Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 452 - 404: Finding a Father for Oneself

Chapter 452: Chapter 404: Finding a Father for Oneself

Lu Yuan furrowed his brows in confusion. "How many times do you plan to use this trick? Finding a father for Tan’er, and now you want to find me one too?"

Meng Qianqian replied reasonably, "This is called ’a unique trick that conquers the world! Cast a wide net, gather plenty of fish, and choose the best!’"

"Hmph."

Lu Yuan snorted lightly.

Yu Zichuan said, "I think it’s feasible."

Lu Yuan coldly retorted, "When adults are talking, children should not interrupt."

Yu Zichuan glanced at Meng Qianqian. "Then isn’t she also a child?"

That final comment about age got swallowed under Lu Yuan’s sharp glare, but his stubborn little expression couldn’t mask his defiance.

Lu Yuan: Another day of wanting to beat Yu Zichuan.

"If you go to the Crown Prince Mansion to claim kinship, do you think the Crown Prince will believe it?"

"Don’t you already have a token of proof?"

"What token?"

Meng Qianqian shot a glance at the brocade bag hanging from his belt.

Lu Yuan’s brows furrowed. "You mean... that Peace Lock?"

"Exactly." Meng Qianqian smiled. "I suspect the Supreme Emperor had this planned from the beginning. He already knew we would accompany Chen Long to seek revenge against the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion. On the surface, he asked you to find the old King Qin, but in reality, he wanted to grant you an identity."

In the matter of dealing with the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, their goal aligned with the Supreme Emperor’s.

"If that’s the case, why didn’t he just tell me directly?"

"Would you have gone if he had told you?"

Lu Yuan was at a loss for words.

Claiming a wild parent like this was something he was absolutely unwilling to do.

Though it seemed like mere speculation, upon closer thought, it made perfect sense.

The Supreme Emperor had always been a cunning old fox. It was entirely possible he had set him up.

While he clearly wanted the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion and the ten great feudal lords dead, he chose not to reveal it and instead provided covert assistance.

This way, if they succeeded, the Supreme Emperor would avenge the humiliation at the border, repay the Shang Family as well as countless soldiers, and eliminate a major threat.

If they failed, the Supreme Emperor could wash his hands of the matter entirely, claiming that the Governor Mansion had acted on its own accord.

"That old fox!"

Lu Yuan couldn’t help but curse aloud.

Meng Qianqian couldn’t suppress her smile, her lips curving upward. "So, it’s decided then?"

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment before saying, "You just said the Supreme Emperor didn’t tell me because he thought I’d refuse to play someone else’s son. But isn’t it possible that he himself wasn’t sure if the token was genuine?"

Meng Qianqian suddenly seemed enlightened. "That’s possible too. Should we take our time to reassess—"

Lu Yuan calmly interrupted, "No need. I like to gamble."

Risk-free matters were dull to him. The uncertainty and danger were precisely what piqued his interest.

Supreme Emperor, have you even accounted for this aspect of my personality?

Lu Yuan spent a thousand gold to unseal the Imperial proclamation.

The guard who had taken Meng Qianqian’s gold gave her a knowing wink and mouthed a name: Assistant Shopkeeper Liu.

Meng Qianqian nodded gratefully.

The three of them returned to the alley.

Lai Fu, spotting Yu Zichuan holding the proclamation, chuckled. "So quick to unseal it? I thought it would take longer!"

"Heading to... what inn again?"

Yu Zichuan forgot and turned to Meng Qianqian.

Lai Fu laughed. "I know! Lin Yue Restaurant. It used to be Lin Yue Inn, but after the proclamation’s preliminary round was set there, they changed the name."

Most likely some inside connection—either tied to the Crown Prince Mansion or the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

The three of them entered the inn.

Meng Qianqian moved to ask the staff about someone, but Lu Yuan stopped her and said to Yu Zichuan, "You go."

Yu Zichuan didn’t want to go.

He wasn’t good at dealing with people. In the past, Shangguan Ling always handled such negotiations.

"Let me," Meng Qianqian said.

Lu Yuan cast a sidelong glance at Yu Zichuan. "Can’t even find someone? What’s the use of keeping you around?"

Yu Zichuan grudgingly went, looking aggrieved.

Meng Qianqian watched his despondent figure vanish and shook her head with a laugh. She turned to Lu Yuan and said, "Can you speak nicely? You’re obviously trying to train him to be self-reliant someday. Why make it sound so harsh?"

Lu Yuan coldly replied, "So you’re admitting that in the past, you only flattered and curried favor with me?"

Meng Qianqian was taken aback.

How did this become about her?

Forget it. Even with ten mouths, she’d never win an argument against him.

Not long after, Yu Zichuan came downstairs. "Found him. He’s upstairs."

The two followed him to the accounting room on the third floor.

As soon as they entered, they saw a middle-aged man tied up tightly, his mouth gagged with cloth, veins bulging on his forehead.

