Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 132 - 127 Intimate

Chapter 132: Chapter 127 Intimate

Nanny Wan glanced at the tall figure disappearing at the end of the alley, then looked back at the returning Miss Bao Shu and sincerely sighed, "The neighbors in the alley... are truly good people!"

Meng Qianqian said to Bao Shu, "From now on, you are not allowed to sneak out. Do you understand?"

She then instructed Nanny Wan, "Next time, make sure to lock the courtyard gate."

Bao Shu’s eyes darted mischievously, sneaking a glance at a certain corner of the courtyard wall.

Meng Qianqian: "Block up the dog hole too."

Treasure Piggy: "..."

That night, Qing Shuang came to pick up Bao Shu. Meng Qianqian mentioned that she would be attending a banquet, and coincidentally, Bao Shu also planned to meet some new friends that day—quite the serendipity.

This was Meng Qianqian’s first time visiting someone’s home under her own name. She couldn’t go empty-handed, so she thought of asking Lady Wang the next day about Lady Xing’s preferences. Unexpectedly, Steward Cen arrived at dawn.

He held an exquisite jar, his face beaming with smiles. "I heard from Qing Shuang that Miss Meng is visiting Lady Xing’s home. Lady Xing loves the sugared pastry from our Governor Mansion, so I had the chef prepare some for Miss Meng to take as a gift."

Meng Qianqian accepted the jar. "Thank you, Steward Cen."

Steward Cen smiled and said, "Miss Meng flatters this old servant. You are the future mistress of the Governor Mansion and will be my master as well. If there’s ever anything you need from this old servant, please don’t hesitate to ask."

Meng Qianqian pressed her lips together.

Well, there wasn’t really room for refusing, was there?

Seeing her silence, Steward Cen chuckled and pointed to the jar in her arms. "Lady Xing has been craving this for a long time. She’ll definitely like it."

Meng Qianqian nodded. "Alright."

On the day of the banquet, after preparing alongside Yu Li, Meng Qianqian boarded the family carriage with Ban Xia and Tan’er in tow.

"Cousin, are you nervous?"

"Is Cousin nervous?"

Yu Li hesitated for a moment before honestly admitting, "A little."

The Yu Family was decently prominent in You State, but compared to the noble families in the Capital City, they were utterly unremarkable.

He lowered his voice and said, "I’ve heard that if a brick falls in the Capital City, it can hit three marquises."

Meng Qianqian laughed. "Not quite, but there’s some truth to it. Beneath the Emperor’s feet, in the heart of the Imperial City, aristocratic families rise and fall, court power shifts; one might throw gold around in a tavern today as a marquis, only to have their property seized tomorrow. And there are always commoners who ascend in an instant, gaining titles and fortunes, draped in embroidered robes."

Yu Li fell into thought after hearing this.

Meng Qianqian smiled gently. "No need to be nervous, Cousin, you have me."

Yu Li: "Alright!"

Cousin was truly different from when they were young. She had grown into a young woman, exuding a reassuring strength.

The carriage stopped outside the Xing Mansion, and the group alighted.

Yu Li said to the young servant at the door, "I am Yu Li from the An’yuan Marquis Mansion, and this is my cousin, surnamed Meng. We are here together."

The young servant was stunned as he looked at Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian slightly nodded. "Yes, together."

The young servant hurriedly replied, "The two of you! My lady has been waiting for you. Please, come in!"

The group entered the Minister’s Mansion.

Lady Wang and Lady Zhou had already arrived. They were chatting with several other noblewomen and daughters in the garden, while a dewy-eyed little maid stood beside Lady Zhou.

The little maid spotted Meng Qianqian from afar and blinked her large eyes before walking quickly over.

Tan’er’s almond-shaped eyes widened. "Sister Zhou?"

Zhou Nanyan covered her mouth. "Shh, shh, shh! Keep your voice down; I sneaked out. Don’t let anyone overhear!"

Only after saying this did she notice the unfamiliar young man standing behind Meng Qianqian. "And he is—"

Meng Qianqian replied, "My cousin, Yu Li. He just arrived in the Capital City."

