Chapter 137
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“It’s your call. Pick the time for the duel. Do you think you’re scary, Big Brother?” Beneath the table, Lu Xiao stoically accepted the challenge.
“Then let’s do it now.” Lu Qian sensed that Sixth Brother seemed particularly afraid.
“Not now.” Lu Xiao waved his hand at his younger brother. “Big Brother needs a rest. I’m very tired.”
Lu Qian thought Sixth Brother was “tactically tired.” In reality, he wanted to postpone the day of the decisive battle. So, using his taunting skills, Lu Qian initiated a mental attack on Sixth Brother. “Rest here? Does Big Brother need a bed and blanket?”
“No need, you guys go. Close the door.” Lu Xiao’s attention at this moment was focused on guarding against the beggar avenger outside the door, not noticing the mockery in his youngest brother’s words.
“Come out, A’Xiao. His Highness won’t hit you.” Fortunately, Xue Yao clearly intervened. Xue Yao was very sure that the warm baby was afraid of being beaten by his seventh brother.
【Warning: Lu Qian’s acid level 98%】
Xue Yao shivered, turning his head only to meet Lu Qian’s petty gaze.
Each time “A’Xiao” was mentioned, the acid level would skyrocket. Xue Yao quickly explained in a hushed tone, “It’s just a name. It’s easy to distinguish His Highness this way…”
Lu Qian lifted his chin discontentedly, “You can call him Old Sixth.”
“Insolence!” Even under the table, Lu Xiao couldn’t stay crouched. He grabbed the table leg, gesturing with his eyes to ask his brother to show some respect. “A’Yao, don’t mind him. Just call me like that!”
“Are you all really at ease leaving someone like me hanging?” The voice of Hero Gu outside the door sounded displeased.
Xue Yao felt a bit apprehensive. He turned to request the hero to wait, but when he looked back, the warm baby under the table had disappeared again. Searching around, he discovered that the warm baby had hidden even farther behind the incense burner, waving vigorously at the two of them!
“Quick, come out! Go outside!” Lu Xiao looked anxious.
Under the dual urging of Sixth Brother and Hero Gu, Lu Qian finally left with the little reader-in-waiting, obediently closing the door for Sixth Brother.
“Hero Gu, it’s only been a few days, and you’re already here. It seems our Highness’ progress might not be very evident. Would you like him to demonstrate a set for you now?” Xue Yao paved the way for Lu Qian.
“Don’t you see what time it is now?” Hero Gu tilted his head, lazily pointing to the blue sky above with one hand. “The sun is right in the middle. I came to the palace at this time to find you. What do you think it’s for?”
Xue Yao and Lu Qian exchanged a glance, both looking puzzled.
“Is it for a surprise inspection?” Xue Yao asked.
“It’s so you can ask me ‘Have you eaten?'”Gu Qingyuan candidly looked at Lu Qian. “I’ve never tasted the palace cuisine and am really looking forward to it. Junior Brother, make arrangements quickly.”
Xue Yao: “……”
“A table of braised eggplants will be prepared for Senior Brother.” Ever since the last sword practice, where Senior Brother resorted to underhanded tactics by switching sword techniques midway, causing His Highness much embarrassment in front of the little reader-in-waiting, Lu Qian had harbored a deep resentment. He was determined not to miss any chance to infuriate Senior Brother.
Gu Qingyuan politely countered, “Deal. After eating the eggplants, Senior Brother will take you up the mountain to savor Master’s braised tofu.”
Amidst the self-inflicted conflict of the martial brothers, the warm baby was nowhere to be seen all afternoon.
In the evening, temporarily settling Gu Qingyuan in Lu Qian’s side hall, Xue Yao left the palace to find Lu Jinan at the Prince Rui’s residence, discussing the matter of guarding the shrine of the blessing practitioner.
Originally, he intended to discuss this matter with Lu Qian, but he was concerned that the rebellious brat might act impulsively and cause trouble with the Ministry of Revenue.
To quickly suppress the issue, the less attention, the better. Xue Yao believed dealing with Prince Rui was a more secure option.
After learning the situation, Lu Jinan readily agreed to help Xue Yao handle the matter and insisted that Xue Yao stay for dinner at the mansion.
During dinner, when Lu Jinan gestured for the attendants to withdraw, Xue Yao became alert.
“Xue Yao, many years ago, I already thought you were a perceptive person.” Lu Jinan scrutinized Xue Yao with a calm gaze. “You didn’t mention it, but I’ve come to realize that not only in grain procurement, but also during the plague in Pingrong County and Father Emperor’s expedition, you preemptively warned me of potential dangers. Did the blessing practitioner inform you of these events, or did you deduce them on your own?”
Xue Yao’s heart skipped a beat, his face slightly pale.
“Don’t be nervous.” Lu Jinan personally lifted the wine jug, pouring him a cup. “I’m just curious, not suspicious of you. If you have such foresight, how many disasters and regrets could you prevent for Great Qi in the future? If you still trust me, you might as well tell the truth. It would be a shame if your abilities couldn’t be fully utilized.”
