Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 64: The Grand Commander is Too Arrogant

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Grand Commander is Too Arrogant

Imperial Study Room.

Lu Lingxiao and Lin Wan’er bowed before the young Emperor clad in a bright yellow dragon robe.

The young Emperor, seated on his chair, said to the two, "General Lu and Miss Lin, you may rise."

Lu Lingxiao assisted Lin Wan’er to her feet.

Afterward, he and Lin Wan’er performed a respectful bow to the Minister of War and General Han, who were accompanying the Emperor.

The two nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Lu Lingxiao was surprised to see General Han in the Imperial Study Room. After all, they had been deliberating border matters all night at the Beiliang Army Camp, and when he had left, General Han had clearly retired in his tent to rest.

It seemed that after his departure, urgent news must have arrived concerning the border.

Sure enough, as soon as the thought crossed his mind, the young Emperor spoke, "I urgently summoned the two of you to the palace to discuss a matter of great importance. Li Quan."

The attendant eunuch, Li Quan, approached Lin Wan’er with a painted portrait. "Miss Lin, do you recognize this person?"

Lin Wan’er examined it carefully and then nodded, writing on paper: I know him. He came to my house looking for my father, and my father asked me to call him Uncle Li.

Li Quan turned back to look at the young Emperor.

General Han exchanged a knowing glance with the Minister of War.

The young Emperor said, "This person’s name is Li Haiya, one of the Yin Hu Guard among the Twelve Guards. He has been captured by the Beiliang forces and is currently imprisoned outside the Yumen Pass at their military camp. His Mystic Iron Order has also fallen into Beiliang hands. Our spy within their camp created this portrait and made a copy of his token. Since you recognize him and accurately gave his surname, he should indeed be the true Yin Hu. Xiao Li, show Miss Lin the token imprint as well."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Li Quan presented the token imprint to Lin Wan’er.

Lin Wan’er wrote: The markings and size are identical to the Mystic Iron Order my father left behind. The only difference is that one has the character for Shen Hou (Monkey), and the other has Yin Hu (Tiger).

The young Emperor’s expression turned serious as he said, "The Beiliang forces have captured Yin Hu and will surely do everything they can to force him to reveal the whereabouts of the Black Armor Guards. We cannot allow Beiliang to acquire the Black Armor Guards."

Lu Lingxiao asked doubtfully, "The Black Armor Guards belong to Chu Grand Marshal’s command. Does Beiliang truly believe they can subjugate the Black Armor Guards?"

The Minister of War sighed and said, "General Lu, you may not be aware, but although Chu Grand Marshal has fallen, he left behind something of great value, which disappeared without a trace. We suspect that the Black Armor Guards might be safeguarding it."

Lu Lingxiao asked, "What is this item?"

The Minister of War looked conflicted as he said, "The legacy of the Black Armor Guards. With it, one could train another division of Black Armor Guards."

The young Emperor addressed Lu Lingxiao, "So, General Lu, do you understand the importance of rescuing Yin Hu now?"

Not just that—Lu Lingxiao suddenly understood why His Majesty placed such importance on Lin Wan’er.

Lu Lingxiao lifted the hem of his robe, dropped to one knee, and said, "Your servant is willing to go to the border and rescue the Yin Hu Guard!"

General Han also dropped to one knee: "Your Majesty, I am willing to join him!"

The young Emperor nodded with satisfaction. "The Beiliang forces remain ambitious and must be confronted with resolve. Naturally, I need General Han to oversee matters at the border. Besides rescuing Yin Hu, the case of the missing thousand envoys from Feng County must also be solved quickly, as we cannot let this issue become an excuse for Beiliang to declare war."

General Han said, "I accept the command!"

The Minister of War, seeing that His Majesty’s orders had been delivered, said to the young Emperor, "We will take our leave now."

The young Emperor glanced at Lu Lingxiao and said, "My mother has been thinking of Miss Lin a lot these past few days. Li Quan, escort Miss Lin to my mother’s palace for a visit. General Lu, please wait a moment in the Imperial Study Room."

Lu Lingxiao replied, "Understood."

