Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 211 - 195: Si Snake, Long Time No See

Chapter 211: Chapter 195: Si Snake, Long Time No See

Meng Qianqian slept until dawn. When she woke up, Lu Yuan was already gone.

It was the day of the morning court session, so he had likely gone to attend.

Meng Qianqian rubbed her neck and looked at the thin layer of Xiangyun Sha covering her stomach. She mumbled to herself, "When did I fall asleep? I didn’t even dream?"

"Last night... I didn’t cause him any trouble, right? After all, I’ve always been a calm sleeper."

"Sister!"

Tan’er stormed into the room with long strides.

Meng Qianqian set aside the Xiangyun Sha and lifted the curtain, asking, "Tan’er, am I a peaceful sleeper?"

Tan’er responded without hesitation, "Of course! I’ve never been woken up!"

Meng Qianqian: ...Even thunder wouldn’t wake you, huh.

Liu Qingyun didn’t like having anyone accompany him when going out, so when he went to the Princess Mansion yesterday, he didn’t take Ban Xia or Tan’er along.

Tan’er had been so bored at home that now, sitting on a small stool, she swung her skinny little legs while grumbling, "Sister, I want to go out and play."

"Alright."

It just so happened Meng Qianqian wanted to return to Fengshui Alley to check if Ji Li had returned to the Capital City.

But before that, as a dutiful daughter-in-law, she needed to pay respects to her mother-in-law first.

Liu Qingyun wasn’t awake.

Meng Qianqian muttered curiously, "Didn’t sleep all night?"

After accompanying the Old Madam and Bao Shu at Tinglan Garden for breakfast, the two of them headed out.

"Sister, why aren’t we taking Treasure Piggy?"

Tan’er asked, puzzled.

Meng Qianqian replied, "What if my mother-in-law wakes up and finds her daughter-in-law missing? Who’s going to placate her?"

"Oh." Tan’er nodded in sudden understanding.

What Meng Qianqian didn’t say was that if Ji Li had returned, she might need to employ some tactics to persuade him. Having Bao Shu there might complicate things.

"Candied hawthorn—selling candied hawthorn—"

Hearing a vendor’s cry, Meng Qianqian walked over to buy two shiny skewers of candied hawthorn for Tan’er.

Tan’er was overjoyed, hopping with her candy as she skipped ahead.

Suddenly, a fast-approaching group of Jinyi Guards charged down the street.

Tan’er immediately recognized the Commander leading them—it was none other than the long-absent Shangguan Ling.

"The traitor?"

Tan’er’s small face darkened. "The big traitor! Today, I must teach him a lesson!"

She lowered her stance, then sprang high into the air, delivering a fierce flying knee strike aimed at Shangguan Ling’s head.

Shangguan Ling, riding his horse and unable to swerve aside, hooked his foot in the stirrup and leaned under the horse’s belly, narrowly avoiding the blow before swiftly returning to his seat.

Tan’er missed her target, toe-tapped the ground, and landed lightly.

By the time she turned around in disbelief, Shangguan Ling had already ridden far away.

An enraged Tan’er bit her lips and hurled her candied hawthorn hard at the back of his head!

This time, her aim was true, and it struck squarely.

A Jinyi Guard accompanying him immediately fired a dart toward Tan’er.

Meng Qianqian deftly flicked her silver needle, deflecting the dart in midair.

Tan’er stomped her foot angrily. "How dare he! Just wait till I catch that traitor—I’ll chop his head right off!"

Meng Qianqian watched the retreating figures of the group and mumbled thoughtfully, "Shangguan Ling has an exit permit. Judging by the direction he’s heading, that’s the South City Gate. What could they be doing there?"

Once they were farther away, a Jinyi Guard turned to Shangguan Ling and asked, "Lord Shangguan, that girl attempted to assassinate you. Why didn’t you kill her?"

Shangguan Ling replied, "Meeting the Miao King comes first."

-

Fengshui Alley.

Ji Li and Si Snake returned covered in dust and grime.

