Chapter 48 The Dagger. You're not a cripple.
Just as Lu Songyuan left the bedchamber, the door to the adjacent side hall suddenly opened.
Lu Songyuan wanted to walk a few steps faster, but when he looked up, he suddenly saw a dark cloud in the northwest that blocked out most of the sun.
He frowned, and a sense of emptiness rose in his heart, a feeling he often had before the war in the North.
Lu Songyuan stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the side hall.
After staying overnight and getting drunk, I was starving after changing my clothes. I wanted to go to the kitchen to find something to eat, but when I opened the door and saw the tall and imposing Lu Songyuan not far away, I almost thought I was seeing things.
He leaned against the door frame, rubbing his eyes hard, until Lu Songyuan, having been stared at for too long, clicked his tongue impatiently, and Lianzhu finally exclaimed in surprise.
"I'm terrified! Who is this? How did you get up?!"
Lianzhu strode over to Lu Songyuan, circled him from head to toe, and finally stopped in front of him, pointing at him and asking, "Where did you hide our Ah Zhu?!"
"What are you shouting for?"
Lu Songyuan glanced at him disdainfully and said, "Azhu is already married to me. She's mine. Stop talking about you all the time."
"you!"
Lian Zhu wanted to retort, but after thinking about it, she felt that Lu Songyuan was right. "Your leg is fine. You were faking it all along! You treacherous person!"
Lu Songyuan slapped Lian Zhu's hand away. He was strong and slapped Lian Zhu's hand hard. Lian Zhu was still weak from a hangover and the slap made him stagger.
"Enough with the small talk. You must not leave the house today. If Ah Zhu wants to go out, stop her. Refuse to see any outsiders. We'll talk about everything when I get back."
"ah?"
Lian Zhu shook her hand, but before she could even get angry, she was stunned by Lu Songyuan's long string of words. "What do you mean? Is something bad going to happen?"
"It's none of your business. Just keep an eye on her."
After Lu Songyuan finished speaking, he strode down the stairs, took the sword from Lu Qingyue who was waiting in the corridor, and walked outside.
"etc!"
His only response was that the door in front of him slammed shut.
Lian Zhu nearly bumped into him. He touched his nose, stood there for a moment in thought, and then ordered one of his guards, "Bring Bai Zhi here."
"yes."
Lu Songyuan went out and walked straight to the wheelchair that Lu Qingyue was pushing.
He sat down with an air of authority, stuck his sword in the armrest of his wheelchair, and asked, "How is it?"
Lu Qingyue said, "I just sent someone to the Dahe Hall to inform the Second Prince that the General would be having a meal there and to discuss the matter of the throne. The Second Prince had just woken up from his hangover and immediately agreed."
Lu Songyuan asked, "Have the people been transferred?"
"yes."
Lu Qingyue said, "My sister's injuries have not yet healed, so I sent Li Yan directly to the military camp, where two hundred men have been secretly transferred."
Lu Songyuan nodded, then glanced at the sky.
The clouds under the sun looked even darker.
"Send a message to Zhou Xue and ask her if there has been anything amiss during her trip to the capital these past few days, especially at the palace."
Lu Qingyue was taken aback. "What does the general mean by this?"
"I can't explain it."
Lu Qingyue often felt that Lu Songyuan was an extraordinary person. His intuition was always terrifyingly accurate. Upon hearing this, he immediately waved his hand to summon someone beside him and sent him to the capital to find Lu Zhouxue.
After everyone left, Lu Songyuan looked ahead, raised his chin, and said, "Let's go."
Lu Qingyue gripped the wheelchair handles and pushed Lu Songyuan forward, asking helplessly, "General, you've already given yourself away, why are you still in a wheelchair?"
Lu Songyuan glanced at him. "Because I want to."
Sitting is less strenuous than walking. Lu Songyuan had gotten used to sitting in a wheelchair during his time in the capital and had even developed a bit of laziness.
Lu Qingyue pursed his lips and said, "Yes, of course it's up to you, sir."
The weather is better today than yesterday. Although the sun is out, the sky is bright, and the unique dampness of the mountains after the rain fills my nostrils with every breath.
There was also a slight, barely noticeable chill.
Braving the chill, Lu Qingyue pushed Lu Songyuan into the main hall.
In front of the palace gate, the Third Prince was pacing on the steps.
"Your subject greets the Third Prince."
Upon hearing Lu Songyuan's voice, the Third Prince stopped in his tracks, then strode down to Lu Songyuan and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "General Lu, you've finally arrived. My brother has been waiting for you for a long time."
Lu Songyuan raised an eyebrow. "But it's only afternoon, no rush."
Logically speaking, a subject should not speak to a prince in such a manner. Jing Yang was taken aback upon hearing this, then curled his lips and said, "Yes, it is understandable that the general walks a little slower."
During the time he spent with Jing Ao, Jing Yang was often by his side.
According to Lu Qingyue, this man is ruthless, petty, and extremely arrogant. If I had to put it another way, he would be like a venomous snake lurking on the road, not only disgusting but also wanting to kill.
Aside from Jing Ao, Jing Yang fears no one.
However, Jing Ao needed Lu Songyuan's support to ascend the throne, so Jing Yang, under pressure from Jing Ao, dared not confront Lu Songyuan directly and could only say this in a veiled way.
They mocked Lu Songyuan's legs.
