https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-125-The-Grand-Governor-Comes-to-Her-Defense/12582592/
Chapter 124: A Mother and Daughter Reunion
Chapter 124: A Mother and Daughter Reunion
A heavy downpour soaked the capital city overnight, but by morning, the skies had suddenly cleared, leaving the courtyard fragrant with the scent of damp earth and grass. The branches of the crabapple tree sparkled with dew, each leaf glistening in the sunlight.
Meng Qianqian had just finished an hour of practicing with her embroidered spring blade. It was a fine weapon, but she felt that it was a little too light.
She suddenly remembered the giant axe wielded by the bearded man she had seen that night. She didn't know what kind of weapon she had used in her past life, but she felt it must have been heavier than this blade.
As she was deep in thought, a soft, childish voice called out from beyond the door, "Jiu!"
Meng Qianqian's eyes lit up, and she sheathed her blade.
Wan Mama, full of delight, took small, quick steps to open the courtyard gate. "Oh my, who have we here?"
Baoshu sat in Qing Shuang's arms, "Mama, Grandma."
"Hey there!" Wan Mama exclaimed joyfully, her eyes crinkling with laughter. "Miss Baoshu, Miss Qing Shuang, please come in!"
"Wan Mama," Qing Shuang nodded in greeting.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Baoshu wriggled out of Qing Shuang's arms and toddled over to Meng Qianqian, her little arms outstretched as she wobbled towards her.
Meng Qianqian smiled at her and waited for her to come close before bending down to pick her up.
Ever since the engagement was finalized, according to wedding customs, she couldn't visit the Governor's mansion anymore and had to wait until after the wedding to meet her husband.
Although Lu Yuan was just a fake husband, Li Mama didn't know that, and she kept a close eye on Meng Qianqian day and night.
It had been a while since she last visited the library, and the little one hadn't come by either.
"I miss you, Xiao Jiu." Baoshu said in her baby talk.
Meng Qianqian pinched her little cheek, "If you missed me, why didn't you come to see me?"
Baoshu let out a little sigh, sounding like a grown-up, "Busy."
Meng Qianqian was amused by her, "You know how to say 'busy' now? What have you been busy with?"
Baoshu babbled on, but Meng Qianqian couldn't understand her baby talk.
Thankfully, Qing Shuang understood and interpreted for her, "Miss Baoshu has made quite a few friends in the capital. The youngest is just a month old, while the oldest are three or four years old. Miss Baoshu has invited them all to the Governor's mansion wedding banquet and even reminded them to bring gifts."
Meng Qianqian's lips twitched, and she asked hesitantly, "How did she... remind them?"
Could she speak that much?
Qing Shuang recalled Baoshu's serious expression as she babbled and gestured to a group of young noble children, and said confidently, "I think she did."
Meng Qianqian: "..."
Lu Yuan had his wedding attire, Meng Qianqian had her bridal gown, and now Baoshu needed her own little ceremonial robe. That was why she had come today, to ask Meng Qianqian to help her choose a small ceremonial robe.
"We're at the Yanyuge," Qing Shuang said.
Tanyue was still asleep, so Meng Qianqian didn't wake her. Instead, she brought Banshu, Baoshu, and Qing Shuang along in the Governor's mansion carriage.
Today, Yanyuge was once again bustling with customers, despite the embroiderers repeatedly emphasizing that the master had already taken on a project and wouldn't accept another. Still, it didn't deter those who came seeking their services.
Meng Qianqian, carrying Baoshu, stepped down from the carriage and was met with a sea of people. The two of them stood there, stunned by the crowd.
At that moment, another carriage pulled up to the entrance of Yanyuge.
Lin Wan'er stepped out, accompanied by Lu Luo.
Meng Qianqian had never paid much attention to Lin Wan'er, but Lin Wan'er always seemed to catch sight of her first, unconsciously.
However, this time, her state of mind was different.
She walked proudly up to Meng Qianqian, her eyes flicking to Baoshu in Meng Qianqian's arms. Of course, she recognized the little one, as she was wearing clothes handmade by Lu's mother.
She was Lu Yuan's daughter.
Her grandfather didn't care for her, yet he had her grandmother make clothes for another's child.
Did she think that by doing this, she could curry favor with the Governor's mansion on Meng Qianqian's behalf? In the end, Lu Yuan was still going to marry another woman!
"Hey, why are you so close to our young miss?" Banshu noticed Lin Wan'er and quickly extended her arm to block her from approaching her mistress.
Lu Luo scoffed, "What's so great about that? Do you really think you can gain a higher status through this child?"
Banshu retorted, "The one trying to gain status through a child is your mistress, the fox spirit! She seduced her way into the household, got pregnant without a proper marriage, and now acts shamelessly as if she owns the place! She's disgraced all women, and if her father knew how shameless his daughter was, he'd probably climb out of his coffin just to slap her twice!"
"You..." Lu Luo began, her face reddening with anger. These words sounded familiar, as if someone had said them to her before. "Don't get too full of yourself!"
Banshu imitated Tanyue's arrogant tone, "So what if I am? It's none of your business!"
Baoshu turned her head away, looking serious.
Meng Qianqian covered her ears, "Don't listen to them."
Lin Wan'er signed to Meng Qianqian: Meng Qianqian, the Governor is going to get married, and the Lu family has received the wedding invitation. If I were you, I'd run back to Youzhou with my tail between my legs. The lady of the Governor's mansion is not someone to be trifled with. I fear you won't make it out alive.
What was Lu Yuan up to? Had he sent invitations to the Lu family?
