Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 556 - 473: The Show Begins

Chapter 556: Chapter 473: The Show Begins

In the afternoon, Meng Qianqian left the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion under the pretext of picking out a pair of boots for Treasure Piggy.

The two Imperial Palace guards assigned to her were named Gao Meng and Gao Yao, a pair of brothers.

Meng Qianqian suggested that she wander around by herself and told them to come back to the fabric shop to fetch her in two hours.

The two did not refuse.

After all, they had been dispatched by Your Majesty to assist her, not to monitor her.

"Miss Yan, we’ll be off then,"

Gao Meng said politely before driving the palace carriage away.

Meng Qianqian first bought a pair of little boots for the young one, then disguised herself in a shop before heading to the Crown Prince Mansion.

After observing the interactions between Lu Zhaoyan and Lu Yuan in the palace, Meng Qianqian was certain that Lu Zhaoyan could be trusted. Furthermore, Lu Zhaoyan had likely deduced that she and Lu Yuan were husband and wife.

The reason she was sneaking over wasn’t because she didn’t trust Lu Zhaoyan, but because she was worried about being detected by spies from the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

Who could guarantee that there weren’t eyes from the Pavilion planted within the Crown Prince Mansion?

Meng Qianqian scaled the wall and entered the Crown Prince Mansion.

As soon as she landed, she came face-to-face with Prince Ming.

The two stared at each other, wide-eyed.

It took Meng Qianqian a moment to recognize the bruised and swollen Prince Ming.

Oh, this unlucky prince had probably been roughed up by Emperor Liang again.

In the palace, Meng Qianqian had worn a veil, and now, with her disguise, as long as she didn’t speak, Prince Ming would absolutely not recognize her.

Should she knock out Prince Ming or knock him out?

Meng Qianqian raised her hand.

Prince Ming hurriedly said, "I’m blind today."

Meng Qianqian: "..."

What a wise man. Meng Qianqian bypassed Prince Ming and used her Qinggong to leave.

Prince Ming let out a long sigh of relief. "That was close. Almost got beaten again."

Based on her knowledge of Lu Yuan, Meng Qianqian concluded that the main courtyard should be "safe," so she planned to visit Liu Qingyun first.

She climbed into the courtyard where Liu Qingyun resided and easily located Liu Qingyun’s room.

As she was just stepping one foot through the window, she found herself face-to-face with Lu Zhaoyan, who was about to shut it.

For the second time, Meng Qianqian and someone else stared at each other, wide-eyed.

She was utterly dumbfounded.

Was her luck today all spent on dealing with Gongsun Liuying?

How could it be so coincidental? Every wall she scaled, someone caught her red-handed. Was Ji Li’s spirit possessing her?

Meng Qianqian blinked and said, "Carry on."

With that, she slunk away.

In broad daylight, a man and woman alone in one room—wasn’t the lady a bit disheveled just now...

See no evil! See no evil!

Meng Qianqian headed to the side courtyard.

This time, at least, she wasn’t caught again.

But when she opened the door to the room and saw the crowd inside, how was this any different from being caught?

"You’re here,"

Chen Long said.

The previously grim, lifeless Chen Long guards suddenly transformed into a doting and amiable brother the moment they saw their little sister.

Lu Yuan clicked his tongue. "Quite the swift change of face. Who was the person yelling and roaring just now?"

Chen Long hesitated before saying to Lu Yuan, "I was just too worried about my sister. I got worked up and raised my voice. I apologize. But let’s get one thing straight, you can scold me, but you’re not allowed to scold my sister again."

Lu Yuan, who had been antagonizing people in the palace all morning, had finally met his match.

Shangguan Ling and Si Snake were present too.

Yu Zichuan was sitting on the roof, directly above a tile on Lu Yuan’s head.

And off in a corner sat Mr. Zi Wu, utterly out of place, expressionless, exuding the aura of someone forcibly roped into trouble by bandits.

The bandit, of course, was Lu Yuan.

"Young Madam,"

Shangguan Ling bowed slightly. "Congratulations."

"Hm?"

Meng Qianqian was taken aback.

