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Chapter 144: The Wedding Night
Chapter 144: The Wedding Night
"Hey! Look! The Grand Preceptor is drinking!"
The young master of the Xingbu Shilang family nudged his father with his elbow.
Xingbu Shilang glared at his impudent son. "So he's drinking. What of it?"
He shot a cold glance in the direction of the commotion, and then froze.
Did he see that right? The usually dignified Grand Preceptor, who usually drank from a delicate golden cup, was now directly hugging a large wine jar and gulping from it?
Who dared to force wine on the Grand Preceptor so brazenly?
As he looked closer, he recognized Zhang Feihu.
Zhang Feihu gave Lu Yuan a solemn look before grabbing a wine jar and tilting his head back to down the contents.
"Well done!"
A guest cheered.
Lu Yuan and Zhang Feihu drank one after the other, and anyone could tell that Lu Yuan was truly drinking while Zhang Feihu was just pouring the wine down his throat.
"My turn!"
Nie Hanshan stepped forward, holding a wine jar.
Lu Yuan looked at him, his gaze unwavering. "Bring it on."
"This..." Shangguan Ling hesitated.
Qing Shuang handed Lu Yuan a jar of Niangjiu.
The Grand Preceptor's wedding, his blunder during the wedding ceremony, and now being forced to drink—today's wedding banquet was truly an eye-opener for the guests, and they would likely remember this day for years to come.
The guests, who had initially watched the drinking contest between Lu Yuan and Zhang Feihu from their respective seats, gradually gathered around, forming layers of spectators. Those sitting down could no longer see what was happening inside the circle, but they could hear the enthusiastic cheers and shouts of "Good!" and "Again!"
"Me... I want to drink with you too!"
Yu Li squeezed his way through the crowd with all his might.
However, he passed out after just one cup.
As Meng Tianlan and the Seventh Uncle pulled him away, he was still drunkenly shouting, "My... my question... let him... answer it..."
Lu Lingxiao stood up abruptly, his fist clenched.
"Sit down!" Lu Xingzhou chastised.
Lu Lingxiao's heart was filled with a mix of emotions as he, too, had just learned that Lu Yuan's bride was Meng Qianqian. He was just as shocked as the guests, if not more.
Just a few months ago, she had been his wife, living in the Land of Hibiscus within the Lu family compound and calling him her husband.
Now, she was still a Mrs. Lu, but no longer his wife.
He couldn't quite describe the emotions he was feeling, but he knew he didn't feel good.
Aside from the elderly madam and Lu Mu, who were genuinely happy for Meng Qianqian, who else in the Lu family could feel joy at this moment?
Lin Wan'er had been plotting to humiliate Meng Qianqian publicly and turn her into an outcast. Who would have thought that Meng Qianqian would become the legitimate main wife, married to Lu Yuan on an auspicious day intended for the emperor and empress?
Lin Wan'er felt like vomiting blood.
When she had been nameless and without status, Meng Qianqian had suppressed her with the title of main wife. Now that she had finally gained some recognition, Meng Qianqian had become an even higher-status main wife!
Why... why could she never beat her?
Lu Linglong, standing nearby, muttered, "I saw the bride's dowry when it was brought into the Grand Preceptor's residence earlier. There were 160 loads in total, more than when she married into our family."
She was envious and longing for such a dowry. After the Lu family had returned Meng Qianqian's dowry, she hadn't been able to buy any new clothes for a long time!
Lu Mu spoke up, "The Grand Preceptor also gave a generous betrothal gift to Qianqian. What did our Lu family give her back then?"
The Second Madam scoffed, "Big sister-in-law, why are you taking the side of an outsider? Just because the Third Uncle came to offer you a toast, you consider yourself part of her family now?"
Meng Tianlan had come to offer a toast earlier, but no one had paid him any attention except for the elderly madam and Lu Mu. This had left the Second Madam feeling sour.
