Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 232 - 216: When It’s Time to Act, Act

Chapter 232: Chapter 216: When It’s Time to Act, Act

Governor Mansion.

Zong Zhengxi was woken up by a maid.

Yesterday had been tough on him. As soon as he opened his eyes, his entire body ached, and he was severely sleep-deprived.

He was in a bit of a morning grump.

Lu Yuan sat on a chair and commented blandly, "Any later, and you’ll be late for court."

Zong Zhengxi yawned and glanced at the pitch-black sky, "It’s so early..."

Lu Yuan sipped his tea and replied, "This isn’t the Imperial Palace. The trip takes up some time, so naturally we have to start earlier."

Zong Zhengxi muttered sleepily, "Can’t we skip court for just one day?"

Lu Yuan replied, "No."

Sullenly, Zong Zhengxi crawled out of bed.

The clothes from yesterday were unwearable, so Lu Yuan had someone prepare a new set for him. Zong Zhengxi dawdled, looking very reluctant.

Lu Yuan placed his teacup on the table, "Your Majesty, best hurry; once you’re in the palace, you’ll need to change into the dragon robe first thing."

Zong Zhengxi pouted gloomily, stretching his arms out for the maid to help him dress.

After he finished washing up and stepped outside, the sky was still shrouded in darkness.

Zong Zhengxi asked in confusion, "Do you wake up this early every day?"

He’d thought waking up in the palace was early enough, but on second thought, his commute to the Jinluan Palace was simply from his bedchamber. Lu Yuan, living outside the palace, consistently arrived earlier than him.

Lu Yuan explained, "The Governor Mansion is considered close. Some ministers live farther away; for court at dawn, they have to wake up even earlier. Your Majesty, you’ve never seen a tardy minister, have you?"

Zong Zhengxi remained silent.

He’d always believed being Emperor was tiring, but venturing outside the palace, he realized commoners endured their own hardships, and ministers had their burdens as well.

Lu Yuan glanced at him, "Your Majesty, it’s time to leave."

"Alright."

Zong Zhengxi obediently followed Lu Yuan out of the courtyard.

Suddenly remembering something, he asked Lu Yuan, "By the way, where’s your grandfather?"

Lu Yuan answered casually, "Out for a walk."

The old man had said so himself; mentioning anything more would only cause the two of them to start quarreling again.

Zong Zhengxi looked stunned, "Does everyone in your family wake up so early?"

Not everyone, actually. His mother, for instance, could sleep in until the sun was high.

As they approached the carriage, Ban Xia hurried over carrying a food box, "Master, Miss prepared some snacks for you and His Majesty to nibble on during the trip."

Lu Yuan nodded.

Zong Zhengxi was a bit envious, "Is it because I’m here today, or is this an everyday thing for you?"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Naturally, it’s every day."

Did you seriously think you’re special, kid?

"I don’t get anything to eat before court."

This was a palace rule; the Emperor had to finish court duties before he could dine.

Thinking about this, Zong Zhengxi didn’t find Lu Yuan’s life quite as miserable—at least he could eat something on the road.

"I’m hungry."

Zong Zhengxi declared.

Reluctantly, Lu Yuan opened the food box, spent a long time picking through it, then handed over the smallest snack he could find.

Zong Zhengxi: "..."

-

Just as the pair departed, Bai Yuwei arrived at the door.

She was dressed in Miaojiang garments and claimed to be the eldest daughter of the Miao King. The gatekeeper, fearing her status, invited her to sit in the parlor and immediately reported her arrival to Steward Cen.

But Bai Yuwei was utterly unreasonable; she cornered the gatekeeper, demanding, "Bring Lu Yuan out here!"

The gatekeeper replied, "The Grand Commander has left for court. He just departed. If Miss is here to see the Grand Commander, you might try chasing after him—if you hurry, you might catch up."

Bai Yuwei snapped, "Why would I chase after him? I’m not here to see him!"

The gatekeeper was puzzled, "Didn’t you just say... Who exactly are you here for?"

