Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 332 - 309 Joyous Occasion Approaching

"Who eloped with someone?"

The Supreme Emperor asked skeptically.

Lu the guard replied, "Her Highness, the Princess."

The Supreme Emperor: "Which princess?"

Lu the guard hesitated for a moment: "Princess Wanping."

The Supreme Emperor continued, "With Lu Yuan?"

Three consecutive questions left Lu the guard utterly baffled.

Was the Supreme Emperor shocked to the point of confusion? How did Lu the Grand Commander get involved in this?

Eunuch Fu muttered under his breath, "So you’re aware of the Princess’s feelings toward Lu Yuan, huh..."

This was precisely why Meng Qianqian was tasked with finding a Prince Consort for Princess Wanping, because anyone else might feign diligence but wouldn’t seriously trouble themselves over such a thankless task.

Only Meng Qianqian would sincerely hope Princess Wanping gets married as soon as possible.

Ah, wisdom comes with age. I had underestimated him before.

"Reporting to the Supreme Emperor, it’s not Lu the Grand Commander."

Lu the guard answered.

The Supreme Emperor asked in puzzlement, "Then who? Could she possibly elope with another man?"

Lu the guard thought: Well, she certainly wouldn’t elope with Lu the Grand Commander.

He was merely an Imperial Palace guard, unaware of the intricate details or his master’s sentiments. He decided not to speculate further and reported truthfully: "It’s the Rooster of the Twelve Guards."

The Supreme Emperor: "..."

Eunuch Fu nearly dropped his jaw. A princess and one of the Twelve Guards were practically worlds apart. If there were any connection at all, it would have to be to the Prime Minister’s newly adopted son—Chen Long.

However, not long ago, Princess Wanping lost a bet and handed over Chen Long to Meng Qianqian.

"Are you sure it’s the Rooster, not Chen Long?"

Eunuch Fu questioned.

Lu the guard responded to Eunuch Fu, "Eunuch Fu, are you doubting my intelligence? Princess Wanping and the Rooster Guard were seen together in the hunting grounds by countless soldiers—Imperial Guard, Jinyi Guard, Imperial Guard—they all saw it. Later that night, the two of them left the grounds together, heading south, leaving under the cover of darkness."

Eunuch Fu stammered, "Together, leaving at night... This really does sound like elopement."

The Supreme Emperor’s expression darkened: "Brazen! Who dares abduct an Imperial Family princess? This is sheer audacity—I suppose he’s tired of living!"

Eunuch Fu asked, "Should we send soldiers to rescue the Princess then?"

The Supreme Emperor sighed, "Forget it. Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog; marry a bench, drag it along. She’s always been willful. Once she’s set her mind on something, even ten oxen can’t pull her back. If she’d rather elope just to be with him, and I forcibly break them apart, wouldn’t that strain the father-daughter bond?"

Eunuch Fu opened his mouth: "So the Supreme Emperor means to—"

The Supreme Emperor waved his hand: "Have the Astronomical Bureau pick a date and arrange a wedding for my daughter."

Eunuch Fu’s mouth twitched: Are you being a little too hasty...

Lu the guard asked, "Should we summon the Miao King then?"

"Summon!" The Supreme Emperor picked up a white stone from his chess jar, "One matter doesn’t affect another. The Miao King flaunted the court’s laws, and Imperial Censor Wang must reprimand him thoroughly."

Eunuch Fu thought: So you’re just passing the mess to Imperial Censor Wang, huh.

-

During this autumn hunting expedition, the Imperial Guard emerged victorious, and the Miao King received the title of Military General.

Granted, the Miao King ultimately couldn’t sell off the title of Military General—mainly because no one dared to buy it.

Nonetheless, he successfully amassed a fortune through his tiger petting escapades.

So it wasn’t all for nothing.

Zong Zhengxi gained quite a bit too.

While at the Imperial Palace, Lu Yuan not only pushed him to study hard but didn’t slack off on horsemanship and archery training either. He often complained that Lu Yuan was too harsh on him.

Only now did he understand Lu Yuan’s earnest care.

Like a child yearning to show off in front of a parent, he paraded all his hunted game before Lu Yuan.

"Lu Yuan, am I impressive or not?"

Quick, praise me! Praise me!

Then his hunted game was immediately snatched away by the Miao King’s ferocious tiger.

