Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 191 - 175 Brother, I Am Called Xiao 9

Chapter 191: Chapter 175 Brother, I Am Called Xiao 9

Chen Long watched Meng Qianqian warily.

Meng Qianqian said, "Anyway, your choice is between being my husband or my brother. Pick one!"

"Meng, Xiao, Jiu!"

Outside the small garden came Lu Yuan’s sharp and furious shout.

Meng Qianqian’s body trembled. She turned to Chen Long and said, "Actually, I already have a husband. So, you can only be my brother! That’s settled! I’ll go coax my husband first!"

She stood up and quickly hurried down the steps.

After walking a dozen steps, as if remembering something, she glanced back at Chen Long with a smile: "Brother, I’m called Little Nine! I live at the Governor Mansion—don’t forget to come find me!"

Chen Long froze in place.

Meng Qianqian swiftly left the small garden and arrived in front of Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan’s expression was cold, and the murderous aura around him was suffocating, giving the impression he could unsheathe his blade at any moment.

Meng Qianqian raised her hands, which were wrapped like a dumpling, and pitifully said, "I was just trying to win over Chen Long."

Lu Yuan’s gaze fell on her bundled-up hands. "A ploy of self-harm too?"

Meng Qianqian braced herself and gave a faint "Mm."

"You might not believe it if I told you—this Yin Hu... made a mistake."

Of course, she couldn’t admit it—she still had her pride.

Lu Yuan snorted coldly. "Hmph."

Ban Xia had already taken Bao Shu to find the old matron, and Yu Zichuan had gone off to "eat melon." This place was now left with only Meng Qianqian, Lu Yuan, and Qing Shuang.

Meng Qianqian blinked her eyes and immediately made a counteraccusation. "I was just about to get him to let something slip!"

Lu Yuan said coldly, "So you’re suggesting that I ruined your fun?"

"I wouldn’t dare!" Meng Qianqian hastily flattered him. "In fact, I could even guess a little. He must’ve come under Princess Wanping’s orders to get the Monkey Order from Lin Wan’er. Princess Wanping goes to any lengths to win over the Grand Commander."

Shifting the blame onto someone else—she was truly clever.

Lu Yuan countered, "And yet you were the one who wagered me as a bet?"

Meng Qianqian: "..."

Meng Qianqian smiled. "Speaking of which, isn’t the Monkey Order in the Grand Commander’s possession?"

Lu Yuan said, "Returned it already."

After all, he wasn’t part of the Twelve Guards; holding onto a token was of no use to him.

Meng Qianqian: "Oh. Then, shall we go back to the banquet?"

Lu Yuan, with an icy demeanor, said, "Not in the mood anymore."

Meng Qianqian froze. "Huh?"

Qing Shuang explained, "The banquet is full of people badmouthing the Grand Commander. The Grand Commander doesn’t want to lose face in front of Madam."

Meng Qianqian burst into laughter. "So, my husband also has concerns for his dignity."

Lu Yuan’s long lashes fluttered slightly as he maintained an expressionless face. "I’m only bothered by their chatter. Besides, the Lu Family’s dishes appear unappetizing!"

Meng Qianqian stifled her laughter. "Of course, the Lu Family’s cooks can’t compare to ours, can they?"

Lu Yuan clasped his hands behind his back. "I’m glad you understand."

Meng Qianqian curled her lips into a smile. "I’ll check if Great-Grandmother has woken up. If she’s awake, we’ll head home together."

The old matron was in the inner quarters, which required passing through the courtyards of the elderly madam and several female relatives. It wasn’t appropriate for Lu Yuan to enter, so he waited in the small garden.

Chen Long was nowhere to be seen.

Qing Shuang asked, "Do you need someone to follow him?"

Lu Yuan said, "You wouldn’t be able to track him."

Qing Shuang hesitated to speak.

Whether someone could keep up wasn’t the issue—her main concern was sneaking away to enjoy some "melon."

Lu Yuan strolled around the garden for a while.

Suddenly, a man in his early twenties, dressed in lavish robes, swaggered into the garden.

Behind him followed several tall and burly guards.