Bai Yuwei released him, "Where’s Meng Qianqian? If Lu Yuan’s not here, bring her out to see me!"

The gatekeeper calmly asked, "Miss, may I ask if you have a greeting card?"

Causing trouble for the Grand Commander was one thing, but harassing the Young Madam was another.

"Greeting card, my foot!" Bai Yuwei, already impatient, shoved past the gatekeeper, storming inside, "Meng Qianqian! Get out here!"

-

"Young Madam! Young Madam, something’s wrong!"

A maid rushed into Tinglan Courtyard.

Bao Shu had woken up unusually early that day, and Meng Qianqian was braiding her small pigtails.

Hearing the maid’s report, she handed Bao Shu over to Nanny Li, "Let Ban Xia do it for you; she’ll make it nice and pretty."

Bao Shu patted herself, "Nice and pretty."

Meng Qianqian chuckled indulgently, pinching her soft little cheeks before stepping outside.

"What’s going on?"

She asked.

The maid replied, "A Miaojiang woman is here, claiming to be some sort of Miao King’s daughter. First she asked for the Grand Commander, then for the Young Madam, and now she’s fighting with Fugui and the others!"

Fugui was one of the gatekeepers.

Meng Qianqian said calmly, "Take me to see."

The maid nodded, "Yes, Young Madam!"

Bai Yuwei stormed around in a rage. When Meng Qianqian arrived, Bai Yuwei’s whip was about to strike Cen Steward.

Meng Qianqian grabbed the whip with one hand.

Bai Yuwei tugged and looked up, "It’s you? You finally came out!"

Cen Steward bowed respectfully, "Young Madam."

Meng Qianqian ordered, "Cen Steward, take them to treat their injuries. I’ll handle things here."

"Understood."

Cen Steward quickly summoned the guards to escort the battered gatekeepers away.

"How dare you stop me?"

"I’m saving you."

Meng Qianqian brushed Bai Yuwei’s whip away coldly, "Even daring to strike Cen Steward—are you trying to pull the tiger’s whiskers?"

"What whiskers? I..." Bai Yuwei almost let something slip but quickly corrected herself, "Did you bring back an old farmer yesterday?"

Since her grandfather’s identity hadn’t been revealed, she couldn’t casually expose it.

Meng Qianqian glanced at her, momentarily perplexed. How could Bai Yuwei know about this?

"What’s it to you?"

Bai Yuwei declared arrogantly, "Where is he? I want to see him!"

Suspicion flickered in Meng Qianqian’s eyes, but she maintained an unperturbed appearance and replied with a steady smile, "That’s not up to you."

Bai Yuwei sneered, "You’re not planning to detain him, are you? Oh, I see. Are you trying to pull some kind of petty trick? Let me warn you—you’d best stop dreaming! He’s far out of your reach!"

"Oh?"

So she guessed right; her grandfather’s identity was indeed extraordinary.

Meng Qianqian quietly dapped her lips with a handkerchief and said with a faint smile, "Who are you to him that you dare speak this way?"

Bai Yuwei scoffed, "I’m afraid saying it out loud might scare you half to death!"

Bao Shu waved her tiny arms, fiercely: "Scare wash you!"

"Oh dear, dear little ancestor, this isn’t a place for us to play."

Nanny Wan, who had been quietly eavesdropping, was promptly discovered by Bao Shu and hurriedly left, carrying the little young miss away.

Bai Yuwei grimaced, "There’s even a child here."

Her grandfather despised children; she needed to get him out of here quickly.

"This is my last warning."

"And this is mine."

"Refuse me, and face the consequences! Do you think I’m scared of you?"

"Defeated foes who babble—they hold no fear!"

"You, you... you—"

Furious, Bai Yuwei lashed out with her whip toward Meng Qianqian!

Meng Qianqian, unflinching, drew the dagger from her waist and slashed the whip cleanly in two!

Bai Yuwei’s expression changed instantly, "My whip! The whip my grandfather gave me! It’s an imperial gift from Miaojiang—you’re dead meat!"