Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 32: Encounter with the Grand Commander Again

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Encounter with the Grand Commander Again

These past few days, Haitang Courtyard has been exceptionally quiet.

Lu Lingxiao and Lin Wan’er—one recovering from injuries, the other nurturing her pregnancy—haven’t ventured near Meng Qianqian to stir up trouble, and the elderly lady, sulking after taking a hit, has remained in her courtyard "recuperating."

"Who knows what malicious schemes she’s brewing in her gut again?" Ban Xia muttered.

"Exactly, exactly!" Tan’er chimed in while munching on fried pastries.

"Says who?"

"Whatever I want to say, I’ll say it!"

Nanny Li sighed helplessly.

Having Ban Xia, who can’t keep her mouth shut, was already worrisome enough. Now with Tan’er added into the mix, the two young maids chirped away incessantly every day.

Meng Qianqian finished the last page of her book and closed it. "Nanny, I’ll be heading out in a bit."

Nanny Li asked worriedly, "It’s only been a few days since the last time you left the mansion—might it be too frequent?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "It doesn’t matter."

She didn’t care how the Lu Family viewed her.

Unless the Lu Family openly and formally forbade her from leaving, what reason would they have? She hadn’t done anything wrong and had diligently served the elders over the years, even using up her dowry to benefit her in-laws. Who could possibly say a faultless word against her?

Tan’er spoke up, "Sister, I want to go too!"

Ban Xia said, "Miss always takes me when she goes out!"

Tan’er folded her arms. "I don’t care. I’m going. That’s it!"

Nanny Li said to Meng Qianqian, "Miss, please take Tan’er along."

Ban Xia got anxious. "Nanny! You’ve only known her for a short while, so why are you siding with her?"

Meng Qianqian smiled. "Nanny isn’t siding with Tan’er; she’s afraid I’ll encounter danger again."

At the mention of this, Ban Xia remembered their previous encounter with Beiliang spies and immediately fell silent.

Compared to serving at her mistress’s side, her safety was more important.

Meng Qianqian took Tan’er along and left.

The coachman was still Wu Ge’er.

Wu Ge’er drove the carriage straight to the vicinity of Four Directions Hall, near a broker’s shop.

Meng Qianqian asked, "How did you know I wanted to come here?"

Wu Ge’er scratched his head. "Miss had agreed to a three-day appointment with the female broker, and today happens to be the day to fulfill that promise."

A balance of boldness and carefulness—that was Wu Ge’er.

The broker’s business remained as sluggish as ever. The female broker was practically dozing in her chair when Tan’er shook her awake.

At first glance, the female broker didn’t recognize Tan’er. It wasn’t until Tan’er spoke that she bolted upright: "It’s you?"

Tan’er lifted her chin. "Yes, it’s me! Sister, sit here!"

What had transpired in the past three days? Was this still the filthy, untamed wild girl from before? Clean and obedient now—practically unrecognizable!

The broker leaned in closer to Meng Qianqian and whispered, "Is she like this while living in the noble’s mansion too?"

Meng Qianqian nodded.

The broker was stunned. So all the chaos she caused at the broker shop over the past month—what was that supposed to be?

"She didn’t... bite anyone?"

"No."

"Nor hit anyone?"

"She beat up over ten servant boys and guards."

The broker let out a long sigh of relief—she knew it! Old habits die hard. How could this girl possibly change her ways?

The broker immediately stepped back, putting some distance between herself and Meng Qianqian. "We agreed, didn’t we? Once you buy her, she’s yours. No returns, satisfied or not!"

Meng Qianqian smiled. "I’m here today to ask if there’s any progress with the matter I entrusted to you last time."

The term "madam" made the broker’s heart bloom with delight. In their line of work, while nobles were common acquaintances, rarely did they spare them a second glance.

Regardless of Meng Qianqian’s sincerity, the broker was immensely flattered.