Ji Li snapped open his folding fan and waved it with a sense of pride. "Who’d have thought, you actually pulled out the Green Simurgh Sword of Witch Mountain! Oh, Little Yin Hu, who knew you’d have the Phoenix Girl Destiny?"

Chen Long retorted, "Clearly a fake charlatan."

Ji Li bristled. "Who are you calling a fake charlatan?"

Even Mr. Zi Wu, who had remained apathetic up till now, gave Meng Qianqian a deep look.

Truth be told, not just Ji Li—even he couldn’t read this girl’s Life Chart.

Perhaps not even his junior sister could, or else she wouldn’t have waited until now to send the Green Simurgh Sword over.

"Old man, what are you looking at?"

Lu Yuan asked.

Mr. Zi Wu snapped irritably, "Looking at your wife!"

Lu Yuan: "And what did you see?"

Mr. Zi Wu hesitated, then let out a cold snort and turned away.

Lu Yuan turned to Ji Li next. "Hey, you’ve been fiddling with that Compass every day. Can you finally tell me, have you calculated Gongsun Yanming’s death date or not?"

Ji Li gave him a speechless glare. "Do you really think I’m some kind of deity? The more I try to calculate, the shorter my life becomes. At this rate, he won’t die, and I’ll keel over first!"

Lu Yuan said, "So you can’t calculate it."

Ji Li: ... Really want to kick this brat.

Mr. Zi Wu, observing the frequently quarrelsome group, increasingly felt he had joined the wrong team.

While most people schemed in harmony, these people were a scattered mess.

Meng Qianqian sat down next to Lu Yuan, and under his wide sleeve, he took her hand.

Since it was beneath the table, no one else could see.

But unlucky for them, Mr. Zi Wu had moved to the corner, seeking some quiet, and now had a perfect, unobstructed view.

Mr. Zi Wu tilted his head back with a heavy sigh.

Unwaveringly, he stared at the pair flaunting their affection.

What kind of terrible karma had he accumulated to end up with this group?

"Did the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion send anyone to tail you?"

"Is there really no trickery with the Green Simurgh Sword?"

Lu Yuan and Si Snake spoke up simultaneously.

Chen Long’s brow furrowed.

He would tolerate no one doubting his sister.

Lu Yuan, on the other hand, had his suspicions. Ever since Si Snake had finished avenging Chu Grand Marshal, he seemed aimless and listless, merely meandering along with them with no real purpose.

Though he occasionally helped, he never interfered with their plans or engaged in discussions.

Ji Li asked, "Snake, what are you getting at? Are you doubting Little Yin Hu?"

Si Snake calmly stated, "I just want to know the truth."

Meng Qianqian replied seriously, "There’s no trickery with the Green Simurgh Sword."

Si Snake nodded. "Alright. I believe you."

The group exchanged looks. They all noticed a subtle shift in Si Snake’s demeanor.

Could it be... that Meng Qianqian pulling out the Green Simurgh Sword was of particular significance to him?

Meng Qianqian suddenly recalled that Si Snake once mentioned Chu Grand Marshal had promised him something. She now suspected that "Chu Grand Marshal" might be her, not Chu Nan.

Could this matter be related to the Green Simurgh Sword?

Meng Qianqian resolved to talk privately with Si Snake later.

After all, if there was one thing her time fighting side by side with these people had taught her, it was the importance of unconditional trust and honesty.

She responded to Lu Yuan, "The Thousand Mechanism Pavilion didn’t send anyone to track me."

Lu Yuan momentarily let go of his doubts and said, "That’s odd. You openly seized Gongsun Liuying’s Phoenix Girl identity. Gongsun Yanming must suspect you, yet they don’t send anyone to trail you. That’s not right. Unless—"

Meng Qianqian picked up his train of thought. "Unless he’s already planned how to get rid of me."

Ji Li snapped his folding fan shut. "Little Yin Hu, doesn’t that mean you’re in great danger right now? Why not leave the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion and move out quickly?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "The real show is just beginning. If I leave now, wouldn’t I miss all the fun?"