Yu Li cupped his hands in greeting.

Zhou Nanyan returned the gesture. "If you’re Sister Meng’s cousin, then you’re my cousin as well. Have you made any acquaintances in the Capital City yet?"

Yu Li shook his head.

"That’s easy to fix!" Zhou Nanyan ran off with a pitter-patter and soon dragged back a handsome young gentleman. "This is my second brother, Zhou Ye! Second Brother, he’s Sister Meng’s cousin, Yu Li. Take him to hang out!"

Yu Li quickly gave a polite greeting. "Young Master Zhou."

Zhou Ye smiled. "Please, just call me Zhou Ye. Yu Li, we’re playing pitch-pot. Come, I’ll bring you along!"

Yu Li looked at Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian curved her lips. "Go ahead, Cousin. We’ll meet the noble ladies later."

Zhou Nanyan reminded, "Second Brother, you must take good care of Young Master Yu."

Zhou Ye flicked her forehead. "Do you not trust your brother? Yu Li, let’s go. If we’re lucky, Uncle Xing might watch us play pitch-pot after court."

Yu Li was pulled away by Zhou Ye.

Meng Qianqian asked Zhou Nanyan, "What did you mean by sneaking out?"

Zhou Nanyan lowered her head gloomily. "I’m about to enter the palace, aren’t I? Consort Li suddenly sent me a governess to teach me court etiquettes. I’m not allowed to step outside—it’s suffocating! Today, my grandmother tricked her into attending a banquet, so I managed to slip away. But I mustn’t let anyone know I’m here at the Xing family’s banquet, or I’ll be reprimanded again."

Meng Qianqian said, "That’s really tough."

Zhou Nanyan said pitifully, "Isn’t it? By the way, Sister Meng, aren’t you also about to enter the palace? Hasn’t your family arranged for a governess to teach you?"

Tan’er suddenly realized. "So the person you beat up was the governess sent by Consort Li!"

Zhou Nanyan: "..."

Meng Qianqian and Zhou Nanyan went to greet the noble ladies and presented the gift to Lady Xing.

Lady Xing was genuinely delighted, clutching the jar with affection.

Zhou Nanyan winked mischievously at her mother and aunts.

Lady Zhou, both annoyed and amused, said, "Alright, I got it. Go play!"

The two girls left.

The noble ladies exchanged knowing glances and sighed.

During the boating excursion, the Grand Commander had treated them politely out of consideration for Meng Qianqian and had even escorted her home. They had thought he was interested in Meng Qianqian.

Who could have expected that the Grand Commander was planning to marry someone else?

"I’ve heard she’s a noble lady from Miaojiang," Lady Wang said.

"Which family’s daughter?"

Before her figure appeared, Lady Lin’s voice reached them first.

Lady Xing smiled and said, "We’re talking about your daughter. She’s always hiding away. When will we get to meet her?"

Lady Lin pouted. "She’s just like her father—a bookworm!"

Lady Zhou teased, "The Sacrificial Officer of the Imperial College is just a bookworm in your eyes? Don’t you think there’s a line of people who’d gladly take your ’bookworm’ if you’re not interested?"

Lady Lin scoffed, "I’d like to see who dares!"

Lady Xing said to Lady Lin, "Lately, I heard many have sought you out to arrange placements in the Imperial College."

Lady Lin sat down on a stone stool and lazily waved her handkerchief. "Don’t even bring up the Imperial College. Today, I just want some peace and quiet here."

Elsewhere, the Yu Family had also arrived.

In the five years since the An’yuan Marquis had been stationed elsewhere, the Capital City’s dynamics had completely transformed. Those currently holding important positions at court were no longer his old contacts.

Yu Family wasn’t particularly acquainted with Lady Xing, but thanks to the Marquis Mansion’s deep roots, they had procured an invitation through a distant relative.

Aside from paying respects to Lady Xing, she also hoped to connect with some of the other noble ladies.

Yet unexpectedly, just as she entered the estate, she caught sight of Meng Qianqian sitting in the pavilion.