Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 69: The Power of Bao Shu

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: The Power of Bao Shu

The path down the mountain was much easier.

Meng Qianqian led the horse effortlessly to the foot of the mountain.

Lu Yuan said nonchalantly, "You seem quite familiar with the terrain here."

Meng Qianqian subtly clenched her fingers.

No wonder he asked her to lead the horse—it was yet another test. This man truly had a mind full of schemes.

Maintaining a calm demeanor, Meng Qianqian replied, "I’ve studied maps."

Lu Yuan sat atop his horse, staring intently at her retreating figure. "Where did you see them?"

Meng Qianqian said, "In the Grand Commander’s Book Pavilion."

Lu Yuan smirked faintly, "How interesting—I wasn’t aware my Book Pavilion contained maps of unknown mountains."

Composed, Meng Qianqian responded, "Then, is the Grand Commander aware that your Book Pavilion also houses the Seventy-nine Leisurely Techniques, Thirty-six Spring Breeze Diagrams, and Eighteen Techniques of the Imperial Concubine?"

Lu Yuan’s expression stiffened, a flicker of murderous intent appearing in his eyes, "Shangguan Ling! If you dare hide such nonsensical items in my Book Pavilion again, I’ll kill you!"

After walking a few more steps, Meng Qianqian suddenly stopped.

Lu Yuan asked, "What’s the matter?"

After a moment’s thought, Meng Qianqian turned around, looked up at him intently, and shook the reins in her hand. "This—does it cost money?"

Lu Yuan laughed coldly, "Do you mean to settle accounts with me now?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "You’re the Grand Commander, surely you wouldn’t have someone lead your horse for free."

Lu Yuan chuckled, "If I were to call, people willing to serve at my beck and call would line up from here to Yumen Pass."

Meng Qianqian felt mildly indignant but had to admit it was true.

She released the reins.

"I don’t lack horse handlers," Lu Yuan said.

Riding leisurely past her, Lu Yuan added, "But I might just need a guard."

Meng Qianqian’s eyes lit up, quickly catching up with him, grabbing the reins again. As she led the horse, she turned back, her eyes brimming with eagerness: how—much—money?

Lu Yuan snorted, "Shameless."

Shameless as it might be, at least it was worth something.

Meng Qianqian stretched out her finger, "The Grand Commander’s life is priceless. If I can ensure your safety, could that cover the remaining two months of interest?"

Lu Yuan smiled ambiguously, "Just afraid you might earn it yet perish before you can collect."

Looking ahead with a resolute gaze, Meng Qianqian said, "I will return to the Capital City alive."

At the relay station, Meng Qianqian bought a horse.

By evening, the two arrived at Fengsha Town.

Unlike the bustling streets and peaceful lives of the Capital City, as they neared the border, life became increasingly bleak for its residents.

Upon entering the town, what they saw were not ornate pavilions and shops but simple mud huts with shabby windows and doors.

Every now and then, passersby would glance toward them; among them beggars clutching broken bowls begged on the streets. Yet deterred by the murderous aura surrounding Lu Yuan, not one dared approach.

Following the clues left by Qing Shuang along the way, Lu Yuan arrived at a guesthouse.

The shopkeeper, spotting distinguished guests, immediately approached with a cheerful smile. "Esteemed guests, may I ask who you are..."

Lu Yuan ignored him and went straight upstairs.

Meng Qianqian handed him a silver ingot. "One premium room, feed the horses."

The shopkeeper beamed, "Certainly, certainly!"

Meng Qianqian followed Lu Yuan to Qing Shuang’s room.

Qing Shuang was startled to see Meng Qianqian. "Miss Meng?"

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly, "Qing Shuang."

Qing Shuang immediately felt like she had missed a mountain of gossip and looked deeply aggrieved.

Meng Qianqian glanced at the bundle covered by a quilt. Smiling, she stepped forward to uncover it but froze.

