Chapter 378: The Grand Marshal Who Pacifies Babies

Chapter 378: The Grand Marshal Who Pacifies Babies

It turned out that Yan Niangzi was an Elder of the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion, something Meng Qianqian had never expected.

For the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion to send their Elder as a spy to Chancellor Xun's side was truly a bold move.

But upon further thought, if not for Yan Niangzi's special identity, Chancellor Xun wouldn't have trusted her so readily.

"Elder Yan, are you here to rescue us and take us back to the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion?" Shang Wuyou asked.

Yan Niangzi had already calmed the shock in her heart and replied calmly, "Young Pavilion Master, I came to the Duke's Mansion at the invitation of Lady Lu."

After saying this, she turned to look at Meng Qianqian, "I wonder what Lady Lu wanted to see me for?"

Shang Wuyou furrowed her brows, "You know each other?"

Meng Qianqian stared straight at Yan Niangzi, "We're just acquaintances, not close."

Shang Wuyou couldn't understand what they were hinting at, because no matter how she looked at it, they didn't seem like mere acquaintances.

Moreover, Elder Yan was known in the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion for her independent nature, and even her fellow disciples couldn't always persuade her.

Meng Qianqian pointed at Shang Changle on the bed, "Changle is sick. Wuyou doesn't believe me, so I had to ask you, an Elder of the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion, to treat her."

Yan Niangzi walked to the bed, looking at Shang Wuyou who was blocking her, "Young Pavilion Master, please move aside. I need to take Changle's pulse."

Shang Wuyou asked cautiously, "What's your relationship with the Duke's Mansion?"

Yan Niangzi replied calmly, "Saving lives is the priority. Some things can't be explained in a few words. It's better to wait until I finish treating Miss Changle, and then I'll answer the Young Pavilion Master's questions slowly."

Shang Wuyou glanced at Yan Niangzi and then at her sister, whose breath was becoming weaker. After hesitating several times, she finally stepped aside.

Meng Qianqian didn't share her diagnosis with Yan Niangzi.

Yan Niangzi also started by taking Changle's pulse, then examining her pupils and tongue coating.

This wasn't surprising, as other doctors would likely follow the same procedure. However, Shang Wuyou keenly noticed some small details that were strikingly similar between the two.

For example, when taking the pulse, they would lightly press three times to find the pulse, and they would use a silver spoon to press on the tongue coating.

In the end, even the way they tucked the blanket was identical.

It was as if they had the same teacher.

Meng Qianqian asked Banxia to step out, leaving only the four of them in the room.

Shang Wuyou looked at Meng Qianqian warily and asked Yan Niangzi, "Elder Yan, how is my sister?"

Just as Yan Niangzi was about to speak, the Majestic King entered the room.

He sensed the unusual atmosphere and, with a quick glance, asked Meng Qianqian, "Daughter-in-law, is this an inconvenient time?"

Meng Qianqian looked at Yan Niangzi.

Yan Niangzi replied, "I have no objections."

Shang Wuyou said, "I..."

"You have nothing!"

The Majestic King strode to Meng Qianqian's side, hands on his hips, and glared at Shang Wuyou with an air of defiance, as if daring her to be disrespectful to his daughter-in-law again.

Shang Wuyou turned her face away with a hint of resentment.

Seeing Wuyou's reaction, Yan Niangzi was somewhat surprised.

She had watched the siblings grow up and was very familiar with the older brother's temperament. He was more stubborn and arrogant than his sister, a child who would rather die than yield. It was rare for anyone to make him obedient.

"Yan Niangzi, what's wrong with Changle?" the Majestic King asked.

Yan Niangzi sighed, "Her condition is a bit complicated."

"Then take your time explaining."

The Majestic King pulled two chairs, one for himself and one for his daughter-in-law, leaving the other two to sit as they pleased.

Yan Niangzi also found a stool to sit on.

Shang Wuyou almost suspected they were all from the same family.

Yan Niangzi said to Meng Qianqian, "You just used the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles to reduce her fever, right?"

Meng Qianqian nodded.

Shang Wuyou's brows furrowed, "Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles? That's a lost acupuncture technique of the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion. Even Elder Yan has only mastered half of it... Where did you learn it from?"

Meng Qianqian replied nonchalantly, "Guess."

Shang Wuyou: "..."

Yan Niangzi noticed Shang Wuyou's rejection of Meng Qianqian. She paused, then decided to ask Meng Qianqian first, "Was it you who had them brought back from the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion?"

She used the word 'brought back' instead of 'kidnapped'.

Shang Wuyou's brows furrowed even more.

Meng Qianqian admitted frankly, "Yes."

Yan Niangzi said coldly, "I underestimated you. I told you to be wary of the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion, but you went to them and put yourself in danger. You even took away their Young Pavilion Master and Miss. Are you afraid they won't find out about you?"

Meng Qianqian said calmly, "I said I would go to them, and I will."

