Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 213 - 197: People from Miaojiang

Chapter 213: Chapter 197: People from Miaojiang

Meng Qianqian found a patch of forest and tied her horse securely.

"Tan’er, you stay here and wait for me. I’ll follow and take a look."

"I want to go with you, older sister."

Meng Qianqian gently touched her temple. "Shangguan Ling isn’t someone to be trifled with. The two of us together would draw too much attention, making it easier to get caught. Besides, anyone he’s treating this cautiously must not be just an ordinary person. We need to be extremely careful."

Tan’er pouted and hesitated for a moment. "Fine."

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly. "What a good, obedient child."

Tan’er said, "N, come back quickly, okay?"

Meng Qianqian nodded. "I promise you, just half an hour. Whether I find anything or not, I’ll return to the forest to find you."

After pausing and thinking of something, she added, "If you encounter any danger, run back to the city immediately. Don’t wait for me."

Although Tan’er was reluctant to leave Meng Qianqian behind, she responded softly, "Got it."

Meng Qianqian patted her head again before quietly slipping out of the forest, hiding herself in a bush opposite the relay station.

She waited and waited. Just as she thought nothing would happen today, a faint vibration came from the ground.

She pressed her ear to the ground and heard the sound of horse hooves and rolling carriage wheels.

They’re here!

Meng Qianqian held her breath and lowered her body even further.

After about ten seconds, a small group with horses and carriages approached. There were only around thirty people and a single carriage.

What surprised Meng Qianqian, however, was that they were all dressed in Miaojiang attire.

Shangguan Ling’s reaction was more respectful than she had anticipated. He personally stepped forward to lift the curtain of the carriage for them.

The first to alight was a man in his twenties, handsome and elegant, with a dignified demeanor and a noble air.

Following him was a petite and charming young girl.

The girl called the man "Brother."

For some reason, Meng Qianqian felt that the girl’s appearance was vaguely familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before.

Shangguan Ling had his back to Meng Qianqian, so she couldn’t see his expression. However, for just a fleeting moment, she sensed a slight stiffness in his posture.

But it was indeed only for a moment.

If it weren’t for her prolonged familiarity with Shangguan Ling, she probably wouldn’t have noticed his subtle change at all.

It seemed that the people he had been waiting for weren’t this pair of siblings.

"Who are you? Why are you waiting for us here?"

The girl asked boldly and gracefully.

At this moment, the man she had called "Brother" stepped forward a few paces, revealing the Silver Moon Scimitar hanging from his waist.

Meng Qianqian was drawn to the scimitar and instinctively took a closer look.

Shangguan Ling cupped his hands and replied, "I am Shangguan Ling, sent by the Prime Minister to greet honored guests."

The girl raised her eyebrows and said, "Brother, didn’t I tell you? We haven’t even reached the Capital City, and people are already lining up to curry favor!"

The man responded warmly and elegantly, "My little sister was just joking. Please don’t take it to heart, Lord Shangguan."

Shangguan Ling quickly replied, "I wouldn’t dare."

Meng Qianqian grew even more puzzled. For someone of Shangguan Ling’s rank as Commander of the Imperial Guard to lower himself like this, just who were these people?

Then the man explained to Shangguan Ling in a gentle tone, "My grandfather encountered a minor issue along the way, delaying his journey. He asked me and my younger sister to enter the city first."

With the scorching weather, Shangguan Ling invited the pair into a private room at the relay station to talk.

The Jinyi Guard surrounded the relay station on all sides, prepared for any eventualities.

Meng Qianqian furrowed her brows and decided not to alert them unnecessarily for now.

"Sister!"

When Tan’er saw Meng Qianqian return, she immediately tossed aside the dogtail grass she had been chewing on for half an hour. "Did you see them?"

Meng Qianqian nodded. "They’re Miaojiang people."

Tan’er wrinkled her small brow. "Miaojiang again?"

Meng Qianqian resolved to inform Lu Yuan as soon as they returned. "It’s late. Let’s go pay our respects at the grave."

The two retraced their path.

Opposite the first relay station they had passed, there was only one mountain, though a small peak lay about a hundred zhang to the east.

Meng Qianqian decided to give it a try, and to her surprise, she really did find it.

"The Purple Bamboo Forest, an unmarked grave. This is the right one."

It had been neglected for too long; the grave was overgrown with weeds. Meng Qianqian cleared them away and, together with Tan’er, burned spirit money, offered incense, and kowtowed as juniors to honor the deceased.

By the time they returned to the Capital City, night had already fallen.

Tan’er was completely exhausted, slumped over her horse with her tongue hanging out, her eyes rolling back, exhaling heavily.

Meng Qianqian couldn’t help but laugh. "There’s a shop up ahead that serves good lamb soup."

Tan’er instantly perked up, sitting upright and full of energy.

Meng Qianqian handed the stable boy ten copper coins to feed the horses.

As soon as they sat down, they heard a startled exclamation from behind them. "Little Yin Hu, it’s you again? Are you following us?"

Tan’er whirled around, hands on her hips. "N this chicken, how could N follow N!"

Ji Li frowned. "Don’t call me a chicken!"

Tan’er: "Chicken chicken chicken, chicken chicken chicken, chicken chicken chicken chicken chicken chicken chicken chicken!"

Ji Li: "...!!"

Amused, Meng Qianqian smirked. Taking Tan’er’s hand, she approached and sat down at the same table as Si Snake and Ji Li.

She sat across from Si Snake, while Tan’er faced Ji Li.

"Mind if we join you?"

She asked.

Si Snake said, "As you please."

Ji Li complained, "I do mind!"

Meng Qianqian glanced at the plain buns on the table. "I’ll pay."

Ji Li immediately shouted, "Waiter, five more bowls of lamb soup!"

Tan’er and Ji Li buried themselves in their food.

Si Snake’s eating was refined, clearly someone who had never been forced to fight for his meals.

"You’ve got something on your mind?"

Si Snake suddenly inquired.

"Hm?"

Meng Qianqian was caught off guard.

A voice from her memory flashed—Yin Hu had told her, "Si Snake’s eyes see through everything. Never lie in front of him."

Si Snake said, "If you don’t want to talk, just pretend I didn’t ask."

After some thought, Meng Qianqian decided it was no major secret. She substituted her tailing them with the pretense of running into them by chance.

A small adjustment was simple—she merely moved the grave’s location a bit farther away.

After listening, Si Snake paused, then asked, "Was it the Silver Moon Scimitar with seven inlaid gemstones on the sheath?"

Meng Qianqian was startled. "That’s right. Have you seen it?"

Si Snake replied, "When looking for Chen Long, I passed through Miaojiang once and had the honor of seeing it. It’s the Miao King’s family heirloom, and only the Miao King and his heirs are eligible to wield it. He must be the Miaojiang Young Master, the Miao King’s grandson."

Meng Qianqian drew a sharp breath.

She had suspected that the people whom Prime Minister Xun was courting were significant, but she had not guessed they would be this prominent.

After the Chu Family’s downfall, border garrison command had gradually fallen into Prime Minister Xun’s hands. Coupled with court influence already under his control, if he also succeeded in allying with the Miao King, they might truly stand no chance.

"The Miao King?" Tan’er cradled her bowl and tilted her head. "He only has a daughter, right? When did he get a grandson?"

Ji Li clicked his tongue. "And what do you know about Miaojiang business?"

Tan’er huffed, "I just know!"

Si Snake calmly explained, "The Miao King indeed only has one biological daughter. But it’s said that his son was adopted, and the Miaojiang Young Master is his adopted grandson."