Chapter 142: First Time, No Experience
Chapter 142: First Time, No Experience
"Grand Commander." Meng Qianqian spoke softly.
"Hmm?" Lu Lingxiao replied indifferently, "What is it?"
"Can I lift my bridal veil now?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Lu Lingxiao rested his hands on his knees and gave an indifferent hum in response.
And then, nothing happened.
Meng Qianqian reminded him again, "Grand Commander, lift my veil."
Lu Lingxiao paused, finally reacting. He raised his hand and reached for Meng Qianqian's veil.
As the shadow of his hand passed by, Meng Qianqian said, "Grand Commander, the jade scepter."
Lu Lingxiao stood up and walked away.
Meng Qianqian thought he would say something like, "How troublesome. Lift it yourself! I'm leaving!"
But to her surprise, he returned, seemingly holding something in his hand. Suddenly, a flash of golden light appeared, and a jade scepter reflected in her eyes, lifting her veil.
Was it an illusion?
Why did it feel like the Grand Commander's hand was trembling slightly? After lifting the veil, he immediately threw the jade scepter aside.
No, his hand didn't tremble; she just didn't see it clearly! Meng Qianqian watched as he "threw" the jade scepter back onto the tray, thinking that using his hand wouldn't have been a problem.
"Grand Commander."
"What now?" Lu Lingxiao asked coldly.
"The wine, do you want more?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Lu Lingxiao's expression turned gloomy. "You still want to drink? Why? Do you plan to get drunk so that this Commander can take advantage of you?"
Meng Qianqian opened her mouth in surprise. Now that the veil had been lifted, shouldn't they drink the ceremonial wine? Besides, it was just a small cup, and it wasn't strong liquor. Surely, she wouldn't get drunk from that—
As for taking advantage, even if she wanted to, he would have to cooperate. She wasn't the type to fall easily and let him do as he pleased.
"Little Nine wouldn't dare," Meng Qianqian said, and then her gaze fell on him, scanning him from head to toe. Very sincerely, she blew a rainbow fart, "Grand Commander, you look quite handsome in your wedding attire."
Usually, he wore either a purple brocade robe or a purple official robe, with a smile that was three parts dangerous. His entire being exuded danger to the core.
She didn't know when it started, but he gradually stopped smiling as much in front of her, always wearing a cold expression that made him hard to read.
Once, she had asked Official Ling about it in private, and Official Ling told her that the deeper the Grand Commander's smile, the stronger his killing intent.
So, it seemed that him not smiling at her wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Lu Lingxiao said indifferently, "You don't look bad yourself."
Meng Qianqian blinked, surprised at the compliment.
"Grand Commander."
"Meng Little Nine, how many times are you going to call this Commander in a day?" Lu Lingxiao asked sharply.
"How fierce," Meng Qianqian muttered to herself.
She fiddled with the tassels on her wedding dress and said, "I'm hungry. Can I have something to eat?"
She had eaten in the morning and before their departure at noon, but she was growing, so she got hungry quickly. Moreover, the food at the banquet smelled so delicious that she had been salivating since the wedding ceremony.
Lu Lingxiao stood up and walked towards the door.
"Did I say something wrong again?" Meng Qianqian wondered.
"Are you coming or not?" Lu Lingxiao asked coldly, his hands clasped behind his back.
Meng Qianqian looked at him in confusion. "Hmm?"
"If you want to eat, how can you do it in the room?" Lu Lingxiao explained.
Meng Qianqian's eyes lit up. "Do you mean, Grand Commander, that I can go out and eat? Really?"
Lu Lingxiao swept her with a sidelong glance. "If you don't want to, forget it."
"I do, I do!" Meng Qianqian immediately got up and eagerly opened the door for him, "After you, Grand Commander."
Li Mama, who was waiting in the corridor, was startled when she saw Meng Qianqian and Lu Lingxiao emerging from the bridal chamber together. "Miss! Why are you out here?"
On the day of the wedding, the bride must stay in the bridal chamber. It was a custom and a rule.
