Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 568 - 483: An Old Friend Appears

Chapter 568: Chapter 483: An Old Friend Appears

At night, a carriage adorned with Five-Colored Shells slowly entered the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion and only halted at the entrance of Mingxin Hall.

Disciples on their way stopped to gape at the sight.

The rules of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion were strict—the carriage must not proceed beyond the gate, to prevent hidden weapons within from posing a threat to the Pavilion.

Yet, this carriage moved unhindered and stopped directly outside Mingxin Hall.

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, recalling today’s various rumors about assassination attempts on both the Lady and the Pavilion Master. For a moment, the atmosphere was tense and restless.

"Miss, we’ve arrived."

The coachman said.

The person inside the carriage yawned, stretched lazily, and let out a soft sigh, which immediately caused the nearby disciples to lose their focus.

Following a burst of silver-bell-like laughter, a woman dressed in green gracefully stepped down from the carriage.

Her radiance was dazzling enough to make hearts tremble. One by one, the disciples blushed, unable to tear their eyes away from her.

She strolled into the courtyard and snapped her fingers lightly.

The disciples awoke as if from a dream.

Gongsun Yu had already been waiting inside Mingxin Hall. When he saw the woman in green, he was momentarily stunned but didn’t lose himself as the disciples had.

He clasped his hands and asked, "You must be the esteemed daughter of Medicine King Valley?"

The woman in green chuckled, "I prefer to be called Mao Tu."

Gongsun Yu nodded, "Miss Mao Tu."

The woman in green leapt lightly onto the chair, "The Second Master of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion is certainly an entertaining character."

Though Gongsun Yu was well-versed in social decorum, he hadn’t dared to underestimate the woman before him because his elder brother had warned him—this woman was dangerous.

Gongsun Yu spoke courteously, "Miss Mao Tu, you’ve traveled far. We should, by all rights, let you rest briefly, but my brother’s condition is dire..."

Lan Yeyue said with a smile, "Then hurry up and lead the way."

Gongsun Yu hesitated, "Forgive my impertinence, but I must trouble Miss Mao Tu to wear a blindfold."

He initially thought she would be angered, but Lan Yeyue merely smiled sweetly, "Alright."

Gongsun Yu signaled the nearby maid, who stepped forward with thick cloth strips to blindfold Lan Yeyue.

Gongsun Yu led Lan Yeyue through a secret corridor into the chamber where Gongsun Yanming was waiting.

Shang Wuyou had already been relocated to the adjacent room. At this moment, the Ice Bed carried only Gongsun Yanming, who was sitting cross-legged.

Hearing their footsteps, Gongsun Yanming slowly opened his eyes.

His face was gaunt; the area between his brows darkened, his lips purple, and thick veins bulging from his neck like twisted worms.

Lan Yeyue smiled, "Master Gongsun’s poisoning is quite severe, isn’t it?"

Gongsun Yanming said to Gongsun Yu, "Go check on Wuyou."

Gongsun Yu sighed, "Brother, I’d rather stay here and accompany you."

Gongsun Yanming stated, "You’re not her match."

Lan Yeyue smiled seductively, "You’d better listen to your brother. If I truly act, your presence here will merely add another life to the tally."

At this point, Gongsun Yu had no choice but to leave.

Lan Yeyue, without ceremony, sat on the Ice Bed, "The Pavilion Master’s brother is loyal to the Pavilion Master indeed."

Gongsun Yanming didn’t discuss Gongsun Yu but rather asked, "How is the Blue Valley Master?"

Lan Yeyue grinned, "Quite well. My father instructed me to ask the Pavilion Master—has he prepared the payment for the cost? Once his seclusion ends, he’ll travel to the Southwest to settle the matter and fulfill the promise."

Gongsun Yanming’s expression didn’t shift in the slightest, "Whenever he wishes, I await the Blue Valley Master in earnest."

Lan Yeyue was satisfied with his response, her gaze sweeping over him, "You suddenly contacted me, Pavilion Master. Surely, you hope I’ll cure your poisoning?"

