Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 362 - 337: The Whole Family Dotes on Her

Lu Yuan had only one thought in mind—kill that dragon!

"Brother, let me do it."

Meng Qianqian reached out to grab the medicine bottle.

Chen Long said, "It’s fine. I’ve been handling things like this on my own for years."

Lu Yuan: "Do you think you’ll die if you stop playing the victim?"

Chen Long replied to Lu Yuan, "You can be fierce with me, but you’re not allowed to be fierce with her."

Lu Yuan’s urge to unsheathe his knife could hardly be restrained.

Meng Qianqian tended to Chen Long’s wounds, wrapped them with gauze, and reminded him not to let the injured area touch water or to use any knives or swords.

Lu Yuan snorted, "It’s not like it’s his first time getting hurt. Why act all delicate?"

It’s just a tiny superficial wound, not a broken bone!

Chen Long immediately responded, "It’s no big deal."

Meng Qianqian tied the gauze neatly, "How could it be no big deal? Don’t I know you better than anyone? You never take care of yourself—you always dismiss your injuries."

Lu Yuan: "Meng Xiaojiu, I’m injured too."

Meng Qianqian blinked, "Heartache?"

Lu Yuan: "..."

A complete defeat in this round with his brother-in-law.

All the way back to the main courtyard, Lu Yuan’s face remained dark.

Meng Qianqian awkwardly smiled, "Husband, sit down. Let me heal your wounds."

Lu Yuan coldly replied, "This official is not worthy of having wounds!"

Meng Qianqian grabbed his arm, "I was wrong, I was wrong. You injured your own meridians to avoid hurting me, and your internal wounds haven’t healed yet."

Lu Yuan let out a cold scoff, "Hmph."

Meng Qianqian pulled him to sit on a chair, took out a silver needle, rolled up his right sleeve, and lightly blew on the back of his hand, "I’ll be gentle. It won’t hurt at all."

Lu Yuan: "Add this to the ledger."

Meng Qianqian’s body stiffened.

Another entry?

Never-ending?

"Do you have an objection?"

"Little Nine wouldn’t dare."

Meng Qianqian muttered under her breath and began applying the needle treatment for Lu Yuan.

Something crossed her mind, and she asked, "What did you say to my brother earlier? When I walked in, he looked completely torn."

Lu Yuan cast her a sidelong glance, "Since you saw him, why not ask him yourself?"

Meng Qianqian sighed, "He clearly didn’t want to talk about it. I couldn’t bring myself to press him."

Lu Yuan knew how perceptive she was; there were some things that couldn’t be hidden from her. Besides, there was no need to keep it from her.

Lu Yuan relayed the details of his conversation with Chen Long.

Meng Qianqian was shocked, "Are you saying my brother found new evidence and plans to use it in negotiations with Prime Minister Xun?"

Lu Yuan said, "I can’t be sure if Chen Long was the one who found the evidence."

Meng Qianqian muttered to herself, "Someone else was in the secret passage and helped my brother? The person who found the evidence, advised him on negotiating strategies with the Prime Minister, and even told my brother not to show the evidence to you yet—nor even let you see it—to avoid being exposed. This person... truly knows my brother well."

Prime Minister Xun dared to use Chen Long precisely because Chen Long had a simple mind. As long as his weak spot was grasped, Chen Long could be completely manipulated.

Lu Yuan continued, "I even suspect that the exit from the passage was found with that person’s help."

"Why?"

Meng Qianqian asked.

Lu Yuan replied impassively, "Chen Long doesn’t have that kind of intelligence. That guy? He’s clearly swapped brains for martial arts."

Meng Qianqian: Are you complimenting my brother, or are you insulting him?

"Was it the person who followed us in the secret tunnel?"

She asked.

She remembered that when they ventured into the hidden chamber to search for evidence, Lu Yuan had thrown a dart toward the outside of the chamber.

Later, when they chased after it, they didn’t see anyone.

Lu Yuan said, "Nine chances out of ten, it’s him."

Meng Qianqian hadn’t seen it, but Lu Yuan had glimpsed a shadow in the reflection of some wolf urine. He was certain someone had been tailing them.

But since the person didn’t seem to harbor ill intentions, Lu Yuan hadn’t pursued them.

"Speaking of which, there’s actually someone I encountered during the autumn hunt."

