Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 98 - 97: Enemy from a Past Life

Chapter 98: Chapter 97: Enemy from a Past Life

The night was dark and the wind sharp.

Shangguan Ling had just completed his mission and was about to enter the Governor Mansion when a small figure suddenly darted out from the alley.

"Fancy playing with knives, huh!"

The motion of Shangguan Ling drawing his saber halted abruptly as he forcibly withdrew his inner strength, nearly inflicting internal injuries upon himself.

He turned around to look at the reckless little girl and frowned. "Why is it you again? Can’t you stop being so sneaky? It’s not like the Governor Mansion forbids you from entering!"

Tan’er crossed her arms and tossed her head. "Who wants to go into the Governor Mansion, anyway?"

Shangguan Ling asked, "Then why are you here in the middle of the night?"

Tan’er replied, "Looking for you, duh!"

"Me?" Shangguan Ling pointed at himself. "Did Miss Meng send you?"

Tan’er answered without hesitation, "Big sis is asleep. I sneaked out by myself!"

Shangguan Ling gasped. "You little rascal."

Tan’er stood akimbo and demanded, "Tell me—does the Grand Commander have a thing with Consort Li or not?"

Shangguan Ling frowned. "What thing? You kids are always spouting nonsense!"

Tan’er stamped her foot. "Answer me! What’s their relationship, really?"

Shangguan Ling hesitated, then waved her off. "It’s not what you think!"

Tan’er leaned closer, staring straight into his eyes. "Then what is it, huh?"

Shangguan Ling pushed the little girl’s forehead to maintain some distance. "Why are you asking so many questions?"

Tan’er huffed. "None of your business!"

Shangguan Ling fixed her with a deep look. "Is this your question, or did Miss Meng tell you to ask?"

"I told you, I sneaked out!" Tan’er declared. "If you won’t tell me, I’ll ask the Grand Commander myself!"

Tan’er marched toward the Governor Mansion, brimming with confidence.

"Are you looking to die?"

Shangguan Ling grabbed her by the collar and hauled her back. Staring at the fearless little troublemaker, he sighed. "The Grand Commander and Consort Li aren’t what the rumors say, understand?"

On her way back, Tan’er counted on her fingers, muttering in confusion. "They have a relationship, but it’s not that kind of ’under the skirt’ relationship. Then what kind of relationship is it?"

Suddenly, Tan’er’s ears twitched. "Someone’s here! Sis!"

She dashed into the feng shui alley!

Inside a house, a black-clad figure used his long sword to lift the curtains and placed the blade against someone’s neck.

But at that moment, a chill shot down his spine. He swiftly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding several silver needles that embedded themselves into the bedding.

Only then did he realize the bed was empty, filled instead with pillows piled under the blankets.

He’d been tricked!

The other party had already predicted he would come tonight!

Out of the shadows, Meng Qianqian stepped forward slowly, her gaze sharp as a blade. "Feeling the effects of my poison yet?"

This man was the masked figure who had secretly met with Consort Li during the palace banquet and nearly killed her.

She recognized his voice as one of the executioners who had ruthlessly slaughtered her entire family.

A hatred so deep that even if she forgot who she was, she would never erase it!

The black-clad man gripped his long sword tightly, locking eyes with Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian said, "Using your power will only make the poison spread faster. Originally, you could have lasted three days, but now you might not make it past tonight."

The black-clad man sneered coldly, "Hand over the antidote, and I’ll spare your life."

Meng Qianqian laughed scornfully. "I caught you consorting with Consort Li, and you want me to believe you’ll let me live? Who are you fooling?"

The black-clad man narrowed his eyes.

Meng Qianqian’s voice was calm and composed. "Unless, of course, you give me a bargaining chip too—tell me who you are."

The black-clad man aimed his sword at Meng Qianqian. "Capturing you will get me the antidote just the same."

Without fear, Meng Qianqian replied, "You’re welcome to try."

