Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 111 - 110: Truth and Justice

Chapter 111: Chapter 110: Truth and Justice

After Zhang Feihu left, Meng Qianqian sat on the steps for a long time, watching as the golden morning light illuminated every leaf on the begonia tree.

Meanwhile, Zhang Feihu, after departing, also gazed at the gradually brightening sky for a long time.

His mind kept replaying Meng Qianqian’s words:

"Just because the court decides the narrative, does that make it true?"

"Xiaojiu, what is it that you want to do?"

"The truth, justice!"

"Even if I have to cut open every charred and rotting corpse, I will uncover the truth of that year."

The truth.

Xiaojiu, do you know what the truth sometimes entails?

The truth wrested from peril, from fire and blade—can you really withstand it?

...

The Old Madam slept until she naturally woke up, opening her eyes to the sound of Meng Qianqian practicing archery in the courtyard. She was overjoyed.

Zhao Si came to escort her back to the Lu Family.

The Old Madam clutched her chest, saying, "Oh dear, my head aches, my legs ache, my stomach aches—I can’t leave! I can’t leave!"

Bam!

She promptly slammed the door shut!

Zhao Si, left outside with a nose full of dust: "..."

Later in the morning, Eunuch Wang from Changchun Palace visited again, cheerfully delivering Consort Li’s gift—a pot of stunningly vibrant peonies.

Sending a pot of flowers all the way from the Imperial Palace—Meng Qianqian couldn’t quite comprehend it.

Fortunately, the gift also included a set of silver ornaments, whose design was highly unique, unlike the accessories worn by people of the Central Plains.

After asking, she learned that the peonies were transported from the Western Regions, and the silver accessories came from Miaojiang—exceedingly rare and priceless.

Eunuch Wang grinned and said, "Her Highness, the Noble Consort, has been thinking of Miss Meng. Whenever she finds something novel, she immediately has this old servant deliver it to you."

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Wang Gonggong. Please extend my gratitude to the Imperial Concubine."

She instructed Ban Xia to reward him with a money bag. Eunuch Wang left the courtyard, smiling as he returned to the palace to report.

Ban Xia wondered aloud, "Miss, what medicine is Consort Li selling in her gourd? Didn’t she hate us? Now she’s sending gifts—flowers, accessories. Someone who doesn’t know better might think she cares deeply for you, instead of Lin Wan’er!"

Meng Qianqian shook her head. "Lin Wan’er isn’t exactly loved by her either; Lin Wan’er is merely useful to her, as am I."

Previously, in the Imperial Palace, she’d overheard someone mention ’seven days’ and ’on the road’ while talking to Consort Li. She still couldn’t make sense of the cryptic message—she had assumed an important figure was arriving in the Capital City. Yet, no prominent arrivals had been reported recently.

Could it be referring to the peonies from the Western Regions and the silver accessories from Miaojiang?

In the afternoon, Zhou Nanyan came to visit her.

"Sister Meng, pardon me for coming unannounced," she said.

"Not at all," Meng Qianqian replied.

She was fond of Zhou Nanyan; moreover, living alone, she had no inconveniences to hide.

"Sister Meng, your courtyard is so beautiful!"

Zhou Nanyan exclaimed with genuine admiration.

The small courtyard, though modest in size, was adorned with flowers and greenery—blooming begonias, verdant bamboo, a tiny pond with colorful koi fish, a swing, and a wooden horse. Its serene elegance was also brimming with vitality.

Meng Qianqian said, "If Yan’er likes it, you’re welcome to visit often."

The wind grew stronger today, so Meng Qianqian invited Zhou Nanyan inside to sit.

As soon as Zhou Nanyan entered, her eyes caught sight of the peonies in the hallway and she remarked with surprise, "Sister Meng, are these flowers from the Noble Consort?"

"That’s correct," Meng Qianqian replied, then asked, as an idea struck her, "Do you have some as well?"

Zhou Nanyan nodded and suddenly seemed relieved, saying, "I came to see you today because I’ve been feeling stifled. But now that I know you’ll be entering the palace alongside me, I don’t feel as bad."

"Entering the palace?"

Meng Qianqian was puzzled.

Her interactions with the court were limited, making her unfamiliar with its intricate webs.

Zhou Nanyan explained it to her.

