https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-33-Even-the-Grand-Commander-Has-His-Day-of-Reckoning/12582405/
Chapter 32: Encountering the Grand Commandant Again
Chapter 32: Encountering the Grand Commandant Again
In recent days, the Hall of Crabapple had been unusually peaceful.
Lu Lingxiao and Lin Wan'er were both recuperating, one from injuries and the other from pregnancy, and neither had come to bother Meng Qianqian recently. Elder Madam, after suffering a setback, had also been "confined to her quarters" in the courtyard.
"Who knows what new mischief she's plotting in there?" Xia Banxia muttered.
"Yeah, yeah!" Tan'er chimed in between mouthfuls of fried fruit.
"Who asked you anyway?"
"I want what I want!"
Aunt Li sighed helplessly.
Dealing with one outspoken Banxia was troublesome enough, but now with Tan'er joining in, the two girls were an unstoppable force of chatter.
Meng Qianqian closed the storybook after finishing the last page and said, "Auntie, I'll be going out for a while."
Aunt Li asked worriedly, "It hasn't been long since your last trip outside the residence. Won't it be too frequent?"
"It doesn't matter," Meng Qianqian replied.
She didn't care how the Lu family perceived her.
Unless the Lu family openly restricted her movements, what reason could they give? She hadn't done anything wrong. Over the years, she had diligently served her elders in the residence and even emptied her dowry for the in-laws. Who could fault her?
"Sister, I want to go too!" Tan'er said.
"Miss always takes me with her when she goes out!" Banxia protested.
Tan'er folded her arms across her chest. "I don't care, I'm going!"
Aunt Li said to Meng Qianqian, "Miss, please take Tan'er along."
Banxia became anxious. "Auntie! How long have you known her? Why are you taking her side already?"
Meng Qianqian smiled. "Auntie isn't taking Tan'er's side. She's just concerned that I might encounter danger again."
At the mention of this, Banxia recalled the incident with the Northern Liang agent and immediately fell silent.
Attending to her mistress was important, but her safety was even more crucial.
Meng Qianqian brought Tan'er along as they left the residence.
The coachman was still Wu Ge.
Wu Ge drove them directly to the pawnshop near Sifang Pavilion.
Meng Qianqian asked, "How did you know I wanted to come here?"
Wu Ge scratched his head. "Miss, you have an appointment with the pawnshop owner every three days, and today is the day."
Wu Ge was indeed bold and attentive to details.
Business at the pawnshop was still lackluster, and the owner, Pawnbroker Mama, was almost dozing off in her chair. It was Tan'er who startled her awake.
At first glance, Pawnbroker Mama didn't recognize Tan'er, but when she spoke up, the woman was so shocked that she stood up from her chair. "Is it you?"
Tan'er lifted her chin proudly. "Yup, it's me! Sister, sit down."
What had happened in the past three days? Was this still the same wild girl who was dirty and unruly? She was now clean and well-behaved, like a completely different person!
Pawnbroker Mama leaned closer to Meng Qianqian and whispered, "Is she like this at the Marquis' residence too?"
Meng Qianqian nodded.
Pawnbroker Mama was astounded. So, what was all that chaos of chicken flying and dogs jumping about in the pawnshop all about?
"She... she didn't bite anyone, did she?"
"No."
"Or hit anyone?"
"She beat up over a dozen servants and guards."
Pawnbroker Mama heaved a sigh of relief. She knew it! It was hard to change one's nature. How could this girl have turned over a new leaf?
The pawnbroker immediately took a step back, creating some distance from Meng Qianqian. "We had an agreement, remember? Once you buy her, she's your responsibility. No returns, no matter what!"
Meng Qianqian smiled. "I came today to ask if there's been any news regarding the matter I entrusted to you last time."
The title of "madam" delighted Pawnbroker Mama. In their line of work, they dealt with many nobles, but how many of them ever treated them with such respect?
Whether it was sincere or not, it warmed her heart.
