Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 37: The Scheming Grand Commander

As soon as the Old Madam decided to descend the mountain, the Second Madam immediately sent her personal maid to look for Lu Linglong. Unexpectedly, the maid returned with shocking news that Lu Linglong had been arrested by the Jinyi Guard.

The Second Madam’s face turned pale. "Say that again! Who arrested Linglong?"

"The—the Jinyi Guard!" The maid answered fearfully, "And the Eldest Young Madam and her maid Tan’er—they’ve also been taken away."

Second Master Lu furrowed his brows. "Why would the Jinyi Guard arrest Qianqian and the others? Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?"

The maid sobbed. "I—I saw it with my own eyes!"

Second Master Lu hurriedly asked, "Where are they now?"

The maid raised her hand and pointed. "Just... just outside the temple!"

Second Master Lu rushed after them, but a short while later, he returned with a heavy expression.

"How was it?"

The Second Madam anxiously inquired.

Second Master Lu sighed. "It was indeed the Jinyi Guard. The Grand Commander was assaulted at the temple, and Linglong and Qianqian happened to be nearby. The Jinyi Guard suspects that the two of them lured the assassin there."

The Second Madam was shocked. "The Grand Commander is at the temple as well?"

Second Master Lu responded, "The child you mentioned earlier... she’s the daughter of the Governor Mansion."

At these words, everyone’s expressions changed.

The baby that Meng Qianqian had held all afternoon... turned out to be Lu Yuan’s daughter?

No wonder that nanny’s attire was so extravagant—clearly of high standing, even better dressed than a wealthy lady of a noble family.

The Second Madam exclaimed, "We didn’t even know she’s the Governor Mansion’s young miss... And what does this have to do with Linglong? Linglong didn’t even hold the child... She found the child noisy and left the meditation room! We should have listened to Linglong earlier and avoided meddling! Now look! We’re being treated like assassins! And she dragged Linglong into this mess! She’s always causing trouble for the family!"

These words displeased the Lu Mother. With a stern voice, Lu Mother retorted, "How did Qianqian drag Linglong into this? If you ask me, Linglong followed on her own accord."

Lu Linglong had a habit of instigating trouble with Meng Qianqian—it wasn’t the first or second time.

The Second Madam countered, "The child was her doing! If she hadn’t provoked the Governor Mansion’s people, how could there be this mess?"

The Old Madam interrupted sharply, "Enough! The Buddhist Sect is a place of serenity, and yet here you are squabbling like this. Let’s return home and figure out a solution!"

The Second Madam muttered under her breath, "Mother is worried she’ll be rounded up by the Governor Mansion too..."

Second Master Lu shot her a glare.

The Old Matriarch was still asleep, and the commotion had yet to disturb her. Outside the temple, Lu Mother hired a sedan chair to carry the Old Matriarch down the mountain.

After escorting Lin Wan’er to meet the young Emperor, Lu Xingzhou immediately descended the mountain. It was only when the Lu Family returned home that he became aware of what had transpired during his absence.

He was currently with Lu Lingxiao.

The father and son listened to the servant’s report and both fell into contemplative silence.

Lu Xingzhou mused aloud, "The Grand Commander was recently attacked and severely injured. His Majesty believed him to be recovering at his residence, hence secretly leaving the palace. Who would’ve thought, who could’ve imagined, that he would be at Hanshan Temple! That man truly has a hundred schemes! Could it be... he discovered His Majesty’s meeting with Wan’er and is deliberately giving our Lu Family a show of force?"

Lu Lingxiao knitted his thick brows. "Father, you took Wan’er to see His Majesty? Doing so will put Wan’er in danger!"

Lu Xingzhou assured him, "The Lu Family will protect her, and His Majesty will protect her!"

Lu Lingxiao clenched his fists. "His Majesty has yet to take full control of governance, and every move he makes is constrained by Lu Yuan. I fear Lu Yuan will target Wan’er!"

Lu Xingzhou said, "She is valuable; Lu Yuan won’t kill her."

Although Lu Lingxiao did not agree with his father’s approach, even he hoped to assist the Emperor in eliminating Lu Yuan soon. However, he was adamant about not involving Wan’er in the matter.

He threw off the blankets and sat up.

Lu Xingzhou asked him with a peculiar expression, "What are you doing?"

Lu Lingxiao reached for his clothes, saying, "I need to make a trip to the Governor Mansion."

Lu Xingzhou wanted to say more, but Lu Lingxiao had already dressed and left.

At the door, he ran into Lin Wan’er, who had come to visit him.

