Chapter 14: Seeking the Grand Marshal's Protection
Chapter 14: Seeking the Grand Marshal's Protection
For the first time, Meng Qianqian experienced the discomfort of being in an unfamiliar place.
Even though the Lu family lacked funds, they were still considered nobility in the capital. Setting aside the elderly grandfather's accomplishments as a follower of the retired emperor, Lu Xingzhou held a position in the Ministry of Industry, and Lu Lingxiao had just established a war merit. For a young merchant woman with no connections in the capital, it would be extremely difficult to leave the Lu family unscathed.
"Little Nine, survive..."
"Father—"
In the middle of the night, Meng Qianqian was once again startled awake from a nightmare. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans trickled down her temples, soaking her black hair.
"Tsk, plenty of women desire to climb into this marshal's bed, but you're the first one eager to acknowledge a father."
Lu Yuan's casual tone sent a chill down her spine.
Meng Qianqian quickly released his purple sleeve and sat up nonchalantly, giving him a glance. "So the Grand Marshal enjoys intruding into women's chambers?"
"This marshal goes wherever he pleases!"
Morals, shame, and ethical principles—the Grand Marshal had none!
Lu Yuan lazily leaned back in the tiger-skin-covered chair, his long legs crossed and resting on an exquisite footstool.
Such luxurious rosewood furniture was not present in the Hall of Crabapples.
Meng Qianqian glanced at the charcoal brazier beside her, noticing that the silver charcoal had been replaced with the more expensive red charcoal, typically used only by the emperor's favored concubines.
He certainly knew how to indulge himself.
Lu Yuan flipped a page of the storybook in his hand and said with disdain, "Is this the sort of boring thing you women enjoy reading?"
She didn't particularly like storybooks; she had only read it to keep the elderly madam company.
"I apologize for my humble aspirations, Grand Marshal," Meng Qianqian said.
Lu Yuan flipped another page. "Who is Little Nine?"
"I'm the ninth child in my family," Meng Qianqian replied.
"Waaah!"
A fierce, tiny voice emanated from the basket.
Only then did Meng Qianqian notice the little one who seemed to be hungry.
She couldn't be blamed for this; the presence of the Grand Marshal was simply too overwhelming.
Meng Qianqian took the little one out of the basket.
The baby tensed up, and Meng Qianqian, sensing something amiss, quickly lifted the child up.
"Achoo!"
The little one sneezed loudly!
Lu Yuan casually moved the storybook to block his face, a flicker of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
Meng Qianqian blinked innocently.
The little one hung a bubble of snot from her nose, looking utterly bewildered.
Meng Qianqian quickly fed the baby and wiped her nose clean.
The little one's appetite didn't seem affected as she eagerly drank the milk, soon breaking into a sweat and looking much healthier with rosier cheeks.
Meng Qianqian suddenly asked, "May I ask how I should address your beloved?"
Lu Yuan replied indifferently, "Precious Pig."
The little one seemed to understand Lu Yuan's mockery and cried out fiercely, "Waaah!"
The Grand Marshal snorted, "That's the pig you caught yourself."
Others would pick up an abacus, gold and silver, or a writing brush during the Zhou ceremony, but she had crawled into the kitchen and grabbed a roasted suckling pig.
Meng Qianqian thought for a moment and said seriously, "Are you hungry for meat? You're too young to eat meat."
The little one opened her mouth wide, showing off her tiny teeth to Meng Qianqian.
"Even if you've grown teeth, you still can't eat meat," Meng Qianqian said.
The little one whimpered, "Waaah."
Just as Meng Qianqian thought Lu Yuan was too lazy to tell her the baby's real name, he flipped a page of the storybook and said indifferently, "Precious Grace, nicknamed Zhao Zhao."
Precious Grace, now full and content, played with her tiny toes for a while before falling asleep.
Meng Qianqian glanced at Lu Yuan discreetly.
There were only a few pages left in the storybook Lu Yuan was holding. He looked at it and said indifferently, "You've been sneaking glances at this marshal all night. If you have something to say, just say it."
This person was too perceptive, whether it was discovering her in the alley or seeing through her now.
However, she didn't have a better choice. It was like trying to treat a dead horse as a live one.