Meng Qianqian recounted the story of her fall from the cliff and how she was saved by someone amidst a hail of hidden arrows.

"Even though the second time I only saw footprints, I feel that it must have been the same person. It’s just a shame that his appearance and voice were ruined, so I couldn’t identify who he was."

Lu Yuan pondered briefly before analyzing, "The first time he saved you can be chalked up to coincidence, but the second time? He was definitely following you."

Meng Qianqian nodded in agreement, "Do you think he could be the Twelve Guard Lin Wan’er was waiting for? He’s the one who revealed Hai Pig’s betrayal and handed the lockbox with the Poetry Lock to Lin Wan’er. I’ve been wondering why it was empty, until I saw an identical Poetry Lock in the hidden chamber of the mansion. Then it hit me. He was hinting that the Prime Minister’s evidence was hidden inside the lockbox with the Poetry Lock."

Lu Yuan nodded, "If that’s the case, then the evidence in Chen Long’s possession was definitely taken from the Poetry Lock box."

Meng Qianqian said sheepishly, "That confirms my brother couldn’t have done this alone."

Suddenly, as if struck by realization, Meng Qianqian stared at Lu Yuan in shock, "Wait, don’t tell me you intentionally left my brother alone in the secret tunnel?"

Lu Yuan didn’t deny it.

Meng Qianqian’s eyes widened, "You did, didn’t you...?"

Lu Yuan casually replied, "If Chen Long isn’t left behind, how could I lure him out? Chen Long couldn’t find the exit on his own, and that guy wouldn’t leave him trapped in the tunnel indefinitely."

Meng Qianqian asked, "What if he refused to show himself?"

Lu Yuan explained, "Chen Long isn’t good with schemes, but his martial arts skills are unmatched. He’d eventually figure out there’s someone else in the tunnel."

Meng Qianqian was genuinely impressed, "You truly leave no loose ends."

Luckily, he was her employer, not her enemy. Look at how terrifyingly meticulous he was!

Lu Yuan continued, "At present, it seems that he also wants to take down the Prime Minister, so there’s no need for us to insist on drawing him out."

Meng Qianqian nodded again, "I just want to know, which Twelve Guard is he? And why doesn’t he want to meet us?"

Lu Yuan raised his teacup and took a sip, "Having his face and voice destroyed—if I were him, I wouldn’t want to see old acquaintances either."

-

Bai Yuwei had a nightmare and came to find Meng Qianqian, evidently frightened awake.

Thus, after finishing Lu Yuan’s treatment, Meng Qianqian went to Bai Yuwei’s room.

Unexpectedly, the young girl wasn’t in bed.

Nanny Wan pointed toward Tan’er’s room.

Meng Qianqian pushed the door open to see the two girls who were always bickering, now with their heads pressed together, sound asleep.

Children, after all.

Meng Qianqian smiled softly, walked over, adjusted their blanket, and tucked them in carefully.

She touched the back of their necks to ensure they weren’t sweating, then let down the bed curtains and left the room.

On the veranda, she found Nanny Li and Nanny Wan still present.

She asked strangely, "Nanny Li, Nanny Wan, why haven’t you gone to bed?"

Nanny Li replied, "Miss, go to sleep. We’ll stay up and watch over the Master."

Meng Qianqian glanced over to the small kitchen, which was brightly lit. There, Lady Du and Nanny Hu were bustling away at the stove.

Meng Qianqian teased, "He has his own people to take care of him. You’re my attendants; you don’t need to serve him."

Nanny Li sternly chastised, "That’s not proper to say!"

Meng Qianqian chuckled, "Alright, alright, he’s a prized treasure. By the way, Nanny, you didn’t used to favor him this much."

Nanny Li replied, "When have I not favored the Master? He’s much more sensible than you are."

Meng Qianqian: Great, now she’s been outclassed.

-

Meng Qianqian had been busy all day and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

Someone was still waiting for her to repay her debt, but as he turned his head, she was already breathing evenly, fast asleep.

At the break of dawn.

Meng Qianqian woke from her sleep.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw a certain someone sitting cross-legged in front of her with his arms folded, sporting massive dark circles.

"Meng Xiaojiu."

"Hmm..."

She groggily rubbed her eyes.

Lu Yuan justified confidently, "Pay your debt! Once you settle it, this official can leave for morning court!"