Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Meng Family.

Old Master Meng was in his room, listening to his son, Meng Tianlan, report the accounts.

"That's all, Father, please take a look."

After Meng Tianlan finished reporting, he respectfully handed the account book to Old Master Meng.

Old Master Meng took it with a disapproving look, frowning as he carefully reviewed it.

Ever since he took charge and married Meng Qianqian to the Grand Commander in the Capital City, this youngest son, Meng Tianlan, had completely angered Old Master Meng.

Old Master Meng scolded him for making decisions on his own, pushing his niece from one pit into another, and for keeping it from the family and acting first.

He not only shut him in a room and harshly used the family law on him, but also grounded him for a month.

If not for the two daughters-in-law pleading for him, Old Master Meng might have disowned him in the name of justice.

Meng Tianlan realized he was in the wrong and dared not talk back to the old master, so he could only keep a low profile.

He stayed low for a long time until a shop under the Meng Family's name had some trouble recently, causing huge losses and a plummeting reputation.

Meng Tianlan volunteered himself, bearing the pressure of the whole clan to take over the shop and revive it.

Today, he came with confidence.

Sure enough, Old Master Meng was silent after reviewing the accounts.

Meng Tianlan stole a glance at his father, and the stone in his heart was more than half removed.

"Father, this is just the beginning. Business will flourish even more in the future."

He patted his chest in assurance.

Old Master Meng placed the account book on the table.

Meng Tianlan, smiling happily, asked, "Father, I have to go to the shop every day to look after the business, which is quite troublesome. So, how about the house in Changliu Alley..."

He'd been eyeing it for a long time.

Today, he had to take it in one fell swoop!

The house was secondary; the main point was once the old master brought it up, it meant he could finally hold his head high in the Meng Family, and the old master would overlook his previous matchmaking mistake.

Old Master Meng's expression showed signs of wavering.

Meng Tianlan was so excited his eyes sparkled.

However, at this moment, the servants reported from outside: "Old Master! Old Master!"

The good moment was interrupted, and Meng Tianlan was quite displeased: "What is it, rushing like this? Can't you see the old master and I are discussing matters?"

The young servant said excitedly: "Third Master, Old Master, Third Miss has returned!"

Both father and son were startled.

Meng Tianlan quickly stepped forward, staring at the young servant and asked, "Who did you say returned?"

The young servant replied with a smile: "Third Miss!"

The Meng Family had three branches, one daughter per branch, and the only one who could be called Third Miss was Meng Qianqian from the first branch.

Meng Tianlan said incredulously, "Really?... Qianqian went back to You State? Where is she?"

The young servant said, "In the flower hall!"

Old Master Meng gripped the account book tightly.

Meng Tianlan, at this point, didn't care about the house anymore; he rushed out headfirst.

When he reached the flower hall, he indeed saw Meng Qianqian, whom he hadn't seen for days.

Meng Qianqian was dressed in a blue waist-sewing silk dress with a plain white cloud-patterned gauze coat. Her ink-black hair was simply tied, adorned with a pair of royal blue hairpins, looking elegant and refined, naturally noble.

It had been a year since the Capital City farewell.

Meng Tianlan only felt that his little niece in front of him had grown a bit more, not quite like the sniffling little food-loving girl he remembered.

"Qianqian..."

He spoke in a daze.

Meng Qianqian looked up, eyes bright, got up and called, "Third Uncle."

She expected to feel unfamiliar.

But the familiarity engraved in her bones gradually awakened after stepping into the Meng Family's mansion.

No matter how much she longed for her past life self, she couldn't deny that after rebirth, she was now Meng Qianqian.

She had long merged with the fate of this body.

Meng Tianlan came to her, holding her by the shoulders and looking her up and down: "Weren't you in the Capital City? Why did you return to You State from so far away? Let Third Uncle have a look, did you lose weight?"

Meng Qianqian smiled: "I missed home and came back for a look. Third Uncle should take a good look."

The matters of going to Witch Mountain and Liang Country could not be explained in a single sentence.

Meng Tianlan nodded excitedly: "It's good you're back, just good! You've grown healthier than in the Capital City."

Of course.

When Tianlan went to the Capital City, she had just returned from a triumphant battle at the border, tired from traveling, and was skinny.

Now pregnant, journeying slowly from Liang Country to You State by caravan, she enjoyed good food and drink, feeling at ease, with a rounder face.

"Did you come back alone?"

Meng Tianlan asked.

"Third Master, I am here too!"

Ban Xia entered carrying a bundle, accompanied by Tan'er who was eating candied hawthorns.

Tan'er sweetly called, "Third Uncle!"

Meng Tianlan laughed: "It's Tan'er!"

Tan'er tilted her head: "Third Uncle, do you remember me?"

Meng Tianlan said: "Of course I remember, candied hawthorns, braised pork, right? I'll have the kitchen stew some for you!"

Tan'er's little arms flapped behind: "Third Uncle is the best!"

Meng Tianlan laughed heartily: "You've grown taller!"

Tan'er giggled: "Yes indeed!"

Meng Tianlan was very fond of this witty little girl, knowing she wasn't an ordinary maid; Meng Qianqian treated her as a sister. So, he never acted superior to her.

He turned to Ban Xia: "Ban Xia, where's Nanny Li?"

Ban Xia replied: "Nanny Li is in the Capital City."

Meng Tianlan puzzled: "She didn't come with you?"

Ban Xia looked at Meng Qianqian, unsure how to respond.

Meng Qianqian said: "Third Uncle, let's talk about this later."

"Yes, yes, yes, you traveled such a long way, you must be tired! Oh, where is your husband?"

Meng Tianlan looked around.

Since entering the flower hall, he hadn't seen Lu Yuan, "Didn't he come back with you?"

Speaking, he looked serious, "Qianqian, be honest with Third Uncle, did he bully you? Ah, it's Third Uncle's fault, I had my judgement clouded, drank a jar of wine, and actually messed up your marriage when assigning the match..."

When the old master punished him, he hadn't felt guilty.

When his second brother scolded him, he didn't regret it.

But when he thought his darling niece might have been wronged at the Governor Mansion, he truly regretted not thinking straight initially, feeling profoundly guilty!

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly: "Lu Yuan went to pay respects to Grandfather."

"I just came from the old master's place and didn't see him there..."

Meng Tianlan clapped his thigh, "Oh no! I took the shortcut! Is he out of his mind? Going to see the old master on his own, isn't he afraid of being scolded by the old master? The old master wouldn't care if he's a Grand Commander in the court or not!"

"Wait, he won't, in a fit of anger, do something to the old master, will he!"

Meng Tianlan was very worried.

On one side was the old master who wasn't informed about the marriage, and on the other was the Grand Commander holding life-and-death power.

If they clashed, it could end in bloodshed!

"I need to go and check quickly!"

He walked a few steps, then thought of something, and cautioned Meng Qianqian, "Qianqian, you stay hidden for a bit. The old master is still angry, and you might end up taking the blame... I'll call your third aunt and second aunt over."

Meng Qianqian did not refuse.

Meng Tianlan instructed a servant to inform Third Madam Yan and Second Madam Ji, while he hurried to the old master's courtyard.

He feared being late, as the old and the young might start fighting.