Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 289 - 271: Daughter is a Gold-Eating Beast

Chapter 289: Chapter 271: Daughter is a Gold-Eating Beast

Han Ci led the elite soldiers of the Imperial Guard and escorted Meng Qianqian and her companions back to the Governor Mansion.

Wu Ge’er had been pacing by the gate all night and finally let out a long breath of relief upon seeing Meng Qianqian, Ban Xia, and Tan’er.

"Miss! Ban Xia! Tan’er! Are you all alright? Oh yes, Qing Shuang and the cousin Miss..."

He was halfway through his words when Bai Yuwei lifted the curtain.

Qing Shuang had also woken up, though still a little dazed, she calmly stepped down from the carriage.

Xun Qi’s drug was potent enough to knock out more than ten men for three days and nights straight, yet Qing Shuang had merely slept for half a night.

Truly exceptional constitution.

Han Ci’s Imperial Guard surrounded the Governor Mansion tightly, fully prepared for any potential threat.

Meng Qianqian didn’t decline Han Ci’s goodwill.

She didn’t believe the Prime Minister’s Mansion would be brazen enough to carry out an assassination, but she had her reasons for going along with this arrangement.

Meng Qianqian instructed the kitchen to prepare lamb soup to warm the brothers’ bodies and handed out silver ingots, one for each soldier.

The Imperial Guards rejoiced.

The Great Zhou had been plagued by years of war; the state treasury was depleted, and the court had failed to issue salaries on multiple occasions. Ever since Han Ci took charge of the Imperial Guard, their salaries had never been overdue.

Exceptional performance was even rewarded with bonuses.

Nowadays, in the Capital City, who didn’t know that being part of the Imperial Guard was a lucrative position? Everyone was scrambling to join.

Years ago, when they separated from the Imperial Guard and formed their own faction, they endured countless sneers. Now, they could proudly hold their heads high.

The Jinyi Guard had been funded by Lu Yuan in the past, and now the Prime Minister provided for them, so they were never short of silver.

But the Imperial Guard had always been the Emperor’s army, and the Emperor was poor!

Han Ci addressed his men, "Stay sharp. Guard diligently tonight. If a single fly dares to sneak in—"

The Deputy General vowed, "General Han, rest assured. Forget a fly, even a single leaf falling into this courtyard, we’ll dig it out immediately!"

Han Ci nodded.

Main Courtyard.

Nanny Li, Nanny Wan, Nanny Hu, and Madam Du had stayed up all night.

They were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

Especially Nanny Li, who was consumed by guilt.

If she hadn’t relented, Bao Shu wouldn’t have faced such misfortune.

"Nanny."

Meng Qianqian carried Bao Shu into the courtyard.

Nanny Li stepped down from the stairs in a rush, but the rain-soaked ground was slippery, and she stumbled. Fortunately, Nanny Wan quickly caught her.

Nanny Wan exclaimed, "My dear sister, please be careful! Falling at your age could lead to serious trouble!"

Nanny Li’s eyes were red and puffy as she looked at Meng Qianqian and then at Bao Shu in her arms. "Miss..."

Meng Qianqian spoke softly, "Nanny, it’s alright now."

Nanny Li was overcome with anguish: "It’s my fault... All my fault!"

Tan’er remarked, "It’s the villains who are wicked!"

Meng Qianqian nodded, "Nanny, you don’t have to blame yourself."

Xun Qi’s plan deceived not only Nanny Li; no one in the courtyard had noticed the impostor’s flaws.

The scheme Xun Qi laid out matched her typical behavioral patterns, which convinced Nanny Li without hesitation.

It had to be said that for Xun Qi to be adopted as the Prime Minister’s foster son, he did indeed possess true talent.

Madam Du wiped her tears and said with great relief, "Miss, I’ve cooked chicken soup, braised pork, and prepared glutinous rice balls. I’ll go boil them now!"

Chicken soup was Meng Qianqian’s favorite, braised pork was Tan’er’s favorite, and while glutinous rice balls were a bit scratchy for Bao Shu, she loved the filling and the sweet osmanthus soup they were cooked in.

Meng Qianqian turned and said, "Little sister, come eat a bowl too."

Bai Yuwei’s stomach growled audibly.

Madam Du and the nannies exchanged peculiar glances as they eyed Bai Yuwei.

Everyone knew Bai Yuwei and the Miss didn’t get along. Was the Miss attempting to play some new trick? Wasn’t she afraid the cousin Miss would snap back with sarcasm?

Bai Yuwei pursed her lips but didn’t move.