"Oh! I was wondering who it might be—it’s none other than the illustrious Grand Commander!"

He approached Lu Yuan from behind, laughing heartily.

But on closer inspection, his gaze towards Lu Yuan carried blatant disrespect.

Lu Yuan turned around, a faint smile gracing his lips. "So it’s Young Master Wei. Weren’t you in Qi State accompanying the Elder Madam Wei? How do you find the time to come to the Capital City?"

Wei Mingxuan flicked the tassel of his hairpiece with pride. "My uncle has returned to the Capital, so naturally, I must come to see him! I’m staying in the Capital from now on—no more leaving!"

His mention of "uncle" clearly referred to none other than the recently appointed Duke, Prime Minister Xun.

Wei Mingxuan’s cheerful demeanor quickly shifted. His smile disappeared, replaced by coldness. "I heard that my cousin was beaten at your mansion not long ago. Is this how you serve my uncle with such diligence?"

He had just arrived in the Capital, and when his cousin Xun Yu was pummeled to look like the God of Longevity, he was still en route. It wasn’t until he reached the Duke Mansion that he learned of the incident.

Since the Supreme Emperor had already forbidden retaliation against the old matron, Wei Mingxuan naturally couldn’t defy that decree. So, he came to bother Lu Yuan instead.

Lu Yuan’s smile remained unchanged. "Young Master Wei is truly well-informed."

Wei Mingxuan corrected, "Call me Young Master Cousin!"

Wei Mingxuan’s mother was Prime Minister Xun’s biological sister. In his younger years, he had stayed at the Xun Family estate and was somewhat familiar with Lu Yuan.

But back then, Lu Yuan was merely a skinny stable boy.

Wei Mingxuan sneered and sighed mockingly, "I miss those days. The horses you fed were always plumper than others’. Oh, how comfortable was it to sleep in the stables?"

Lu Yuan’s smile deepened. "Quite comfortable, actually. If Young Master Cousin envies it, I can prepare an identical stable for you."

Frustrated that his repeated taunts failed to provoke Lu Yuan, Wei Mingxuan grew increasingly irritated.

He extended a finger and rudely jabbed Lu Yuan’s chest repeatedly. "Don’t forget—so long as you’re my uncle’s dog today, you’ll always be my uncle’s dog!"

Qing Shuang took a step forward.

Wei Mingxuan showed no fear, casting a mocking glance at Qing Shuang before addressing Lu Yuan. "What? Do you intend to bite the hand that feeds you?"

Lu Yuan smirked. "Young Master Cousin exaggerates. Your words—I will remember them."

Satisfied at last, Wei Mingxuan withdrew his hand, then pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the fingers that had touched Lu Yuan, as if they were sullied.

"Ah, that woman just now—she’s from your mansion, isn’t she?"

He pointed in the direction where Meng Qianqian had left. "She’s quite pretty. Later, send her to my carriage."

Wei Mingxuan had been a lecher ever since his days at the Prime Minister’s Mansion. He had often taken liberties with maids and, as he grew older, turned his sights to respectable women.

Without waiting for Lu Yuan’s response, Wei Mingxuan impatiently turned to him and barked, "Hey! Didn’t you hear what I said? That girl—send her to this Young Master—"

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Yuan lifted a leg and mercilessly kicked him, sending him flying.

Wei Mingxuan slammed into a stone table in the garden, shattering it in half.

He then stumbled onto the ground in a humiliating heap, writhing in pain and unable to get back up.

His guards were aghast. Swords drawn, they charged at Lu Yuan, but Qing Shuang intercepted them, engaging them in combat.

Lu Yuan walked over to Wei Mingxuan, step by step, and looked down on him from above, all traces of cordiality gone from his gaze.

Wei Mingxuan convulsed. Struggling to lift his head, he stared at Lu Yuan in disbelief. "You... you dare... lay a hand on me..."

"Lay which hand? This one?"

Lu Yuan’s foot slowly settled onto Wei Mingxuan’s right hand.

Panic flashed across Wei Mingxuan’s face. "Lu Yuan, what are you trying to do?"

Lu Yuan smiled faintly, but it was chilling. "Spill some blood."