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Chapter 187: Sharing a Bed
Chapter 187: Sharing a Bed
September 7, 2024
In the main courtyard.
In Lu Yuan's side chamber, Meng Qianqian met Liu Qingyun, dressed in the distinctive style of Miaojiang.
Lady Li, the Noble Consort, was already the most beautiful woman Meng Qianqian had ever seen, but Liu Qingyun's appearance was even more captivating by threefold.
She seemed to possess the mysterious charm and spirit of a Miao woman, which was incredibly enchanting.
Meng Qianqian finally understood where Lu Yuan's stunning beauty came from.
"Qianqian greets Mother," she said respectfully, performing a proper bow.
Liu Qingyun's gaze swept over Meng Qianqian from head to toe, carefully examining her, "So, you're the woman who has bewitched my son, making him so infatuated that he's willing to reject Miaojiang just to marry you?"
With a faint smile, she withdrew her gaze, "Indeed, you are quite beautiful. He has good taste in that regard, and he takes after me in this."
Meng Qianqian smiled slightly, "Not only does he have my taste in beauty, but his appearance is also exceptional. When Qianqian first met her husband, she thought she had encountered an immortal."
Her words were ostensibly praising Lu Yuan, but they were actually implying that Liu Qingyun was as beautiful as a celestial being.
It was a thousand times more flattering than flattery itself, and it was not considered flattery at all. Liu Qingyun and Lu Yuan were indeed the most attractive people Meng Qianqian had ever seen.
Liu Qingyun smiled, her lips curving, "Don't think that by saying this, I will like you. You are not the daughter-in-law I have chosen, and I won't accept you so easily."
Meng Qianqian stepped forward, picked up the teapot, and poured a cup of iced plum tea for Liu Qingyun, "Although I am not the daughter-in-law you have chosen, I will certainly be the most satisfactory daughter-in-law in your eyes."
Liu Qingyun laughed mockingly, "Satisfactory? Besides your face, what else do you have that could please me?"
Rounding up, the mother-in-law was indeed praising her beauty.
Meng Qianqian replied respectfully, "I will strive to be a qualified daughter-in-law."
Liu Qingyun gave a cold laugh and took a sip of the fruit tea.
It was refreshingly cool and sweet, instantly dispelling most of the summer heat she had endured on her journey.
Meng Qianqian smiled at her, seemingly unaware of Liu Qingyun's satisfaction with the plum tea she had prepared.
Liu Qingyun said in a calm tone, "I don't like the vase on the table."
Meng Qianqian instructed Ban Xia, "Take it away."
"Yes, Miss," Ban Xia immediately carried the vase out.
Liu Qingyun took a few more sips of plum tea, "I don't like the table either."
Meng Qianqian ordered Hu Tumomu, "Take it out."
Hu Tumomu grabbed the table and carried it out.
Liu Qingyun continued, "The items on the Treasure Pavilion are too vulgar, either antiques or enamel."
Meng Qianqian commanded, "Replace them with gold, silver, and jade!"
Ban Xia and Nurse Li efficiently arranged the new items.
"The curtains are too ugly."
"Change them!"
"I'm not a scholar, and I dislike pretentiousness. As for the calligraphy and paintings on the walls—"
"Take them down!"
"The food is not spicy enough!"
"Make it again!"
"The rice is not soft enough!"
"Cook it again!"
Liu Qingyun looked at the newly cooked rice on the table, a soft and sweet dish of braised pork, and discreetly swallowed her saliva, "The cicadas outside are so loud, they're driving me crazy."
Without a moment's hesitation, Meng Qianqian looked out the door and ordered, "Go and catch all the cicadas from every tree in the courtyard."
"Yes, Miss!"
"Yes, Miss!"
Tan'er and Nurse Wan immediately took up cloth bags, one climbing a tree and the other setting up a ladder, enthusiastically capturing the cicadas.
Liu Qingyun's face showed disbelief.
Meng Qianqian curved her lips, "Mother, is there anything else you'd like to instruct?"
"I..." Liu Qingyun cleared her throat, "I heard that you are very bold, daring to share a room with my son!"
"It was also for my husband's health that I did this. Does Mother disapprove?" Meng Qianqian asked, going along with the suggestion, "Ban Xia, go and move my husband's belongings into my room."
