Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 129 - 124: Mother and Daughter Reunion

Chapter 129: Chapter 124: Mother and Daughter Reunion

After a night of heavy rain in the Capital City, the sky suddenly cleared at dawn. The courtyard was filled with the scent of soil and fresh grass, and crystal-clear rainwater clung to the branches and leaves of the crabapple trees.

Meng Qianqian finished practicing with the Brocade Spring Saber for an entire hour. It was good, but she always felt... it was a bit too light.

She suddenly thought of the massive axe she had seen that bearded neighbor wield one night. She wondered what weapon she had once used—it must have been heavier than the Brocade Spring Saber.

As she was pondering, a soft, milk-like voice called out from outside the door: "Nine!"

Meng Qianqian’s eyes lit up as she slid the Brocade Spring Saber back into its sheath.

Nanny Wan, bursting with joy, tottered to open the gate: "Oh my, oh my, look who’s come!"

Bao Shu sat in Qing Shuang’s arms, calling out, "Nanny, Nanny!"

"Yes, yes!" Nanny Wan beamed, her face practically glowing with delight. "Miss Bao Shu, Miss Qing Shuang, please, come in!"

"Nanny Wan."

Qing Shuang nodded in greeting.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Bao Shu squirmed to get down from Qing Shuang’s arms. She wiggled her little bottom, reached out her tiny arms, and tottered unsteadily toward Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian watched her with a smile, waiting until Bao Shu reached her on her own before bending over to scoop her up.

Since her engagement had been finalized, according to marriage customs, she was no longer allowed to visit the Governor’s Mansion. She would have to wait until the wedding to meet her future husband.

Although Lu Yuan was merely a fake groom, Nanny Li didn’t know that. She watched over Meng Qianqian like a hawk every day.

It had been some time since she had tidied up the Book Pavilion, and the little one hadn’t come to visit either.

"Miss Little Nine," Bao Shu cooed in her soft baby voice.

Meng Qianqian pinched her chubby cheeks. "If you missed me, why didn’t you come to see me?"

Bao Shu, with the demeanor of a little adult, let out a sigh. "Busy."

Meng Qianqian couldn’t stop laughing. "Busy with what? Since when do you know the word ’busy’?"

Bao Shu babbled a string of incomprehensible baby talk, leaving Meng Qianqian puzzled.

Fortunately, Qing Shuang knew the full story and explained: "Miss Bao Shu has made quite a few friends in the Capital City. The youngest is just one month old, and the oldest is three or four years old. She’s sent out invitations, asking them to attend the wedding banquet at the Governor’s Mansion. She even instructed them to bring gifts."

Meng Qianqian’s lips twitched. Unsure, she asked, "And... how exactly did she instruct them?"

Could she really say that much?

Qing Shuang recalled how Bao Shu, with a serious expression, had gestured at a group of well-dressed toddlers while babbling and mimicking a red envelope. "I think... she managed to get her point across."

Meng Qianqian: "..."

Lu Yuan had his wedding robe; Meng Qianqian had her bridal gown; Bao Shu also needed her own little celebratory outfit. Today, Bao Shu had come to invite Meng Qianqian to help her pick one out.

"At Yanyu Pavilion," Qing Shuang said.

Tan’er was still sound asleep, so Meng Qianqian didn’t wake her. She brought Ban Xia, along with Bao Shu and Qing Shuang, and boarded the Governor’s Mansion carriage.

Today, Yanyu Pavilion was as bustling as ever. Despite the seamstresses repeatedly insisting that the owner had already accepted orders and wouldn’t take any more, the crowd of admirers didn’t dwindle.

Meng Qianqian stepped off the carriage with Bao Shu in her arms. Both were momentarily stunned by the throng of people.

At that moment, another carriage arrived at the entrance of Yanyu Pavilion.

Lin Wan’er stepped down, accompanied by Lu Luo.