The black-clad man slashed toward Meng Qianqian!

She drew her Brocade Spring Saber, the flash of the blade clashing against his sword, the sparks lighting up the room. The shockwave of inner strength traveled through the saber’s hilt into her arm.

Her arm went slightly numb. Fortunately, he was poisoned, and his power was diminished. Otherwise, her arm would likely be crippled.

"Sis! I’m here!"

Tan’er kicked open the door and smashed a fist toward the black-clad man!

In the midst of a fight with Meng Qianqian, the black-clad man was caught off guard and struck in the shoulder, the crack of a fractured scapula echoing in the room.

He retaliated by aiming his sword at Tan’er’s wrist.

Meng Qianqian blocked it with her saber and pulled Tan’er behind her.

The black-clad man took the opportunity to leap through the window to escape.

"Trying to run? Not a chance!"

Tan’er chased after him.

Meng Qianqian glanced in the direction where the man disappeared into the night, calculated his escape route, and leapt onto the rooftops, cutting southeast to intercept him.

The three of them raced across the rooftops under the cover of darkness.

The black-clad man was on the central rooftop, with Meng Qianqian and Tan’er flanking him on either side.

Tan’er shouted, "If you’ve got guts, stop and fight me one-on-one!"

The black-clad man flicked several dart-like projectiles at Tan’er. Planting one hand on the ground, she flipped backward to dodge them.

But when she looked again, the black-clad man had already increased the distance.

"Why are you so quick?" Tan’er yelled after him. "Mom always said men who are too quick aren’t any good!"

The black-clad man stuttered in his breath, stumbling a few steps, almost tripping over himself!

Now’s the chance!

Meng Qianqian suddenly lunged, her saber slashing toward the man’s arm. However, his movement technique abruptly quickened, causing her blade to strike only the rooftop tiles.

The black-clad man threw his long sword at her. She deflected it but was forced back several steps. Undeterred, she pressed on in pursuit.

She had to know who annihilated her family!

Meanwhile, the poison in the black-clad man’s system was spreading rapidly. He knew he couldn’t keep using inner strength—without the antidote, he’d soon drop dead!

Scanning his surroundings, he suddenly turned and headed for the bustling main street.

"He’s headed for the Wan Hua Pavilion... If he gets there amongst the noisy crowd, we won’t be able to find him."

Meng Qianqian frowned and called out to Tan’er, who was catching up, "Tan’er! Don’t let him enter the Wan Hua Pavilion!"

"Gotcha!"

Tan’er, being closer to the Pavilion, came to an abrupt halt, her soles almost sparking against the tiles. Leaping onto the Pavilion’s rooftop, she glared challengingly at the black-clad man!

Seeing the unfavorable situation, the black-clad man had no choice but to abandon the Wan Hua Pavilion as an escape point.

The chase proceeded into the night, eventually entering a quiet, wealthy residential street lined with opulent mansions.

The hour was late, and not a soul stirred on the street.

As Meng Qianqian pursued the man, the area grew oddly familiar—it was the Lu Family’s street!

The last thing she wanted was for him to enter the Lu Household.

Of course, the very thing she dreaded came true: the black-clad man vaulted over the Lu Family’s compound wall.

Meng Qianqian resigned herself to the situation and followed suit.

As luck would have it, an elderly servant awake for her nightly chores stumbled upon the intruder and screamed at the top of her lungs, "AHHH—THIEF! THIEF! CATCH THE THIEF—"

The commotion roused the Lu Family’s sentries and even some maids and matrons from the inner quarters. The bolder among them threw on cloaks to confront the supposed thief.

The black-clad man, despite his poisoned state, had no trouble dealing with a few matrons and guards.

It was Meng Qianqian he truly feared.

"Qianqian! Is that you coming to see me?"

From within the courtyard, the family matriarch excitedly came out.

Meng Qianqian’s expression darkened.

The black-clad man made a split-second decision, rushing to grab the matriarch as a hostage—his blade now pressed against her throat.

