Early in the morning, the Miao King went to Meng Qianqian’s courtyard.
"Granddaughter-in-law, are you awake?"
Meng Qianqian pushed open the door and said warmly, "Grandfather."
The Miao King handed her the revised blueprints: "Can you make this kind of mechanism fishnet?"
Meng Qianqian: "I can. Do you have any requirements, Grandfather?" Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮·𝙣𝙚𝙩
The Miao King enunciated clearly: "Unbreakable, inescapable."
Meng Qianqian asked puzzledly, "What is it for, Grandfather?"
The Miao King cleared his throat, resolved not to tell his granddaughter-in-law about such a shameful act: "To catch fish, a big one, about a hundred pounds, very fierce."
Two days later, the Miao King got the mechanism fishnet he had been yearning for.
The three old rogues swaggered into the palace.
Today’s plan was first to pay respects to Emperor Liang.
Then accompany Emperor Liang in playing a couple of rounds of leaf poker, and let Mr. Zi Wu propose to go fishing at Taiye Pond.
The plan was flawless, but luck was absent.
The three had just arrived at the Diligent Governance Hall when someone beat them to it.
"Eldest Princess arrives—"
Accompanied by the eunuch’s announcement, a soft sedan chair was carried past the three of them.
Duke Jiang frowned: "Eldest Princess? Isn’t she in her fiefdom? Why has she suddenly entered the palace?"
The Eldest Princess Lu Zhiwei is the late emperor’s youngest daughter, the little half-sister of His Majesty.
When the late emperor was alive, he doted on this little daughter the most, allowing her to marry grandly with a ten-mile dowry, and gave her a rich fiefdom near the Imperial City, bestowing her as a female vassal.
When Emperor Liang ascended the throne, he followed the customs of the imperial family and conferred her the title of Eldest Princess.
She did not attend the Crown Prince’s investiture, the Qilin’s investiture, or Lu Qi and Gongsun Yanming’s grand wedding, only sending gifts.
Yet now she has entered the palace.
The Miao King put his hands on his hips: "Could she be the reinforcements Gongsun Yanming brought?"
Mr. Zi Wu: "Here with ill intent."
"Little sister pays respects to Imperial Brother."
In the study of the Diligent Governance Hall, the Eldest Princess knelt in salute to Emperor Liang.
He had mostly understood himself these days, knowing that this Eldest Princess was his little sister, younger than the Crown Prince, who had once followed the late emperor and him on campaigns and earned military merits for the Prince Qin Mansion.
This could be glimpsed from her attire, different from ordinary women.
She wore heroic attire, a whip at her waist, and horse boots, a remarkable woman not inferior to men.
Other princes of fiefs can’t simply return to the Capital City; she was an exception.
The late emperor had granted her special permission to freely enter and leave the Imperial City before his passing.
Emperor Liang asked: "Why does Little Sister suddenly enter the palace?"
Lu Fengyin looked at Emperor Liang with a complex expression: "Why is Imperial Brother so cold to Sister?"
Emperor Liang took a sip of tea.
Attendant Yu understood and leaned in to subtly remind: "You used to treat the Eldest Princess like a daughter."
The Eldest Princess was young, and the late emperor was busy with state affairs, leaving his little daughter to Emperor Liang, who had several children to care for anyway.
Lu Fengyin stubbornly said, "It’s not that I’ve grown up; it’s that you, Imperial Brother, have changed."
She stepped forward, glaring at Attendant Yu, who was about to prompt Emperor Liang, "Yu Hai, my Imperial Brother is bewitched, have you also been bewitched?"
Attendant Yu hurriedly said, "I wouldn’t dare."
Lu Fengyin sneered: "I think you dare plenty! While I was away from the Capital City, my Imperial Brother treated you too well, raising you, a dog slave, with the courage of a bear, daring to deceive even my Imperial Brother!"
Attendant Yu lowered his head.
Emperor Liang said: "Speak if you have something to say."
Lu Fengyin approached Emperor Liang’s desk: "Imperial Brother, I heard you want to deal with the State Preceptor."
"The State Preceptor hasn’t done anything wrong, why would I deal with the State Preceptor?"
"State Preceptor, State Preceptor!"
Emperor Liang emphasized the second call.
The Miao King nudged Mr. Zi Wu: "He’s calling you."
Mr. Zi Wu looked bewildered, stumbling into the Imperial Study Room.
Lu Fengyin was stunned: "Imperial Brother has made an old man the State Preceptor?"
Mr. Zi Wu looked at Lu Fengyin, then at Emperor Liang.
Had he become the State Preceptor?
He hadn’t even finished his mahjong game today.
He extended his arms and bowed in salute.
Emperor Liang said: "Greet the Eldest Princess."
Mr. Zi Wu turned and saluted Lu Fengyin: "I humbly greet the Eldest Princess."
Emperor Liang said calmly, "You may leave now."
Mr. Zi Wu unflinchingly left the study.
Lu Fengyin stomped her foot in anger, "They are here to harm you! They’ve driven away the loyal ministers by your side, making you blind and deaf, with a treacherous intent!"
Emperor Liang set down the memorial he was reading, calmly looking at her, "Did Gongsun Yanming tell you that?"