Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 165 - 154: Discovered by the Daughter-in-law

Chapter 165: Chapter 154: Discovered by the Daughter-in-law

"Do you need something?"

Lu Yuan adjusted the memorial in his hand without changing his expression.

Meng Qianqian said, "Oh, I just ran into Princess Wanping. I’ll have Xiaoquan relay the details to you later."

Lu Yuan responded with a bland "Hmm."

"Nine! Nine!"

Treasure Piggy broke free from Steward Cen and wheezed as she crawled into the room.

She propped herself up against the table leg, puffing her cheeks in anger and glaring at Lu Yuan with the fierce determination of someone about to expose their degenerate father for the greater good!

Lu Yuan ignored her.

She then truly stumbled her way over, swung her chubby little hand, and punched her neglectful father.

Lu Yuan shot her a frosty glare, making her small body tremble. She immediately stretched her pudgy arms toward Meng Qianqian for protection.

Meng Qianqian hurriedly scooped the little one into her arms. "Grand Commander, you seem busy, so I’ll take Bao Shu back to the mansion now."

With that, she fled hastily under his murderous gaze.

As soon as she left, Lu Yuan’s stoic expression cracked. He pulled a silver needle from his thigh and gritted his teeth. "She really hits hard..."

Back at the Governor Mansion, Meng Qianqian had lunch with the Old Madame and narrated some stories from a novel.

The Old Madame couldn’t get enough. "Tell me more."

Meng Qianqian smiled and said, "It’s time for your midday rest. I’ll continue tomorrow."

"Alright," said the Old Madame.

The obedient Old Madame lifted Treasure Piggy, and the two—one old, one young—went off for a nap.

Treasure Piggy, who had no desire for a nap: "...!!"

Back when she first met Lu Yuan, he would show up every night to bring Treasure Piggy to Haitang Courtyard for nighttime feedings, making Meng Qianqian think he had nothing to do during the day.

Only after marrying into the Governor Mansion did she realize he was an industrious regent—a true example of toil from dawn till dusk.

It wasn’t until nightfall that Lu Yuan returned, first stopping by Tinglan Garden to "greet" the Old Madame. After all, his current "role" was that of the Meng Family’s live-in son-in-law.

Fortunately, the Old Madame was thoroughly satisfied with this grandson-in-law. Not only did she spare him any household rules, but she also allowed him to join her at the dining table.

The Old Madame waved her hand. "Alright, it’s late. Off to rest, the both of you."

Treasure Piggy: I want to go too!

Treasure Piggy wheezed as she crawled toward the door but was heroically scooped back up by the imposing Old Madame.

Treasure Piggy’s face darkened!

Lu Yuan spent mornings in court, handled political affairs during the day, and still wasn’t idle at night. Meng Qianqian suspected that his activities at night were likely personal matters.

In other words, tasks carried out behind the court’s back.

Coincidentally, Meng Qianqian also had her own affairs to attend to, so the two didn’t interfere with each other.

Just as Meng Qianqian began to prepare her writing materials, Tan’er’s voice called out from the courtyard: "Knife Boy, why are you here?"

Shangguan Ling replied, "I’m feeling a bit unwell. Could I trouble Madame to take a look?"

"Elder Sister!"

Tan’er turned toward the house and called out.

"Let him in."

Meng Qianqian answered.

Tan’er moved aside and resumed her swinging on the newly crafted swing set in the courtyard, specially made by Steward Cen after learning of her fondness for swings.

The door stood wide open as Shangguan Ling entered humbly.

Meng Qianqian gestured to a chair by the Eight Immortals Table. "Lord Shangguan, please take a seat."

Shangguan Ling sat down and said, "Madame, please just call me Shangguan Ling."

Meng Qianqian nodded. "What’s troubling you?"

Shangguan Ling extended his left arm. "I sparred with someone earlier, and I think I pulled something. I heard your acupuncture skills are remarkable. Could I ask you to treat me with a few needles?"

Meng Qianqian gave him a glance. "Alright, Ban Xia."

"Coming!"

Ban Xia opened a cabinet and retrieved a set of silver needles, placing them on the Eight Immortals Table.

Meng Qianqian unrolled the kit, revealing two rows of gleaming silver needles.

Shangguan Ling rolled up his sleeve, allowing Meng Qianqian to perform acupuncture on him while he curiously asked, "Madame, are these the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles?"

"They should be," Meng Qianqian replied.

Having married Lu Yuan, there were things she couldn’t hide, so she chose not to bother hiding them.

Shangguan Ling, occupied with other thoughts, failed to notice how odd this answer was—"should be"? It either was or it wasn’t; what did "should be" mean?

He counted the needles and asked, "But isn’t this twenty-five needles?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "One set is for healing; the other for killing."

The killing set was missing one, which she had used earlier that day in the Imperial Palace.

Shangguan Ling suddenly understood. He noticed that the needles Meng Qianqian used on him were all from the first row.

He thought for a moment, picked up a needle from the second row, and asked, "So this one is for killing? Can silver needles really kill?"

Meng Qianqian warned, "Careful! It’s poisoned!"

But of course, Shangguan Ling managed to stab himself.

Looking embarrassed, he turned to Meng Qianqian. "There...should be an antidote, right?"

Meng Qianqian handed him a bottle of antidote.

Once the acupuncture was finished, Shangguan Ling waved his arm in delight. "Wow, it really doesn’t hurt anymore! Thank you, Madame. I’ll be off now!"

He left with the antidote.

Meng Qianqian put away her silver needles. After half an hour, she got up and headed to Lu Yuan’s quarters.

Standing outside the ajar door, she spoke softly, "Grand Commander, it’s me. I’m coming in."

"Hmm."

Lu Yuan responded indifferently.

Meng Qianqian pushed the door open and entered.

Lu Yuan was reviewing secret missives, the sender unknown. This time, he wasn’t holding them upside down.

Meng Qianqian glanced briefly, refraining from inspecting the contents of the letters. "I forgot to mention something to the Grand Commander."

"Speak."

"We were followed in Kunning Palace. Tan’er gave chase but couldn’t catch them."

"Understood. I will investigate this matter."

Lu Yuan replied, noticing Meng Qianqian hadn’t left yet. He gave her a sideways glance and asked, "Anything else?"

Meng Qianqian asked, "The Crown Prince—was it truly you who killed him?"

Lu Yuan clearly hadn’t anticipated Meng Qianqian asking this. He paused briefly and replied coolly, "And if it was? And if it wasn’t?"

Meng Qianqian spoke softly, "It doesn’t matter. Little Nine just wanted the Grand Commander to know—Little Nine is on your side."

Lu Yuan suddenly looked up at Meng Qianqian, his lips curving into a smile. "Meng Xiaojiu, do you know me? Do you understand what it means to stand by me?"

They were already married, making the question odd, as spouses were supposed to share one fate, for better or worse.

But there’s another saying: "Husband and wife are like birds in the same forest; when calamity strikes, they scatter."

Who said couples always have to act as one? She and Lu Lingxiao were the perfect counterexample.

Meng Qianqian gazed steadily into his smiling eyes. The smile did not reach his gaze and carried an icy chill.

She showed no hesitation. "Life rises from the ashes of peril. If there are consequences, so be it."

Lu Yuan’s smile faded as he turned his eyes away and scoffed coldly, "Honeyed words and eloquence."

Meng Qianqian observed his feigned composure and the faint trembling of his lashes. Curling her lips slightly, she placed a bottle of medicine on the table, then turned and left.

Just before stepping over the threshold, she glanced back into the room and said, "Each of my needles carries a different poison. The antidote is different for each."

Lu Yuan: "..."