Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 117 - 116: Support and Pressure to Marry

Chapter 117: Chapter 116: Support and Pressure to Marry

The Meng family sent two stewards to handle affairs. One was Old Master Meng’s confidant, whose background was rather unfortunate—his mother couldn’t afford to raise him and sold him to Old Master Meng, who then had him take on the Meng surname.

Meng Qianqian addressed him as "Uncle Meng."

The other was a clan elder of extremely high seniority, though his age was similar to Uncle Meng’s. Meng Qianqian called him "Seventh Granduncle."

Aside from them were a few accompanying servants and a jade-faced scholar dressed in a long robe.

Meng Qianqian withdrew her gaze and greeted the two elders: "Uncle Meng, Seventh Granduncle."

"There’s no need for that, there’s no need!"

Uncle Meng hurriedly helped Meng Qianqian up.

To him, Meng Qianqian had always been respectful. Though he was practically Old Master Meng’s adopted son, he never acted superior and always regarded himself merely as the Meng family’s steward.

His eyes grew slightly red as he looked at Meng Qianqian. His voice choked with emotion as he said, "Third Miss, you’ve grown thinner..."

Meng Qianqian had been a chubby little girl before arriving in the Capital City. Now, she had grown into a graceful young lady, but her slenderness made her seem pitiful.

Nanny Li wiped away her tears and said, "She’s gotten better in the last two months. Back in the Lu family, she was so thin she was unrecognizable."

Uncle Meng was heartbroken. Though Seventh Granduncle didn’t share the same deep affection for Meng Qianqian as Uncle Meng, as a younger generation member of the Meng family, he too felt distressed and angry.

"And these people are..."

Meng Qianqian struggled to recall the faces of the other newcomers.

"Third Miss, I’m Zhuzi!"

One of the servants grinned and said, "Don’t you remember me? When the two young masters took you to poke a hornet’s nest as children, I was the one wielding the stick!"

"You dare bring that up!" Uncle Meng slapped him on the head.

Zhuzi laughed sheepishly.

Nanny Li explained, "Miss fell into the water over half a year ago, and she’s forgotten quite a few things."

Seventh Granduncle sighed.

Uncle Meng swallowed his grief, then pointed to the young scholar, saying to Meng Qianqian, "Third Miss, surely you remember Cousin Yu? You stayed at his home for two years."

Meng Qianqian’s gaze fell upon the young man, but she shook her head slightly.

Yu Li gave a shy smile.

Uncle Meng said, "Cousin Yu, didn’t you bring Third Miss a gift?"

Yu Li handed over a large box of sugar crisps to Meng Qianqian, avoiding her eyes with the shy reticence typical of a scholar.

Meng Qianqian, however, calmly accepted it: "Thank you, Cousin."

The rest were newcomers to the Meng family after Meng Qianqian had left. Uncle Meng introduced them so she could familiarize herself with them.

Uncle Meng spoke solemnly: "From now on, Third Miss is your mistress. Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

They answered in unison.

Ban Xia took them to rest, eat something, and feed the horses along the way.

Meng Qianqian asked Seventh Granduncle and Uncle Meng why they had suddenly come to the Capital City. Was there an issue at home?

Uncle Meng replied, "Wasn’t it Third Miss who wrote us, asking us to come?"

"Me?"

Meng Qianqian was startled.

In the letter, she hadn’t asked for the Meng family to come to the Capital. She had said everything was fine, that Lu Lingxiao had safely returned, and that there was no need for the family to worry.

Uncle Meng continued, "You weren’t the one who mentioned that you suffered greatly at the Lu family for years? That they seized your dowry, and the young master returned from the border with another woman and pressured you to divorce him?"

Meng Qianqian frowned and said, "I didn’t write such a letter."

Uncle Meng froze. "Then who could’ve written it?"

Meng Qianqian looked at the two elders and asked, "Uncle Meng, Seventh Granduncle, do you have the letter with you?"

Seventh Granduncle shook his head. "The letter’s with your grandfather. After reading it, he was so furious he stayed bedridden for three days, barely surviving... When he regained consciousness, the first thing he did was order us to head to the Capital and demand justice from the Lu family. Originally, your Eldest Granduncle should’ve gone, but he’s too old to endure fast travel."

