Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 226 - 210: Do You Know Who I Am?

Chapter 226: Chapter 210: Do You Know Who I Am?

Xun Yu asked the Miaojiang guard, "How was the Miao King dressed when he left?"

The Miaojiang Guard Commander shook his head, "Not sure. The Miao King only said he’d stroll around the Capital City alone and told us not to follow. No one saw him when he left."

Bai Yuwei sighed, "Why is he still like this? Always going out alone, leaving me and my brother searching everywhere but finding nothing."

Xun Yu paused for a moment and spoke gently, "It sounds like the Miao King is used to coming and going as he pleases."

Bai Yuwei replied, "Exactly, his movements are so secretive that no one can track him."

Xun Yu fell silent.

The old farmer they encountered halfway looked like just an ordinary peasant and didn’t seem like a martial artist at all.

But Xun Yu, being a cautious person, went to the local station master, requested a carrier pigeon, and sent a letter to the Prime Minister’s Mansion, asking them to look into the old farmer’s whereabouts.

"Everyone, since the Miao King has entered the Capital, why don’t you all join Miss Bai and me and head to the Prime Minister’s Mansion together?"

Xun Yu sincerely invited the Miaojiang guards to the mansion.

The Miaojiang Guard Commander replied, "The Miao King has ordered that we must not reside in any mansions without permission. Please forgive us, Princely Heir Xun."

Xun Yu looked at Bai Yuwei, but she seemed completely unsurprised by their decision and showed no sign of trying to persuade them.

This revealed one thing—the Miao King held absolute authority in Miaojiang. No one, not even his granddaughter, would question any of his orders or decisions.

Bai Yuwei said to the Guard Commander, "Once I find my grandfather, I’ll send someone to fetch you!"

The Guard Commander responded, "Understood."

On the way back to the Capital City, Xun Yu felt a lingering sense of unease.

Bai Yuwei, focused on finding her grandfather, didn’t notice Xun Yu’s unusual mood.

Xun Yu suddenly thought of Meng Qianqian; if she were here, she would have already seen through his thoughts.

The Miao King’s granddaughter was clearly well-protected.

But this also showed just how doting the Miao King was toward Bai Yuwei.

So, even if he made a slight mistake, surely the Miao King would overlook it for Bai Yuwei’s sake, right?

"Miss Bai."

Xun Yu spoke softly.

Bai Yuwei took back her gaze, which had been looking outside, "Princely Heir Xun?"

Xun Yu smiled, "It’s been so hot along the way, I think I’ve been hit by some heatstroke. My head’s feeling a bit dizzy. If this causes me to miss meeting the Miao King, do you think the elder would be displeased?"

Bai Yuwei responded firmly, "My grandfather is the most generous person. He won’t hold it against you!"

Xun Yu said, "I thought the Miao King might be quite strict."

Bai Yuwei pondered for a moment and said, "He’s strict with my brother, but he’s never even spoken harshly to me."

He was strict with Bai Qingchen because he was the future Young Master of Miaojiang.

It seemed there was no mistaking who the successor of Miaojiang would be.

Xun Yu’s expression eased slightly.

The situation wasn’t as bad as he had imagined.

-

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan, Zong Zhengxi, and the old farmer entered the Capital City.

The three of them found a restaurant that appeared to be luxurious and high-class.

Unexpectedly, before they could step inside, the waiter unceremoniously drove them away.

"Where did you beggars come from? Shoo, shoo, shoo!"

Zong Zhengxi was furious, "We are not beggars!"

For a dignified ruler of a nation to be humiliated like this—preposterous!

The waiter rolled up his sleeves, "If you don’t leave, I’m going to throw you out myself!"

"How dare you? I—!"

Lu Yuan clamped a hand over his mouth, "Let’s go."

"Mmmph! Mmmph!"

Zong Zhengxi flailed his arms in protest.

It wasn’t until they’d walked far away that Lu Yuan let go of him.

Zong Zhengxi bristled, "Why did you stop me?"

Lu Yuan gave him an oblique glance.

Zong Zhengxi suddenly realized how close he’d come to letting something slip. He pouted indignantly, "Do we really look like beggars?"

Lu Yuan replied, "What do you think?"

Among the three of them, one was an old farmer, one wore coarse laborer’s clothes and straw sandals, and while Zong Zhengxi had changed back into his imperial robes, rolling around in the fields had left him covered in dirt with shredded sleeves.

Out of all of them, he looked the most like a beggar.

The old farmer waved his straw hat, "Ah, the Capital City is so big. It’s not like there’s only one restaurant. Let’s try somewhere else!"

The three of them tried several more places until one finally let them in, though they were given the furthest table in a steaming hot corner by the kitchen.

Zong Zhengxi was quite displeased, "What’s the meaning of this?"

The old farmer chuckled, "As long as the food’s good, it doesn’t matter where we sit! Waiter! Serve us your best dishes!"

The waiter eyed them skeptically, "Do you have silver?"

The old farmer tossed him a silver ingot.

The waiter bit it to test its authenticity before his attitude instantly shifted, "Please wait here, sirs. The dishes will be right out!"

Not long after, a feast of braised pork knuckle, steamed bass, chicken with mushrooms, crispy roast goose... an entire table of exquisite dishes was brought out.

The waiter beamed, "Enjoy your meal!"

Zong Zhengxi swallowed hard but didn’t immediately start eating.

At the Imperial Palace, food was always tested for poison first. It was a rule, one that was ingrained in him.

The old farmer raised an eyebrow, "If no one’s eating, I’ll start!"

He picked up a piece of tender, glutinous pork skin, "Delicious!"

Then grabbed a chicken wing, "Satisfying!"

Lu Yuan also picked up some food and tried it before saying to Zong Zhengxi, "Go ahead."

Zong Zhengxi dove in! He was starving and felt like he could eat an entire ox.

The old farmer said sagely, "Young man, slow down."

Zong Zhengxi glanced at the three empty bowls near the old farmer, thinking, *You’ve already eaten three bowls of rice—how can you tell me to slow down?*

After the three had eaten their fill, the waiter approached with a smile, "Gentlemen, the total is 213 taels."

The old farmer asked, "What do you mean, 213 taels?"

The waiter replied, "The cost of the meal, of course."

The old farmer said, "I already paid!"

The waiter looked confused, "When did you pay?"

The old farmer pointed at his pouch, "The silver ingot!"

The waiter froze, "That... wasn’t that a tip for me?"

The old farmer boldly declared, "Who said that was a tip? That’s the payment for the meal!"

The waiter’s face darkened instantly, "Are you joking with me? You think five taels of silver can cover a full banquet?"

The old farmer crossed his legs, "No matter what, I paid!"

The waiter rolled up his sleeves, gritting his teeth, "So you’re not paying, huh?"

Lu Yuan replied coolly, "Go to the Governor Mansion; someone will settle the bill for you."

The waiter sneered, "The Governor Mansion? Do you think you’re the Grand Commander?"

Zong Zhengxi opened his mouth, "Or you could go to the Imperial Palace!"

The waiter looked even more disdainful, "The Imperial Palace? Do you think you’re the Emperor?"

Just as the old farmer was about to speak, the waiter snapped, "I’m warning you, if you don’t pay, none of you are leaving!"

Zong Zhengxi frowned, unsure of what to do.

The old farmer looked utterly unfazed, like a dead pig unbothered by boiling water.

Lu Yuan stood up calmly and said to the waiter, "Do you know who I am?"