"Meow~"

Inside was a tiny tabby cat, its small paw waving—it was the same cat that had snuck into the Book Pavilion for scraps.

Meng Qianqian turned to Lu Yuan. "You said Zhaozhao was with Qing Shuang."

Lu Yuan sat down lazily, sipping tea, "Oh, this one’s name is also Zhaozhao."

Meng Qianqian: "..."

What a clever trick to swap Bao Shu with a tabby cat under everyone’s noses!

Even she had fallen for it, let alone Lu Yuan’s many enemies watching him in secret, utterly played like a fiddle.

Meng Qianqian frowned, "But where is Zhaozhao really?"

In the Capital City.

After being shut down for days, Wan Hua Pavilion finally reopened for business. The ladies, one by one, looked alluring, their makeup exquisite, their skin so radiant it seemed to glisten. Who could tell that just ten days ago, they had all been swollen and disfigured from venomous bee stings?

"Ah, at last, back to normal! Look at these rosy faces, it wasn’t for nothing that I worked so hard to make that antidote! Alright, ladies, go out and earn back the losses from these last few days!"

"Who do you think will be our first esteemed guest tonight?"

"Open the doors—"

Following Lady Yan’s command, the steward ceremoniously opened the doors wide.

The ladies rushed forward, flaunting their beauty.

Then, they all came to an abrupt halt!

A milk-faced child sat cross-legged on the ground. "Waaaaaa!"

"Ahhhhh!"

"The little plague is back!"

"Run for your lives!"

The ladies scattered furiously!

Lady Yan roared at the sky, "Lu—Yuan—!"

...

Meng Qianqian, after days of travel, hadn’t had a proper bath in a long time. She asked the servant for hot water, bathed and washed her hair in Qing Shuang’s room, and changed into clean clothes.

Though she dressed as a man, her figure and lack of an Adam’s apple still revealed her femininity.

Such appearances might be unusual in the Capital City, but amidst the chaos of the border, no one paid it any mind.

Meng Qianqian went to Lu Yuan’s room.

Qing Shuang was mid-report on military affairs to Lu Yuan.

The court’s cavalry had arrived at Fengsha Town three days earlier and was stationed ten miles away.

They hadn’t advanced further due to changes in the border situation.

To buy time for the court’s investigation, the Northern Domain Military Governor had gone alone to the Beiliang Army Camp as a gesture of goodwill.

Beiliang agreed to give Great Zhou an additional month—half of which had already passed.

But within this half month, a major event had occurred at the border: the once-scattered border raiders defeated by the court had formed a powerful Rebel Army. Seizing the Military Governor’s absence, they caused chaos at the border, capturing Feng County, Chi County, and Yanggu Town—three critical strategic locations.

Meng Qianqian mused, "This feels like Beiliang’s handiwork."

Qing Shuang nodded. "The Rebel Army’s supplies are on par with the court’s—provisions, weapons, armor, they lack nothing. Even many of their battlefield tactics are far beyond those of mere ragtag bands."

Meng Qianqian remarked, "It seems there are more Beiliang soldiers than raiders in the Rebel Army. What about Lu Lingxiao? Is he in the cavalry camp?"

Qing Shuang replied, "He and Yu Zichuan have gone to rescue the Yin Hu Guard. If the plan goes well, they should have infiltrated the Rebel Army’s territory by now."

Meng Qianqian clenched her fists.

Lu Yuan said coldly, "If you want to go, go—I won’t stop you."

"Without the Grand Commander’s orders, Qianqian wouldn’t dare act on her own."

Going now would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Who knew where he might be?

The best strategy was to push forward in battle, reclaim the towns, and let Lu Lingxiao naturally reveal himself.

The three of them headed to the military camp overnight.

"Grand Commander!"

The generals saluted in unison.

Lu Yuan didn’t even glance at them, his face cold as he strode into the main tent, his presence commanding. "Prepare to storm the cities!"