Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 21: Beating Up Lu Lingxiao

Here is the complete line-by-line translation of the text:

The storybook in Meng Qianqian’s hand fell onto the footstool in front of the bed.

Lu Lingxiao leaned forward, one knee resting beside Meng Qianqian’s side, his hands gripping her wrists, pressing her lightly beneath him. His gaze burned as he stared at her.

Meng Qianqian lay calmly beneath him, looking at him without the slightest hint of resistance or struggle.

Lu Lingxiao said coldly, "You really are... obedient!"

Dressed in the thick clothing of winter, she always wore a cloak when going out. At first glance, she didn’t appear as delicate as Wan’er. But at this very moment, as Lu Lingxiao held her slender wrists, he felt that they might break with just a little pressure.

When she first came to the Lu Family, he had actually seen her from afar.

She had been a plump little glutton back then. In the span of five years, she had become so thin...

Lu Lingxiao’s large hand tightened slightly around her wrist, a hint of hesitation flashing through his intoxicated eyes.

But as he recalled how she had resorted to unscrupulous means just to share his bed, the trace of compassion in his heart evaporated instantly!

No matter how roughly he treated her, she had brought this upon herself!

Just as Lu Lingxiao raised his hand to tear at her clothing, a subtle feeling of unease suddenly struck him.

He paused, slowly lifting his head, only to see someone sitting cross-legged on the inner side of the bed, arms crossed, staring directly at him.

His whole body stiffened, the alcohol clearing from his system in an instant: "Great-Grandmother?"

Disaster struck!

Why was Great-Grandmother here?

The elderly matriarch squinted her eyes. "Are you bullying Qianqian?"

Lu Lingxiao hurriedly stammered, "No, I... I wouldn’t dare..."

The matriarch swung a hefty slap onto his head, "You think I’m blind? I saw everything!"

Lu Lingxiao was struck dumb, his head buzzing from the blow.

"You little rascal! How dare you mistreat Qianqian? I’ll show you! I’ll teach you!"

The elderly matriarch unleashed a flurry of slaps, both left and right, landing like gusts of wind.

Lu Lingxiao promptly released Meng Qianqian and ducked away, clutching his head and escaping from the bed, "Great-Grandmother! It’s not what you think... You’ve misunderstood..."

"Still daring to argue!"

The matriarch jumped off the bed and, feeling that the slaps weren’t enough, grabbed the laundry rod from the table and delivered a fierce beating!

Lu Lingxiao dared not retaliate, fleeing around the small room as he was mercilessly chased. But the room was only so big — where could he run?

"Don’t smear the table!"

Alright, no climbing on the table.

"Get down from there!"

No scurrying onto the beams either.

"Running so fast, trying to tire me out?"

Running quickly wasn’t allowed either?!

In the blink of an eye, Lu Lingxiao had been struck several more times by the matriarch. freёwebnoѵel.com

Compared to five years ago, Great-Grandmother’s body had grown much sturdier, and the blows hurt a lot more.

He was a Military General and had endured worse pain on the battlefield, but being thrashed by Great-Grandmother was entirely different — it was humiliating!

While clutching his head and dodging blows, he gritted his teeth and cast a glance at Meng Qianqian on the stepping bed.

Meng Qianqian had already risen, munching on fried pastries, tilting her head to watch him get beaten.

Lu Lingxiao ground his teeth fiercely, "This woman..."

In his moment of distraction, Great-Grandmother caught hold of him and delivered another heavy hit!

"Take that!"

Lu Lingxiao: "...!!"

A quarter of an hour later, the matriarch dragged the thoroughly thrashed, lump-laden Lu Lingxiao to Lu Xingzhou’s study.

Lu Xingzhou looked at the two in shock. "Grandmother, what is the meaning of this?"

The matriarch reprimanded sternly, "Keep your son in check! If a son is not properly taught, it is the father’s fault. If this brat ever dares to lay a finger on Qianqian again, I’ll come for you too!"

After the matriarch left, Lu Xingzhou turned his cold gaze to his son.

His face was flushed, the stench of alcohol evident — clearly, he had been drinking too much.

Lu Xingzhou said angrily, "I told you to move into Qianqian’s courtyard, not to cause a drunken mess!"

