Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Gongsun Liuying bit her lip and said coldly, "You're talking nonsense! I don't believe you! My father would never treat me like this! I'm his most beloved daughter!"

Meng Qianqian chuckled, "If your father loved you, he wouldn't force you to marry Lu Qi."

Gongsun Liuying choked, her eyes wide with anger, "The marriage was decreed by Your Majesty, do you think it's that easy to defy it? My father is the State Preceptor; of course, he can't defy the imperial decree!"

Meng Qianqian curled her lips, "Indeed, not daring to defy the imperial decree, yet daring to imprison Your Majesty underground, never to see daylight again."

Gongsun Liuying was choked again.

She glared fiercely at Meng Qianqian and turned her head, saying, "You're talking nonsense, my father would never betray Your Majesty; Your Majesty was clearly taken by the Miao King!"

As she spoke, she glanced at Meng Qianqian again, "Don't think I don't know who you are. You're not called Yan Xiaojiu, and you're not the pupil of Elder Yan. You're called Meng Qianqian, and you're married to the Imperial Grandson. No wonder you wanted to trap me when I asked you to leave the Imperial Grandson. Do you think I'm laughable?"

"Yes."

Meng Qianqian openly admitted, "Too bad you found out too late. If you had known earlier, perhaps... you could have attended my wedding with the Imperial Grandson."

"You—"

Gongsun Liuying was infuriated.

Was Gongsun Liuying truly deeply in love with Lu Yuan?

Not necessarily.

She just believed that only the most noble man in the world was fit to be her husband.

And Lu Yuan, being both the son of the Crown Prince and the Guardian Qilin, had a pure bloodline and unmatched prowess.

A mere merchant's daughter named Meng, who climbed the ranks with seductive tactics, is she worthy of marrying the most noble man under heaven?

Meng Qianqian captured Gongsun Liuying's expression completely, amusingly said, "Hey, haven't you given up on Lu Yuan yet? Should I remind you, you're already married?"

Gongsun Liuying snorted contemptuously, "Hmph, haven't you also been married?"

Meng Qianqian raised an eyebrow, "You know quite a bit."

Gongsun Liuying mocked, "So, since you can climb higher, what makes you think I'm inferior to you?"

"Still not giving up, huh."

Meng Qianqian sympathetically glanced at her, wondering who else she could love other than that guy?

Coaxed and annoyed by the noise, otherwise faced a stinky face, three daily doses of intimidation.

"Tsk."

Meng Qianqian silently lit a candle in her heart for Gongsun Liuying.

"Well, I've said what I need to say. You don't need to question my motives. I indeed want to drive a wedge between you and your father, but waiting a few more days makes no difference. The reason I hurried to remind you is because of Wuyou."

Gongsun Liuying's eyes paused.

Meng Qianqian said, "Wuyou said you treat him sincerely. I'm not one to owe favors. You and I have plenty of chances to settle accounts; this is just repaying your sisterly affection toward Wuyou."

Gongsun Liuying's wariness faded a bit, "Wuyou is with you?"

Meng Qianqian said, "Your grandfather wanted to kill him, so I had to take him away. From now on, he has nothing to do with your Gongsun Family, and there's no need to look for him again. Just take care of yourself."

With that, Meng Qianqian left the room without looking back.

Tan'er was waiting at the corner of the corridor, having overheard.

"Sister, why did you remind her? Why not wait until she's drugged and then tell her the truth? Did Shang Wuyou really ask Sister to remind her?"

Meng Qianqian said seriously, "Because sometimes the power of protection is stronger than revenge."

"Sister..."

Tan'er gazed at her in a daze.

Meng Qianqian lovingly patted her head, "Wuyou indeed pleaded with me at Thousand Mechanism Pavilion over the years; Gongsun Liuying hadn't mistreated him, and the desire to repay that kindness is genuine."

Tan'er pouted, "Gongsun Liuying was nice to him because she wanted to use him, poor thing, actually took it seriously!"

Meng Qianqian said, "Indeed, it's Tan'er who is smart and never easily deceived."

Tan'er crossed her arms, puffed up with pride, "Of course!"

Meng Qianqian curved her lips.

Had it been before, she might have confided in Shang Wuyou, letting him see through Gongsun Liuying's exploitation of him.

But now, she has a different perspective.

Wuyou, after experiencing the twists of his origins and betrayal from "close kin," faced his heart being cruelly carved out time and again, and his faith repeatedly collapsing.

Yet he still harbors a pure heart, which might just be a form of salvation.

She wants to safeguard that small piece of pure land in his heart.

Besides, Gongsun Liuying's selfishness is just based on their judgment of her actions.

In so many years of sisterly affection, there might have been moments of sincerity.

"Alright, sister is always right!"

Tan'er doesn't understand Shang Wuyou, but she trusts her sister.

Gongsun Liuying sat alone in the room, gently stroking her soft abdomen.

She had consummated with Lu Qi, more than once.

Her abdomen might truly already hold a child, possessing the bloodline of the Imperial Family of Great Liang.

The maid on the ground slowly awoke, finding herself asleep on the ground, frighteningly kowtowing, "Miss... This servant knows her mistake... This servant..."

"Go to the south of the city and find someone."

Gongsun Liuying said lightly, handing her a token.

Her grandfather left her a trump card before leaving the Imperial City.

Originally meant as a life-saving charm, when truly cornered, she could use it to escape the Imperial City and go to Seven Stars Sect to rely on her grandfather.

Even though life at Jin Prince Mansion had been unbearable, she never thought of using it.

But now, she's ready to gamble everything.

At night.

A tall, masked man sneaked into the wedding chamber of Gongsun Liuying and Lu Qi.

Gongsun Liuying had anticipated his arrival, sitting in her chair waiting for him.

Once she cared about gender boundaries, but now she had to let them go.

The man stood uprightly in front of her, not bowing or greeting.

Gongsun Liuying scrutinized him.

She felt something odd about him, yet could not immediately pinpoint what was strange.

"Remove the mask."

Gongsun Liuying ordered.

The man didn't move.

Gongsun Liuying, displeased, walked up to him and coldly glared, forcefully removing his mask.

However, as she saw his face clearly, she let out a scream, stepped back two steps, and bent forward, clutching the table as she retched.

She dropped the mask, breathing heavily in apprehension.

The man picked up the mask and put it back on his face.

Gongsun Liuying broke into a cold sweat, finally understanding what was odd.

She felt not a single breath of life from this man.

She took a few deep breaths to calm down, opened a picture, and told the man, "I want you to go somewhere, to kill this person for me."

-

In the study.

Prince Jin and Hu Lie were discussing the rescue of Lu Qi.

Hu Lie said, "To save Qi'er, we can only open the entrance to the Imperial Mausoleum."

Prince Jin pondered, "Uncle, this is a trap."

Hu Lie sighed, "I'm aware it's the deadlock set by the Eldest Princess for us? Seems she has long guessed the existence of the underground palace, intending to use this chance to rescue Your Majesty."

Prince Jin clenched his fist.

Hu Lie said, "Your Highness, open the Imperial Mausoleum."