Shang Wuyou was confused. This woman named Meng Qianqian seemed to have a grudge against the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion, but Elder Yan didn't side with them.

He stared coldly at Meng Qianqian, "Who exactly are you?"

Meng Qianqian met his fierce gaze, "Before I answer your question, I want to know how the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion framed General Shang's adopted son, Shang Xu, and Madam Shang in front of you and your siblings."

Shang Wuyou furrowed his brows, "You mean those two traitors?"

Meng Qianqian was puzzled, "Traitors?"

Shang Wuyou scoffed, "Shang Xu's true identity is the Crown Prince of Loulan. He was sent to the General's Mansion as a hostage, and General Shang raised him as his own son. In the end, he colluded with the King of Loulan, destroying the Shang family. If he's not a traitor, then what is he?"

Meng Qianqian let out an 'oh', "What about General Shang's wife?"

Shang Wuyou, enraged, said, "She's a disciple of the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion. In terms of seniority, I should call her Senior Aunt. The Elder Pavilion Master treated her like a mountain of gratitude, even considering passing on the position of successor to her. She broke off her engagement with my father and betrayed the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion for a man. In the end, to obtain the complete Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles, she mercilessly killed the Elder Pavilion Master. Such a heartless and ungrateful disciple, if not a traitor, then what is she?"

Meng Qianqian nodded, "So, Gongsun Yanming told you this."

Shang Wuyou asked, "Is Celestial Dragon Shang Xu?"

"Yes."

He could tell that Meng Qianqian wasn't surprised.

If his second uncle were still alive, he would have sensed the clues from these details.

Shang Wuyou spoke with gravity, "Now you understand why I can't trust you. You're colluding with the Shang family's traitor, how can I believe you?"

Yan Niangzi shook her head, "Young Pavilion Master, Shang Xu didn't betray General Shang. When the King of Loulan sought revenge on the Shang family, he intended to kill Shang Xu as well. He was also a victim."

Shang Wuyou asked, "Then why is he the only one who survived?"

Yan Niangzi spoke with heavyheartedness, "If surviving means being a traitor, then your mother also survived. Does that make her a traitor too?"

Shang Wuyou clenched his fist, "My mother is the wife of the Pavilion Master!"

Yan Niangzi retorted sternly, "Your mother is the Second Madam Shang!"

Shang Wuyou pointed at Meng Qianqian and scolded, "Elder Yan, have you been bought by her? Are you also going to betray the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion?"

Meng Qianqian calmly took a sip of tea.

Seeing her unflappable demeanor, Yan Niangzi felt a hint of General Shang's old style in her.

She asked Shang Wuyou, "If you and Changle are truly the Pavilion Master's own flesh and blood, why would he drug Changle?"

Shang Wuyou was taken aback, "Drugged?"

Yan Niangzi mocked, "You don't even know the methods the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion uses to control its disciples, and you think you're a stable Young Pavilion Master? Let me ask you, doesn't your sister have to take a Comprehensive Vitality Pill every month? Sometimes, when it's severe, she has to take several pills in a month?"

Shang Wuyou opened his mouth, "This isn't a secret. My sister and I are dragon and phoenix twins. She was very weak when she was born, and her illness was from the womb. The Comprehensive Vitality Pill was a formula my father obtained from Medicine King Valley. If not for this formula, my sister would have died long ago."

Yan Niangzi said, "Medicine King Valley exchanges one life for another. Whose life do you think was exchanged for your sister's formula?"

Meng Qianqian's eyebrows knitted together.

The Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion had exchanged Wuyou's life for Changle's!

She asked, "What will Wuyou do?"

Yan Niangzi replied, "Whether he lives or dies depends on his fate. Medicine King Valley doesn't kill people immediately but uses them as medicinal people. Otherwise, how do you think they create all those bizarre medicines? Being a medicinal person is worse than death."

As she spoke, she looked at Shang Wuyou, "If the Pavilion Master really went to Medicine King Valley to seek medicine for your sister, then you should worry about yourself. You might become a medicinal person for Medicine King Valley in the near future."

"Moreover, your sister's illness wasn't from the womb. It was caused by the Pavilion Master's drugging. She was too young to withstand the medicinal properties and almost died."

Shang Wuyou clenched his teeth, "Why am I not affected?"

Yan Niangzi sighed, "You're far more important than your sister. Your sister was used to test the medicine, and she almost died. How dare they give it to you? What if you died too? Looking at it this way, the Pavilion Master going to Medicine King Valley for your sister's medicine is probably true. As long as they control your sister, they can manipulate you completely, and there's no need to waste another pill."

"You're lying!"

Shang Wuyou couldn't accept it!

He glared at Meng Qianqian, "What did she give you to buy off a dignified Elder of the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion?"

Yan Niangzi shook her head again, "I have no relation to her, so there's no need for me to lie for her. However, your mother, the Second Madam Shang, once showed me kindness. Today, I'm taking the risk of betraying the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion to tell you the truth, returning the favor she once did for me."

