Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 172 - 161 Father and Son

Chapter 172: Chapter 161 Father and Son

Meng Qianqian listened to her cousin’s words, but felt an inexplicable strangeness she couldn’t quite put into words.

Would Lu Yuan really study Xun Yu’s writings?

Lu Yuan was inseparable from his books, reading anything and everything. Even the storybooks bought for the Old Madam, which he criticized incessantly, he would still finish reading.

The world ridiculed him as a shallow ignoramus, but was that truly the case?

"Cousin, who copied this? The handwriting seems to carry more flair than Xun the Top Scholar’s."

Yu Li admired the manuscript in his hands, the admiration on his face growing ever more pronounced.

"I don’t know. It’s always been in the study. Perhaps one of the Hanlin Officials copied it."

Meng Qianqian ultimately decided not to tell her cousin that it was Lu Yuan’s handwriting while he was drunk.

Yu Li held the manuscript, appreciating it almost obsessively. Initially, it was the text’s content that captivated him; tonight, however, it was the calligraphy that enthralled him, lending the essays an enhanced profundity.

Not only did it embody the vigor of a scholar, but also harbored noble aspirations of helping the world and aiding the common people.

Yu Li read with mounting passion. Meng Qianqian had to call him several times, yet he did not respond.

Meng Qianqian shook her head. "Cousin, you keep reading; I’m going to rest."

Yu Li stayed in the study all night, reluctant to part with the manuscript until dawn. Finally, he neatly arranged the pages on the desk, rubbed his reddened eyes from hours of reading, and gazed into the glowing morning sunlight. In that instant, all the mysteries seemed to suddenly make sense.

"Cousin! Cousin, I understand now!"

Like an overexcited child, Yu Li bolted towards Meng Qianqian’s quarters.

As Nanny Li came out carrying a washbasin, she bumped into him, soaking him. She exclaimed, "Young Master!"

"No matter, no matter!"

Yu Li quickly responded, realizing his rudeness. He turned his back hurriedly and apologized, "Cousin, my apologies!"

"Cousin, I’m here."

In the courtyard, Meng Qianqian had just finished practicing her swordsmanship. Wiping off sweat, she smiled faintly at Yu Li.

As Yu Li looked at his valiant cousin under the morning light, it was as though he saw a beam of light that illuminated his lost path—just like the articles he spent the night immersed in.

"Cousin."

He descended the steps and grasped Meng Qianqian’s wrist. "I want to take the imperial exams!"

A trace of astonishment flickered in Meng Qianqian’s eyes.

The Yu Family was of scholarly lineage. Every child, regardless of gender, was enrolled in the clan school to study. Among them, Yu Li was the most outstanding of his generation.

The Yu Family had urged Yu Li multiple times to take the imperial exams, but after passing only the first-level exam, he had refused to go further.

"It’s boring. I only enjoy learning; I don’t want to do anything else."

Those were Yu Li’s exact words.

Even entering the Imperial College was purely for the sake of scholarship.

Who would have thought that after reading Lu Yuan’s drunken writings, her cousin would be inspired to pursue the exams?

Meng Qianqian smiled. "Alright."

Yu Li and Meng Qianqian joined the Old Madam and Bao Shu for breakfast at Tinglan Courtyard before Yu Li returned to the Imperial College.

Yu Li’s household registration was in You State, so it was unclear if he could participate in the county-level exams in the Capital City. Meng Qianqian decided she would ask Lu Yuan about it later.

Speaking of Lu Yuan, he hadn’t returned all night; who knew what he had been busy with?

"Fish."

Bao Shu waddled over, tugging at Meng Qianqian’s hand and pulling her outside.

In Fengshui Alley, there was a small fishpond with plump koi. Bao Shu could spend hours there, leaning over and playing.

Meng Qianqian thought Bao Shu wanted to visit the fishpond in the alley, but to her surprise, Bao Shu pointed toward the rear mountain. "Fish."

Were there fish there?

Meng Qianqian held Bao Shu’s hand and headed toward the rear mountain.

Along a winding cobblestone path shrouded in quiet mystery, they came upon a rural garden.

On the left of the garden was a vegetable patch; on the right, a fishpond. Beside it stood a small waterwheel that directed water from the pond to irrigate the crops.

Surprisingly, the fishpond was fed with live water flowing in from a canal.

