Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 38: Bao Shu Deceives People

Meng Qianqian picked up the little one, and naturally, she also retrieved the small flower.

Because Bao Shu’s hair was too short to tie into little pigtails, Meng Qianqian pinned the flower onto her tiger-head hat.

Bao Shu hurriedly pointed at the copper mirror.

Meng Qianqian chuckled and carried her over to look in the mirror.

Bao Shu stared at the little beauty in the copper mirror with her big, dark eyes, utterly captivated by her own charm!

Meng Qianqian saw the little one’s dazed look, enchanted by her own beauty, and couldn’t help but pinch her chubby cheeks with a smile.

"How does your father have a daughter as cute as you?"

"Lady Lu."

The nursemaid arrived, carrying Bao Shu’s dinner.

When Bao Shu saw that the bowl didn’t contain milk, she immediately turned her tiny head away and didn’t spare it a glance!

The nursemaid looked troubled. The young lady was growing up and couldn’t only drink milk anymore; she had to start eating proper meals.

Yet for someone who greedily stuffed everything into her mouth, when it came to actual meals, she was quite a handful.

With amusement, Meng Qianqian said, "Don’t you like eating meat? There’s fish and meat in the bowl."

Bao Shu’s little face showed nothing but refusal.

Meng Qianqian realized the problem.

The little one wanted the adults’ hearty fish and meat, not bland minced meat for babies.

Meng Qianqian carried the little one over to sit at the table, with the nursemaid following close behind, carrying the meal.

To avoid eating, Bao Shu kept burying her small head in Meng Qianqian’s embrace.

Meng Qianqian spoke softly, "Be good, Zhaozhao. Just try one bite."

Bao Shu didn’t move.

Meng Qianqian tried again, "Just one bite. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat anymore."

Bao Shu still didn’t move.

Meng Qianqian brought out her ultimate weapon—a piece of crispy caramel candy wrapped in oiled paper from her pouch: "Finish this, and I’ll give you this candy."

Bao Shu turned her head slightly in Meng Qianqian’s arms, stealing a glance at the candy with her big eyes, and involuntarily started drooling.

In the study.

Lu Yuan was flipping through an ancient text on weaponry.

A servant reported that the General of the North sought an audience.

Lu Yuan only finished reading the book in his hand before casually saying, "Let him in."

Lu Lingxiao, injured, had been standing in the biting wind for nearly half an hour before being ushered into the residence.

He understood that the Grand Commander was deliberately putting him in his place, and his heart burned with anger. However, his official rank was lower than Lu Yuan’s, so he could only swallow his frustration.

Lu Yuan sat on a chair decorated with carved dragons and phoenixes, impeccably dressed, his wide purple robe gleaming richly in the candlelight.

Lu Lingxiao, who had earned his stripes on the border, utterly despised such privileged, pampered court parasites, who knew nothing of the suffering of the people and indulged in constant lavishness.

If they weren’t in the Capital City, where Lu Yuan’s higher rank lent him authority, Lu Lingxiao believed he could teach this Great Traitor a lesson in a single move.

"Greetings, Grand Commander."

He cupped his fists and bowed.

Lu Yuan picked up the piping hot teapot from the stand and poured himself a cup of tea, smiling faintly. "Is General Lu here to receive punishment? Recovered so quickly from your wounds, I see?"

Lu Lingxiao’s expression flickered with embarrassment. While he would’ve preferred to take the punishment and be done with it, the beating from last time had been so severe that just making it here was already pushing his limits. Another round might cripple his martial arts entirely.

Holding back his anger, he spoke, "I’m here to ask the Grand Commander for leniency."

Lu Yuan smiled. "Is General Lu afraid of being beaten?"

Lu Lingxiao took a deep breath, suppressing his ire, and replied seriously, "Once my injuries are healed, I will come to receive every stroke of the staff, without exception. But I ask the Grand Commander not to take out his wrath on my family! My wife and younger sister are innocent. If there are grievances, direct them at me—they have nothing to do with this!"

Lu Yuan, naturally, did not incriminate himself and completely ignored Lu Lingxiao.

Lu Lingxiao grew anxious. "Grand Commander, my wife and sister are both back courtyard women who never step outside the gates. They absolutely couldn’t have anything to do with the assassins. I beg the Grand Commander to release them!"