Lu Lingxiao had no defense.

Indeed, he had been a bit rude earlier, but if it weren’t for her tricks, why would he have been so enraged?

Lu Xingzhou said irritably, "Get back to your courtyard and reflect!"

Lu Lingxiao left.

Lu Xingzhou watched his departing figure and swept his wide sleeve. "So immature!"

The servant cautiously asked, "Master, were you referring to Young Master or Young Madam being immature?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "Both of them are immature!"

After a pause, Lu Xingzhou headed toward Lu Mother’s quarters.

Lu Mother had twisted her ankle last time and was made busy by the matriarch all morning. She still hadn’t fully recovered.

Lu Xingzhou spoke to her about his son. "You should advise Qianqian too — don’t be capricious. Ling Xiao is, after all, her husband. What wife pushes her husband away like that?"

Today’s incident was indeed his son’s fault, but the daughter-in-law calling upon the matriarch as reinforcements at every turn wasn’t exactly proper either.

The affairs of a young couple should be resolved behind closed doors. Worst case scenario, the parents-in-law should intervene. Now that things had blown up and the entire household knew, what kind of wife undermines her husband’s dignity like that?

"Alright, I understand,"

Lu Mother lowered her gaze and replied.

Lu Xingzhou sensed her perfunctory and reluctant tone. "I know you’re fond of Qianqian, but Ling Xiao is still your biological son. Surely, you don’t want rumors of discord in the family or marital strife spreading and affecting his career, right?"

With that, Lu Xingzhou stood up. "Go have dinner prepared. I’ll be staying here tonight."

Lu Mother’s body stiffened.

The incident involving Beiliang spies committing violence in the Capital City had stirred up quite the commotion. At the same time, word spread among the townsfolk about how the General’s wife had risked her life to save someone.

People praised the bravery of General’s women, which indirectly boosted Lu Lingxiao’s reputation among the common folk.

Yet, even as the Lu Family basked in newfound pride, Imperial Censor Wang submitted a memorandum accusing Lu Lingxiao.

He claimed Lu Lingxiao favored his mistress over his wife, defied the hierarchies of family and society, capable yet lacking in virtue, with flawed conduct unbecoming of a third-rank General of the Northern Frontier. He also pointed out that, despite his knowledge of the law, Lu Lingxiao had violated it gravely, warranting severe punishment!

Pressed for evidence, Imperial Censor Wang stood tall and declared, "My wife witnessed it firsthand! Lu Lingxiao escorted his mistress to the Governor Mansion banquet and referred to her as Mrs. Lu. Furthermore, on the day they were taken by the assassins, he prioritized saving his mistress, completely disregarding his wife’s life! Such moral corruption is unworthy of office. I implore Your Majesty to dismiss him!"

The young Emperor turned his head to glance at the empty seat behind the curtain and said to Imperial Censor Wang, "I understand."

Once court was adjourned, Lu Xingzhou chased after Imperial Censor Wang, bowing slightly. "Lord Wang, there may be misunderstandings regarding my son..."

"Hmph!"

Imperial Censor Wang raised his nose disdainfully and stormed off.

"Father!"

Outside the palace gates, Lu Lingxiao hurried over. He still had several visible lumps on his head, so he wore a conical hat to cover them.

Through other officials who left court earlier, he had already heard of his impeachment.

"Look at the trouble you’ve caused!" Lu Xingzhou scolded quietly.

"Father..."

Lu Xingzhou said, "Fortunately, the Grand Commander didn’t attend court today, and His Majesty has yet to make any decision. You will accompany me to the Governor Mansion immediately."

Lu Lingxiao clenched his fist. "Father wants me to plead with that corrupt minister?"

Lu Xingzhou replied, "There’s no other way right now."

Lu Lingxiao furrowed his brows. "Can he really dissuade Imperial Censor Wang?"

Imperial Censor Wang was incorruptible and impervious to coercion — half the court officials had been denounced by him, the Grand Commander included.

Lu Xingzhou said, "That doesn’t matter. Don’t forget, he’s also a witness. If he attests that the guests at the Governor Mansion banquet were you and Qianqian, Lady Wang’s testimony will collapse on its own."

In this society, the scales tilted toward men — particularly those of high status and power.