Chapter 186: Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law
Chapter 186: Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law
September 7, 2024
Tinglan Courtyard.
After a month of anticipation, the grandmother finally got to see the young couple again, and she was as excited as a child, "Qianqian! Great-grandson-in-law! You're back!"
"Great-grandmother."
"Great-grandmother."
The two of them paid their respects to the grandmother as younger generations.
The grandmother pinched Meng Qianqian's face and then pinched Lu Yuan's, "Oh dear, why have you both lost weight? Is the food in the palace not tasty?"
Meng Qianqian smiled, "We missed you too much, Great-grandmother."
"Where's the baby?"
Bao Shu patted herself.
Meng Qianqian quickly picked up the little one and kissed her chubby cheeks, "Of course we missed the baby."
Bao Shu had many nicknames, including Piggy Bao, Zhaozhao, and Baby...
The grandmother was fair-minded. Seeing that Bao Shu was monopolizing her mother, she pulled her great-grandson-in-law aside and showered him with concern, ensuring he didn't feel neglected.
"Ban Xia said that you two went to the palace to treat him and Little Fuzi. Are they doing well?"
The grandmother was referring to the Retired Emperor as 'he'.
Lu Yuan replied, "They're fine. The Retired Emperor and Fu Gonggong have both recovered."
The grandmother sighed in relief and then asked, "What about you and Qianqian? Are you unwell?"
"No, Great-grandmother, we're doing well," Lu Yuan respected the grandmother and never complained about her doting nature. He never showed any arrogance or bad temper.
The grandmother held his hand and asked many questions, including what they ate and drank daily, how they slept, and if the room was warm enough.
In the Xun family, Lady Xun doted on Xun Yu in the same way, but he only had the privilege to watch from a distance.
Bao Shu hadn't seen Meng Qianqian for a long time, and she eagerly buried her head in Meng Qianqian's embrace, her little feet kicking proudly.
However, Meng Qianqian's sharp eyes noticed that the little one was secretly glancing at Lu Yuan from time to time.
Meng Qianqian couldn't help but smile, "Missing your father?"
Bao Shu's face turned cold, "No."
Meng Qianqian laughed and walked over to place Bao Shu in Lu Yuan's arms.
Lu Yuan's arm felt heavier as the little one had gained weight in just a month.
The father and daughter stared at each other, each with a colder gaze than the other.
After a moment, they both turned their heads away, "Hmph."
During the meal, Lu Yuan finally remembered his old friend, Manager Cen, and wondered why he hadn't seen him since returning to the mansion.
Ban Xia said, "Manager Cen was waiting with us at the door for Miss and Master, but suddenly a soldier came and said something to Manager Cen, who then rushed off in a hurry."
At the city gate.
Manager Cen got off the Governor's Mansion carriage and hurried towards the Miaojiang carriage.
"May I ask who is in the carriage?"
Liu Qingyun lifted the pearl curtain, revealing a timelessly beautiful face, "You don't even recognize me?"
Manager Cen was shocked, "Madam...?"
Is it really Madam?
Oh heavens, Madam has come all the way from Miaojiang!
"This servant greets Madam!"
He suppressed his shock and bowed deeply to Liu Qingyun.
Liu Qingyun's blood-red lips curved slightly, "It's been many years, Manager Cen. You've aged quite a bit. Is it because of all the worries around Ah Yuan that you're also stressed and tired?"
Manager Cen smiled brightly, "Madam, you're too kind. Everything is fine at the mansion. There are no worries. You look exactly the same as before, not a bit of change over the years."
Liu Qingyun smiled, "Stop flattery. I heard that Ah Yuan got married and caused quite a stir. He didn't tell me, and you didn't inform me either?"
Manager Cen chuckled, "This... I was just thinking of sending you a message, and you arrived."
Liu Qingyun asked slowly, "Only you came? Where's Ah Yuan?"
Manager Cen replied, "The Grand Marshal has been busy with the plague in the palace and hasn't returned for a month."
Liu Qingyun's smile deepened, "So, I came at an inconvenient time?"