After the others left the Imperial Study Room, the young Emperor’s demeanor grew stern as he said to Lu Lingxiao, "General Lu, I need you to accomplish something for me at Yumen Pass."

Leaving the palace, Lu Lingxiao and Lin Wan’er walked side by side along the quiet palace path.

Recently, Lu Lingxiao had become much more reserved, not even asking Lin Wan’er how she got along with Consort Li.

Lin Wan’er gently tugged his hand and gestured: His Majesty left you behind. Did he give you a special mission?

Consort Li saw me as a mere pretense. When I arrived at Changchun Palace, she seemed quite surprised.

Lin Wan’er lowered her gaze and signed: Forget it, I shouldn’t ask. My martial arts have been crippled, my voice poisoned into silence—I wouldn’t be able to help you even if I knew.

Her words stirred a pang of guilt deep within Lu Lingxiao.

Lu Lingxiao quickly said, "I was thinking about something earlier. His Majesty did indeed assign me a secret mission—to go to the border and locate Chu Grand Marshal’s legacy. If I can find it, it will be a great achievement."

Lin Wan’er halted, her eyes filled with hope as she looked at him: If the General achieves great merit, would he ask His Majesty’s permission to marry Wan’er?

...

On the way back, Lu Lingxiao thought about Meng Qianqian, who had appeared near Zhuque Avenue, and instructed the coachman, "Let’s go take a look over there."

Shen Yan snatched the whip from the coachman and struck the horse: "Look at what? Your father’s calling you to come home!"

Lu Lingxiao: "...!!"

Back at Songzhu Courtyard, Lu Lingxiao stormed into the study, shouting anyone who knocked on the door away.

When the door was knocked on again, he finally roared in exasperation, "Didn’t I tell you to leave?!"

Lu Xingzhou pushed open the door.

"You worthless servant!"

Just as Lu Lingxiao was about to let loose, his expression immediately shifted upon seeing his father. He stood up abruptly from the chair and saluted, "Father!"

Lu Xingzhou frowned slightly. "Didn’t I tell you to come home and find me?"

"Your father’s calling you to come home!"

Shen Yan’s words flashed through his mind, and Lu Lingxiao furrowed his brow. That Shen Yan—couldn’t he just explain properly?

"Father, please sit."

Lu Lingxiao offered the seat.

Lu Xingzhou sat down and asked, "What did His Majesty say to you?"

Lu Lingxiao recounted the conversation in the Imperial Study Room in great detail: "With General Han’s assistance, rescuing Yin Hu should not be difficult; the challenge lies in finding Chu Grand Marshal’s legacy."

Lu Xingzhou said solemnly, "The mission to rescue Yin Hu may face unforeseen obstacles."

Lu Lingxiao asked curiously, "What makes Father say so?"

Lu Xingzhou replied, "You’ve been confined to your study all afternoon, so you likely haven’t heard about the shocking event that just occurred on Zhuque Avenue—General Han was ambushed and assassinated. His life hangs in the balance. The commander of the border mission may have to be replaced."

Sure enough, not long afterward, an imperial decree arrived—General Han was grievously injured and unconscious. Yet, given the urgency of military matters, His Majesty decided to entrust the Grand Commander to temporarily assume General Han’s duties, personally leading the mission to Yumen Pass to resolve the Beiliang threat.

Lu Xingzhou said, "The ambush occurred near the Governor Mansion. This Grand Commander has finally made his move on military authority."

Lu Lingxiao clenched his fist tightly. "Attacking someone right at their own doorstep—that’s too blatant! Doesn’t he fear being suspected?"

Lu Xingzhou said calmly, "He wants the entire world to suspect him but also to be powerless against him."

"Despicable!"

Lu Xingzhou, ever calculating, said, "Don’t rush. Here in the Capital City, he’s the one calling the shots. But at the border, he’ll be like a tiger with its fangs pulled. Lingxiao, this is your golden chance to earn merit."

Lu Lingxiao paused, startled, "Father, are you suggesting—"

Lu Xingzhou took a sip of tea and said coldly, "Don’t let Lu Yuan return alive."

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