Chapter 408: Chapter 227: Yue’Er Is the Emperor’s Daughter; Can She Be a Concubine?
If Emperor Gu Yuanzhang knew what Lu Yuan was thinking, he would have given him a couple of smacks. ’So young and already so narcissistic. How could I, the Emperor, admire you so much that I’d marry my daughter to you as a concubine? It’s all because Yue’Er has been making such a fuss.’
To be fair, Lu Yuan hadn’t really dared to think about taking Yue’Er as a concubine.
Surrounded by the crowd, Lu Yuan felt a little uncomfortable. ’Faking a faint is so hard! One wrong move and someone will find out.’
As someone pinched him awake, Lu Yuan took the opportunity to slowly regain consciousness.
Lu Yuan sat cross-legged on the ground. ’If you’re going to put on an act, you have to see it through.’
The Grand Elder of Le Shen Temple placed a palm on Lu Yuan’s back, slowly channeling his Inner Strength into Lu Yuan’s body.
Lu Yuan raised a hand to stop him, refusing. "I’m fine. I just need a sip of water and some rest."
Supported by a few eunuchs, Lu Yuan entered the Emperor’s tent.
Lu Yuan swayed on his feet and bowed with cupped fists. "His Majesty the Emperor, I did my best."
Emperor Gu Yuanzhang had no intention of blaming him. Lu Yuan had won five matches in a row, an excellent performance.
The Emperor said, "Lord Lu, I am a bit busy today. We shall speak privately another day. For now, go back and recover."
Lu Yuan bowed and took his leave. The Chief Eunuch led the way while a few Little Eunuchs supported him out of the Imperial Capital.
On the way out of the Imperial Capital, Lu Yuan was inwardly blaming the Emperor. ’He didn’t tell me the real situation at all. It’s a good thing Mother sent me a voice transmission to let me know. I suppose she should be done by now, too.’
Lu Yuan sent a voice transmission to his mother-in-law. "Mother, things are finished on my end. How are things on your side?"
Su Liyan’s mother replied, "I’m already waiting for you at the Imperial City Gate!"
"Oh, okay, Mother. Wait for me a moment."
"Alright!"
After the eunuchs helped Lu Yuan out of the Imperial City Gate, Su Liyan’s mother and her attendants, who were waiting outside, hurried forward to meet him.
The Chief Eunuch announced in his high-pitched voice, "Madam Su, Lord Lu was unfortunately injured in the martial tournament on the Training Ground today. This is a miraculous healing medicine bestowed by the Emperor. Please take it."
Upon hearing this, Su Liyan’s mother took the medicine and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch."
"Ah, Madam Su, you are too kind."
After the eunuchs left, Su Liyan’s mother looked anxious. She started lifting Lu Yuan’s clothes, searching for wounds. "Son-in-law, where are you hurt?"
Lu Yuan said with a smile, "Mother, I’m not hurt. I was just faking it before. Also, Mother, you should be mindful of your actions. How can you tease your son-in-law in public like this?"
Hearing this, Su Liyan’s mother checked again, "Son-in-law, are you really not hurt?"
Lu Yuan glanced around. Seeing only their own people were present, he spread his arms and spun around in front of his mother-in-law. "See, Mother? I’m really fine."
Only then did Su Liyan’s mother relax. She patted Lu Yuan on the head and said, "You... so now you’re bold enough to tease me, too?"
Lu Yuan chuckled. "Not at all, Mother. I’m just telling the truth. You wouldn’t be interested in this scrawny body of mine!"
"Hmph! Let’s go back to the Post House. I’m not talking about this with you anymore." Knowing her son-in-law was fine, Su Liyan’s mother felt relieved.
Lu Yuan hurried to catch up. "Mother, you still haven’t told me the details of what Empress Ma said to you."
Su Liyan’s mother slowed her pace but didn’t look at Lu Yuan. "She didn’t say anything that important. But the implication seemed to be that she wants you to marry Princess Yue’Er."
Su Liyan’s mother appeared very calm. In this era, it was perfectly normal for a man to have multiple women.
As long as a man was capable, he could marry seven or eight concubines, and others wouldn’t call him promiscuous. They would only say he was rich and powerful, a man worthy of their trust.
Lu Yuan let out a sound of surprise. "Huh?"
Su Liyan’s mother glanced at him. "Son-in-law, how did the tournament go today?"
Lu Yuan scratched his head. "Mother, I was the first one on stage to defend the arena. I beat five people, but as soon as I heard you mention a tournament to select a husband, I faked an injury to get out of there."
