Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 157 - 148: Keep Quiet, Don’t Make Trouble

Chapter 157: Chapter 148: Keep Quiet, Don’t Make Trouble

Nanny Li had just finished transferring the accounts with Steward Cen in the bookkeeping room when she returned to the main courtyard with a heart full of mixed emotions.

She mused to herself that although the new son-in-law seemed a bit unconventional, as long as he treated Miss well, she could scold him less.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Nanny Wan came to report, "The young master took Miss out."

Nanny Li trembled all over. "What did you say? Out—out? Out which gate?"

Nanny Wan replied, "The Governor Mansion’s main gate!"

"Who takes their newlywed wife out on the second day of marriage? What kind of propriety is that?"

Nanny Li inwardly cursed Lu Yuan several hundred more times!

Nightfall swiftly descended.

Two Ferghana Horses dashed wildly through the streets of the Capital City, eventually catching up with Zhang Feihu and his companions ten li beyond the North City Gate.

"General Zhang! General Nie!"

Hearing Meng Qianqian’s call, Zhang Feihu thought he misheard and asked Nie Hanshan, "Did you hear a voice?"

Nie Hanshan replied, "Seems like it..."

Han Ci tightened the reins. "It’s Little Nine!"

Zhang Feihu and Nie Hanshan pulled their horses to a halt simultaneously, swiftly turning back toward the Capital City.

In the night, they could see Meng Qianqian desperately riding toward them on horseback.

Zhang Feihu hurriedly spurred his horse forward to meet her. "Slow down! Do you want to lose your life?"

Once she was close enough, Zhang Feihu barely had time to stop his horse before jumping down, one hand catching his own reins and the other grabbing Meng Qianqian’s.

Meng Qianqian dismounted, panting as she said, "General Zhang!"

Nie Hanshan and Han Ci arrived shortly after, both dismounting as well.

Meng Qianqian greeted them as well, "General Nie, General Han."

Nie Hanshan asked, "Why are you here?"

The news of the army’s mobilization had not been shared with her, after all.

In truth, they had already received the orders during yesterday’s wedding—they were to depart today. But everyone had tacitly agreed not to tell her.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to see her one last time; they just didn’t want to ruin her mood after her wedding.

"You’re all so biased," Meng Qianqian said, glancing at Han Ci.

Han Ci was with the Imperial Guard and had no need to return to the borders. The fact that he was here could only mean he had come to see them off.

Zhang Feihu and Nie Hanshan scratched their heads.

Han Ci replied, "It’s not the fault of these two generals. My uncle told me."

Meng Qianqian thought to herself: She’d forgotten that this guy’s uncle was the Great General Han.

Han Ci clasped his hands and saluted the person behind Meng Qianqian. "Grand Commander."

Only then did Zhang Feihu and Nie Hanshan notice that someone had followed behind her. Both cleared their throats and turned to salute as well. "Grand Commander."

"You may continue chatting. Han Ci, feed the horses," said Lu Yuan.

"Understood, Grand Commander," Han Ci replied.

The two of them walked away.

Zhang Feihu exchanged a glance with Nie Hanshan. Nie Hanshan said, "Alright, I’ll go feed the horses too."

He led their horses and caught up with Lu Yuan and Han Ci.

Zhang Feihu looked at Meng Qianqian, wanting to speak but hesitating, and after a long moment, sighed deeply. "It was so hard to leave without looking back."

Now that the little girl had shown up, he found himself unable to muster the resolve to leave.

He had said his farewells to her early on precisely to avoid a moment like this—watching her watch him leave, both of them riddled with sorrow.

Meng Qianqian said nothing, merely looked at him quietly, a hidden grievance buried deep in her gaze.

Zhang Feihu’s heart softened instantly, hit with a bittersweet ache. "Ah, that’s not what I meant... I..."

He turned away, wiping his reddened eyes before asking in his usual tone, "Is the Grand Commander treating you well? He hasn’t bullied you, has he?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "The Grand Commander treats me very well. It was he who brought me here to find you all today."

Zhang Feihu said, "At least he has some decency. If he ever bullies you, come to Yumen Pass, and the brothers will teach him a lesson!"

Meng Qianqian nodded, "Alright."

Zhang Feihu tilted his head back and muttered, "The weather tonight is quite good."