She didn't mind, as the embarrassing one would be Lu Lingxiao.
Lin Wan'er: Are you scared?
Meng Qianqian nodded, "You're right about one thing. The lady of the Governor's mansion is indeed not someone to be trifled with."
"Attendants!"
Several accompanying guards immediately stepped forward.
Meng Qianqian glanced at Lin Wan'er and calmly instructed, "As long as I'm here, she is not allowed to enter."
"Yes!"
The guards responded in unison, forming a line and blocking Lin Wan'er and her maid with a menacing aura.
Lu Luo gritted her teeth. "Meng Qianqian, don't act so high and mighty!"
Without turning back, Meng Qianqian calmly said, "Slap her."
One of the guards promptly slapped Lu Luo, the force of which knocked out one of her teeth.
Lu Luo covered her mouth, full of blood, no longer daring to shout.
Everyone turned to look at the commotion.
Lin Wan'er felt immense humiliation. She clenched her fingers, her eyes filled with hatred as she glared at Meng Qianqian's departing figure.
The manager of Yanyuge personally came to the door and respectfully invited Meng Qianqian and her group inside.
"Meng Qianqian, what's so great about you?" Lin Wan'er thought bitterly. "Do you really think these people respect you? It's just because of Miss Baoshu's face. Wait until she has a stepmother; I'd like to see how you'll continue to act so arrogantly!"
"I will tell the Madam of the Governor's mansion about all your seductions of the Grand Governor on the day of the grand wedding!"
The manager directly led Meng Qianqian and her group upstairs to the third floor.
He knelt in front of Meng Qianqian and personally served her tea. "The master is busy making clothes and won't be able to come out to greet Miss Meng and Miss Baoshu. Please forgive us."
Meng Qianqian smiled and nodded. "Thank you, manager."
Baoshu was rolling and doing somersaults on the clean wooden floor, having the time of her life.
The manager smiled and asked, "Miss Meng, to be honest, this is the first time our Yanyuge is making a ceremonial robe for such a young child, and we're a bit unsure about the design. Why don't you tell us about Miss Baoshu's preferences, and I'll have someone design a few styles for you to choose from?"
Meng Qianqian watched as the little tiger cub tumbled on the floor, her brain filling with images of Baoshu's usual adorable and proud expressions. She picked up the brush and began to paint, bringing those expressions to life on paper.
She put down her brush and said, "She probably likes something like this."
...
"Master! Master!"
Yun Xiyao was cutting fabric when she heard the loud knocking on her door. With a cold face, she opened it and said, "Didn't I tell you not to disturb me this month? Do you want to be the manager anymore?"
The manager presented Meng Qianqian's design to her, his voice shaking with excitement. "Master, look!"
Yun Xiyao took a sharp breath.
...
After leaving Yanyuge, Meng Qianqian planned to visit her family's tea business.
Banxia suddenly pointed forward and said, "Miss, isn't that the Young Master? Hey, why is he entering the gold shop? Is he buying gold? Why isn't Wu Ge with him?"
These past few days, Cen Guan had arranged for people to take the Seventh Uncle, Third Uncle, Meng Bo, and others around the city for sightseeing. He had also invited Yu Li, but Yu Li said he wanted to visit the academies in the capital, so Meng Qianqian had Wu Ge act as his carriage driver.
Banxia continued, "The Young Master is out. He's entering our family's tea business again."
"Go and greet him," Meng Qianqian instructed.
Baoshu pointed at Yu Li and said, "Brother."
Meng Qianqian smiled. "You should call him Cousin."
Baoshu pouted, unable to pronounce the word 'cousin.'
Meng Qianqian hugged Baoshu and entered the tea business.
Liu Changsheng was entertaining guests in a side room. A waiter came to greet her. "Miss!"
Meng Qianqian looked around but didn't see Yu Li. She asked the waiter, "Where is the young man in the blue robe who was just here?"
The waiter replied, "Ah, I remember that guest. He came to ask for directions and left through the back door after getting the information he needed!"
Meng Qianqian felt that Yu Li was acting strangely. "Where did he want to go?"
"The gambling house," the waiter answered.
Banxia almost dropped her jaw. "The Young Master is going to a gambling house?"
The waiter was taken aback. "That guest... is the Young Miss' cousin?"
Meng Qianqian said to Baoshu, "Little one, stay here with Qing Shuang."
Baoshu pointed at herself. "Go, too."
Meng Qianqian rubbed her little head. "I'll take you there when you're older."
"Miss," Banxia said.
"You wait here for me, too," Meng Qianqian instructed.
Gambling houses were not good places.
Meng Qianqian left the tea business and followed the direction the waiter had indicated, making her way toward the gambling house.
She soon spotted Yu Li's back, but he didn't enter the gambling house. Instead, he turned into an alley next to it.
Meng Qianqian followed.
At the mouth of the alley, she heard Yu Li's voice.
"You finally agreed to meet me."
"Didn't I tell you not to look for me? I will make the necessary arrangements for your enrollment in the Imperial College. You just need to wait for the news at home."
"I didn't come to see you about that."
"Then why are you here?"
"Are you really not going to meet your cousin?"
Meng Qianqian was puzzled. "Cousin"? He must be talking about me. Does this woman have something to do with me?
"I have nothing to do with the Meng family anymore. Why are you still forcing me to meet her?" The woman's emotions were agitated. After she finished speaking, she turned and left the alley, only to bump into Meng Qianqian, who was standing at the entrance.
(End of Chapter)
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