Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

"""

"Braised pork, braised pork!"

Tan'er bounced along the small pathway of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, enjoying the first trickling spring rain.

Meanwhile, she was tailing Meng Qianqian.

This task was something she'd assigned herself.

"This is what they call, misusing public resources for private matters!"

Meng Qianqian walked ahead, listening to Tan'er's seemingly clever conclusion, and couldn't help but smile knowingly.

Suddenly, she came to a halt.

Tan'er let out a startled "Hm?" and stopped as well, glancing warily around and asking, "Which cowardly turtle is hiding here? Still sneaking around? If you don't show yourself, watch out—I might start killing indiscriminately!"

"Little girl, your use of idioms isn't bad."

The Mao Tu, dressed in green and holding a peach blossom umbrella, descended from the sky. Her trailing hem and sleeves spread out in the night rain, resembling a picturesque scene of Jiangnan rain and mist.

Her toes lightly grazed a puddle before landing between Tan'er and Meng Qianqian.

Tan'er tilted her head, examining her: "You are... Mao Tu?"

Lan Yeyue smiled faintly, "You recognize me?"

Tan'er scoffed, "The Rooster said that anyone dressed like a big cabbage could only be you—who else?"

Lan Yeyue's face darkened.

Soon, her smile bloomed again like a flower. Turning to Meng Qianqian, she said, "The new... Phoenix Girl? You seem to have something you want to say to me."

Meng Qianqian spoke calmly: "I want to make a transaction with you."

Lan Yeyue's smile grew even more alluring: "Do you know who I am? And yet you dare propose a deal?"

Meng Qianqian replied: "Lan Yeyue of Medicine King Valley."

Lan Yeyue stared at Meng Qianqian deeply, stepping closer and closer: "You seem to know me well. Then you should understand Medicine King Valley's rules."

Meng Qianqian: "A life for a life."

Lan Yeyue: "That's right."

Meng Qianqian said plainly: "I want Gongsun Wuyou's life."

Lan Yeyue's eyes widened in shock, her hand covering her mouth: "Kill him? Medicine King Valley saves lives; we don't hire assassins."

Tan'er snorted: "If you don't kill for money, then how is 'a life for a life' supposed to work?"

Lan Yeyue glanced over with a laugh: "That's because they voluntarily agree."

Meng Qianqian replied coolly: "Spare the theatrics with me. I'll exchange another person's life for his."

Lan Yeyue chuckled: "He's the Young Master of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, the last heir of the Shang family. Whose life could possibly be worth as much as his?"

Meng Qianqian enunciated each word clearly: "Gongsun Yanming."

"Hahaha... hahahahaha..."

Lan Yeyue laughed as though she'd just heard the funniest joke of her life, bending over in uncontrollable mirth.

Tan'er stomped over to Meng Qianqian's side: "Is she laughing herself into madness, sister?"

Lan Yeyue wiped teary eyes as she gestured: "Little girl, your elder sister isn't crazy."

Tan'er exclaimed in surprise: "She heard that?"

Her voice had been so quiet!

Lan Yeyue smiled lightly: "Don't worry, I have no interest in knowing who you're selling your life for."

Tan'er looked over at Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian nodded slightly.

Lan Yeyue turned to Meng Qianqian with a smile: "Both you and Gongsun Yanming want to offer the other's life to me—whose words should I trust?"

Meng Qianqian said, "You'll find out by watching."

Lan Yeyue glanced at Tan'er and chuckled: "I'm in a good mood today. How about I offer you a convenience? Gongsun Yanming's life is too resilient for you to take—how about trading your little girl instead?"

Meng Qianqian's fingers flicked, sending a silver needle shooting towards Lan Yeyue's neck.

A bead of blood emerged.

Lan Yeyue raised her hand and touched the spot, her fingertips stained red.

Her smile turned cold: "Do you have a death wish?"

Meng Qianqian replied unhurriedly: "This time, it's just a warning. Try for her again, and I'll scar your face, tear your mouth, and gouge out your eyes."

Intense killing intent flickered in Lan Yeyue's eyes.

Meng Qianqian turned and began to leave: "Here's the deal: I'll deliver Gongsun Yanming's life to you, and Wuyou—Medicine King Valley may not touch him."

Tan'er cast a sidelong glance at Lan Yeyue, then chased after Meng Qianqian without looking back.

"Infuriating! Absolutely infuriating!"

Lan Yeyue threw her peach blossom fan to the ground in fury, venting her frustrations.

Once she calmed down, she gazed at Meng Qianqian's retreating silhouette, a cold smile of obscure meaning forming at her lips: "You truly haven't changed a bit."

-

Tan'er stayed "on watch" with Meng Qianqian until dawn, mooching food, drink, and sleep in Meng Qianqian's room.

Meng Qianqian opened a ledger and marked half a circle around Gongsun Yanming's name with cinnabar.

Tan'er seemed to be having a pleasant dream, sprawled on the bed with drool trickling.

Meng Qianqian pulled up a blanket to cover her, then quietly left for the dungeon.

Lady Yan was imprisoned in a damp, dark cell, bearing the marks of relentless torture.

She sat against the wall, her cracked lips bleeding.

Footsteps echoed from the corridor, followed by the sound of her cell door opening.

She did not even lift her eyelids.

Until a bottle was thrown onto her lap, making her look up—Meng Qianqian stood before her.

Startled, she rasped out: "You? How did you get in?"

Then she picked up the porcelain bottle in her arms, sniffing it before smiling: "Medicine for wounds; how thoughtful."

Meng Qianqian looked down at her coldly: "I just don't want you dying too quickly. That would be too easy. I want you to personally witness how I destroy Gongsun Yanming—how I shatter everything you schemed to seize."

Unexpectedly, Lady Yan did not offer her usual warnings against opposing the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, nor did she implore her to spare herself.

Instead, she sneered: "Fine, then. I'll wait and see."

Meng Qianqian crouched down, taking out a clean handkerchief.

Lady Yan asked: "What are you doing?"

With a faint smile, Meng Qianqian used the handkerchief to wipe off some blood on her cheek: "Sneaking into the dungeon in the dead of night to deliver medicine to my master... I must leave behind some evidence."

She dropped the embroidered handkerchief bearing her name onto the cell floor, "This way, the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion will think my cold cruelty toward my master is merely a facade—and they'll believe they've truly found my weakness."

Lady Yan smirked mockingly: "You'll pick up quite a few tricks with him."

Meng Qianqian stood up: "Thanks to all of you—without this, I wouldn't have had the chance to learn."

She left the cell.

"Take care, Master."

-

After returning to his residence, Prince Jin summoned a slew of Imperial Physicians to his courtyard, ordering each to take his pulse individually.

One after another, they diagnosed him with excessive heart fire, liver agitation, and blocked kidney chi.

In simpler terms, they concluded he was angry and startled.

The anger, they could understand—it was a day of pomp and glory for the Imperial Grandson, further distancing Prince Jin from the Crown Prince position.

But startled... by what, exactly?

The physicians exchanged uneasy looks, keeping their thoughts unspoken.

Prince Jin found it hard to articulate: "Do I have... do I have... Forget it, all of you may leave. I'm just weary from arranging Qi'er's wedding."

The Imperial Physicians nodded and agreed repeatedly.

"""