Zong Zhengxi: "...!!"

The army marched back to the capital first, while the aristocratic youths continued hunting in the grounds for a few more days.

By the day they returned to the capital, Princess Wanping and Ji Li still hadn’t come back.

"They really didn’t elope, did they?"

Bai Yuwei asked curiously.

Zong Zhengxi replied solemnly: "What are you thinking? My royal sister would never elope with anyone! The Rooster Guard was just accompanying her on her hunt!"

Tan’er pointed to the Tiger King sunning itself in the courtyard, belly exposed: "Hunt what? That ferocious tiger over there maybe?"

Zong Zhengxi said sternly, "Anyway, the two of them must be innocent!"

Tan’er shook his head exaggeratedly: "My mom says, when a man and a woman spend a night alone together, there’s only one clean scenario!"

Zong Zhengxi hurriedly asked, "What scenario?"

Tan’er raised an eyebrow: "The man dies!"

Zong Zhengxi: "..."

-

A small commotion occurred in the East Courtyard just before departure.

Bao Shu had another argument with Lu Yuan.

The cause? Bao Shu wanted to bring back all the game she caught—wild rabbits, pheasants, deer, bamboo rats... plus three wolf pups, totaling dozens.

Lu Yuan naturally opposed: "At most, take two wild rabbits."

Bao Shu: "I want them all!"

Lu Yuan: "Then you can’t bring any of them."

Bao Shu went to complain to the Miao King.

Surprisingly, the Miao King didn’t take her side this time. Instead, he said earnestly: "Treasure Piggy, listen to your father. Just bring the two little rabbits; Grandpa will help you pack!"

He grabbed a burlap sack and went to the rear courtyard to pick rabbits.

Meanwhile, Wu Ge’er and the others loaded the luggage onto the carriage in succession.

The Miao King lugged the burlap sack over, ready to board the carriage.

Lu Yuan stood outside the carriage and asked the Miao King, "What’s in the sack?"

The Miao King answered, "Rabbits, of course!"

Lu Yuan asked suspiciously, "Really?"

The Miao King countered earnestly, "What else could it be?"

Lu Yuan said coolly, "Take them out."

The Miao King grumbled, "Not necessary, right..."

Lu Yuan stared at him firmly.

"Alright, alright, just one."

The Miao King pulled a wolf pup out of the burlap sack. "Fine, I won’t take it. Happy now?"

Lu Yuan: "There’s more."

The Miao King: "There really isn’t!"

Lu Yuan’s gaze remained unchanged.

Defeated, the Miao King pulled out another wolf pup, then turned the sack inside out for Lu Yuan to check: "See? Empty!"

Lu Yuan reached into the Miao King’s loose sleeves and shook them out.

A third wolf pup fell to the ground.

Lu Yuan then opened the Miao King’s large chest. As expected, a ferocious tiger stared blankly back at Lu Yuan.

The man and tiger locked eyes.

Lu Yuan instructed Yu Zichuan to return the three wolf pups to their pack and release the tiger back into the wild.

On the way back to the capital, Zong Zhengxi rode in the Grand Commander’s carriage.

After traveling a while, autumn rain suddenly began to fall.

The group stopped at a nearby post station to seek shelter.

Once the rain ended, they resumed their journey.

But not long after, Meng Qianqian noticed a wolf pup struggling to keep up behind the carriage.

She quickly got off the carriage and scooped up the soaking wet wolf pup.

It had chased after them the entire way, its little paws bloodied and raw.

"Do you want to come with us?"

Raising the wolf pup, Meng Qianqian recognized it as the one who had bitten Zong Zhengxi. It had a tuft of milky white fur sticking up on its head, making it easily identifiable.

Meng Qianqian brought the wolf pup onto the carriage.

Bao Shu wanted to take it, but Lu Yuan refused.

Since Meng Qianqian brought it aboard, Lu Yuan kept silent.

The wolf pup looked around, seemingly searching for something.

"Are you looking for Bao Shu?"

Meng Qianqian dried the wolf pup and laid it beside the sleeping Bao Shu.

The wolf pup licked Bao Shu’s face, jumped down, and walked over to Zong Zhengxi’s feet.

Zong Zhengxi was dozing against the carriage wall when he suddenly felt warmth on his foot.

The wolf pup was peeing on his Dragon Boots!!!