Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 537 - 461: His Son, He Comes to Protect

Chapter 537: Chapter 461: His Son, He Comes to Protect

Meng Qianqian’s heart skipped a beat, an indescribable emotion surged through her chest.

He knew.

He had known all along.

Of course. As clever as he was, how could he not have guessed that her resolve to seek revenge through the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion wasn’t solely due to the hatred towards the Chu Family?

Meng Qianqian stared dazedly at him, and in his gaze of utmost tenderness, she saw unwavering support and resolve.

At this moment, all words seemed pale and meaningless.

At last, she no longer denied that she was Shang Xiaojiu, nor did she ask him when he figured it out or how he convinced himself to accept and believe she was someone reborn.

It didn’t matter anymore.

That he was willing to stand steadfast by her side on this thorny path of revenge was already enough.

Resolutely, she nodded, as though confirming an unspoken pact between the two: "Alright."

She leapt down.

Lu Yuan stood at the base of the courtyard wall, gazing up at the spot where she had been perched.

All of a sudden, a mischievous head poked out.

Lu Yuan smiled faintly: "Not leaving yet?"

Meng Qianqian ruffled her bangs and mumbled softly: "You being so gentle all of a sudden...I’m not used to it..."

Lu Yuan: "Hmm?"

"Nothing, just suddenly felt like doing something."

Meng Qianqian blinked, half of her body sticking into the courtyard, hesitated for a moment, then shrank back onto the wall.

Lu Yuan smirked: "Is this what you want to do?"

He raised his hand, clasped Meng Qianqian’s head, and kissed her red lips with a domineering yet gentle touch.

...

In the dead of night.

Meng Qianqian returned stealthily to Lady Yan’s courtyard, dressed in night clothes and her face veiled.

As soon as she pushed open her door, a stern voice sounded from inside: "So, you still remembered to come back?"

Meng Qianqian’s heart raced with alarm: "Master, what are you doing in my room?"

Lady Yan said flatly: "Lighting the lamp."

"Oh."

Meng Qianqian obediently produced a fire starter and lit an oil lamp.

The warm, yellow light illuminated her delicate face, with rosy undertones, sparkling eyes full of charm, lips naturally crimson, vibrant without any adornment—though perhaps a bit too red tonight.

She had been the mistress of the Everblossom Pavilion for years; it’d be embarrassing if she couldn’t tell what this girl had been up to.

"Were you passing a message or secretly meeting a lover?"

Meng Qianqian pursed her lips: "Can’t it be both?"

Lady Yan said irritably: "Your head’s about to be handed over, yet you still have time for romance."

Meng Qianqian showered her master with flattery: "Isn’t it because I have you, Master? Your powers are vast—I’m sure you’ll help your disciple escape unharmed!"

Lady Yan: "Stop buttering me up!"

Meng Qianqian: "Oh."

"Really, who did you take after?"

Lady Yan shot her a glare full of exasperation, recalling what her own senior sister had said, "You, always admitting fault but never truly changing. Be careful, or you’ll lead Little Nine astray."

She cleared her throat awkwardly, then said with feigned indifference, "Did you go somewhere you shouldn’t have today?"

"Nope."

Meng Qianqian replied without hesitation.

Lady Yan’s sharp gaze pinned her: "Are you sure?"

Meng Qianqian answered firmly: "Absolutely sure."

Lady Yan gave her a long look: "If you truly are her, you’d better make sure the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion doesn’t discover your secret, or even I won’t be able to protect you."

It wasn’t the first time Lady Yan had warned her not to be discovered by the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

In the past, she would’ve treated it as an ordinary caution.

But now, she saw it differently.

Gongsun Liuying had taken her Life Chart.

Recently, Gongsun Liuying had begun to falter increasingly often.

Counting the days, it coincided with her own entry into the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion not long ago.

Could this mean her presence disrupted Gongsun Liuying’s Life Chart?

It felt as though the Life Chart sensed the summons of its original owner and was struggling to break free from its constraints, longing to return to its rightful place.

Such speculation might seem exaggerated, yet if true, reclaiming her Life Chart could be easier than anticipated.

But if the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion caught wind of this, they would spare no effort to kill her.

