CHAPTER 611: CHAPTER 505: QILIN RETURNS TO ITS PLACE

As soon as Mr. Zi Wu’s words fell, silence descended upon the entire racecourse.

Many officials displayed expressions of utter shock.

"Mr. Zi Wu, what are you talking about?"

The one speaking was the Minister of Agriculture.

Mr. Zi Wu turned, looked at him, and asked curiously, "Minister of Agriculture, are you unaware that this competition is to determine the Qilin’s rightful place?"

The Minister of Agriculture stammered, "Qi... Qilin’s rightful place? Isn’t this just... an ordinary contest?"

He hesitated before uttering the word "ordinary," as the competition between the two Imperial Grandsons was anything but ordinary—it was clearly tied to the struggle for the position of Crown Prince.

Wasn’t it?

He looked toward the Hanlin Academy Chief Scholar, the Minister of Revenue, and the Cabinet Ministers nearby: "Is there really such a matter as determining the Qilin’s rightful place?"

Those individuals nodded without changing their expressions.

The Minister of Agriculture was even more astonished: "Why don’t I know about something so significant?"

The Hanlin Academy Chief Scholar said, "Those few days when all this was most hotly debated, weren’t you staying at home claiming sickness and not attending court? By the time you returned, the first round had already begun."

The Minister of Agriculture asked indignantly: "Colleagues as we are, you didn’t think to inform me?"

The Minister of Revenue cleared his throat: "Mostly we didn’t realize you weren’t aware... You truly lack the slightest bit of curiosity."

Minister of Agriculture: How is this curiosity?

"Given that you all knew, then why were you so surprised earlier when Mr. Zi Wu mentioned it?"

He swiftly redirected the topic, successfully leaving everyone speechless.

The group was dumbfounded. Indeed, why on earth were they even surprised?

Minister Meng stroked his beard and sighed: "Prince Changsun’s performance was so unexpected that it rendered us captivated and forgetful."

His words enlightened everyone present.

Exactly—ever since His Majesty announced the competition between the two, no one had expected the Imperial Grandson to win.

The true Guardian Qilin should be someone like Prince Jian.

Wise, diligent, ambitious, cultured and refined, mindful of both progress and retreat, harboring concern for the world, respecting teachers, compassionate toward the people...

It wasn’t simply a preconceived notion—their views were genuinely based on his exceptional qualities.

They had, at one point, even considered the competition quite unnecessary.

Yet, as the Imperial Grandson revealed his talents step by step, everyone was astounded by him.

Apart from King Qi’s repeated assertions regarding the Qilin’s identity, the others had focused entirely, without distraction.

Their gazes naturally fell upon the Imperial Grandson, dazzlingly commanding on horseback.

From the Imperial Grandson, they did not perceive a contest over the Qilin’s position.

Even as he won round after round, he never once hinted verbally at his ambitions.

He approached the competition with unwavering focus and purity.

This demeanor was truly remarkable.

General Hu stated, "It’s merely a competition. Beyond any mountain lies a higher one; beyond any man lies a greater. Prince Changsun is skilled both in the arts and martial ability, which is a blessing for Great Liang, but this does not mean he can replace Prince Jian as the Qilin. The Qilin’s destiny is divinely ordained, entirely beyond human control."

Prince Ming scratched his ear: "Ah, just earlier, who was it that said, ’It’s as Heaven wills—destiny favors only the true Qilin, who alone can triumph in the end’? Am I the only one who heard it?"

King Qi’s face turned crimson.

"I heard it too."

Lu Zhaoyan chimed in.

Prince Ming turned to Prince Fu.

Prince Fu: "Oh, I heard it."

Duke Jiang waved his sleeve: "Oh, come on now—who doesn’t hear such things? And that guy named Hu, saying the Qilin’s destiny is divine—are you Heaven itself?"

General Hu responded solemnly: "The State Preceptor calculated that Prince Jian bears the Qilin Life Chart."

Duke Jiang retorted confidently: "He got his own daughter’s Life Chart wrong! His divinations are unreliable! Surely he calculated the Qilin wrong too!"

The crowd collectively gasped—Duke Jiang, are you suicidal, openly questioning the State Preceptor?