Gongsun Yanming said, "Besides curing the poison, I also wish to ask Miss Lan to save one other person."

Lan Yeyue asked with a playful smile, "Your daughter, perhaps?"

Gongsun Yanming wasn’t at all surprised that she already knew. "It is her."

Lan Yeyue said leisurely, "Pavilion Master Gongsun, you know our Medicine King Valley’s code—life for life. You and your daughter would add up to two lives! And given your esteemed status, even your direct blood relatives wouldn’t ’weigh’ enough to trade for your life. Tell me, then, what price are you offering for this deal with Medicine King Valley?"

Gongsun Yanming traced four characters with his fingertip onto the Ice Bed: "Are these two lives sufficient?"

Lan Yeyue’s eyes widened, sparkling like a child discovering a new toy. She exclaimed excitedly, "Sufficient! Absolutely sufficient!"

-

Late night silence.

Meng Qianqian sat in her room, having dinner.

Gao Meng and Gao Yao alternated night shifts—Gao Meng took the first half, Gao Yao the second.

The maid cleaning the corridor glanced curiously into the room several times.

Seeing Meng Qianqian as indifferent as always, unconcerned about Elder Yan’s life or death, the maid couldn’t help but think Meng Qianqian was chillingly cold-blooded.

"Is something the matter?"

Meng Qianqian asked lightly.

The maid’s heart skipped in shock. How did she know she was staring?

"No, no!"

The maid slunk away furtively.

Not long after, a Hunting Eagle flew onto the windowsill, pried open the frame with its claws, and slipped inside, placing a Five-Colored Shell it carried from the carriage by Meng Qianqian’s hand.

Meng Qianqian picked up the shell, examined it, and said calmly, "So the first card played is Medicine King Valley? Very well. I was just waiting for you to show yourself."

She hadn’t forgotten that Wuyou still owed Medicine King Valley a life.

Choosing the Southwest over Medicine King Valley’s territory certainly provided more favorable terrain.

Everything was proceeding according to plan.

"Chirp!"

The Hunting Eagle flapped its wings.

Meat, it wanted meat!

Meng Qianqian gave it two strips of jerky.

A hardworking "dog-man" earned only two strips by laboring himself to death, yet fetching a shell was rewarded so richly.

"Dog-men" were clearly worthless!

The Hunting Eagle munched its jerky happily.

Jerky was delicious.

"Elder Sister!"

Tan’er climbed in through the window frame.

A smile surfaced in Meng Qianqian’s eyes, "Tan’er."

Tan’er jumped down and sat beside Meng Qianqian, glancing at the dishes on the table, and grumbled bitterly, "Elder Sister, is N just eating this? Sprouts, green vegetables... not even a hint of meat! Thousand Mechanism Pavilion is far too cruel!"

Meng Qianqian laughed, "I ate meat in the Imperial Palace."

Tan’er declared solemnly, "Mother said, every meal must include meat!"

Meng Qianqian fixed her gaze on Tan’er, "Now that you mention it, I’ve never asked you about your mother."

Tan’er lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers.

Meng Qianqian smiled, "Alright, I won’t ask. You’re worried about Wuyou’s injuries, aren’t you? He’s in Mingxin Hall’s chamber, and his life is no longer in danger. Gongsun Yanming will take good care of him."

Tan’er huffed, "I wasn’t asking about him! I’m here to tell Elder Sister—I saw Gongsun Yanming! And didn’t the chick say Si Snake’s venom was incurable?"

Meng Qianqian responded, "It’s Mao Tu."

Tan’er tilted her head, "Medicine King Valley’s young lady, the one so fond of Chu Nan? She’s revealed herself? I’ll capture her!"

Meng Qianqian gently pressed Tan’er’s hand, "No need to rush. Once she’s finished her business, she’ll come to us herself."

Tan’er curiously asked, "What business is she handling?"

Meng Qianqian smirked, "Saving Gongsun Liuying."

Gongsun Yanming, you’ll soon realize that having Mao Tu save your daughter will be the gravest mistake you’ve ever made.