He paused briefly, saying, "Didn’t I tell you not to come? I’m covered in golden sore medicine—it’s harmful to the baby."

Lin Wan’er, wearing a veil, gestured through sign language: The General’s injuries are not yet healed. Are you heading out urgently because of the Eldest Young Madam?

Lu Lingxiao did not deny it. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Lin Wan’er continued: Innocent hearts will be protected. I believe the Eldest Young Madam will be fine. Once the Grand Commander clarifies the truth, he should release her.

Though her words were logical, Lu Lingxiao couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Lu Lingxiao shook his head, saying, "You don’t understand Lu Yuan. That man is ruthless, cruel, and abuses his authority. If the Meng woman and Linglong fall into his hands, what if he uses torture on them..."

Lin Wan’er asked: Are you worried they might falsely confess under duress?

Lu Lingxiao froze.

He had never considered that—but he simply didn’t want the Lu Family’s women subjected to humiliation by the Governor Mansion.

Lin Wan’er looked into his eyes, signing: If Lu Yuan forces her to accuse you, would you blame her?

The "her" she referred to was undoubtedly Meng Qianqian.

Only now did Lu Lingxiao realize what felt off earlier. Despite two women being arrested, Wan’er had mentioned only Meng Qianqian throughout.

Lu Lingxiao inhaled deeply and replied earnestly, "Wan’er, I’m going to rescue her because she is my wife. I bear responsibility for her."

Lin Wan’er’s eyes grew red. She wrote in his palm: She kept vigil over you for three days and three nights while you were unconscious. Do you truly feel nothing for her?

"She stayed with me because of..."

He stopped. Bringing that up only created further frustration.

But he couldn’t explain himself either—he, too, cared about saving face.

He held Lin Wan’er’s hand. "Don’t worry. My heart belongs to you; no other woman will take your place."

Lin Wan’er gently leaned into his arms and wrote in his palm: General, Wan’er belongs to you alone.

At the Governor Mansion, Tinglan Garden.

Lu Yuan had awoken and was casually sitting on an ornate, luxurious official’s armchair.

The Imperial Physician finished rebandaging Lu Yuan’s injured hand. Glancing at the bloodstains on the white cloth, he said to Lu Yuan, "Grand Commander, this is Loulan Sha, one of the three most lethal poisons of Miaojiang. Extremely toxic, if an antidote isn’t administered within three hours, the poison will spread to the heart and result in death."

The Commander of the Imperial Guard’s complexion turned pale. "Then the Grand Commander—"

The Imperial Physician said, "Fortunately, the Grand Commander used a silver needle to seal the acupoints and protect the heart. It also expelled a considerable amount of the toxin; otherwise, even this Holy Medicine in my possession would have been too late."

Lu Yuan played idly with the silver needle in his hand. "You may leave."

"Understood, I take my leave."

After the physician left, the Commander of the Imperial Guard asked suspiciously, "The Lu Eldest Young Madam knows medicine? Does Lu Lingxiao know his wife hides such abilities? Also, why did you save her? She barged in herself—accidental death would’ve been her fault..."

Lu Yuan lifted his eyes faintly. "The assassins captured already? The mastermind interrogated? Finished living?"

The Commander of the Imperial Guard bolted for the door. "Yu Zichuan! Where did you go? Start the prisoner interrogation!"

In the adjacent room, Tan’er lay asleep sprawled over a bench.

Lu Linglong had briefly regained consciousness but fainted again upon learning she’d been mistaken for an assassin and brought to the Governor Mansion.

Meng Qianqian sat quietly in the room, replaying the events in the meditation chamber. The more she thought about it, the more off it seemed.

Lu Yuan being attacked wasn’t strange—plenty of people wanted him dead. The real misfortune lay in her being caught up in it.

Lu Yuan’s act of saving her was likely on account of Bao Shu, but he could have simply pushed her to safety, thereby sparing himself from harm.

Could it be... he’s testing her?

Testing her martial arts—or even, at the cost of poisoning himself, testing her medical skills.

Meng Qianqian slowly clenched her fingers tighter.

Wasn’t he afraid his guess might be wrong?

What a madman!

Knock, knock... knock.

Lost in thought, Meng Qianqian heard a laborious knock at the door.

Her eyes flashed, and she quickly got up to open it.

Outside sat Bao Shu, dressed up like a little tiger cub, cross-legged on the floor. She struck a ridiculously cool pose—her chubby baby cheek tilted to one side, her tiny chin raised proudly, a small flower clenched between her lips.

"Ooo-waaa~"

It seemed to say, "Am I beautiful tonight, little one?"