaction further confirmed Lu Qi's guess.

He continued, "Also, your purpose here isn't to contend for the Black Armor. If it were, you wouldn't just accept being trapped. You'd be looking for every way out, maybe even proposing a cooperation with me."

Lan Yeyue, "Ha."

Lu Qi gazed at her firmly and said, "You simply want to defeat Yan Xiaojiu."

Lan Yeyue toyed with her hair, "Her name is Meng Qianqian."

Lu Qi naturally knew the woman's identity, he was just accustomed to the other name.

He frowned and asked, "What deep-seated grudge is there between you and her?"

Lan Yeyue lifted her gaze, giving Lu Qi a charming smile, "Asking so much, are you interested in me? Too bad, I never get entangled with married men. If you want to pursue me, divorce your new wife back in Qujing first."

Lu Qi turned his face coldly away, no longer speaking to her.

Qing Shuang, under Lu Yuan's orders, led two thousand elite soldiers and joined ten thousand from the Black Armor Army in a forced march through the night, heading back to the Imperial City.

The highest form of warfare is strategy, followed by alliances, then armed conflict, and lastly, attacking cities.

The least costly way is to outsmart; if a battle truly can't be avoided, the Black Armor Army will charge at the forefront.

Now, it's been a day and night since Liu Qingyun and Prince Ming, accompanied by Mr. Zi Wu, escaped the Capital City.

As soon as they left the city, they encountered pursuers.

Relying on Mr. Zi Wu's divination, they narrowly escaped several groups of pursuers.

However, revealing heavenly secrets greatly damages the Life Chart.

Mr. Zi Wu weakly leaned on Prince Ming's back, "Can't divine anymore... one more calculation, and I'll be visiting the Founding Master..."

Prince Ming's expression grew stern, "Leave the rest to me, please rest well, Sir—"

Then, the two fell into a pit.

Prince Ming: "..."

Mr. Zi Wu: "..."

"They're here!"

Liu Qingyun pulled them out of the pit, "I'll distract them, you take the old man and go first!"

Prince Ming responded solemnly, "Impossible! We go together!"

Liu Qingyun erupted, "I can't manage two burdens, old mother!"

Inside, Prince Ming felt as though he'd been struck by ten thousand arrows.

A day and night of fleeing had left everyone exhausted, and they were finally surrounded in a farmland.

Archers didn't waste words, immediately drawing their bows and aiming at them.

Prince Ming was furious, "Are you mad! I am a Prince! You dare kill a Prince!"

Thousands upon thousands of arrows, like dense shooting stars, enveloped them.

Just when they thought they were doomed, another wave of arrows raced towards them.

The two waves of arrows met.

The rain of arrows that should have turned them into porcupines was completely blocked and shot back.

Liu Qingyun and Prince Ming looked back in shock to see a vast army, like a dark flood, rushing towards them, breaking the mountains and rivers.

In just the blink of an eye, the pursuers were felled by the iron cavalry's arrows.

Liu Qingyun's eyes reddened with grievance, "Why are you only arriving now..."

Armor-clad Meng Qianqian reached out, pulling Liu Qingyun onto her horse, seating her behind her, "Sorry, we're late, Mom. Hold on tight, we have to hurry."

"You hurry, I'm not afraid of—Whoa—"

Liu Qingyun toppled backward, "Why such speed—I've yet to speak with my son—"

The time was urgent.

Meng Qianqian, Lu Yuan, and Qing Shuang led Lu Fengyin and the Black Armor Army's cavalry, arriving at the Imperial City first.

The guards at the city gate saw Lu Fengyin leading the army into the city and dared not make decisions on their own, promptly reporting to Prince Jin.

"The Eldest Princess's army?"

Prince Jin furrowed his brow with suspicion, "I never instructed her to mobilize troops."

Compared to Crown Prince Lu Zhaoyan, the Eldest Princess favored him, her nephew, expressing her intention to support him as Crown Prince.

But he wasn't foolish, harboring a bit of caution nevertheless.

Now that the Eldest Princess had entered the city with an army, he increasingly felt things were amiss.

"Summon the State Preceptor."

He said.

Gongsun Yanming arrived at Taihe Palace, "Your Highness."

Prince Jin spoke of the Eldest Princess's actions, "She has brought an army to the gates; what does she intend?"

Gongsun Yanming pondered and said, "Just meet her, and her intentions will become clear."

Prince Jin nodded, "Very well."

Originally, he intended to bring Gongsun Yanming along but worried that if he left, the court would be without anyone, so he left Gongsun Yanming to guard the court.

He went directly to the city gate.

Alighting from the carriage, he approached the Eldest Princess's carriage, bowing respectfully, "Nephew welcomes Aunt."

Before the curtain opened, Lu Fengyin's rather dissatisfied voice came out first, "Nephew is quite bold, leaving his own aunt outside the city."

"Aunt, I dare not!"

"Hmph, your actions speak for themselves, even if not your intentions."

"Aunt... why have you suddenly brought troops back to the Imperial City?"

"The Imperial City is in such turmoil, how long do you plan to keep it hidden from me?"

"This... nephew did not mean to conceal it from Aunt, but nephew understands the deep bond between Father and Aunt. If Aunt knew Father was in trouble, Aunt would naturally be worried, and nephew only thought of Aunt's peace of mind."

"Ridiculous! I think you purposely kept it from me!"

"Aunt wrongs nephew..."

"Say no more, as a son, you failed to protect your father, plunged the court into chaos, unsettled the people, and I cannot trust your abilities! As for Father's whereabouts, I'll investigate myself!"

"Aunt is determined to bring troops into the city?"

"And if I am?"

"Aunt, I'm afraid, nephew cannot allow you to do so."

"You dare!"

"Aunt is welcome into the city a hundredfold, but the army must stay outside!"

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