Meng Qianqian had never been interested in Lin Wan’er, but Lin Wan’er always seemed to lock eyes with Meng Qianqian the moment they appeared together.

However, Lin Wan’er’s state of mind was different this time.

She arrogantly strolled up to Meng Qianqian, her gaze drifting over the child in Meng Qianqian’s arms. She naturally recognized the little one—after all, the clothes she wore were tailored by Lu Mother herself.

The child was Lu Yuan’s daughter.

Her own grandson received no such affection, yet someone else’s child was lavished with tailored garments one after another.

Did they think fawning over Meng Qianqian like this would curry favor with the Governor’s Mansion?

In the end, wasn’t Lu Yuan about to marry someone else?

"Hey, why are you standing so close to my lady?"

Ban Xia had noticed Lin Wan’er and immediately extended her arm to block her from approaching her mistress.

Lu Luo sneered. "What’s there to be so proud about? Do you really think you can climb the ranks just because of a child?"

Ban Xia shot back, "Isn’t the one climbing the ranks because of a child your fox-spirit mistress? No proper matchmaker, pregnant out of wedlock, shamelessly barging into the household—she’s disgraced women everywhere. If her father knew how shameless his daughter was, he’d probably crawl out of his coffin just to slap her silly!"

"You..."

"What ’you’? Can’t even talk properly—why don’t you stay home and stop embarrassing yourself?"

Lu Luo turned beet red from the scolding. The retort sounded familiar, as if she’d been on the receiving end of it before. "Don’t get too smug!"

Ban Xia, channeling Tan’er’s haughty tone, replied, "What if I am? What can you do about it?"

Bao Shu turned her little face in confusion.

Meng Qianqian quickly covered her ears. "Don’t listen."

Lin Wan’er gestured toward Meng Qianqian with her hands, signing: Meng Qianqian, the Grand Commander is getting married, and the Lu Family has received the invitation. If I were you, I’d slink back to You State with my tail between my legs. The Governor’s wife isn’t someone you can mess with—I’m afraid you might not survive.

Lu Yuan, what are you doing? Sending invitations to the Lu Family?

She didn’t mind; after all, the embarrassing one would be Lu Lingxiao.

Lin Wan’er: Are you scared?

Meng Qianqian nodded. "There’s one thing you’re absolutely right about: the Governor’s wife isn’t someone to be trifled with. Guards."

Several Jinyi Guards stepped forward immediately.

Meng Qianqian glanced at Lin Wan’er and said calmly, "In the future, as long as I’m here, she’s not allowed to come in."

"Yes!"

The Jinyi Guards responded in unison, lining up and forming a barrier to block Lin Wan’er and her maid.

Lu Luo gritted her teeth. "Meng Qianqian, stop abusing your power!"

Meng Qianqian didn’t even turn her head. "Slap her."

A Jinyi Guard delivered a swift slap to Lu Luo, knocking a tooth loose.

Lu Luo held her bleeding mouth, no longer daring to shout.

The crowd turned toward the commotion.

Lin Wan’er felt an immense humiliation. She clenched her fists, her eyes filled with venom as she glared at Meng Qianqian’s retreating figure.

The shopkeeper from Yanyu Pavilion personally came out to greet Meng Qianqian and her party with the utmost deference.

Meng Qianqian, what’s so special about you?

Do you really think these people respect you? They’re only fawning over Bao Shu. Wait until Bao Shu gets a formal mother—I’ll see how arrogant you are then!

The way you’ve been seducing the Grand Commander—I’ll make sure the Governor’s wife knows on the wedding day!

The shopkeeper guided Meng Qianqian’s group to the third floor with great care.

He knelt before Meng Qianqian, personally serving her tea. "The owner is busy working on garments and couldn’t come to greet you and Miss Bao Shu personally. Please forgive us."

Meng Qianqian smiled and nodded. "You’re too kind, Shopkeeper."