General Hu replied icily: "Duke Jiang, Mr. Gongsun was personally appointed as State Preceptor by His Majesty. Are you questioning His Majesty’s judgment?"

Duke Jiang nearly blurted out: Yes, so what? His judgment was so sound back then that he exiled me, wasn’t it? Made me herd sheep for over three years!

Every day, I dream of gouging out his eyes!

Lu Zhaoyan spoke calmly: "General Hu, are you deliberately trying to provoke my father, the Emperor, by using reverse psychology? This tactic may work on others, but my father, a wise ruler for the ages, an Emperor for the centuries, is magnanimous and receptive to counsel—isn’t it absurd to think he would be cornered by your words?"

Prince Ming quietly raised his thumb in admiration.

Putting on such airs—has to be second elder brother.

No wonder he’s never been scolded by their father since childhood...

Prince Fu let out a breath of relief.

He now owed second elder brother a favor.

Otherwise, his uncle would surely face another three-year exile.

King Qi, exasperated, retorted: "So, by your logic, winning alone suffices to seize the Qilin’s title? As General Hu said, beyond any mountain lies a higher one, beyond any man lies a greater—can he guarantee he wouldn’t lose to someone else?"

"Second brother, let me!"

Prince Ming stepped forward. "Fourth brother, stop muddling matters! The State Preceptor already met with Mr. Zi Wu in the Imperial Study Room to allow Heaven’s path to decide. Those favored by destiny would receive Heaven’s protection; only with the State Preceptor’s approval did the competition proceed."

As he spoke, he looked toward Gongsun Yanming atop the Emperor’s Platform. "State Preceptor, you wouldn’t have forgotten your own words, would you? Even if you have, my father would not forget."

Emperor Liang’s sharp gaze swept toward him, sending Prince Ming into shivers.

Wait, why isn’t invoking father working here?

Is this tactic reserved solely for second brother?

Gongsun Yanming’s deep eyes seemed boundless and unfathomable.

Mr. Zi Wu remarked: "My dear nephew, miscalculating a divination isn’t frightening; admitting it is key!"

In the distance, Yu Zichuan, who had just rolled up his kite string, quietly sat beneath a large tree.

The reason he wasn’t perched atop the tree was that he had been kicked down by Chen Long.

Chen Long stood alone, far off on a branch, away from Si Snake and Ji Li, staring toward the Emperor’s Platform.

Ji Li asked indifferently: "Hey, so do you think Emperor Liang will let the Qilin ascend?"

Chen Long sharpened his knife: "If he doesn’t ascend, I’ll just kill Gongsun Yanming first."

Ji Li sighed: "Can’t you stop fixating on violence all the time? Do you take Emperor Liang for Great Zhou’s powerless Supreme Emperor? If you want death, fine, just don’t drag us down with you!"

Si Snake commented: "There’s no real obstruction left in court."

Ji Li hastily asked: "So does that mean the ascension can happen?"

Si Snake replied: "Back then, Emperor Liang withstood the pressure from court officials to arrange this competition. Fortunately, Lu Yuan didn’t disappoint and made fools of those officials with his strength. But Emperor Liang’s pressure doesn’t come only from court officials; it comes from the populace as well."

"Lu Yuan gained court approval, yet the commoners have not accepted him. The masses don’t care who writes better essays or who excels in riding and archery. All they know is, it was Lu Qi’s arrival that convinced King Qin to declare himself Emperor. Suddenly telling them the Phoenix Girl was false and the Qilin was false too—what’s left of the Southwest’s national fortune that’s real?"

Ji Li mused: "So, based on what you’re saying, the Qilin’s conferment is unlikely?"

Si Snake gazed at the Emperor’s Platform; though Emperor Liang was at an age deserving leisure, he still stood atop Thunder Peak.

Among those encircling him, Si Snake glimpsed his lifetime of solitude.

"It depends on whether Emperor Liang seeks peaceful retirement, or—"

Before Si Snake could finish, Emperor Liang slowly rose to his feet.

"My Imperial Grandson, Lu Linyuan, holds jade-like virtue and shines with unparalleled brilliance, embodying refined conduct and unmatched valor. In gratitude to Heaven’s blessing and entrusted by destiny, I hereby confer him as Guardian Qilin! Three days hence, the conferment ceremony shall be held!"