Manager Cen's scalp went numb, and he hurriedly said, "She should be back tonight."
Liu Qingyun let go of the curtain, "Lead the way."
"Yes."
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Manager Cen led the Miaojiang caravan into the city in a grand procession.
The bodyguards began to chatter.
"Is she really the birth mother of Grand Commander Lu?"
"Didn't Manager Cen address her as Lady?"
"Isn't Grand Commander Lu an orphan? Where did this birth mother come from?"
"Who knows if she's the one who abandoned him and now, after learning that her son has become an official, she's showing up to claim kinship? It's not like this hasn't happened before."
Manager Cen had been riding a horse for so long that his legs were sore.
He turned back to look at the whispering bodyguards and said to Liu Qingyun, "Lady, please don't take it to heart."
Liu Qingyun replied with a light tone, "It's true that I lost my own son back then, and I deserve to be scolded."
Manager Cen wanted to say something but stopped, eventually letting out a sigh.
An hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the Governor's Mansion.
Manager Cen hadn't ridden a horse in a long time, and his legs were sore.
He personally lifted the carriage curtain for Liu Qingyun, "Lady, we've arrived."
Liu Qingyun slowly stepped down from the carriage and looked at the grand entrance and the Governor's Mansion plaque with its intricate dragon and phoenix design. She raised her eyebrows and said, "So, this is where Ah Yuan lives?"
The figures of Nurse Li and the others were no longer at the entrance, indicating that the young couple had returned.
Manager Cen had a thought and smiled, "Lady, please come in. I'll go inform the Grand Commander and...the Lady."
Well, there were now two ladies in the mansion.
Technically, due to their different social standings, either Meng Qianqian should be addressed as the Young Lady, or Liu Qingyun as the Lady Consort.
However, calling her the Lady Consort would be acknowledging her as the mistress of the Governor's Mansion.
On the other hand, referring to Meng Qianqian as the Young Lady would also mean acknowledging Liu Qingyun as the mistress.
As a mere manager, he couldn't make such a decision.
Meanwhile, Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan had just come out of Tinglan Court when a young servant hurriedly approached them.
"Grand Commander, Manager Cen asked me to report to you that your birth mother has entered the mansion!"
Lu Yuan's eyebrows furrowed.
Meng Qianqian asked in surprise, "Where is she?"
The servant replied, "Reporting to the Lady, she has gone to the main courtyard!"
Lu Yuan's face remained cold, and he didn't speak.
Meng Qianqian gestured for the servant to leave and rubbed her cheeks. "I didn't expect your mother to come to the capital so soon. The ugly daughter-in-law will finally meet her in-laws."
Lu Yuan glanced at her.
Meng Qianqian said, "I'm not saying I'm actually ugly, it's just an expression. But, what does your mother like and dislike?"
Lu Yuan replied calmly, "She likes control and dislikes things beyond her control."
Meng Qianqian: "Uh..."
Lu Yuan frowned, "I'll deal with her. You go back to your great-grandmother's courtyard first."
Meng Qianqian held onto his sleeve, "No, we've come all this way. I must at least meet her once."
Lu Yuan glanced at her white fingers gripping his sleeve, his expression unchanged, and said, "She's not an easy person to get along with."
Meng Qianqian: "Will she scold me?"
Lu Yuan: "No."
His mother had never lost a fight and never won an argument, but she would never resort to words if she could use her fists.
Meng Qianqian: "Will she trick me out of my dowry?"
Lu Yuan thought for a moment, "She can't even do simple calculations. You'd be more likely to trick her out of her money."
Meng Qianqian: "Then, will she forbid me from leaving the mansion and set rules for me all day?"
Lu Yuan thought again, and this probably wouldn't happen either.
Because his mother was even more restless than the two of them, always running around outside, and who knows who she might be chasing after.
Meng Qianqian smiled, "Is that all? I've been able to handle the Lu family's Lady Consort and Second Lady for five years. Your mother is more reasonable than them. Leave it to me. Just wait and see, your mother and I will definitely become a good mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair!"
(End of Chapter)
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