Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 134 - 129: The Whole Capital City Dotes on Meng Xiao 9

Chapter 134: Chapter 129: The Whole Capital City Dotes on Meng Xiao 9

Out of nowhere, Yu Li was suddenly given a little brother, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.

At first, he thought Han Lin was just messing with him, but Han Lin proved his sincerity through his actions.

They transitioned from playing arrow tossing to Cuju, and as Yu Li’s opponent, Han Lin kept feeding him the ball—so much so that Han Lin’s teammates angrily scolded him.

What Yu Li didn’t know was that this group of young aristocrats wasn’t so accommodating to just anyone. While they were upstanding in nature, they were also a bit exclusive at times.

But what could they do? He was Little Yin Hu’s cousin.

Little Yin Hu, the one who brooked no defiance.

Yu Shi stood watching from a distance for quite a while. Seeing Yu Li blend seamlessly with that group of noble sons, she felt both joyful and astonished.

Yu Li was an introverted and shy young man. A few extra words in conversation with others would make his face turn red. Bringing him here today was partly to broaden his horizons and partly to help him get acquainted with the Sacrificial Officer’s wife.

"Madam, should I call the young master now?"

The housekeeper asked.

Yu Shi shook her head. "No need, let him play a while longer."

This group of young men’s backgrounds were anything but ordinary—especially since the Lin Family’s young master was also here.

Yu Shi’s thoughts wandered to Meng Qianqian.

Even Yu Li knew to make connections, yet after finally having the opportunity to set foot in the Minister’s Mansion, all she did was chase butterflies in the garden with a few little maids.

She’d heard that the Meng Family arranged a good marriage for her in the Capital City, and the husband-to-be was someone holding an official post.

Officials were everywhere in the Capital City. A ninth-rank petty official was an official, and a first-rank Grand Commander was also an official—it was worlds apart.

It was impossible for her to marry a Grand Commander. Anyone looking favorably upon the Meng Family was likely from a modestly influential household, at best with a family member holding some inconsequential post in a government office.

If only she’d spoken a little sweeter and acted a little softer earlier, perhaps Yu Shi might have been able to ask the Marquis to secure a minor post for her husband.

As she pondered, she arrived at the banquet held in the grand garden.

To her surprise, apart from Lady Xing, the hostess who was still entertaining guests, many of the other ladies and maidens had already left the banquet.

Yu Shi greeted Lady Xing and asked in confusion, "Am I late?"

Lady Xing chuckled. "Not at all. They’ve gone to see Miss Meng."

At the mention of Meng Xiaojiu being present in the mansion, everyone had dashed over like rabbits, terrified of being too late to catch a glimpse.

"Miss Meng? Surely not..." Yu Shi’s heart skipped a beat.

Lady Xing smiled politely. "Ah, I forgot the Marchioness just returned to the Capital City and hasn’t heard—Yin Hu Guard’s Meng Xiaojiu."

Yu Shi truly hadn’t heard. She paid no attention to military matters and knew nothing about the Black Armor Guards or the Twelve Guards. Even now that Lady Xing had mentioned it, she couldn’t comprehend the Yin Hu Guard’s significance within the Great Zhou.

However, judging by the attitudes of several other ladies, she could deduce that this was someone very important.

So it was just someone with the same surname after all. She had thought for a brief moment—how could it possibly be that girl?

Lady Xing graciously poured tea, saying, "Marchioness, have some tea."

Yu Shi hardly had a connection with Lady Xing, let alone Meng Xiaojiu, making it far too abrupt to ask to meet the latter outright.

She picked up her tea, took a sip, and smiled. "What excellent tea."

The stage had been set, and the troupe sang one performance after another. Yu Shi estimated that they had been performing for about an hour when the ladies and maidens finally returned, all beaming with radiant smiles.

Yu Shi couldn’t understand—was this Yin Hu Guard truly so distinguished? Even the Sacrificial Officer’s wife, the Imperial Censor’s wife, and the Commandery Princess of Yongning all went to proactively seek her out.

Meanwhile, Lady Xing, who should have been overshadowed, didn’t seem to mind at all. Instead, she wore an expression of pride and shared honor.

Lady Lin sat down beside Lady Xing, her face glowing with joy. "It’s settled then—next time, it’ll be at my house."

