Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Chapter 778: Chapter 642: Battle of Wits and Courage

As soon as the words were spoken, Old Master Meng was stunned.

Meng Bo, who was eavesdropping outside, turned his head and saw four heads lined up behind him, giving him a huge scare!

"Oh my God!"

He clutched his chest, looking at the four people with a pale face.

Being spooked by people is scarier than ghosts at night! When did these people sneak up behind him?

Ji Li pointed inside: "Go ahead and watch, don’t worry about us, we’re just hanging around."

Meng Bo: "..."

In order to better enjoy someone’s embarrassment, Yu Zichuan did not hesitate to move his noble butt from the rooftop to the porch.

Apart from him, there were also Shangguan Ling, who was having a blast, and Qing Shuang, who came upon hearing the commotion.

Qing Shuang said, "The Grand Commander actually admitted he was the Champion Scholar."

Lu Yuan had once taken the exam on behalf of Xun Yu, achieving first place in all categories; Xun Yu’s title as Champion Scholar was actually his glory.

This was a past he was reluctant to mention.

He disdainfully refused to clear his name for himself, nor did he expose his scars in front of others, caring little about what others thought of him.

Whether he was ruthless or uneducated.

He wouldn’t explain.

But today, in order to stay at the Meng Family, he actually cleared his name?

Shangguan Ling was dumbfounded: "I’ve lived to see it all..."

Old Master Meng glanced at Lu Yuan: "Nonsense, I’ve never heard that the Grand Commander of the court’s First Rank was a Champion Scholar, but I have heard that Commander Lu is uneducated and without skill."

A handsome young man smiled and said to Old Master Meng: "Sir, wouldn’t a test reveal whether he has the talent of a Champion Scholar?"

He spoke and, without waiting for the old master to refuse, immediately revealed his proposal, "I have a way to make him know when to back off, and also keep that girl in You State, enjoying your company under your knee."

Old Master Meng glared at a certain careless grandson: "Stop coming up with bad ideas here."

The handsome young man said solemnly: "This time it’s definitely not a bad idea. If it is, you don’t have to listen."

The four people outside the door were extremely curious and all wanted to know what cunning plan he could think of.

Shangguan Ling patted Meng Bo’s shoulder: "Is this kid reliable?"

Meng Bo thought for a moment, and said objectively: "A basket of poor ideas, but whether it’s effective, who knows."

Shangguan Ling said confusedly: "Why do I feel like the Grand Commander is about to get screwed?"

Yu Zichuan: "Clearly up to no good."

Qing Shuang: "Mm."

The five people all perked up their ears.

But the handsome young man didn’t speak up.

He leaned close to Old Master Meng’s ear and whispered something.

Old Master Meng’s eyes glimmered with thought.

The handsome young man smiled and said, "How about it? Not a bad idea, right?"

For once, Old Master Meng did not scold him.

The handsome young man extended his hand: "Sir, give me some silver to spend."

Old Master Meng chased him out.

Afterwards, Old Master Meng also "invited" Lu Yuan out.

However, he did not expel him from the Meng Family, but arranged a courtyard for him to stay.

Of course, it was far from Meng Qianqian’s courtyard.

When moving into the courtyard, Shangguan Ling had an incredulous look: "Are we really... moving into the Meng Family? What did that kid say to the old master for him to suddenly change his mind?"

Lu Yuan did not answer, but said: "You go find him."

Shangguan Ling asked, "For what?"

Lu Yuan said, "You’ll know when you get there."

"Yes."

Shangguan Ling turned and left, only to step back after crossing the threshold, "Where should I look? I forgot which brother of the Young Madam is Meng Bo?"

Lu Yuan said, "Meng Lang."

"Really."

When outside the courtyard, the other introduced himself as Meng Xuan, the Grand Commander had said that lying has consequences.

With a heart full of curiosity towards Meng Lang, Shangguan Ling went.

Although it was his first time coming to the Meng Family, as the Commander of the Imperial Guard, it would be unreasonable not to find Meng Lang’s courtyard.

Meng Lang seemed to anticipate his visit, lying casually on a wicker chair in the courtyard, one hand under his head, the other eating a sweet and juicy peach with gusto.

Although not a graceful gesture, when he did it, there was a sense of unconstrained and slightly transcendent freedom.

Suddenly, a phrase flashed through Shangguan Ling’s mind— a young man in fine clothes and a spirited horse.

"Here you are."

Meng Lang leisurely said, "Not coming in person and sending a little errand boy, this little sincerity makes it difficult for me."

Shangguan Ling twitched his mouth: "Such a young pup, putting on official airs?"

Meng Lang laughed: "You all have official airs, but do you dare to use them?"

Shangguan Ling: ... why is this kid so cheeky?

Suppressing his anger, Shangguan Ling said to Meng Lang: "The Grand Commander sent me to find you."

Meng Lang said: "Oh, you’re talking about my neither-good-looking-nor-useful brother-in-law? What does he want you to find me for?"

Shangguan Ling said: "He didn’t say, just sent me to find you."

Meng Lang thought for a moment and smiled, then said to Shangguan Ling: "I think I know what he wants you to do."

With that, he reached out to Shangguan Ling.

Shangguan Ling asked strangely: "For what?"

Meng Lang smiled warmly: "A hundred taels of silver, and I’ll tell you."

Shangguan Ling was shocked: "You little rascal, you’re that heartless?"

Meng Lang spread his hands: "Want to go back empty-handed, or spend money to save trouble, suit yourself."

Shangguan Ling’s mouth twitched.

Having one gradually rebellious Yu Zichuan was enough, who knew the Meng Family’s kid would be even more so.

He was busy watching the Grand Commander’s joke, but now the stone fell on his own foot—

A hundred taels, fine, a hundred taels.

Better than getting scolded later.

Shangguan Ling took out a silver note.

Meng Lang handed him a letter: "Take it."

"That’s... it?"

Shangguan Ling asked awkwardly.

Meng Lang dusted off the silver note: "Go ahead, you’ll be satisfied."

Shangguan Ling, doubtful, took the letter back to Lu Yuan’s place.

Unfolding the letter, he was stunned.

All he saw on the paper were two big words: IOU.

Shangguan Ling was dumbfounded.

He spent a hundred taels, and ended up with an IOU?

Even more absurd, the IOU clearly stated, the court’s First Rank Grand Commander owed Meng Lang from You State three requests.

He panicked: "No way, Grand Commander, this kid raised the price sitting down!"

He distinctly remembered it was supposed to be one.

However, when he looked at the Grand Commander’s expression, he saw no surprise or dissatisfaction on the man’s face.

So, the Grand Commander really agreed to the kid’s unreasonable deal?

When?!

Lu Yuan said faintly: "Prepare the brush and ink."

"Ah, really sign it?"

"Does this commander need your approval to do things?"

"Of course not!"

Shangguan Ling mimicked the obsequiousness of the Young Madam’s underlings perfectly and brought the writing tools and ink pad.

Lu Yuan, looking at the dragon-flying strokes on the document, expressionless, took the brush and ink, and signed and stamped the IOU.

Shangguan Ling sent the IOU back to Meng Lang.

Meng Lang shook off the IOU in his hand, raising an eyebrow, "The First Rank Grand Commander, Imperial Grandson of Great Liang, is nothing special."