CHAPTER 578: CHAPTER 487: THE SLAP IN THE FACE BEGINS

This was the second time Mr. Zimu challenged and questioned Gongsun Yanming. If Gongsun Yanming refused again, it would make the True Qilin seem cowardly.

To Emperor Liang, a man known for his decisiveness, there was nothing he despised more than cowardice.

Gongsun Yanming turned to Emperor Liang and, composed, clasped his hands and said, "This matter concerns the fate of the empire; it should be decided by Your Majesty."

Emperor Liang replied, "Agreed."

Gongsun Yanming’s eyes flickered slightly. "Your Majesty is wise."

Mr. Zimu said bluntly, "Nephew, if your Divination Skill were half as good as your flattery, perhaps you wouldn’t have mistaken the Qilin."

Emperor Liang mused: The gentleman has not only grown more eccentric, but his tongue has become sharper.

Leaving the Imperial Study Room, Mr. Zimu shook his broad sleeve and addressed Gongsun Yanming, "Your master dared not divine great fate; do you know you’ve breached a taboo and will face repercussions?"

Gongsun Yanming responded, "Serving Your Majesty is worth any risk."

Mr. Zimu retorted, "Your master once told me about his two most gifted disciples. You two each have your talents, but alas, one lacks ambition, and the other is overly ambitious."

There was no need to ask who the other talented disciple was.

Gongsun Yanming gazed at the flowers and plants in the courtyard. "So that’s what Master said about me and my senior sister. Did he say anything else?"

"Ask him yourself in the underworld!"

Mr. Zimu strode off unceremoniously.

Gongsun Yanming watched his departing figure, paused briefly, and then left as well.

Instead of returning to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, he went to the Star-picking Tower of the Astronomical Bureau.

Not long after, Prince Jin brought Lu Qi to visit the Star-picking Tower.

Lu Qi was brought back to the Imperial City by Gongsun Yanming, and with the two families now tied by marriage, avoiding contact would only fuel suspicions that they weren’t allies.

Thus, it was better to openly associate.

"State Preceptor."

Inside the Book Pavilion of the Star-picking Tower, Lu Qi made a respectful bow as a junior toward Gongsun Yanming.

Gongsun Yanming returned the gesture politely. "You flatter me."

Prince Jin chuckled. "Why not? The State Preceptor has shown kindness to Qi’er and is also Qi’er’s father-in-law. Qi’er has mentioned to me that, in his heart, the State Preceptor will always be a senior elder."

The subtext was clear: between Gongsun Yanming and Lu Qi, their relationship would always be that of father-in-law and son-in-law before being one of monarch and subject, thus granting Gongsun Yanming significant respect.

Gongsun Yanming clasped his hands. "Humbled, truly."

He invited Prince Jin and his son to sit.

A disciple served tea and then discreetly withdrew to the side.

Prince Jin got straight to the point. "State Preceptor, I heard that today you and Mr. Zimu jointly met with His Majesty. Was it about the matter of the Crown Prince?"

Gongsun Yanming replied, "My senior uncle is adamant that Lu Linyuan is the True Qilin and has proposed a contest with the Commandery Prince."

Prince Jin laughed coldly. "A contest? At what? Who’s more shameless?"

Ever since Lu Yuan’s recognition at the Crown Prince Mansion, he had done nothing noteworthy.

While Lu Qi burned the midnight oil, Lu Yuan was either indulging in revelry or asleep.

He had emulated his unambitious father flawlessly.

"His Majesty didn’t agree to it, did he?"

Lu Qi interjected.

"His Majesty consented."

Gongsun Yanming answered.

Prince Jin’s smile faded.

This was not good news.

Had it taken place before His Majesty ascended the throne, it might have been understandable.

But Lu Qi’s Qilin status had already been declared to the world. Allowing a competition now implied that the scales in His Majesty’s heart were tilting toward the Crown Prince Mansion.

"Is Lu Linyuan truly so capable? In less than a month, he’s managed to sway the heart of the Imperial Grandfather."

As the former sole Imperial Grandson, Lu Qi could not accept another brother vying for favor.

Prince Jin’s reaction was much more composed.

He understood all too well that the Emperor’s affections were limited.

As the eldest son, he had once been the Emperor’s favorite, but then came the second son, the third, the fourth... He had watched them each steal his father’s attention away.

And he could do nothing.

Because the Emperor hated fraternal contention above all.

"Your father has grown old and is no longer as resolute as in his youth. Two children are enough to sway his heart. Can we really fault the Imperial Grandfather? That wrongful case years ago, which cursed the Prince Qin Mansion to have no descendants—ever since then, it’s been true that our lineage has been sparse in heirs. Lu Linyuan’s advantage lies in that he already has a daughter, whereas your father fears your branch might leave no descendants."

"Is that the reason?"

Lu Qi murmured.

Prince Jin sighed. "At your age, you still haven’t married or had children. How could that not worry your Imperial Grandfather?"

Lu Qi replied, "If I marry and have children now, I wouldn’t be worthy of someone as remarkable as Liuying."

Prince Jin thought for a moment and said, "Had it not been for repeated complications along the way, your marriage to Liuying wouldn’t have been delayed until now. As long as Liuying conceives, who would dare question your ability to produce heirs?"