https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-96-Meng-Qianqian-is-the-Grand-Viceroy-s-Woman/12582521/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-98-Her-Cruelty-Shakes-the-Lu-Family-to-the-Core/12582523/
Chapter 97: Enemies from Past Lives
Chapter 97: Enemies from Past Lives
On a moonless, windy night, Shangguan Ling had just finished his mission and was about to enter the governor's mansion when a small figure suddenly darted out from the alley.
"Playing with your knife again!"
Shangguan Ling's hand paused as he drew his sword, abruptly retracting his internal energy to avoid injuring himself.
He turned around, looking at the clumsy little girl with a frown, and asked, "Why is it you again? Can't you stop sneaking around? No one is stopping you from entering the governor's mansion!"
Tan'er hugged herself and tossed her head. "Who wants to go to the governor's mansion anyway?"
"Then what are you doing here so late at night?" Shangguan Ling inquired.
"Looking for you!" Tan'er replied.
"Me?" Shangguan Ling pointed at himself. "Did Meng Qianqian ask you to come?"
Tan'er was blunt. "My sister is asleep. I sneaked out!"
Shangguan Ling took a sharp breath. "You little rascal."
Tan'er put her hands on her hips. "Tell me, do the Grand Governor and the Consort Li really have an affair?"
Shangguan Ling knitted his brows. "What kind of talk is that for a child? Stop spouting nonsense."
Tan'er stamped her foot. "Answer me! What's their relationship?"
Shangguan Ling hesitated, then waved his hand dismissively. "It's not what you think."
Tan'er moved closer to him, staring straight into his eyes. "Then what is it?"
Shangguan Ling pushed away the little girl's forehead, which was almost touching his. "Why are you so curious?"
Tan'er huffed. "That's none of your business."
Shangguan Ling looked at her intently. "Are you asking out of your own curiosity, or did Meng Qianqian put you up to this?"
"I already said I sneaked out! If you don't answer, I'll go ask the Grand Governor myself!" Tan'er declared as she marched towards the governor's mansion.
"Are you asking for death?" Shangguan Ling grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back. Looking at this fearless little girl, he sighed. "The relationship between the Grand Governor and Consort Li is not what the rumors say. Do you understand?"
On their way back, Tan'er walked alongside Shangguan Ling, pointing at him and still puzzled. "They have a relationship, but it's not like he's her subject. What kind of relationship is it then?"
Suddenly, Tan'er's ears twitched. "Someone's here! Sister!"
She dashed into Fengshui Alley.
Inside the house, a man in black drew back the curtain with his longsword and held it against someone's neck.
However, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine and quickly sidestepped. Several silver needles embedded themselves into the bed.
He then realized that there was no one on the bed, only a pile of pillows arranged to look like a person.
He had been tricked! His opponent must have known he would come tonight!
Meng Qianqian emerged from the darkness, her gaze sharp as she looked at him. "The poison is taking effect, isn't it? It doesn't feel good."
This man was the one who had secretly met with Consort Li at the palace banquet and tried to kill her.
The reason she found his voice familiar was that he was one of the executioners who had cruelly murdered her entire family.
It was a hatred she could never forget, even if she forgot who she was.
The man in black tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes piercing as he stared at Meng Qianqian.
"Using your internal energy will only make the poison spread faster," Meng Qianqian said calmly. "You might only have tonight left instead of the three days you could have had."
The man in black spoke coldly. "Hand over the antidote, and I'll spare your life."
Meng Qianqian let out a cold laugh. "After I caught you with Consort Li, you'd spare me? Who are you trying to fool?"
The man's eyes narrowed.
Meng Qianqian continued nonchalantly, "Unless, of course, you give me something in return. For example, tell me who you are."
The man in black pointed his sword at Meng Qianqian. "I can get the antidote by capturing you."
Meng Qianqian fearlessly replied, "Go ahead and try."
The man in black swung his sword at Meng Qianqian. She drew her embroidered spring blade, and the sword sparks flew as the blades clashed, sending vibrations through the hilt and into her arm, causing it to go numb. She was fortunate that he had been poisoned and his skill was greatly reduced; otherwise, her arm would have been useless.
"Sister, I'm here!" Tan'er kicked open the door and threw a punch at the man in black. Caught off guard by the fight between Meng Qianqian and him, he staggered, and with a crack, his scapula broke.
The man in black slashed at Tan'er's wrist with his sword.
Meng Qianqian blocked the attack with her knife and pulled Tan'er behind her.
The man in black took the opportunity to break through the window and escape.
"Trying to run? Not a chance!"
Tan'er gave chase.
Meng Qianqian glanced in the direction where the man had disappeared into the night and predicted his escape route. She leaped onto the roof and took a shortcut, heading southeast.
The three of them raced across the rooftops in the night.
The man in black was in the middle, with Meng Qianqian and Tan'er on either side.
"Show yourself and fight me if you dare!" Tan'er challenged.
The man in black threw several darts at Tan'er, who supported herself with one hand on the ground and performed a backflip to dodge them.
When she looked up again, the man in black had already put some distance between them.
"Why are you so fast?" Tan'er shouted at him. "My mother always says that men who are too fast are no good!"
The man in black stumbled, his breath catching in his throat, almost falling!
This was her chance!
Meng Qianqian leaped into the air and swung her knife at the man in black's arm. However, he suddenly sped up, and her knife slashed through the roof tiles instead.
The man in black threw his sword at her, forcing her to block and retreat a few steps. Nevertheless, she relentlessly pursued him.
She had to know who had destroyed her entire family!
The poison in the man in black's body was spreading rapidly, and he could no longer force his internal energy. If he didn't get the antidote soon, he would surely die.
He looked around and abruptly changed direction, running towards the bustling street.