Lu Mu retorted, "Second sister-in-law, instead of picking on your own family, why don't you think about how to arrange a marriage for your daughter?"
The last time Lu Linglong had fallen into the water, she had been saved by a poor scholar. Naturally, they didn't want to marry Lu Linglong to him, so they offered him some silver to keep quiet about the incident. However, the scholar had refused to take a single copper coin and had left.
Somehow, the story had spread, and it had become even more difficult to find a suitable husband for Lu Linglong.
The Second Madam realized that the eldest sister-in-law's tongue had become sharper lately. In the past, she used to mock her, but she never retaliated!
The Second Madam was furious and glared at her daughter. "Look at you! Back at the temple, both you and Meng Qianqian were taken back by the Grand Preceptor. How did she end up winning his heart? Where are you lacking compared to her? You're the daughter of a general's mansion and a proper, untouched young lady, unlike her, a broken flower..."
"Second Aunt!"
Lu Lingxiao interrupted the Second Madam angrily.
The Second Madam turned to Lu Lingxiao. "What are you glaring at me for? Did I say something wrong? Oh, do you have the capability to do something? How did you let your wife run away? You brought back a so-called 'general's daughter,' but you couldn't even afford her dowry! What happened to the emperor's bestowment? It turned into a simple second marriage with minimal ceremony! All of Lu family's troubles today are because of you!"
The Second Madam truly missed the days when Meng Qianqian was part of the Lu family. Not only were their finances more comfortable back then, but everything in the mansion was also well-organized, and she didn't have to worry about anything. The family had been harmonious.
Now, however, they were struggling financially, and everything was in disarray.
When she had first received the wedding invitation from the Grand Preceptor's residence, she had been delighted, thinking that the Grand Preceptor's family valued the Lu family and had invited everyone.
But in reality, the Grand Preceptor's family had intended to humiliate the Lu family.
Lu Yuan wanted the Lu family to witness Meng Qianqian's wedding. He wanted them to see that she had truly married this time—a proper, honorable, and enviable marriage.
The old madam, for once, remained silent.
When Meng Qianqian became one of the Twelve Guards, the Tiger Guard, Lin Wan'er didn't think much of her abilities due to her lack of understanding.
Lin Wan'er was also the daughter of one of the guards, and because Lin Wan'er's son was so accommodating and respectful to her, she assumed that her grandson might be more formidable.
However, she was well aware of the status of being the Madam of the Commander-in-Chief's residence.
Thinking back on how she had mistreated Meng Qianqian, her legs felt weak.
"Father, let's go." Lu Lingxiao said dejectedly. There was no point in staying any longer, as it would only lead to more humiliation at Lu Yuan's hands.
Lu Xingzhou nodded grimly and looked around. "Where's your great-grandmother?"
She was at the front door.
Some guests began to leave as they had matters to attend to at home.
The elderly madam, with a kind face, held a lady's hand and said, "Thank you for attending my granddaughter-in-law Qianqian's wedding banquet. Please travel safely."
"Madam, may Lu and his wife be blessed with a child soon and live a long and harmonious life together."
"Yes, yes! May your kind words come true!"
The elderly madam saw each guest off one by one. At first, everyone addressed her as "Madam," but as the guests took their leave, someone started calling her "Madam Meng," and soon everyone followed suit.
"Thank you, Madam Meng."
"You're very kind, Madam Meng."
"Madam Meng, you may return now. There's no need to see us off."
Lu Lingxiao's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Great-grandmother!"
The elderly madam's body trembled, and her eyes darted about. With a wave of her hand, she said, "Oh dear, I didn't hear you. I must be off."
"Great-grandmother!"
Lu Lingxiao chased after her angrily.
What puzzled Lu Lingxiao was that although it was the first time his great-grandmother had visited, she seemed very familiar with the Commander-in-Chief's residence. In the blink of an eye, she had disappeared.
As he chased after her, he arrived at a courtyard adorned with red lanterns.
Li Mama came out to meet him, calling out anxiously, "Son-in-law!"
