Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 358 - 333: Conclusive Evidence

Xun Qi coldly said, "Is your Governor Mansion ever going to stop? After the Miao King caused a scene, now it’s your turn. Once you’re done, who’s next to come and put on a show at the Prime Minister’s Mansion?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "I’m here to find my husband. What show are you talking about?"

Xun Qi smirked, "Lu Yuan isn’t in the Prime Minister’s Mansion at all—"

Before he could finish, a startled shout came from outside the courtyard, "We’ve found the Grand Commander! The Grand Commander has been found!"

Xun Qi’s expression faltered.

Zong Zhengxi shot to his feet.

In that instant, his imperial dignity was cast aside; he bolted out like a child.

The officials in the flower hall exchanged bewildered glances.

Seeing the Emperor leave the flower hall, Prime Minister Xun had no choice but to rise slowly.

Xun Qi suspiciously eyed Meng Qianqian, "What kind of trick is your Governor Mansion playing this time?"

Meng Qianqian calmly said, "A deadly trick, except this time, the dead will be you."

"Ah! It’s really my grandson!"

From outside came the Miao King’s heart-wrenching wail.

Next was Zong Zhengxi’s extremely panicked voice, "Lu Yuan! Lu Yuan, what happened? Lu Yuan, wake up! Shufu (Imperial Uncle)!"

Meng Qianqian stumbled slightly.

Wrong generation, Your Majesty. Just "Cousin" will do.

In the courtyard, Lu Yuan was leaning against the Miao King, looking disheveled and unconscious.

The Miao King howled to the heavens, "Grandson—you died such a terrible death—"

Meng Qianqian, walking up to the Miao King, cupped her hand over her mouth and whispered, "Grandfather, this isn’t the right script."

The Miao King’s gaze shifted, "Ah! Looks like he’s still breathing! Granddaughter-in-law, you are a Divine Doctor—quick, take a look at him!"

"Yes, Grandfather."

Meng Qianqian knelt down and took a silver needle from her pouch.

Zong Zhengxi’s eyes were red, and when he heard the Miao King’s "You died such a terrible death—" he couldn’t hold back his tears.

The Miao King patted him on the shoulder, "Take heart."

Zong Zhengxi: "..."

Miao King: Oh no, wrong lines again!

The Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Justice was interrogating the three government officers who had brought Lu Yuan back to the flower hall.

They stated that the Grand Commander had been found near an ancient well in the southeast corner of the Prime Minister’s Mansion and was immediately brought over.

When Xun Qi saw this "Lu Yuan," he let out a small sigh of relief instead.

From those clothes—wasn’t this Luo San? Who else would it be?

The human skin mask on Lu Yuan’s face had been applied by none other than himself.

But how strange—wasn’t Luo San supposed to have been taken away by Yifu’s (Foster Father’s) people?

Why had he appeared here all of a sudden?

Could this also be part of Yifu’s plan?

He turned to look at Yifu, only to be jostled aside by a suddenly storming Liu Qingyun.

"Son! At last, I’ve found you!"

Xun Qi staggered back several steps, furious and exasperated, as he glared at Liu Qingyun.

Hadn’t this woman already left?

Why had she reappeared?

Liu Qingyun hadn’t left; she had simply risen early, caused a morning ruckus, and had taken a nap in her carriage, utterly worn out.

When Bai Yuwei and Tan’er returned to the carriage, she knew the play was reaching its finale.

"He’s been drugged with a sedative; my Needle Technique won’t work on him."

Meng Qianqian said solemnly.

Xun Qi’s last shred of doubt dissipated—when Luo San was taken by Yifu’s top men, they had indeed sedated him.

With Chen Long’s superb martial arts, he’d wake up in a few hours. As for Luo San, who was all bluster—three days and nights might not be enough for him to regain consciousness.

While finding Luo San in the Prime Minister’s Mansion wasn’t good for them, between two evils, this was the lesser one.

Besides, as long as Luo San remained unconscious, they could adamantly claim ignorance of how he had ended up in the mansion and weather the current crisis.

Three days was enough time to deal with Luo San for good.

Xun Qi made up his mind.

Liu Qingyun’s voice rang sharply, "My son was found in your Prime Minister’s Mansion, you drugged him, and now you still deny everything! What have you got to say for yourselves?"

Xun Qi gave a faint smile, "Miao Princess, do you truly believe he is Lu Yuan?"

Liu Qingyun retorted, "He’s my own son—how could I not recognize him?"

