https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-125-The-Grand-Governor-Comes-to-Her-Defense/12582592/
Chapter 126: Unintentionally Imposing
Chapter 126: Unintentionally Imposing
After sleeping the entire journey, Bao Shu woke up as soon as they arrived at Fengshui Hutong. True to her word, she refused to return with Lu Yuan and clung tightly to Meng Qianqian's clothes, eyeing Lu Yuan warily as if he were a stranger.
"Just leave her," Lu Yuan said, his voice cold.
"Grand Commander," Meng Qianqian said, "let Bao Shu stay with me this afternoon, and I'll send her back this evening."
Lu Yuan's voice turned even colder. "She is this commander's daughter, and she cannot be separated from me."
Without a moment's hesitation, Bao Shu waved goodbye to Lu Yuan, showing not a hint of reluctance! Lu Yuan's face darkened.
A slight smile curved Meng Qianqian's lips as she hugged Bao Shu and bid Lu Yuan farewell before stepping down from the carriage.
Qing Shuang had another task and did not accompany them to Fengshui Hutong.
Sitting atop the carriage, Yu Zichuan spoke up. "I'll go and protect Miss Bao Shu."
You just want to gossip.
"Back to the Commander's mansion!" Lu Yuan's voice was icy.
Yu Zichuan's face fell, filled with an aggrieved expression.
Inside the house, Tan'er had just finished her meal when she heard Bao Shu's voice.
Excited, she flashed over and opened the courtyard door. "Bao—Pig—Pig—"
Bao Shu's small body trembled, and she quickly covered her little purse. Tan'er picked up Bao Shu and started sticking to her affectionately. "Bao Piggy, I missed you so much! Here, have a piece of candy."
Tan'er's quick change of expressions left Bao Shu's emotions all over the place.
Tan'er robbed Bao Shu of a piece of candy and popped it into her mouth as she said, "Sister, a really weird nanny came by this morning, and she was so annoying that I chased her away!"
"What did she say?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Tan'er thought hard. "Something about going to the palace... and that Sister needs to learn manners... She was so annoying!"
Going to the palace... learning manners... It seemed that Consort Li had sent her. Consort Li still hadn't given up on Meng Qianqian, but the Emperor and Empress hadn't held their wedding yet, and the selection of concubines would have to wait until after the Empress's enthronement ceremony.
But by then, she would already be married to Lu Yuan, and Consort Li's plans would come to nothing.
"Oh, and someone else came by this morning as well," Tan'er added.
Meng Qianqian smiled. "It seems we had quite a few visitors today."
Tan'er nodded vigorously. "It was Mrs. Xing. I didn't hit her, though. I was very polite to her!"
Mrs. Xing was the wife of Minister Xing. The last time Tan'er went boating, Mrs. Wang had taken the opportunity to introduce her to several wives of high-ranking officials, including Mrs. Xing.
Mrs. Xing had hosted a small banquet at her residence and invited some of the more familiar ladies to her home for an informal gathering. It wasn't a serious occasion, and Mrs. Xing had specifically said that there was no need to stand on ceremony.
Mrs. Wang had introduced Meng Qianqian to Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Lin, and Mrs. Zhou, and now Mrs. Xing was hosting another banquet and had invited her to meet more of the capital's female relatives.
This was how one slowly expanded their social network.
Meng Qianqian closed the invitation card.
Knock, knock, knock.
There was a knock on the door, followed by Yu Li's voice. "Cousin, may I come in?"
"The door is open. Come in," Meng Qianqian said.
After spending some time together, this cousin's character had not given her any cause for complaint.
Yu Li pushed the door open and entered, his eyes apologetic as he looked at Meng Qianqian. "Cousin."
Meng Qianqian smiled and said, "Cousin, there's no need for this. Let's continue as we were before, and everything will be fine."
Yu Li stared straight at her, making sure that she wasn't angry with him because of his aunt's actions, and he couldn't help but feel relieved. At the same time, he also felt a bit annoyed with himself. His cousin had such a magnanimous heart, and yet he had suspected her with a petty mind. It was truly embarrassing.
"I... will move out as soon as possible," he said.
"If Cousin doesn't want to stay here, is it because you think this place is haunted?" Meng Qianqian asked.
"No, no!" Yu Li quickly denied it.
