Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 87 - 86: The Grand Commander is Much Stronger than Lu Lingxiao

Chapter 87: Chapter 86: The Grand Commander is Much Stronger than Lu Lingxiao

After court, Lu Yuan originally intended to head straight back to the Governor Mansion. However, as he passed the seven-tiered tower, something crossed his mind, and he ordered the carriage to stop.

The coachman knelt on the ground, using his back as a stool.

Lu Yuan stepped onto his back to alight from the carriage, expressionless as he walked into the Book Pavilion.

His gaze swept across the room.

The rows of bookshelves that had been carefully arranged were instantly obvious.

In truth, his Book Pavilion wasn’t particularly messy—even without him paying much attention, someone always kept it tidy. However, the sections organized by Meng Qianqian immediately elevated its grace to a whole new level.

The young servant smiled and said, "Everything here was arranged by Miss Meng. We wouldn’t dare touch it—she organized it so beautifully."

Lu Yuan snorted coldly, "Barely passable."

With a wave of his hand, the young servant got the hint and tactfully retreated.

Lu Yuan approached the bookshelf that Meng Qianqian had previously reorganized, recalling how she had once mentioned "Seventy-nine Leisurely Techniques," "Spring Breeze Thirteen Diagrams," and "Eighteen Techniques of the Imperial Concubine" to him with a suspicious look.

A brief search later, his brow furrowed: "They’re here, seriously?"

He pulled out the three books, flipping through them casually. The further he read, the darker his expression became.

"Shangguan Ling!"

As he debated whether he should haul Shangguan Ling over and administer dozens of beatings, the servant’s voice rang out from the doorway: "Miss Meng! You haven’t visited in days!"

Lu Yuan’s hand trembled. Hurriedly, he stuffed the three books back into the shelf in careless disarray!

When Meng Qianqian entered, Lu Yuan was calmly standing before the tidy bookshelf, idly flipping through a volume of historical records.

Meng Qianqian’s gaze flickered across the bookshelf. She greeted him with a curt bow: "Grand Commander."

Without looking at her, Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly with a soft hum.

Meng Qianqian walked straight past him. Right in front of him, she reached over, retrieved the three books he had messily shoved back, and carefully returned them to their original positions.

"Grand Commander, when you’re done reading, kindly return the books to their proper place."

Lu Yuan: "..."

The two remained in the Book Pavilion for an hour.

Meng Qianqian meticulously tidied the shelves, while Lu Yuan quietly read, neither disturbing the other.

In the afternoon, Meng Qianqian was reviewing the household accounts in the residence.

Bao Shu came over to visit.

As always, she was dressed in her little tiger cub outfit. The moment she entered the courtyard, she squirmed out of Qing Shuang’s arms and huffed and puffed her way over to Meng Qianqian.

While attempting to cross the threshold, she wobbled unsteadily, clutching at the wall to stand upright.

This was the first time Meng Qianqian saw Bao Shu stand up by herself, and she was delighted.

Bao Shu seemed determined to mimic the adults and step across the threshold. However, as soon as she let go, she plopped right back onto her bottom.

Meng Qianqian was amused. This little one hadn’t yet learned to walk but was already thinking she could step over thresholds?

Meng Qianqian picked up the child and carried her inside, holding her tiny hands as they practiced walking together.

Bao Shu was so excited she jumped up and down, exclaiming, "Wah-wah!"

After a while, Bao Shu showed no signs of exhaustion, but Meng Qianqian’s bent waist began to ache.

Tan’er crouched down with a cheeky grin: "Treasure Piggy, let your big sister take you flying... Uh, I mean walking!"

Bao Shu immediately turned her head and crawled away!

Tan’er scooped her up in one swift motion: "Let’s—GO—oooh!"

Bao Shu’s face was overtaken by terror. Her little body quaked as she shrieked, "Wahhh—!"

Meanwhile, Lu Xingzhou returned home after court and immediately sought out his son to ask just who Meng Xiaojiu was and why Yin Hu had chosen him as the heir to his legacy.

Unfortunately, Lu Lingxiao had gone to the military camp, leaving Lu Xingzhou with no one to consult.

Lu Lingxiao stayed in the camp for three days straight, only returning when the young Emperor hosted a banquet to welcome the soldiers back from their campaign. Since he had brought Yin Hu back to the camp, his name was also included on the merit award list.

Families of officials were also invited to this welcoming banquet.

