Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 209 - 193: Mother and Son

Chapter 209: Chapter 193: Mother and Son

The banquet at the Princess Mansion concluded amidst the laughter and chatter of the guests.

The ladies and young misses lingered with reluctance, feeling they hadn’t seen enough, far from enough.

Treasure Piggy, hoisted up by his father, felt he hadn’t performed enough, not nearly enough.

Only the wounded world of Grand Commander Lu Yuan found some semblance of completion.

He glared coldly at the little rascal in his hands.

The little rascal looked utterly innocent, clueless about what mistake he had made, seemingly still puzzled why everyone was praising him while his miserly scoundrel of a father was fuming.

Not realizing his fortune, he plainly thought, "So many people like baby me."

Ultimately, it was Meng Qianqian, risking life and limb, who stepped forward to rescue the little one from fire and water.

"How strange, where did Mother go?"

Meng Qianqian glanced around in confusion and asked Lu Yuan, "Did you see her?"

"No."

Lu Yuan responded flatly.

"What an awkward mother and son duo."

Meng Qianqian muttered under her breath, then holding little Bao Shu’s hand, said, "Come on, let’s go find Grandma."

Bao Shu gave a very cooperative response: "Grandma."

The duo, one big and one small, set off to find Liu Qingyun.

Princess Wanping took light and graceful steps, her fragrance gently wafting as she leisurely approached Lu Yuan.

She glanced at the man sitting on the straw mat sipping tea and found him as captivating as ever.

She, a noble and legitimate princess, could have any man she desired, yet only Lu Yuan refused to lower himself to please her.

She touched her smooth cheek, her eyes swimming with affection as she said, "I knew you’d come to find me. I specifically instructed the guards not to stop you."

Lu Yuan thought of the long line of officials waiting outside—no wonder he was the only one allowed in.

He furrowed his brow slightly and said to Princess Wanping, "I have other matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave now. Please relay to my wife that I’ll be waiting for them in the carriage."

With that, he left without so much as a backward glance.

"Lu Yuan—"

Princess Wanping called out, but he didn’t stop. All she could do was reluctantly watch his departing figure until it disappeared completely from sight.

She murmured with obsession, "Lu Yuan, soon you’ll be mine."

Meng Qianqian could never have imagined that Liu Qingyun would slip away first on her own.

Your son is some kind of ferocious beast? He comes, and you leave?

And then sneak back in the middle of the night to see him?

Bao Shu spread her tiny hands dramatically and exclaimed, "Grandma—disappeared—poof!"

Meng Qianqian was utterly charmed by her, chuckling as she ruffled her little head, "Grandma went home first. Let’s head back as well."

-

The banquet guests left in high spirits, except for Lady Wei, who was beaten up by Liu Qingyun.

Thinking of the disgrace she suffered in front of everyone, the more she dwelled on it, the angrier and more aggrieved she became.

When Prime Minister Xun finally returned to the mansion, she immediately began complaining about the Governor Mansion.

Prime Minister Xun said sternly, "Who gave you permission to create trouble at the Princess Mansion?"

Lady Wei was beside herself with grievance: "Elder brother, you didn’t see how the people from the Governor Mansion bullied me! If you don’t believe me, ask Hong’er—they were the ones who started the trouble!"

Hong’er, Lady Wei’s personal maid, was the one who had attempted to slap Liu Qingyun but was stopped by Meng Qianqian.

She knelt down and said, "Prime Minister, it is true that someone from the Governor Mansion took our seats first."

"The people from the Governor Mansion?" Prime Minister Xun looked at the two of them.

Lady Wei, her eyes red, sat beside her elder brother and said, "It was only later that I found out that the woman from Miaojiang is actually Lu Yuan’s biological mother! Elder brother, wasn’t Lu Yuan an orphan? He served as a servant in our mansion for so many years—when did he suddenly gain a mother from Miaojiang?"

Mr. Yu, an adviser to Prime Minister Xun, listened to Lu Yuan’s background but didn’t look particularly surprised.

Because the Prime Minister Mansion had learned of this early in the morning, but since it had nothing to do with Lady Wei, no one had bothered to inform her.

