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Chapter 111: Grand Commander, Are You Willing to Marry Xiao Jiu?
Chapter 111: Grand Commander, Are You Willing to Marry Xiao Jiu?
Noble Consort Li stormed into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, seething with anger. She refused to believe that a little brat could devour an imperial edict, thinking that no child could be gluttonous enough to such an extent. Hadn't they given her something to eat?!
However, as she crossed the threshold, ready to demand an explanation, she was instantly stunned by the scene before her.
In the solemn and somber hall, Lu Yuan sat coldly in a chair, a pile of unreviewed memorials laid out before him. He had just opened one, apparently pausing halfway through his review.
Countless scattered memorials littered the floor, leaving the little palace maids unsure whether to pick them up or not.
Dressed as a little tiger cub, Bao Shu sat on Lu Yuan's table, burping continuously.
Hu Yuanpan and Zuoyuan were both present, each on one side of Bao Shu, feeling her pulse with anxious expressions.
Throughout history, who would believe that someone ate an imperial edict? Was the Grand Commander not outrageous enough? Unexpectedly, his little daughter was even more shocking and unconventional.
"She... she really ate it?" Noble Consort Li's accusation stuck in her throat as she tried to "expose" Lu Yuan.
"Greetings to Your Highness, Noble Consort."
One of the little palace maids, who was picking up the memorials, noticed her first and quickly greeted her.
The others also turned around and bowed to her, greeting and inquiring after her well-being. Everyone except Lu Yuan, who remained seated like a mountain, and Bao Shu, who was too busy burping to pay her any mind.
Noble Consort Li cleared her throat and asked in a dignified manner, "How is Bao Shu?"
The two imperial physicians exchanged a glance. Hu Yuanpan kept his head lowered, remaining silent.
Zuoyuan glared at him and replied, "Your Highness, we have never encountered such a situation before. We need more time to observe and assess."
Noble Consort Li coldly retorted, "What use are you then?"
Both Zuoyuan and Hu Yuanpan knelt down and said in unison, "Your Highness, please forgive us."
Noble Consort Li said indifferently, "You may withdraw. Wang Dequan, stay outside and guard the hall. I have some words for the Grand Commander."
"Yes."
Wang Dequan responded and led the palace attendants out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, leaving only Ying Yue to attend to Noble Consort Li.
The two imperial physicians also took the hint and left the hall.
Noble Consort Li further instructed, "Ying Yue, take Bao Shu away."
Ying Yue went to pick up Bao Shu, but the little girl let out a fierce wail.
"Your Highness."
Ying Yue looked at Noble Consort Li, hesitant.
Seeing the unwelcoming attitude of the little girl, Noble Consort Li frowned and said, "Never mind, let her stay here. Take her away once she starts crying."
Ying Yue quietly retreated to the side.
The hall fell into silence, the only sound being Bao Shu's continuous burping.
Seeing Lu Yuan's indulgence towards Bao Shu, Noble Consort Li couldn't help but wonder secretly if the girl was truly his biological daughter.
But this man...
"What brings you here, Your Highness?" Lu Yuan interrupted Noble Consort Li's train of thought.
Noble Consort Li gave a cold humph. "There's no one else here, so you don't need to pretend. Speak, what about this edict displeases you so?"
Lu Yuan replied calmly, "Your Highness, what do you think I should be pleased about?"
Noble Consort Li arrogantly said, "After Meng Xiaojiu enters the palace, she will still be a member of the Grand Commander's residence. If you're dissatisfied with her being your younger sister and feel that her young age gives you the short end of the stick, then just adopt her as your daughter. That way, she'll have to call you father!"
Bao Shu's small body trembled, and she let out a "Wah?"
Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes dangerously.
Noble Consort Li continued, "Am I wrong? Aren't you just after her Inhu Order? As her relative in the palace, she'll have no choice but to rely on you. Eventually, the Inhu Order will be yours!"
Lu Yuan smiled, "Even if she doesn't enter the palace, the Inhu Order will still be mine."
