Chapter 171: Qianqian Takes the Initiative
Chapter 171: Qianqian Takes the Initiative
At the Governor's Mansion.
Baoju and Tan'er had gone to cause trouble for Cen, leaving Lu Yuan with some rare leisure time. He sat in the pavilion, reading a book.
Yuzichuan sat atop the pavilion, fiddling with his large bow.
Lu Yuan turned a page, shifted slightly to the left to avoid a brick, and then reached out to the right, catching a falling tile. With effortless precision, he caught three tiles in succession.
Throughout this entire process, his eyes never left the book as he accurately predicted all of Yuzichuan's actions.
When he finished the last page, Yuzichuan also finished dismantling the pavilion.
Lu Yuan calmly raised his eyebrows and stepped down the stairs.
"Governor."
Qing Shuang appeared in a flash and deflected the falling debris with a palm strike. "Yuzichuan, next time, find a place without people around to do your dismantling."
Yuzichuan, hanging upside down from a branch: "Oh."
Lu Yuan's lips twitched.
Qing Shuang continued: "Governor, today, the one who caused trouble at your wife's shop was Princess Wanping. She tried to force your wife to leave you and offered her ten thousand taels of gold and the position of a county princess. But your wife refused."
Lu Yuan arched an eyebrow and hummed in acknowledgement.
Qing Shuang continued: "Then, your wife proposed a gamble with her as the stake."
Lu Yuan: "..."
In the tea shop, Princess Wanping arrogantly sipped her tea and said: "What do you want to gamble on? Don't tell me it's a fight. I have countless experts under my command, so if you wish to duel, I'll accommodate you."
Meng Qianqian thought, 'What a joke? With Chen Long in her grasp, who could possibly win against her?'
A seasoned gambler would never take a bet they were sure to lose.
Wait, why do I consider myself a seasoned gambler?
Meng Qianqian furrowed her brows in contemplation. 'Where are these random gambler's thoughts coming from?'
Putting aside her stray thoughts, Meng Qianqian smiled gently at Princess Wanping and said: "Princess, you are a person of refined taste. Fighting and brawling would only tarnish your image. It wouldn't be fitting for someone of your status."
Princess Wanping replied leisurely: "Then we can compete in the arts: zither, chess, painting, or calligraphy. Take your pick."
Meng Qianqian sighed wistfully: "Everyone knows that Princess Wanping's talent surpasses mortals. If I were to compete with you in the arts, it would be like seeking my own humiliation. Before the competition even begins, I would have already lost. Princess, you're taking advantage of me. Isn't that bullying?"
Flattery will get you everywhere.
Princess Wanping cleared her throat and adjusted the pearl hairpin on her bun. Even her tone became gentler: "Then, you suggest something yourself. If it's too difficult, feel free to refuse. Let's just forget about this gamble today."
Meng Qianqian smiled: "Princess, rest assured. If it's too easy, it wouldn't be interesting. I've thought carefully about this, and I believe this gamble is the fairest for both of us, with neither of us having an advantage."
It was true that only two Twelve Wards had appeared in the capital so far, and Lin Wan'er only barely counted as half. Lin Wan'er was under Li Guifei, and they were not on good terms with Princess Wanping and her group.
Princess Wanping eyed Meng Qianqian suspiciously: "Isn't this gamble too difficult?"
Meng Qianqian spread her hands: "I've thought carefully about this. I believe this gamble is the most equitable option for both of us."
"What if someone dies...?" Princess Wanping asked.
"Then their token would count," Meng Qianqian replied nonchalantly.
Princess Wanping's eyes glinted, 'So if I get Lin Wan'er on my side, I would win?'
It sounded simple, but it was much harder in practice. The throne, which should have belonged to her brother, was taken by Li Guifei's son. Because of this, she hadn't been on good terms with Li Guifei, and she had caused her quite a bit of trouble.
Meng Qianqian said casually: "If Princess isn't bold enough to take this gamble, then just pretend I never brought it up."
Princess Wanping's voice turned cold: "When did I ever say I wasn't daring enough? I accept your gamble.
A month later, if you dare to renege on this debt, don't blame me for being merciless!"