Nanny Wan’s gaze flickered between Meng Qianqian and Bai Yuwei before she quickly made a decision, stepping forward to take Bai Yuwei’s wrist.

"Oh my, cousin Miss, you’re soaking wet! Hurry inside, have some hot soup first. It’s the osmanthus filling you love..."

Bai Yuwei was led into the courtyard by Nanny Wan.

Meng Qianqian curved her lips slightly into a smile.

Nanny Li gawked incredulously, "Miss, what’s... what’s happening here?"

She was referring to Bai Yuwei’s attitude.

Bai Yuwei, that troublesome relative, had always made life difficult for Meng Qianqian. If she could, she would dispute her way to the heavens.

Tonight, Bai Yuwei had gone looking for Bao Shu supposedly under Meng Qianqian’s threat.

Bai Yuwei should be infuriated with Meng Qianqian.

If Meng Qianqian invited her to join the meal, Bai Yuwei should have disdainfully scoffed, "Who needs your fake kindness?"

If Nanny Wan tried to pull her along, Bai Yuwei should have shaken her off and cursed, "How dare you—a lowly servant—touch me? Believe me, I’ll chop off your hand!"

Meng Qianqian replied, "Well, maybe the little sister had a change of heart. Perhaps she finally recognized that I am the most exceptional sister-in-law under the heavens."

A voice came from inside the house: "Meng Qianqian! Don’t forget your promise to me! Dare to renege, and I’ll chop down your courtyard with a blade!"

Meng Qianqian’s expression didn’t change: "She’s saying, ’Sister-in-law, thank you.’"

Everyone: "..."

After changing into dry clothes, everyone enjoyed steaming hot midnight snacks.

Bao Shu fell asleep halfway through the meal, nestled in Meng Qianqian’s arms.

Nanny Li softly asked, "Shall I carry her back to the Tinglan Courtyard?"

Meng Qianqian wiped the little one’s face and said, "Let her sleep here. Nanny Li, you should get some rest too."

"Understood."

Nanny Li kept watch outside for a while longer but eventually returned to her own room when she couldn’t stay awake any longer.

Meng Qianqian placed the little one onto a soft bed.

Oddly enough, though Bao Shu was asleep, one of her hands seemed to act with its own will, clutching tightly onto her small pouch.

"She’s been holding onto it the entire journey back, during dinner, and even now while asleep. What’s inside?"

Meng Qianqian gently nudged at the little one’s hand.

"Let Mother take a look, alright?"

She spoke softly as she coaxed.

Even while dreaming, Bao Shu seemed to hear her, and slowly relaxed her plump little fingers.

Bao Shu’s small pouch, crafted by Yun Xiyao, seemingly modest in size, was surprisingly capacious.

Meng Qianqian first pulled out a silver note.

Then another, and another...

A thick stack.

And it didn’t stop there.

Meng Qianqian next retrieved a key and... a parchment map.

Meng Qianqian was completely dumbfounded.

Had the little one taken a detour to commit robbery during her abduction?

Meng Qianqian took a deep breath to steady herself and sternly said, "This is a bad habit. You shouldn’t take things that don’t belong to you."

"Once this child wakes, we must properly educate her."

"Now, how many silver notes are here?"

Meng Qianqian leaned over the bed and earnestly began counting the silver notes.

-

Over the following days, the Prime Minister’s Mansion remained completely silent.

However, the heavy guard presence around the Governor Mansion due to the Imperial Guard attracted the curious stares of many passersby.

When asked, the answer was simply: the Governor Mansion’s esteemed Miss encountered an assassin.

As for the assassin’s identity, the Imperial Guard offered no details.

Bai Yuwei curiously asked, "Why not just proclaim it was the Prime Minister’s Mansion?"

Meng Qianqian, while brushing dirt off herbs, responded, "It’s not yet time."

Bai Yuwei rolled her eyes, unable to comprehend further. Switching topics, she said, "You haven’t forgotten what you promised me, have you?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "Of course not. I signed a written agreement, didn’t I?"

Bai Yuwei’s spirit lifted, "Good. Keep that in mind. Starting now, you must do as I say. My first demand: right now, immediately, hand over the Golden Silkworm Gu to me!"

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly, "I’m sorry, little sister, that’s something I cannot do."

"Didn’t you promise to do whatever I said once the little one was rescued?"

"I did."

"Then why—"

"I promised to heed little sister’s wishes, but I never said I’d do so immediately. Feel free to check the agreement for clarification; it’s all written there."

Bai Yuwei immediately pulled out the written agreement, only to find a tiny line of barely visible text at the signature—’Effective a hundred years later.’

Bai Yuwei exploded, "Meng—Qian—Qian—!"