Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 25: Military Law Enforcement

At night, snow once again blanketed the Capital City. The heavens sealed, the earth closed, and all was silent.

Inside the room, the embers of the red holly coal burned brightly. A figure clad in violet sat leisurely on a chair draped in tiger skin, his cold, sharp features softened by the flicker of the fire.

Meng Qianqian turned over, her eyes landing on the man facing her. His demeanor was as calm as a still, unruffled pool.

She slowly sat up.

Lu Yuan flipped through the book in his hand. "Dreadful writing. If I ever find out which examinee penned this, I’ll make sure he never sets a foot inside the Imperial Examination Hall."

That the Grand Commander even knows of this?

Fortunately, the author used an alias. Otherwise, all his scholarly talent would be wasted, doomed to misery just for writing some melodramatic drivel out of necessity.

Meng Qianqian asked, "Where’s Zhaozhao?"

"Waaah!"

A little head topped with a tiger hat poked out from her blanket, blinking wide eyes filled with curiosity and excitement as it looked up at her.

Meng Qianqian smiled warmly. "When did you sneak under my blanket?"

Bao Shu handed Meng Qianqian a warm water pouch before promptly climbing into her embrace. She nestled herself expertly, raising her chin and swinging her little feet with an air of carefree confidence.

Meng Qianqian pinched her chubby cheeks.

Bao Shu tilted her right cheek forward, as if to say, "Pinch this side too."

Meng Qianqian chuckled.

Lu Yuan sneered, "Lu Lingxiao has been captured, yet here you are, carefree and relaxed."

"What does his capture have to do with me?"

Meng Qianqian picked up a clean handkerchief she had prepared on the bedside table.

Bao Shu tilted her chin higher, dutifully helping Meng Qianqian position the handkerchief under her chin.

Lu Yuan smirked and kept his eyes on the book in hand. "Not pleading for him?"

"If I plead, might the Grand Commander be willing to release him?"

"No."

Meng Qianqian let out a faint, inscrutable laugh.

Lu Yuan continued, "If it were another woman, she’d at least make an attempt to visit the Governor Mansion and plead for his release. Success or failure aside, it’d save her from public scorn."

Meng Qianqian said, "Is reputation truly that important?"

Lu Yuan glanced at her, his gaze unreadable. "It’s not important at all."

Meng Qianqian grabbed the bowl and spoon from the bedside table, poured some goat milk into the bowl, and scooped a spoonful. "Besides, the Grand Commander won’t kill him."

Bao Shu opened her mouth wide eagerly. "Aah—"

Lu Yuan smiled faintly. "Oh? Why do you say that?"

Meng Qianqian carefully fed Bao Shu, answering, "He’s achieved great merit at the border. Killing him now would incite discontent, especially given Beiliang’s history of surrendering only to betray again and again with shameless abandon. To kill a general now would play right into Beiliang’s hands."

"You know this?"

Lu Yuan’s smile carried both allure and a dangerous edge—natural allure, and danger embedded in his very nature.

Meng Qianqian replied calmly, "The Lu Family owns quite a number of military texts. I’ve been widowed for five years and busied myself by reading a few of them."

Lu Yuan redirected his gaze, his tone indifferent. "What if, regardless, I insist on killing him?"

Meng Qianqian paused briefly. "Then I would simply mourn my husband again, wearing mourning garments for another three years."

Lu Yuan said nonchalantly, "Rest assured, I won’t kill him."

"Might I ask the Grand Commander, then—what will become of him?"

"His death sentence will be pardoned, but his punishment severe: twenty lashes, demotion in rank, and confiscation of rewards—"

As Lu Yuan’s words reached the final sentence, Meng Qianqian’s fingers lightly clutched his sleeve.

Lu Yuan: "What are you doing?"

Meng Qianqian: "I beg the Grand Commander for leniency."

Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes. "You wish to plead for him?"

Meng Qianqian looked at Lu Yuan earnestly, saying, "We are husband and wife. To see him fall to such a state weighs heavy on my conscience... I ask the Grand Commander, for the sake of my care for Bao Shu, to grant me one favor—might the confiscation be... exchanged for the lashes?"

