Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 288 - 270: Mother-Daughter Reunion

Chapter 288: Chapter 270: Mother-Daughter Reunion

Meng Qianqian followed Xun Qi to an old residence near the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

The residence was in disarray both inside and out. Masked men lay strewn across the ground, evidence of a harrowing battle just moments earlier.

Old Gao was busy setting a dislocated arm back in place for one of his comrades.

"Old Gao!"

Xun Qi frowned.

Old Gao turned around in surprise and quickly bowed. "Young Master Xun Qi!"

"What happened?"

Xun Qi demanded.

Old Gao answered hesitantly, "Third Young Master came by and took the child away."

Meng Qianqian glanced around and asked, "Where’s Ban Xia?"

Old Gao, seemingly aware of Meng Qianqian’s identity and a little taken aback by her composure, replied with embarrassment, "Inside. She was determined to rush out and throw her life away, so I... locked her in for now."

"Miss! Miss!"

Ban Xia heard Meng Qianqian’s voice and furiously pounded on the door.

Old Gao hurried over to unlock it.

Ban Xia burst out crying, "Miss—"

Meng Qianqian gently squeezed her icy hands. "Are you hurt?"

Ban Xia shook her head, tears streaming as she sobbed, "Bao Shu, she..."

Meng Qianqian wiped the tears from Ban Xia’s cheeks. "I know. Go get on the carriage first."

Ban Xia hesitated and said, "Qing Shuang..."

Meng Qianqian reassured her, "Qing Shuang is on the carriage. Go take care of her."

Hearing that Qing Shuang needed care, Ban Xia quickly left.

What Ban Xia didn’t expect was that Bai Yuwei was also on the carriage.

Ban Xia exclaimed in shock, "Cousin?"

Bai Yuwei hummed softly in acknowledgment and shifted to the side, making room for Ban Xia.

In the courtyard, Meng Qianqian told Xun Qi, "Young Master Xun Qi, you broke your word."

Xun Qi had no rebuttal.

He had promised to return the person to her unharmed, but he hadn’t fulfilled that promise.

A true man does not make excuses for himself.

"I will go find Xun Yu and demand your daughter back."

Meng Qianqian cut to the point and analyzed sharply, "Haven’t you realized it yet? Xun Yu doesn’t care about you, his sworn brother. He’s the biological son. You, your brothers, all of you are simply stepping stones for him to climb higher."

Xun Qi furrowed his brow. "You don’t need to waste your efforts sowing discord between me and Xun Yu."

Though he said this, a faint discontent appeared in his eyes when Xun Yu was mentioned.

Meng Qianqian stopped just short and said no more.

Xun Qi remarked, "He will likely bring the person back to the Prime Minister’s Mansion. If you trust me, you can wait for me here."

Meng Qianqian retorted candidly, "Unfortunately, I don’t trust you."

-

Tan’er and Bao Shu were riding horses, galloping swiftly through the boundless night.

When it rained, Bao Shu had a carriage.

Now there was no carriage, yet the rain had stopped. Could this not be considered the extraordinary luck of a "little treasure piggy"?

It was just that Tan’er’s riding skills were abysmal. With all the bumping, she, the adorable little fairy, was blown into a disheveled lion’s mane and, on top of that, was about to throw up.

"Stop... Stop the horse..."

"What’s wrong?"

"I’m going to throw up..."

Tan’er made an abrupt stop, pulling Bao Piggy down from the horse.

Bao Piggy stood calmly on the ground, stunned for three seconds, then dropped to her knees with a thud.

"Ugh—"

She vomited milk.

Perhaps it would’ve been better if she’d been caught by the bad guys...

"Bao Piggy, watch out!"

Tan’er grabbed the little one and leaped into the air.

Almost at the same moment, a massive net descended from the sky, landing precisely where they had stood moments earlier.

Tan’er patted her chest. "That was close!"

But as soon as she regained her footing, several intense auras rapidly approached from behind. She vaulted onto the rooftop.

The guards pursued her using Qinggong.

Tan’er hurled a few small Poison Bottles at them. "Let the little Poison Bugs play with you traitors!"

Several guards fell victim to the poison, tumbling from the rooftops one after another.

But unexpectedly, one guard silently climbed onto a beam. A hand suddenly stretched out through the gap between the tiles, grabbing Tan’er’s ankle.

"A ghost—!"

With a loud slap, Tan’er fell down, and the little one in her arms was flung outward.

Tan’er gasped in horror. "Bao Piggy—"

One of Bao Shu’s tiny hands was tightly clutching her small pouch, while the other instinctively covered her face.

She really was a little piggy who cared deeply about her looks.

But the anticipated pain didn’t come.

The little one landed in a warm, fragrantly scented embrace.

Meng Qianqian held the little one tightly and landed steadily on the ground.

Tan’er’s eyes lit up. "Sister!"

She turned back and kicked away the hand gripping her ankle. Jumping down from the roof, she darted toward Meng Qianqian like a swallow.

Bao Shu raised a little foot and mercilessly blocked her.

Mom belongs to me.

Tan’er pushed away the little foot planted on her forehead. "Forgot who just saved you from the traitors!"

Bao Shu ignored her. The little hands wrapped around Meng Qianqian’s neck as she began to whimper coquettishly, "Scared, so scared..."

Meng Qianqian pressed her cheek tenderly against the little one’s soft face and reached out with one hand to pat Tan’er’s head.

When Xun Qi mentioned he had only captured a maid earlier, she had already guessed that Tan’er was hidden, unnoticed by any side.

"Did you get hurt when you fell?"

She asked.

Tan’er thought for a moment. "A tiny bit."

