Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 252 - 234 Anxious Lu Yuan

Chapter 252: Chapter 234 Anxious Lu Yuan

On the way back to the main courtyard, Meng Qianqian slapped her own hand: "Serves you right for hugging him recklessly! Serves you right! You really know how to add drama to my life!"

"Alas."

"One misstep leads to another, and the whole game falls apart!"

"If I’d known this would happen, I should never have buttered him up... Look at me now... Even if I jump into the Yellow River, I can’t wash this clean..."

"Miss."

Ban Xia came over, "Why are you still here? The Duchess has been looking for you for a while."

Meng Qianqian looked utterly despairing: "Your Miss is done for!"

Ban Xia gave her a strange look, then reached out to touch her forehead: "You’re not sick, are you? Could it be that your hand is hurting again?"

"My hand doesn’t hurt."

Meng Qianqian, like a soulless puppet, walked back in a daze.

Ban Xia frowned in confusion: "Miss is acting really strange."

Elsewhere, Lu Yuan climbed onto his horse with great cheer. Anyone who didn’t know better would think today was his own wedding.

The Imperial Guard had arrived at the Duke Mansion the night before, sealing off the entire estate with such heavy defenses that even a bird flying past would face the wrath of the guards.

Han Ci was patrolling the entrance. When he spotted Lu Yuan approaching, he quickly stepped forward to salute him: "Grand Commander."

Lu Yuan gave a slight nod.

Han Ci glanced up at him: "The Grand Commander seems quite happy today."

Lu Yuan replied, "The Emperor and Empress are marrying today, a joyous occasion for the entire nation. Naturally, I am pleased."

Han Ci looked skeptical. Weren’t you a treacherous official?

Lu Yuan turned to look behind him and frowned: "Are the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Eunuch not here yet?"

Throughout history, the customs surrounding imperial weddings varied widely. In this dynasty, if the bride wasn’t of court lady origin but was instead entering the Imperial Palace through the traditional Three Letters and Six Rites, the Ministry of Rites would host a title-conferring ceremony before her entrance, with the Chief Eunuch reading the imperial decree aloud.

Han Ci said, "There’s still time before the appointed hour."

Lu Yuan snorted softly.

Han Ci was puzzled. Was the Grand Commander... dissatisfied with how slow this ceremony was?

It made sense. The Grand Commander had always been disgusted by formalities. If the Supreme Emperor hadn’t personally decreed him to oversee the security of the imperial wedding, Lu Yuan probably wouldn’t have even bothered to pass by the Duke Mansion’s gates.

Lu Yuan dismounted and handed the reins to Han Ci’s trusted aide.

After that, he idly waited for the ceremony to begin.

It was unclear how much time passed before the Ministry of Rites officials, leading a grand procession, finally arrived with their ceremonial entourage.

The Imperial Eunuch overseeing the decree was Chief Qin, Xiao Dazi’s foster father.

Just as the title-conferring ceremony was about to begin, a sudden scream rang out from Yao Qingluan’s courtyard.

Lu Yuan frowned: "Qing Shuang."

From the shadows, Qing Shuang immediately used her Qinggong skills to enter Yao Qingluan’s courtyard.

Moments later, she came back to report in a soft voice: "Miss Yao has disappeared."

Standing nearby, Han Ci felt his chest tighten upon hearing this. In a hushed tone, he muttered, "The Imperial Guard is stationed at every corner; how could a living person disappear?"

Lu Yuan scanned the officials, servants, and family members present with a calm gaze: "Qing Shuang, you’ll put on the Empress’s attire. The ceremony will carry on as planned."

"Understood."

Qing Shuang entered the courtyard.

Han Ci said, "I’ll send people to search the estate."

Lu Yuan replied coolly, "She’s no longer in the estate."

"Then..."

"I’ll step out for a while. You go warn the Duke and Duchess not to spill the news."

"Understood!"

Han Ci accepted the orders.

Lu Yuan left the Duke Mansion with Yu Zichuan in tow.

Yu Zichuan asked, "How are we supposed to search for her in such a vast area?"

"Naturally, I’ve made preparations in advance."

Lu Yuan said this as he pulled a bone whistle from within his wide sleeve and blew into it forcefully.

