Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 43: The Commotion in the Imperial Palace

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Commotion in the Imperial Palace

Outside the Imperial Palace, a patrol of guards passed by. The one leading the group shouted, "Who goes there?"

Tan’er straightened up, wiped the sweat off her forehead with her sleeve, and said breathlessly, "N—is this the Imperial Palace?"

The lead guard sized her up, noticing she was just a young maid, then frowned and said, "This is a heavily guarded area. Idle individuals are not allowed near!"

Upon hearing that she hadn’t gone the wrong way, Tan’er let out a long breath of relief and said, "I’m not an idle individual... I just came to find someone... once I find them, I’ll leave."

The lead guard was about to drive her off when another guard walked over and asked Tan’er kindly, "Little girl, who are you looking for?"

Tan’er said, "I’m looking for my sister. She entered the palace."

The guard asked, "Is she a palace maid or...?"

Tan’er replied seriously, "My sister is not a palace maid! And she’s certainly not an Imperial Concubine!"

The guard chuckled, "Then do you know anyone in the palace?"

Tan’er pondered seriously and said, "My sister’s father-in-law, what’s his name... Oh no, I don’t remember his name."

Just then, the group of guards suddenly turned in unison, cupping their hands and bowing, "Lord Commander!"

Tan’er looked up: "Knife-man!"

The lead guard scolded coldly, "Show respect to the Lord Commander!"

The Commander of the Jinyi Guard cast a cold glance, and the lead guard’s expression changed drastically as he respectfully stepped aside.

Tan’er dashed forward, looked up at the man in the flying fish robes sitting astride the horse, and said, "You’ve changed clothes! So dashing—"

The Commander of the Jinyi Guard raised an eyebrow handsomely.

"The horse!"

Tan’er finished her sentence and went up to embrace the horse’s head.

The Commander of the Jinyi Guard: "..."

"What are you doing here?"

He asked.

Tan’er stroked the horse’s mane and said, "I’m looking for my sister! Some Consort called her into the palace!"

The Commander of the Jinyi Guard touched his chin thoughtfully and murmured, "Consort Li? What would she want with Madam Lu?"

Tan’er looked up, "Knife-man, take me inside!"

The Commander of the Jinyi Guard replied, "I can’t take you."

The Imperial Palace is a heavily guarded area; how could he casually bring someone in?

Not to mention, Madam Lu had gone into the inner palace, and he, as an external official, couldn’t simply enter that area.

The lead guard, seeing how familiar this girl was with the Commander of the Jinyi Guard, addressing him so casually as "Knife-man," while the Commander showed no anger, secretly let out a cold sweat.

It was fortunate he hadn’t been rough with her earlier...

Tan’er suddenly leapt up and clung to the Commander of the Jinyi Guard’s saddle, kicking her feet and launching into a childish plea, "Take me in, take me in, take me in—"

The guards couldn’t bear to watch anymore.

The Commander of the Jinyi Guard’s mouth twitched, "Get down now!"

Tan’er snorted, "I won’t!"

Damn it, the scar on my face hasn’t even healed yet—do you think I don’t hold grudges?

If it weren’t for Madam Lu’s sake, I’d have killed you by now!

"What’s going on here?"

A woman’s commanding yet calm voice sounded from a distance.

Both the Commander of the Jinyi Guard and Tan’er turned to look at the approaching carriage.

A stern woman stepped out from within.

The Commander of the Jinyi Guard dismounted and bowed, "Madam Wang."

Tan’er, still lying on the saddle, tilted her head to look at her.

Madam Wang shot her a glance and asked the Commander of the Jinyi Guard, "Who is this young girl?"

The Commander of the Jinyi Guard promptly explained Tan’er’s identity and purpose. The woman before him was the wife of an Imperial Censor, and he absolutely didn’t want to find himself written up in court as someone who abducts young girls.

Upon hearing that this was Meng Qianqian’s personal maid, Madam Wang’s expression softened as she looked at Tan’er, "I’ll take you into the palace."