The broker hurriedly had someone prepare a pot of the finest Da Hong Pao tea. Speaking courteously, she said, "Oh noble lady, your humble servant cannot bear to accept such a title. Regarding the matter you entrusted me with, I dared not neglect it. I consulted numerous bookkeepers, and all their calculations are here for your review."

Meng Qianqian accepted the documents the broker handed her and read through them one by one. "None of them are correct."

The broker was astonished. "So many people... not a single one got it right?"

Meng Qianqian murmured thoughtfully, her delicate fingertips tapping lightly on the table. "As expected, it’s not that simple after all."

The broker looked nervously at Meng Qianqian. "Madam..."

Meng Qianqian placed an ingot on the table. "Please continue to help me search. I’ll return in three days."

The broker answered with an awkward smile, "Of course! Of course!"

After Meng Qianqian and Tan’er left, the broker gazed at the ledger on the table, her brow furrowed. "What kind of accounts are this hard to calculate?"

"Excuse me."

A weak, deep male voice emerged at the entrance to the broker’s shop.

The broker looked up to see a young man leaning on a crutch.

Having worked near a brothel for so long, her reflex was to assess his looks. This fellow was remarkably handsome but unfortunately crippled.

The broker returned her attention to the ledger. "Ten Niang, give him a few copper coins."

"Understood!"

The young woman named Ten Niang replied and handed over the copper coins, but the young man refused.

He asked calmly, with neither arrogance nor despair, "I heard you are looking for someone skilled in accounting—may I give it a try?"

After leaving the broker’s shop, Meng Qianqian stopped by a bookstore to buy a few novels for the elderly lady at home.

Tan’er tugged on Meng Qianqian’s sleeve. "Sister, I want candied hawthorn sticks!"

Meng Qianqian paid the bill and stepped out. "Wu Ge’er, where can we buy candied hawthorn sticks?"

Before Wu Ge’er could answer, Tan’er pointed excitedly. "There, there! I hear them selling!"

"Alright."

Meng Qianqian nodded and instructed Wu Ge’er, "Wait for us here."

They had to cross a narrow alley where the carriage couldn’t pass.

Besides, the shouting sounded close by.

Wu Ge’er scratched his head, puzzled as he watched their departing backs. "Selling candied hawthorn sticks? Didn’t hear that."

A quarter-hour later, Tan’er held a candied hawthorn stick in each hand, bouncing joyfully.

Suddenly, a dangerous intent flashed overhead—it was someone moving across the rooftops, and not just one person!

A fragment of roof tile broke off and plummeted, seemingly poised to strike Meng Qianqian. Tan’er sent it flying with a swift kick, shattering it to pieces!

"Who’s got such bad eyesight?!"

Tan’er grew angry. With a light tip of her toes, she soared onto the roof, tossed one of her candied hawthorn sticks into the air, and with a single motion of her fingers, launched the nine hawthorn balls like beads flying off an abacus straight at three figures ahead.

Struck in their vital areas, the three immediately fell.

Tan’er also leapt down. "Hmph!"

Meng Qianqian’s expression stiffened as she backed up a couple of steps, then turned and entered a nearby alleyway.

At the end of the alley stood a broken-down cart, partially obscuring a figure dressed in purple and leaning against a wall. A short dagger was embedded in his chest, dark blood saturating his robes.

Tan’er clutched the candied hawthorn and said, "Sister, he’s injured! Seems like he’s been poisoned too! Should we kill him?"

Meng Qianqian replied mildly, "Not worth killing."

Lu Yuan curled his lips into a faint smile.

Despite appearing drained of all blood with death looming, his overwhelming aura still radiated an immense sense of danger.

Tan’er tilted her head. "Shall we save him?"

Meng Qianqian looked steadily at Lu Yuan. "There was once a gentleman who said, ’Whether a mere girl lives or dies is none of his concern.’ Surely his life or death matters just as little to that mere girl."

Tan’er didn’t understand. "So...?"

Meng Qianqian stated, "No. We won’t save him."

Tan’er spun around delighted. "Heading home! Heading home! Time for dinner!"