Even his way of referring to himself had changed. Noble Consort Li knew he was angry. He and his biological mother from Miaojiang were both lunatics.
Noble Consort Li approached him and gently lifted her hand, her tone softening, "Ah Yuan, Meng Xiaojiu will marry one day. Instead of letting her marry another, why not let her become an imperial concubine? Xi Er is still your maternal cousin. With Meng Xiaojiu marrying him, it's like keeping the wealth within the family."
Bao Shu saw the hand that was about to land on Lu Yuan's shoulder and decisively crawled over, pulling it away. "Wah!"
Noble Consort Li said to Bao Shu, "I am your aunt."
"Wah!"
Bao Shu turned her face away.
Noble Consort Li didn't bother to argue with a child. She lifted her hand to adjust the phoenix hairpin on her head and turned to leave. "Think about it carefully. Is it better to let her marry someone else or your own maternal cousin? Oh, right, there are guests from Miaojiang."
At the Commander's Mansion
Meng Qianqian waited for a while in Tinglan Garden but didn't see Lu Yuan and Bao Shu returning. She left a letter for Lu Yuan in Bao Shu's room.
The Commander's Mansion and Fengshui Hutong were both connected to Zhuque Street, but in opposite directions—one to the south and the other to the north. Naturally, the Commander's Mansion had its own long street, an entire stretch belonging to it alone.
As Meng Qianqian walked along the lengthy street of the Commander's Mansion, a horse carriage passed by and stopped at the mansion's entrance.
She wondered if it might be Lu Yuan and Bao Shu returning, so she turned to look. She saw that it was none other than Cen, the estate manager, personally welcoming a group of people dressed in the style of Miaojiang. There were both elders and youths among them.
"Guests?" Meng Qianqian thought to herself.
It was quite rare for Cen to personally receive guests.
Meng Qianqian recalled the peonies from Miaojiang that Noble Consort Li had sent through Wang, the palace eunuch.
Could it be that the veiled person Noble Consort Li mentioned in the palace that day was referring to these Miaojiang people when she spoke of "seven days" and "on the way"?
...
The moon shone brightly, and the stars were sparse.
After Lu Yuan left the palace, he boarded a carriage back to Zhuque Street. The street was unusually eerie that night, devoid of the usual hustle and bustle. The shops were closed, and not a single peddler could be seen.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Commander's Mansion.
He stepped off the carriage, using a servant's back as a footrest.
Today, the mansion had once again tortured the prisoners in the dungeon, and the winding trail of blood reached his feet.
Without sparing it a glance, he strode into Tinglan Garden. Just as he pushed open the door, he heard someone call out to him from behind.
"Grand Commander."
He turned around and saw Meng Xiaojiu dressed in a tight-fitting outfit.
Meng Xiaojiu greeted him with a bow. "Xiaojiu pays respect to the Grand Commander."
Lu Yuan asked, "Did you receive Noble Consort Li's peonies?"
"Yes."
"Are you willing to enter the palace as a concubine?"
"Xiaojiu is unwilling. Xiaojiu... only wants to stay by the Grand Commander's side. Grand Commander, are you willing to marry Xiaojiu?"
"Wah!"
Bao Shu's loud cry startled Lu Yuan awake.
Bao Shu pointed outside, wailing loudly.
Qing Shuang spoke up, "Grand Commander, we've arrived. Did we disturb your nap just now?"
"No," Lu Yuan replied expressionlessly as he alighted from the carriage.
Behind him, Zhuque Street buzzed with activity—a constant stream of carriages and horses, and the incessant shouts of peddlers.
It was just a dream, an unrealistic fantasy with no meaning.
He entered the Commander's Mansion.
His hands were stained with blood, and in his dream, the mansion was also painted in blood. But he belatedly realized that ever since Bao Shu came into his life, he hadn't killed anyone in the mansion for a long time.
Lu Yuan went to the main courtyard and saw the group from Miaojiang in the hall. He addressed the elder among them, "Grandmother."
(End of Chapter)
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