Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 186 - 172 United as Husband and Wife

Chapter 186: Chapter 172 United as Husband and Wife

Lu Yuan’s aura of killing intent froze completely in an instant.

It wasn’t his fault he didn’t react—no matter how hard he wracked his brains, he could never have guessed things would take such an absurd turn.

When Meng Qianqian saw that he didn’t move, she thought to herself, "As expected, he’s just like Bao Shu—one wrong word and I can’t coax him back."

What was the next line again?

"Be good, don’t be mad, alright?"

Thud.

On the rooftop, Yu Zichuan’s bow dropped.

In the courtyard, Qing Shuang’s soft sword smashed the stone stool.

"Miss Bao Shu’s here?" Steward Cen, hearing Meng Qianqian’s voice, cheerfully walked into the study and covered his eyes with both hands. "I didn’t see anything! Not a thing!"

Lu Yuan shot to his feet, his face flushed red. He glared fiercely at Meng Qianqian, finally unable to hold back as he snapped, "Meng Xiaojiu!"

Meng Qianqian looked at him innocently and said, "Did it not work? Why are you even harder to coax than Bao Shu?"

Lu Yuan choked on her words, his breath caught in his throat, neither going up nor coming down.

Though his gaze was still full of killing intent, his handsome face was tinged with a reddish flush, which slightly diminished his usual intimidating presence.

Meng Qianqian felt as though she’d messed up. She thought seriously for a moment and then said, "If that didn’t work, should I try coaxing you again?"

Lu Yuan: "..."

Lu Yuan turned his face away and stormed off, equal parts embarrassed and furious.

Meng Qianqian pondered, "So... did I succeed or fail at coaxing him?"

Meanwhile, Princess Wanping, after deciding to bet with Meng Qianqian, immediately returned to her Princess Mansion and summoned Chen Long to her side.

Looking at this towering, imposing figure of a man who always wore a conical hat, Princess Wanping felt her heart skip a beat.

But it was only for a fleeting second; her heart belonged to Lu Yuan. Years of yearning for the unattainable had long evolved past mere romantic feelings—it had become an obsession.

She was determined to make Lu Yuan hers, no matter the cost.

She asked, "Chen Long, how is your relationship with the other Twelve Guards?"

Chen Long replied, "Neither good nor bad."

This man, even when speaking, carried no hint of emotion—like a cold, mechanized killing tool. The Prime Minister had warned her: though he was her personal guard, it was best not to treat him like a mere servant.

Princess Wanping calmly asked, "What about Shen Hou?"

"Our relationship is decent."

"If I ask you to draw him to my side, can you do it?"

"If he’s not dead, it’s possible."

Hearing there was hope, Princess Wanping smiled and said, "He’s dead, but his daughter is still around, isn’t she?"

Chen Long replied, "I’ve never met his daughter. We’re not acquainted."

Princess Wanping’s smile faded.

If Chen Long couldn’t pull this off, would she really have to beg Consort Li?

In truth, "drawing support" didn’t mean requiring unwavering loyalty—it was enough to simply gain their endorsement on the day the bet concluded.

The female official remarked, "Princess, this servant sees that the Meng clan purposely set this up to humiliate you. They know you and Consort Li are enemies—"

Princess Wanping scoffed, "I may be enemies with Consort Li, but does that mean they favor her? Don’t forget the uproar Meng Qianqian caused in Changchun Palace back then. The feud between them isn’t smaller than mine with her."

Though she said as much, the thought of lowering herself for Consort Li’s favor still left her feeling aggrieved.

She was born of the Central Palace, the legitimate daughter of the Empress, and had even defied the face of the successor consort. Why should she bow to a mere concubine?

"Fine, for my Lu Lang, I’ll endure it!"

Princess Wanping carried lavish gifts and paid a visit to Changchun Palace that very night.

Consort Li frowned. "Why has she come? Is she trying to pick a fight with me again?"

Eunuch Wang replied, "This servant doesn’t think so."

As the Supreme Emperor’s most cherished daughter, Princess Wanping was granted an audience on account of him, if nothing else.

Though Princess Wanping had always been abrupt and impolite, she surprisingly donned an air of friendliness this time around.

Her overly youthful outfit, however, drew some disdain from Consort Li.

