Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

The sky had not yet brightened.

After several days of hurried travel, Gongsun Yu returned to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion in a disheveled state.

"S-second Master!"

The disciple who opened the door was almost unable to recognize him at first glance.

Was this scruffy, unkempt, and ragged man truly their master?

Exhausted, Gongsun Yu collapsed onto the disciple's shoulder.

The disciple quickly carried him to Mingxin Hall.

"Pavilion Master! Pavilion Master! Second Master has returned!"

Gongsun Yanming was about to leave for court, only to run into the two as he stepped out the door.

With deep eyes, he looked at Gongsun Yu and said, "Lay him on the bed."

"Yes."

The disciple placed Gongsun Yu on the clean and tidy bed.

Gongsun Yanming said, "Go and fetch Elder You."

"Yes!"

The disciple hurried away quickly.

Elder You did not need to attend court early, and when the disciple went to call him, he was still resting.

By the time he dressed neatly and rushed to Mingxin Hall, daylight was already breaking.

"Pavilion Master!"

He offered a salute, breathing heavily.

Gongsun Yanming said, "Please trouble Elder You to examine my second brother."

According to seniority, Elder You was Gongsun Yanming's senior, and Gongsun Yanming was polite in his demeanor.

Elder You took Gongsun Yu's pulse, examined his injuries, and said to Gongsun Yanming, "Yu'er fainted from exhaustion, and he only has minor abrasions on his body and some blisters on his feet, nothing life-threatening."

For a martial artist, these could hardly be considered injuries.

Upon hearing Gongsun Yu's condition, Gongsun Yanming did not appear relieved but rather fell into deep thought.

Elder You asked in confusion, "Pavilion Master, is there something else you're worried about?"

"Ah, it's nothing."

Gongsun Yanming returned to his senses and had the disciple escort Elder You out.

He called upon a servant, had Gongsun Yu washed, changed him into dry clothes, applied golden sore medicine, and gave him a slice of millennium ginseng to chew on.

After all this, Gongsun Yu finally slowly awoke.

"Big brother..."

His throat was burning, and when he spoke, it was extremely hoarse.

Gongsun Yanming asked, "What happened to you these past few days?"

Gongsun Yu spoke with a hoarse voice, "That day... I went on a mission as per your orders to the fief... I was determined to find out the whereabouts of the Black Armor Army... I followed a retainer of the Eldest Princess..."

Gongsun Yanming: "What kind of retainer?"

Gongsun Yu weakly said, "A man... in a wheelchair..."

The person Gongsun Yu was following was Duan Mingyue.

Of course, Duan Wenliang and several strong servants were also with Duan Mingyue.

Initially, Gongsun Yu's tracking was relatively smooth.

He even hid in the shadows to eavesdrop on their conversation and confirmed they were also looking for the Black Armor Army.

But somehow, that night Gongsun Yu unwittingly fell asleep.

By the time he awoke, the group had long vanished.

He tried to search for them.

Finding nothing, he recalled that the man in the wheelchair said the Black Armor Army was heading east.

He kept searching eastward, but before long, he got lost.

Gongsun Yanming frowned suspiciously, "While in the mountains, did you encounter any danger?"

Gongsun Yu thought for a moment and shook his head, "I'm lucky to say the least; not even a wolf crossed my path."

Gongsun Yanming said, "It wasn't luck. Someone dealt with the hidden dangers for you."

Gongsun Yu was surprised, "Who?"

Gongsun Yanming pondered for a moment, first analyzing the illogical points, "The man in the wheelchair you were following had already noticed your presence. You were drugged, which made you drowsily fall asleep."

Gongsun Yu was perplexed, "How can this be? Could it be... that the man in the wheelchair was secretly protecting me? Why would he do it?"

"It might not be the same person, but their objectives are surprisingly consistent, which is not to let anything happen to you."

There was a key point that he couldn't quite figure out.

"Big brother, then I..."

"Pavilion Master!"

The conversation between the brothers was interrupted.

Gongsun Yanming said to his brother, "You rest first; do not see anyone these days."

As he left the room, he asked, "What is it?"

The disciple said, "Prince Jin urgently summons the Pavilion Master to the Prince Mansion."

When Gongsun Yanming arrived at Prince Jin's study room, Great General Hu Lie was also present.

"Your Highness, Great General."

Hu Lie's gaze at him was inquisitive.

Prince Jin did not, like usual, offer him a seat but said, "I urgently summoned the State Preceptor because there are matters I want the State Preceptor to clarify."

Sensing an unusual atmosphere, he maintained his composure and said, "What does Your Highness wish to ask?"

Prince Jin stared at him intently, "I've heard that the State Preceptor's brother has returned to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion."

"Yes."

He admitted candidly.

"What was he doing?"

Prince Jin pressed on, his gaze sharp.

Gongsun Yanming honestly replied, "I sent him to the Eldest Princess's fief to investigate the whereabouts of the Black Armor Army. He failed and just returned to the city in a sorry state today."

Prince Jin said, "I recently sent the Imperial Physician to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion to check on the State Preceptor's brother's injuries. I was concerned and did not inform the State Preceptor in advance. The State Preceptor will not blame me for acting on my own accord, will you?"

Gongsun Yanming said, "Your Highness's favor, I am infinitely grateful."

The Imperial Physician returned quickly and reported on Gongsun Yu's injuries truthfully.

Prince Jin said coldly, "It's just exhaustion. Of those who went to the fief to search for the Black Armor Army, it seems only the State Preceptor's brother returned unscathed. The whereabouts of Medicine King Valley's daughter are unknown, and Qi'er was taken into the underground palace. In the State Preceptor's view, what exactly is going on?"

Gongsun Yanming said, "Is Your Highness questioning my loyalty?"

Prince Jin said coldly, "I asked you to answer, not to challenge me!"

Gongsun Yanming looked at Hu Lie, whose eyes were sharp like an eagle's.

No need to say, it was Hu Lie who taught Prince Jin to ask like this.

Gongsun Yanming said frankly, "I have no involvement in the disappearance of the Commandery Prince."

Prince Jin sneered, "Is that so? Coincidentally, Qi'er just got trapped in the underground palace, and your brother returned home unscathed."

Gongsun Yanming sighed, "If Your Majesty suspects me, it may have fallen into the ploy of the Crown Prince Mansion to sow discord."

Prince Jin said sternly, "Who is plotting will be investigated by me. I'll ask you again, the mechanisms of the Cold Palace were working fine, allowing them to be opened from outside. Why did you question the modifications? Now it's only accessible from the inside, and to rescue Qi'er, you must open the Imperial Mausoleum's entrance. Do you know what that implies?"

Gongsun Yanming said calmly, "It implies... Your Highness is aware of the underground palace's secret and that Your Highness killed the Tomb Guardian."

Prince Jin angrily said, "Did you do it on purpose back then, so that my only son would be trapped inside?"

Gongsun Yanming said earnestly, "Your Highness, the mechanisms were modified back then to prevent anyone from saving the Emperor and the Miao King from the Cold Palace and to cause the Crown Prince to suffer more losses."

Prince Jin angrily smashed the teacup, "Did it work? Not a single person went to the Cold Palace to die!"