Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Chapter 898: Chapter 736:

Meng Qianqian returned to the group’s camp with Ya’er, and Mo Yi had already set up the tent.

Shan Cheng sat leisurely on a small stool, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan he had acquired from somewhere.

"The Divine Doctor is back. How is it? Did you figure out a way to escape?"

He asked with a straightforward smile.

Ya’er looked at Meng Qianqian with some surprise.

Meng Qianqian replied calmly, "Do you think I would tell you if I found out?"

Shan Cheng smiled.

Mo Yi passed by and glared at Meng Qianqian with hostility, "I’ve always said this woman should be silenced and her martial arts abolished."

Meng Qianqian chuckled, "What, thinking of making me your plaything?"

Mo Yi choked furiously, "Shameless!"

Shan Cheng laughed, "Alright, Mo Yi, by now you should’ve realized you can’t outmatch her in an argument."

"Who wants to argue with him?"

Mo Yi said irritably and walked away without turning back.

Shan Cheng looked at Meng Qianqian with a teasing smile, "You’re the first to get Mo Yi this worked up, probably the only one too."

Meng Qianqian: "Oh, there’s one more."

"Who?"

"My brother."

Shan Cheng: "..."

-

The desert at night was cold and biting.

Everyone, after experiencing two major changes, huddled together for warmth.

Meng Qianqian lay inside the airtight tent, with Ya’er and Mo’er beside her.

In the extremely cold night, the presence of the two could provide Meng Qianqian a hint of warmth.

Meng Qianqian closed her eyes, thinking about her escape plan.

The key to the plan was not really Nalan Xue, but that Mr. Sheng.

Only with his help could she possibly escape right under Ayimulan and Shan Cheng’s noses.

As Meng Qianqian predicted, everyone rested in place for two days, setting out on the third morning.

This time, everyone no longer acted dispersedly, even the small teams that once scorned seeking refuge joined stronger teams.

Mr. Sheng’s team originally had the most joiners, but reportedly was almost entirely refused by him.

His cautiousness added difficulty to Meng Qianqian’s escape plan.

Fortunately, soon after setting off, Mr. Sheng’s guard came to invite Meng Qianqian to check Nalan Xue’s pulse.

Mo Yi, riding on a camel, snorted, "Don’t you have your own doctor? Why keep looking for a little maid? Really think she’s a Divine Doctor?"

The guard replied, "Alina’s medical skill is recognized by all. Besides, she’s a woman, and my lady prefers her over male doctors."

Mo Yi let out a disdainful snort.

Meng Qianqian could easily guess what he was thinking.

The greatest fighter in Loulan, the Princess Consort’s trusted guard, when had he ever put a noblewoman in his eyes?

Even Mr. Sheng might not be regarded by him.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t reveal their identities on this trip.

Mo Yi could only swallow his anger.

Meng Qianqian looked at Shan Cheng, "Brother, shall I meet Miss Nalan?"

Ayimulan rarely issued direct orders; throughout the journey, her commands were conveyed through Shan Cheng, perfectly fitting the persona of Shan Cheng being the Young Master.

Shan Cheng smiled, "Go ahead, take Ya’er with you."

Meng Qianqian took Ya’er along.

Nalan Xue was resting by the roadside, Mr. Sheng had taken people ahead to scout, leaving a dozen experts to protect her.

As expected, Ya’er was stopped at ten paces away.

"Miss Nalan."

Meng Qianqian greeted her politely.

Nalan Xue’s eyes lit up, "Alina!"

She moved aside a bit, and shared a portion of her cashmere blanket with Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian sat down next to her.

She handed a water pouch to Meng Qianqian, "Here."

In the desert, water was a precious commodity.

Meng Qianqian took the pouch without hesitation and drank a sip.

Nalan Xue sent the maid away.

Meng Qianqian checked her pulse.

Nalan Xue whispered, "I feel much better, sleep soundly, chest not stuffy anymore."

"That’s good."

Judging from the pulse, Nalan Xue was indeed much healthier than before, and her complexion was rosy.

Meng Qianqian casually remarked, "But keeping it hidden forever isn’t a solution. It will be discovered eventually."

Nalan Xue looked around and whispered, "I... Once I reach Liuli Island, there will be a solution. He will wait for me on the island and take me away together."

Meng Qianqian raised an eyebrow, "So your purpose of going to Liuli Island is—"

Nalan Xue replied, "I’m going for an arranged marriage."

"An arranged marriage?"

This was certainly surprising.

Meng Qianqian always thought Mr. Sheng was after the legends of the Seven Stars in a Row.

If it’s only for marriage, what could she trade with Mr. Sheng?

"Is he from Liuli Island too?"

Meng Qianqian decided to first care about this poor noble lady.

Nalan Xue shook her head, "He’s not. He learned of my arranged marriage on Liuli Island and made an agreement to wait for me there."

"Why not take you away earlier?"

"As you can see, my uncle keeps a tight watch on me. On the day of the wedding, amidst chaos, I might have a chance to escape."

"So Mr. Sheng is your uncle. To arrange a marriage with Liuli Island, your background must be remarkable."

"We—"

Nalan Xue was just about to reveal her family when Mr. Sheng’s guard approached.

"Miss, Mr. Sheng said it’s time to leave."

"Got it."

Nalan Xue felt reluctant.

She tugged at Meng Qianqian’s sleeve, "Before going to Liuli Island, can I speak with you again?"

Meng Qianqian nodded, "Of course."

She felt an inexplicable attachment to Nalan Xue, perhaps because her recent frail appearance reminded her of Shang Changle.

Returning to the group, Shan Cheng couldn’t resist taunting her, "Discovered they’re not going to find West Night Saintess, escape plan fell through?"

Meng Qianqian retorted, "You knew early?"

Shan Cheng laughed, "Just a bit earlier than you."

Meng Qianqian turned her face away, ignoring him.

He truly was vile, purposely watching her plan fail, then savoring his mockery.

Shan Cheng added, "Need sour apricots? Gave them all to Nalan Xue, now you have none."

Meng Qianqian rolled her eyes, rode her camel to the front.

Mo Yi came over, asked Shan Cheng, "Did you... drive her away?"

Shan Cheng replied, "What, want to learn?"

Mo Yi nodded earnestly.

Shan Cheng: "Not teaching you."

Mo Yi: "..."

Meng Qianqian didn’t expect that the path she painstakingly found would be a dead end, Mr. Sheng’s way wasn’t viable, and she wasted a packet of dried apricots.

She was craving them too.

At night, Meng Qianqian lay in the tent, tossing and turning.

Suddenly, a subtle footstep approached.

It headed toward Ayimulan’s tent.

The person’s Qinggong was impressive, if not for her heightened senses due to pregnancy, she might not have noticed.

Meng Qianqian curiously sat up, not disturbing the sleeping Ya’er and Mo’er.

Thanks to the long journey, the two maids slept deeper than usual.

She lifted a corner of the tent, saw a shadow dart into Ayimulan’s tent.

"So fast?"

Meng Qianqian leaned back strategically, "Faster than Miao King’s grandfather’s movement technique; who could it be?"

The person stayed a while in Ayimulan’s tent, then entered Shan Cheng’s tent.

Mo Yi was elsewhere, guessed he had some urgent needs.

Soon, the person emerged from Shan Cheng’s tent, scratched his head, looking puzzled.

Meng Qianqian blinked.

Was this person searching for something?

Finally, the person headed towards Meng Qianqian’s tent.