Chapter 198: Lu Yuan's Background
Chapter 198: Lu Yuan's Background
At the hour of Hai, Meng Qianqian and Tan'er returned to the Governor's Mansion.
Ceng Guan Shi, who had been waiting at the entrance for a long time, sighed in relief, "Ah, Young Lady, you've finally returned."
Meng Qianqian asked, "Was it Bao Shu who was looking for me?"
Ceng Guan Shi hesitated, "Miss Bao Shu was also looking for you."
Meng Qianqian instantly understood what he meant, "Where is the Lady now?"
Ceng Guan Shi replied, "She's in Tinglan Manor with Miss Bao Shu."
Meng Qianqian looked at Ceng Guan Shi, "Grandmother..."
Ceng Guan Shi smiled, "Young Lady, please rest assured. Although the Lady has a fiery temper, she won't make things difficult for Grandmother."
Meng Qianqian raised her eyebrows, "She never nitpicks with the servants, as if she only targets me."
Ceng Guan Shi was taken aback.
Meng Qianqian sighed sadly, "Fine, who can blame me for being her daughter-in-law?"
Ceng Guan Shi smiled awkwardly, examining Meng Qianqian from head to toe. Seeing her and Tan'er in disarray, he couldn't help but ask, "Young Lady, you've been busy all day. Why don't you rest first, and I'll handle things with the Lady?"
"Wait," Meng Qianqian suddenly remembered something, "The Lady once chose three Miaojiang women as betrothal partners for the Commander. Are there still portraits of them in the mansion?"
Ceng Guan Shi looked at Meng Qianqian in confusion.
Meng Qianqian smiled, "I don't mean anything by it, I just want to take a look."
"Ah..."
Ceng Guan Shi didn't understand but agreed to comply.
Initially, Grandma had brought too many portraits, and Miss Bao Shu had torn some of them. The remaining ones were thrown into the storage room.
Ceng Guan Shi retrieved the portraits and delivered them to Meng Qianqian's room.
When Meng Qianqian saw the second portrait of the Miaojiang woman, she suddenly had an epiphany, "I knew she looked familiar. Isn't this the person who appeared with the Miaojiang Young Master? She calls him 'brother,' so she must be the granddaughter of the King of Miaojiang. Although she's an adopted granddaughter, she's treated as if she were his biological granddaughter, so her status is no different from that of his own children."
"Lu Yuan, do you know who you've rejected?"
"Cough!"
A proud cough from Liu Qingyun sounded from outside the door.
Meng Qianqian quickly rolled up the portrait and casually stuffed it into Nurse Li's embroidery basket.
Liu Qingyun lifted her chin, like a proud peacock, and walked in without a care in the world.
Meng Qianqian smiled and bowed, "Mother."
Liu Qingyun glared at her coldly, "You know to come back?"
Meng Qianqian explained respectfully, "Today, I went to pay respects at a neighbor's grave. The cemetery is quite far, outside the capital, which is why I returned late. Please forgive me, Mother."
Liu Qingyun looked at the mud on Meng Qianqian's shoes and smelled the incense, paper money, and candle smoke on her, then hummed.
Well, she's quite reasonable.
If it were the old lady of the Lu family, she would have scolded her for meddling in others' affairs. Whose grave is it anyway?
Meng Qianqian seized the opportunity, "Mother, you've been in the capital for a few days, and you haven't had a chance to go out and explore. Tomorrow, your daughter-in-law will accompany you to the streets to buy some new clothes and accessories."
Liu Qingyun spoke coldly, "Don't think I'll forgive you for this—"
Meng Qianqian looked behind her, "Husband, you're back?"
Whoosh! Liu Qingyun disappeared.
Meng Qianqian turned to look at the creaking window lattice, feeling a sense of small triumph.
She was indeed clever.
"Is it that funny?"
Meng Qianqian shuddered and turned around, "Grand Marshal?"
You're back?
Are you related to Cao Cao?
"What's this?"
Lu Yuan glanced at the portrait stuffed in the embroidery basket.