The lead guard said, "Madam Wang, this is against protocol."

Madam Wang responded firmly, "If anything happens, I will take full responsibility!"

The lead guard looked toward the Commander of the Jinyi Guard, who wore a "not my problem" expression, and grudgingly stepped aside to let them through.

Madam Wang personally escorted Tan’er to the gates of the Changchun Palace, "This is Consort Li’s residence. When you go in, just say I brought you."

Tan’er bowed politely, "Thank you, Madam Wang!"

Madam Wang smiled, nodded, and turned to leave.

At that very moment, Lin Wan’er and Lu Luo emerged from the Changchun Palace.

Madam Wang glanced back and frowned, "It’s her?"

Tan’er rushed forward, peering closely behind Lin Wan’er, and asked, "Where’s my sister?"

Lin Wan’er looked at Tan’er with confusion.

Lu Luo asked in astonishment, "How did you get in here?"

Tan’er replied, "Not your business how I got in. Where’s my sister?"

Lu Luo looked toward Lin Wan’er, who gave her a subtle signal.

Lu Luo smirked coldly, "Your sister offended the Noble Consort and is being punished by kneeling inside! She’s been kneeling for two hours already—looks like she won’t be done any time soon!"

Tan’er clenched her fists, "Sister, sister!"

Snowflakes swirled down, covering the ground in a thick blanket of snow.

Consort Li, sitting cozily with a hand warmer and a plush blanket over her legs, asked leisurely, "Did she admit her fault yet?"

"Not yet."

Ying Yue, the female official, departed to find out.

Under the plum tree, Meng Qianqian, practically frozen into an ice sculpture, was asked, "Madam Lu, the Noble Consort asks if you admit your fault."

Meng Qianqian replied slowly, "If this servant woman is to admit fault, then I must know wherein my fault lies. I beg the Noble Consort’s guidance."

Ying Yue reported back to Consort Li.

Consort Li’s eyes turned icy as she gripped her handkerchief, "Such unyielding bones! I refuse to believe there’s anyone beyond my reach! Bring her something to warm up with—some hot water!"

Two robust older maids carried over large buckets of hot water.

This wasn’t water for drinking. It was meant to be poured over Meng Qianqian, soaking her clothes and chilling her to the bone in the frigid cold.

Ban Xia’s face paled, "What are you doing?"

Ying Yue ordered, "Pour it."

The two older maids lifted the buckets, ready to douse Meng Qianqian. Just as the hot water was about to spill, a small figure shot like lightning into the fray, kicking both maids and their buckets flying!

Ying Yue’s face darkened, "Who dares cause trouble in the Changchun Palace?"

Tan’er stood protectively in front of Meng Qianqian and snarled, "If you dare lay a finger on my sister, you must be... tired of living!"

Ying Yue commanded, "Seize her!"

The maids and eunuchs of the Changchun Palace swarmed forward.

No one expected that this little girl, with one punch per person, sent the Changchun Palace into utter chaos!

Consort Li’s face turned pale with rage, "Guards! There’s an assassin in the Changchun Palace! Summon the Imperial Guard!"

The Imperial Guard stormed the Changchun Palace. A long sword flew through the air, aimed directly at Tan’er.

Meng Qianqian’s fingers flicked, sending a silver flash that nailed the sword into the bushes!

Tan’er sprang up, grabbed the attacking guard from the rooftop, then vaulted down, hurling him heavily into the snow!

The onlookers were utterly dumbfounded!

The Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard furrowed his brows, "Archers!"

A line of archers filed in, bows drawn and arrows aimed at Tan’er!

Consort Li shouted, "Kill this assassin! And take the Meng woman too—she’s the instigator! Arrest them both!"

"The Empress arrives—"

A eunuch’s announcement rang out from outside the hall.

Consort Li’s brow knit tightly.

The stately and regal Empress Xiao, draped in a golden cloak, walked through the snow with an air of authority.

Trailing behind her was a flustered, sweat-drenched Madam Wang.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.