He didn't believe in such things, and besides, they were all victims in this situation. There was no need to look at the family of the victims with strange eyes. He was just afraid that his cousin wouldn't want to see him.
"In that case, Cousin, feel free to stay. However, regarding my wedding, I hope that Cousin will not tell anyone about it for the time being," Meng Qianqian said.
If Consort Li found out, who knew what kind of trouble she would stir up.
Yu Li hurriedly swore, "Cousin, rest assured, I didn't even tell Aunt about this!"
Meng Qianqian smiled.
Yu Li was taken aback and his face turned red with shyness. "Cousin, don't... make fun of me."
Meng Qianqian smiled and said, "I won't tease you anymore, Cousin. You didn't come here just to talk about these things, did you?"
Yu Li suppressed his shyness and said, "Aunt said that the day after tomorrow she will take me to a banquet at the home of the Minister of Justice. Cousin, will you come with me?"
He still hoped to create an opportunity for his cousin and aunt to recognize each other.
"Okay."
Meng Qianqian agreed.
She had originally planned to attend Lady Xing's banquet, and since Yu Li was also going, she could go with him.
"Miss Bao Shu! Miss Bao Shu!"
Banxia's anxious calls came from the courtyard.
Meng Qianqian went out and asked, "Banxia, what's wrong?"
Banxia was on the verge of tears. "Just now, I was playing with Miss Bao Shu in the courtyard. Usually, she hides in a box and lets me find her, but this time I can't find her!"
Bao Shu loved playing hide-and-seek, so Meng Qianqian had specially set up a few "hiding places" in the courtyard for her.
"What's going on?"
Tan'er ran over. She had been chopping wood in the back courtyard.
Banxia choked out, "Miss Bao Shu... she's gone..."
At the end of the alley, in a courtyard, a burly man with a mountain-like physique and a beard, his muscles like coiled snakes, was using a huge axe to chop at an extremely thick log with all his might.
As he chopped for the seventh time, he suddenly sensed a strange presence approaching.
He snorted heavily, his body filled with a murderous aura, like a bull-headed monster that had emerged from hell. "Get out of here. No one is welcome here."
The presence drew closer, whistling as it approached.
"If you don't drink the toast, you'll drink the fine. Looks like you want to die—"
The bearded man turned around, his axe in hand, and let out a terrifying roar.
Bao Shu felt a gust of wind rush towards her, blowing off her little tiger hat!
She sat on the ground, dazed and stunned.
The bearded man also froze.
He looked at the little girl on the ground, and she looked back at him.
Then, the little girl pouted and was about to cry—
The bearded man's massive body trembled, and the axe in his hand was shaken out of his grip. He fumbled and caught it awkwardly.
"Don't... don't cry!"
"Waaah—waaah—"
"If you cry again, I'll chop you up!"
"Waaah—waaah—waaah—"
...
Meng Qianqian's eyes narrowed. "I think I heard Bao Shu crying!"
Tan'er also focused her senses. "I hear it too! It seems to be coming from the innermost part of the alley! If I'm not mistaken... that's where... that bearded axe man lives!"
Banxia asked in confusion, "What axe man?"
Tan'er's face was filled with terror as she said, "There's a really scary and fierce-looking man there! Sister, listen, the crying has stopped! Bao Piggy... Bao Piggy... my Bao Piggy—"
Tan'er burst into an exaggerated fit of tears.
Meng Qianqian instantly flashed to the door, ready to rush out.
Suddenly, a terrifying murderous aura assaulted her, and the courtyard door was flung open with a loud bang!
Meng Qianqian pulled Tan'er back, quickly retreating into the house.
Clang!
The courtyard door slammed against the wall.
A man with a full beard and a vicious expression appeared in the doorway.
His face was flushed, and his left hand held a large axe that dripped with fresh red droplets. His right hand held a child.
"Bao Shu!"
Meng Qianqian quickly stepped forward.
The bearded man thrust Bao Shu into Meng Qianqian's arms and said, "Watch your child. If this happens again, I'll chop all of you into pieces!"
After his stern warning, the bearded man, with Bao Shu's painted flame-red lips and two daubs of bright rouge on his face, as well as several crooked little braids on his head, strode back to his residence with an air of dominance.
Bao Piggy: Waaah
(End of Chapter)
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