Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 300: After modification - 280 Heading Towards Each Other

Chapter 300: After modification: Chapter 280 Heading Towards Each Other

After spending the entire night sleeping with her mother, Treasure Piggy woke up feeling completely refreshed, as if even the air was filled with the scent of happiness!

"Mommy, so fragrant!"

"The bed, so fragrant!"

"The pillow, so fragrant!"

"And what about your father?"

While dressing her little one, Ban Xia asked.

The little one’s face darkened. "Stinky daddy."

Ban Xia couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

After putting on her tiger-head shoes, Bao Shu climbed down from the bed and handed out a piece of candy to everyone in the courtyard!

Lu Yuan came out of the study after finishing a book.

Even though he looked as cold and dignified as always, when he acted, every person received a gold ingot as a reward.

A gold ingot, can you believe it?

Nanny Wan’s eyes sparkled. "Young Master!"

Is this reward money? No, this is clearly a pay-for-title fee!

Sorry, Miss. From now on, in my heart, I’ll call you the Young Madam!

Treasure Piggy, feeling upstaged, swung her little chubby fist furiously and landed a punch on her scoundrel daddy!

After finishing her morning exercise, Meng Qianqian returned to the courtyard. Seeing the father-daughter duo locked in a battle of wits, she smiled knowingly and approached them. "Not attending court today?"

Lu Yuan casually hoisted the unfilial child up and replied indifferently, "Oh, it’s no big deal to go a bit later."

Treasure Piggy flailed her little arms. "Mommy! Mommy!"

Meng Qianqian reached out her arms and curved her lips into a soft smile. "Hand her to me."

Just as Lu Yuan extended the little one toward Meng Qianqian—at the very moment she thought she was about to get a hug from her mommy—he cruelly pulled her back.

Treasure Piggy erupted in a fit of rage. "Ahhh! Stinky daddy!"

He teased as she fumed. She laughed while he jested.

Meng Qianqian, her eyebrows curved like crescent moons, went inside to bathe and change her clothes.

Yu Li was pacing and reciting scriptures in the small garden.

"’The way of utmost sincerity can foresee the future. When a nation thrives, it shows auspicious signs; when it faces destruction, calamities arise.’"

As he turned, he saw Lu Yuan passing through a small path not far away, holding the huffy little one.

Yu Li shook his head abruptly. "No, no, no! My brother-in-law is not an ominous sign!"

He turned back and continued reciting again.

But after the interruption, he simply couldn’t recall the next lines no matter what.

"’Seen in... seen in...’"

He was utterly flustered.

A calm voice floated over from afar: "’Seen in yarrow stalks and tortoise shells, felt in the four limbs. Blessings and disasters will come, and what is good must first be known; what is not good must also be known. Thus, utmost sincerity is like divinity.’"

Yu Li spun around and looked incredulously at Lu Yuan. "Brother-in-law... you’ve read the Four Books as well?"

Bao Shu stared blankly at her seemingly uneducated scoundrel father.

Lu Yuan said nothing, his gaze merely fixed firmly forward towards the morning light.

The shadows and gloom had long fused with his flesh and blood. To walk out of it, he would have to endure the excruciating pain of having his bones scraped and his flesh cut away.

Could he truly break free?

The family gathered in Tinglan Courtyard for breakfast with the matriarch.

Lu Yuan left for court, while Meng Qianqian headed to the Ministry of Justice.

Although Ji Li and the Si Snake had been cleared of suspicion, Chen Long and the Sheep, who were now serving the Prime Minister, as well as the Hai Pig, who had confessed to implicating the Prime Minister, still remained suspects and were held at the Ministry.

The weather grew colder.

Meng Qianqian brought some warm clothes for her brother.

If it were only to meet Chen Long, she would have taken Bao Shu along, but later she had to enter the palace to request an audience with the Supreme Emperor.

"Mommy’s leaving, Aunt is in your care now."

"Baby will take care of Aunt."

Bai Yuwei scooped up the little one and, exasperated, said, "Who needs your care?"

Bao Shu, with an air of maturity, patted Bai Yuwei on the head. "Be good now."