Seeing the sheen in his eyes, Meng Qianqian softly said, "The journey to Yumen Pass is long. Please take care on the road and extend my regards to Generals Zhao and Yue as well. My inability to see them off in person fills me with regret."

"What’s there to regret?" Zhang Feihu wiped his eyes again, waving it off nonchalantly. "Alright, alright, it’s late. Go back. From now on, as the wife of the Governor Mansion, you can’t throw childish tantrums anymore."

"I’ve never thrown tantrums," Meng Qianqian said.

Zhang Feihu sheepishly muttered, "That was just me rambling."

Meng Qianqian turned her face away.

Only in front of Zhang Feihu could she display a hint of childishness.

Zhang Feihu panicked. "Alright, alright, my fault, my fault."

After much coaxing, he finally managed to appease Meng Qianqian’s pout.

This entire ordeal left Zhang Feihu completely drained. Consoling a child was harder than battling on the front lines—who would understand such hardship?

"Little Nine." Zhang Feihu’s expression suddenly turned serious. "You... haven’t given up on investigating the Chu Family’s case, have you?"

Meng Qianqian had anticipated this topic and did not deny it. "No."

Zhang Feihu sighed. "The Chu Family case is far from simple. The depths of its connections may be beyond your imagination. I hope you’ll let it go."

Meng Qianqian fixed her gaze on him. "General Zhang, do you know something?"

Zhang Feihu shook his head. "I don’t know, I just feel that continuing to investigate will place you in grave danger."

Meng Qianqian replied solemnly, "I’m not afraid of danger."

Zhang Feihu gave her a bitter smile. "Exactly. If you were afraid of danger, you wouldn’t have gone to the border."

He rested his hands on her shoulders. "Promise me this—if you do encounter danger, make sure you inform the Grand Commander. Never face it alone."

Meng Qianqian didn’t answer immediately.

Even the Twelve Guards had harbored traitors. Was Lu Yuan truly someone she could trust without reservation?

"Oh no! The horse ran off!" came Nie Hanshan’s frantic shout from the grass.

Zhang Feihu bristled. "Nie Hanshan! How many horses have you let run off now?"

The three grown men began chasing after loose horses, while Lu Yuan stayed aloof, seated calmly on his own horse, exuding an air of indifference.

The three men ended up covered in dirt and still failed to catch the horse.

Han Ci had duties at the military encampment and couldn’t go without a horse, so in the end, Meng Qianqian gave her mount to Zhang Feihu.

Zhang Feihu mounted the horse and exchanged a distant look with Lu Yuan.

The two men said nothing, but a mutual understanding seemed to pass between them.

The three rode off, disappearing into the depths of the night.

Meng Qianqian stared unwaveringly in the direction of Yumen Pass until Lu Yuan spoke. "Reluctant to part?"

Meng Qianqian drew her gaze back and replied calmly, "All feasts must come to an end. Little Nine understands that."

"Good. Let’s return to the mansion," Lu Yuan said.

"Yes," she responded.

Given her previous experience at the border, Meng Qianqian instinctively moved forward to lead Lu Yuan’s horse.

Lu Yuan’s lips twitched slightly. "If you walk the horse back, how long do you think it’ll take? I have morning court tomorrow. I don’t have time to waste with you!"

Meng Qianqian considered for a moment, then released the reins. "Grand Commander, please ride on ahead."

Lu Yuan snorted coldly. "If I leave my newlywed wife alone on the streets, are you hoping to make it blatantly clear that this marriage of ours is a sham?"

Meng Qianqian frowned. Not this, not that—what should she do, then?

Lu Yuan said indifferently, "Get on."

After a pause, he added, "I don’t want the dowager to demand explanations from me as soon as I return."

Meng Qianqian fell silent at the mention of the dowager.

She raised her eyes, first looking at Lu Yuan’s stoic expression, then at the space he had left for her on the saddle. After hesitating briefly, she vaulted lightly onto the horse, settling in front of him.

"Hold on," said Lu Yuan.

"Yes," she replied, gripping the saddle firmly.

Lu Yuan clasped the reins, and from a distance, it looked as though he had encircled her in his arms.

Meng Qianqian cautiously edged forward, but the saddle was only so wide. As soon as the horse began to gallop, she was thrown back, landing heavily against his broad chest.

Lu Yuan’s strong hand immediately steadied her waist, his voice low and husky with a touch of restraint. "Behave yourself. Don’t squirm."

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