When it came to looks, Princess Wanping couldn’t compare to Consort Li. Besides, Consort Li knew how to embrace the beauty of each stage of life—her regal bearing was unmatched by ordinary beauties.

"Well, what wind has blown Princess Wanping this way?"

Consort Li said with a half-smile.

Princess Wanping inwardly rolled her eyes but wore a forced smile as she replied, "Father has returned to the palace. He asked me to get along with the Empress and the Consort. I visited the Empress the other day, so today I’ve come to see you."

Consort Li lifted a teacup and said with a smile, "How thoughtful of Princess Wanping."

Princess Wanping signaled the female official.

The official stepped forward holding a casket, opening it to reveal an entire box of South Sea East Pearls.

It’s worth noting that East Pearls were different from ordinary pearls—typically only the Emperor, the Empress, or the legitimate Imperial Heirs were entitled to wear them.

Consort Li, unmoved, said, "This won’t do. As a Concubine, I’m not qualified to wear East Pearls."

Princess Wanping smiled and said, "You are the Emperor’s birth mother, the mother of the nation. When you become the Empress Dowager one day, what won’t you be able to wear?"

The remark hit its mark in Consort Li’s heart.

But Consort Li wasn’t someone easily swayed by flattery.

Consort Li chuckled softly and said, "Princess Wanping must need something from me."

Princess Wanping straightforwardly replied, "Yes, I do. I’d like to borrow Lin Wan’er."

Consort Li: "No."

Princess Wanping: "..."

After leaving with her gifts in disappointment, Consort Li’s smile faded, replaced by a cold sneer. "Trying to bribe me with a few pearls? When I’m the Empress Dowager, I’ll have pearls galore!"

...

After dinner, Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan accompanied the Old Madam for a walk in the garden. The Old Madam eventually began playing hide-and-seek with Tan’er and Bao Shu.

From a night of observation, Meng Qianqian believed Tan’er’s method had worked—Lu Yuan was no longer radiating killing intent.

She smiled.

Lu Yuan noticed her expression and immediately knew what she was thinking. Coldly, he said, "Don’t celebrate too soon. If you dare to lose this bet for me, I’ll take your little life!"

Meng Qianqian raised her hand and swore, "Little Nine swears to give it her all!"

Lu Yuan ground his words out through clenched teeth: "Give it... your... all?"

Meng Qianqian mumbled quietly, "No one can guarantee winning a bet..."

Lu Yuan’s glare burned like knives, seething to the point he nearly wanted to carve up this little gambler.

"Oh! Great-Grandmother, you called me?"

Meng Qianqian swiftly fled.

A few days later, the day of Lu Lingxiao and Lin Wan’er’s grand wedding arrived.

Under the current circumstances, Meng Qianqian had no interest in attending.

However, the Old Madam was Lu Lingxiao’s great-grandmother; she had to go, or who knows what rumors might spread.

After much deliberation, Meng Qianqian decided to accompany the Old Madam to the Lu Family’s event while excusing Lu Yuan from the trip.

Upon hearing Meng Qianqian’s plan, Lu Yuan’s face darkened. "What? Am I so unpresentable?"

Meng Qianqian froze and quickly explained, "That’s not what I meant. I’m just worried someone at the banquet might show disrespect to the Grand Commander."

Lu Yuan gazed at the lonely moon overhead and laughed coldly. "You think I wouldn’t be able to endure their ridicule? Meng Xiaojiu, when I was crawling under someone’s legs and smashing my head on the ground just to beg for a bun to fill my stomach—you hadn’t even been born yet."

Meng Qianqian’s chest tightened painfully. "Grand Commander..."

Lu Yuan’s face remained unaffected, as if he were recounting someone else’s story.

Calmly, he said, "To make one’s own wife face cold jeers while sitting comfortably at home—this kind of behavior, I can’t abide, and won’t engage in. If insults are to be endured, we endure them together."

With hands clasped behind his back, his aura flared fully. "I want to see just how many dare defy fate tomorrow!"

Tan’er, who had been hiding in the grass, suddenly popped up, cupping her cheeks with her fists and staring starry-eyed. "Wow! The Grand Commander is so awe-inspiring! I love it! Does this mean we can kill people now?"

Lu Yuan: "You can’t kill."

Tan’er pouted pitifully. "Why not?"

"You’re still young," Lu Yuan said with deliberate emphasis. "The Grand Commander will personally do the killing."