Lady Zhou, hands on her hips, glared at her. "You beat me to it—so frustrating!"

The southern wing of the inner courtyard.

Zhou Nanyan poked her head out from behind the canopy, whispering, "Sister Meng, have they all left yet?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "They’ve left. Come on out."

Zhou Nanyan, drenched in sweat, exhaled in relief. "Phew, that scared me. Aunt Xing, Aunt Wang, and Aunt Lin’s visits don’t matter much—but if others found out, it’d be a mess. Sister Meng, let’s keep fishing!"

Meng Qianqian smiled. "Alright."

Zhou Nanyan needed to avoid strangers, so Meng Qianqian stayed with her the whole time and didn’t return to the banquet. Along the way, Zhou Ye sent a servant to deliver two messages, reassuring Meng Qianqian that Yu Li had been well taken care of and she needn’t worry.

Yu Shi left the banquet without seeing Meng Qianqian, assuming that she couldn’t handle the situation and left early.

Yu Shi found Yu Li and instructed him to gather his belongings so he could move to the Marquis Mansion the next day.

"I’ve already discussed it with the Marquis. From now on, you’ll live in the Marquis Mansion."

"There’s no need, Aunt."

Yu Shi had now heard this phrase twice in one day. Her brows furrowed. "You’ve only spent a few days with her, and now you’re speaking just like her? Once you move into the Marquis Mansion, you’ll become the young master of the Marquis Mansion. Here in the Capital City, others will hold you in higher regard because of it."

Yu Li replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Aunt, but I’d rather continue living with my cousin."

Yu Shi froze for a moment before frowning. "You and your cousin..."

Yu Li quickly replied, "Please don’t misunderstand, Aunt! I only see her as my sister, and she only sees me as her brother!"

He refrained from mentioning Meng Qianqian’s impending marriage.

He didn’t have a good impression of the Marquis Mansion. When he had visited it, the servants looked at him as if he were an unwelcome poor relative seeking handouts.

His cousin’s family never regarded him with such judgmental eyes.

Yu Shi sighed. "I see. You dislike the servants of the Marquis Mansion. I’ll discipline them properly. It wasn’t easy for me to convince the Old Madam to let you move in."

Yu Li replied, "In that case, I shouldn’t trouble you further, Aunt."

Yu Shi’s expression darkened slightly.

She had been quietly praising him earlier, but now here he was, acting so contrary.

Becoming the young master of the Marquis Mansion—a status others dreamed of—meant nothing to him?

So be it then.

Zhou Nanyan rarely got the chance to be out and about, so she played with Meng Qianqian until nightfall. Yu Li also stayed at the Minister’s Mansion, where he exchanged poetry and ideas with the sons of the Xing Family and Zhou Ye, gaining much in the process.

On the carriage ride home, Meng Qianqian asked Yu Li, "Cousin, did you make any friends today?"

Yu Li’s face still held traces of excitement. Scratching his head, he replied, "I don’t know if I can really call them friends, but Young Master Han invited me to his home tomorrow, and Young Master Zhou and a few others will also be there."

Meng Qianqian smiled. "Cousin, do you want to go?"

Yu Li asked, "May I go?"

Meng Qianqian replied with a gentle smile, "Of course. Cousin, do you like them?"

Yu Li nodded. "Yes!"

Meng Qianqian smiled again. "Then, Cousin, do you want to study with them?"

Yu Li fell silent.

He had asked them, and they were all studying at the Imperial College. By rejecting his aunt today, he feared the Marquis Mansion might view him unfavorably, leaving him uncertain if he could still enroll at the Imperial College.

After returning to the Marquis Mansion, Yu Shi went straight to the Marquis of Anyuan’s study.

She asked softly, "Husband, is there any progress on Li’er’s enrollment at the Imperial College?"

The Marquis of Anyuan replied, "I was just about to discuss this with you. Li’er arrived too late—the entrance exams for the Imperial College were held last month. If he wants to enroll, he’ll have to wait until next year."

Yu Shi’s expression changed. "Can’t he take the exam again?"

The Marquis of Anyuan frowned and sighed. "You’re asking for Lin Ji to set a special exam just for him? The Marquis Mansion of Anyuan doesn’t have that kind of influence."