Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Chapter 796: Chapter 654: Welcoming a New Addition

The group was all set to depart.

There were several more carriages than before, all filled with local specialties from the Meng Family and the Yu Family, sent with Meng Qianqian.

The Meng Family also packed gold and silver, but Meng Qianqian refused them.

In the past, the Meng Family had poured more than half of their assets into supporting the Lu Family and supplying grain to the border, leaving them severely depleted.

In recent years, they’ve worked hard in business and recovered somewhat.

Tan’er bounced over to the carriage and said to Meng Qianqian, "Sister, ready to go!"

Meng Qianqian nodded, "Get in the carriage."

Ban Xia lifted the curtain, "Ride with me."

Tan’er said, "I’m riding a horse!"

Ban Xia replied, "Go ahead, in this summer heat, if you think you’re not tanned enough!"

Tan’er made a funny face and stuck out her tongue, "Bleh bleh bleh."

Treasure Piggy also wanted to ride a horse.

Chen Long took her.

She had her own small saddle and cloak, looking majestic and very impressive.

Shangguan Ling started counting heads, "Uh, one is missing."

Meng Qianqian sat in the carriage and calmly ordered, "Bring him here."

"Got it!"

Tan’er instantly understood and dashed into the Meng Family estate.

Soon, she chased out Meng Lang, who was hiding behind a rock, using a stolen Cloud-piercing Dart with Heavenly Silkworm Silk.

Meng Qianqian pushed open the window and looked at him calmly, "Don’t want to go to the Capital City?"

Meng Lang snorted, "Why should I go with you to the Capital City?"

"I don’t want to take you either. Honestly, I’m not interested in you."

"You—"

"But since Brother chose you back then, you must come with us, unless."

Meng Lang’s eyes lit up, "Unless what?"

Meng Qianqian: "Unless you die."

Meng Lang drooped his head, "Come on! Had I known, I wouldn’t have taken that Token! He said it’s very dangerous! Asked me to hold onto it! But I ask you, where do I look heroic? I’m chased around by a little girl, and then I have to be dragged to the Capital City by you! It’s really unfair!"

Meng Qianqian said calmly, "Is designing a proposal for your own sister and scolding your own brother-in-law as lazy righteous?"

Meng Lang looked resentfully at her, "So you’re just settling a personal grudge!"

Meng Qianqian replied without changing her expression, "I’m not; I’m very fair."

"You call yourself fair—"

Thud!

Tan’er punched him on the head, "Dare be rude to my sister, and you’ll die!"

Meng Lang, with a big bump on his head: "..."

Meng Lang was ultimately dragged off in a pile of local specialties.

The journey to the Capital City was blessed by the weather, smooth sailing.

On June 1, just past the first watch in the evening, the group arrived at the South City Gate of the Capital City.

"The city gates are closing, wait until tomorrow to enter!"

The guard at the gate said impatiently.

The weather was hot and he had been on duty all day, feeling like smoke was rising from him, eager to close the gate, return home, and take a refreshing shower.

Shangguan Ling displayed the Token of the Commander of the Imperial Guard.

The guard’s face changed dramatically with fear, "Shang, Shang, Shangguan Lord?"

He looked at the long convoy, and the leading carriage, though appearing ordinary, emitted a palpable sense of dread.

His heart skipped a beat.

Could the person inside be the intimidating Living Yama, the Grand Commander?

It’s over.

Offending the Grand Commander means his life is forfeit—

He collapsed to the ground.

The other guards hurriedly kneeled, each silent as a cicada in winter.

But surprisingly, that notorious Grand Commander did not make things difficult for them.

Only after the last carriage disappeared into the gate did everyone snap out of it, hesitantly touching their necks.

-

Cui Hu was also part of this entourage.

It was his first time in the Capital City, and he found everything fascinating.

"So this is the Capital City of our Great Zhou?"

Shangguan Ling chuckled, "Our Great Zhou? So quick to betray your Majesty?"

Cui Hu spoke confidently, "Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog; marry a bench, drag it along. I was given to the Imperial Grandson, and since he became the son-in-law of Great Zhou, naturally, that makes me half a Great Zhou person too."

Shangguan Ling: "..."

For once, no words.

The carriage arrived at the Governor Mansion, and the young servants were excited.

"The Young Madam is back! The Grand Commander is back!"

Shangguan Ling: "Hey, hey, hey, and me too."

A servant peered into the carriage, "Miss Zhaozhao is back!"

Shangguan Ling: Are you blind!

A few days ago, continuous heavy rain drenched the Capital City. The crabapple trees planted for Meng Qianqian at the mansion got damaged.

Steward Cen was overseeing the gardener planting trees when he heard of Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan’s return. He practically flew out.

"Young Madam!"

"Grand Commander!"

Meng Qianqian was led off the carriage by Lu Yuan.

Unlike before, there was a rare softness between her brows.

Steward Cen was stunned.

Something’s off.

"Young... Young Madam?"

Meng Qianqian smiled slightly, "Steward Cen."

Steward Cen’s keen eyes noticed Meng Qianqian’s unconsciously shielding hand over her abdomen, and his eyes widened, "Young, Young Madam, you wouldn’t be..."

Meng Qianqian smiled, "Yes."

Steward Cen stammered with excitement, "This, this, this is really..."

Such a pleasant surprise!

One trip away, and she’s pregnant; the Governor Mansion will have a new little master!

Steward Cen believed this because, in his heart, he had never considered Treasure Piggy an outsider.

Even though he thought of the little one as adopted, he had long accepted her as his own little master.

Naturally, having another sibling for Miss Zhaozhao would be wonderful.

There’s much to do now.

Find a midwife, find a nurse... Change recipes, change ingredients, make clothes, hire teachers...

In a flash, Steward Cen already imagined the little one attending private school.

When his own wife gave birth, he hadn’t been this excited.

He smiled like a fool, if not for his ears blocking the way on either side of his cheeks, his grin would surely stretch to the back of his head.

"Ahem, Grand Commander."

He belatedly saluted Lu Yuan, politely but not awkwardly asking, "The journey must have been quite exhausting, right?"

"Heh."

Lu Yuan walked away, aloof.

Steward Cen quietly said to Meng Qianqian, "I’ll go find the nurse and midwife."

Meng Qianqian smiled, "It’s still early."

She looked toward the grand mansion and the golden plaque, feelings of familiarity and nostalgia flooding back.

"It’s great to be home."

"Let’s go."

Lu Yuan said quietly.

Tan’er zipped to his side, "Can’t you hold sister’s hand a bit?"

Lu Yuan glanced at her.

Tan’er looked down, "Uh, holding hands already, my bad."

Tan’er was tanned dark; if not for hearing her unique accent, Steward Cen would almost think she was like Cui Hu, a new subordinate from Liang Country.

"Steward Cen, this is not right. I’m so ugly now, yet you don’t recognize me. Why don’t you recognize me, huh?"

Steward Cen felt like a thousand arrows pierced his heart!