Since Ji Li’s Compass had broken again halfway, his adversities had piled up—falling into a dry well, stepping into a beast trap, even dragging Si Snake into a brothel’s bathhouse, where they were both beaten up by a furious group of ladies.

The fact that Si Snake hadn’t killed him made him a remarkably loyal companion indeed.

Fanning himself with a folding fan in a flourishing gesture, Ji Li declared confidently, "I cast a divination for myself! Returning to the Capital City, great fortune awaits me!"

Si Snake’s cold blue eyes glanced sideways at him. "I’m not following you for your fortune."

Ji Li smirked. "I know, I know. You’re looking for Chen Long, right? I’ve calculated it; he’s neither dead nor missing. He’s in the Capital City."

Si Snake coldly said, "Your prediction better be accurate."

Ji Li raised a brow, pushing back a strand of silver hair that fell over his shoulder. "My divinations, like my good looks, are unrivaled under the heavens!"

Si Snake deadpanned, "You’re married?"

"How could I possibly be married? Eh?"

Ji Li froze, startled by the large red wedding emblem pinned to the door. "Who? Who married me? Which crazed admirer is offering herself up? This Marshal will never agree to this marriage!"

Si Snake paused and said, "Rooster."

Ji Li bristled. "Call me Ji Li!"

"Ji Li!"

Ji Li froze, turning in disbelief to the voice behind him. "You? And you too?"

Tan’er grinned mischievously. "Chicken Lord? Long time no see!"

Si Snake pointed to the red lantern hanging outside Meng Qianqian’s corridor. "I just wanted to remind you—it seems it’s the neighbors who got married. They just happened to stick a wedding emblem on your door."

Ji Li wasn’t the least bit relieved. "You got married again? This time to whom?"

Meng Qianqian arched a brow, "Didn’t you already know? Why act like you don’t?"

"How would I know?!"

Ji Li nearly crumbled. Just one trip out of the city, and Little Yin Hu had been snatched by yet another pig!

Crossing her arms, Meng Qianqian leaned against the doorframe. "You’ve lived next to me for so long and still don’t care about my marriage?"

Ji Li roared, "How would I know you were serious? And why should I care about your marriage?! I only care about when I’ll take your little life!"

Meng Qianqian began counting off her fingers one by one. "Yue, Ye, Guang, Ding—"

Ji Li hastily cupped his fists in mock reverence. "Lord Yin Hu, I was wrong!"

Si Snake’s suspicious gaze landed on Meng Qianqian. "You’re the new Yin Hu?"

Meng Qianqian feigned ignorance. "May I ask who you are?"

Si Snake removed his straw hat. "Si Snake."

Meng Qianqian’s eyes flickered ever so slightly.

Si Snake, long time no see.

...

"What did you say? You and Chen Long made a bet on who could recruit more of the Twelve Guards?"

In the dilapidated hall of his home, Ji Li exploded in anger yet again.

Meng Qianqian glanced at Si Snake across from her. "To be precise, it was a bet with Princess Wanping. Chen Long is now Prime Minister Xun’s adoptive son and also a guard of Princess Wanping’s Mansion."

Seated to Meng Qianqian’s left, Ji Li wasn’t pleased. He slapped her wrist lightly with his folding fan. "Hey, why are you looking at him when you talk?"

So, in this household, I’ve got no authority now?

Meng Qianqian stared directly at Si Snake. "I can take you to see Chen Long—if you agree to come with me to meet someone."

Si Snake replied, "I can go find him myself."

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly. "Oh? Are you certain you can meet him and come back unscathed? Let me be frank with you: there’s a traitor among the Twelve Guards. Have you considered the possibility that the traitor might be Chen Long? With your martial arts, how likely are you to survive a confrontation with him?"

Ji Li tried desperately to stay relevant. "Little Yin Hu, why don’t you suspect that I’m the traitor?"

Si Snake pondered out loud. "Traitor, indeed."

Ji Li blinked in confusion. "What ’indeed’? Si Snake, what did you think of this time?"

Si Snake turned to Meng Qianqian and said, "Alright, I accept your conditions."