Meng Qianqian smiled and replied, "Yes."
Princess Wanping left with her entourage, and the officials guarding the tea house's entrance also dispersed.
Liu Changsheng sighed in relief but couldn't shake off a lingering worry. He returned to the private room and asked Meng Qianqian, "Boss, are you really going to gamble with Princess Wanping?"
Meng Qianqian understood the implication in his words: "You think I don't stand a chance?"
Liu Changsheng nodded and admitted, "Yes."
Meng Qianqian hummed in response, "So you've seen through my plan."
Liu Changsheng was taken aback.
He had assumed that his boss would reassure him with a foolproof strategy.
However, it seemed that his boss was genuinely taking a gamble!
Meng Qianqian's odds were slim. Princess Wanping held not only the trump card of Chen Long but also the hidden card of the Prime Minister. In contrast, she had only herself and the elusive Ji Li.
If Ji Li didn't return within a month, her defeat was all but assured.
Even if he came back, Chen Long still had a high probability of winning Ji Li over.
Meng Qianqian said, "I just want to show Lu Yun that just because someone appears invincible, it doesn't mean they can't be defeated. Moreover, sometimes, winning is actually losing, and losing can be winning."
Gambling had never been her objective. Her true intention was to use the Prime Minister's influence to expose more of the Twelve Guards.
Meng Qianqian stroked her chin and said, "So, first of all, we need to push Princess Wanping into a desperate situation. Only then will she seek the Prime Minister's intervention."
Liu Changsheng prided himself on his intelligence, but at this moment, he truly couldn't fathom his boss's plans.
It didn't matter if he understood or not. All he needed to do was believe in his boss, follow her lead, and they would prevail.
Half an hour later, the carriage came to a stop at the entrance of the Governor's mansion.
Wu Ge'er opened the curtain for Meng Qianqian and said, "Miss, we're home."
Meng Qianqian nodded and alighted from the carriage.
Tan'er, who had been waiting at the doorstep, suddenly got up. She rushed towards Meng Qianqian, clutching a sugar-coated hawthorn stick. "Sister, bad news!"
"What is it?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Tan'er replied, "The Duchess found out about your gamble with Princess Wanping, and she's furious that you used him as a wager!"
Meng Qianqian's temples started throbbing. "So soon...? Who told her?"
Tan'er tilted her head and said, "Qing Shuang."
Meng Qianqian pressed her forehead. Qing Shuang, why did you have to tell her everything? Can't we just be good sisters to each other?
Meng Qianqian pondered the entire way here, and now all her carefully crafted words were useless. An angry Lu Yun wouldn't listen to any of her tactics!
Meng Qianqian mumbled, "Should I hide in Fengshui Hutong for a while?"
Tan'er's face turned serious as she said, "No hiding! Mother said that when a man is angry, you have to appease him!"
Meng Qianqian asked, "How do I appease him?"
Tan'er thought for a moment, then described vividly, "Mother said, there's a fragile child living in a man's heart. You just need to appease him the same way you do with Bao Zhu Zhu!"
Meng Qianqian hesitated and asked, "Do I really need to... appease him like Bao Zhu Zhu?"
Tan'er nodded firmly and said, "Yes!"
This was truly difficult for her, but the consequences of an angry Lu Yun were dire...
"...Alright, I'll try."
Meng Qianqian steeled herself and headed towards the study.
Just as Tan'er had described, Lu Yun was seething with anger. As soon as she entered, she felt the palpable killing intent, as if it could materialize at any moment.
"Xiao Jiu pays respect to the Governor."
She respectfully performed a bow.
Lu Yun ignored her, and the killing intent only grew stronger.
Should she really do this? Would Tan'er's tactic actually work?
It was now or never. She braced herself and took the leap.
Meng Qianqian took a deep breath, walked to his side, mustered all her courage, and slowly reached out her hand. She pulled Lu Yun into her embrace and let him sit on her lap. With heartfelt sincerity, she said, "Baby, I was wrong!"
A completely dumbfounded Lu Yun: "...!!!"
Hahahaha, Governor, are you feeling stimulated or surprised?
(End of Chapter)
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