Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Meng Qianqian talked about the meeting with Duan Mingyue.

Chen Long already knew that Duan Mingyue was Xun Yi; whenever anything related to the Xun Family's adopted son came up, he would instinctively attribute it to Lu Yuan.

"Brother, it has nothing to do with Lu Yuan."

Meng Qianqian tugged at his sleeve and said.

Chen Long's hardened resolve melted into tenderness, and he said helplessly, "I know."

Once he recovers, he'd spar a bit less with that kid.

But the trouble he caused last night still needed to be addressed.

They returned to the main topic.

Honestly, Chen Long wasn't concerned about Tan'er's background.

But anything his sister told him was of significant importance.

"I never thought Tan'er would be from Liuli Island. How did she end up drifting to the Central Plains?"

"What kind of place is Liuli Island?"

Meng Qianqian asked in confusion.

Chen Long replied, "I'm not very sure either. Since Si Snake is from there, we can ask him later."

Si Snake and Ji Li had gone to find the other Twelve Guards; they had some grievances to resolve among themselves.

Chen Long added, "Perhaps you could also ask Tan'er. I believe she trusts you enough now to open her heart to you."

Meng Qianqian nodded.

"Back to the letter."

Chen Long looked at the weathered letter with its incredibly familiar handwriting. "Why would the Western Night Princess have a letter from Father? It couldn't possibly... be that Father wrote it to her."

Meng Qianqian responded, "It starts and ends abruptly; maybe Father wrote it to Mother and it mistakenly ended up in her hands."

After a pause, she shook her head, "But it still doesn't make sense. Father had no connection with Liuli Island. How could his letter end up in the hands of the Western Night Princess?"

Chen Long, too, couldn't figure it out.

Some things seemed complicated, but perhaps the truth was straightforward and simple.

He said, "After asking Si Snake and Tan'er, we might get a clue. What we can confirm now is that it is Father's handwriting."

The conversation had exhausted Chen Long's heart power. Meng Qianqian, seeing his pale face, tucked him in gently, "Brother, you rest. I'll come see you another day."

Chen Long suddenly spoke, "Xiao Jiu, take care of yourself. Whether or not I become an uncle doesn't matter, but I will always be your brother."

A wave of emotion surged in Meng Qianqian's heart, and her nose tingled, "Mm-hmm."

Only Chen Long remained in the room.

He lay on the spacious bed, listening to the sound of the gentle breeze, the faint scent of flowers from the General Mansion years ago filling his nostrils.

He had long since died under his biological father's abandonment.

It was she who planted the flower of life on his grave.

-

On the carriage ride back, Meng Qianqian kept her promise and told Lu Yuan about the letter and the handwriting.

A trace of shock flashed in Lu Yuan's eyes, "I didn't expect that."

Meng Qianqian murmured, "Do you think my father might have visited Liuli Island?"

Lu Yuan glanced at her, frowning, and asked, "You aren't suspecting that Tan'er is your half-sister, are you?"

Shang Jue and Zhongli Yuan had a bond as strong as gold. Would he have children with another woman?

Besides, considering Tan'er's age, that would only be possible if Shang Jue hadn't died in the massacre.

Sometimes, it's easier for an outsider to see the situation clearly than for those involved.

Perhaps she hadn't guessed, or perhaps she didn't dare to guess.

Not daring to give herself great hope, anticipating devastating despair.

Lu Yuan wasn't sure which one it was, but he didn't plan on saying it out loud.

Speaking of things without evidence would only add unnecessary thoughts.

Once he had investigated thoroughly, it wouldn't be too late to discuss it with her.

Meng Qianqian thought of the small portrait hidden within the Tan'er Jade Pendant.

The eyes in that portrait, or rather, the gaze, struck her as exceedingly familiar.

"West Night Saintess."

She muttered to herself about that identity.

Seeing her start to worry again, Lu Yuan took her hand in his and said, "Let's not speculate wildly for now. The truth will eventually come to light. I will send a letter to Witch Mountain to see if Grandmother has any news about Liuli Island and the West Night Saintess."

Meng Qianqian agreed, "Okay."

Lu Yuan added, "I will also ask the Old Man and the Grandfather later."

Meng Qianqian blinked at him.

Lu Yuan asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Meng Qianqian curled her lips, "Grand Commander, are you reporting your whereabouts to Xiao Jiu?"

Lu Yuan turned his face away coolly, "No."

Meng Qianqian, "Oh."

Seeing her bow her head, looking a bit disappointed and aggrieved, Lu Yuan took a deep breath and said solemnly, "If you want to know, considering you're pregnant, I can inform you a bit in the future."

Seeing that Meng Qianqian still seemed unconvinced, he cleared his throat, "In any case, I will investigate the matter regarding your father and the West Night Saintess thoroughly. Just wait for the news with peace of mind."

Meng Qianqian held back the smile that was threatening to curl her lips.

So easy to appease.

When the carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace, Ji Feng and Yu Zichuan were both arriving on horseback in a disheveled state.

Yu Zichuan sensed a familiar presence at once and jumped onto the carriage roof, landing squarely on Lu Yuan's head.

Cui Hu was bewildered, gazing up at his swaying companion, "Yu Zichuan, what are you doing?"

Exhausted as he was, he still insisted on climbing atop the carriage?

Yu Zichuan remained motionless, breathing heavily.

Lu Yuan snorted.

Ji Feng dismounted and approached the carriage, saluting the people inside, "Young Master, Young Madam."

Meng Qianqian lifted the curtain and asked Ji Feng, "Are you hurt?"

Ji Feng clasped his fists, "Just superficial wounds, nothing serious."

Meng Qianqian listened to his breathing; it was not just simple superficial wounds, "Give me your hand."

Ji Feng, "I dare not, my lady."

Cui Hu gave him a shove, "Stop blabbering and just do it!"

Ji Feng glanced at the Imperial Grandson, seeing no disapproval from him, and then walked forward without hesitation, extending his hand to Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian took his pulse, "You're quite seriously injured internally. A lot must have happened in the underground palace?"

Ji Feng replied, "We stumbled into a few mechanical formations and captured someone."

He said this as he dragged a sack off the horse's back, opening it to reveal a bruised and swollen man in black.

Meng Qianqian did not recognize him.

But Lu Yuan immediately did.

Wasn't this the Medicine Man who frantically chased Lu Qi in the underground palace?

Ji Feng said, "I found this man suspicious and thought bringing him back could be useful."

"No wonder you got hurt."

Although Meng Qianqian hadn't fought this person, the aura of death emanating from him was chilling.

She couldn't help but regard Ji Feng with newfound respect.

No wonder he could become the top Imperial Guard; he truly was someone who grew stronger in the face of adversity.

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Interesting, send him to Lu Qi."

Ji Feng replied, "Yes, Young Master!"

Thinking of something, his expression turned serious, "Young Master, Young Madam, I encountered assassins sent by Hu Lie in the underground palace. Secretly following them, I discovered Hu Lie's secret. May I ask where the Black Armor Army is currently located?"

Meng Qianqian said, "Han Qi has taken them to pursue Hu Lie."

Ji Feng said with a grave expression, "Hu Lie is colluding with the Medicine King Valley. He plans to turn the Black Armor Army into a puppet army for the Medicine King... The Black Armor Army is in danger!"