Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot Chapter 32: Encounter with the Grand Commander Again

These past few days, Haitang Courtyard has been exceptionally quiet.

Lu Lingxiao and Lin Wan’er—one recovering from injuries, the other nurturing her pregnancy—haven’t ventured near ng Qianqian to stir up trouble, and the elderly lady, sulking after taking a hit, has remained in her courtyard "recuperating."

"Who knows what malicious sches she’s brewing in her gut again?" Ban Xia muttered.

"Exactly, exactly!" Tan’er chid in while munching on fried pastries.

"Says who?"

"Whatever I want to say, I’ll say it!"

Nanny Li sighed helplessly.

Having Ban Xia, who can’t keep her mouth shut, was already worriso enough. Now with Tan’er added into the mix, the two young maids chirped away incessantly every day.

ng Qianqian finished the last page of her book and closed it. "Nanny, I’ll be heading out in a bit."

Nanny Li asked worriedly, "It’s only been a few days since the last ti you left the mansion—might it be too frequent?"

ng Qianqian replied, "It doesn’t matter."

She didn’t care how the Lu Family viewed her.

Unless the Lu Family openly and formally forbade her from leaving, what reason would they have? She hadn’t done anything wrong and had diligently served the elders over the years, even using up her dowry to benefit her in-laws. Who could possibly say a faultless word against her?

Tan’er spoke up, "Sister, I want to go too!"

Ban Xia said, "Miss always takes when she goes out!"

Tan’er folded her arms. "I don’t care. I’m going. That’s it!"

Nanny Li said to ng Qianqian, "Miss, please take Tan’er along."

Ban Xia got anxious. "Nanny! You’ve only known her for a short while, so why are you siding with her?"

ng Qianqian smiled. "Nanny isn’t siding with Tan’er; she’s afraid I’ll encounter danger again."

At the ntion of this, Ban Xia rembered their previous encounter with Beiliang spies and imdiately fell silent.

Compared to serving at her mistress’s side, her safety was more important.

ng Qianqian took Tan’er along and left.

The coachman was still Wu Ge’er.

Wu Ge’er drove the carriage straight to the vicinity of Four Directions Hall, near a broker’s shop.

ng Qianqian asked, "How did you know I wanted to co here?"

Wu Ge’er scratched his head. "Miss had agreed to a three-day appointnt with the female broker, and today happens to be the day to fulfill that promise."

A balance of boldness and carefulness—that was Wu Ge’er.

The broker’s business remained as sluggish as ever. The female broker was practically dozing in her chair when Tan’er shook her awake.

At first glance, the female broker didn’t recognize Tan’er. It wasn’t until Tan’er spoke that she bolted upright: "It’s you?"

Tan’er lifted her chin. "Yes, it’s ! Sister, sit here!"

What had transpired in the past three days? Was this still the filthy, untad wild girl from before? Clean and obedient now—practically unrecognizable!

The broker leaned in closer to ng Qianqian and whispered, "Is she like this while living in the noble’s mansion too?"

ng Qianqian nodded.

The broker was stunned. So all the chaos she caused at the broker shop over the past month—what was that supposed to be?

"She didn’t... bite anyone?"

"No."

"Nor hit anyone?"

"She beat up over ten servant boys and guards."

The broker let out a long sigh of relief—she knew it! Old habits die hard. How could this girl possibly change her ways?

The broker imdiately stepped back, putting so distance between herself and ng Qianqian. "We agreed, didn’t we? Once you buy her, she’s yours. No returns, satisfied or not!"

ng Qianqian smiled. "I’m here today to ask if there’s any progress with the matter I entrusted to you last ti."

The term "madam" made the broker’s heart bloom with delight. In their line of work, while nobles were common acquaintances, rarely did they spare them a second glance.

Regardless of ng Qianqian’s sincerity, the broker was imnsely flattered.