Lu Yuan sneered, "What if I don’t?"

Lu Lingxiao clenched his fists. "Doesn’t the Grand Commander fear—"

He abruptly stopped himself, unwilling to utter irreparable words.

Lu Yuan burst into an arrogant laugh. "What would I be afraid of? Afraid of you? Afraid of the Lu Family? Or afraid of the Emperor, still wet behind the ears?"

Such audacity!

Lu Lingxiao’s heart thundered, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked.

"Grand Commander!"

The Commander of the Jinyi Guard stepped in, cupping his fists in salute.

He and Lu Lingxiao were both third-ranking officials, and thus did not need to bow to one another.

However, while Lu Lingxiao had earned military merit at the border, the Commander wielded power in the court and was the Grand Commander’s trusted aide. In the Capital, his clout far surpassed Lu Lingxiao’s.

"General Lu is here as well."

He offered a faint cupped fist salute.

Lu Lingxiao returned the gesture.

"Is the interrogation complete?" Lu Yuan asked indifferently.

"It is," the Commander of the Jinyi Guard glanced at Lu Lingxiao, clearly signaling that the information wasn’t suitable for him to hear.

Lu Yuan smiled and asked, "Does it concern Lady Lu or Miss Lu?"

"Regarding Lady Lu..."

The Commander’s gaze shifted between the Grand Commander and Lu Lingxiao, evidently seeking a hint.

Good grief!

Does it or doesn’t it relate to them?

Come on, sir, give me a clue!

Lu Lingxiao solemnly declared, "I swear with my life that—"

"No relation!"

The Commander interrupted Lu Lingxiao, "Lady Lu has no involvement whatsoever. She was merely accompanying the nursemaid to return young Miss Bao Shu to the Zen room. However, Miss Lu was found skulking around the courtyard, seemingly observing the Grand Commander’s movements from afar!"

Lu Lingxiao’s expression changed.

Lu Yuan chuckled, "What was General Lu saying earlier?"

"Swearing with my life... my sister is innocent and blameless."

Lu Lingxiao had lost all hope.

Lu Yuan smirked, "Since General Lu insists on this, I won’t pursue Miss Lu’s suspicious behavior at the temple any further."

Lu Lingxiao was momentarily stunned, unable to believe it. He felt certain the Great Traitor wouldn’t release his people so easily—why would he suddenly change his mind?

Had he overthought it?

Regardless, he needed to quickly take them away before the situation turned again!

Lu Lingxiao cupped his fists. "Thank you, Grand Commander..."

Lu Yuan’s smile deepened. "Don’t celebrate too early, General Lu. I said I wouldn’t pursue her suspicious actions at the temple, but I never said you could take her back."

Lu Lingxiao frowned. "What does the Grand Commander mean by this?"

In the room, Bao Shu wailed loudly.

"Hey! Stop crying, will you? It’s just one candy short, isn’t it? I’ll buy you more next time! How about two? Not enough? Three! Or five!"

"Waaaaah! Waaaaah! Waaaaah!"

Bao Shu continued crying while scooting her little butt away.

She scooted, and Tan’er followed.

The chase led to them knocking into the display shelf.

Crash!

A porcelain vase fell and shattered!

Tan’er acted swiftly, lifting Bao Shu high to prevent her from being scratched by the shards.

Meng Qianqian had just returned from the pantry and entered the room to find the broken vase. She asked, "Who broke it?"

The older one and the little one, in unison, pointed at Lu Linglong with dead-serious expressions!

"Her!"

"Waaaaah!"

Lu Linglong, freshly awakened and already saddled with immense blame: "...!!"

A quarter-hour later, Steward Cen appeared in Lu Yuan’s study with a tray full of shattered porcelain pieces. He kindly said to Lu Lingxiao:

"General Lu, just now Miss Lu frightened young Miss Bao Shu until she cried, and then broke her favorite antique vase. I’m here to request compensation on behalf of General Lu."

Lu Lingxiao asked, "How much?"

Steward Cen smiled, "Not much, just ten thousand taels."

Lu Lingxiao’s body suddenly stiffened!