Was this the "both a great calamity and great fortune" that Mr. Zimu once mentioned?

Rather than feeling afraid, Meng Qianqian found herself becoming excited.

"What mischief are you plotting again, girl?"

Noticing the gleam in Meng Qianqian’s eyes, Lady Yan regretted her earlier reminder.

She should have known better; this girl was born defiant and gutsy. The more forbidden something was, the more driven she became to do it, utterly fearless.

Meng Qianqian’s gaze returned to Lady Yan’s face.

Lady Yan definitely knew something about the Life Chart, but she seemed unwilling to divulge it.

So be it.

Whether she spoke or not mattered little; after all, Meng Qianqian had mostly pieced it together on her own.

"The Thousand Mechanism Pavilion massacred my Shang Family, leaving not even innocent members alive. I’ll make them pay in blood and reclaim what’s mine."

Lady Yan furrowed her brows.

Meng Qianqian seeking revenge against the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion didn’t surprise her.

But that last phrase, "reclaim what’s mine," seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

"You—"

She hesitated, then said, "I’m going to rest now."

Meng Qianqian curved her lips into a smile: "Master, when you go to the palace tomorrow, remember to bring me along."

Lady Yan stopped in her tracks, her brows knitting slightly: "The Pavilion Master didn’t mention taking me to the palace."

Meng Qianqian smiled: "Master, take your time."

The next morning, as dawn broke, news from the palace arrived—

The Empress was unwell, bedridden.

That wouldn’t do. The Empress, being the legitimate mother, didn’t need to merely be bedridden; even a sneeze would prompt the Princes to enter the palace to care for her.

The little eunuch delivering the imperial edict explained: "I heard Prince Jian is also attending."

Even Lu Qi went to display filial piety—how could Lu Yuan, also an Imperial Grandson, remain indifferent?

Lu Zhaoyan wasn’t foolish.

He had spies in the Imperial Palace. Today’s events were clearly targeting his son.

Fine. Let them see for themselves that Lu Zhaoyan’s son wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

"Son, I couldn’t protect you in the past when I wasn’t there, but from now on, I won’t let you be bullied again."

Lu Zhaoyan had even rehearsed comforting words for his son. The moment he entered the courtyard, he was interrupted by his rebellious child.

"I’m not bringing my mother along. Men’s business—don’t involve her."

Lu Zhaoyan shot his son a glare.

I came to find you, not drag Xiao Bai into this mess!

Lu Zhaoyan took a deep breath. How could he have such an insufferable son? All the sentimental words he’d prepared vanished into nothingness.

"I just wanted to check if your mother was awake, say a few words to her, and leave."

"Oh, my mother’s willing to see you?"

The first stab of the day was driven into his heart by his son.

Ever since Liu Qingyun learned she’d slept with her sworn brother, she had been mortified, avoiding Lu Zhaoyan for days.

Lu Zhaoyan, expressionless, said: "If you don’t speak, no one will mistake you for a mute."

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Doesn’t seem like you want to pursue my mother."

Lu Zhaoyan’s face turned cold instantly: "Speak."

Lu Yuan smirked and said, "If you want to court a woman, you’ve got to appeal to her interests. Want me to tell you what my mother likes?"

Lu Zhaoyan looked at his son.

Lu Yuan made a gesture for money.

Lu Zhaoyan handed over a silver note worth a thousand taels, his face black as coal.

Lu Yuan pocketed the note: "My mother, she likes sleeping."

Lu Zhaoyan: "...!!"

Lu Zhaoyan grabbed a nearby stick.

Lu Yuan bolted.

"Ji Feng! Hold him down for me!"

"Mother! Your man is hitting your son—"

Bang!

Liu Qingyun kicked her door open and stormed out, fury blazing.

In the courtyard, Lu Zhaoyan was tidying Lu Yuan’s collar, speaking gently and warmly, the picture of a doting father: "Remember to stay close to me when we go to the palace later."

Lu Yuan didn’t move his lips: "Five thousand taels."

Lu Zhaoyan: "Three thousand."

Lu Yuan opened his mouth: "Mother—"

Lu Zhaoyan: "Deal."