The broker hurriedly had soone prepare a pot of the finest Da Hong Pao tea. Speaking courteously, she said, "Oh noble lady, your humble servant cannot bear to accept such a title. Regarding the matter you entrusted with, I dared not neglect it. I consulted nurous bookkeepers, and all their calculations are here for your review."

ng Qianqian accepted the docunts the broker handed her and read through them one by one. "None of them are correct."

The broker was astonished. "So many people... not a single one got it right?"

ng Qianqian murmured thoughtfully, her delicate fingertips tapping lightly on the table. "As expected, it’s not that simple after all."

The broker looked nervously at ng Qianqian. "Madam..."

ng Qianqian placed an ingot on the table. "Please continue to help search. I’ll return in three days."

The broker answered with an awkward smile, "Of course! Of course!"

After ng Qianqian and Tan’er left, the broker gazed at the ledger on the table, her brow furrowed. "What kind of accounts are this hard to calculate?"

"Excuse ."

A weak, deep male voice erged at the entrance to the broker’s shop.

The broker looked up to see a young man leaning on a crutch.

Having worked near a brothel for so long, her reflex was to assess his looks. This fellow was remarkably handso but unfortunately crippled.

The broker returned her attention to the ledger. "Ten Niang, give him a few copper coins."

"Understood!"

The young woman nad Ten Niang replied and handed over the copper coins, but the young man refused.

He asked calmly, with neither arrogance nor despair, "I heard you are looking for soone skilled in accounting—may I give it a try?"

After leaving the broker’s shop, ng Qianqian stopped by a bookstore to buy a few novels for the elderly lady at ho.

Tan’er tugged on ng Qianqian’s sleeve. "Sister, I want candied hawthorn sticks!"

ng Qianqian paid the bill and stepped out. "Wu Ge’er, where can we buy candied hawthorn sticks?"

Before Wu Ge’er could answer, Tan’er pointed excitedly. "There, there! I hear them selling!"

"Alright."

ng Qianqian nodded and instructed Wu Ge’er, "Wait for us here."

They had to cross a narrow alley where the carriage couldn’t pass.

Besides, the shouting sounded close by.

Wu Ge’er scratched his head, puzzled as he watched their departing backs. "Selling candied hawthorn sticks? Didn’t hear that."

A quarter-hour later, Tan’er held a candied hawthorn stick in each hand, bouncing joyfully.

Suddenly, a dangerous intent flashed overhead—it was soone moving across the rooftops, and not just one person!

A fragnt of roof tile broke off and plumted, seemingly poised to strike ng Qianqian. Tan’er sent it flying with a swift kick, shattering it to pieces!

"Who’s got such bad eyesight?!"

Tan’er grew angry. With a light tip of her toes, she soared onto the roof, tossed one of her candied hawthorn sticks into the air, and with a single motion of her fingers, launched the nine hawthorn balls like beads flying off an abacus straight at three figures ahead.

Struck in their vital areas, the three imdiately fell.

Tan’er also leapt down. "Hmph!"

ng Qianqian’s expression stiffened as she backed up a couple of steps, then turned and entered a nearby alleyway.

At the end of the alley stood a broken-down cart, partially obscuring a figure dressed in purple and leaning against a wall. A short dagger was embedded in his chest, dark blood saturating his robes.

Tan’er clutched the candied hawthorn and said, "Sister, he’s injured! Seems like he’s been poisoned too! Should we kill him?"

ng Qianqian replied mildly, "Not worth killing."

Lu Yuan curled his lips into a faint smile.

Despite appearing drained of all blood with death looming, his overwhelming aura still radiated an imnse sense of danger.

Tan’er tilted her head. "Shall we save him?"

ng Qianqian looked steadily at Lu Yuan. "There was once a gentleman who said, ’Whether a re girl lives or dies is none of his concern.’ Surely his life or death matters just as little to that re girl."

Tan’er didn’t understand. "So...?"

ng Qianqian stated, "No. We won’t save him."

Tan’er spun around delighted. "Heading ho! Heading ho! Ti for dinner!"