Pawnbroker Mama quickly ordered someone to brew a pot of the most expensive Dahongpao tea and said politely, "My lady, you humble me. I don't deserve to be addressed as 'madam.' My lady, rest assured that I take your requests to heart. I've asked many accountants to look into it, and their calculations are all here. Please have a look."
Meng Qianqian took the ledger that Pawnbroker Mama handed over and looked through it page by page. "None of these are correct."
Pawnbroker Mama was shocked once more. "With so many people... not a single one got it right?"
Meng Qianqian hummed in agreement, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the table as she murmured, "So it's not that easy after all?"
Pawnbroker Mama looked at Meng Qianqian anxiously. "My lady..."
Meng Qianqian placed a yuanbao on the table. "Please continue to help me search. I will come back in three days."
Pawnbroker Mama beamed. "Of course! Of course!"
After Meng Qianqian and Tan'er left, Pawnbroker Mama stared at the ledger on the table, her brows furrowed. "What's so difficult about these accounts?"
"Pardon the interruption."
A weak and deep male voice sounded from the entrance of the pawnshop.
Pawnbroker Mama looked up and saw a young man leaning on a cane.
With her years of experience in the brothel, she had a habit of judging people by their looks, and this young man was indeed handsome. It was a pity that he was lame.
Pawnbroker Mama continued to look at the ledger. "Ten Niang, give him a few copper coins."
"Aye!"
A girl called Ten Niang acknowledged and brought out some copper coins, but the young man refused them.
He asked calmly, "I heard that you're looking for someone who can calculate accounts. May I give it a try?"
After leaving the pawnshop, Meng Qianqian went to the bookstore and bought a few storybooks for the Eldest Madam.
Tan'er tugged on Meng Qianqian's sleeve. "Sister, I want to buy some candied hawthorn!"
Meng Qianqian paid the bill and stepped out. "Wu Ge, where can we buy candied hawthorn?"
Before Wu Ge could answer, Tan'er pointed excitedly. "Over there! I can hear it!"
"Alright."
Meng Qianqian nodded and instructed Wu Ge, "Wait here for us."
They had to pass through a narrow alley, which was too narrow for the carriage.
Moreover, from the hawker's cries, it didn't seem too far away.
Wu Ge watched as the two figures walked away, scratching his head in confusion. "Is there someone selling candied hawthorn? I didn't hear anything!"
Half a shichen (a unit of time) later, Tan'er was happily skipping along with a stick of candied hawthorn in each hand.
Suddenly, a dangerous aura flashed above their heads, indicating that there were people running on the rooftops, and not just one!
A piece of broken tile was about to fall on Meng Qianqian, but Tan'er kicked it with all her might, shattering it into pieces!
"Watch where you're going, idiot!"
Tan'er was angry. She pointed her toe and leaped onto the roof. With a flick of her finger, she sent the candied hawthorn in her right hand flying through the air. The nine hawthorns detached like beads from an abacus and shot toward the three figures in front of her.
The three were hit in their vital points and fell immediately.
Tan'er jumped down. "Hmph!"
Meng Qianqian's expression changed, and she took two steps back before turning into a small alley beside them.
At the end of the alley, there was an old cart, and in the corner blocked by the cart, a purple figure leaned against the wall. He had a short dagger embedded in his chest, and thick blood stained his clothes.
Tan'er, still holding the candied hawthorn, asked, "Sister, he's injured and seems to be poisoned too. Should we kill him?"
Meng Qianqian replied indifferently, "We can't afford to."
Lu Yuan smiled weakly.
Despite his extreme weakness and lack of color, which suggested that he could die at any moment, the powerful aura he exuded remained dangerously compelling.
Tan'er tilted her head. "Save him?"
Meng Qianqian looked calmly at Lu Yuan. "An adult once said that whether a young lady lives or dies is none of his concern. Whether he lives or dies is probably none of that young lady's concern as well."
Tan'er didn't understand. "Then should we just..."
Meng Qianqian: "No."
Tan'er turned around excitedly. "Let's go home! Let's go home! It's time for dinner!"
(End of Chapter)
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