Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 348 - 323 All Family Members Join the Battle_3

Liu Qingyun said, "Xun Qi, are you trying to stall for time so Chen Long can move my son somewhere else? Do you think I’m that foolish to let my son disappear before my eyes time and time again? Let me tell you, today, I’m determined to search your Prime Minister’s Mansion!"

Determined to search... Xun Qi narrowed his eyes slightly.

The Miao King and Liu Qingyun are using Lu Yuan and Chen Long as pretexts; their true aim is to search the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Now that Chen Long is a fugitive, capturing Chen Long would confirm the crime of harboring him within the mansion.

Lu Yuan, you truly are cunning, even thinking of such circuitous methods.

But have you calculated whether I’d allow your grandfather and mother into the mansion?

Xun Qi let out a cold laugh and said firmly, "Without a search warrant, no one has the authority to search the Prime Minister’s Mansion!"

Just as his words settled, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice arrived with a grand entourage of officials at the mansion.

The Vice Minister dismounted his horse, looked around, and asked, "The Ministry of Justice received a report that the fugitive Chen Long, who escaped prison a few days ago, is hiding in the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Who filed this report?"

The Miao King swaggered forward: "Me!"

The Vice Minister asked the Miao King, "Do you have evidence?"

The Miao King replied with conviction, "I saw it with my own eyes! That boy even abducted my grandson!"

Xun Qi turned to the guards of the mansion and asked, "Have any of you seen Chen Long?"

In unison, they all replied, "No!"

Xun Qi said to the Vice Minister, "Vice Minister, our Prime Minister’s Mansion is innocent. Since Chen Long escaped from prison, he has not entered or exited this mansion. Whatever he has done, it has nothing to do with us. Surely you wouldn’t rely on someone’s mere words to slander us and proceed with a search?"

"Hey! I have evidence—it’s not baseless!"

The Miao King exclaimed, pulling out a Poison Bottle from his robe. "When Chen Long abducted my grandson, I placed a Gu on him. This kind of Gu from Miaojiang is called the Tracking Gu, specifically used to locate people."

The Miao King uncorked the bottle as a small black Gu worm flew into the Prime Minister’s Mansion: "Look, look! It flew inside! Chen Long is indeed within!"

Xun Qi’s expression darkened further.

A Gu worm—impossible!

Even with Luo San’s disguise for Chen Long, it would still be exposed.

The Vice Minister said, "Seventh Young Master, please grant us clearance."

Xun Qi opened his mouth, "Vice Minister, I kindly ask you to wait for my foster father’s return."

The Vice Minister asked sternly, "Seventh Young Master, are you attempting to obstruct the Ministry of Justice’s investigation?"

Sweat began seeping through Xun Qi’s palms.

He struggled to maintain his composure, "Forgive me, Vice Minister; without my foster father’s orders, you cannot enter."

The Vice Minister declared, "Then I will have no choice but to force my way in."

Xun Qi gritted his teeth: "Shangguan Ling, are you not appearing because you’re waiting for the mansion to be raided?"

Shangguan Ling casually shoved aside the guards at the entrance, standing on the steps with a smile in his eyes: "If the Vice Minister insists on breaking in, why not ask my Brocade Spring Saber first?"

"Should I accept your Brocade Spring Saber then?"

Han Ci emerged from the impenetrable crowd in armor that gleamed with cold light.

Xun Qi’s brow furrowed deeply.

Foster Father, you must think of a plan quickly—I can’t hold them off any longer...

The Imperial Palace.

The Prime Minister had just concluded court and was assisting Zong Zhengxi in reviewing memorials in the Imperial Study Room.

A little eunuch bowed his way inside, cautiously pouring tea for Zong Zhengxi while sneaking glances at the Prime Minister.

"Your Majesty, I must step outside momentarily."

"Prime Minister Xun, you may go."

Zong Zhengxi nodded.

Prime Minister Xun left the Imperial Study Room.

The little eunuch followed closely, whispering a report in a low voice.

The Prime Minister walked to the small garden and said faintly, "Anu."

A black-robed figure appeared.

The Prime Minister stated, "I have a task for you."

-

Prime Minister’s Mansion, West Courtyard.

The commotion outside was deafening, and the shrill cries of Madam Wei could be heard inside the room where Chen Long and Lu Yuan were.

Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows, remarking, "The battle outside is quite intense indeed."

Chen Long shot him a glance: "Seems like you miscalculated—Prime Minister didn’t let you out."

"No rush."

Lu Yuan chuckled, "Whether I leave or not doesn’t matter; you’re the key."

"Me?"

Chen Long frowned.

Amid their conversation, Chen Long’s ears twitched as he gripped the Sword Box warily: "Who’s there?"

A black-robed figure pushed the door open and entered: "The Prime Minister has ordered me to take you away."

Chen Long said coldly, "I can leave on my own; I don’t need you to take me."

The black-robed figure handed Chen Long a Medicine Pill: "Take this."

Chen Long frowned.

Lu Yuan urged him, "Go on, take it."

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Long swallowed the pill.

In just three breaths, his eyes darkened, and he lost consciousness.

Lu Yuan clicked his tongue, prodding Chen Long’s cheek as he asked lazily, "That father of mine wouldn’t actually silence him forever, would he?"

The black-robed figure said nothing, instead pulling out a dagger and stabbing it into Chen Long’s chest.

When the blade was withdrawn, a Gu worm clung to the tip.

Lu Yuan stroked his chin and looked at the black-robed figure: "So he had a Gu on him... You’re quite knowledgeable. Miaojiang native?"

The black-robed figure still gave no response.

He stripped off Chen Long’s outer robe, set it aflame, then slung the unconscious Chen Long over his shoulder and exited the East Courtyard without looking back.

Lu Yuan glanced at the clothes burning on the ground: "The robe had the scent of Miaojiang’s spices. Could that have been detected too?"

At this point, Lu Yuan was certain the black-robed figure had connections to Miaojiang.

"The Gu is gone, the robe destroyed."

"Even if my mother and old man, along with the government officers from the Ministry of Justice, conduct a search, they won’t find Chen Long."

"Age and experience trump everything!"

"Let me guess: Foster Father will hide Chen Long in the secret chamber, right? Otherwise, he wouldn’t bother drugging and carrying him away."

Outside, the sounds of searching echoed.

From the sound of it, the Ministry people had already entered the mansion.

Lu Yuan’s lips curled into a smirk: "Foster Father, oh Foster Father, you’ve made one wrong move—your secret chamber will soon be discovered."

Governor Mansion.

A certain young wolf cub had been throwing a tantrum since morning.

For one simple reason: its Dragon Boots for peeing had... gone... missing!