Xun Qi slowly stepped toward Lu Yuan.

Liu Qingyun blocked him. "What are you trying to do?"

Looking at everyone present, Xun Qi declared confidently, "I’ll prove in front of everyone whether or not he’s really Lu Yuan."

Liu Qingyun moved to stop him, but was parried by Shangguan Ling in one swift move.

Meng Qianqian, intending to perform acupuncture, found her neck pressed by Shangguan Ling’s Brocade Spring Saber.

"Miao King, I advise you not to act recklessly."

The Miao King froze mid-punch.

If they didn’t interfere and let Xun Qi do as he wished, he might become suspicious instead.

But now that Shangguan Ling had intervened, Xun Qi’s hesitation was completely dispelled.

"Everyone watch carefully—this man—is—who!"

Xun Qi’s hand reached for Lu Yuan’s face.

But as he touched it, he froze.

The mask?

The human skin mask?

He tugged at it.

Nothing.

He tried again—still nothing!

"Hey! What are you doing touching my husband’s face?" Meng Qianqian demanded.

Xun Qi panicked, "This can’t be...it must be a new Disguise Technique..."

As his hand moved again to pull at Lu Yuan’s "mask," an icy hand seized his wrist.

Lu Yuan opened his eyes, and an unrestrained arrogance swept through them like a tempest. "Young Master Qi, your habits aren’t very becoming. I’m not Xun Yu, and I’m not interested in men."

"Ah—"

Xun Qi straightened up, stepping back and bumping into the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Justice.

The Chief of Staff steadied him with one hand, "Young Master Qi, please be careful."

Xun Qi felt as though he had fallen into an icy abyss.

He stared at Lu Yuan in disbelief.

Lu Yuan was...alive?

How was this possible?

If this man was Lu Yuan, then whose corpse had Bai Qingchen and the Escort Agency sent off to Miaojiang?

Could it be...

Meng Qianqian whispered to Lu Yuan, "He seems to have figured it out."

Lu Yuan replied, "A bit too late, though."

"Shufu!"

Zong Zhengxi threw himself into Lu Yuan’s arms, the Emperor’s dignity shattering once more.

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, gently patting his head.

Meng Qianqian: Keep it up, one day you’ll turn your Shufu into Cousin.

The Miao King shoved Shangguan Ling’s Brocade Spring Saber aside, "Still want to fight?"

Shangguan Ling glared angrily, "You’re truly not dead, huh?"

The Spring Breeze Painting is safe!

It’s a rare treasure—who could understand how hard it is to obtain?

Unperturbed, the Chief of Staff asked, "Grand Commander, could you elaborate on what happened? Why were you in the Prime Minister’s Mansion, and how were you drugged?"

Lu Yuan, looking mildly distressed, recalled, "I was captured by Chen Long and dragged into the Prime Minister’s Mansion. I didn’t see who drugged me. When I opened my eyes, it was just now. However, I do remember being taken in Luo San’s courtyard."

The Chief of Staff gestured meaningfully towards some government officers.

Without delay, the officers left.

The Miao King rolled up his sleeves, storming toward Prime Minister Xun. "Prime Minister, what defense do you have now?!"

All eyes turned to Prime Minister Xun.

He touched the spot on his left thumb where his Jade Ring used to be.

Xun Qi snarled, "It’s clear your Governor Mansion set a trap for us!"

They had been ensnared by the Governor Mansion—it was all an elaborate scheme, beginning with Lu Yuan’s supposed death, meticulously designed to entangle the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

"Master Xing! Found it!"

The officers who had gone to search Luo San’s courtyard returned, carrying a small medicine bottle.

"Lady Meng, please examine this," the Chief of Staff said.

Meng Qianqian uncorked the bottle and took a sniff. "Without a doubt, it’s a sedative. If any of you gentlemen don’t believe me, you can hand it over to the Imperial Physician for confirmation."

"Is Imperial Physician Li here by chance?"

The Chief of Staff inquired.

Hiding at the back of the crowd, vainly trying to blend in, Imperial Physician Li reluctantly stepped forward.

The disputes he had with Meng Qianqian during the palace epidemic had left her with a deep impression of him.

Examining the bottle, Imperial Physician Li sighed, "It is indeed a sedative."

Xun Qi gritted his teeth, "My Yifu is innocent! Someone must be framing him!"

"Whether it’s a setup or not, I will investigate thoroughly,"

The Chief of Staff said, gesturing toward Prime Minister Xun with unimpeachable calm, "Prime Minister, please come with us."