Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 173 - 162: Holding Hands, Taking You Home

Chapter 173: Chapter 162: Holding Hands, Taking You Home

The Lin Family.

Lin Ji quietly sat in the pavilion, a pile of special products from the Western Regions laid on the table.

"These dried fruits were personally cultivated by me. The thirteen cities of the Western Continent have long suffered from drought. I built irrigation canals to direct water from Nanjiang to the farmlands, and now the people of the Western Continent no longer endure such hardships."

Opposite him, Xun Yu spoke gracefully about his experiences and achievements in the Western Continent.

Lin Ji listened with a solemn expression, then nodded lightly: "Being able to do practical things for the people can be considered adhering to one’s original intentions."

Xun Yu said respectfully, "That’s because of your excellent teachings, Master. If not for your guidance back then, your student would not be where he is today. One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father; your immense kindness, I will never forget!"

Meanwhile, Mrs. Lin also received gifts from Xun Yu. Aside from the jewelry unique to the Western Regions, the most valuable was undoubtedly the box of Blood Coagulation Ointment.

Mrs. Lin admired it endlessly: "Even the box is so exquisite."

Lin Xiaoru remarked, "The box was crafted by people from the Central Plains and sold there, then resold back here."

Mrs. Lin jumped in surprise: "You walk so silently!"

Lin Xiaoru replied, "I do make noise; you just didn’t hear it."

Mrs. Lin decided not to bicker with her daughter anymore—daughter leaving the house was a good thing, scare or not. It was still better than staying in the study all day.

As she looked at the gifts on the table, the more she looked, the more satisfied she became: "Xun Yu is thoughtful. It wasn’t in vain that your father valued him so much back then. This child, I like him too. Even though his father is already so accomplished, he still strives to excel. If your brother had half of Xun Yu’s achievements, I would be content."

Lin Xiaoru said seriously, "Back then, Father clearly valued that Attendant Student more. He only took Xun Yu on as a student because of the Attendant Student."

Mrs. Lin retorted, "Utter nonsense! When your father took in Xun Yu, how old were you then? Were you even born yet?"

Lin Xiaoru replied, "I was born."

She had her own deductive methods.

Some things, though unclear in childhood, make sense as one grows up.

Father taught two students: one inherited his ideals, becoming an exemplary official whose name would be remembered for generations, while the other stepped onto the path of treachery, despised by all.

He curries favor with the Prime Minister, aligns with the Crown Prince, plots harm against the Crown Prince, conspires with Consort Li and her son, repeatedly betraying his benefactors for personal gain, using every possible means to achieve his goals.

Could Sister Meng’s husband truly be so despicable?

Did Father truly misjudge him back then?

The night was dark, the wind was strong.

Meng Qianqian and Steward Cen sped along in a carriage, arriving at the foot of the mountain.

Before the carriage had even steadied, Meng Qianqian sprang out like an arrow.

Steward Cen hurriedly got off the carriage and chased after her, urgently shouting: "Madam! It’s dark, the mountain path is treacherous, slow down! Watch your step!"

Meng Qianqian sprinted up the mountain and entered the temple, which by then had no visitors. The monks were all performing their evening prayers, and Meng Qianqian, guided by memory, headed to the courtyard at the back of the mountain.

She had been here once before. Which room was Lu Yuan’s meditation chamber...

The third one on the right.

This is it!

On the paper windowpane, the silhouette of someone holding a knife towards their own wrist was illuminated by the candlelight.

Meng Qianqian kicked open the door: "You’re not allowed to do stupid things!"

Lu Yuan’s motion of holding the knife paused.

Meng Qianqian, quick-eyed and nimble, darted forward to snatch his dagger: "Who’s giving you permission to do this...this..."

She stopped mid-sentence when she noticed Lu Yuan’s left hand holding a washed peach.

Startled, she looked at the knife in her hand and then at his peach, stammering: "Were you just... peeling a peach?"

Lu Yuan replied oddly, "What else?"

Meng Qianqian opened her mouth: "But... but Steward Cen said..."

She turned around and pointed outside.

But there was no sign of Steward Cen outside.

"Said what?" Lu Yuan said in an annoyed tone, "Said I was seeking my own demise here at the temple?"

Meng Qianqian was speechless.

Because, truthfully, Steward Cen never explicitly mentioned "seeking his own demise." She simply jumped to conclusions.

Lu Yuan took the dagger back, peeling the peach leisurely as he asked without much interest: "Meng Xiaojiu, why are you so tense? My life and death—does it matter so much to you?"

Meng Qianqian blurted without hesitation: "Of course it matters! You are my husband. If you die, I’ll become a widow again."

"Hm."

Lu Yuan let out a cold snort.

Meng Qianqian had never seen him work before. Other than cracking walnuts for a few children at the border—he cracked them beautifully, with the kernels whole—it hadn’t crossed her mind that he would peel peaches just as artfully.

Meng Qianqian recalled what Steward Cen had said: that Lu Yuan was separated from his family at a young age. A pampered young master suddenly fallen to the streets must have endured countless hardships.

Lu Yuan handed the peeled peach to Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian: "For me?"

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