For the Lu Family, the invitation was personally delivered by Consort Li’s trusted Eunuch Wang.

The matriarch was both surprised and flattered: "Please convey my gratitude to Her Highness! I shall personally visit Changchun Palace to pay my respects!"

Eunuch Wang chuckled and said, "The Noble Consort has been longing to see Miss Lin. She’s been most concerned about her—would Miss Lin be well enough to attend?"

"Well..."

The matriarch hesitated.

It wasn’t that she didn’t wish to bring Lin Wan’er into the palace, but Wan’er had looked rather pale lately. She feared the journey might affect her pregnancy.

Eunuch Wang’s smile didn’t falter: "If it’s inconvenient..."

Lu Xingzhou entered the room: "Eunuch Wang, please inform Her Highness that Wan’er will surely attend the banquet."

After Eunuch Wang left with a smile, the matriarch fretted: "The baby is what matters most. Are you sure it’s wise to bring Wan’er?"

Lu Xingzhou replied, "At four months along, the pregnancy is stable; there’s no risk."

What he didn’t say aloud was that, with Yin Hu now removed from aiding the Emperor, Consort Li would certainly tighten her grip on Shen Hou. If Wan’er attended the banquet, Consort Li would surely show her favor.

Though his son could never become Yin Hu, if his grandson were to take Shen Hou’s place, the Lu Family’s standing in the Capital City would remain untouchable.

Lu Xingzhou then headed to Lu Mother’s courtyard: "Tomorrow, you’ll attend the banquet as well."

He wasn’t asking her opinion; it was an order, not open to negotiation.

Lu Mother lowered her eyes: "Understood."

Lu Xingzhou began unfastening his collar: "Tonight, I’ll stay here..."

Lu Mother clenched her handkerchief tightly: "If you stay... I won’t go."

Lu Xingzhou frowned—this was the first time Lu Mother had defied him. He shot her a cold, piercing look.

Her body trembled slightly under his glare.

Just as she could barely hold herself together, the curtain swayed softly, and Lu Xingzhou’s figure vanished from the room.

Lu Mother collapsed back into her chair in relief, tears of fear streaming down her face.

Feng Courtyard.

Lu Luo shared the news of the palace banquet with Lin Wan’er.

"The Noble Consort personally requested your attendance, Miss Lin. This time, only you are invited, not Lady Meng. Let’s see who has the audacity to claim you’re inferior to her now."

Lin Wan’er gestured: Will the General attend?

Lu Luo replied, "He’ll be there!"

Lin Wan’er caressed her slightly rounded belly.

Lu Lingxiao, I’ll make sure you see that I’m the one most suited to be your wife.

What you need isn’t a merchant girl drenched in the stench of copper coins—it’s me, the daughter of the Twelve Guards.

That night, Qing Shuang came to collect the sleeping Bao Shu and discreetly passed a message to Meng Qianqian.

"The welcoming banquet? Is there any way I could skip it?"

Meng Qianqian wasn’t particularly interested.

Qing Shuang replied, "The Emperor has issued a decree insisting he meet Little Nine. If you truly don’t wish to attend, I could disguise myself as you."

Meng Qianqian said, "That’s an act of treason."

Qing Shuang smiled, "With the Grand Commander around, nothing will happen."

After considering briefly, Meng Qianqian relented: "Fine. Since the Emperor insists, I’ll go."

The next morning, after breakfast, Meng Qianqian was about to leave for the palace. Stepping out of her courtyard, she was met not by the modest little carriage belonging to her household but an incredibly lavish steed-drawn carriage.

Steward Cen smiled warmly as he lifted the curtain for Meng Qianqian.

Inside, she immediately saw Bao Shu perched proudly atop a plush seat. The little one was dressed in her tiger cub outfit, adorned with a small flower in her hair. With her tiny chin held high, she turned slightly to showcase her "perfect" chubby profile.

Steward Cen chuckled: "Miss Bao Shu is here to escort Miss Meng to the palace banquet together."

Staring at the impossibly smug little one... Meng Qianqian couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

Meng Qianqian boarded the carriage with Tan’er and Ban Xia in tow.

Tan’er stared at the sumptuous spread of snacks on the table, her eyes sparkling. "Osmanthus cake, chestnut cake, rose pastries... Steward Cen, the Ni Family’s Grand Commander is so much better than that Lu Lingxiao! I like him! Tell him to visit Sister’s house when he has time!"