Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 168 - 157 Troubled Couple

Chapter 168: Chapter 157 Troubled Couple

The Yu Family is a scholarly household, where every child in the family is tutored by private instructors.

Yu’s grandfather was a renowned scholar in You State, and under his influence, Yu developed a sense of pride typical of the educated elite.

When she heard that she was to marry a merchant, Yu was deeply displeased. However, the Yu Family and the Meng Family had a long-standing relationship, and the marriage had been arranged long ago—there was no going back.

Those years spent in the Meng Family were like a nightmare; it was not where she belonged, nor was Meng Dalang the husband she had envisioned.

Fortunately, she later met Xie Huai’an, who not only ranked highly in the imperial examinations but was also immensely talented and refined. Furthermore, he was the Princely Heir of the Marquis Mansion—the kind of man she should marry.

She only respected men of letters.

At first, when she heard that Lu Yuan held the prestigious title of Grand Commander, she thought he must be extraordinary—only to discover that he hadn’t even passed the civil service exam.

As for Meng Qianqian.

The Meng Family didn’t teach her to read and write; instead, they trained her in fighting and killing. She didn’t care for this business about Yin Hu or anything else—she only knew that a woman should focus on managing her household and raising children. If women were to take on men’s roles, wouldn’t that disrupt the natural order?

Bing’er, on the other hand, was both talented and accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. That’s what a true noblewoman should be like.

When Meng Qianqian entered the mansion, she discovered that Lu Yuan hadn’t gone very far. Ban Xia was absent, likely tending to Bao Shu at Tinglan Courtyard.

"All sorted?"

Lu Yuan asked.

Meng Qianqian nodded. "I’ve inconvenienced the Grand Commander."

The Marquis Mansion would not let this go and might very well seek him out directly.

Lu Yuan replied casually, "Princess Wanping has also caused you trouble—it’s even now."

Meng Qianqian chuckled. Putting it that way, it did feel fair.

Right now, the two of them genuinely resembled a couple weathering hardships together.

Lu Yuan and Meng Qianqian strolled back to the main courtyard. Meng Qianqian waited for him to step inside first, but to her surprise, he said, "I’ve just remembered—I have some business to attend to. I won’t be back tonight."

Meng Qianqian uttered an "oh" without asking him about the matter. She clasped her hands and performed a polite bow: "Safe travels, Grand Commander."

Lu Yuan shot her a sidelong glance. "From now on, you don’t need to bow to me."

Meng Qianqian was momentarily stunned. "Hmm?"

With an expressionless face, Lu Yuan explained, "What I mean is—you’ll blow our cover."

Meng Qianqian understood. "Understood, Little Nine will remember."

Lu Yuan did not return the entire night, nor did he attend court the next day.

Nanny Li expressed concern whether the new son-in-law had a woman outside; why else would he abandon his newlywed wife and stay out all night?

Meng Qianqian wasn’t worried. For if Lu Yuan were interested in another woman, he wouldn’t have gone through with a fake marriage just to deal with Miaojiang.

Zhang Feihu and the soldiers returned to the border, while the third uncle and seventh grand uncle headed back to You State. Now that the wedding festivities had completely concluded, it was time for her to attend to her own affairs.

"I’m heading out for a while."

"Sister, I want to go too!"

"You stay home."

The place she planned to visit today was not suitable for Tan’er to accompany her.

She changed into a light blue martial outfit, donned a bamboo hat and veil to conceal her appearance.

She first wandered around the workshop district. Unsurprisingly, she still didn’t catch sight of the assassin.

She made her way directly to the gambling den.

The last time she saw her target was here—he had gone upstairs. But when she tried to follow, she was stopped by the gambling den’s attendant.

Meng Qianqian called over the attendant and asked, "What’s being wagered upstairs?"

The attendant glanced at her and replied, "Certainly not stakes you could afford!"

"Interesting." Meng Qianqian spoke calmly. She then scanned her surroundings and approached the busiest gambling table.

