Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 563 - 478 Tricked Gongsun Yanming

Chapter 563: Chapter 478 Tricked Gongsun Yanming

Inside Mingxin Hall, Xiao Rong’er was preparing to collect Meng Qianqian’s corpse.

Whether or not Shang Wuyou could be saved, this woman was absolutely not leaving alive.

She intended to send her corpse to the Crown Prince Mansion, so they could see clearly what kind of fate their chosen Phoenix Girl had met.

But unexpectedly, just as the straw mat was being readied, Meng Qianqian walked out from the backyard.

She stood straight and tall, her slender figure like pine and bamboo, appearing in the golden morning light like a phoenix reborn from the ashes.

Xiao Rong’er suddenly experienced a moment of daze, a long-forgotten name flashing across her mind: Zhongli Yuan...

She instinctively stood up, staring at the figure in disbelief.

For a split second, she thought she was dreaming.

It wasn’t until Meng Qianqian’s face came into focus that she snapped back to reality.

"This damned girl... isn’t dead!"

How could this be?

If this girl had survived, then what did her brother, killed by Gongsun Yanming in that secret passageway, amount to?

Xiao Rong’er clutched at her throbbing chest, her body trembling violently.

Hong Xiu quickly supported her: "Madam!"

Xiao Rong’er, her eyes red with rage, tears welling up uncontrollably: "She came out alive... Did you see it, Hong Xiu... she came out alive... Gongsun Yanming didn’t kill her..."

Hong Xiu tried to console her: "Perhaps the Pavilion Master had other plans."

"Other plans?" Xiao Rong’er laughed through her tears, "I think that spawn used his life as a bargaining chip to make Gongsun Yanming spare her..."

"A spawn... a spawn..."

Xiao Rong’er staggered as she dropped into a chair, "That’s my own brother... He even killed my brother!"

Hong Xiu glanced at Meng Qianqian not far away: "Madam, she’s spent much of her energy treating the Young Master’s illness, she’s very weak right now. Shall I go kill her?"

Xiao Rong’er, consumed by jealousy and fury, clenched her fist and said, "Kill!"

Hong Xiu darted forward, her palm forming claws, aiming directly at Meng Qianqian’s back.

Everyone assumed Hong Xiu was just an ordinary maid, who had picked up some third-rate martial arts skills while following Xiao Rong’er. Little did they know, she was a living amulet gifted to Xiao Rong’er by the elder Sect Leader.

But just as her attack was about to succeed, a figure abruptly dashed through the door, grabbing Meng Qianqian with one hand and striking Hong Xiu’s right shoulder with the other.

Hong Xiu was forced back several steps, coldly glaring at the sudden intruder: "Elder Yan?"

Lady Yan shielded Meng Qianqian behind her: "Madam truly surrounds herself with hidden talents. May I ask what crime my disciple has committed, to warrant Madam personally ’educating’ her?"

Xiao Rong’er calmly replied, "Ah, Elder Yan, she disrespected me. Seeing that you were not here, I thought to discipline her a bit. But now that Elder Yan is present, I’ll leave it to you. Hong Xiu, come back!"

"Yes, Madam."

Hong Xiu turned and returned to the Warm Pavilion.

Meng Qianqian walked out of Mingxin Hall.

Tan’er’s eyes lit up: "Sister!"

Last night, after Meng Qianqian entered the secret chamber, Tan’er also waited outside the whole night. If not for Lady Yan stopping her, she would have charged in.

"Sister, N looks so weary!"

Meng Qianqian said, "Help me back first."

"Okay!"

Tan’er quickly supported Meng Qianqian as they walked back.

Once far away from Mingxin Hall, Meng Qianqian couldn’t hold back any longer, her body jolted, and she clutched a rockery, vomiting a mouthful of black blood.

Tan’er’s face turned pale: "Sister!"

Following closely behind them, Lady Yan quickly stepped forward and grasped Meng Qianqian’s wrist.

Tan’er hurriedly took out a clean handkerchief to wipe the black blood from Meng Qianqian’s lips.

Meng Qianqian gasped: "I’m fine... getting it out is good... I didn’t think Gongsun Yanming’s poison... would be so potent... Even with the Golden Silkworm, I almost died..."