Though Meng Qianqian had never farmed, she understood the principles of water diversion.

This scene reminded her of Xun Yu’s irrigation project in the Western Regions.

So many coincidences—could they really just be coincidences?

Bao Shu ran off to play with the waterwheel, but ended up getting a faceful of water. Enraged, she screamed and "argued" with the waterwheel in gibberish for an entire morning.

Eventually, Meng Qianqian turned off the water, and the waterwheel stopped spinning.

Bao Shu, believing she had won the argument, proudly strutted away, her little head held high.

By lunchtime, Lu Yuan still had not returned to the mansion.

The Old Madam sat at the table, visibly discontent. "Where’s my great-grandson-in-law?"

Meng Qianqian replied softly, "He’s busy with official matters. He’ll return once he’s done."

The Old Madam stared longingly at the Osmanthus Cake on the table, salivating but refusing to eat it, as she had set it aside for her great-grandson-in-law.

Meng Qianqian, too, was puzzled—why had Lu Yuan been gone for so long?

By dinner, he still hadn’t shown up. The Old Madam couldn’t sit still any longer. "I’m going to find my great-grandson-in-law! I don’t care, I don’t care, I just have to go!"

"Alright! I’ll go with you!"

Tan’er accompanied the Old Madam out of the mansion, though only to wander nearby. She wouldn’t actually take her far.

At this time, Qing Shuang was absent, as was Shangguan Ling and Yu Zichuan. After some thought, Meng Qianqian called the steward Cen over.

"Madam, at your service."

Steward Cen bowed.

Meng Qianqian asked, "Steward Cen, where has the Grand Commander gone?"

"This..."

Steward Cen appeared hesitant.

Meng Qianqian fixed her gaze on him. "If it’s inconvenient to say..."

Steward Cen hurriedly said, "It’s not inconvenient; it’s just that I, too, don’t know where the Grand Commander has gone."

Meng Qianqian asked again, "Did he attend court today?"

Steward Cen replied, "His Majesty has suspended court for two days."

It was understandable for the Imperial College to have a break, but suspending court was truly unusual. The Prime Minister’s triumphant return should have been immediately shared with the civil and military officials as important news.

Back when Lu Yuan had returned victorious from the border, it was he who had chosen not to attend court, but the Emperor had not canceled it.

Meng Qianqian had a nagging feeling that something significant was brewing in the court.

"Steward Cen, may I ask, is the Grand Commander allied with the Prime Minister?"

Steward Cen paused in thought, then asked Meng Qianqian, "Madam, has the Grand Commander ever mentioned his past to you?"

Meng Qianqian shook her head. "I only know his mother was a lady from Miaojiang, so he has Miaojiang blood in him. Beyond that, I know nothing."

Steward Cen said, "Though the Grand Commander has Miaojiang blood, he was raised in the Central Plains. The Prime Minister is his adoptive father."

Meng Qianqian was stunned.

Despite all her speculations, she had not accounted for this relationship. No wonder Lu Yuan personally went to the outskirts of the city to welcome the Prime Minister.

Steward Cen continued, "The Grand Commander was separated from his mother as a child and was taken in by the Prime Minister. Initially, he was just a stable boy in the Xun Family. Later, when the Prime Minister discovered the boy could read and was exceptionally clever, he had him serve as a study companion to his own son. In due course, the Grand Commander became the Prime Minister’s adopted son. Few know of this. Does this answer Madam’s question?"

Becoming an adopted son must have come with conditions, no?

And what might those conditions be?

Meng Qianqian’s gaze drifted to the numerous manuscripts Lu Yuan had written while drunk. Was it them?

"I understand now, Steward Cen."

Steward Cen smiled. "Madam is astute. The Grand Commander is fortunate to have married you."

Meng Qianqian shook her head slightly. "It’s too early to say. I don’t know if I am a blessing or a curse to your master."

Steward Cen seemed indifferent to the notions of blessing or curse. He said, "Madam, no matter what happens next, you must trust the Grand Commander. He is a smart man; he would never act without certainty."

Meng Qianqian gave him a searching look. "What is he planning to do?"

Once again, Steward Cen hesitated. "This..."

Meng Qianqian’s tone turned firm. "Take me to him. If you don’t, I will move out of the Governor Mansion."

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