CHAPTER 664: CHAPTER 546

"Big brother, you..."

Gongsun Yu was startled by his big brother’s fury.

To be able to provoke Big Brother to such an extent, that girl is truly one of a kind.

"Ever since that girl came to the Imperial City, our Thousand Mechanism Pavilion has entered a period of turbulence, with misfortune following one after another, not a single thing going smoothly. First, Liuying lost the Phoenix Girl Destiny, then Lu Qi was also robbed of the Qilin position... and now even Ziyu has met with an unfortunate fate..."

The more Gongsun Yu spoke, the more he felt a chill down his spine.

"Big brother, why do I feel that girl is very uncanny... It’s as if the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion owes her something, and she’s everywhere collecting debts... Big brother, who exactly is she? Does she have a grudge against our Thousand Mechanism Pavilion?"

Gongsun Yanming did not speak, but crushed the flying stone fragments in his hand into powder.

-

The Jin Prince Mansion made extensive preparations for the wedding banquet, the dishes were specially approved by Emperor Liang, and an Imperial Chef was borrowed from the palace to oversee the cooking.

Tan’er ate until her stomach was round: "Sister, I’m full."

Meng Qianqian smiled: "Was it delicious?"

Tan’er nodded: "I didn’t expect Prince Jin to be not very decent in person, but his banquets are not bad. In the future, whenever there’s a banquet at the Jin Prince Mansion, I want to come!"

Meng Qianqian affectionately touched her hair: "Alright, do you want to go listen to an opera?"

Tan’er’s eyes sparkled: "Can I listen?"

Meng Qianqian smiled: "Of course, no rush to leave."

Tan’er excitedly got up: "Listen to the opera! Listen to the opera!"

Meng Qianqian was invited to the Jin Prince Mansion’s wedding as Teacher Treasure Piggy, so her seat was not with the Crown Prince Mansion.

Lu Yuan saw her about to leave and immediately followed her up.

Lu Zhaoyan: "Behave yourself, this is someone else’s mansion."

Lu Yuan lifted the little one from Lu Zhaoyan’s arms: "Do you want to find the teacher?"

The little one: "Yes!"

Lu Zhaoyan: "..."

Meng Qianqian did not know Lu Yuan was coming to find her. She and Tan’er had just left the courtyard when they encountered a pretty maid.

The maid curtsied and smiled: "May I ask if you are Miss Yan?"

"I am," Meng Qianqian replied.

The maid said: "My concubine invites you."

Tan’er, who was hopping ahead, stopped, looked back at the maid, and then at Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian gently said: "You go ahead and listen to the opera, I’ll find you later."

Tan’er thought for a moment: "Alright!"

She hopped away.

Meng Qianqian said to the maid: "Lead the way."

The maid led Meng Qianqian to a pleasant courtyard in the Jin Prince Mansion.

Although the courtyard was beautiful, it was somewhat secluded.

It seemed Dou Qingyi’s status in the Jin Prince Mansion was not very high.

In the main room, Meng Qianqian saw Dou Qingyi dressed in resplendent clothing.

Even though she was dressed elegantly and grandly, it was hard to lend her an air of true sophistication.

"I wonder what business Concubine Dou has with me?"

Meng Qianqian asked directly.

Dou Qingyi didn’t mind Meng Qianqian’s lack of decorum. She signaled to the maid beside her.

The maid holding a brocade box walked up to Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian opened the box, glanced at it, and slowly closed it: "What does Concubine Dou mean by this?"

Dou Qingyi picked up a tea cup, adopting the demeanor of a household matriarch: "I heard you have no father or mother. This concubine feels quite sorry for you. It’s said that because you took Liuying’s Phoenix Girl Destiny, your master was imprisoned by the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion. Now you are without support, have you thought about how to live your life from now on?"

Meng Qianqian coolly asked: "Does Concubine Dou intend to buy me off?"

Dou Qingyi smiled arrogantly: "This concubine is showing you a path. As long as you are willing to become this concubine’s daughter-in-law, this concubine will protect you and your master. Consider this silver as a meeting gift from this concubine."