This table attracted a crowd for two reasons: its straightforward rules, betting solely on odds versus evens, and the presence of a skilled gambler who had accurately predicted ten rounds in succession.

The crowd had shifted from initial skepticism to following his every wager blindly.

"Place your bets! Place your bets!"

The gamekeeper shouted.

"Young master, bet on odds or evens?"

A burly man asked.

The young master responded, "I’m betting on odds!"

The burly man hurried to wager all his possessions. "Odds!"

The crowd quickly followed suit with their stakes.

"Odds! Odds! Odds! Odds!"

The crowd cheered excitedly, while the young master remained seated with an air of confidence.

Quietly, Meng Qianqian placed two pieces of gold on the table. "Evens."

The gamekeeper was taken aback and glanced at her, while the crowd exchanged perplexed looks toward her.

In the workshop district, one could encounter all sorts of people, and women entering gambling dens were far from uncommon.

The crowd simply thought her foolish—not noticing that the so-called gambling master had already called for odds.

No one warned her; in gambling, people sought profit, not altruism.

The gamekeeper removed the dice cup. "Three points—evens!"

All three dice revealed a single pip each.

Everyone was stunned.

"Didn’t you say it was odds?"

The young master spread his hands. "Just because I said so, does that mean it’s guaranteed? Please, this is a gambling table, not a test. And, might I add, did I ask you to follow my bets?"

The burly man grabbed the young master by his collar and roared, "I lost everything!"

Unperturbed, the young master smiled faintly. "You followed me to win ten rounds. If you had stopped while ahead, wouldn’t things have been fine? Greed has consequences—who’s to blame?"

"You—"

The burly man had just raised his fist but was swiftly dragged away by a gambling den enforcer.

The young master remarked, "Carry on. This time, I bet on evens."

Meng Qianqian said, "A thousand taels. Odds."

Three sixes—odds.

Meng Qianqian added, "Five thousand taels. Odds."

Four, six, and six—odds.

Meng Qianqian raised her stake again to "Ten thousand taels. Odds."

When the cup was lifted, beads of sweat formed on the gamekeeper’s temples.

The dice had been tampered with—the result should have been evens. Yet somehow, three sixes appeared again.

The young master smiled at Meng Qianqian. "This time, I’ll follow your lead."

Meng Qianqian placed a token from the Money Shop onto the table—a gift from Lu Yuan as a bridal token. She didn’t know its precise worth.

However, when the young master and the gamekeeper saw it, their expressions immediately shifted.

The gamekeeper hastily declared, "Miss, your wager is beyond our means. You’re invited upstairs."

Could she finally go upstairs?

Meng Qianqian retrieved the token.

The attendant who had earlier ignored her now respectfully escorted her upstairs.

Downstairs was bustling with people, a mixed crowd filled with the scent of women’s perfume and men’s sweat. Upstairs presented an entirely different scene.

The serene hallway emitted the faint fragrance of sandalwood. The doors to the private rooms were shut tight, but occasionally, sounds of dice shaking and tile games could be heard.

There were eight rooms in total, but only two were occupied.

How to put it? From the ground floor, the place seemed no different from an everyday gambling den. But upon reaching the second floor, one noticed the doors were crafted from superior Huangli Wood.

Even the Wan Flower Pavilion wasn’t this luxurious.

The attendant led Meng Qianqian to the study at the end of the hallway. "Fourth Master, the guest has arrived."

"Let them in."

A young man’s voice echoed from inside.

The attendant opened the door for Meng Qianqian. "Miss, please."

Meng Qianqian stepped inside.

With a bang, the door behind her slammed shut.

Meng Qianqian’s expression did not change as she began observing the room and the man seated in the wheelchair.

The room was dimly lit, the windows tightly sealed, and the strong mix of medicinal and sandalwood scents was unpleasant.

The man, addressed as Fourth Master, raised a smiling face. "So, you were the one who nearly disrupted my game?"

He was much like Lu Yuan—both concealed daggers behind their smiles. However, whereas Lu Yuan’s smile could enchant souls, his was far more sinister.

"I’m looking for someone."

Meng Qianqian stated.