Bao Shu was rolling around on the clean wooden floor, flipping somersaults and having the time of her life.

The shopkeeper chuckled and said, "To be honest, Miss Meng, this is our first time making celebratory clothes for such a small child. We’re a bit unsure. Perhaps you could tell us what Miss Bao Shu likes? We’ll create a few designs for you to choose from."

Meng Qianqian glanced at the little tiger cub rolling around on the ground and thought for a moment. "It’s hard to put into words. Do you have a pen?"

The shopkeeper quickly brought out paper, ink, and brush.

Images of Bao Shu’s many adorable, spirited expressions flashed through Meng Qianqian’s mind. One brushstroke at a time, they came to life on paper.

She set the brush down. "Something like this, I think."

...

"Owner! Owner!"

Yun Xiyao was in the middle of cutting fabric when the frantic sound of pounding on her door interrupted her. She opened the door with a frosty expression. "Didn’t I say I wasn’t to be disturbed this month? Do you want to lose your position as shopkeeper?"

The shopkeeper handed over Meng Qianqian’s design, barely able to contain his excitement. "Owner, look!"

Yun Xiyao gasped audibly.

...

Leaving Yanyu Pavilion, Meng Qianqian decided to stop by her tea shop.

Ban Xia suddenly pointed ahead. "Miss, look! Isn’t that the young master? Huh? Why did he go into the gold shop? Is he here to buy gold? And where’s Brother Wu?"

In recent days, Steward Cen had arranged for several family members—Seventh Uncle, Third Uncle, and Uncle Meng—to tour the Capital City. Yu Li, however, had declined the invitation, expressing a desire to visit the local academies. Meng Qianqian had assigned Brother Wu as his driver.

Ban Xia added, "And now he’s leaving the gold shop and heading into our tea shop."

Meng Qianqian said, "Let’s go greet my cousin."

Bao Shu pointed at Yu Li. "Cousin."

Meng Qianqian smiled. "You should call him Uncle."

Bao Shu struggled to pronounce "Uncle" and pouted in frustration.

Meng Qianqian entered the tea shop with Bao Shu in her arms.

Inside, Liu Changsheng was entertaining guests. A clerk escorted them in. "Proprietress!"

Meng Qianqian looked around but didn’t see Yu Li. She asked the clerk, "Where’s the young man in the blue long robe? Where did he go?"

The clerk replied, "Ah, that gentleman? I remember him. He was asking for directions and then left through the back door."

Meng Qianqian felt something was off about Yu Li. "Where was he asking directions to?"

The clerk said, "The gambling den."

Ban Xia almost dropped her jaw. "Young master is going to a gambling den?"

The clerk hesitated. "That gentleman... is he your cousin, Proprietress?"

Meng Qianqian said to Bao Shu, "Stay here with Qing Shuang."

Bao Shu pointed to herself. "Want, go."

Meng Qianqian ruffled her little head. "I’ll take you when you’re older."

Ban Xia said, "Miss."

Meng Qianqian said, "You stay here too."

The gambling den was no place for them.

Meng Qianqian left the tea shop, following the directions the clerk had given her toward the gambling den.

Soon, she spotted Yu Li’s figure. But instead of entering the gambling den, he turned into an alley next to it.

Meng Qianqian followed.

At the alley entrance, she overheard Yu Li speaking to someone.

"You’ve finally agreed to meet with me."

"Didn’t I tell you not to seek me out? I’ll take care of arranging your entry into the Imperial College. Just wait for news."

"That’s not why I came to see you."

"Then what is it?"

"Aren’t you really... going to meet your cousin?"

Meng Qianqian mulled over this. Cousin? They must mean me. Could this woman really be connected to me?

"I have nothing to do with the Meng Family anymore. Why do you all keep trying to force me to see her?"

The woman’s emotions seemed agitated, and without another word, she stormed out of the alley—only to come face-to-face with Meng Qianqian at the entrance.