Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 287 - 269: Bao Shu Pulls Off a Big One

Chapter 287: Chapter 269: Bao Shu Pulls Off a Big One

In an inconspicuous old house, Ban Xia sat on a chair, trembling with fear, holding the soundly sleeping Bao Shu.

She had clearly gone out to find the young lady, but halfway there, a group of men suddenly rushed over, surrounding the carriage. Qing Shuang, to protect them, stayed to fight the group herself.

Ban Xia ran and ran with Bao Shu in her arms, but to her dismay, she encountered a second group, and then they were brought here.

She didn’t know what they wanted, but she vaguely heard it had something to do with the young lady.

"Old Gao, Seventh Young Master said to let them go."

"Let them all go?"

"What else? Just let the little one go? Do you expect her to walk back by herself?"

Outside the door, two men were speaking, and soon the door opened. A masked man addressed Ban Xia: "Go on."

Ban Xia stared at them in disbelief, clutching Bao Shu tightly as she timidly moved toward the door.

Seeing they truly did not stop her, she quickened her pace.

Although she didn’t understand why they had released her and Bao Shu, now was no time to dwell on it.

She needed to get back to the Governor Mansion immediately.

But no one had expected that just as Ban Xia carried Bao Shu to the doorway, she unexpectedly ran into Xun Yu, who had his guards with him.

The heavy rain had already ceased, and the street was filled with the damp chill of autumn.

Xun Yu, dressed in a silver cloak, looked as refined as jade, but his expression was notably cold.

He had been to the Governor Mansion before, and Ban Xia recognized him at once, her eyes flashing with unmistakable shock.

And, naturally, he recognized Bao Shu and Ban Xia.

Bao Shu slept soundly, her cheeks free of tears. Whether she hadn’t woken up at all or had already woken and fallen back asleep without knowing what had happened, the child remained fearless.

"Take them away."

Xun Yu ordered.

His guards immediately surrounded Ban Xia.

Ban Xia turned pale and clutched Bao Shu tightly, saying, "Didn’t you just say you were letting us go?"

At that moment, several masked men emerged from the courtyard.

The masked man called Old Gao saluted Xun Yu and said, "Third Young Master, the Seventh Young Master said to release them."

Xun Yu replied coldly, "Who is the master here, him or me?"

In Old Gao’s heart, naturally, both were.

The difference was, Xun Yu was the biological son of the Prime Minister, while the Seventh Young Master was the Prime Minister’s adopted son.

Old Gao said to Xun Yu, "Third Young Master, I am simply following orders. Tonight, I must let them go."

Xun Yu said icily, "And you’re not afraid I’ll kill you for saying that to me?"

Old Gao cupped his hands and replied, "Taking my life is but a word for the Third Young Master, but I am under the Prime Minister’s orders to listen to the Seventh Young Master. As long as I’m alive, I dare not disobey the Seventh Young Master’s command."

Xun Yu’s voice grew colder. "Are you using my father to pressure me?"

Ban Xia shrank back in fear.

For the first time, she saw Xun Yu’s domineering side with her own eyes. To think that he always appeared gentlemanly in public.

What an utter hypocrite. She could feel it deeply now.

"I wouldn’t dare," Old Gao said.

Yet his words were in stark contrast to the fact that he showed no intention of handing over Ban Xia.

Xun Yu made a hand gesture.

His guards instantly drew their swords, pointing them at Old Gao.

Old Gao stood firm. "Third Young Master, apologies in advance."

The two sides began to fight.

Xun Yu’s guards outnumbered the masked men and soon had them surrounded.

Ban Xia stumbled and fell in the chaos.

A guard took advantage of the situation, snatching the child from her arms.

"Miss Bao Shu—"

Ban Xia cried out in alarm.

The guard shoved her to the ground as she lunged forward, then carried Bao Shu over to Xun Yu. "Third Young Master."

Xun Yu glanced at the sleeping child. "Take her away."

"Yes!" the guard replied.

Xun Yu got into the carriage, and Bao Shu was brought inside as well, placed beside him.

Xun Yu was a man accustomed to luxury. Even on a night like this, while on a mission, he wouldn’t put up with any discomfort.

The carriage was spacious enough, with a soft couch that was half the size of a bed, layered with plush cushions and tiger fur, reducing the jolts and bumps.

Xun Yu would certainly not permit a lowly guard to share his carriage, so after placing Bao Shu down, the guard went out to ride with the others.

Xun Yu spared no attention for the little one.

The child rolled over, tugging at a corner of the cushion to cover her tiny tummy.

Xun Yu turned his head, feeling something seemed off, but seeing the child sound asleep, he dismissed it.