Meng Qianqian reached for the basket on the table, but Lu Yuan was quicker and pulled out the portrait first.
After spreading them out, he said casually, "Meng Xiaojiu, I didn't expect you to care so much about my betrothal discussions with other women."
Meng Qianqian spoke seriously, "Grand Marshal, let me explain."
Lu Yuan looked at her indifferently, holding a rolled-up scroll in his hand. He shook it slightly, "Explanations are just excuses."
Meng Qianqian sighed, unfurled the scroll, and pointed to the portrait of the Miao King's granddaughter, "She's in the capital now. I saw her at the post station today! I just wanted to see if I was mistaken."
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, "You even remember their appearances?"
Meng Qianqian's words got stuck in her throat.
Fine, be stubborn then!
"Listen up if you want to hear something serious. I'm leaving if you don't."
"Where are you going?"
Right, where could she go? Liu Qingyun was staying in the courtyard.
Meng Qianqian closed her eyes briefly, resigned to her fate, and turned back with a smile, "Grand Marshal, Meng Xiaojiu has something important to report."
Lu Yuan brushed his wide sleeves, "Speak."
Meng Qianqian had nothing to hide from him, so she told him everything, including the part about specifically tailing Official Shangguan Ling.
"Do you know? She's the Miao King's granddaughter. If you marry her, you'll be the Miao King's grandson-in-law. I pity you."
Lu Yuan shot her a glance.
Meng Qianqian spread her hands, "But it's too late for regrets now. Think about how to ruin the relationship between Chancellor Xun and the Miao King. We must not let him gain control over Miaojiang."
Lu Yuan retracted his sharp gaze.
Meng Qianqian continued, "But on the other hand, what was your mother's status in Miaojiang? Why was she able to arrange a marriage with the Miao King's daughter? Your family's position in Miaojiang must not be ordinary either."
Lu Yuan hesitated for a moment, as if reluctant to speak, but eventually, he said, "I don't know much either. When I was young, I lived with my paternal grandmother."
"Is your paternal grandmother the Elder Lady Yao?"
Lu Yuan paused, realizing why she was asking. His mother and Lady Li were half-sisters, and Lady Li's mother was Elder Lady Yao.
"Lady Li is registered under Elder Lady Yao, but I have no relation to the Yao family."
"Then..."
Meng Qianqian looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue.
Lu Yuan pressed his lips, "My paternal grandmother was from Miaojiang. She lived in a secluded village with unique customs, different from the Central Plains. Women there can establish their own households, but once they do, they can never leave."
Meng Qianqian asked curiously, "What does establishing a household mean?"
Lu Yuan replied, "Marrying and having children."
"Marrying... how many can they marry?" Meng Qianqian was stunned.
Lu Yuan's voice turned cold, "Meng Xiaojiu!"
Meng Qianqian's face turned serious, "I'm not jealous! Absolutely not!"
Lu Yuan hummed coldly, then continued, "When I was young, I asked my paternal grandmother about my paternal grandfather. She said he was just a silkworm farmer. He didn't want to stay in the village with her, so she drove him away."
Meng Qianqian pondered, "It doesn't sound special, and it's not related to the Miao King at all."
"Could it be your father?"
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "It's even less likely to be my father. He was short-lived and died before I was born."
"Forget it, I'll ask your mother myself."
Meng Qianqian went to Liu Qingyun's room.
"Mother, are you asleep?"
She knocked gently on the door.
Liu Qingyun placed the plate of fried fruit on the table, covered it with a handkerchief, and wiped the foam from her mouth. She said indifferently, "Come in."
Meng Qianqian pushed the door open and entered.
The aroma of the fried fruit filled her nostrils.
She pretended not to notice, "Mother, I have something to ask you."
Liu Qingyun said, "Speak."
Meng Qianqian asked, "Do you know the Miao King?"
"Know..." Liu Qingyun's eyes flashed, and she replied seriously, "I don't know him."
Meng Qianqian smiled.
It seemed she did know him.
Meng Xiaojiu was indeed clever!
(End of Chapter)
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