Bao Shu immediately sought attention, "Baby is hurt! My hands hurt, my bottom hurts, riding hurt... and I threw up!"

Meng Qianqian said, "Oh? Let me take a look."

Xun Qi stared in astonishment at this scene. In just one short hour, he had witnessed Meng Qianqian’s composure, her resourcefulness, and just now, her Qinggong and martial prowess.

But now, the casual tenderness she exhibited left him unsure of which version of her was the real one.

Among the seven brothers, he was the best at manipulating hearts and could easily see through others’ facades with just a glance.

But Meng Qianqian was unlike anyone he’d ever met.

If Lu Yuan was too enigmatic to discern, then Meng Qianqian was an open book, yet with endless pages to read.

Xun Qi gazed deeply at Meng Qianqian before stepping forward and saying, "I will dispatch someone to escort you back to the Governor Mansion."

Meng Qianqian replied indifferently, "As I said, I do not trust you."

"Even if you get rid of these guards, more will follow."

No sooner had Xun Qi finished speaking than a troop of cavalry, with the aura of silvery armor and iron hooves, broke through the night and charged forward.

"The Imperial Guard?"

Xun Qi was stunned.

She could actually mobilize the Imperial Guard at will!

The arrival of the Imperial Guard meant Meng Qianqian’s group was completely secure. No matter how many guards Xun Yu sent, they’d never snatch the people from the Imperial Guard.

"Little Nine."

Han Ci dismounted.

Meng Qianqian nodded. "Han Ci."

Han Ci pointed to Xun Qi. "Shall we arrest him?"

"No need." Meng Qianqian replied to Han Ci before turning to Xun Qi. "I’d like to see how you plan to handle things in the Xun Family now that tonight’s plan has failed and you’ve fallen out with Xun Yu."

Xun Qi felt a headache brewing.

This woman had single-handedly unraveled the deadliest trap he’d laid for her.

She had remained steadfastly clear-headed, relying on no one else. Even when he had offered his genuine support, she had trusted only herself.

The Imperial Guard had brought a carriage. Meng Qianqian instructed Bai Yuwei to transfer Qing Shuang and Ban Xia to the Guard’s carriage.

She herself boarded with Bao Shu in her arms.

She drew back the curtain and said to Xun Qi, "Young Master Xun Qi, is our wager concluded?"

Bai Yuwei murmured, "Wasn’t it concluded long ago?"

Xun Qi smiled meaningfully. "Indeed, it’s over. Yin Hu Guard, you’ve won beautifully."

Bai Yuwei asked in confusion, "What are you two talking about?"

Meng Qianqian explained, "At the Ten Miles Pavilion, the conclusion of the chess game was in fact the true beginning. When fetching Bao Shu, had I separated from you, you would have fallen into his trap again. And just now, had I agreed to let his men escort us back to the city, we would have certainly been ambushed halfway."

Bai Yuwei sucked in a sharp breath. "How sinister! I almost believed he was a man of his word and nearly fell for it! No wonder you insisted on contacting Han Ci before setting off for the Ten Miles Pavilion."

At the time, she’d even complained that Meng Qianqian was wasting time.

"How did you see through him?"

Bai Yuwei asked. "Did he reveal a flaw?"

Meng Qianqian shook her head. "No, he didn’t have any flaws. But I don’t need his flaws in order to see through him."

Bai Yuwei grew more puzzled the more she listened.

Ever since she’d entered the Governor Mansion, she often felt her mind wasn’t sharp enough.

Tan’er crossed her arms. "Your brain wouldn’t get it even if you were told!"

Bai Yuwei glared at Tan’er. "As if your brain is so much better!"

Tan’er proudly raised her chin. "Whether my brain is great or not I don’t know, but my fists—oh, they’re plenty effective!"

Meng Qianqian chuckled. "Everyone contributed today. Little sister is very clever, helping me win the chess match. Tan’er, you were very sharp, rescuing Bao Shu from Xun Yu. Ban Xia, you took great care of Bao Shu as well."

Ban Xia choked up. "Did I... really count?"

"Of course."

Meng Qianqian patted Ban Xia. "Our Ban Xia is very brave."

"Waaah—"

Ban Xia began crying, overwhelmed with emotion.

Han Ci rode his horse beside the carriage.

The group spoke amply and openly, with nothing to conceal, and he heard everything.

This was their Little Nine, after all. She could help everyone find their place, never letting anyone’s contributions go unnoticed.

She emanated a warmth and reassurance that naturally drew people toward her.

-

Meanwhile, Xun Qi returned to the Prime Minister’s Mansion in the second half of the night, only to run directly into Xun Yu, who was about to leave.

"Xun Qi!"

Xun Yu gritted his teeth. "Who gave you permission to snatch her away?"

Xun Qi replied, "That’s what I should be asking you, Third Brother. My well-crafted plan was utterly destroyed because of you!"

Xun Yu was livid. "I ruined your plan? Do you even hear yourself? Where’s my thing? Hand it over!"

Xun Qi, unafraid, responded, "I didn’t take anything of yours, Third Brother."

Xun Yu shouted harshly, "How dare you deny it!"

Xun Qi met Xun Yu’s piercing gaze head-on. "Third Brother! My courtyard was laid with layer upon layer of traps. All I needed was to lure her into the room, and the mechanisms would have restrained her! Holding her child, she would’ve been hesitant—my best chance to subdue her! You grabbed her child, so you should’ve kept a close watch on her! But instead, you lost her! You can go explain yourself to Father!"

"Oh, and by the way, Third Brother, the thing you lost isn’t something like Father’s military funds, is it? If the court finds out Father’s been secretly amassing troops, do you know what will happen?"

Xun Yu’s face instantly turned ashen.

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