Lu Yuan: "..."

By the morning court session, the young Emperor met Lu Yuan in the Imperial Study Room.

Lu Yuan bowed respectfully to the youth clad in the bright yellow Dragon Robe.

The young Emperor returned the courtesy. "Grand Mentor."

Lu Yuan smiled. "Your Majesty has grown taller."

The young Emperor glanced at the eunuchs beside him. "You are dismissed."

The attendants exchanged glances with Lu Yuan before bowing and leaving the study.

Lu Yuan, still smiling, asked, "Has Your Majesty been diligent in your studies lately?"

The young Emperor hesitated. "Might I... avoid discussing studies today?"

Lu Yuan’s smile remained warm. "Your Majesty is Emperor. Whatever Your Majesty desires, that is what we shall discuss."

Gathering his courage, the young Emperor said, "Lu Assistant Minister sought an audience last night and brought up... the matter of Lu General."

Lu Yuan responded slowly, "Ah, Lu General intended for this subject to lie on court matters before Your Majesty, committing the crime of deceiving the throne. Thus, this subject ordered his capture. Does Your Majesty find my judgment improper?"

The young Emperor gripped the Black Armor Guards’ token tightly. "Grand Mentor acts for my benefit, and for the Great Zhou’s common people. However..."

Lu Yuan stepped closer to him, his towering frame casting shadows. "However, what, Your Majesty?"

Two days passed, and the news of Lu Lingxiao’s capture by the Governor Mansion stirred the Capital City deeply.

Lu Luo asked anxiously, "How could it come to this, Young Madam? Is the token useless?"

Lin Wan’er gestured decisively. "Impossible. The Emperor reveres Chu Grand Marshal above all. The Emperor will surely have the Grand Commander release him."

There was one thought Lin Wan’er left unsaid: Lu Yuan had overstepped his authority in court for too long, disrupting governance, and delaying the Emperor’s ascension to proper rule. Surely, resentment had long seeded itself in the Emperor’s heart.

The Emperor needed the loyalty of the Black Armor Guards to rid himself of Lu Yuan!

Madam Lu had not eaten for three days. The elderly matron could no longer bear it and said feebly at Haitang Courtyard, "Perhaps we ought to... at least pay the boy a visit..."

Meng Qianqian smiled. "I will heed Great-Grandmother’s wisdom."

The two rode a carriage to the Governor Mansion.

Everyone believed the matron and the Eldest Young Madam would be turned away at the door—after all, they were confronting a man who dared to disregard even the Emperor’s dignity.

Yet, to everyone’s astonishment, the mansion’s steward greeted them courteously: "Elderly Madam, Madam Lu, please have a seat."

"I recognize you!" The matron pointed at the steward. "I hit you once!"

Steward Cen chuckled. "The Elderly Madam has a sharp memory! Last time at Zhou’s Shop, I was in the wrong. I hope the Elderly Madam won’t hold it against me."

"Hmm."

The matron raised her head proudly, signaling her forgiveness.

Lu Yuan entered the flower hall, glancing at the two with a smile, he bowed slightly to the matron. "I was unaware of the Elderly Madam’s arrival; I apologize for not welcoming you sooner."

The matron declared sternly, "You’re the one who captured the rascal? I’m here to take him home. Release him immediately!"

The crowd gasped, wondering if speaking to the Grand Commander like this was not a death wish?

In front of Lu Yuan, notions of respecting the elderly and cherishing the young meant little!

To their greater shock, Lu Yuan didn’t lose his temper.

Lu Yuan smiled and replied, "Lu General violated military discipline and provoked imperial wrath. As per the law, he is demoted by one rank, sentenced to three hundred lashes, and is currently undergoing punishment. How far along is the flogging?"

This last question he directed to the Jinyi Guards standing by the door.

The Jinyi Guards answered, "One hundred lashes have been administered."

The matron counted on her fingers. "Still so many left... How long will it take... Can’t you just stop the flogging?"

Lu Yuan looked at Meng Qianqian with a meaningful gaze. "Certainly—if Madam Lu is willing to kneel and plead for Lu General."

The matron held up her hand in a halting gesture. "Keep flogging him!"