Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 313 - 293: A Beating for Xun Yu

Quickly tying the sack tightly with a rope, Meng Qianqian dusted off her hands indifferently: "I warned you, taking one more step forward, you’ll regret it. But you just wouldn’t listen!"

Bai Yuwei wiped the sweat off her forehead and took a long breath: "So exhausting!"

In all her years of living, it was the first time Bai Yuwei realized crying could be such a workout.

Meng Qianqian curled her lips into a smile: "Thanks for your hard work, little sister."

Bai Yuwei snorted: "You can’t accomplish anything on your own. Always need to rely on me for everything!"

Meng Qianqian didn’t hold back her praise: "Exactly! Without my dear cousin, I could’ve never caught this fellow. All the credit goes to you."

Bai Yuwei liked hearing this kind of talk.

Grandfather always said she was immature, but look—what would this household do without her?

At their feet, Xun Yu, tightly curled up and struggling inside the sack, upon hearing all this, suddenly had clarity.

He’d been duped.

He fell victim to Bai Yuwei and Meng Qianqian’s joint trickery!

Bai Yuwei didn’t have the brains for this; he could almost be certain that Meng Qianqian was orchestrating everything behind the scenes.

Meng Qianqian must’ve long guessed that he hadn’t given up on Miaojiang and calculated that this hunting trip would be his perfect excuse to get close to Bai Yuwei.

If they were back in the Capital City, there’d be no chance for Bai Yuwei to be left alone.

At which point did he fall into Meng Qianqian’s trap?

Was it when he confessed his feelings to Bai Yuwei, or when he staged the "injure-the-self-to-gain-their-sympathy" act in front of her?

Or perhaps even earlier.

He used two Silver Foxes to separate Bai Yuwei from the maid Tan’er. But could it be possible that all along, these two women were just waiting for him to deliver himself to their hands?

No, it couldn’t be!

Meng Qianqian couldn’t be this clever!

He refused to believe there existed a woman who could play him like a fiddle.

But no matter his unwillingness to accept it, the grand spectacle staged before him today by the two women left no room for doubt or flaw.

If Bai Yuwei had shown understanding and affection toward him from the start, it would’ve only made him suspicious.

On the contrary, Bai Yuwei expressed utter hatred and rejection, even openly sharing Meng Qianqian’s admonitions with him in full detail, making everything seem perfectly reasonable.

To top it off, she subtly revealed a hint of innate innocence and reluctance.

These sheltered, pampered daughters of noble families—he’d seen enough of them before—naïve and easily tricked.

How could she possibly challenge him?

With a bit of strategic maneuvering and charm, he’d conquer her entirely.

But never in his wildest dreams did he expect to fall into their trap!

"Meng Qianqian!"

He roared furiously.

Meng Qianqian mercilessly kicked him: "Yelling? Not convinced, huh? Let me tell you, my little sister might be pure, but she’s no fool. A man like you, who has to cheat in exams, would naturally fail to understand how others can actually be smart."

Each sentence avoided self-praise, attributing all credit to others.

One had to admit, Meng Qianqian certainly knew how to win people over.

Bai Yuwei, showered in compliments, was floating on air. She kept a calm facade, but behind her back, her invisible little tail was practically wagging up to the heavens.

Xun Yu clenched his teeth: "Meng Qianqian, you’d better release me! Otherwise—"

Meng Qianqian deliberately cupped a hand behind her ear: "Otherwise what? Speak louder. I’m not afraid of people overhearing!"

"You—"

Xun Yu choked on his words furiously.

Meng Qianqian chuckled: "Can’t say it out loud? Want me to help you yell?"

Xun Yu furrowed his brows, puzzled over what she meant by that. Then, he heard Meng Qianqian speak again, "Little sister, pass me the wooden stick."

Bai Yuwei tossed over a sturdy stick.

Xun Yu’s face instantly turned ashen: "Private brawls are forbidden in the hunting grounds! Do you know the consequences of such reckless behavior? Violating the rules knowingly will double your punishment!"

Meng Qianqian lightly slapped the stick against her palm, smiling serenely: "What consequences I may face is still uncertain, but yours are crystal-clear."

Xun Yu broke out in cold sweat, stammering: "Meng Qianqian, I advise you to think thrice—"

"This marshal here has been dying to beat you up for ages! After much thought, I figured one round wouldn’t be enough!"

Meng Qianqian fiercely struck the sack with the stick.

"Argh—!"

Xun Yu took the full brunt of a blow straight to the head, spraying the sack with blood from his nose.

Without hesitation, Meng Qianqian landed another strike.

"Argh—!"

Xun Yu shrieked miserably.

Bai Yuwei stared wide-eyed, covering her mouth.

So vicious!

Sis-in-law is so vicious!

Elsewhere, Xun Liu, busy luring a black bear deeper into the forest, vaguely heard the commotion from Xun Yu.

He paused his steps, intending to turn back and look for him.

But then, he recalled Xun Yu’s instructions.

Don’t reveal yourself unless Third Brother sends up a signal flare.

Xun Yu wanted to send one—of course he did! But damn it, he was trapped in a sack!

Could he light firecrackers for himself?

Set off a flare on his own head?

At this moment, regret was eating Xun Yu alive. If he’d known this would happen, he would never have blocked off his fallback option with Xun Liu!

Meng Qianqian landed blow after blow with her stick.

"Make my husband sleep in a stable?"

Another strike!

"Make my husband kneel in the snow?"

And another!

"Break my husband’s hand?"

