Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Gongsun Ziyu choked back her frustration.

Ever since Shang Wuyou was put under house arrest, Tan'er had turned into her sister's lackey, flattering her sister to the heavens; to the extent that her sister took that pesky girl everywhere she went!

Tan'er said to Gongsun Liuying, "Eldest Miss, are you thirsty? I brought some water!"

"I'm not thirsty."

Gongsun Liuying answered softly.

"I want a drink!"

Gongsun Ziyu reached for the water pouch in Tan'er's hand.

Tan'er refused to give it up.

"Sister!"

Gongsun Ziyu stomped her feet in anger.

Gongsun Liuying's gaze remained fixed upon the center of the altar.

The one she was destined to marry was the Guardian Qilin.

Thus, who would be officially titled today was of utmost importance to her.

Tan'er was also keeping an eye on the sealing ceremony herself.

Her heart was racing with anxiety.

Sister has been gone for days and hasn't returned—could something have gone wrong along the way?

If only I had known in advance, I wouldn't have taken on this task!

Shang Wuyou is nowhere near as important as Sister!

Grand Commander, Sister, where are all of you?

If you don't show yourselves soon, someone else might take what's rightfully yours!

"The appointed time has come—"

A disciple of the Astronomical Bureau struck the copper gong.

Zhang Qufeng cupped his hands and exclaimed, "Your Majesty! The fate of the nation must not be delayed. Please allow the Commandery Prince to complete the sealing ceremony!"

"Minister agrees with this petition!"

"Minister agrees with this petition!"

"Minister—"

"The Crown Prince arrives—"

It was Xiao Dazi's voice.

His urgent shout was so forceful, he almost lost his voice doing it!

Prince Jin quirked an eyebrow, looking toward the carriage in curiosity.

King Qi, Prince Rui, and Lu Qi unanimously turned their gazes toward the entrance as well.

Lu Zhaoyan, dressed in the ceremonial robes of the Crown Prince, stepped off the carriage with calm and poise.

Prince Jin scoffed, "Just one person, then?"

Prince Rui chuckled, "Showing up will do them no good."

King Qi sneered with schadenfreude, "Most likely trying to buy time, but I doubt they'll have the chance."

King Qi shot meaningful glances toward several of his trusted officials.

But before they could stir up trouble, a white horse shot through the air like an arrow leaving the bowstring, leaping over the carriage and charging forward on snowy hooves under the gaze of all present.

Tan'er's eyes widened to the point of dazzlement!

It was the Grand Commander!

So dazzling… So dazzling… Such an impossibly dazzling white horse!

That wasn't just any white horse—it was a flying horse!

A flying horse!

She must ride it!!!

The rider, clad in unblemished garb, astride a furious stallion, shone with unmatched brilliance, his presence regal and awe-inspiring. Like an ancient war god, battle-hardened and peerless, he came at the last moment as a beacon of endless hope, unstoppable and invincible.

Gongsun Liuying's eyes flickered ever so slightly.

This… is the Guardian Qilin?

The Minister of Agriculture, alongside Cabinet Minister Meng, Duke Jiang, Prince Fu, the Hanlin Academy Chief Scholar, and numerous civil and military officials, collectively exhaled a sigh of relief.

Lu Yuan, riding the white horse, arrived with the dust of travel still upon him, halting sharply before the altar, scattering three feet of dust, exuding an air of nonchalant dignity.

"Why are you dressed like this?"

"Such a disgraceful appearance, unbecoming of decorum…"

"An impropriety before His Majesty…"

Lu Yuan ignored the criticisms from Prince Jin's faction, dismounted swiftly, and from the cloth pouch at his waist, retrieved a medicinal herb. Out of breath, he declared, "Royal Grandfather, your grandson has found the cure for your migraine!"

The Minister of Agriculture sharply focused his gaze on the herb and exclaimed in surprise, "It's a millennium-old ginseng!"

Zhang Qufeng was dumbfounded, "What? A millennium… ginseng?"

A hundred-year-old ginseng is already rare; two hundred years is considered elite quality; anything between three to five hundred years is often counterfeit. A thousand years? Surely that's just boasting!

The Minister of Agriculture stepped forward and carefully inspected the ginseng. "I would stake the official hat on my head that the Imperial Grandson has indeed found legit millennium-old ginseng for His Majesty!"

Cabinet Minister Meng stroked his beard thoughtfully. "So it turns out that the Imperial Grandson was searching for medicine for His Majesty. Imperial Grandson, you're reckless! Weren't you afraid of missing the appointed time and holding up the sealing ceremony?"

Lu Yuan spoke with heartfelt emotion, "If I am unable to be sealed, then my second brother is there to succeed me. However, there is only one Royal Grandfather. The nation cannot go a single day without a ruler, just as I cannot lose my dearest family."

His words, laden with rich emotion, touched everyone's hearts, expressing both filial devotion as a grandson and brotherly affection, all while showcasing his unparalleled magnanimity to all present.

In that single moment, those common folk who had reviled him for being unworthy suddenly found themselves unable to utter a word against him.

Prince Jin clenched his fists tightly.

What happened?

Weren't there an army of assassins in the mountains? How could they have failed to stop him?

And all those others stationed along the way—did they all perish?

How did he manage to return to the Imperial City?

He exchanged a glance with General Hu.

Since the first plan had failed, it was time to initiate the second.

Lu Linyuan, do you really think you'll walk away with the title unscathed?

General Hu whispered a few instructions to his subordinates.

But shortly afterward, his men returned hurriedly and reported something back to General Hu in a hushed voice.

General Hu furrowed his brows, "What did you say? The witness is gone?"

The key witness they had spent a fortune to invite from the Great Zhou to expose Lu Yuan's true identity—had disappeared without a trace?!

Emperor Liang solemnly declared, "Let the sealing ceremony commence!"