Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 259 - 241 Slap in the Face

Chapter 259: Chapter 241 Slap in the Face

Princess Wanping frowned: "Meng Xiaojiu, at least come up with something convincing. Embroidery, and double-sided silk at that—what were you thinking?"

Meng Qianqian was separated from her only by Lady Xing.

Her voice wasn’t loud; it was intended solely for Meng Qianqian to hear.

Lady Xing pretended not to have heard anything.

Meng Qianqian sighed softly: "Princess, do you truly not trust me?"

Princess Wanping glared at her: "Is there anything you’ve done that anyone can trust?"

Lady Xing, stuck between the two: I trust her!

"Why on earth does Lu Yuan fancy you?"

Princess Wanping genuinely couldn’t understand. Besides being beautiful, skilled at warfare, knowledgeable in medicine, adept at coaxing people, and versed in generating wealth—what else was good about this girl?

"Princess..."

"How much silver did you pay for it?"

"Hmm?"

Before Meng Qianqian could reply, Princess Wanping raised her hand, signaling Meng Qianqian to remain silent.

The items from Yanyu Pavilion were extraordinarily expensive, especially rare double-sided silk embroidery, which might be worth a hundred gold pieces.

Sending such an extravagant gift to the Empress, despite her father’s explicit prohibition, was tantamount to blatant bribery.

Princess Wanping snapped irritably: "Later, just say this fan was given to you by this princess—you didn’t know its price."

This statement was absolutely unbelievable... but the fact that Princess Wanping would even consider helping her out genuinely surprised Meng Qianqian.

Princess Wanping’s reasoning was simple: since Lu Yuan liked Meng Qianqian, and she couldn’t drive her away, then she might as well use her skills to protect Meng Qianqian and let Lu Yuan see that she could coexist with Meng Qianqian.

Who wouldn’t appreciate a princess with such magnanimity?

Meng Qianqian chuckled and asked: "Princess, why are you helping me?"

Princess Wanping replied straightforwardly: "Naturally, because I want to be the first wife."

Meng Qianqian pondered for a moment: "Does that mean Lu Yuan would be the second husband?"

Princess Wanping: "..."

Lady Changning Marquis spoke up: "Young Madam Lu, what you’ve done is truly inappropriate. Passing off the embroidery from Yanyu Pavilion as your own, deceiving the Empress, and defying the Supreme Emperor’s orders—if my daughter hadn’t discovered it in time, wouldn’t you have implicated the Empress in the future when the Supreme Emperor holds someone accountable?"

Meng Qianqian replied: "You’re so adept at assigning blame—do you weave hats for a living?"

Princess Wanping frowned: "It’s just a folding fan—is the Changning Marquis Mansion so impoverished that even a fan can be turned into bribery!"

Tao Shiyu naturally didn’t dare to retort rudely to the princess; her tone remained gentle as she explained: "Princess Wanping, you may not know, but double-sided embroidery is a unique technique of the Yanyu Pavilion’s owner—even her direct disciples might not have the qualification to learn it. So I am certain this folding fan is indeed the embroidery of the Yanyu Pavilion’s master."

As soon as these words dropped, everyone gasped in shock.

The Yanyu Pavilion’s master’s embroidery was worth more than gold and jewels; to say it wasn’t bribery was almost laughable!

Meng Qianqian smiled: "Are you certain? How much do you actually know about the Yanyu Pavilion’s master?"

Tao Shiyu said confidently: "As I mentioned earlier, my teacher is a direct disciple of the Yanyu Pavilion’s master—"

Meng Qianqian interrupted her: "You’re a student of Wu Xiunang? Then I’ll say I’m a disciple of the Yanyu Pavilion’s master too! She taught me embroidery! Why? Aren’t I entitled to say that? Since it’s all just talk, you can claim it and so can I!"

Lady Xing commented: "Miss Tao, making assertions without evidence is slander."

Upon hearing their words, Tao Shiyu didn’t falter; instead, she flashed a smile brimming with confidence: "It’s a coincidence indeed—my teacher Wu Xiunang is in the palace today, at Kunning Palace. May I trouble the Empress to summon my teacher; truth or lies will become clear!"

Meng Qianqian replied casually: "Alright, go ahead and invite her."

Lady Changning Marquis sneered: "Bluffing won’t help; if you’re sensible, you’ll admit your wrongdoing to the Empress quickly. The Empress is magnanimous and unlikely to hold it against you."