Consort Li had sent three pots of flowers in total—the peonies signified the recipients would be granted concubine status. The peony delivered to the Yao Family symbolized a promise of elevation to the Empress’s rank, while the peonies gifted to Meng Qianqian and Zhou Nanyan represented concubine positions.

"No wonder I couldn’t figure out who received the other pot of peonies," Meng Qianqian said, frowning.

"Consort Li really has nerves, doesn’t she? Zong Zhengxi is so young, and she’s already scheming to establish a queen and select concubines? And now I’ve been chosen—me, a remarried woman?"

"Given the irreconcilable conflict between us, isn’t she afraid I’ll end up driving her son to his grave myself?"

Meng Qianqian asked, "Yan’er, are you sure this flower means entering the palace as a concubine?"

Zhou Nanyan affirmed, "Yes, we’re only waiting for the Imperial Palace to issue the decree."

Meng Qianqian murmured under her breath, "The Imperial Palace to issue the decree..."

Currently, Lu Yuan oversaw the emperor’s governance as regent. Any imperial decree would have to pass through his hands. As long as Lu Yuan objected, the decree wouldn’t be issued.

After Zhou Nanyan left, Meng Qianqian paid a visit to the Governor Mansion.

The servants assumed she was on her way to the Book Pavilion again, but her steps took an unexpected turn—towards Tinglan Courtyard.

Upon seeing her, the servants dared not stop her.

"Miss Meng!"

A maid from Tinglan Courtyard curtseyed to greet her.

Meng Qianqian asked, "Is the Grand Commander in?"

The maid replied, "The Grand Commander and Miss Bao Shu are both out."

Meng Qianqian raised a brow. "Even Bao Shu isn’t here."

The maid explained respectfully, "I heard they entered the palace."

At Taihe Palace.

Lu Yuan was reviewing memorials when Bao Shu began throwing them onto the floor. Crawling among the scattered documents, she tore apart any memorial she disliked.

For example, one memorial argued that Meng Xiaojiu lacked moral integrity and was unfit to manage the Yin Hu Order.

The Chief Eunuch entered, carrying several decrees, and bowed respectfully. "Grand Commander, His Majesty has drafted several decrees. He requests that you review them."

Lu Yuan didn’t lift his gaze.

The Chief Eunuch maintained his posture of presenting the decrees, not daring to breathe loudly.

After a long while, Lu Yuan finally said, languidly, "Read."

"Yes," the eunuch replied.

He placed the decrees onto a side table and softly read them aloud, one by one. They were imperial marriage decrees. The first declared the Emperor’s cousin, Yao Qingluan, as Empress; the second announced General Zhou’s daughter, Zhou Nanyan, as the Jade Concubine; and the third named Yin Hu Guard Meng Xiaojiu as the Radiant Concubine.

Once finished, the Chief Eunuch observed Lu Yuan’s expression—it remained unchanged.

The Chief Eunuch gently placed the decrees beside Lu Yuan.

Bao Shu huffed and puffed as she climbed onto a chair, then clambered atop the table. Spotting the third decree, she grabbed it and began to tear at it.

Lu Yuan cast her a frosty glance. "Do you wish to die?"

The Chief Eunuch laughed and said, "Miss Bao Shu, decrees cannot be torn."

Bao Shu clung to the decree, sulking indignantly.

Suddenly, a mischievous idea came to her.

Back at Changchun Palace, Consort Li had just applied a new shade of marigold to her nails. Her beauty was dazzling, and she was extraordinarily pleased.

Admiring her nails, she asked Eunuch Wang with a smile, "Has His Majesty drafted the decrees?"

Eunuch Wang replied gleefully, "They’ve been drafted, drafted! They’ve already gone to the Grand Commander for his approval. We’ll see if he consents."

Confident, Consort Li said, "I included wording in the decrees specifying Meng Xiaojiu’s entry into the palace as the daughter of the Governor Mansion. I’m not ’stealing’ anyone from him. He’ll surely agree."

As she spoke, a junior eunuch rushed in with an anxious expression. "Your Highness, the decree regarding Meng Xiaojiu’s appointment..."

Consort Li asked, "What happened?"

The young eunuch hesitantly replied, "The decree...was eaten by Miss Bao Shu!"

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