CHAPTER 615: CHAPTER 509 FATHER AND SON AFFECTION

Night fell.

Lu Qi sat alone in the room.

The servants came in to clear the dishes and found that the food on the table was untouched.

The servant asked worriedly, "Commandery Prince, is the food not to your taste?"

"Take it away."

Lu Qi said indifferently.

The servant said with concern, "Shall I have them prepare another table? I heard from the concubine that the Commandery Prince likes fermented rice dumplings."

Lu Qi’s voice suddenly turned cold: "I told you to take it away!"

The servant stared at Lu Qi in shock, unable to believe this once gentle and composed Commandery Prince, who never lost his temper with the servants, could display such anger.

Not daring to say another word, the servant carried the dishes out.

As he carried the food box out of the courtyard, he happened to run into Prince Jin, who had returned late at night under the starlight.

He hurriedly bowed, "My lord."

Prince Jin gestured for him to open the food box.

The servant lifted the lid, "Not a single bite was eaten."

Prince Jin headed for Lu Qi’s room.

Lu Qi said coldly, "Didn’t I tell you, I’m not eating?"

"It’s me."

Prince Jin said.

Lu Qi clenched his fingers, suppressing the coldness in his demeanor, concealing the madness in his eyes. Rising to his feet, he bowed towards Prince Jin and spoke calmly, "Father."

Prince Jin entered the room and sat across from him.

He asked, "I heard you have no appetite. Are you feeling unwell?"

Lu Qi replied, "Just a bit tired."

Prince Jin glanced at his right hand, "Earlier, in my haste to consult with the State Preceptor, I forgot to ask about your injury. Should I call for a physician?"

A burning pain radiated from Lu Qi’s palm.

His expression remained unchanged, "Just a minor injury, not worth troubling anyone over."

Prince Jin spoke sternly, "You are my son, the sole heir to the Jin Prince Mansion. Calling all the Imperial Physicians to the house wouldn’t be considered troubling anyone."

Lu Qi said nothing.

"Let me take a look."

Prince Jin said to him.

Lu Qi extended his hand.

Prince Jin took his hand, noticing a faint medicinal scent, but there were no marks to indicate the wound had been treated.

"I’ll apply the medicine myself later."

Lu Qi withdrew his hand.

Prince Jin glanced at him, sighed heavily, and said, "You weren’t raised at my side since childhood. Feeling distant from me is only natural."

Lu Qi said, "I dare not feel distant from Father."

Prince Jin said, "A gentleman judges actions, not intentions. Let us stop here—you and I are father and son, tied by blood, inseparable. There’s no need to speak of such things. Prepare yourself for the ceremony in three days."

Lu Qi asked indifferently, "Lu Linyuan’s ennoblement ceremony—what do I need to prepare for?"

Prince Jin chuckled, "Perhaps by then, it’ll turn into your ennoblement ceremony instead."

Suspicion flashed across Lu Qi’s face as he glanced at Prince Jin, "Father and the Pavilion Master have a plan?"

Prince Jin sneered, "Lu Linyuan is Lu Yuan. Though your imperial grandfather has sealed his identity to the grave, can he silence the murmurs of the people? On the day of the ceremony, as long as the truth about his identity is laid bare before the citizens, the crime of deceiving the monarch won’t wash away no matter what. By then, his so-called Qilin status—whether your imperial grandfather abolishes it or not—will be irrelevant."

Lu Qi said, "It seems Father and the Pavilion Master have everything under control."

Prince Jin, seeing that he lacked excitement, sighed, "I understand. What happened today is a heavy blow to you. But horses stumble, and people make mistakes. Besides, Lu Linyuan’s pretense as a fool lulled the Jin Prince Mansion into complacency. Such carelessness won’t happen again—I promise you."

Lu Qi remained silent.

Prince Jin smiled, "This time, the Pavilion Master will act personally. Not only will Lu Yuan be deposed, but Lu Zhaoyan’s life will also be ended completely."

Lu Qi’s expression slightly shifted, "What does the Pavilion Master plan to do?"

"You’ll see when the time comes."

Prince Jin patted him on the shoulder, "It’s late. Get some rest. I still have matters to attend to. If you wish to step out for some air, you may come with me."