Hearing Lu Yuan’s explanation, Su Liyan’s mother understood. ’So that’s how he got "injured."’ She was very satisfied. ’My son-in-law is quite devoted. He treats my daughter really well.’
Su Liyan’s mother said, "Regarding this matter, I’ll call my daughter tonight and ask for her opinion."
"Young Master, Madam, the parking spot is just ahead," one of the attendants said.
This morning, Lu Yuan and Su Liyan’s mother had been picked up by people sent by the Court, but now Lu Yuan’s own attendant was here to pick them up in a car.
When they reached the car, Lu Yuan patted it and said, "Mother, get in. Let’s head back to the Post House. If I weren’t faking this injury, couldn’t I have taken you for a stroll through the Imperial City and for a late-night snack tonight?"
But it couldn’t be helped. Lu Yuan would have to keep up the pretense of being injured for a few more days to avoid letting the Emperor find out and charge him with the crime of deceiving the sovereign.
Su Liyan’s mother wasn’t buying it. "My dear son-in-law, don’t even think about going out for fun. You always run into trouble."
"True, true. Let’s go back!" Lu Yuan stepped on the gas, and they headed back to the Post House.
「Inside the Imperial Capital, in Gu Ziye’s room.」
"What? Yuan was injured today? Brother, is... is Yuan’s injury serious?" Gu Ziye asked, shaking Crown Prince Gu Biao’s arm.
Crown Prince Gu Biao glanced down at his arm. "It’s rare to see you so worried about someone, little sister."
Gu Ziye realized she had lost her composure and let go of his arm. "Brother, what are you talking about!"
Gu Ziye thought to herself, ’Was I wrong to make such a fuss all this time, begging Father not to marry me off to those young lords? Was it my fault that Yuan got hurt?’
Crown Prince Gu Biao sat down. "The injury doesn’t seem too serious. He’s already returned to the Post House to rest."
Gu Ziye pressed, "Who was it that hurt Yuan?"
"Elder Li of the Celestial Dynasty Palace!" Crown Prince Gu Biao told her everything. "After that Elder defeated Lu Yuan, he won one more match, but in his third, he lost due to exhaustion."
Gu Ziye bit her lip and stomped her foot. "That wretched Daoist! Messing things up, how annoying!"
Crown Prince Gu Biao coaxed her, "Alright now, I have some good news. Do you want to hear it?"
Gu Ziye was in low spirits over Lu Yuan’s injury and said irritably, "What good news could there possibly be!"
"Based on his number of wins, Lu Yuan ranked fifth. He’s passed the first round of assessments," Crown Prince Gu Biao said, fiddling with an empty teacup on the table.
"Really? That’s great! Yuan has to keep working hard!" Gu Ziye jumped for joy, a smile finally gracing her lips.
The last time Gu Ziye had ventured out, she had spent a lot of time with Lu Yuan and his group. She felt that Lu Yuan was a hundred times better than those gorgeously dressed young lords from noble families.
From the bottom of her heart, Gu Ziye did not want to marry any of those young lords. Their tempers were worse than the last. To escape the marriage arrangements, she had snuck out last time, which was when she met Lu Yuan and his companions.
’Perhaps this is fate. It must be what Heaven has arranged!’
「Back at the Post House.」
Having exerted a lot of energy during the day, Lu Yuan washed his face, soaked his feet, and went to bed early.
Lying on the wooden bed, Lu Yuan stared at the ceiling as his wife’s voice came through the phone by his ear.
Lu Yuan was giving her a full report of everything that had happened that day.
"Honey, Yue’Er is interested in you. You can’t let her down," Su Liyan said magnanimously.
After hearing from both her mother and her husband today, Su Liyan felt that Miss Yue’Er was quite pitiful. As the Emperor’s daughter, she had to accept an arranged marriage and had no right to choose her own happiness.
It was only because Miss Yue’Er had pestered and pleaded that Lu Yuan was summoned to the palace by the Emperor in the first place.
Su Liyan was soft-hearted and felt great sympathy for Miss Yue’Er.
"Honey, don’t worry, I really won’t mind. Besides, you only have the three of us. If we’re... unavailable, how are you supposed to take care of your personal needs? It might be time for us to find you a few more."
Su Liyan said this to keep her husband from feeling too much pressure. If he could win over Miss Yue’Er, it would be a wonderful thing.
Lu Yuan just hummed in response. "We’ll see," he said. "This whole thing is pretty tricky."
Lu Yuan chatted with the others on the phone for a few more moments, but he was truly exhausted. After hanging up, he fell asleep early.
After the call ended, Zhao Qiao’Er, who was beside Su Liyan, mumbled, "Yue’Er is the Emperor’s daughter. Would she be willing to be a concubine?"
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