"Aunt, in my opinion, let’s just drop this matter."

Yao Qingluan didn’t want the issue to escalate further.

Meng Qianqian rose and spoke solemnly: "Empress, those who stand upright fear no shadow cast—please summon Wu Xiunang. I also want to know if Miss Tao is truly her disciple!"

Yao Qingluan was quite troubled.

Meng Qianqian was one of the Twelve Guards, with a unique status and having rendered merit in quelling the epidemic. If she were to be disgraced in her Jingren Palace, it might anger the Supreme Emperor.

Yet it was Meng Qianqian herself who insisted.

Were all military generals like this?

Unable to refuse, Yao Qingluan commanded someone to the Kunning Palace to summon Wu Xiunang.

Wu Xiunang arrived swiftly.

Many of the ladies and young misses present were regular patrons of Yanyu Pavilion—having seen Wu Xiunang before and knowing her to be a direct disciple of the Yanyu Pavilion’s master.

"This servant pays respects to the Empress, may the Empress live ten thousand years!"

Everyone inwardly marveled that a mere embroiderer could display formalities as noble as those of esteemed aristocratic women—proof of the incredible standing of that Yun Mistress.

Yao Qingluan didn’t immediately allow her to rise but asked: "Are you Miss Tao’s teacher? Is this true?"

Wu Xiunang lowered her gaze, not daring to look around: "It is true. I happened to notice Miss Tao’s talent in embroidery, so I accepted her as a disciple two years ago."

Lady Changning Marquis wore a triumphant expression: "Young Madam Lu, surely you now believe my daughter wasn’t lying?"

Meng Qianqian: "Well, I wasn’t lying either!"

Wu Xiunang froze upon hearing the familiar voice and glanced discreetly at Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian smiled at her.

Wu Xiunang was utterly shocked.

But the greater surprise was still to come.

Yao Qingluan let a palace maid place the double-sided silk fan on the table before her: "Do you recognize this fan?"

Wu Xiunang held the fan and looked closely at both sides; her expression changed instantly: "Double-sided embroidery? This is—"

Tao Shiyu spoke up: "Teacher, this fan is the master’s handiwork, isn’t it? I recall you telling me that the master’s double-sided embroidery was a unique technique, never taught to anyone else."

Wu Xiunang stared at the fan, clenched its handle tightly, and murmured: "Double-sided embroidery is exceptionally difficult. I’ve followed my teacher for ten years and have barely mastered the basics."

Tao Shiyu turned to Meng Qianqian: "Did you hear that? In the entire Capital City, only Yun Mistress is capable of double-sided embroidery—do you still dare claim it was your work?"

Wu Xiunang looked at Meng Qianqian in astonishment.

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly at her: "Wu Xiunang, look carefully. Is it really your teacher’s handiwork? You’ve studied under her for ten years—can’t you tell her embroidery from someone else’s?"

Wu Xiunang steadied herself: "This piece of embroidery... does resemble my teacher’s craftsmanship."

No, it wasn’t her teacher’s embroidery. Her teacher’s work was even more breathtaking.

But hadn’t her teacher said so?

They were still far from being ready to learn double-sided embroidery—her teacher refused to teach them its essence, yet taught it to a novice apprentice!

How much effort had her teacher poured in to enable this young girl to master double-sided embroidery in such a short time?

Her teacher had always been impatient with instructing disciples!

A surge of jealousy in Wu Xiunang’s heart compelled her to utter those words.

After all, she hadn’t lied—it truly resembled her teacher’s craftsmanship.

They were apprentices, so naturally their works were similar. Moreover, the Empress hadn’t asked outright, right?

This meant she wouldn’t have to explain.

Besides, maybe it really was her teacher’s embroidery—perhaps her teacher had carelessly given it to Meng Qianqian after a failed attempt.

She couldn’t swallow the idea of losing to a newly-inducted junior apprentice.

She was supposed to be her teacher’s most valued disciple—the one most qualified to inherit her teacher’s legacy.

Meng Qianqian immediately saw through her thoughts and smiled coolly: "Wu Shijie, do you think you’re the only one who entered the palace today?"

Before Wu Xiunang could grasp Meng Qianqian’s meaning, a eunuch’s announcement sounded outside:

"Mistress Yun of Yanyu Pavilion requests an audience!"