"He's heading towards Wan Hua Lou... It's crowded there, and he'll be able to hide among the masses."
Meng Qianqian's brows furrowed as she called out to Tan'er, who was chasing after them from a distance, "Tan'er! Don't let him enter Wan Hua Lou!"
"Yes, my lady!"
Tan'er was closer to Wan Hua Lou, and she skidded to a halt, her feet almost sparking against the rubble. She then leaped onto the roof of Wan Hua Lou, glaring defiantly at the black-clad man.
Realizing the situation was unfavorable, the black-clad man abandoned his plan to enter the establishment.
The two of them continued their chase through the night, gradually leaving the bustling streets behind and entering a neighborhood inhabited by wealthy and influential families.
The night grew deeper, and the street fell into a quiet stillness.
As Meng Qianqian pursued the man, her surroundings became increasingly familiar. Wasn't this the street where the Lu family resided?
She hoped that the man wouldn't enter the Lu family's residence.
As if her fears had materialized, the black-clad man scaled the wall and entered the Lu family's compound.
Meng Qianqian had no choice but to follow suit.
Unbeknownst to them, an elderly maid happened to stumble upon the black-clad man and let out a startled scream, "Ah—There's a thief! Catch the thief!"
Her cry startled the Lu family's guards, and soon, several maids and servants who had been sleeping lightly in the inner quarters were awakened. The brave ones among them threw on some clothes and came out to join the pursuit.
Although the black-clad man was severely poisoned, dealing with a handful of elderly maids and guards was well within his capabilities.
The person he truly feared was Meng Qianqian.
"Qianqian! Have you come to visit me?"
The elderly madam emerged from the courtyard, excitement evident on her face.
Meng Qianqian's expression changed as the black-clad man made a swift decision. He rushed forward and took the elderly madam hostage, using her as a shield and holding a dagger to her throat.
"Don't come any closer, or I'll kill her!"
His threat was directed at Meng Qianqian.
The maids and guards exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.
Meng Qianqian leaped down from the high roof, landing gracefully in front of them.
The onlookers were more surprised to see her than the thief.
Could their eyes be deceiving them? Had the young mistress just jumped down from such a great height without any apparent effort?
The elderly madam's eyes sparkled with delight as she exclaimed, "Qianqian!"
The black-clad man barked, "Don't move!"
The elderly madam frowned, her expression filled with resentment.
Meng Qianqian turned to face the black-clad man, her voice calm and steady. "This is between you and me. Let her go, and I'll give you the antidote."
The dagger pressed closer to the elderly madam's throat, and the man said, "Give me the antidote first! No tricks! If the poison is not neutralized after I take it, I'll kill her immediately!"
Meng Qianqian reached into her sleeve and produced a small bottle, tossing it to the black-clad man.
He opened the bottle and asked, "How much should I take?"
"One pill should be enough. If you're still doubtful, you may take two," Meng Qianqian replied.
The man poured out a pill and threw it at Meng Qianqian. "You take it first!"
"I'm not the one who's poisoned," she said nonchalantly.
"Take it, or I'll kill her!" the man threatened.
Meng Qianqian picked up the pill from the ground and swallowed it in front of everyone. "Are you satisfied now?"
The black-clad man's voice turned cold. "Wait a little longer."
The young girl was cunning, and he wouldn't let his guard down again after being tricked once.
The elderly madam pouted, her expression sour. "You're annoying."
"Shut up, or I'll cut out your tongue!" the man snapped.
The elderly madam quickly covered her mouth, her eyes filled with fear.
Meng Qianqian's gaze at the black-clad man turned icy, a hint of killing intent flashing in her eyes.
Just then, Lu Xingzhou, Lu Er Ye, and the second madam arrived, having heard that the elderly madam had been taken hostage. They were surprised to see Meng Qianqian there.
"Qianqian?" Lu Er Ye exclaimed in astonishment.
It appeared that the black-clad man was confronting Meng Qianqian.
Lu Xingzhou's eyes darkened.
The second madam cried out, "What are you doing here? Are you the one who brought the thief here? Your grandmother was right; you're nothing but a jinx! Even after leaving the Lu family, you still can't let us live in peace. Poor grandmother—"
"You're the jinx!" The elderly madam shouted back, her voice filled with anger. She quickly covered her mouth again, afraid that the black-clad man would make good on his threat to cut out her tongue.
Lu Xingzhou addressed the black-clad man, "There's no need to involve the elderly madam in your grudge. Let her go, and the Lu family will not interfere in your affairs."
The black-clad man let out a cold laugh. "I don't trust you!"
After waiting for so long, he had seen that Meng Qianqian was unharmed, so he confidently swallowed the antidote.
Meng Qianqian wouldn't gamble with the elderly madam's life. The antidote she had given him was indeed genuine.
It wouldn't be long before the poison in his body was neutralized.
Meng Qianqian held a silver needle in her hand.
"Little girl, do you want to try the same trick again?"
The black-clad man decisively pulled the elderly madam to his right, using her as a complete shield.
He could feel the antidote taking effect, and if the old lady continued to block him for a little while longer, his cultivation would be fully restored.
However, at that moment, an unexpected turn of events occurred!
The elderly madam reached back and grabbed the man's wrist, her movement swift and unexpected. "Monkey, stealing a peach! Ahoy!"
The black-clad man's pain was so intense that it felt like his skull was about to split open.
A maid dropped a raw egg, and it shattered on the ground with a loud crack.
Meng Qianqian moved swiftly, breaking the man's wrist and pulling the elderly madam behind her. With a swift shoulder throw, she slammed him onto the ground.
She kicked his chest to keep him down and grabbed his longsword with her free hand, her eyes cold and fierce like a vengeful spirit from hell. "Who are you?"
A short and sweet chapter, packed with action and intrigue!
(End of Chapter)
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