Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 128 - 123 Sensation in the Capital City

Chapter 128: Chapter 123 Sensation in the Capital City

Ji Li fled in disgrace, utterly humiliated.

With a light leap, Meng Qianqian landed in front of the swing and unsealed Tan’er’s acupoints.

Tan’er let out a long breath: "That chicken, it’s really something! Sister, what did he mean by ’killing to steal the token’?"

Meng Qianqian said, "He hasn’t acknowledged my identity yet. If I can’t gain his recognition, he’ll kill me and take back the Yin Hu Token."

Tan’er stomped her feet anxiously: "What should we do then? He’s so powerful, there’s no way to beat him!"

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly: "No matter. After the commotion tonight, he probably won’t have the face to appear before me for a while."

Before that happens, she would work hard to train her martial arts and strengthen her body, striving to defend the dignity of the Yin Hu Guards when she and Ji Li faced off formally.

"Tan’er, don’t tell anyone about this for now, and keep Ji Li’s identity a secret as well."

"Understood!"

Tan’er giggled and pointed outside, "Sister, that big axe guy also seems to be living in the alley. I heard him heading all the way inside. Do you want to go meet him?"

Meng Qianqian thought for a moment, then shook her head: "No."

She couldn’t win.

The next day, Zhang Feihu paid a visit.

Seventh Great-Uncle, Meng Tianlan, and Yu Li were not present. Yu Li had been taken by Wu Ge’er on a tour of the major academies in the Capital City; it seemed he was seriously considering pursuing his studies there this time.

As for Seventh Great-Uncle and Meng Tianlan, they had been picked up by people arranged by Steward Cen to tour the sights and scenic spots in and around the Capital City.

"Huh? Little Nine, do you have guests at home?"

The clothes hanging on the backyard line had noticeably increased.

Meng Qianqian replied, "My family has arrived."

Zhang Feihu was taken aback and immediately looked around cautiously.

Meng Qianqian invited Zhang Feihu into the main hall: "They went out early this morning."

Ban Xia served a cup of hot tea: "General Zhang, please have some tea."

"Ah, ah!" Zhang Feihu picked up the teacup and took a big sip to be polite, "Hot! Burned my tongue!"

Ban Xia apologized awkwardly: "Sorry, I forgot General Zhang prefers cold drinks. I’ll change it for you."

Zhang Feihu waved it off: "No need, I’ll drink it when it cools."

Ban Xia anxiously glanced at her young mistress.

Meng Qianqian smiled lightly: "Go about your tasks."

Ban Xia left.

Meng Qianqian remembered that Zhang Feihu had previously said he would be leaving the Capital City soon, so she thought he might be here to bid farewell. Recently, she had been staying at home and hadn’t paid much attention to the court’s developments. She was unsure if the Beiliang Envoy had entered the city yet.

Seeing her silent and contemplative demeanor, Zhang Feihu laughed: "Relax, I’m not here to say goodbye. The Seventh Prince of Beiliang came down with a cold halfway here, and the court just sent an Imperial Physician to him. He won’t be arriving anytime soon."

The Seventh Prince’s illness was purely due to the local climate, not caused by the court or Beiliang’s envoy.

However, to prevent any disturbances, the court used escorting the Imperial Physician as a pretext to deploy an entire troop there.

The court originally intended to promote Lu Lingxiao for this task. Unexpectedly, that rascal had recently been flogged ninety lashes and couldn’t even get out of bed. In the end, the assignment fell to Han Ci and Zhao Qingyun.

"Why didn’t General Zhang go?"

This was a major opportunity to earn merit. Based on seniority, Zhang Feihu was the first choice, followed by Nie Hanshan.

Meng Qianqian quickly understood Zhang Feihu’s intent.

He wanted to give younger soldiers more opportunities to earn merit, allowing the Beiliang people to see that Great Zhou had no shortage of talent among its new generation, not just relying on old veterans like him.

Nie Hanshan shared the same sentiment.

Sincerely, Meng Qianqian said, "The broad-mindedness of you two generals truly earns Little Nine’s respect."