Yu Zichuan introduced him, "Assistant Shopkeeper Liu."

Meng Qianqian: "..."

Lu Yuan clenched his fist. "I told you to find him, not capture him!"

Yu Zichuan retorted, "But he refused to see us, and you insisted on meeting him."

Lu Yuan’s sharp glare was like daggers. "And now you’re the one feeling wronged?"

What was going on lately?

Yu Zichuan was becoming increasingly infuriating.

Lu Yuan coldly ordered, "What are you waiting for? Untie Assistant Shopkeeper Liu!"

His choice of words effectively promoted Assistant Shopkeeper Liu to Shopkeeper Liu.

Meng Qianqian discreetly glanced at the man. He looked furious, as though no mere title would soothe his anger.

Yu Zichuan untied him.

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu immediately opened his mouth to shout for help.

Lu Yuan pulled out a thick stack of silver notes. "My guard acted foolishly and caused you grief, Shopkeeper Liu. Please accept this as a small token of our apology."

"Tch."

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu angrily flicked his sleeve. "Do you think Lin Yue Restaurant is some kind of petty place where you can come and go, catch and release people as you please? Who do you think you are—"

Lu Yuan presented a piece of Blood Jade.

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu’s words abruptly stopped, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly. "Shopkeeper Liu, we’re newcomers to your honorable city. We are unfamiliar with local customs and ask for your forgiveness."

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu cleared his throat, forcing his gaze away from the Blood Jade, though he couldn’t resist stealing several more glances.

Lu Yuan stuffed both the Blood Jade and silver notes into his sleeve.

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu coughed a few more times, putting on an air of solemnity. "Our inn works under orders from the Crown Prince Mansion. There are countless Crown Prince guards watching this place. It’s fortunate for you that I don’t want a scene. With anyone else, one shout and you’d already be pincushions for their arrows."

Meng Qianqian smiled. "That’s why I say we’re fortunate to meet you. It’s truly our good fortune. Besides, we have another piece of such Blood Jade back home—it’s part of a matching pair. Left in a rush today, so the other is still at the house."

Everyone present was sharp enough to catch her implied meaning.

"Well... this is tricky."

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu sighed. "It’s not solely up to me."

Meng Qianqian handed him a hefty money bag. "Please extend a courtesy and treat everyone to drinks."

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu placed the money bag on the table and covered it with a cloth. With a pretentious tone, he asked, "Have you brought the wine?"

Meng Qianqian hurriedly replied, "Ah, it’s still on the carriage. We didn’t know if we’d see you, so we didn’t bring it into the inn. I’ll have someone fetch it now."

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu said nonchalantly, "No need. Come with me!"

Meng Qianqian froze. "Come?"

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu casually replied, "Yes. Weren’t you here to claim kinship at the Crown Prince Mansion? I’m heading there myself and can take you along."

Meng Qianqian blinked. "Wait, how do you know—"

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu sneered. "You’re the thirteenth to say you’re not here for the win but just want to enter the Crown Prince Mansion. The twelve before you all claimed to be the Crown Prince’s lost children."

Meng Qianqian twitched at the corner of her mouth.

Lu Yuan smirked faintly.

Meng Qianqian looked at him sternly. "Did you already guess this?"

Lu Yuan raised a brow. "Yes."

Meng Qianqian blushed. "Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

Lu Yuan curled his lips, his smile slightly mocking. "I wanted to see you make a fool of yourself."

To watch her fail?

Real money had been spent!

Meng Qianqian silently fumed. This was the root of Yu Zichuan’s bad behavior!

Assistant Shopkeeper Liu had already stepped out the door. Seeing the trio still inside, yammering about who-knew-what, he dusted his large sleeves and asked, "Are you coming or not? Let me make it clear—the money you gave won’t be refunded."

Lu Yuan addressed Meng Qianqian. "Let’s go."

Meng Qianqian composed herself. "Are you serious? With so many people claiming kinship, our chances of meeting the Crown Prince are slim to none. We might get kicked out before we even step foot inside."

Lu Yuan chuckled meaningfully. "Who said you have to enter the Crown Prince Mansion to meet the Crown Prince?"

Meng Qianqian stared at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Lu Yuan cupped his hands smugly, a playful smile tugging at his lips. Without his Grand Commander’s title, he no longer had to play the role of the Great Traitor. But it seemed he had no intention to become a proper upstanding man either.

He walked backward toward the window.

Meng Qianqian’s eyes narrowed. "What are you planning?"

Lu Yuan’s lips curved. "Oh, nothing. Just finding myself a father."

Leaning back against the windowsill, he opened the window behind him and tipped himself out.

"Lu—"

Meng Qianqian almost blurted out his name but bit her tongue at the last moment.

She rushed to the window, but it was too late.

Lu Yuan had already "fallen" into what appeared to be a humble carriage. In reality, it was an imperial carriage guarded in secret by eight Imperial Guards.

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