CHAPTER 577: CHAPTER 486: EMPEROR LIANG FAVORS TREASURE PIGGY_3

Gongsun Yanming said, "Shibo."

Mr. Zimu clicked his tongue and said, "I heard that your daughter is not the Phoenix Girl. She couldn’t draw the Phoenix Girl Sword from Witch Mountain. Others don’t understand, so I won’t hold it against them. But now, in front of His Majesty, please tell him— is the Phoenix Girl Sword of Witch Mountain real or not?"

Gongsun Yanming calmly replied, "Shibo, the sword is real, but the one who wields it might not necessarily be the true chosen one."

Emperor Liang asked, puzzled, "What do you mean, State Preceptor?"

Gongsun Yanming said, "Liuying’s Life Chart has been tampered with."

Emperor Liang frowned deeply.

Mr. Zimu glanced at the Compass in his hand. "The Twin Stars of the Heavenly Mansion— such a configuration bodes chaos. Yet now that the Heavenly Mansion has returned to balance, the first disorder is already resolved."

Emperor Liang looked toward Mr. Zimu again.

Gongsun Yanming’s gaze fell on the Compass in Mr. Zimu’s hand. "Shibo, that Compass in your hand looks rather familiar. Could it be the Heavenly Gang Compass that was stolen from the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion not long ago?"

Mr. Zimu’s eyes flickered. "What Heavenly Gang Compass?"

Gongsun Yanming gave him a deep look. "The Heavenly Gang Compass was a gift from my Shigong to my Shifu. Paired with the Earth Evil compass and combined with Shishu’s Tortoise Shell, they can calculate all matters under Heaven."

Mr. Zimu barked angrily, "Rubbish! The Heavenly Gang Compass was clearly something I lost to your Shifu in a gamble! That conniving bastard cheated back then!"

Gongsun Yanming said indifferently, "So Shibo admits that the Heavenly Gang Compass rightfully belongs to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion now."

Mr. Zimu gave a light cough. "Yes! I brought it here today specifically to return it to its rightful owner. But seeing your smug face, I’ve changed my mind. You aid tyrants and disregard the rules of the sect. I’ll take on the responsibility of disciplining my junior’s disciple on his behalf. This Compass? I’m keeping it!"

Phew, almost scared this old man to death— nearly couldn’t talk my way out of that!

Mr. Zimu seized the moment and proposed to Emperor Liang, "Your Majesty, according to the Heavenly Gang Compass, the Qilin is none other than the Crown Prince’s son, Lu Linyuan."

Gongsun Yanming said seriously, "Shibo must have made a calculation error. In divination, the Earth Evil outweighs the Heavenly Gang."

"And what if we add the Goddess’s Tortoise Shell into the mix?"

Mr. Zimu pulled out Ji Li’s tools.

Good thing, good thing— I didn’t toss it halfway here out of impatience.

Emperor Liang roughly understood by now. The State Preceptor and Mr. Zimu had each used different methods— the Earth Evil and the Heavenly Gang— and each divined a different Qilin.

The margin of error wasn’t immense, of course, considering both Lu Qi and Lu Linyuan were Imperial Grandsons of Great Liang.

But as it concerned the nation’s fate, there could be no room for even the slightest mistake.

Gongsun Yanming remained calm and composed. "Shibo, didn’t you lose that divination contest back then? Isn’t that why the Heavenly Gang Compass ended up with my Shifu? So clearly, having more tools doesn’t equate to greater skill."

Mr. Zimu’s eyes bulged in fury. "Don’t push me— I’ll slap you, you know that, right?!"

Emperor Liang, watching Mr. Zimu nearly blow the roof off in rage, secretly felt a headache coming on. Was it an illusion, or had Mr. Zimu seemed a bit unhinged after staying in the Crown Prince Mansion for just a few days?

Mr. Zimu: Your grandson threatens me every day; how could I not go mad?

Emperor Liang sighed and said slowly, "I understand both of your points. I trust your loyalty, both of you, to the stability of Great Liang’s empire."

Mr. Zimu stood up and cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, this humble one has a suggestion, though I’m unsure if it’s appropriate to raise."

Emperor Liang said, "Please speak, sir."

Mr. Zimu said, "Since both claim to be the Qilin, why not have a contest to decide?"

Emperor Liang frowned. "A contest?"

Mr. Zimu raised his hands to the heavens with a bow. "Where the mandate of heaven lies, providence shall follow. The True Qilin would not lose to a counterfeit. Do you agree, my dear nephew-disciple?"

Gongsun Yanming asked, "What kind of contest does Shibo have in mind?"

Mr. Zimu said, "As I said, where the mandate of heaven lies, providence shall follow. The choice of contest is up to His Majesty and you, my nephew-disciple. After all, the truth cannot be concealed, and falsehoods cannot become truth!"

Emperor Liang pressed further, "Are you certain... this can be decided by me and the State Preceptor?"

"That’s right!"

Mr. Zimu raised an eyebrow.

His confident demeanor wavered Emperor Liang’s resolve.

To be honest, in his heart, he believed Lu Qi to be the Qilin. But deep down, he doted on the little one more and couldn’t bear to see Zhaozhao suffer any injustice.

Could it be... Yuan’er was actually the True Qilin?

"You’re not afraid, are you?"

Mr. Zimu shot a provocative glance at Gongsun Yanming.

Gongsun Yanming said, "I’m merely sharing my opinion. There’s nothing I fear. After all, regarding talent and knowledge, it seems the Commandery Prince surpasses the Imperial Grandson."

Mr. Zimu had been waiting for this. "He loses to you in everything, yet beats you in every way—that’s what heaven’s will means. So, my nephew-disciple, do you dare?"