"Don’t come any closer, or I’ll kill her!"

His words were directed at Meng Qianqian.

The servants and guards exchanged uneasy glances.

Meng Qianqian leapt down from the high rooftop.

Everyone present was even more stunned to see her than the burglar himself—they couldn’t believe their eyes. The Eldest Young Madam had effortlessly jumped down from such a great height?

The matriarch’s eyes sparkled. "Qianqian!"

The black-clad man barked, "Don’t move!"

The matriarch pouted in annoyance.

Meng Qianqian looked at the man and said steadily, "This is between you and me. Let her go, and I’ll give you the antidote."

The black-clad man pressed the blade closer to the matriarch’s neck. "Hand over the antidote first! No tricks! If it doesn’t work, I’ll kill her on the spot!"

Meng Qianqian retrieved a vial from her sleeves and tossed it to him.

The black-clad man unscrewed the cap. "How much do I take?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "One pill is enough. If you’re still suspicious, take two."

He poured out a single pill and threw it back to her. "You take it first!"

Meng Qianqian said coldly, "I’m not the one who’s poisoned."

He threatened, "Take it, or I’ll kill her!"

With a calm composure, Meng Qianqian picked up the pill, placed it in her mouth, and swallowed it in full view of everyone. "Now are you satisfied?"

The black-clad man sneered, "Not just yet."

Not taking any chances, he resolved to wait. This crafty girl had already tricked him once. He wouldn’t fall for it again.

The matriarch grumbled irritably, "You’re so annoying."

The black-clad man snapped, "Keep talking, and I’ll cut out your tongue!"

The matriarch hastily covered her mouth in fear.

Meng Qianqian’s eyes flashed with a calculated intent to strike.

At that moment, Lu Xingzhou arrived with Second Master Lu and Second Madam Lu upon hearing of the matriarch’s hostage situation. They had come to save her but were stunned to see Meng Qianqian there.

"Qianqian?"

Second Master Lu couldn’t hide his surprise.

It appeared that the black-clad man was in a standoff with her.

Lu Xingzhou’s gaze darkened slightly.

The Second Madam exclaimed, "What are you doing here? You—you—you... Did you lead the thief here? Mother was right—you’re just a bringer of misfortune! Even after leaving the Lu Family, you still won’t let us have peace. Poor Matriarch—"

"Are you mourning already?"

The matriarch yelled at her, but quickly clutched at her mouth again, fearing her tongue would get cut off.

Lu Xingzhou said to the black-clad man, "Blame goes where it’s due. Release the matriarch, and the Lu Family won’t interfere in your affairs."

The black-clad man laughed coldly. "I don’t trust you!"

After a moment had passed, the antidote seemed to work, and he swallowed it.

Indeed, Meng Qianqian wouldn’t gamble with the matriarch’s life; what she had given him was a genuine antidote.

Before long, the poison in his body began to dissipate.

Meng Qianqian palmed her silver needles.

"Little girl, trying the same old trick?"

The black-clad man immediately yanked the matriarch to the side, ensuring she completely shielded him.

Feeling the antidote clearing his system, he calculated that with just a little more time, his inner strength would fully recover.

But suddenly, the unexpected happened!

The matriarch twisted her arm behind her and shouted, "Monkey Steals the Peach! Hah!"

The pain shot through the black-clad man, practically causing his skull to explode in agony!

A maid nearby dropped the raw egg she was holding, its splat on the ground echoing loudly.

Meng Qianqian seized the moment. She appeared in a flash, snapping the bones in the man’s sword-wielding hand, protecting the matriarch behind her, and flipping the man onto the ground with a vicious shoulder throw!

With a swift kick, his long sword flew into her grasp!

The man tried to rise and fight back, only for Meng Qianqian to plant her foot firmly on his chest, pinning him down mercilessly.

Her gaze was icy, like an Asura emerging from Purgatory: "Speak. Who are you?"