Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 510 - 444: Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Meet

Chapter 510: Chapter 444: Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Meet

Liu Qingyun followed the Hunting Eagle through twists and turns, finally arriving at a secluded courtyard where she saw Meng Qianqian dressed in night clothes.

"It’s you?"

Liu Qingyun was surprised.

Meng Qianqian replied, "Mother didn’t know it was me, yet you came looking anyway?"

Liu Qingyun said calmly, "What’s there to fear?"

Meng Qianqian: ... Well, true.

The dignified Princess of Miaojiang has never known fear.

Liu Qingyun turned to glare at the Hunting Eagle perched on the windowsill: "Didn’t I tell you to look for my son?"

The Hunting Eagle feigned ignorance.

Meng Qianqian said, "Mother, you didn’t want to see me."

"That’s beside the point."

Liu Qingyun’s sharp gaze could make daggers, and she was already debating whether to stew the eagle or braise it.

"Go stand watch," Meng Qianqian commanded the Hunting Eagle.

The Hunting Eagle flapped its wings: One strip of dried meat.

Meng Qianqian glanced at Liu Qingyun: "Mother, you might as well stew it."

The Hunting Eagle decisively flew to the rooftop, keeping watch for the two female devils.

Meng Qianqian returned to the topic: "Mother, why have you come to the Southwest? And even entered the Crown Prince Mansion?"

Liu Qingyun spoke succinctly: "Gongsun Yanming contacted two Miaojiang bandits, sending them to Witch Mountain to steal Shang Changle. That day, I happened to be with Zhaozhao in Changle’s courtyard waiting for her, and they mistook me for Changle and abducted me."

Meng Qianqian reflected thoughtfully: "The journey to Witch Mountain is far. Even if they rushed without stopping, it’d take at least ten days. With the back-and-forth, Mother, you’d have been in the Southwest for no less than four months. This suggests that Gongsun Yanming must have coordinated with them via carrier pigeon."

Liu Qingyun recalled, "Those two bandits are Miaojiang people, and they seem quite familiar with Witch Mountain’s terrain."

Meng Qianqian mused, "I’ve always suspected there’s a traitor within Miaojiang who has not only colluded with Prime Minister Xun but also with the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion. This incident just confirms my earlier suspicions."

Gongsun Yanming couldn’t have found two such suitable bandits in such a short time. Someone must have aided him.

And that person is likely someone who has colluded with Prime Minister Xun before.

"What a bold chess move."

Liu Qingyun yawned: "Enough about me. Let’s talk about you."

Meng Qianqian nodded: "I’m in the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion now. At present, I am Lady Yan’s disciple—Yan Xiaojiu."

"Her, huh."

Liu Qingyun muttered to herself, "Which side is she on, really?"

Meng Qianqian paused before saying, "My mother and she are martial sisters. She once participated in exterminating the Shang Family, yet her subsequent assistance to me doesn’t seem like someone who holds a grudge against my mother."

Liu Qingyun remarked, "Cautious sailors sail for a thousand years. Did my mother give you the Divine Woman Order?"

"Here it is."

Meng Qianqian retrieved the token from a hidden pouch in her belt.

Seeing that it was so carefully hidden, Liu Qingyun felt reassured: "If worse comes to worst, don’t be reckless. Use it when necessary."

"Understood."

Meng Qianqian agreed readily.

Liu Qingyun appreciated this sensible trait in Meng Qianqian.

She sized up Meng Qianqian, her gaze landing on her belly: "Pregnant?"

Meng Qianqian: "..."

Liu Qingyun snorted: "You fooled my mother at Witch Mountain, treating Changle’s illness by pretending to be pregnant. If you don’t give my mother three little ones, let’s see how you get away with it!"

Meng Qianqian stammered: "T-three? Isn’t one enough?"

Liu Qingyun raised an eyebrow: "One? That’s exactly what you said."

Meng Qianqian twitched at the corner of her mouth: Why does it feel like she walked into a trap?

Grumble~

Her stomach growled.

Liu Qingyun glanced at her: "Hungry?"

Meng Qianqian answered awkwardly: "I ate, but I’m hungry again."

Something flickered in Liu Qingyun’s eyes: "When did your menses start?"

Meng Qianqian: "Three days ago."