After living in the Lu family for five years, Li Mama's biggest impression was that the more prestigious the family, the stricter the rules. This was especially true for a married woman of high status; she had to be cautious in her speech and behavior in her husband's family.
Without waiting for Meng Qianqian's response, Lu Yuan spoke up, "Let's go have something to eat, and we'll come back afterward. You may rest if you're tired, Nanny Li."
Nanny Li was startled by his suggestion to take the newlyweds to the feast. "Guye, this probably isn't in line with proper etiquette."
"The Governor's mansion doesn't bother with those unnecessary rules," Lu Yuan replied.
With that, he led Meng Qianqian away.
Nanny Li was left bewildered.
Banxia stared at the backs of the newlywed couple, walking side by side, and muttered, "Nanny Li, does the Groom not know that the bride shouldn't leave the bridal chamber?"
Nanny Li quickly called for a young maid from the Governor's mansion and asked, "Has the Grand Governor attended any wedding banquets at other mansions before?"
"No," the young maid shook her head. "The Grand Governor has no interest in other people's weddings, and he never attends their feasts."
"Ai yo!" Nanny Li exclaimed, slapping her thigh.
She had thought that the Groom was deliberately breaking the rules, but it turned out he simply didn't know any better!
She knew that the new Groom was marrying for the first time, but she had assumed that even if he hadn't eaten pork, he must have at least seen pigs run. Turns out, he truly hadn't seen any!
Nanny Li quickly instructed Banxia, "Hurry and catch up with them. Make sure the Groom doesn't take the bride to the feast!"
Banxia ran to the doorway and looked out. "I... I can't catch up."
Nanny Li's eyes widened in dismay.
Fortunately, Lu Yuan didn't take Meng Qianqian to the feast. After all, the guests would surely crowd around them, and they wouldn't be able to eat in peace.
Instead, he took her to a nearby pavilion.
It was close to the stage, so they could listen to the opera, and it was also near the kitchen, ensuring that the dishes were still hot and fresh when they arrived.
Lu Yuan ordered the servants to lower the curtains around the pavilion, creating a hazy and mysterious atmosphere that kept prying eyes from stealing a glimpse of her beauty.
Servants set up a large round table on top of the stone table, filling it with various dishes symbolizing a blissful marriage.
Meng Qianqian thought back to when she had married Lu Lingxiao. The Lu family had held a wedding ceremony, and she had traveled a long distance to attend. The change in environment had left her feeling unwell, and Lu Lingxiao had left without even lifting her bridal veil to attend the banquet.
The twelve-year-old her had been left alone in the bridal chamber in the Halla Garden, hungry and miserable.
Banxia had only dared to sneak her a few snacks, and she had choked on them, tears streaming down her face.
Thinking about it now, she must have felt so wronged back then.
In a strange place, no one knew how scared and uncomfortable she felt. All the guests were celebrating the Lu family's joy, and the Lu family was rejoicing that they were no longer mired in debt.
Only she, from beginning to end, felt like a tool used to satisfy this grand feast.
Lu Yuan noticed that she had stopped eating and asked, "Don't you like the food?"
"It's delicious. All of it is to my taste," Meng Qianqian said, her eyes clear as a mountain spring. "Grand Governor, aren't you going to attend the banquet?"
"What's the point of feasting?" Lu Yuan replied indifferently.
He paused for a moment before adding, "I'll go later."
Meng Qianqian smiled and said, "Then, would you like to eat something first to fill your stomach?"
Once they went to the banquet, people would surely toast them with drinks. She wasn't worried about others, but she knew that Zhang Feihu and the others could drink quite a lot.
Lu Yuan nonchalantly hummed in acknowledgment.
Meng Qianqian served him some dishes.
"Eat your own food. I can serve myself," Lu Yuan said.
"Oh," Meng Qianqian replied.
She returned to her seat and continued eating with relish.
After Meng Qianqian had her fill, Lu Yuan escorted her back to the bridal chamber and brought the drowsy Bao Zhuzhu to keep her company before finally going to attend the banquet.
Bao Zhuzhu, with her golden tuft of hair, looked around in confusion, wondering who she was, where she was, and what she was doing.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
