Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Hong Xiu leapt off the cliff, clutching the plummeting Gongsun Ziyu. With a flick of her sleeve, she unleashed a white silk ribbon that wrapped around a tree at the cliff's edge, leveraging its force to return to the top.

Gongsun Ziyu's blood soaked through her bridal gown, streaming down her snow-white fingertips to pool on the ground.

"Ziyu… Ziyu…"

Xiao Rong'er hurriedly cradled Gongsun Ziyu in her arms.

Looking at her bloodless face, then at the arrow that pierced her chest, Xiao Rong'er's hands trembled uncontrollably.

She was on the brink of collapse: "Ziyu… Ziyu, answer your mother… just answer me once…"

Gongsun Ziyu's body convulsed, with each spasm causing more blood to gush out.

Xiao Rong'er hastily applied acupoint pressure to stem the bleeding.

But it was futile.

The arrow had pierced her heart, severing all hope of survival.

If only she had shown Meng Qianqian a sliver of mercy, it wouldn't have cost her own daughter's life.

Gongsun Ziyu's gaze grew unfocused; even the strength to convulse was gone.

"Mother will transfer her energy to heal you…"

Xiao Rong'er gripped her daughter's hand, recklessly channeling her inner strength into Ziyu's meridians.

Hong Xiu whispered softly, "Madam, the second young miss has passed."

"How dare you lie to me!"

Xiao Rong'er barked sharply at Hong Xiu, "Ziyu isn't dead… she won't die… I'll take her back to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion… If the Pavilion can't save her, I'll find Medicine King Valley to heal her!"

Hong Xiu suddenly turned, alert to their approach: "Who's there? Show yourself!"

Meng Qianqian slowly revealed herself, accompanied by the mischievous Tan'er.

Hong Xiu froze.

For a moment, she wasn't sure whether to be more shocked by Meng Qianqian's unexpected appearance or by how Tan'er, who was supposed to be confined in the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, had managed to escape.

Tan'er crossed her arms and gazed skyward: "Ha, with that pathetic medicine of N's, you thought you'd trick me? Daydreaming is still free, huh?"

Hong Xiu raised her hand.

Meng Qianqian calmly said, "I'd advise you against acting rashly. If you die by my hand, who will then protect your madam?"

Tan'er nodded repeatedly: "Exactly! Look at her, all stricken and distraught. If you don't keep an eye on her, aren't you afraid she might jump off the cliff?"

Though crude, her words hit Hong Xiu squarely in the heart.

Hong Xiu retreated to Xiao Rong'er's side, ready to prevent her from taking her own life.

Xiao Rong'er, consumed with murderous intent, glared at Meng Qianqian, her blade-like gaze dripping with venom: "You killed my daughter, and now you dare to show your face before me. Fine, today I'll have you buried with her!"

Meng Qianqian replied placidly, "Pavilion Master's Wife, I know your grief runs deep, but are you so certain it was truly I who killed your daughter?"

Xiao Rong'er's eyes were swollen and bloodshot: "If not for your scheme to swap Ziyu, she wouldn't have died!"

Meng Qianqian asked, "Then does that mean I deserve to die?"

Xiao Rong'er gritted her teeth: "Of course you should die… all those who harmed my daughter deserve death!"

Meng Qianqian replied serenely, "So, by your reasoning, your daughter's life is precious, but mine is not? If that's how you see things, then I am quite reassured."

Xiao Rong'er stared at Meng Qianqian in shock and fury: "You… you lunatic…"

Meng Qianqian chuckled, "Pavilion Master's Wife, I understand your hatred. However, if you pin the blame on me, then you are looking at the wrong person.

"I was immobilized by the Acupoint Divine Skill of your Thousand Mechanism Pavilion. Do you think I could have freed myself?

"Even if we assume I did, do you think I possess such skills to orchestrate such a grand deception, swapping identities in front of a crowd?"

Xiao Rong'er clenched her fists: "What exactly are you saying?"

Meng Qianqian glanced toward the direction of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion: "The one who clashed with you wasn't me."

…

At midnight, fine spring rain fell, tender as the graceful hands of a woman.

Meng Qianqian carried an oil-paper umbrella as she passed by the entrance of Mingxin Hall.

A disciple called out to her: "Senior Sister Yan?"

Meng Qianqian turned around.

The disciple, carrying a paste bucket, walked out of Mingxin Hall and approached her in the rain, "It really is you?"

Meng Qianqian asked, "And you are—"

"I'm Peng En. Last time, thank you, Senior Sister Yan, for setting my dislocated leg."

Meng Qianqian remembered. When she had just arrived at the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, she had indeed helped a fallen disciple reset a bone.

"Ah, so that disciple was you."

Peng En laughed nervously: "At that time, I was scared out of my wits, thinking I'd be crippled. I forgot my manners, please don't mind, Senior Sister Yan."

Meng Qianqian glanced at the brush and paste bucket in his hands.

He immediately explained, "Many of the wedding decorations were ruined by the rain. The steward asked us to stay up and reapply them."

"Ruined wedding decorations—never a good omen."

Peng En glanced around and whispered, "That's what everyone's saying privately."

"Are you doing this alone?"

"The Pavilion Master is here, too."

Peng En replied, then realized Meng Qianqian was asking about his fellow decorators.

He awkwardly added, "Oh, they've gone to eat."

Meng Qianqian said, "I'll help you, then."

Peng En hesitated with embarrassment: "Ah… no, that's… this lowly task… how can I let you…"

Meng Qianqian softly replied, "If it's inconvenient, then forget it."

"It's no problem!"

Peng En hurriedly said, "If we finish early, Senior Brothers will be delighted. Senior Sister Yan, this way!"

Meng Qianqian returned to the entrance of Mingxin Hall.

She gazed calmly at the wedding inscriptions on the large red lanterns: "Peng En, may I trouble you not to mention to anyone that I was at Mingxin Hall tonight?"

…

Meng Qianqian looked at Xiao Rong'er indifferently: "Madam, have you guessed who it was?"

Xiao Rong'er shook her head incredulously: "No… it can't be…"

Meng Qianqian said innocently, "I didn't believe it either. But judging by the results, it seems that rather than let me marry into Jin Prince Mansion, he'd rather push his own flesh and blood into the fire pit."

Xiao Rong'er shivered in horror: "That brings him no benefit… you're lying… you're lying!"

Meng Qianqian responded calmly, "Madam, why deceive yourself? All I did was inform him that I was about to replace his unyielding eldest daughter in marriage. The one who sent your younger daughter to the bridal sedan was your husband. The one who ignored her pleas and struck her in the heart was you yourself."

"Stop it!"

Xiao Rong'er screamed in anguish.

"Tan'er, we're leaving."

Meng Qianqian left with Tan'er.

Xiao Rong'er, crushed by the agony tearing through her very soul, asked in a hollow voice: "Who… who are you?"

Tan'er looked at Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian paused in her steps.

Xiao Rong'er gritted her teeth and asked: "He dared to risk provoking Your Majesty's wrath, just to prevent you from entering Jin Prince Mansion. What is he afraid of?"

Meng Qianqian curved her lips into a faint smile: "Madam, that's a good question. I didn't know before. But after today, I suspect he's realized something."

Xiao Rong'er said furiously: "Stop speaking in riddles!"

Meng Qianqian replied indifferently: "Madam, the people from Jin Prince Mansion are almost here. You should focus on how to explain it to them."

She raised her head to gaze at the endless skies, as if looking at the spirits of the deceased Shang Family members.

"I can't wait for that wedding wine."