Meng Qianqian replied in a calm and collected manner, "I wish to propose a deal with the Grand Marshal.
Lu Yuan flipped a page of the storybook and said indifferently, "Don't think that just because you've fed my daughter a few times, you now have the qualifications to make a deal with me."
Meng Qianqian cut straight to the chase, "Northern Liang's spies have entered the capital."
"This marshal is aware."
"But the Embroidered Uniform Guard hasn't been able to track them down, and they certainly won't be able to find them."
"Oh?"
Lu Yuan finally showed a hint of interest, closing the storybook as his captivating phoenix eyes turned towards her.
A smile lurked in his eyes, along with endless killing intent.
Meng Qianqian met his gaze, "Northern Liang's spies are hiding in the Myriad Flowers Tower."
A curve lifted Lu Yuan's lips, "Did Lu Lingxiao tell you that?"
Meng Qianqian replied calmly, "I overheard it by accident. He's not sure, and he doesn't dare to investigate, but I believe the Grand Marshal dares to. After all, there's nowhere in the world the Grand Marshal's Embroidered Uniform Guard can't go."
"Do you know the consequences of deceiving this marshal?"
"I dare not, young miss."
"I haven't even agreed to a deal with you, and you've already informed me. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you and deny any agreement?"
"The Grand Marshal may not be a good person, but he's certainly not petty."
Lu Yuan laughed with profound meaning, "What do you want?"
---
For the next few days, heavy snow fell in the capital, and Meng Qianqian used her recuperation as an excuse to stay in the Hall of Crabapples and go over the accounts.
She no longer indulged the people of the manor. Not only did she stop the old madam's bird's nest soup, but she also reduced several other extravagant expenses.
The old madam was furious and demanded that Meng Qianqian come to be reprimanded, but Meng Qianqian refused to go.
The benefit of the heavy snowfall was that the old madam dared not risk falling and personally come to the Hall of Crabapples to chastise her.
The old madam wanted to get Lu Lingxiao to discipline his wife, but Lu Lingxiao was not around.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard had discovered Northern Liang's spies in the Myriad Flowers Tower in the capital. Three were captured on the spot, while two others escaped.
Lu Lingxiao, who had once infiltrated Northern Liang, was familiar with their disguises and was busy helping the court catch spies, so he hadn't returned home for several days.
The old madam was seething with anger, with nowhere to vent, and her mouth had broken out in blisters.
Finally, when the snow stopped, the old madam's family, the Zhao family, sent someone.
"Miss, the old madam requests your presence."
Ban Xia entered the room and informed her.
Meng Qianqian had just finished reviewing the last of the rotten accounts, marking the errors with vermillion ink.
"Miss, are you going?" Li Mama asked worriedly, "I heard the Zhao family has come. They're probably here to ask for more favors."
The old madam's freeloading off her daughter's in-laws was too much even for Li Mama to bear.
Meng Qianqian closed the account book, "Good timing. It's time to settle some accounts."
After taking so much from her over the years, it was time for them to give it all back!
This time, the Zhao family had sent the old madam's younger sister and her nephew.
As soon as Meng Qianqian reached the door, she heard Old Madam Zhao sobbing and pleading, "...please help Heng Ge... He's your nephew... Save him..."
The Second Madam scoffed, "Who else could he offend but the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? What can we do about it?"
Old Madam Zhao said, "Then... what if Xiao Ge goes and pleads for him?"
The old madam replied, "Xiao Ge... he's not around these days."
Clearly, he wasn't familiar with the Embroidered Uniform Guard and couldn't put in a good word.
Old Madam Zhao cried, "Heng Ge drank too much... He didn't mean to harass that girl... Besides, he didn't know she was the commander's sister... If we can just pay the two thousand taels... this matter will be settled... Otherwise, they'll beat Heng Ge to death..."
The Second Madam's face paled in fear, "Two thousand taels? Where will our Lu family get so much silver?"
Old Madam Zhao said, "Meng'er has money, doesn't she? Just ask her for it!"
Meng Qianqian pulled aside the curtain and entered, "Aunt, even if I had that much silver, I wouldn't use it to fill the holes in your Zhao family's finances, would I?"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
