Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Chapter 834: Chapter 682

Lu Yuan said to Meng Qianqian, "Let’s go and meet them."

Meng Qianqian stood up.

Duan Mingyue glanced at the two, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Protect Tan’er well, don’t let the Loulan Queen notice her."

Meng Qianqian paused her steps, "Alright."

Duan Mingyue said seriously, "Once Zhongli Yuan’s secret is revealed, the King of the Western Regions will also appear and use the Emperor Blood in a ritual."

Emperor Blood...

Meng Qianqian looked toward the room at the end of the corridor, faintly hearing Emperor Liang’s voice.

Could it be that the Loulan Queen’s purpose in entering the capital this time is not only to uncover the lost secret but also to seek out the emperor grandfather?

Just a mere Loulan Queen, ambitious enough to dare target the Emperor of Liang Country.

If so, this woman is far more terrifying than I imagined.

"She came out of the mountains so easily, I thought she was just that."

Meng Qianqian mused.

Lu Yuan curved his lips, "You thought the mastermind behind the scenes was all like Prime Minister Xun and Gongsun Yanming, hiding in the shadows?"

Meng Qianqian nodded, "Yes, she is the first I’ve seen rushing to the front."

Lu Yuan corrected, "She’s not the first."

"Hmm?"

Meng Qianqian looked at her confusedly.

"You are." Lu Yuan said, "In battle, you never fall behind others."

He admired leaders who dared to charge to the front line.

However, he didn’t admire Ayimulan.

Meng Qianqian thought for a moment, "It’s not the same."

Lu Yuan said casually, "What’s the difference? You and her, you just lack that ambition."

Meng Qianqian frowned peculiarly, "Are you implying something?"

Lu Yuan said, "We’ve arrived."

He entered the room.

Meng Qianqian wanted to say something but held back.

Forget it, I’ll ask later.

First, confront Loulan.

The Loulan envoys arrived at the main hall, Ayimulan’s trusted aides all came, the closest to her side was Mo Yi.

Yucheng Building said he practiced evil skills. Initially, Meng Qianqian was somewhat skeptical, but seeing his energetic and powerful aura now, she couldn’t help but believe it somewhat.

"Do you feel his power has deepened?"

She asked Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan said, "Did you feel it too?"

Meng Qianqian nodded, "It seems Yucheng Building wasn’t lying."

Behind the two were Ayimulan’s female envoy, swordsman Mo Ye, Divine Archer He Fei, and Du Nu leaning on a cane.

Strangely, the Loulan Witch, who should have the highest status, always walked at the end of the team.

Perhaps it was Meng Qianqian’s illusion, the skull on his cane seemed even colder, even faintly emanating a blood-like aura.

"Don’t look at that skull."

Lu Yuan moved to her other side, blocking her view.

Meng Qianqian asked curiously, "Is there something strange about that skull?"

Lu Yuan paused, "Can’t say, but at first sight, it makes me uncomfortable."

At the welcoming banquet, Meng Qianqian did not stare at the skull. Her main attention was drawn by Ayimulan.

Today, Ayimulan was still in Loulan attire, aloof like a snowy flower, with a touch of icy sharpness.

She stood in the center of the hall, looking up to Emperor Liang standing at the railing, raised her hand in Loulan’s salute, "Emperor of Liang Country."

It seemed polite, yet neither humble nor arrogant.

Emperor Liang looked down at her, unabashedly revealing his imperial authority.

Even as calm as Ayimulan, she felt the palpable and oppressive presence.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

Emperor Liang’s gaze swept over the Loulan envoys, indifferently asked, "Is your Loulan so devoid of people? You just brought a motley crew here."

Ayimulan looked up and asked, "How does the Emperor of Liang Country plan to battle with my Loulan?"

Emperor Liang authoritatively said, "Simple, fight! Life and death are at your own risk!"

Mo Yi gripped his sword hilt.

Ayimulan gave him a sidelong glance, and he slowly loosened his hand.

Ayimulan asked, "What if we win? What if we lose?"

"It doesn’t matter!"

Emperor Liang said nonchalantly.

Duan Wenliang, Duan Mingyue, and Xun Wu also arrived at the corridor.

Seeing the tense stance on both sides, Duan Wenliang was somewhat expectant but also worried the newly bought tavern might be destroyed by them.

"Fourth brother, our Weiyang Building can’t withstand these fierce fighters tearing it down."

Duan Mingyue laughed, "To be torn down by a nation’s ruler and Loulan Queen would be the fortune of Weiyang Building."

Duan Wenliang muttered, "Xun Wu worked hard to earn money, you know our business has been losing money?"

Duan Mingyue smiled, looking at Xun Wu, "Is earning money hard for you?"

Xun Wu said, "It’s not hard. I earn money just for my elder brother to spend."

Duan Wenliang’s mouth twitched.

He looked again at Emperor Liang and the Loulan Queen, "But elder brother, they’re dueling, why not wager something? It’s a great opportunity to hold the other party accountable."

Duan Mingyue laughed, "How do you know Emperor Liang sincerely doesn’t want anything?"

Duan Wenliang muttered, "Didn’t he say? A ruler’s word is never taken back!"

Duan Mingyue laughed, "Xun Wu."

Xun Wu said to Duan Wenliang, "The meaning of ’not wanting’ is to want everything."

"Ah?"

Duan Wenliang was puzzled.

Xun Wu patiently explained, "Emperor Liang is forcing Loulan to voluntarily offer a wager. The less desired, the greater the ambition. This is called advancing by retreating."

Duan Wenliang suddenly understood, "The premise is that Emperor Liang must win, and he must win beautifully... Can this be easily achieved?"

Emperor Liang said, "Do you Loulan people dare to face battle?"

Ayimulan: "Having accepted the challenge, I’m ready for battle. So, how do you want to fight?"

Emperor Liang: "All of you get together!"

Ayimulan: "That would be too bullying, make Loulan look unkind. Why not both sides send capable soldiers to compete, how about it?"

Emperor Liang: "Agreed beforehand."

Ayimulan: "Life and death are at one’s own risk!"

With that, she said to the envoys, "Mo Ye, Yucheng Building, Mo Yi, who wants to go first?"

"I’ll go."

Mo Ye stepped forward.

Ayimulan introduced, "Our Loulan’s top swordsman, trained in martial arts at age two, apprenticed under Loulan Sword Saint at age five, his swordsmanship is extraordinary. What opponent will the Emperor of Liang Country send?"

The Loulan envoys looked uniformly at Chen Long beside Meng Qianqian.

Chen Long also excelled in swordsmanship.

Sword against sword, this round should be his battle.

"Ji Feng."

Emperor Liang spoke.

Ji Feng flashed out, landing in the center of the hall.

Duan Wenliang loudly called out, "Hey, hey, hey, don’t fight there! The stage has been set for you, fight on the stage! If tables and chairs are broken, you have to pay! Small business, no credit!"

The so-called stage was a platform for the theater group to perform, Duan Mingyue had it reinforced and widened overnight, now it’s a small stage.

Mo Ye leapt onto the stage first.

Just as Ji Feng was about to step onto the stage, Mo Ye coldly spoke, "You’re not qualified to fight me, bring Chen Long over."

Ji Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Please, Your Majesty, order."

Emperor Liang softly uttered a word, "Kill."