"Elder brother, you have to avenge me! Our mother, on her deathbed, told you to take care of me and not let anyone bully me. But what have you done? Your own nephew was beaten up by Lu Yuan, and your own sister was humiliated by Lu Yuan’s mother... Are you really going to turn a blind eye?"

Lady Wei spoke as tears began streaming down her face.

Mr. Yu quickly interjected respectfully, "Madam, the Prime Minister regards your nephew more dearly than a son. This matter lies solely with the Prime Minister’s discretion. You’ve been troubled—please return to your chambers to rest and leave everything to the Prime Minister."

"Is that true?" Lady Wei asked, looking at her brother doubtfully.

Prime Minister Xun closed his eyes and nodded faintly.

Only then did Lady Wei wipe away her tears and leave, feeling satisfied.

As Mr. Yu shut the door, he let out a long sigh and turned to Prime Minister Xun, saying, "Prime Minister, Lu Yuan has just gained the favor of the Supreme Emperor. Though he lost the Jinyi Guards, he now commands the Imperial Guards. If he also gains Miaojiang’s support, his future political prospects could become incalculable. He cannot be ignored."

Prime Minister Xun remained silent.

On the other side of the room, another adviser who had been silent, Mr. Gongsun, stroked his beard and said, "I think Miaojiang won’t be that easy to rope in. Shangguan Ling has been lurking by his side for so long. Why not ask him about the situation?"

Shangguan Ling entered the study, cupped his hands, and saluted Prime Minister Xun: "Prime Minister, you called for me?"

Mr. Gongsun spoke up, "I had the Prime Minister summon you. Did you know that Lu Yuan’s mother is from Miaojiang?"

Shangguan Ling replied, "I only discovered this recently and had sent word to the Prime Minister."

Mr. Gongsun continued, "Do you know anything about her parents?"

Shangguan Ling shook his head. "I only heard from Steward Cen that she and her son were separated when he was young. A few years ago, she finally heard news about him working as an official in the Capital City, but Lu Yuan harbors deep resentment towards her and refuses to acknowledge her as his mother. He even adamantly rejected the favorable marriage alliance she arranged for him in Miaojiang. As for his father, Steward Cen never mentioned him."

"What about her family background?" Mr. Gongsun asked.

Shangguan Ling shook his head again. "Steward Cen is quite tight-lipped about Lu Yuan’s family background, so I don’t know much."

The room fell into silence.

If the Black Armor Army under the Chu Grand Marshal were an unyielding bone to chew, then Miaojiang was a slab of juicy meat that no one could sink their teeth into.

In Great Zhou, there was no place they couldn’t infiltrate; even the Twelve Guards had been gradually subverted or taken over.

But Miaojiang had remained impenetrable, impenetrable as a fortress. None of their spies sent there ever returned alive.

This was precisely why they had failed to uncover Lu Yuan’s origins earlier.

Mr. Yu mused, "If she still needs to rely on her son to forge alliances with Miaojiang through marriage, her own status shouldn’t be too significant."

Mr. Gongsun said meaningfully, "Even if her background is significant, as long as she’s not the Miao King’s daughter, she’s not worth worrying about."

Mr. Yu asked, "Does Mr. Gongsun have a solution?"

Stroking his beard confidently, Mr. Gongsun declared, "Since Lu Yuan refused the marriage with Miaojiang, the Prime Minister Mansion can help Miaojiang regain face. I am willing to personally travel to Miaojiang to propose marriage for Young Master Xun Yu!"

Mr. Yu cautioned gravely, "Mr. Gongsun, Miaojiang is very dangerous. Please don’t act rashly."

Mr. Gongsun smiled. "It would indeed be perilous if I went alone. But as Miaojiang has already submitted to the court, if court officials are sent as emissaries, we shouldn’t face any obstruction."

Shangguan Ling cupped his hands and said, "I am willing to escort Mr. Gongsun to Miaojiang!"

Mr. Gongsun, moved, exclaimed, "With Lord Shangguan and the Jinyi Guards, this trip will surely be without risk."

Prime Minister Xun finally spoke calmly, "No need. The Miao King has already left Miaojiang and is on his way to the Capital City."