Meng Qianqian couldn’t help but laugh: "Miss Gongsun just entered the door, and Concubine Dou wants to be the one to annul her marriage, might not be appropriate?"

Dou Qingyi’s smile faded slightly: "When did this concubine say I would annul her marriage? What I mean is, she will be the main wife, and you the secondary."

Meng Qianqian said: "Before the daughter-in-law’s tea ceremony, you’re already in a hurry to take concubines for your son. Concubine Dou, you are truly... insatiable."

Dou Qingyi’s face darkened: "Yan Xiaojiu! This concubine is only being courteous to you because you are the Phoenix Girl. Otherwise, how could you qualify to be a guest at this concubine’s table?"

Meng Qianqian sneered: "It seems Concubine Dou is not only insatiable but also very arrogant, just a concubine, yet you carry yourself with the airs of imperial royalty."

Dou Qingyi sarcastically said: "Yan Xiaojiu, don’t think that just because you have some beauty, you can enchant the Imperial Grandson. Let me tell you, the Imperial Grandson already has a wife. He’s only interested in you for novelty. Even if you follow him, you will only be a concubine! But his mother is not as easy to deal with as I am."

"Oh?" Meng Qianqian almost laughed aloud, "I see."

Dou Qingyi thought she had persuaded Meng Qianqian, smiled with satisfaction, and continued: "I promise you, you will bear Qi’er’s first son. In the future, when Qi’er ascends the throne, who becomes Empress... is uncertain. What do you say?"

Meng Qianqian widened her eyes: "Concubine Dou... makes a compelling argument."

Dou Qingyi leisurely took a sip of tea: "It’s good that you understand. A wise person knows when to adapt. You are worthy of being a Phoenix Girl, not too foolish. Accept it."

Meng Qianqian generously accepted the brocade box: "Concubine Dou’s kindness is hard to refuse. Xiaojiu can only respectfully comply."

Birds of a feather flock together; you and Gongsun Liuying are truly a natural mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair.

I wonder how Gongsun Liuying will honor you when she finds out about this?

-

Outside the opera house, Meng Qianqian met the eagerly awaiting father and daughter duo.

Treasure Piggy immediately let go of her scoundrel father’s hand and ran towards Meng Qianqian, huffing and puffing.

Meng Qianqian freed up a hand and lifted the little one into her arms.

Treasure Piggy curiously opened the box in her arms.

Seeing that there were no shiny ingots, her little face turned, and she didn’t want it anymore.

Lu Yuan took the brocade box, raised an eyebrow: "Boss Yan, getting rich?"

Meng Qianqian laughed and said: "Yes, someone gave me a betrothal gift, wanting me to be a concubine for her son."

Lu Yuan’s face darkened.

"Sister."

Tan’er walked over with a drooping head, looking aggrieved, "Not good!"

Meng Qianqian smiled: "I’ll take you to the theater to watch another day."

"Mm!"

Tan’er nodded earnestly.

Meng Qianqian said to Lu Yuan: "It’s getting late, I need to return to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion. Your Majesty has been infected with Gu. Before it’s resolved, let Bao Shu stay at the Crown Prince Mansion."

Lu Yuan had the same intention: "You still want to return to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion?"

Meng Qianqian gazed intently: "I must return tonight."

Lu Yuan nodded: "I’ll accompany you."

Meng Qianqian looked at the little one clinging tightly to her: "Bao Shu..."

Lu Yuan grabbed the little rascal and handed her over to Lu Zhaoyan and Liu Qingyun.

Treasure Piggy silently protested: Smelly dad!

As night fell, the carriage arrived near the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

Lu Yuan lifted the curtain and caught several dangerous presences in the night: "There are quite a few experts lying in ambush, it seems Gongsun Yanming has made a move. You wait here, I’ll go bring the person out."

Tan’er tilted her head: "Bring who?"

Meng Qianqian said: "Wuyou."