Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 352 - 327: The Scheming Grand Commander

"I have heard that the Governor Mansion and the Prime Minister’s Mansion are in conflict, so I came specifically to see what transpired?"

Zong Zhengxi asked with a puzzled expression.

Xun Qi helped the Prime Minister up, "Your Majesty..."

"Your Majesty!"

The Miao King promptly interrupted him, turned and used his broad body to shield Xun Qi, "The Prime Minister’s Mansion captured my grandson, and in desperation, I came to demand his return, only to encounter someone impersonating the Prime Minister! Since Miaojiang pledged allegiance to the court, I have been loyal to the court, one matter doesn’t cancel the other; the Prime Minister’s Mansion capturing my grandson is unforgivable, but someone impersonating a court official, I cannot disregard!"

Zong Zhengxi stammered, "Ah, it sounds... quite reasonable."

"Nonsense!"

Xun Qi assisted the Prime Minister to Zong Zhengxi, first saluting him, "Your Majesty! The Miao King caused trouble at the Prime Minister’s Mansion early this morning, using the pretext of a Gu worm to create false charges, and commit slander, I ask Your Majesty to discern clearly!"

The Miao King akimbo, remarked blandly, "Why don’t you tell me, how did I frame you?"

Xun Qi coldly snorted, "You claimed to have placed a Gu on Chen Long, the Gu worm guided you to the Prime Minister’s Mansion to find someone, so may I ask, did you find them?"

The Miao King scooted weakly beside his daughter, "Did you find them?"

Liu Qingyun whispered, "How should I know?"

Xun Qi sneered, "Hmph, how about we let the Assistant Minister speak frankly?"

He turned his gaze to the main gate of the Prime Minister’s Mansion that had been kicked down, "Assistant Minister?"

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice stepped forward, descended the steps, and saluted Zong Zhengxi, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Chen Long has not been found."

"What about my grandson?"

The Miao King asked.

"This..."

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice shook his head with difficulty, "He’s missing."

Xun Qi smiled, "Assistant Minister, perhaps you were mistaken?"

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice lowered his eyes, "It was my oversight, that person only bore some resemblance to the Grand Commander, upon closer inspection, he is not the Grand Commander himself."

Yu Zichuan looked at him and said, "You’re lying."

Xun Qi laughed coldly, "Yu Zichuan, you were the one who carried the person away, did you also realize halfway that you had taken the wrong person, so you abandoned him and left alone? Otherwise, how could a few mansion guards stop you?"

"Little Chuan, come over here."

Liu Qingyun called to Yu Zichuan.

"Oh."

Yu Zichuan obediently walked to Liu Qingyun’s side.

Liu Qingyun whispered to the Miao King, "Did you notice anything?"

The Miao King glanced at the Assistant Minister and chuckled, "Bought over, I suppose."

Liu Qingyun furrowed her brows, "To be able to buy off an Assistant Minister in such a short time, quite a skill!"

The Miao King sighed, "One cannot expect everyone to be like Chief of Staff Xing, with such clarity, there are no fish in clear water."

In a vast court almost entirely infiltrated, having an official who has steadfastly maintained integrity is already a feat.

The young lad must have endured immense pressure and put in significant effort to retain a few upright officials under Prime Minister Xun’s infiltration.

Liu Qingyun asked leisurely, "Prime Minister, what about your martial arts? Have you always been deceiving the Emperor?"

Prime Minister Xun said to Zong Zhengxi, "I dare not deceive Your Majesty, in my youth, I accompanied the late Emperor on private excursions, facing numerous perils, upon returning to the Capital, I secretly learned some skills for self-defense, nothing worth mentioning."

Liu Qingyun chuckled, "You nearly fought evenly with my father just now, is this what you call self-defense skills?"

Zong Zhengxi nodded, "Indeed, dear subject Xun, the Miao King is quite formidable."

He had witnessed the Miao King’s prowess during the autumn hunt, where a fierce tiger, which the entire three armies couldn’t capture, was ridden back to the park by the Miao King.

Xun Qi smiled and said, "The Miao King, you should question why his martial skills are only just a match for our Central Plains’ self-defense techniques?"

Such a statement subtly shifted the private feud between the Miao King and Prime Minister Xun into a regional opposition between the Central Plains and Miaojiang.

Bear in mind, all the attendees are residents of the Central Plains here.

Prime Minister Xun sternly said, "Xun Qi, do not disrespect the Miao King. The Miao King was being gracious, he did not use his real prowess against me."

Xun Qi appeared indignant and reluctantly bowed to the Miao King, "It was the fault of a lesser generation, thank you, Miao King, for showing mercy to my godfather."

Looking at the injuries on the Prime Minister, it didn’t seem like mercy was shown.

But the conversation between these two instead made it appear as if the Miao King, relying on his martial arts, maliciously caused harm.

Liu Qingyun snorted secretly, "A fox a thousand years old indeed."

The Miao King confidently said, "I injured you, and therein lies the reason! Who told you to catch my grandson? Who told you not to clarify things?"

Prime Minister Xun showed no sign of anger, said earnestly, "Miao King, the residence has already been searched by the Ministry of Justice, and Chen Long and Lu Yuan weren’t found, so I suspect there is a misunderstanding." freēwēbnovel.com

The Miao King brushed it off and said, "I don’t trust you! Are you willing to let me search it again?"