In truth, even Old Master Meng had wanted to come personally but was dissuaded by the family out of concern.

Nanny Li muttered under her breath, "Miss... it’s probably..."

Meng Qianqian knew full well who had orchestrated this.

She had planned to keep it hidden for a while longer, but it seemed she couldn’t anymore.

"Since Seventh Granduncle and Uncle Meng have come all this way to the Capital, I will speak candidly. Seventh Granduncle, Uncle Meng, I did not divorce Lu Lingxiao."

The two elders let out a sigh of relief.

But before they could finish sighing, they heard Meng Qianqian say, "I have severed all ties with him."

"What?"

Both of them exclaimed at the same time, and even Yu Li widened his eyes in surprise.

Meng Qianqian selectively shared key details with the two elders. Regarding the complex grievances and unresolved matters with the Lu family, she gave only a brief account, mentioning how she had indeed used her dowry for support but that the Old Madam and Lu’s mother treated her as their own during her time with the Lu family.

She wasn’t trying to defend the Lu family; she had already completely severed ties with them. However, if she were to return to them now and demand justice, it might give the appearance of lingering resentment or an attempt to salvage something.

The elders then asked about the woman Lu Lingxiao had brought back from the border. Was it true?

Meng Qianqian thought for a moment and admitted it was.

Seventh Granduncle said, "Such a serious matter—why didn’t you consult the family before making your decision on your own?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "It was decreed by the Supreme Emperor. The fault lies on their side, not mine. Even if anyone brings it up in the future, it is the Lu family who stand in the wrong. As for the portion of my dowry that was used, I’ve recovered most of it, and the remainder is documented in promissory notes."

Knowing that the Supreme Emperor had personally sought justice for Meng Qianqian, Seventh Granduncle and Uncle Meng finally felt a sense of relief.

When the Meng family had received that letter, it was as though the sky had fallen. To think that a daughter of the Meng family had been so bullied—it stirred great indignation!

Meng Qianqian said, "These past five years are nothing more than a nightmare. I’m doing well now. Seventh Granduncle, Uncle Meng, there’s no need to be distressed for me anymore."

Seventh Granduncle sighed bitterly and said with shame, "It’s the Meng family’s fault for failing to protect you! The Lu family wields political power, while we are mere merchants..."

Nanny Li hesitated to speak.

Meng Qianqian shook her head at her.

She didn’t want to mention anything related to the border—letting such information reach her grandfather’s ears might inflict yet another blow.

Her memories of the Meng family were somewhat hazy by now, but Old Master Meng’s kindness toward her remained vivid.

For a moment, silence enveloped the room.

Suddenly, Uncle Meng seemed to recall something. He slapped his forehead and said, "Oh no, I forgot about your Third Uncle!"

Meng Qianqian’s expression changed slightly. "Third Uncle also came to the Capital?"

Uncle Meng replied, "He went straight to the Lu family to stir up trouble! When we entered the city, he said he wanted to beat Lu Lingxiao senseless and got off the carriage to head to the Lu family first!"

If Third Uncle rashly caused trouble at the Lu family’s residence, he might be mistaken for an intruder and killed without a second thought.

Meng Qianqian quickly stood up. "Tan’er!"

Tan’er’s voice came from the courtyard: "Got it! I’ll go help Third Uncle right away!"

Uncle Meng asked, "A little maid... Can she handle it?"

Meng Qianqian nodded. "Tan’er is quite capable. Uncle Meng, don’t worry."

Seeing her assurance, Uncle Meng stopped questioning any further. "The other reason we came to the Capital—aside from carrying out your grandmother’s orders to secure justice for you—is to bring you back to You State."

Meng Qianqian asked, "Back to You State?"

Uncle Meng replied, "Yes, you’ve severed ties with the Lu family. Why remain in the Capital any longer?"

The inevitable had arrived—the Meng family intended to take her back.

Seventh Granduncle noticed her silence, thinking she was reluctant to return, and gently consoled, "Third girl, don’t fear severing ties with your husband’s family. Once you’re back in You State, your grandfather will select another match for you—a good one this time. We’ll carefully choose a man who will be devoted to you and upright in conduct, ensuring you never suffer another ounce of grief!"

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