Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Lu Yuan initially planned to send Shangguan Ling to Liuli Island to investigate clues. Since Si Snake has gone, it's no longer urgent for Shangguan Ling to set off.

Thus, Shangguan Ling also came to You State with them.

"Where's Chen Long?"

Shangguan Ling rode his horse, looking around, "He disappeared as soon as he entered Youzhou City. Is he hiding from debts?"

Tan'er, also on horseback, trotted up to him: "Only Ni is deep in debt!"

Shangguan Ling: He's the dignified Commander of the Jinyi Guard, yet every day he's either getting flak from the Grand Commander or being roasted by the little girl. Life's simply unbearable!

"Yu Zichuan... eh! Yu Zichuan is missing too?!"

Shangguan Ling was dumbfounded.

What's going on?

Are you all familiar with You State?

Yu Zichuan hadn't gone far; he went to buy Osmanthus Cake.

He counted: "Nine pieces."

He frowned deeply.

Qing Shuang gave him an extra piece from her own box.

He finally felt at ease.

Treasure Piggy sat on Tan'er's horseback, with its own little saddle strapped securely.

Upon reaching You State, the big one and the little one finally got to eat authentic sugar-coated haws, glistening and red, sweet and juicy at first bite with a tart finish.

The two ate so well they howled with delight.

Treasure Piggy didn't forget to pull out Tan'er's IOU: Owe two sticks! One stick as interest!

Tan'er was dumbfounded: "How come there's interest too?"

Treasure Piggy slurped: "Even between close brothers, accounts must be settled, one stick as interest, no credit!"

Tan'er turned black-faced.

Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan sat in a carriage.

The curtain was lifted, and a cool breeze blew in.

You State is cooler than Liang Country; extra clothes are needed in the morning and evening, but the carriage was still somewhat stuffy.

"You can ride a horse instead, you don't have to accompany me in the carriage."

Meng Qianqian said.

She had early pregnancy with no morning sickness symptoms except for drowsiness, so she stayed in the carriage most of the way.

Lu Yuan said coldly: "The Grand Commander is too lazy to ride a horse."

Meng Qianqian opened her mouth.

Lu Yuan: "Think of the consequences first."

Meng Qianqian sulkily closed her mouth.

The memories of being "dealt with" on the carriage last time were vivid, and just the thought of it made her legs weak and tingly, so she dared not provoke him again.

"Where are they?"

Meng Qianqian quickly changed the topic.

Lu Yuan hmmed.

Meng Qianqian blinked: "Are you disappointed?"

Lu Yuan squinted his eyes.

Meng Qianqian instantly chickened out: "I was wrong."

The group entered Youzhou City, and like wild horses unleashed, not one could be caught.

Shangguan Ling turned into the Chief Steward, glancing at Yu Zichuan and Qing Shuang one moment, and checking on Tan'er and Treasure Piggy the next, keeping an eye to ensure they didn't lose their way and head the opposite direction from the Meng Family.

"Wait, where's Ji Li?"

He approached the carriage and asked the two inside, "Grand Commander, Young Madam, have you seen Ji Li?"

Of all the people in the group, he was most worried about that tricky one.

"Didn't see him."

Meng Qianqian paused for a moment, "You can look in the crowd."

"The crowd... what's he doing in the crowd?"

Shangguan Ling was puzzled, looking around, he was dumbstruck.

There was the white-haired Ji Li in a mystic robe, now sitting at a fortune-telling stall, holding the wrist of an old lady.

"You're glowing with red cheeks and a bright forehead, you'll have great luck today. If you want to know where it lies, just five copper coins."

The old lady was initially pleased with the flattery, but upon hearing it would cost five copper coins, her face turned sullen, and she pulled back her hand: "Five copper coins? Isn't it one?"

"One?"

Ji Li was taken aback.

Are the fortune-tellers in You State doing such poor business?

"Yes, just one copper coin!"

"Two copper coins can change fortune for three people!"

"Right? We just came by the other day!"

The crowd chattered away, attacking Ji Li.

Ji Li flared up: "What kind of sham shaman changes fortune for three people with two copper coins? Can fate be changed so easily? Charlatan!"

The old lady scolded: "I think it's you who's the fraud!"

Ji Li stood up, placing a foot on the bench: "Do you know who this Commander Guard is? I am the first Commander Guard under the great Chu Grand Marshal's command, lowering myself to divine fortune here in the marketplace for your benefit! How dare you doubt my capability and call me a charlatan! This Commander Guard —"

Bam!

The old lady slapped Ji Li's forehead.

Ji Li was bewildered by the slap.

The old lady grabbed Ji Li by the ear: "So young and already learning to swindle like this! Where's your father — he ran the stall before, but never spouted such nonsense!"

"Let go! How dare you disrespect this Commander Guard! Do you even know —"

"Sorry, sorry! My brother's not in his right mind, accidentally ran out from home..."

Shangguan Ling pulled Ji Li out of the crowd.

Ji Li was livid: "With the knife! You say not in his right mind? Tired of living, are you?"

Shangguan Ling pointed behind him, to the women sharpening knives, the old ladies: "Maybe you should go back and have a fight with them?"

Ji Li: "… I don't want to."

Apart from Chen Long, Shangguan Ling managed to gather everyone else.

The gifts for visiting Meng Family have also been checked and accounted for.

The group set off toward the Meng Family.

Shangguan Ling rode beside the carriage: "Young Madam, is it just ahead?"

Meng Qianqian lifted the curtain, looking at the streets that grew quieter as they moved away from the bustling city center, she softly said: "I haven't returned for several years, seems the street has changed quite a bit."

In another carriage, Ban Xia popped her head out the window: "Miss, this maid can barely recognize this street either."

"You State has switched three governors in six years."

Lu Yuan casually remarked, "Every new governor must renovate the city, so changes in the marketplace streets are normal."

Tan'er tilted her head and asked: "Isn't that expensive in silver?"

Lu Yuan gave a slight nod.

Tan'er said: "You State isn't as big as the Imperial City, nor as prosperous as the Capital City, but the sugar-coated haws in You State... are so delicious!"

At the mention, her eyes lit up green.

Shangguan Ling chuckled: "Little glutton!"

Tan'er glared at him: "What's your concern! I'm not eating from the Ni Family!"

Shangguan Ling clicked his tongue: "Why so fierce? Can't you learn from the Young Madam?"

Meng Qianqian laughed: "Learn from me to cheat without paying, or learn to kill without batting an eye?"

Shangguan Ling was at a loss for words.

Reaching the end of the long street and turning east into another main street, they could see the Meng Family mansion.

The Meng Family is a prominent household in You State, and their residence is no smaller than that of the aristocratic families in the Capital City.

From afar, the most grand and imposing residence is theirs.

Meng Qianqian has been reborn for quite some time without truly integrating into this body. The reason for visiting the Meng Family is just due to the ties of this body.

But to her own surprise, ever since entering You State, a sense of homecoming anxiety has naturally arisen within her.

And as she now gazed at the approaching Meng family mansion, a sudden familiarity arose within her.

Childhood memories belonging to this body began to flood her mind endlessly.

She is going to meet the family of this lifetime.