Lady Yan’s expression eased slightly: "The Gu King of Miaojiang lives up to its reputation."

Meng Qianqian chuckled: "Indeed. Without the Golden Silkworm, who knows how many times I would have died already."

Tan’er stomped her foot in fury: "Gongsun Yanming! I’ll kill him! I’ll kill him!"

Meng Qianqian patted Tan’er’s fiery little head: "No rush, I’ve prepared quite a grand gift for him myself."

Lady Yan asked Meng Qianqian: "What on earth happened last night? I heard you injured Wuyou."

Tan’er protested: "Sister would never hurt that fool!"

Meng Qianqian explained: "Xiao Rong’er took advantage of my absence and ambushed Wuyou in your courtyard."

Lady Yan asked doubtfully: "How did she know Wuyou would come looking for you?"

"That’s also something I’ve been pondering since last night."

Meng Qianqian recalled, "Before Wuyou passed out, he urged me to escape the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion immediately. From this, I deduce he was trying to warn me. It’s likely that, after I retrieved Gongsun Liuying’s life chart, Gongsun Yanming developed the intent to kill me. Gongsun Yanming wouldn’t share his plans with Wuyou, so Wuyou must have overheard it by accident. Could it be... Xiao Rong’er has someone spying for her around Gongsun Yanming, who informed her of Wuyou’s movements?"

Lady Yan reminded her: "I’ve said before, don’t meddle with the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion."

Meng Qianqian replied, "They meddled with me first. I’m simply taking back what’s mine."

Tan’er declared firmly: "Sister, I’ll help you get revenge!"

Knowing Meng Qianqian was resolute and impossible to sway, Lady Yan gave up trying to persuade her: "Xiao Rong’er has always wanted to eliminate Wuyou and Changle. She just doesn’t dare act recklessly because of the Pavilion Master. It seems Liuying’s situation finally pushed her over the edge."

Meng Qianqian said flatly: "Whatever disputes might arise between those two behind closed doors, I don’t care. But Wuyou’s life—no one touches it."

Lady Yan asked: "How is Wuyou’s injury?"

Meng Qianqian frowned: "He shielded me from a blade. It was almost too late to save him."

Upon hearing this, Tan’er swallowed the curses she was about to unleash upon Shang Wuyou: "Fine, I’ll give him some credit for having a conscience. Next time he can have an extra stick of candied hawthorn!"

Lady Yan’s eyes lit up with curiosity: "You mentioned earlier that you’ve prepared a big gift for the Pavilion Master?"

Meng Qianqian’s lips curled into a faint smile: "Indeed. Did you think he was the only one who harbored murderous intent? I’ve waited far too long for this day. I’ve never had a chance to get close to him, but I’ve quietly reminded myself—if I ever get the opportunity, I absolutely won’t miss it!"

Inside the secret chamber, Gongsun Yu was fiddling surreptitiously with the medicine Xiao Rong’er had given him.

He hadn’t expected to need it.

But now, with Shang Wuyou still alive, he was faced with the problem of how to poison him under his elder brother’s watchful eyes.

Gongsun Yanming returned to the Ice Bed, glancing at Gongsun Yu: "Why aren’t you leaving?"

Gongsun Yu replied calmly: "Brother has been busy all night. Let me take over watching Wuyou for you. You should go rest for a bit."

Gongsun Yanming nodded slightly, just as he was about to head next door to rest, when a sudden wave of dizziness struck him. He steadied himself on the Ice Bed.

Gongsun Yu exclaimed in shock: "Brother, what’s wrong?"

Gongsun Yanming shook his head, regaining clarity.

Soon, he raised his slightly numb right hand—black lines had appeared on his palm.

Gongsun Yu stared intensely: "Brother, your hand..."

Gongsun Yanming’s eyes narrowed: "Poison."

Gongsun Yu quickly said: "I didn’t poison you, Brother!"

Gongsun Yanming’s right hand had touched only two things: the teacup outside and Wuyou’s forehead.

His tea set was gifted by Medicine King Valley—if poison was present, the teacup would have changed color.

Thus, the poison had to be on Wuyou.

The girl is ruthless beyond belief!