The second wife now truly begins to miss the days when Meng Qianqian was in the Lu Family. With ample resources at hand, that goes without saying, but everything in the mansion was perfectly organized under Meng Qianqian’s management—she didn’t have to worry about a single thing, and the household was harmonious.
How does it pare to now? Tight finances, chaotic disorder, utter chaos!
When she first received the wedding invitation from the Governor Mansion, she was still delighted, thinking that the Governor Mansion valued the Lu Family and had invited everyone.
And yet, the reality? The Governor Mansion’s intent was to utterly humiliate the Lu Family!
Lu Yuan wanted the members of the Lu Family to witness Meng Qianqian’s grand wedding with their very own eyes—to see her marrying again, marrying in such splendor, marrying in a manner that could inspire envy in all.
For once, the old lady uttered not a single word.
When Meng Qianqian became a Yin Hu Guard of the Twelve Guards, due to her lack of understanding, the old lady didn’t actually think Meng Qianqian was all that remarkable.
After all, Lin Wan’er was the daughter of some guard as well, but Lin Wan’er was always so acmodating and respectful toward her grandson—she reckoned her own grandson must still be more impressive.
But the status of the mander’s Wife in the Governor Mansion? That, she understood deeply.
Thinking of the torment she had once inflicted upon Meng Qianqian, her knees went weak.
"Father, let’s go,"
Lu Lingxiao said in plete despair.
To remain any longer would only be to endure more humiliation from Lu Yuan—why bother?
Lu Xingzhou nodded grimly, glancing around: "Where’s your great-grandmother?"
Outside the gates.
Some of the guests, citing matters at home, began to take their leave.
The elderly matriarch stood at the door, her face full of kind smiles, holding the hand of a madam: "Thank you for attending my Qianqian’s wedding banquet. Take care on your way home."
"Madam, I wish Lu Yuan and his wife an early blessing of children and a harmonious union that lasts a lifetime."
"Good, good, good! I’ll thank you for your kind words!"
The elderly matriarch escorted each guest one by one. At first, they all addressed her as "Madam of Lu," yet somewhere along the line—perhaps with one particular guest—the appellation changed to "Madam of Meng."
"Thank you, Madam Meng."
"Madam Meng has truly been considerate."
"Madam Meng, please don’t trouble yourself to see us off—we shall take our leave now."
Lu Lingxiao’s eyes bulged: "Great-grandmother!"
The elderly matriarch trembled, her eyes darted around mischievously, and with a wave of her hand she exclaimed: "Oh dear, I didn’t hear, I’m running off, running off!"
"Great-grandmother!"
Lu Lingxiao gritted his teeth and chased after her.
What struck Lu Lingxiao as odd was how, despite this being her first visit to the Governor Mansion, his great-grandmother seemed entirely familiar with its layout. In the blink of an eye, she had disappeared.
Chasing further, he arrived at a courtyard adorned with countless red lanterns.
Nanny Li came rushing out from within, calling to him anxiously: "Young Master!"
Lu Lingxiao’s chest tightened—a familiar wave of emotion made him feel as if he had slipped into a dream.
It was as if he had returned to the night of his marriage ceremony over five years ago.
"Hmm."
A languid and magnetic voice slowly drifted over from behind him. He jolted upright with a start, snapping back to reality, and turned around. He saw Lu Yuan dressed in a bright red wedding robe, walking calmly toward the courtyard.
"Young Master, have you been drinking?"
Nanny Li brushed past Lu Lingxiao, holding up a lantern to illuminate Lu Yuan’s path.
Lu Yuan stumbled slightly.
Nanny Li hurriedly reached out to steady him, letting the lantern fall to the ground: "Oh dear, Young Master! How much have you drunk?"
Just as her words fell, the door to the bridal chamber opened.
Meng Qianqian stepped out, dressed in a glorious red wedding gown, resembling the Phoenix Goddess reborn from ashes, stepping lightly forward from the veil of night toward Lu Yuan.
Lu Lingxiao stared at her, breathless.
Meng Qianqian extended her fair, jade-like hand to support the drunken Lu Yuan: "Grand mander."
Lu Yuan’s beautiful phoenix eyes, glazing as if intoxicated by a vast peach grove in bloom, rested firmly on her: "Call me what?"
"Hu-Husband."
Meng Qianqian lowered her head.
A sharp pang stabbed through Lu Lingxiao’s heart.
So this is how painful it feels—to hear her call another man "Husband."
"Did they force you to drink?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "Only a little—I can’t get drunk. Has Treasure Piggy gone to sleep?"
Meng Qianqian answered, "No, she’s still playing. Have the guests all left?"
Lu Yuan said, "No, the opera performers will be singing all night long."
Meng Qianqian asked, "Don’t you need to acpany them?"
Lu Yuan snorted: "What? Should my bridal chamber night be spent with those stinking old men?"
Meng Qianqian gently lowered her head: "Oh."
Lu Yuan stretched a hand toward Meng Qianqian. She paused briefly before softly taking it.
Hand in hand, Lu Yuan led her—her delicate, cool palm yielding in his grip—firmly into the bridal chamber.
Under the moonlit sky, the pair dressed in their matrimonial red, symbolized the harmonious pairing of dragon and phoenix, like the perfect match of immortal lovers in this mundane world.
Lu Lingxiao pletely forgot why he had e. He now resembled a defeated soldier, dragging his broken, battle-worn body as he staggered dejectedly away from the battlefield.
After entering the room, Meng Qianqian spoke to Lu Yuan: "Grand mander, they’ve left."
"Hmph."
Lu Yuan coldly withdrew his hand.
Meng Qianqian smiled as she drew open the bed canopy: "Great-grandmother."
The elderly matriarch grinned mischievously: "Hehehe~"
Treasure Piggy, though she had missed the wedding proceedings, was delighted at the prospect of sleeping alongside Meng Qianqian from tonight onwards!
Yet alas, the bed had barely warmed when the elderly matriarch promptly whisked her away.
The elderly matriarch chuckled like a villainous caricature: "Little great-grandbaby, hehehe!"
Ban Xia also withdrew.
The room was left with only Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan.
Quietly, the two sat on the marriage bed, neither speaking a word.
Meng Qianqian knew he had drunk too much. Though he pretended to be sober, his eyes were opened unnaturally wide.
Softly, she began: "Grand mander."
Lu Yuan replied: "I’m not drunk."
Meng Qianqian: "Oh."
Lu Yuan grabbed casually at the bed linens and frowned: "Who brought peanuts here?"
Meng Qianqian explained, "The wedding concierge scattered them—it symbolizes an early blessing of children."
Lu Yuan, now stern-faced, asked: "You want to bear children for me?"
Meng Qianqian: Well, you asked first didn’t you?
Clearly, this man had drunk too much—acting almost childishly, rummaging through the bed, picking up each item to ask its significance—more serious than Yu Zichuan.
Meng Qianqian sighed: "Grand mander, please rest. I’ll go sleep over by Bao Shu."
The moment she rose to leave, a well-defined hand quickly clasped her wrist.
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