Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Chapter 7: Do You Know How to Hold a Baby?

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Do You Know How to Hold a Baby?Lu Xingzhou pondered and said, "The matter of Grand Commander Lu having a child was concealed even more tightly than your faked death. Not a trace of it leaked out before."

After a pause, Lu Xingzhou added, "Actually, it's not that he intentionally kept it hidden. It's just that anything concerning him—if he doesn't want it discovered, no one dares to dig deeper."

Lu Lingxiao frowned. "But isn't there still the Jinyi Guard?"

Lu Xingzhou sighed. "The Jinyi Guard has long become his claws and fangs."

Lu Lingxiao was incredulous. "How could that be..."

The Jinyi Guard, historically under the direct command of past emperors, was known for its absolute loyalty to the Emperor.

Lu Xingzhou looked out at the night through the window with a complex expression. "At that time, the Holy Emperor was but a child under ten. Grand Commander Lu, citing the Emperor's youth, took over leadership of the Jinyi Guard, promising to return command the day the Emperor assumed full authority."

Lu Lingxiao spoke coldly, "Would the ministers actually believe such nonsense?"

Lu Xingzhou replied, "Believe it or not, does it even matter?"

Lu Lingxiao had no answer to that.

He hadn't foreseen that in just five years, Grand Commander Lu had managed to extend his authority to every corner of the court.

Lu Xingzhou continued, "Though he controls the court, military power is still outside his grasp. I suspect the purpose of tomorrow's banquet might be trying to win over the war heroes returning from the border."

Lu Lingxiao froze for a moment. "To host a banquet... he would go so far as to fabricate the existence of a child? Could he truly be this absurd?"

Lu Xingzhou, far calmer than his son, said, "He's done even more preposterous things before. Enough. His family matters are no concern to us—focus more on how to handle yourself at the banquet tomorrow."

Lu Lingxiao clenched his fists, righteous fury surging within him. "Father, when I departed on my mission under imperial decree, I swore an oath before our ancestors' tablets: I will serve only Your Majesty in this life and never associate with traitors and evildoers like him! When the time is ripe, I will eradicate this plague for Great Zhou and Your Majesty!"

Exiting the study, father and son happened to bump into Meng Qianqian as she stepped out from Lu Mother's quarters.

Meng Qianqian bowed to Lu Xingzhou. "Father."

Lu Xingzhou nodded slightly. "Visiting your mother?"

"Hmm."

Meng Qianqian acknowledged softly.

Lu Xingzhou turned to his son. "You and Qianqian head back to Haitang Courtyard early and rest well. Tomorrow will be a long day."

The meaning of his words was all too clear.

Lu Lingxiao glanced at Meng Qianqian briefly and said to Lu Xingzhou, "Understood, Father."

Of course, Lu Lingxiao had no intention of staying overnight at Haitang Courtyard. Yet, due to his lingering guilt toward her, he decided to escort Meng Qianqian first to save face in front of the servants.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they exited the main residence, Meng Qianqian said to him, "I'll return to Haitang Courtyard myself. Husband, please do as you please."

Lu Lingxiao was momentarily stunned.

Lu Mother's foot injury had yet to heal, so while she could manage walking within the residence, she obviously wouldn't attend tomorrow's banquet.

For the past few years, Meng Qianqian had lived as a widow within the household, seldom leaving except to

She opened the oil-paper umbrella and stepped through the shop's rear door into the storm without hesitation.

In the rain-darkened alley, corpses lay scattered haphazardly.

A group of burly guards stood amidst the downpour, their murderous aura palpable, their blades dripping blood that mixed with the rainwater to form a snaking, crimson river.

Flying fish robes, Brocade Spring Sabers.

The Jinyi Guard.

Among them, one guard, who had not drawn his saber, stood stiffly while cradling a wailing infant, his expression more tormented than if he had been struck by a blade.

Not far away, a man dressed in purple armor gripped a young woman by the throat, pinning her against a cracked wall with brutal indifference.

"You cannot kill me... I'm the child's—"

Before the woman could finish, the man in purple twisted his hand, snapping her neck.

"When I intend to kill, your identity matters less than nothing."

A voice, exquisitely rich and melodious, carried an inherent detachment and menace, arrogance bleeding through its tone.

The purple-clad man retrieved a clean white cloth, wiped his armored hand, then discarded it into the rain-soaked blood.

The guard holding the infant spoke up, "Sir, what should we do with the child?"

The purple-clad man did not reply but instead turned leisurely toward Meng Qianqian, as if sensing her presence.

A suffocating wave of killing intent enveloped her.

He tilted her oil-paper umbrella and smirked. "What did you see?"

The Jinyi Guard immediately tensed, alert to the intruder they had failed to notice until now.

The purple-clad man's towering form completely shielded Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian supported the now-tilted umbrella despite its awkward position and said coolly, "I saw nothing."

The purple-clothed man raised a brow. "Oh?"

The Jinyi Guards gripped their Brocade Spring Sabers tightly.

Kill her!

The man in purple smiled and asked, "Do you know how to hold a child?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "I do."

Without turning back, the man merely gestured with his hand.

The guard instantly understood, passing the screaming, purple-faced infant to Meng Qianqian.

Strangely, the moment the child entered Meng Qianqian's arms, it ceased crying.