"Oh!" Ban Xia hurried off.
"By the way, Mother, do you prefer to be called Madam or Lady Consort?"
"I don't want to be called Lady Consort, it sounds so old."
"Alright." Meng Qianqian nodded and said to Hu Tumomu and the others standing guard at the door, "From now on, call me Young Lady. From this day forward, the Governor's Mansion will be under the management of Lady Consort. You all must follow her orders without fail, understood?"
Everyone responded in unison, "Yes!"
...
Deep into the night.
Yu Zichuan went to Tinglan Court and delivered a message to Lu Yuan, "The Young Lady said you can go back now."
Lu Yuan's face darkened, "Do I have to add unnecessary words to everything?"
Earlier, Meng Qianqian had insisted on going to see Liu Qingyun herself, leaving Lu Yuan to wait for her news with the Grandmother and Bao Shu.
He had prepared himself for a chaotic scene in the main courtyard, but when he entered, aside from Tan'er and Nurse Wan catching cicadas, everything was in perfect order—
The water jar was intact, the swing was undamaged, and the roof hadn't collapsed.
"No fight?"
He muttered suspiciously, grateful that he had kept Yu Zichuan and Qing Shuang behind to ensure she wouldn't be at a disadvantage against her mother.
Ban Xia approached and pointed to the couple's bridal chamber, "Gugong, you'll sleep here tonight."
Lu Yuan was stunned once again.
Meng Qianqian sat leisurely in the room, sipping chilled plum tea.
Ice was a rare luxury, obtained by cutting into the ice during winter and storing it in a cold, sealed cellar, only to be taken out and enjoyed during the summer.
Ordinary families couldn't afford such a luxury.
Seeing Lu Yuan enter, she poured him a cup of plum tea, "You've waited long enough, you must be tired."
Lu Yuan calmly sat down and took a sip before asking, "What happened?"
Meng Qianqian recounted the events in detail.
After listening, Lu Yuan was even more astonished than Liu Qingyun, "With so many things happening, you endured it all?"
Meng Qianqian smiled, "First, he didn't ask for my wealth, and second, he didn't harm my life. He even praised my beauty, and his requests were harmless. Since I could fulfill them, why not? It's just that I've wronged the Grand Marshal, as tonight he has to share a room with me."
Lu Yuan took several sips of the chilled plum tea and said coldly, "I'll sleep on the straw bed."
Meng Qianqian said, "No, I'll sleep on the straw bed!"
The night deepened, and all was quiet.
The last cicada was caught by Yu Zichuan.
"Three hundred and seventeen."
Yu Zichuan frowned, then climbed over to the neighboring courtyard and caught another cicada, making it an even number. Finally, he felt relieved.
The door of the east wing creaked open, and a shadowy figure slipped out, tiptoeing into the newlywed couple's chamber.
Liu Qingyun approached the bed.
Just a glance!
She took only one glance at her son before leaving.
She slowly lifted the curtain.
On the large bed, her son and that woman slept soundly.
Naturally, she wouldn't look at another woman.
Liu Qingyun stared at her son, not blinking for a moment.
After an unknown duration, Liu Qingyun finally lowered the curtain and left, glancing back repeatedly.
The couple breathed a sigh of relief.
Meng Qianqian's palms were sweaty with tension.
Tonight, she hadn't won against Lu Yuan, and it was he who slept on the straw bed.
Fortunately, they had acted quickly and managed to hide the straw bed under the main bed in time.
Otherwise, if she saw her son sleeping on the straw bed, not only would the secret be exposed, but Meng Qianqian suspected that Liu Qingyun would kill her with a single stroke.
Realizing she was still holding Lu Yuan's hand, Meng Qianqian quickly released it, "I was desperate, please forgive me, Grand Marshal."
Lu Yuan nonchalantly hummed in response and stood up to continue sleeping on the straw bed.
Meng Qianqian grabbed his sleeve, "Grand Marshal, perhaps tonight... you should sleep on the bed instead. What if she comes to see you again..."
Lu Yuan's eyelashes trembled slightly.
Seeing that he wasn't speaking, Meng Qianqian quickly swore to the heavens, "Grand Marshal, rest assured, I won't do anything. I'll sleep very quietly and won't touch you!"
(End of Chapter)
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