Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 112 - 111: Grand Commander, Will You Marry Xiao 9?

Chapter 112: Chapter 111: Grand Commander, Will You Marry Xiao 9?

Consort Li stormed off to the Taihe Palace.

She refused to believe that a little brat could have eaten the imperial decree. What kind of child was so gluttonous? It wasn’t as if they hadn’t given her enough food to eat!

However, the moment she stepped across the threshold, ready to demand an explanation, she was completely dumbfounded by the scene in front of her.

In the cool, solemn grand hall, Lu Yuan sat with an icy expression on the chair. Before him lay a large pile of unfinished memorials; one was half read and left abruptly unfinished.

Piles of memorials lay scattered across the ground. The young palace maids didn’t know whether they should pick them up or leave them.

Meanwhile, Bao Shu, dressed in a little tiger cub outfit, sat atop Lu Yuan’s desk, hiccuping repeatedly.

Imperial Physician Hu and Imperial Physician Zuo were both present, taking turns checking Bao Shu’s pulse, their expressions full of anxiety.

The first person in history to eat an imperial decree—who would believe it if the tale got out?

The Grand Commander was already notorious for his unconventional ways, but his young daughter seemed to be even more outrageous and brazen than him.

"She, she really ate it?" Consort Li’s effort to expose Lu Yuan was suddenly stuck in her throat.

"Greetings to the Noble Consort."

One of the young palace maids, who had been picking up the memorials, noticed her first and quickly curtsied.

The others soon turned and greeted her respectfully, except for Lu Yuan, who sat immovably, and Bao Shu, who was still too preoccupied with hiccuping to care.

Clearing her throat, Consort Li maintained her composure and asked, "How is Bao Shu?"

The two imperial physicians exchanged glances. Imperial Physician Hu bowed his head stubbornly, remaining silent.

Imperial Physician Zuo shot him a glare before stepping forward to reply, "In response to the Noble Consort, this is the first time we’ve ever encountered such a situation. We still need more time to observe."

Consort Li’s voice turned cold: "What’s the use of you, then?"

Both Imperial Physician Hu and Imperial Physician Zuo knelt in unison, crying out, "Please forgive us, Your Highness."

Consort Li responded indifferently, "You may leave. Wang Dequan, wait outside. I have words for the Grand Commander."

"Yes."

Wang Dequan obeyed at once, leading the palace attendants out of the Taihe Palace, leaving only Ying Yue by Consort Li’s side.

The two imperial physicians sensibly took their leave as well.

Consort Li then instructed, "Ying Yue, take Bao Shu outside."

Ying Yue went to pick up Bao Shu, who let out a fierce "waah!" in protest.

"Your Highness," Ying Yue said hesitantly, looking toward Consort Li for direction.

Consort Li glanced at the defiant little one, her brows twitching slightly. "Forget it, let her stay. Move her if she starts crying."

Ying Yue silently stepped back to the corner.

The hall fell into an almost oppressive silence, broken only by Bao Shu’s rhythmic hiccups.

Watching Lu Yuan indulge Bao Shu in such a way, Consort Li couldn’t help but mutter inwardly. Could she really be his biological daughter?

But that man wasn’t—

"Why has the Noble Consort sought me out?"

Lu Yuan’s voice broke Consort Li’s train of thought.

Consort Li snorted coldly, "There’s no one else here. You don’t need to put on an act. Let me ask you, what exactly do you find objectionable about this decree?"

Lu Yuan replied coolly, "What part of it does Your Highness think I should find agreeable?"

Consort Li replied haughtily, "Meng Xiaojiu entering the palace doesn’t change the fact that she’s still part of the Governor Mansion. If you’re displeased with her being your younger sister and feel she’s taking advantage of you because of her age, then why don’t you adopt her as your daughter instead? She can call you father, how about that?"

Bao Shu, startled, let out a sharp "Waaah?"

Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes dangerously.

Consort Li continued, "Did I say anything wrong? Aren’t you just after her Yin Hu Token? If you become her family, once she’s in the palace, she’ll have to rely on you, and the Yin Hu Token will be yours sooner or later!"

