Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 202 - 186 Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law

Chapter 202: Chapter 186 Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law

Tinglan Courtyard.

The Grand Dowager, who had been longing for a reunion for a month, finally saw the young couple again. She was as excited as a child: "Qianqian! My great-granddaughter-in-law! You’re back!"

"Great-Grandmother."

"Great-Grandmother."

The two of them paid their respects as juniors.

The Grand Dowager pinched Meng Qianqian’s cheeks, then Lu Yuan’s: "Oh dear, why have you both gotten thinner? Is the food in the Imperial Palace not tasty?"

Meng Qianqian smiled lightly: "It’s because we missed Great-Grandmother too much."

"What about the baby?"

Bao Shu patted herself.

Meng Qianqian quickly picked up the little one and kissed her chubby little face: "Of course we missed you, baby."

Bao Shu had many nicknames: Treasure Piggy, Zhaozhao, Baby...

The Grand Dowager was adept at spreading affection equally. Seeing that Bao Shu was hogging her mother, she pulled her great-granddaughter-in-law aside, asking countless questions to ensure he didn’t feel neglected.

"I heard from Ban Xia that you both went to the palace to treat him and Little Fuzi. Are they alright now?"

The "him" mentioned by the Grand Dowager clearly referred to the Supreme Emperor.

Lu Yuan replied, "They’re fine now. The Supreme Emperor and Eunuch Fu have fully recovered."

The Grand Dowager let out a long sigh of relief and then asked, "What about you two? Did either of you fall ill?"

"No, Great-Grandmother, we’re doing perfectly fine." Lu Yuan showed deep respect for the Grand Dowager, never finding her nagging excessive, nor displaying a hint of arrogance or impatience.

The Grand Dowager held his hand and asked many questions, including what they ate and drank daily, whether they slept well, if their house was warm enough, and so on.

In the Xun Family, Old Madam Xun showed just as much affection for Xun Yu, though he had always been left with only the privilege of watching from the sidelines.

Bao Shu hadn’t seen Meng Qianqian for a long time, so she had plunged into her mother’s arms, her little feet kicking with delight, looking quite smug.

Meng Qianqian, sharp-eyed as ever, noticed that the little one occasionally sneaked glances at Lu Yuan.

She couldn’t hold back her laughter: "Miss your father?"

Bao Shu’s little face turned icy: "I don’t."

Meng Qianqian burst out laughing, walked over, and stuffed Bao Shu into Lu Yuan’s arms.

Lu Yuan felt a weight settle in his arms—after a month’s absence, the little rascal had gained some weight again.

Father and daughter locked gazes, both acting unusually aloof.

A moment later, both simultaneously turned their heads away, one to each side: "Hmph."

At dinner, Lu Yuan finally remembered his loyal steward Cen, whom he hadn’t seen since arriving back at the mansion.

Ban Xia said, "Originally, Steward Cen was waiting at the entrance with us for Madam and Mister, but then a soldier came unexpectedly. I don’t know what he said to Steward Cen, but Steward Cen hurried off in a rush."

At the city gates.

Steward Cen alighted from the Governor Mansion’s carriage and rushed towards a Miaojiang carriage.

"May I ask who is inside the carriage?"

Liu Qingyun lifted the bead curtain, revealing a face untouched by the passage of years and stunningly beautiful: "You don’t recognize me anymore?"

Steward Cen was stunned: "Madam... Madam?"

Could it really be Madam?

Good heavens, Madam had come all the way from Miaojiang!

"This humble servant pays respects to Madam!"

He suppressed his astonishment and bowed deeply to Liu Qingyun.

Liu Qingyun’s blood-red lips curved slightly: "It’s been so many years. Steward Cen, you look much more weathered—has dealing with Ayuan’s troubles worn you out?"

Steward Cen chuckled awkwardly: "You flatter me, Madam. Everything in the mansion is fine, nothing troubling. Madam, you, however, look exactly the same. You haven’t changed one bit over the years."

Liu Qingyun laughed and said, "Enough sweet-talking. I heard Ayuan got married and stirred up quite a bit of trouble. He didn’t tell me anything, and you didn’t even notify me?"

Steward Cen replied with a sheepish smile: "Well... wasn’t I just about to send word, and here you are already?"

Liu Qingyun asked leisurely, "It’s just you that came. Where’s Ayuan?"