Liu Qingyun: Goodbye, grandchild dreams.

Liu Qingyun said calmly: "Wait here, I’ll fetch some food for you."

Meng Qianqian replied politely: "How could I impose?"

Liu Qingyun: "Then I won’t go."

Meng Qianqian: "Candied pork hock."

Liu Qingyun strode towards the main courtyard, ordering candied pork hock and several small dishes: "Deliver them to the courtyard by the phoenix tree in the west corner."

The maid asked, "Madam, are you eating over there?"

Liu Qingyun retorted, "Is that not allowed?"

The maid quickly replied, "Yes, I’ll prepare them right away."

The Crown Prince had instructed that all orders from Madam were to be obeyed.

Meng Qianqian devoured the candied pork hock, eating to her heart’s content.

Her earlier concerns about Liu Qingyun’s situation disappeared completely.

Meng Qianqian suddenly thought of something and said to Liu Qingyun, "Lu Yuan is in the Imperial Palace."

Liu Qingyun showed no surprise: "I know. Zhaozhao’s there too."

Meng Qianqian choked, surprised at the one-for-two deal.

With Lu Yuan present, she didn’t need to worry about the little one’s safety.

As Meng Qianqian slowed down her eating, she occasionally glanced at Liu Qingyun.

Liu Qingyun noticed her daughter-in-law’s sly, probing gaze: "Just say what’s on your mind."

Meng Qianqian asked, "Mother, are you sure you don’t know the Crown Prince?"

Liu Qingyun replied, puzzled: "I don’t know him. Why?"

Meng Qianqian pondered aloud: "I keep feeling the Crown Prince seems to treat Lu Yuan differently."

Each day was a Chapter of Lu Yuan fighting for favor in the Crown Prince Mansion. Even a fool could see the Crown Prince was deliberately favoring Lu Yuan.

It couldn’t be because Emperor Liang acknowledged Lu Yuan as his grandson.

Even before that, Lu Yuan had been stirring up trouble in the Crown Prince Mansion without being kicked out by the Crown Prince.

Liu Qingyun waved her hand: "I know my son. If he truly wanted to charm someone, no one could refuse."

Back in Great Zhou, was there anyone he couldn’t charm, even Prime Minister Xun?

Not at all.

Prime Minister Xun forced him to do things that exceeded his moral limits. He could endure everyone calling him the Great Traitor, but he couldn’t stand truly harming innocent people.

Prime Minister Xun forced him to choose between his conscience and servitude.

He chose rebellion.

Meng Qianqian said, "That may be true, but Mother, is there any chance that he really is Lu Yuan’s father?"

Liu Qingyun responded without hesitation: "Impossible. He doesn’t carry the surname Lu."

Meng Qianqian was astonished: "Mother knows his surname?"

Well played—she had just trapped her daughter-in-law with a setup, only to be caught by her daughter-in-law herself.

At this point, there was no reason to conceal it.

Liu Qingyun sighed: "His surname is Qin."

Meng Qianqian inquired, "Did he tell you this himself?"

Liu Qingyun cleared her throat: "He left behind a jade pendant. The character ’Qin’ was engraved on it."

The truth was, he hadn’t "left" it behind—it had been mixed into her clothes in her rush to escape, and she had accidentally taken it with her.

But such details weren’t worth sharing with her daughter-in-law.

Meng Qianqian pretended not to notice her subtle flash of embarrassment and asked again, "Mother, do you have that jade pendant?"

Liu Qingyun replied indifferently: "It’s been so many years. Who brings such things around with them?"

Meng Qianqian pulled out a handkerchief and charcoal pencil: "Mother, tell me—I’ll draw it."

Liu Qingyun refused: "I don’t want to find him!"

Meng Qianqian quickly said, "Alright, alright. I’m curious. I want to find him."

Liu Qingyun huffed and said arrogantly, "Round, palm-sized, with..."

After she described it, Meng Qianqian finished sketching.

"Mother, is this it?"

Liu Qingyun glanced at the sketch: "Close enough."

Meng Qianqian studied the depiction of the jade pendant: "Mother, have you ever considered the possibility that the ’Qin’ doesn’t refer to his surname but rather his identity? For instance, Prince Qin Mansion."