Meng Qianqian stepped on Xun Yu’s left wrist and delivered a brutal blow to crush his hand!

Xun Yu convulsed in pain, unable to even scream.

Bai Yuwei asked: "Are you planning to kill him?"

Meng Qianqian replied casually: "That would be far too merciful."

Bai Yuwei glanced at Xun Yu, battered to the point of doubting his existence, and muttered under her breath: "So beating him up counts as mercy in your book, huh..."

Suddenly, Bai Yuwei felt that Meng Qianqian had been pretty lenient with her before.

Meng Qianqian remarked with satisfaction: "Let my husband bear accusations for years while you take the moral high ground? It’s about time to claim back every bit of reputation."

Bai Yuwei asked: "How do you plan to do that?"

Meng Qianqian sighed lightly: "I’ve tried being the good person for years, only to realize that disasters outlive the virtuous. Sometimes, it’s better not to be too righteous."

Bai Yuwei frowned bitterly with confusion: She didn’t understand again...

-

By the creek, Princess Wanping had been waiting for some time without seeing Meng Qianqian or Tao Shiyu return. A trace of worry began to show.

"Chang Kuan."

She called.

Chang Kuan, the Supreme Emperor’s sent Imperial Guard and now the Chief Guard at the Princess Mansion, had just finished feeding Princess Wanping’s horse. Hearing her call, he immediately approached to bow: "What are your orders, Princess?"

"Take some men to search for Young Madam Lu and Miss Tao."

"I must ensure the Princess’s safety and cannot leave your side."

Princess Wanping frowned, about to reprimand him, when suddenly, Tao Shiyu returned.

Princess Wanping looked at her and asked with a frown: "You came back alone? What about Young Madam Lu? Didn’t she go out to look for you?"

Tao Shiyu, with an astonished look, replied: "No, I haven’t come across her."

Princess Wanping said puzzledly: "Strange, she clearly left following you."

Tao Shiyu’s eyes flickered: "Could it be, she ran into someone and got delayed?"

Princess Wanping stood at once: "Chang Kuan! Gather everyone and follow me to search for Young Madam Lu!"

"Yes!"

The Chief Guard Chang Kuan obeyed.

"Princess, we..."

"I intend to bring all the guards together to find her. Either join me or wait here yourselves."

The two seemed startled at her words.

When Tao Shiyu had disappeared earlier, Princess Wanping had only sent Meng Qianqian alone to search. Yet now that Meng Qianqian was missing, the princess was mobilizing everyone, even personally joining the search.

Tao Shiyu was consumed with jealousy. Meng Qianqian was merely a merchant’s daughter of humble origin, while she was of imperial lineage. Yet Meng Qianqian had won the approval of Princess Wanping.

And of Lady Yun, too.

Whatever the woman has done to captivate them remains a mystery.

But after today, Meng Qianqian would be utterly disgraced.

"Miss Huo, Miss Li, the forest is perilous. Let’s follow the Princess."

After all, the more witnesses, the better.

The group set out to search for Meng Qianqian.

Along their way, Tao Shiyu occasionally "discovered" traces of Meng Qianqian in the bushes—a handkerchief, a bead—all items swiped from Meng Qianqian beforehand.

Following the clues, the group soon reached the entrance of a cave.

Tao Shiyu’s eyes gleamed slightly: "Could Young Madam Lu be inside the cave?"

Princess Wanping instructed Chang Kuan: "Go in and have a look."

Chang Kuan entered the cave: "Princess, there are people inside!"

"Is it Young Madam Lu?" Princess Wanping asked.

Chang Kuan hesitated near the cave’s opening: "Seems to be Wei Mingxuan, and another—"

"What are you all doing?"

Meng Qianqian’s voice rang out suddenly from behind the group.

They instinctively turned around.

Meng Qianqian stood there, hands behind her back, looking stunned: "Huh? Everyone’s here?"

Tao Shiyu, eyes widening in disbelief: "You... you... how can you..."

Meng Qianqian cast her gaze on Tao Shiyu’s utterly shocked expression: "Miss Tao, no wonder I couldn’t find you anywhere. Turns out you’ve been here all along."

Tao Shiyu staggered backward two steps.

She had personally witnessed Meng Qianqian entering the cave and had sprinkled the drugged powder onto her.

Xun Yu had said himself—this drug could incapacitate even a bull. No martial arts master could resist its effects!

What on earth was going on?

Why was Meng Qianqian—

Also, if the person in the cave wasn’t Meng Qianqian, then who could it be?

Using his torch, Chang Kuan cast light inside the cave.

When the fire illuminated the scene, he froze: "Princely Heir Xun Yu?"

Tao Shiyu charged into the cave, incredulous.

"Miss Tao—"

Chang Kuan tried to stop her, but it was too late.

Tao Shiyu let out a terrified scream: "Ah—"

Meng Qianqian blinked innocently: "Oh my, what’s the matter?"

Chang Kuan: "Princess, don’t go in—"

Too late.

Princess Wanping entered the cave.

Miss Li, curious by nature, and Miss Huo, fearlessly bold, followed the Princess inside.

The scene before them instantly caused the two noble daughters to turn away and cover their eyes in embarrassment.

Even Princess Wanping, though maintaining her composure as royalty demands, wished she could blind herself on the spot.

Two grown men, disheveled and hugging each other, evidently drunk, were fast asleep, reeking of alcohol.

Meng Qianqian fanned the flames dramatically: "Oh my, broad daylight! The degradation of morals, the degradation of morals!"