Wuyou Shang slumped into a chair.

The Majestic King suddenly felt a bit of pity for the young man, deciding to go easier on him next time.

Just a little, no more.

Meng Qianqian spoke softly, "Grandfather, Yan Niangzi, let's leave and give him some time alone."

"Sigh."

The Majestic King stood up and patted Wuyou Shang's shoulder, "Alright, I won't hit you for three days."

Meng Qianqian escorted Yan Niangzi out of the mansion.

She knew that Yan Niangzi wasn't telling the whole truth, especially the part about Second Aunt being indebted to her, which was definitely not true.

Yan Niangzi walked calmly through the snow, saying indifferently, "I do owe someone a favor, but it's not Second Aunt; it's my senior sister, who is also the first wife of the Shang family."

Meng Qianqian was puzzled, "Are you my mother's junior sister?"

Yan Niangzi gave a cold laugh, "Do you really think you're Shang Jiu? You're so immersed in this act that you might not be able to break free even after the show is over."

Meng Qianqian replied, "This is my business."

There was no need to argue about certain things. Whether she believed she was Shang Jiu or not, the fact was that Yan Niangzi had helped her today.

Meng Qianqian added, "Thank you."

Yan Niangzi said, "They are my senior sister's blood relatives. I'm not helping you."

Meng Qianqian brushed away a snowflake from her shoulder, "I'm talking about the time you infiltrated the Thousand Petals Tower to save my younger sister."

Yan Niangzi remained silent.

The two walked a little further.

Meng Qianqian spoke up, "Since the first wife of the Shang family has a favor to repay you, why did you participate in their family's extermination?"

Yan Niangzi still didn't answer.

Meng Qianqian said lightly, "It's fine if you don't want to tell me."

Yan Niangzi spoke coldly, "You keep saying you're Shang Jiu, but when you see the person who wiped out your family standing before you, why don't you take action?"

Meng Qianqian asked, "You guess?"

"Hmph."

Yan Niangzi was not interested in playing such childish games with her.

She understood that Meng Qianqian wanted her to answer first.

Unfortunately, this answer was something she wanted to keep buried forever.

Just before getting into the carriage, Yan Niangzi gave Meng Qianqian a bottle of medicine, "The medicine the Pavilion Master obtained from Medicine King Valley was only to prolong her life. Once her life is prolonged, she doesn't need to take it anymore. The comprehensive vitality pill she takes every month is actually the Linglong Pill from Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion. She has a weak constitution, and if not cared for meticulously, she's more prone to attacks than ordinary people. I only have three Linglong Pills left, which can at most prolong her life for three months. You either return her to Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion within three months, or completely remove the poison Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion gave her within that time."

Lu Yuan returned from court.

Meng Qianqian told him about Chang Le's illness and Yan Niangzi's visit, including the part about her being Shang Jiu, and even mentioned that Yan Niangzi and the first wife of the Shang family were senior sisters.

"The most urgent matters are Chang Le's illness and Wuyou's life. If Gongsun Yanming really went to Medicine King Valley to obtain medicine for Chang Le, then he must have exchanged it for Wuyou's life. It's unknown when Medicine King Valley will come to collect the debt from Wuyou. Gongsun Yanming is truly despicable!"

Lu Yuan pondered, "Since Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion wants to use Wuyou Shang, his life should be safe until he loses his value. Let's treat Chang Le's illness first."

Meng Qianqian said, "Chang Le was poisoned with a slow-acting toxin, but I searched through Yintin's medical notes and couldn't find this poison. I tried Yintin's universal antidote, but it didn't work. If even Yintin can't solve this poison, no one in the capital can."

In fact, not just the capital, probably no physician in the entire Central Plains could solve it.

Lu Yuan said, "There might be someone who can save Chang Le."

Meng Qianqian asked eagerly, "Who?"

Lu Yuan said calmly, "My maternal grandmother controls the untransmitted secret techniques of Wushan. If Yintin can't solve the poison, she might be able to. It's just that—"

Meng Qianqian grabbed his arm, "What is it?"

Lu Yuan glanced at her hand tightly gripping his arm and said solemnly, "Wushan has a rule: they cannot treat outsiders."

Meng Qianqian asked doubtfully, "Didn't Great-Aunt treat Yao Sheng back then?"

Lu Yuan sighed, "It was because of her that Wushan established this rule."

Meng Qianqian's eyes dimmed, "Is there really no way?"

The feeling of having hope and then losing it again was so painful.

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, "There is a way, but—"

Meng Qianqian urged, "Tell me quickly!"

Lu Yuan's gaze swept over her soft belly, "If you have her great-grandchild in your womb, she might be so pleased that she abolishes the rule."

Meng Qianqian: "..."

A 4000-word chapter!

Today I'm asking for a baby vote~

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end