Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Boom!

The stones collapsed.

The Miao King was buried underneath.

Lu Zhaoyan heard the noise coming from the small garden and suspiciously glanced back.

Emperor Liang, feeling utterly vindicated, said with a brisk mood, "Return to the palace."

-

Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

Tan'er lifted the curtain and entered Gongsun Liuying's boudoir. "Young Miss, Miss Yan is here."

Gongsun Liuying was in the middle of playing chess. "Let her in."

Meng Qianqian entered the room.

Gongsun Liuying continued fiddling with the chessboard in front of her without even looking up.

Meng Qianqian stepped forward and knelt opposite her.

Gongsun Liuying asked casually, "So, have you given any thought to what I said?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "I have. I disagree."

Gongsun Liuying's hand, holding a chess piece, paused mid-air as her sharp gaze locked on Meng Qianqian. "What did you just say?"

Meng Qianqian patiently repeated, "I said, I disagree with your proposal for me to leave Prince Changsun."

Gongsun Liuying's lips curled into a frosty smile. "Didn't you accept my gift?"

Meng Qianqian remained completely unperturbed, her expression unapologetic. "I did. That's why, after returning, I carefully thought about it the whole night."

Gongsun Liuying said solemnly, "Then you should agree!"

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly. "I cannot agree. Not even a little."

Gongsun Liuying's eyes grew colder: "Yan Xiaojiu!"

Meng Qianqian glanced at the chessboard, picked up a white piece, and placed it on the board. "Senior sister is getting married in two days. Your junior sister wishes you and your groom a happy marriage, a union of hearts, and a lifetime of harmony."

Having said this, she stood up calmly, unconstrained in her demeanor, and left.

Gongsun Liuying was so enraged that her chest literally ached.

Tan'er's eyes darted around mischievously.

It's killing you, isn't it? Killing you!

She suddenly stood, stormed toward the door, and as she was about to step over the threshold, two female disciples blocked her path.

One of the disciples said, "Young Miss, the Pavilion Master has ordered that you remain in your room to await the wedding."

Gongsun Liuying declared imperiously, "I want to go outside."

The disciple replied, "Young Miss, this is the Pavilion Master's command. You are not to take even one step outside your room."

Gongsun Liuying's eyes flashed coldly. "So what you're saying is… my father has confined me?"

The disciple bowed her head. "Mingyue wouldn't dare."

The other disciple also lowered her head in silence.

Gongsun Liuying's gaze flicked back and forth between the two of them before she said coldly, "How bold of you both!"

The two disciples did not dare to make a sound but neither did they yield.

Gongsun Liuying stared toward the courtyard. These two were hardly a threat, but everything outside was tightly guarded. There was no way out.

"Tan'er."

"Yes, Young Miss!"

"Go to my mother's courtyard and tell her that I need to see her."

"Understood!"

Tan'er nodded and left.

Gongsun Liuying cast a significant glance at the two female disciples. "I cannot leave, but surely my mother can come in, correct?"

One of the disciples replied, "Yes, Young Miss."

Gongsun Liuying sneered mockingly, "Ha! Since when has the Pavilion Master's Wife needed your permission to enter my quarters?"

Both disciples quickly knelt down.

Gongsun Liuying swept back into her room with a flick of her sleeve.

Tan'er disappeared like a streak of lightning.

She first found Meng Qianqian and relayed Gongsun Liuying's request to meet Xiao Rong'er.

Meng Qianqian paused for a moment. "Go ahead and pass it along. After all, even if Gongsun Liuying didn't seek out Xiao Rong'er, Xiao Rong'er would go to see her anyway."

Her expression was calm. "When a daughter is getting married, a mother will always appear."

Tan'er thought of Meng Qianqian's birth mother, Madam Yu. Twice, her elder sister was married, and Madam Yu had failed in her duties each time as a mother.

She put her hands on her hips. "Hmph!"

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly. "Go on."

Tan'er delivered the message to Xiao Rong'er.

While Gongsun Liuying trusted her greatly, Xiao Rong'er was far more cautious, instructing Tan'er to stand guard outside the courtyard while leaving only Hong Xiu to watch the door.

"Mother! Please, help your daughter!"

Gongsun Liuying pleaded.

Her daughter was a prodigy, born with the world at her feet. Aside from Gongsun Yanming, she had never regarded anyone else. Even in front of her mother, she always had her own mind.

Having her daughter suddenly seek her help left Xiao Rong'er feeling a mix of emotions.

Xiao Rong'er sighed. "Your father won't let you leave. What can I do about it? You know how stubborn he is. Once he's decided on something, no one can change his mind."

Gongsun Liuying gripped Xiao Rong'er's hand tightly, her tone desperate. "Mother, I am the Phoenix Girl! I cannot marry Lu Qi! My husband can only be the true Guardian Qilin!"

Xiao Rong'er was momentarily stunned. "You…"

She turned and looked at the tightly closed room door, lowering her voice. "You want to break off the engagement? Did you already tell your father?"

Gongsun Liuying nodded.

Xiao Rong'er suddenly understood. "So that's why he's suddenly forbidden you from leaving."

Gongsun Liuying begged, "Mother, you don't want me to marry Lu Qi either, do you?"