"Forget about that." Zhang Feihu waved his hand, "I’m here today to discuss wedding money with you. I don’t know much about the Capital’s customs... um, how much does one usually give?"

Meng Qianqian asked suspiciously, "Wedding money for what?"

"You don’t know?" Zhang Feihu stared at her in shock and took out a wedding invitation from his coat, "You... didn’t receive one of these?"

Meng Qianqian opened the invitation and froze.

Lu Yuan really spared no effort in putting on a show, didn’t he? This wedding invitation... was so convincing!

Meng Qianqian’s stunned expression confirmed Zhang Feihu’s guess in his mind.

Scratching his head, Zhang Feihu asked, "What’s going on? Everyone else received one. How could they forget you? You’re the Grand Commander’s personal guard and live so close. Yours should’ve been delivered first!"

Meng Qianqian was dumbfounded: "E-everyone received one?"

Zhang Feihu nodded: "Yeah, all centurion-ranked and above received invitations. For anyone who didn’t, the barracks will host a three-day feast, and every soldier is promised some wedding money."

Meng Qianqian was completely numb.

"Shocking, isn’t it? I was just as stunned when I first heard!" Zhang Feihu patted her on the shoulder, "I figured, given your status as the Grand Commander’s trusted aide, you wouldn’t need an invitation. By the way, do you know who our future sister-in-law is?"

...

In Changchun Palace.

A wedding invitation also lay on Consort Li’s desk. It was sent from the Governor Mansion to the Duke Mansion, which then passed it on to her for review.

It roughly stated that the Governor Mansion was hosting a wedding banquet on the sixteenth of next month, welcoming relatives and friends.

Eunuch Wang remarked with puzzlement, "The invitation doesn’t even mention who the bride is. How strange. I’ve never seen a wedding invitation like this in my life."

Consort Li snorted: "Lu Yuan has never followed conventional rules. Expecting him to act properly would be what’s truly strange."

Looking at the date, April 16th, Eunuch Wang hesitated: "But this date... how could he take the Emperor and Empress’s auspicious day?"

Pressing her temples, Consort Li slowly said, "He wouldn’t dare to snatch it. Most likely, my elder sister far away in Miaojiang took it instead."

She was fully aware that her sister’s visit to the Capital was to facilitate a political marriage between Lu Yuan and someone from Miaojiang.

If Lu Yuan had a fiancée, she was surely a noblewoman from Miaojiang. Yet who would have thought he would also face a forced marriage one day?

Eunuch Wang tentatively asked, "Your Highness, should we..."

Consort Li asked blandly, "Are you suggesting I take back the date?"

The mere thought of her crazy sister brought a wave of fear washing over her, and Consort Li was reluctant to admit she felt a little intimidated.

Pouting, she said, "Fine, let her have it this once!"

News of Lu Yuan’s imminent marriage to a Miaojiang noblewoman spread like wildfire.

Lu Luo, having gone out to buy rouge, overheard the news and immediately returned to Feng Courtyard to tell Lin Wan’er.

"Miss, didn’t Meng Qianqian always rely on her looks to flirt with the Grand Commander for his support? But now, the Grand Commander is getting married! Once the new wife enters the household and learns Meng Qianqian once seduced her husband, what do you think her fate will be?"

Lin Wan’er recalled how, when she first entered the Lu Family, Meng Qianqian had bullied her incessantly as the legitimate wife, mocking her for being a mere concubine.

Now, the tables had turned. She was about to become the wife, while Meng Qianqian would be the disgraceful "other woman"!

Truly, what goes around comes around!

Lin Wan’er could almost envision Meng Qianqian’s grim fate: being dragged by her hair, placed in torture devices, humiliated in public, and perhaps even drowned in a pig cage.

Furthermore, while the general public may not know about the wedding date, she had heard from the Duke Mansion that the sixteenth of next month was originally the Emperor and Empress’s auspicious day. For Lu Yuan to take this date demonstrated how much he valued his fiancée.

This time, Meng Qianqian had no way out at all.

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