Xun Qi said, "Miao King, are you questioning the Ministry of Justice’s ability to conduct investigations?"

With just a few words, the Miao King and the Ministry of Justice were placed at odd ends.

Liu Qingyun glared at him, "You manage to drag someone else into every sentence you speak!?"

Xun Qi solemnly said, "I am merely stating the facts."

Liu Qingyun: "Bullshit!"

Prime Minister Xun said to the Miao King, "What if nothing is found?"

The Miao King said, "If nothing is found, I will publicly kowtow and admit my mistake to you!"

Prime Minister Xun, with an authoritative presence, said, "Miao King, you’ve created a commotion at the Prime Minister’s Mansion, damaged my reputation, nearly took my life, and now in front of the Emperor, want to search my residence, is an apology enough?"

The Miao King: "What do you want?"

Prime Minister Xun: "If Lu Yuan isn’t found, leave the Capital City immediately, never step out of Miaojiang again!"

Liu Qingyun’s eyes subtly changed.

The old fox Xun seemed so confident, could it be that his son is truly not in the Prime Minister’s Mansion?

The Miao King took a grand step, declaring mightily, "Fine! I accept your terms!"

He turned to Zong Zhengxi and said, "Your Majesty, please witness this!"

Xun Qi mocked, "Miao King, will you renege again? After all, it wouldn’t be the first time for you."

The Miao King laughed, took out the Miaojiang Seal from his robe, "Let this Seal be the witness, if I breach my word, Your Majesty, please revoke my title as Miao King!"

Liu Qingyun’s eyes widened, "Father!"

"Dear Subject Xun..."

Zong Zhengxi hoped Prime Minister Xun was not serious about this.

However, Prime Minister Xun clasped his hands, respectfully saluting, "I ask Your Majesty to safeguard the Miaojiang Seal!"

"Dear Subject Xun."

This Prime Minister suddenly felt unfamiliar to Zong Zhengxi.

Xiao Dazi took the Jade Seal with both hands and handed it to Zong Zhengxi.

The Miao King sighed up to the sky.

Xian’er, for that kid, I’ve even bet the throne.

If I end up with nothing, that kid will have to rely on you in the future.

-

In the secret chamber, one could not see their hand clearly.

Chen Long slowly awoke from his stupor.

He moved his eyelids, a sense of weakness washing over his entire body.

Suddenly, he heard a small noise, immediately reaching for the Sword Box on his back, only to find his back empty.

"Forget about it, your sword has been taken away."

It was Lu Yuan’s voice.

Chen Long suspiciously asked, "Why are you here too?"

Lu Yuan struck a fire match, and in the reflected firelight, pointed backward, "I was originally in another chamber, seeing you wouldn’t wake up, I came to find you."

Chen Long puzzled, "Another chamber?"

Lu Yuan grinned, "I just discovered that my foster father’s secret chamber isn’t just one."

Chen Long pondered, "So this is indeed the Prime Minister’s secret chamber, but I’m even more puzzled, how did you get here?"

Lu Yuan lazily said, "That fool Xun Qi messed things up, just as I was about to be taken by someone from the Ministry of Justice, the person who brought you into the secret chamber locked me in here too."

Chen Long frowned, "Was all this part of your plan?"

Lu Yuan did not deny it, smilingly leaning closer to him, "After a night of reading military books, don’t you feel it’s rather useless? Why not take me as a mentor, I’ll teach you strategy, guaranteed to be more effective than the books, apart from me, no one in the world can handle you."

Chen Long reversed his grip, executing a choke hold, his other hand pressing on Lu Yuan’s dantian, "To kill you, no strategy book is needed."

"As expected of the top expert of the Twelve Guards."

Lu Yuan chuckled, "If you kill me, neither of us can get out. It doesn’t affect me much, being the Prime Minister’s real son, but your outcome might be uncertain. Don’t you find anything different about this secret chamber compared to those you’ve seen in the past?"

Chen Long focused, suddenly hearing the sound of water, "A Water Prison!"

Lu Yuan laughed, "Indeed, this is a Water Prison, and when the sound from above ceases, it means the Water Prison is full. Chen Long, your risk to the Prime Minister outweighs your utility, and he wants to silence you; he may not wish to kill me, but he also has no intention of letting me out."

Chen Long said in a cold voice, "You mean—"

Lu Yuan spread his hands, "We’re both imprisoned."

Chen Long wasn’t particularly surprised, having experienced the Prime Minister’s ruthless nature long ago.

He thought for a moment, then asked, "What about your secret chamber? Didn’t you say the Prime Minister doesn’t want to kill you? Then let’s hide in your secret chamber first."

Lu Yuan sighed, "Sadly, after coming to find you, I discovered your secret chamber can only be opened from outside."

Chen Long stood up.

Lu Yuan said, "Don’t waste your energy, I’ve already searched three times, there’s no mechanism."

"Then use brute force."

Chen Long said.

Lu Yuan said, "Save your strength, the chamber is made of Coiled Dragon Stone, even if you exhaust your strength, you won’t move it an inch, no use hoping for any commotion from above, it’s impossible."

Chen Long furrowed his brows, "You mean, we’re going to die here?"

Lu Yuan leisurely glanced at the Dragon Boots on Chen Long’s feet, "Yes, we’re about to die, anything you want to say before that?"