"It seems we're going to have a falling out today," Lu Qingyue glanced at Lu Songyuan, noticing his ambiguous smile, and said, "Is the Third Prince implying that our General's leg injury and inability to walk are a burden to the Second Prince and the others?"
Jing Yang had subtly mentioned Lu Songyuan's legs before, but Lu Songyuan had never been as rude as he was today, which left Jing Yang stunned.
"No, how could that be? That's not what I meant."
"Yeah?"
Lu Songyuan said, "In that case, let's go in."
Lu Qingyue and Jing Yang were both taken aback, and then Jing Yang said, "Yes, General, this way please."
When Lu Songyuan arrived at the main hall, Jing Ao was surrounded by charming maids. He was lying in the arms of two of them, with two others on his left and right, and four others sitting at his feet. Two of them were taking turns feeding him wine.
"General Lu, you've arrived! Come and do your work!"
When Jing Ao saw Lu Songyuan, he waved away the maids beside him, leaving only the two who were fetching wine.
She sat up, waved to Lu Songyuan, and said, "Come sit next to me."
Lu Songyuan arrived today with a smile on his face. He nodded and said, "Okay. Qingyue, push me over there."
In the past, Lu Songyuan would stay far away from Jing Ao when they were together, but today he was unusually easy to talk to.
Jing Ao's gaze followed Lu Songyuan until he was completely seated beside him, and Jing Ao was delighted.
"Songyuan, what brings you here today..."
Lu Songyuan picked up the tea that Lu Qingyue had just poured, took a sip, and glanced at Jing Ao, saying, "What's wrong?"
There seemed to be a smile in his eyes, and he didn't look as fierce as before.
Jing Ao was taken aback.
He turned his head, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, then shook his head and said, "You look absolutely radiant today, hahaha..."
Lu Songyuan chuckled and said, "Yes, we've run into something good."
"Good news?"
"Um."
Lu Songyuan glanced at the two maids beside Jing Ao and said, "The Second Prince is right."
Jing Ao followed his gaze and looked around, then exclaimed "Oh!" as if suddenly realizing something, clapping his hands and saying, "You finally won Jing Hui over, hahaha..."
Lu Songyuan's eyes suddenly turned cold, then he smiled and said, "This general has more than one thing on his mind."
Jing Ao was stunned for a moment.
Lu Songyuan placed his teacup on the table and said, "Yesterday, the Second Prince sent word that the Emperor's health is deteriorating and he is preparing to issue an edict of abdication. Is this true?"
When the conversation turned to business, Jing Ao snapped out of his reverie.
He leaned back against the maid, raised his chin, and said, "Indeed, after I return from Xiaolishan, I will be able to ascend the throne!"
"oh?"
Lu Songyuan said, "I thought you all would have to wait a while because the Emperor was in good health, but I didn't expect it to be so soon?"
"What 'everyone'? It's just me!"
Jing Ao slammed his hand on the table, the smell of alcohol rising in his eyes, his cheeks flushed. "Speaking of which," he said, "ever since you came to the capital, you've readily accepted my invitations. Although you're aloof, I know you're naturally on my side."
After Jing Ao finished speaking, he asked Lu Songyuan as if to confirm, "Is it right?"
Lu Songyuan nodded, "Of course, I figured it out last night. Only by following you can the Northern Border find a way out."
"Hahaha."
Jing Ao said, "You have good judgment. Just wait and see! To be honest, I still need your help."
"Please speak."
Jing Ao glanced at Jing Yang, who then stood up and dismissed the women and guards in the room, leaving only the four of them. He then said mysteriously, "To tell you the truth, my father's health was actually ruined by Jing Yan's drugging."
"Oh?" Lu Songyuan was slightly surprised.
Jing Ao said, "Before I left the palace, Jing Yan said that he would use the last dose of medicine to send my father off, and then let me ascend the throne."
Jing Hui glanced at the pig-headed man, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Are you sure the Fourth Prince won't take this opportunity to secure his own throne?"
“He won’t, my mother and my maternal grandfather are already in the palace.”
Jing Ao said, "What you just said is something I also have concerns about. That's why I'd like to ask for your help. When I return to the palace, could you lend me your troops? If I successfully ascend the throne then, I'll make you prime minister! What do you say?"
After Jing Ao finished speaking, Lu Songyuan looked at him. He pursed his lips, trying to suppress a smile, then let out a sneer through his nose before bursting into laughter.
Jing Ao frowned and looked at him, while Jing Yang also looked at Lu Songyuan.
After a long pause, Lu Songyuan stopped and asked directly, "Has the Second Prince ever been to the Northern Border?"
Jing Ao's expression turned cold for a moment, then he looked away. "I have never been there, but after I ascend the throne, I may go and see the scenery of the frontier."
"Yeah?"
Lu Songyuan tapped the table, glanced at his leg, and said, "Does the Second Prince not know why this general is lame?"
"I don't know."
As if struck by a veil, Jing Ao slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "You've rejected me in every way, and now you dare to question me?!"
Lu Songyuan scoffed upon hearing this.
Then, he slowly stood up.
He was nine feet tall, and when he stood up, he looked down at Jing Ao.
"You! You, you're not a cripple? You've committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, you... um!"
Before Jing Ao could recover from his fear, he suddenly felt a chill on his left side.
Looking down, he saw a dagger stuck straight in his chest.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