Steward Cen explained, "The Grand Commander has been busy at the palace dealing with the epidemic. He hasn’t returned in a month."

Liu Qingyun’s smile deepened: "So, I’ve come at a bad time?"

Steward Cen felt a chill run down his spine and replied hastily, "He should be back tonight."

Liu Qingyun lowered the curtain: "Lead the way."

"As you wish."

Steward Cen wiped sweat from his brow and led the Miaojiang caravan into the city.

The guards began whispering among themselves.

"Is she really Grand Commander Lu’s biological mother?"

"Didn’t you hear Steward Cen call her Madam?"

"But wasn’t Grand Commander Lu said to be an orphan? Where’d this mother suddenly come from?"

"Who knows? Maybe years ago she abandoned him, then heard her son became a high-ranking official and shamelessly showed up to claim kinship. That kind of thing isn’t uncommon."

Steward Cen rode back on horseback.

As he glanced back at the gossiping guards, he turned to Liu Qingyun and said, "Madam, please don’t take their words to heart."

Liu Qingyun responded lightly, "Years ago, I did lose my son, so being scolded is to be expected."

Steward Cen hesitated to say more, finally letting out a sigh instead.

An hour later, the carriage stopped at the Governor Mansion’s main gate.

Steward Cen’s legs were sore from riding for so long.

He personally lifted the curtain: "Madam, we’ve arrived."

Liu Qingyun stepped down gracefully, gazing at the grand entrance and the elegant plaque of the Governor Mansion. She raised her brow: "So, this is where Ayuan lives."

By now, Nanny Li and the others were nowhere to be seen at the entrance, indicating that the young couple had returned.

Steward Cen’s thoughts flickered, and he smiled as he said, "Madam, please step inside. I will summon Grand Commander and... Madam."

Ah, now there were two Madams in the residence.

Logically, one should call Meng Qianqian "Young Madam" while addressing Liu Qingyun as "Grand Dowager Madam."

The problem was that addressing Liu Qingyun as "Grand Dowager Madam" would be tantamount to acknowledging her as the mansion’s mistress.

Conversely, if they stuck to calling Meng Qianqian "Young Madam," it would also confirm Liu Qingyun’s status as mistress of the residence.

He, a mere steward, was in no position to decide such matters of hierarchy.

Elsewhere, Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan had just come out from Tinglan Courtyard when a servant with a hurried expression approached them.

"Grand Commander, Steward Cen asked me to report that your biological mother has arrived at the mansion!"

Lu Yuan frowned slightly.

Meng Qianqian asked in surprise, "Where is she?"

The servant replied, "She’s gone to the main courtyard, Madam!"

Lu Yuan remained silent, his expression cold.

Meng Qianqian gestured for the servant to leave, and then rubbed her face: "I didn’t expect your mother to arrive in the Capital City so quickly. The day has finally come for the awkward daughter-in-law to meet her in-laws."

Lu Yuan shot her a sidelong glance.

Meng Qianqian said, "I’m not calling myself ugly—it’s just a saying. By the way, what does your mother like? And dislike?"

Lu Yuan replied indifferently, "She likes control and dislikes anything that’s beyond her control."

Meng Qianqian: "Uh..."

Lu Yuan furrowed his brows: "I’ll go deal with her. You should return to Great-Grandmother’s courtyard."

Meng Qianqian tugged at his sleeve: "Don’t be like that. Since she’s here, I must meet her."

Lu Yuan glanced at her slender alabaster fingers gripping his sleeve and said calmly, "She’s not an easy person to get along with."

Meng Qianqian: "Will she scold me?"

Lu Yuan: "No."

His mother never lost a physical fight but never won an argument—she’d rather act than talk.

Meng Qianqian: "Will she try to take my dowry silver?"

Lu Yuan thought for a moment: "She can’t even do the math properly. You’d sooner trick her out of her silver than the other way around."

Meng Qianqian: "Then, will she forbid me from leaving the mansion and spend all day making rules for me?"

Lu Yuan considered this, then shook his head. That shouldn’t happen either.

Because his mother was even more restless than the two of them. Anyone trying to rein her in would likely find themselves in the opposite position.

Meng Qianqian beamed: "See? I’ve managed to handle Lu Family’s Old Madam and Second Madam for five years already. Your mother, being much more reasonable in comparison, will be a piece of cake for me. Just watch, your mother and I will definitely become the best of mothers- and daughters-in-law!"