Lu Lingxiao's heart skipped a beat as the familiar feeling sent him into a daze.
It felt like he had returned to his grand wedding night more than five years ago.
"Hmm."
A lazy yet magnetic voice sounded behind him, jolting him back to his senses. He turned around and saw Lu Yuan, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, walking towards the courtyard with a relaxed gait.
"Son-in-law, have you been drinking?"
Li Mama walked past Lu Lingxiao and held a lantern to light Lu Yuan's path.
Lu Yuan stumbled.
Li Mama quickly went to support him, and the lantern fell to the ground. "Oh dear, son-in-law! How much have you had to drink?"
As she spoke, the door to the bridal chamber opened.
Meng Qianqian, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, emerged like a phoenix goddess from the ashes, walking gracefully towards Lu Yuan in the moonlight.
Lu Lingxiao stared straight at her, his breath catching in his throat.
Meng Qianqian extended her hand, as pale and delicate as jade, to support the drunken Lu Yuan. "Commander-in-Chief."
Lu Yuan's beautiful phoenix eyes, drunk with allure, fixed on her. "What did you call me?"
"Hus... husband."
Meng Qianqian lowered her head.
Lu Lingxiao's heart suddenly felt as if it had been pierced by a needle.
Hearing her call another man "husband" was indeed a painful experience.
"Did they force you to drink?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Lu Yuan replied indifferently, "A little, but not enough to get me drunk. Is Bao Zhu asleep?"
"Not yet, she's playing. Have all the guests left?" Meng Qianqian asked.
"No, the opera troupe will be performing through the night," Lu Yuan answered.
"Don't you need to accompany them?" Meng Qianqian inquired.
Lu Yuan hummed, "Why? Should the Commander-in-Chief spend his wedding night entertaining those old men?"
Meng Qianqian lowered her head slightly. "Oh."
Lu Yuan reached out his hand to Meng Qianqian, who hesitated for a moment before gently taking it.
Lu Yuan held her delicate, boneless hand, which was slightly cold, and resolutely entered the bridal chamber.
Under the moonlight, the couple looked like a perfect match, their wedding attire adorned with dragons and phoenixes, resembling the most compatible celestial couple.
Lu Lingxiao forgot why he had even come, feeling like a defeated soldier who had left the battlefield with a battered body and a broken spirit.
After entering the room, Meng Qianqian said to Lu Yuan, "Commander-in-Chief, the guests have left."
"Hmph."
Lu Yuan coldly withdrew his hand.
Meng Qianqian smiled and drew back the curtain. "Great-grandmother."
The elderly madam smiled mischievously. "Hehe~"
Although Bao Zhu had missed the wedding procession, she was overjoyed that she could sleep with Meng Qianqian every night from now on!
However, before the bed could even warm up, she was taken away by the elderly madam.
The old lady cackled like an exaggerated supervillain, "Little great-grandson, hehe!"
Ban Xia also retired for the night.
Only Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan remained in the room.
The two sat quietly on the wedding bed, silent.
Meng Qianqian knew he had drunk too much and was only pretending to be sober, his eyes wide open.
She spoke softly, "Commander-in-Chief."
"This Commander is not drunk," Lu Yuan asserted.
"Oh," Meng Qianqian replied.
Lu Yuan casually grabbed something from the bed and frowned. "Where did these peanuts come from?"
"The wedding hostess scattered them for good luck in having children early," Meng Qianqian explained.
Lu Yuan's face turned serious. "Do you want to have children with this Commander?"
Meng Qianqian: I didn't say that. Didn't you ask?
This man was definitely drunk. He was acting like a child, rummaging through the bed and picking up things to ask about their meanings, even more inquisitive than Yu Zichuan.
Meng Qianqian sighed, "Commander-in-Chief, you should rest. I'll go and sleep with Bao Zhu."
As she got up, a large, bony hand clasped her fair wrist.
(End of Chapter)
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