Bai Yuwei: "..."

-

At court, Chief of Staff Xing reported the latest progress in the Chu Family case to the Emperor.

"The Hai Pig has confessed to his crimes. He was the one who poisoned Chu Grand Marshal and lured away the Twelve Guards. The Chu family tragedy had nothing to do with Lady Chu; she was falsely accused."

"The former Crown Prince was one of the masterminds, but he, too, had been deceived. There is another figure orchestrating things from behind the scenes."

"King Chu is the biological child of the Supreme Emperor—Your Majesty, he is your elder brother."

With each revelation from Chief Xing, gasps filled Jinluan Palace.

No one had anticipated that the Chu Family case would unravel so many shocking truths.

Lady Chu had saved countless lives at the border and performed immense acts of virtue, yet she had endured nearly seven years of wrongful accusations.

And King Chu, who turned out to be a Prince—if both he and Chu Grand Marshal were still alive, one could only imagine how unshakable the authority of Great Zhou’s monarchy would be.

But, alas, the former Crown Prince, manipulated by villains, committed an irreversible mistake.

General Zhou stepped forward clutching his memorial tablet and spoke indignantly, "The one behind the scenes, who disrupts our kingdom’s stability and harms our pillars of support, has intentions deserving thousands of deaths and can never atone for their sins!"

He hadn’t always been this bold. Ever since his daughter entered the palace, whether out of love for her or for the Zhou family, he no longer played it entirely safe.

Of course, these words were genuinely from the heart.

The loss of the Chu family was a tragedy not just for this court but for the entire Great Zhou.

Personal gains and schemes had existed throughout history, but targeting the Chu family had incited the collective outrage of the courtiers.

One after another, civil and military officials petitioned to capture the true culprit and punish them harshly.

Lu Yuan’s gaze fell on Prime Minister Xun, who stood at the head of the officials.

Prime Minister Xun’s expression remained unchanged, but Lu Yuan noticed how his right hand occasionally brushed his left thumb.

There used to be a jade ring there, one he only wore at home.

And only when confronted with a situation beyond his control would he unconsciously reach to touch it.

Godfather, even you hadn’t expected the case to progress this smoothly, had you?

At the same time, you underestimated the esteem the Chu family commanded in the hearts of the court.

Those courtiers loyal to you are now sincerely indignant over the injustices suffered by the Chu family.

One day, when they discover you are the mastermind behind the Chu family’s downfall, will they still willingly serve you?

Zhaoming Palace.

The Supreme Emperor was playing chess.

After listening to Eunuch Fu’s report, the Supreme Emperor placed a white piece on the board. "The case has advanced so quickly; your Governor Mansion deserves much credit."

Meng Qianqian placed a black piece calmly and replied, "It’s all thanks to my husband."

The Supreme Emperor chuckled lightly and asked Eunuch Fu, "What did Lu Yuan say?"

Eunuch Fu replied, "The Grand Commander has petitioned to announce the truth to the world and clear Lady Chu’s name. His Majesty has agreed. Additionally, His Majesty intends to posthumously honor her as a First-Class Lady Defender of the Nation, and the Grand Commander suggested elevating her to the title of Marchioness of National Defense."

Meng Qianqian was slightly stunned.

The Supreme Emperor was surprised as well. "Marchioness of National Defense? The first female marquess of this dynasty—does he share a connection with Lady Chu?"

Eunuch Fu looked to Meng Qianqian for an answer.

It was obvious the Supreme Emperor’s question was directed at her.

Steadying herself, Meng Qianqian replied, "Little Nine doesn’t know."

In her previous life, she couldn’t have been more distantly related to Lu Yuan, so this sudden request for her to be titled a Marquess... Could it be that he had figured out her identity—?

Impossible.

The Supreme Emperor sighed. "You two sure know how to make things difficult for me. One wants a female marquess, and the other is asking for an additional imperial examination. I am the Supreme Emperor, not a wishing tree."

Meng Qianqian stated seriously, "You promised to grant me a boon when I treated your illness. The Emperor’s wedding is a time for national celebration, and instead of pardoning the guilty, it would be better to promote the virtuous. There is even precedent in the previous dynasty: Emperor Enzu’s seventieth birthday saw the establishment of an additional exam."

