CHAPTER 579: CHAPTER 487: THE START OF SLAPPING FACES_2

Thinking of something, he said, "Come to think of it, if Lu Linyuan is truly Lu Yuan, then Zhaozhao isn’t his biological child."

Regarding Lu Yuan’s past in Great Zhou, Prince Jin had also sent people to investigate.

Lu Yuan’s child was seized midway while he was preparing for a first-year birthday banquet.

He got married last April, and it has been a year since, yet there’s still no news of heirs from the Governor Mansion.

The one incapable of having heirs should be Lu Yuan.

Unfortunately, Your Majesty has already solidified Lu Linyuan’s identity, forbidding anyone from questioning it.

Lu Qi recalled, "Last time, he used the Gu from Miaojiang on me in the carriage. He must be Lu Yuan."

"Wouldn’t it be fitting if he’s Lu Yuan?" Prince Jin said indifferently. "In Great Zhou, he’s nothing more than an opportunistic turncoat. He climbed to the position of Grand Commander by currying favor with the Prime Minister, then gained the Supreme Emperor’s protection by betraying the Prime Minister. It was the Prime Minister who imprisoned the Supreme Emperor, but the Supreme Emperor who defeated the Prime Minister. He’s just a self-serving scoundrel with no real skills."

Lu Qi responded, "I’ve heard he achieved victories on Great Zhou’s border."

Prince Jin dismissed it, "That’s because he had the support of the Twelve Guards. Since the Crown Prince Mansion wants to humiliate itself, you don’t need to show them any courtesy. Just win and let the entire world witness it!"

Lu Qi nodded, "Understood, Father."

Gongsun Yanming furrowed his brow. "Someone devoid of true ability would never be able to navigate such turbulent waters unscathed. Your Highness, Prince Jin, and Commandery Prince, caution is still advised."

-

On the other side, Lu Yuan also heard about the competition.

He picked up Treasure Piggy. "Let’s go find your mother."

"Put me down! I don’t believe you!"

Treasure Piggy, having been tricked out of his entire money bag yesterday, declared he would never fall for his scoundrel father’s schemes again.

"Mother said she’s going to the palace. I’m waiting in the Imperial Palace!"

Lu Yuan’s mouth twitched: This little rascal is getting harder to fool.

Lu Yuan looked at the little one seriously. "I’m your father. You need to listen to me."

Treasure Piggy covered his little ears. "Not listening, not listening. Turtle reading scriptures!"

Lu Yuan: "If I’m the turtle, then what are you?"

Treasure Piggy: "Hmph!"

Their bickering culminated, and in the end, Treasure Piggy was too small to resist his scoundrel father’s brute force.

Treasure Piggy, carried off, flailed indignantly. "Just you wait until I grow up!"

This scoundrel father might just infuriate him into exploding!

As Lu Yuan and Treasure Piggy exited the palace, before they could even board the carriage, they bumped into Prince Jin and his son, who had also just left the palace.

Both had come from the Star-picking Tower, and a faint sandalwood scent still lingered on them.

Treasure Piggy’s little nose itched, and he let out a loud sneeze!

Prince Jin smiled gently. "Yuan’er, what a coincidence. Taking Zhaozhao back to the Crown Prince Mansion?"

He deliberately used the word "back," implying to Lu Yuan that their home was the Crown Prince Mansion, not the Imperial Palace, so they shouldn’t linger in the palace all day.

Lu Yuan said, "Greet them."

Treasure Piggy courteously greeted, "Grand-uncle, Second Uncle."

Prince Jin’s smile turned doting. "Zhaozhao is such a good child."

Lu Yuan smirked. "Zhaozhao and I are heading out for a bit. The Supreme Emperor couldn’t bear to part with Zhaozhao, so he’s having Zhaozhao stay in the palace. Don’t keep thinking about the Crown Prince Mansion."

The little one, ever keen to show off, spread his tiny hands. "Great-Grandfather wants me to be a Princess!"

Prince Jin’s smile froze for a moment.

Lu Qi gave the father-daughter pair a meaningful glance.

He was trying to find evidence of their lack of resemblance, but unfortunately, the little one kept wriggling in Lu Yuan’s arms, making it impossible to see clearly.

Moreover, after spending extended time together, people would subconsciously mimic each other’s gestures.

The subtle expressions between Lu Yuan and the little one, as they looked at each other, were eerily identical.

"I hear I’m to compete with Second Brother," Lu Yuan suddenly said, piercing through the subtext and catching Prince Jin and Lu Qi off guard.

Prince Jin quickly composed himself and said warmly, "It’s just a friendly match. Your royal grandfather simply wants to see the capabilities of you brothers; don’t overthink it."

Lu Yuan smiled playfully. "But I heard royal grandfather doesn’t trust Second Brother’s Qilin identity and wants me to beat him to settle it."

Prince Jin clenched his fist.

Lu Qi stepped forward and stared intently at Lu Yuan. "I know who you are and what you’re plotting. I won’t let you succeed."

Lu Yuan smirked. "Oh?"

Lu Qi said sternly, "Whatever schemes you used in Great Zhou won’t work in Liang Country."

Lu Yuan’s smile deepened. "Second Brother is so confident. Could it be you’re just trying to bolster your own courage?"

Lu Qi’s eyes turned cold, revealing a side completely different from his usual self. "You shouldn’t have provoked me, and you should never covet the Qilin identity. If you had just stayed as the Imperial Grandson, you could’ve lived a life of splendor."

Lu Yuan chuckled. "Second Brother is truly kind-hearted. I’m not like that. If I win, I’ll make sure you can’t walk away unscathed. If I eat meat, you’ll watch. If I drink soup, you’ll smell it! Wealth and glory will have nothing to do with you from then on."