“Your Highness, I trust you completely.” Xue Yao immediately expressed loyalty. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have disclosed everything I know without reservation. Even Prince Ning is unaware of these matters.”
Lu Jinan nodded. “So, how did you come to know these things? Do you truly have the ability to foresee the future?”
Xue Yao was conflicted. Undoubtedly, he trusted Lu Jinan, but admitting to such extraordinary abilities posed a significant threat.
Moreover, the major calamities from the novel had already passed. He had redirected the destinies of almost everyone, and the future was now unpredictable for him.
If he admitted to having a bit of foresight at this moment, and failed to warn of future disasters, would others suspect him of intentional wrongdoing? Would they seek revenge opportunistically?
“I couldn’t possibly have the ability to foresee the future.” Xue Yao decided to deny it. “Your Highness’ mentioned events have observable clues. I did have some speculations, and later, by chance, they happened to be true. In reality, there were more things I couldn’t predict. Do you remember when I warned you in Pingrong County? I never anticipated Prince Ning would be declared the Crown Prince.”
After speaking, Xue Yao calmly met Lu Jinan’s inquisitive gaze.
After a moment of silence, Lu Jinan nodded, raising his hand to invite him to drink.
•••
Lu Xiao escaped back to his own sleeping quarters and didn’t step out a single pace again.
Until it was dark, the beggar avenger still hadn’t appeared.
The formidable villain Lu Xiao sighed in relief and began pondering the suspicious points of this matter—
How did this man manage to infiltrate the palace? Although his martial arts were indeed impressive, it wasn’t possible for him to break through layers of guards, making a ruckus outside the study.
Moreover, that remark about waiting outside seemed directed at Seventh Brother and A’Yao.
Could he be a friend of Seventh Brother?
Lu Xiao hastily ran out of his quarters to inquire about the situation from Seventh Brother.
The three main halls of Nansan Hall were connected side by side. Separated by a wall, Lu Xiao resided in the central hall, with Fifth Brother to the east and Seventh Brother to the west.
Currently, Fifth Brother had moved to the palace’s outer prince’s residence and had been busy with wedding preparations. He hadn’t entered the palace to practice martial arts or study with them for several days.
These three halls used to be separate, but later on, because Seventh Brother was quite lazy and didn’t like to take the long way around, the wall between the middle and the west hall was knocked down and a corner door was opened.
Lu Xiao entered the courtyard through this side door to find his younger brother. Since there was no need for notification, no eunuch came to inform him of a stranger in the courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, he heard the swishing sound of swordplay. Thinking it was Seventh Brother diligently practicing his sword for the upcoming “Duel for A’Yao,” Lu Xiao raised his head proudly and walked toward the figure practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard.
“It’s so late, don’t overexert yourself. When the time comes, Big Brother will go easy on you,” the formidable villain Lu Xiao mocked his younger brother who was practicing sword late into the night.
In the darkness, the figure paused, slowly turning its head. A pair of bright, hawk-like eyes looked at Lu Xiao, reflecting the cold glint of the sword in the dark night.
Lu Xiao realized everything was too late when he noticed this person’s physique was more robust than his younger brother’s.
“Is it you?”
This was the voice of the beggar avenger, laced with a murderous intent.
“What? Where is this?” Lu Xiao instantly feigned amnesia, looking around in confusion and turning to flee through the side door. “Wrong way, wrong way!”
A cool breeze passed behind him. When Lu Xiao looked up again, the ink-green figure was already leaning against the corner of the door, blocking his way.
Gu Qingyuan’s sword hung horizontally, his eyes lowered. The index and middle fingers of his left hand came together, slowly gliding over the length of the sword. In a low voice, he murmured to the sword, “The wheels of justice grind slow but exceedingly fine.”
Knowing he couldn’t escape, Lu Xiao took two steps back and coldly asked, “How did you find your way into the palace? Just for a meal?”
Gu Qingyuan countered, “And how did you end up in the palace?”
Lu Xiao was taken aback. “You didn’t come to find me in the palace? Then why are you here?”
Gu Qingyuan’s gaze gradually cleared, finally recalling where he had encountered this little trickster before.
This little trickster had previously surrounded him with his junior brother’s group. Seemed like he was his junior brother’s… sibling?
Wasn’t that someone from the imperial family?
In this day and age, had princes fallen to the point of resorting to scams for a living?
Lu Xiao, seeing him silent, rapidly flashed through numerous speculations in his mind. “You couldn’t afford the meal, so you sold yourself to the palace as a servant, huh?”
Illuminated by the moonlight, Gu Qingyuan could clearly see the guilt hidden on the little trickster’s face. Suppressing the urge to laugh, the hero endured in silence for a moment. Then, he suddenly thrust his long sword into the ground, leaned against the wall, slowly sat on the ground, and looked up at the cold moon, sighing with a sense of sorrow, “What else can be done? Do I look like someone who can afford a few silvers? I can only sell myself into servitude, wasting my martial arts skills and abandoning any hope for the future.”
Lu Xiao involuntarily gasped in shock!
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