As Prince Jin stepped across the threshold, Lu Qi softly spoke, "Father, if I weren’t the Guardian Qilin, would you still value me?"

Prince Jin replied with weighty sincerity, "You are my only son. Everything Father has will be yours in the future."

As if reminded of something, Prince Jin glanced at the crescent moon overhead and remarked casually, "The golden sore medicine from the Crown Prince Mansion isn’t very effective. Best to discard it."

After leaving the mansion, Prince Jin sat in the carriage and waited for a long time.

The coachman said, "My lord, the Commandery Prince has not followed."

Prince Jin’s expression remained unchanged, "Let’s go."

"Yes."

The coachman snapped the reins, driving the carriage into the night.

In the room, Lu Qi sat, an unshakable frustration gnawing at him.

Dou Qingyi entered with a bowl of chicken soup, "Qi’er, Mother made this for you. Earlier, it was my fault—I shouldn’t have been so focused on your win or loss. Can you forgive me?"

Lu Qi said, "I haven’t blamed you, Mother."

"Truly?"

Dou Qingyi’s eyes lit up, filled with hopeful anticipation as she gazed at him.

A strange memory of Liu Qingyun’s gaze at Lu Yuan suddenly surfaced in Lu Qi’s mind. He frowned and said, "Mother, stop imitating others."

Dou Qingyi froze, "What do you mean?"

Lu Qi’s lashes trembled as he picked up the chicken soup and drank it silently.

The atmosphere in the room grew awkward.

Dou Qingyi smoothed her handkerchief nervously and asked, "Would you like another bowl?"

"I’m full. Thank you, Mother."

Lu Qi set the empty bowl down, "Mother, what does Father plan to do about the Crown Prince Mansion?"

Dou Qingyi’s eyes flickered, "How would I know your father’s plans?"

Lu Qi fixed his gaze on her.

Feeling guilty under his piercing stare, Dou Qingyi waved her hand dismissively, "Fine, fine, I overheard. Your father plans to assassinate Lu Zhaoyan and pin the blame on Lu Linyuan."

Lu Qi asked, "When will he act?"

Dou Qingyi replied, "Tonight."

Lu Qi frowned, "I just lost the competition. If we act against the Crown Prince now, won’t it arouse suspicion?"

Dou Qingyi sighed, "Your father’s no fool. Of course, he doesn’t plan to kill him tonight. Instead, it’ll appear to be a perilous assassination attempt meant to poison him—a poison that shows no symptoms for three days but will take effect during the ceremony. When that happens, they’ll claim Lu Linyuan cursed him to death!"

Her eyes glinted with malice, "I don’t want him dead either, but he abandoned us for Liu Qingyun, that wretch!"

"It’s late. Get some rest. I still have matters to attend to. If you wish to step out for air, you may come along."

Prince Jin’s words echoed in Lu Qi’s mind as he gazed out of the window.

Could Father be going to assassinate Lu Zhaoyan tonight?

No, he wouldn’t act personally.

But he would surely want to witness Lu Zhaoyan falling into the trap.

Lu Qi said softly, "Mother, I’m tired and wish to rest."

Dou Qingyi tapped her head, "Oh my, I forgot you’ve had a long day. Rest, and I’ll see you in the morning. Tell me, what would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you."

Lu Qi said, "Bass soup."

Relieved by her son’s rare warmth, Dou Qingyi smiled, "I’ll find the biggest bass in the kitchen tomorrow!"

Lu Qi sat quietly in the room, reflecting on Dou Qingyi and Prince Jin’s words.

If he were Father, tonight would indeed be the perfect moment to strike at Lu Zhaoyan.

After all, no one would expect the Jin Prince Mansion to move so hastily—especially against Lu Zhaoyan.

Lu Zhaoyan is Lu Yuan’s father. What does his life or death have to do with me?

Lu Qi lay down in his clothes.

Turning his head, his eyes fell on the golden sore medicine placed on the bedside table.

He turned over and tried to sleep.

Yet the night wind howled, its chill bone-deep.

He flipped back over, abruptly flinging off the blankets, grabbed the golden sore medicine from the bedside, and changed into night clothes before leaving the mansion.