Lu Yuan smirked faintly. "Even if she doesn’t enter the palace, the Yin Hu Token is still mine."

While his tone remained calm, his choice of words changed notably, and Consort Li recognized his anger. Both he and his Miaojiang-born mother were infamous lunatics.

Consort Li moved closer to him, her slender hand poised delicately as her tone softened. "Ayuan, Meng Xiaojiu will have to marry someday. Rather than letting her be taken by someone else, why not arrange for her to enter the palace as an Imperial Concubine? Xi’er, your own cousin, would be a good match for her. Meng Xiaojiu marrying him would keep everything in the family, no?"

Bao Shu, seeing that her hand was about to land on Lu Yuan’s shoulder, scuttled over with remarkable speed and pushed her hand away. "Waaah!"

Consort Li addressed Bao Shu, "I’m your grandaunt."

"Waaah!"

Bao Shu turned her face away.

Choosing not to argue with a child, Consort Li adjusted the phoenix hairpin in her hair and turned toward the exit. "Think it over. Would you rather let her marry someone else or your own cousin? Oh, and by the way, the Miaojiang people have arrived."

Governor Mansion.

In Tinglan Garden, Meng Qianqian had been waiting for Lu Yuan and Bao Shu to return for a long while. Seeing no sign of them, she left a letter in Bao Shu’s room for Lu Yuan.

The Governor Mansion and Fengshui Lane both led to Zhuque Street, though they lay in opposite directions—one to the south, the other to the north. Naturally, the Governor Mansion had its own long street, entirely reserved for it.

While walking along the Governor Mansion’s private street, a carriage passed Meng Qianqian and stopped at the mansion’s gate.

She wondered if it might be Lu Yuan and Bao Shu. Looking back, she saw Steward Cen personally welcome the visitors, smiling as he held the curtain open. Out stepped several individuals in Miaojiang-style attire, both elderly and young.

"Guests?"

Very few could warrant such personal attention from Steward Cen.

Meng Qianqian recalled the Miaojiang peonies that Consort Li had sent via Eunuch Wang.

Could it be that the "seven days," "on the way," mentioned by the masked person in the Imperial Palace that day referred to these Miaojiang people?

...

The moon was bright, the stars sparse.

After leaving the Imperial Palace, Lu Yuan boarded a carriage headed toward Zhuque Street. Tonight, the streets were eerily silent, devoid of the usual hustle and bustle. Shops had tightly shut their doors, and not a single vendor was hawking goods.

The carriage stopped in front of the Governor Mansion’s main gate.

He stepped off, using a servant’s back as a foothold.

That day, the mansion had once again tortured prisoners in the dungeon, and trails of blood snaked across the ground, stopping just short of his feet.

Without sparing it a glance, he walked into Tinglan Garden. As soon as he opened the door, a voice called out behind him.

"Grand Commander."

He turned to see Meng Xiaojiu, dressed in form-fitting attire.

"Little Nine greets the Grand Commander."

She bowed formally to him.

Lu Yuan asked, "Have you received the peonies from Consort Li?"

"Yes, I have."

"Do you wish to enter the palace as a concubine?"

"Little Nine does not. Little Nine... only wants to stay by your side. Grand Commander, will you marry me?"

"Waaah!"

Bao Shu let out a loud cry, jolting Lu Yuan awake.

Bao Shu pointed outside and babbled "Waaah waaah" in urgency.

Qing Shuang spoke, "Grand Commander, we’ve arrived. Were you sleeping earlier? Did we disturb your dream?"

"No."

Lu Yuan stepped off the carriage with an unreadable expression.

Behind him, Zhuque Street had returned to its usual lively state, with vendors calling out their wares amid the constant flow of people and carriages.

It had just been a dream—a whimsical fabrication, devoid of any meaning.

He entered the Governor Mansion.

His hands were steeped in blood, and the mansion in his dream had been red from the carnage as well. Yet, he only now realized that ever since Bao Shu had come into his life, it had been a long time since he’d sanctioned a killing in the mansion.

Lu Yuan proceeded to the main courtyard, where he found the delegation from Miaojiang waiting. Addressing the elderly leader sitting in the center, he greeted her, "Ah-Ma."