Accompanied by the piercing cry of an eagle slicing through the skies, the Miao King’s prized falcon, the Haidongqing, soared into the clouds. Its sharp eyes rapidly scanned the vicinity of the Duke Mansion, searching for its new "prey" with astonishing precision.

Yu Zichuan couldn’t hide the envy in his gaze.

He wanted one too.

"Does it recognize Yao Qingluan?"

Yu Zichuan asked.

Lu Yuan smirked: "It doesn’t recognize Yao Qingluan, but it does recognize the person who abducted her."

Yu Zichuan: "Who is it?"

Lu Yuan: "You’ll find out soon enough."

Yu Zichuan: He hated suspense.

The Haidongqing circled the skies less than three times before suddenly diving toward a small alley!

Lu Yuan and Yu Zichuan seamlessly split up and blocked off the alley from both ends.

The alley was empty.

The Haidongqing perched motionlessly on a branch.

Lu Yuan sneered: "Come out, Chen Long."

Yu Zichuan furrowed his brows: "It’s him?"

Chen Long leaped down from the treetop, turning towards Lu Yuan: "How did you know it was me?"

Lu Yuan crossed his arms with a faint smile at his lips: "Who else but you could slip under Si Snake’s radar and abduct someone right under the eyes of so many Imperial Guards? From the night Meng Xiaojiu suggested sending Si Snake to protect Miss Yao, you must have been staying within the Duke Mansion. No wonder you haven’t returned to the Governor Mansion these past few days."

"You should leave. I don’t want to fight you."

"Hand over the Empress."

"Impossible."

Lu Yuan’s smile didn’t falter: "You’re the Prime Minister’s adopted son. Interfering with this wedding, it seems the Chu Family case really does have ties to the Prime Minister."

Chen Long didn’t deny it: "Aren’t you also the Prime Minister’s adopted son?"

Lu Yuan shrugged: "I was forced into it. What’s your reason? Surely not voluntary?"

Chen Long said, "That’s none of your business."

Lu Yuan raised a brow: "I once thought you stayed by the Prime Minister’s side to investigate the Chu Family case and collect evidence of his crimes. But today’s actions have thoroughly confused me."

Chen Long replied sharply: "The Prime Minister cannot fall."

Lu Yuan: "Oh? Do you have some dirt on you that he’s using to control you?"

Chen Long didn’t answer: "In any case, today I won’t let you take the Empress."

Lu Yuan understood: "You yourself called her the Empress. As such, I must take her with me."

Chen Long unsheathed the heavy sword strapped to his back, his gaze fierce as he said: "You’re welcome to try."

"A fine sword." Lu Yuan’s eyes swept over it, landing on a familiar name engraved on the blade. His lips curved slightly. "But who said I was going to fight you?"

Chen Long stared at Lu Yuan in confusion.

Lu Yuan: "Ruan Qing, Ruan Ling."

The Miao King’s trusted guards descended from the skies, blocking Chen Long’s escape.

Lu Yuan strolled casually into the courtyard and looked at the wide-eyed, terrified Yao Qingluan: "Empress, it’s time to enter the palace."

-

Before the end of the title-conferring ceremony, Yao Qingluan was quietly carried back into the Duke Mansion by Yu Zichuan. Working in seamless coordination with Han Ci, her identity was swapped back with Qing Shuang’s.

Yu Zichuan grumbled: "Why did I have to carry her? Can’t she walk herself?"

Lu Yuan: "Too slow."

Yu Zichuan sulked: "It’s not your wedding. Why so urgent?"

Lu Yuan stood in the courtyard and waved to the Minister of Rites: "How much longer?"

The Minister of Rites opened the ceremonial handbook and meticulously reviewed the proceedings before replying with a smile: "Next, we read out the imperial decree, followed by the officials’ homage, starting with—"

Lu Yuan clasped his hands behind his back: "Skip it."

The Minister of Rites looked at him, baffled: "What?"

Lu Yuan cast a disdainful glance at the thick decree in his hands and snorted coldly: "Formalities! That decree is so lengthy, if you read it all, we’ll miss the auspicious hour. Are you planning to make Your Majesty wait all night? Hurry up and pay respect to the Empress, then escort her into the palace!"

"But..."

The Minister of Rites was completely perplexed, exchanging uncertain glances with the other officials.

Did the Grand Commander have some urgent matter to attend to tonight?