As the carriage passed through a narrow alley, it came to a stop.

A man, fully cloaked with a wide-brimmed hat concealing his face, approached the carriage and lowered his voice. "Young Master, it’s done."

Xun Yu pushed open the carriage window.

The man handed over two ornate boxes. "The top is a token of respect for you, and the bottom contains what you asked for."

Xun Yu accepted the boxes, and the man quickly vanished into the darkness.

The carriage resumed its journey.

Xun Yu opened the boxes, first taking out a thick stack of silver notes, counting them carefully. Then he removed a key and a rolled-up piece of parchment.

"Father, with this, there’s no need to worry about military funds. You’ll see—I’m your most capable son."

Pride gleamed in Xun Yu’s eyes.

As he reached out to pick up the box on the couch, his hand found nothing.

Turning his head, he saw that the box, which should have been beside him, had somehow ended up next to the child.

But the child lay there, mouth slightly open, snoring softly.

Xun Yu frowned.

Had he remembered wrong? Did he place it farther away than he thought?

He retrieved the box, placed the key back inside, and continued to examine the parchment.

This was, in every sense, a "treasure map."

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something.

Hmm?

What was the child doing over there?

Bao Shu, sprawled out, had her chubby little hand suspended midair.

What kind of sleeping posture was this?

Xun Yu turned away again.

Whoosh!

He was missing one silver note.

Whoosh!

He was missing another silver note.

When Xun Yu finally turned back again, Bao Shu’s chubby hand was resting gracefully atop the box.

Bao Shu remained motionless, eyes shut tight, like a small glowing Buddha statue.

Did children always sleep so oddly?

Xun Yu inexplicably found the situation strange as he carefully removed her plump little hand. Just as he was about to close the box, a dark shadow suddenly leapt from the rooftop, pouncing on the driver.

The driver let out a sharp cry and hastily pulled the reins.

The carriage came to an abrupt halt, sending Xun Yu tumbling forward, almost hitting the wall.

Furious, he lifted the curtain and barked, "Do you even know how to drive?"

"Meow—"

A tabby cat darted off the driver and vanished into the night.

The driver, aggrieved, said, "Young Master, it was a stray cat!"

The guards escorting the carriage quickly rode back, scanning the area vigilantly to ensure no assassins were lurking nearby.

Xun Yu, irritated, straightened his garments and sat back on the couch.

But just then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something.

The child was gone!

And so was the box!

Xun Yu was struck as if by lightning. "My silver notes! My treasure map!"

In the pitch-black alley.

Tan’er, holding Treasure Piggy, sprinted at lightning speed.

"Treasure Piggy, why are you so heavy again?"

Bao Shu pinched her bulging little pocket. "I’m not heavy."

"If you’re not heavy, then why can’t I carry you?"

"You’re weak."

Tan’er: "..."

"Quick, chase after them! They’re over there!"

Xun Yu’s guards were closing in.

"There are too many of them. I can’t fight while carrying you! Let’s find a place to hide first!"

Tan’er stomped her foot, then leapt into a nearby manor.

"Wow, this manor is huge! The owner must be someone important. Those people won’t dare come in! Treasure Piggy, aren’t I amazing?"

Just as she finished, the guards shouted from outside, "Could that little girl have escaped into the Prime Minister’s Mansion?"

Tan’er’s expression froze: What the hell? Did she just jump into the Prime Minister’s Mansion?

She turned and bolted.

Before she got far, Shangguan Ling came striding by on patrol.

Tan’er hurriedly grabbed a strand of grass to "hide" herself: He can’t see me, he can’t see me, he can’t see me...

Shangguan Ling walked past her and Bao Shu without even sparing them a glance, his face devoid of expression.

Tan’er tossed away the grass and stared at his retreating figure in disbelief. Muttering, she said, "Treasure Piggy... is his swordsmanship so good it blinded him?"

Shangguan Ling’s steps faltered briefly.

Tan’er climbed back out the same way she came in.

Gasping for breath, she said, "If only I had a horse right now..."

Just on the other side of the wall, in the stables, Shangguan Ling rolled his eyes and smacked a horse’s rear. The startled horse bolted out the back gate.

Tan’er’s eyes lit up. "A horse, really?! It’s so majestic and big!"

With a light step, she used her Qinggong skills to leap onto the saddle, holding the little one securely.

Grabbing the reins with one hand, she exclaimed, "Wow, Treasure Piggy, is my mouth magical? If so, then I wish to see Shangguan Ling fall flat on his face! Hahaha!"

A staggered Shangguan Ling, almost tripping in frustration: "...!!"