The Supreme Emperor responded, "That was the previous dynasty."

Meng Qianqian countered, "You are a wise ruler, and wise rulers keep their word."

The Supreme Emperor sighed heavily. "This matter is no small request."

Initially kneeling properly, Meng Qianqian shifted slightly and humbly bowed low to the ground. "Please, Your Majesty, establish an additional imperial examination!"

The Supreme Emperor let out a helpless sigh. "Why are you so adamant? Whom do you want as an official? Recommend them to me, and I will give them a position."

Meng Qianqian solemnly said, "Little Nine does not seek an official position. I seek fairness. I want black and white to no longer be reversed, truth and falsehood to no longer be blurred. I want a realm of clarity, free from oppression. I want all scholars to no longer be concealed in obscurity!"

The Supreme Emperor sensed an extraordinary determination emanating from her.

He weighed the black chess piece in his hand. "You are one of the Twelve Guards of the Chu family. Your priority should be the Chu family’s case. Now tell me, if you could only choose between posthumously honoring Lady Chu as Marchioness or establishing an additional exam..."

"Please, Your Majesty, establish the additional imperial examination!"

Meng Qianqian’s voice was resolute, unwavering.

The Supreme Emperor remained silent for a long time.

The hall grew so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

Eunuch Fu dared not breathe.

Though the Supreme Emperor doted on Lady Lu, accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger; grace and wrath are dispensed at the whim of an emperor’s thoughts.

A Buddha does not take lives, but an emperor is no Buddha.

Suddenly, the Supreme Emperor chuckled. "Stand up. Shall I let you knock yourself dizzy? If the matriarch sees it later, she’ll feel distressed."

Eunuch Fu inwardly exhaled in relief.

Meng Qianqian raised her head. "Does this mean you agree?"

The Supreme Emperor smiled. "Your request is significant, but I will agree—on the condition that you complete three tasks for me."

Meng Qianqian immediately held up three fingers. "It’s agreed, only three tasks!"

The Supreme Emperor tutted, "Shouldn’t you be saying, ’Even if it’s three hundred tasks, I would take no issue’?"

Meng Qianqian muttered, "Little Nine isn’t that foolish."

At her childish demeanor, even Eunuch Fu couldn’t help but smile.

The Supreme Emperor stated, "First, take good care of the matriarch."

Meng Qianqian said, "Even without your order, Little Nine would care for her well. But this counts as one task, no backsies!"

The Supreme Emperor laughed in exasperation and pointed at her, saying to Eunuch Fu, "Look at this girl. She won’t tolerate even a speck of disadvantage."

Eunuch Fu chuckled. "Clearly inherits the matriarch’s cleverness."

This compliment pleased the Supreme Emperor as he continued, "Second, find Princess Wanping a Prince Consort who satisfies her."

Meng Qianqian choked.

"As for the third task, I haven’t decided yet. Let’s consider it a debt for now. Complete the first two successfully, and it will count."

The first task was easy, and the third task wasn’t yet required. This meant her real challenge was the second task—arranging Princess Wanping’s marriage.

"Once you’ve accomplished that, the conclusion of the Chu family case will coincide with the establishment of an additional exam."

Meng Qianqian’s eyes widened. "Didn’t you say three tasks? Why include the Chu family’s case? What if it remains unresolved? Does that mean the exam will never be established?"

Indeed, taking advantage of the Supreme Emperor was never going to be so simple!

Wasn’t this still effectively three conditions?

The Supreme Emperor sighed regretfully. "It seems you’re unwilling to agree—"

Meng Qianqian grumbled in bitter resignation. "I agree, I agree!"

The Supreme Emperor said, "You handle Wanping’s marriage, and leave the case to Lu Yuan and the Ministry of Justice. The two of you can divide the workload—it’s not that difficult!"

Meng Qianqian turned her face away, muttering with indignation, "You’ve planned everything so thoroughly, but where on earth am I supposed to find your daughter a Prince Consort?"