Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 394 - 365: The Twins Have Arrived_2

Furthermore, there is another reason: the matter cannot appear to be too easily resolved in the eyes of the Supreme Emperor; otherwise, it would seem trivial.

The task must be accomplished, and the credit taken, with grandeur.

The Supreme Emperor gave Lu Yuan a deep look. "How confident are you?"

Lu Yuan: "Seventy percent."

If someone else said that, the Supreme Emperor might think they were making wild claims. But Lu Yuan had achieved a stunning victory in Beiliang on his first campaign, and his capabilities were beyond doubt.

A man like Lu Yuan reminded the Supreme Emperor of someone.

But then he dismissed the thought. Lu Yuan was from Miaojiang — how could he have any relation to that person?

Shaking his head, the Supreme Emperor asked Lu Yuan again, "The Ten Lords appear submissive on the surface but are secretly conspiring with Xun Xiuyuan. Last time, you mentioned Chen Long is the princely heir of Loulan. Can he truly resolve the calamity of the Lords?"

Of course not.

The Lords’ threat lies in the territories. Unless their fiefs are entirely reassigned, it is impossible for them to fully submit to the court.

But Lu Yuan wouldn’t say that. Without such assurances, how would the Supreme Emperor grant clemency to Chen Long?

The Lords had to be killed, but the brother-in-law had to be saved.

Lu Yuan remained unruffled as he replied, "The Loulan King leads the Ten Lords. If we assist Chen Long in reclaiming the Loulan throne, the calamity of the Lords can naturally be resolved."

The Supreme Emperor paused, gazing out at the endless snowy landscape. "Kill the Ten Lords."

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

The old man has a pitch-black heart.

As it happened, he and Meng Xiaojiu had the very same intention.

"By the way, there’s one more thing."

The Supreme Emperor asked skeptically, "Prime Minister Xun has six adopted sons. Of you few, I’ve already been made aware. Why haven’t Xun Yi and Xun Wu made an appearance all along? What’s the reason?"

Lu Yuan replied, "Take Xun Wu first. He’s been conducting trade across nations, providing wealth and gathering intelligence for Prime Minister Xun. As someone so informed, it’s impossible for him not to know the Prime Minister’s current predicament. Either he’s dead, or he’s betrayed him."

"As for Xun Yi, we’ve never met him. I suspect he is either not from Great Zhou or perhaps doesn’t exist at all."

"In any case, since they didn’t surface during Prime Minister Xun’s moment of greatest peril, it’s unlikely they’ll reemerge for his sake."

The Supreme Emperor was somewhat reassured by these words.

When the two returned to the East Hall, Eunuch Fu noticed that the Supreme Emperor’s brow no longer carried its heavy worry; his entire demeanor had lightened considerably.

It seemed that the Supreme Emperor’s concerns had been alleviated by the Grand Commander Lu.

This young couple, one being the Supreme Emperor’s source of joy and the other his strategist, both were indispensable!

The Supreme Emperor, in high spirits, turned his head, only for his mood to collapse: "What are you doing?" freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Lu Yuan returned the horsetail whisk to Eunuch Fu, then leaned over to scoop a sleeping Meng Qianqian into his arms. "Taking my wife home."

The Supreme Emperor: "Wait until the snow stops."

Lu Yuan: "It stopped."

The Supreme Emperor glanced at the icy, snow-covered courtyard and, indeed, it was no longer snowing.

"Look at how impatient you are!"

Now the Supreme Emperor was finding Lu Yuan increasingly irksome. No wonder the Miao King always scolded Lu Yuan for being a brat. Wasn’t that exactly what he was?

Wrapping Meng Qianqian tightly in his cloak, Lu Yuan coldly remarked, "If you’re lonely, seek out your own wife. With all the beauties in the Supreme Emperor’s harem, you could have a different one each day. Why monopolize my wife?"

The Supreme Emperor snatched the horsetail whisk from Eunuch Fu in fury and chased Lu Yuan out of the hall.

-

The sudden upheaval at the Prime Minister’s Mansion spread throughout the Capital City within a single day.

At first, the townsfolk were skeptical. Then, when the Ministry of Justice plastered the streets with public reports detailing Prime Minister Xun’s extensive crimes, they began to believe.

Raising private armies, colluding with lords, plotting rebellion—such charges felt distant to the ordinary people.

All they craved was basic subsistence. Who ruled the land or who sat the throne made little difference to them.

But upon reading the end of the report, revealing how Prime Minister Xun had secretly stolen tax funds amounting to ten taels per household—

Ten taels!

The commoners’ fury ignited in an instant—

Master Hu stood dumbfounded as he watched the mob storming the Ministry of Justice, trying to drag Xun Yu out of his cell to beat him to death. "The Grand Commander’s move really worked. Now, anyone speaking a word in defense of the Prime Minister might get torn apart by this enraged crowd."

The evidence had been submitted, and those who needed to die had been dealt with.

Matters of aftermath and care for the people were no longer the responsibility of the Governor Mansion.

One couldn’t shoulder everything alone—others in the court had to have room to act, too.

Qianqian, meanwhile, bought paper money and went to the mountain behind the Governor Mansion to hold a memorial for the deceased of Prince Chu Mansion and the Shang Family, hoping to bring solace to their spirits above.

Sometimes she found herself thinking, why was she reborn?

Now she understood. She had returned with a mission of vengeance.

Kneeling before the offerings, Meng Qianqian took out a ledger from her bosom and struck out Prime Minister Xun’s name.

"Father, Mother, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, Fifth Uncle... Little Seven, rest assured. I will not let any of those who harmed you escape."

The night was silent and still.

A shadow stood behind an artificial rock, gazing intently at Meng Qianqian’s figure.

Only after she left did he bring forth his own prepared incense, candles, and paper money to pay respects to those Qianqian had mourned.

-

That month, the Capital City was in turmoil.

The incident concerning Prime Minister Xun caused an immense uproar. Although the Prime Minister’s Mansion had been confiscated, many citizens still crowded its gates daily, cursing furiously.

Each day, some were trampled in the chaos.

Meng Qianqian had no idea how many injured she’d treated at the Ministry of Justice.

That day, as night fell, she returned home after another medical visit to the Ministry.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she found it eerily empty—there wasn’t a single human figure in sight.

"Strange, where did everyone go?"

No sooner had Meng Qianqian spoken than a familiar, cheerful voice sounded behind her: "Granddaughter-in-law! You’re back!"

"Grandfather?"

Meng Qianqian’s eyes lit up as she turned toward the doorway.

The Miao King, covered in travel dust, stepped into the courtyard. "Granddaughter-in-law, look who I brought with me!"