CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 410: ACKNOWLEDGING A WILD FATHER_2

When sending Luo Shan to Witch Mountain?

Or when Shangguan Ling used a tactic to bring Luo Shan back?

Perhaps even earlier.

Every step that Prime Minister Xun took seemed like he was countering Lu Yuan’s moves, but in truth, he was being led by Lu Yuan into an even more concealed plan.

"Quite a character."

Si Snake remarked.

Si Snake never easily acknowledged anyone. The last person he praised was Chu Grand Marshal.

Chen Long: "Just petty tricks."

The rough waters between the brother-in-law and the husband—Ji Li opted not to intervene.

Thinking of Lu Yuan, Ji Li glanced around: "Hmm? Little Yin Hu, where’s your husband?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "He went to the Crown Prince Mansion. Did Wuyou and Tan’er manage to enter the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion smoothly?"

"Quite smoothly." Ji Li answered, then suddenly reacted, "Wait, what do you mean he went to the Crown Prince Mansion?"

Meng Qianqian recounted the incident of Lu Yuan "claiming a father."

Ji Li was utterly stunned: "What? So is the Crown Prince really his father, or is he just picking a random father?"

Meng Qianqian paused: "Picking a random one."

Everyone: "..."

-

The steward at the Crown Prince Mansion was surnamed Jia.

Back when he was still in the Prince Qin Mansion, the Second Young Master was out of favor, and anyone with a bit of ambition had turned to other young masters.

Unable to compete with other stewards, he hadn’t managed to find a better opportunity all these years.

The key wasn’t that his hardships had finally paid off, but that after serving the Crown Prince for so many years, he’d never seen such a bewildered look on the Crown Prince’s face.

Who on earth was that boy?

Clearly, a fake, yet he was summoned to the study by the Crown Prince.

Could he really be the Crown Prince’s son?

Impossible.

The Crown Prince had only one legitimate son, the Commandery Prince, and not even a daughter to his name.

Hadn’t he just offended that boy? What if the boy tattled?

Steward Jia paced the courtyard anxiously, filled with unease.

He cautiously took two steps forward, but the eight Imperial Guards under the veranda glared at him in unison.

Frightened, he quickly stepped back.

Prince Ming strolled over, fanning himself with a folded fan. As he began ascending the steps, an Imperial Guard stopped him in his tracks.

Prince Ming chuckled, "You even dare to block me? Aren’t you afraid of death?"

The Imperial Guard replied, "Please forgive us, Your Highness Prince Ming."

Prince Ming glanced at the tightly shut chamber door: "Never mind, I won’t make it difficult for you lot."

The Imperial Guard bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Your Highness Prince Ming!"

Prince Ming descended the steps.

Steward Jia greeted him with ingratiating nods and bows, "Your Highness Prince Ming, could that boy... really have ties to our Crown Prince?"

Prince Ming grinned, "Worried about your own head?"

Steward Jia laughed nervously, "Your Highness Prince Ming, it was you who instructed that harsher punishments were in order. I only wanted to vent your anger, which is why I acted disrespectfully toward that young master..."

In an instant, he had shifted from calling him "that boy" to "that young master."

It was apparent Steward Jia was feeling a bit guilty.

Better safe than sorry—even if that young master wasn’t truly the Imperial Grandson, as long as he left the study unscathed today, Steward Jia’s head would likely not remain on his shoulders.

Prince Ming chuckled, "It was your own decision to act. I didn’t say anything."

With that, he fanned himself and walked away.

Steward Jia was left dumbfounded.

In the study.

The Crown Prince stood quietly by the window, scrutinizing Lu Yuan, who was only a few steps away.

Lu Yuan allowed himself to be scrutinized, remaining silent.

After a long stretch of quiet and stillness, the Crown Prince spoke slowly: "Are you from Miaojiang? From your accent, you sound like you’re from the Great Zhou Capital."

Lu Yuan slightly turned his head and glanced at this so-called random father.

Lu Zhaoyan, the second son of Emperor Liang. His mother had a humble background and was once a maid to Princess Qin. After giving birth to a son, she was elevated to the status of a concubine.

She did not have the right to raise her own son. Lu Zhaoyan had grown up under Princess Qin’s care.

The eldest son was born to Concubine Hu. After Prince Qin ascended the throne as Emperor, Princess Qin was made Empress, Concubine Hu was titled Imperial Concubine, and Consort Jiang was elevated to Princess Consort Hui. Lu Zhaoyan’s mother gained status through her son and became Chen Fei.

Prince Ming’s mother, formerly a concubine of Prince Qin, was now the highest-ranked consort among the nine consorts, He Zhaoyi.

Emperor Liang had six sons in total, and Lu Zhaoyan’s mother had the humblest origins.

Whether his mediocrity was genuine or he was simply practicing the art of self-preservation remained a mystery.

These were the details Shangguan Ling had uncovered.

Although numerous thoughts flashed through Lu Yuan’s mind, his thinking was quick, and in reality, only a fleeting moment had passed.

He maintained his composure and said, "Crown Prince, despite being in the Southwest, you can determine my Capital City accent through just a few words. It seems the rumors are untrue—you are clearly well-read and far from ordinary."

Lu Zhaoyan responded unhurriedly, "You didn’t answer my earlier question."

Lu Yuan replied boldly, "I am from Miaojiang. What about you, Your Highness? Have you been to Miaojiang?"

According to Shangguan Ling’s findings, Lu Zhaoyan had remained in Prince Qin’s Mansion and had never traveled afar.

If he had ever been to Miaojiang, there could only be one possibility—he had done so secretly.

And if it was a secret, he couldn’t easily admit it.

As expected, Lu Zhaoyan did not answer the question and instead asked, "What is your relationship with her?"

Lu Yuan countered, "What is Your Highness’s relationship with her?"

Lu Zhaoyan gazed into Lu Yuan’s eyes. "Right now, I’m the one asking you questions."

Lu Yuan scoffed, "I refuse to answer—unless we do it my way: one question for one answer."

Lu Zhaoyan said, "You must understand that your identity is quite suspicious. I can’t answer your question, though you might choose one I can actually respond to."

Lu Zhaoyan refrained from leveraging his Crown Prince status, which slightly surprised Lu Yuan.

If he really was one of Fatty Bai’s supposed flings...

That would be his own fault.

Why did Fatty Bai discard him instead of someone else?

"Are you married?"

Lu Yuan asked coolly, clearly asserting himself.

Lu Zhaoyan nodded. "I’m married. Now it’s my turn—has she married?"

Lu Yuan’s impudent streak started to show, and he replied casually, "Of course she’s married. Otherwise, where would I have come from?"

No way Fatty Bai was going to take the disadvantage.

Lu Zhaoyan softly added, "My wife passed away many years ago."

Lu Yuan froze. "P-Passed away?"

Wait—your late wife wouldn’t happen to be—

Lu Zhaoyan smiled as he asked, "Was that supposed to be one of your questions?"

The question Lu Yuan had just asked was—Where would I have come from?

With a serious face, Lu Yuan countered, "Of course not. I know very well where I came from."

Lu Zhaoyan chuckled gently, his warm gaze resting on Lu Yuan’s feigned serious expression. "Then, what is your actual question?"

Lu Yuan, unfazed, asked, "Do you happen to need another son?"

Lu Zhaoyan: "..."