Chapter 284: Honeymoon
Chapter 284: Honeymoon
Lu Yuan clenched his fist, "Qing Shuang!"
"I'm leaving first."
Ever since a large group of onlookers flooded the Governor's Mansion, Qing Shuang had also learned to be cunning.
Before the Marquis's anger descended, she decisively joined Tan Er and Bao Shu, cleverly gaining an exemption from punishment.
Lu Yuan was seething, his neck turning red from the effort of holding back his anger.
Meng Qianqian rarely saw him so flustered and embarrassed, and she couldn't help but find it amusing.
Lu Yuan glanced at her and coldly tried to save face, "Don't listen to Qing Shuang's nonsense, I didn't mean it."
Meng Qianqian struggled to suppress a smile, "Oh."
Lu Yuan walked ahead.
Several steps later, the shadows on the ground swayed wildly.
Seeing her laugh like this, Lu Yuan gritted his teeth, "Meng Xiaojiu!"
Meng Qianqian: Oh no, I've been found out!
The next day, Meng Qianqian entered the palace to visit Princess Zhou Nanyan.
Hearing that Meng Qianqian was also going on the Autumn Hunt, Princess Zhou Nanyan slumped, "I was planning to wait for His Majesty to leave, then sneak out of the palace to find you, but you're leaving too..."
Meng Qianqian found it amusing and tapped the head resting on her shoulder, "Why are you always thinking of sneaking out of the palace? Aren't you afraid of being caught and punished?"
Princess Zhou Nanyan pouted, "So what if I get punished? With Meng Sister and Meng Brother-in-Law protecting me, His Majesty won't punish me too severely."
Following the Meng family's son-in-law, Lu Yuan gained a new identity—Meng Brother-in-Law.
Meng Qianqian found it hilarious, wondering how Lu Yuan would react when he heard about it.
If only Princess Nanyan could go too.
The departure date was set for the 23rd. The Imperial Guard, Embroidered Robe Guard, and Capital Guard appeared calm on the surface, but secretly, they had already started competing. It was said that many were secretly training at night.
As the weather turned cooler, Li Tuo Tuo started nagging again; she was born to worry and couldn't help it.
"Take the cloak, and the robe... Take the new cotton one, you can't wear last year's anymore."
"I know."
Ban Xia nodded and packed the trunks according to Li Tuo Tuo's instructions, filling them to the brim.
Bao Shu was also packing her luggage, with her own little bundle.
"Take this too, the drum, fan, and peach..."
She clumsily gathered a pile of toys, snacks, and her favorite little tiger cub outfit.
"All packed!"
Then she went to supervise Bai Yuwei's packing.
Bai Yuwei stared at the fully packed trunks, wide-eyed, and asked, "A Man, why are you taking so many clothes?"
A Man replied, "Miss, the weather is getting cooler, and the Royal Hunting Ground is at the foot of the mountains. It's said to be much colder than our Miaojiang."
This was Bai Yuwei's first time in the capital, and she hadn't experienced the city's cold weather. She replied nonchalantly, "Then I won't be able to wear that many either."
A Man added, "We'll be gone for quite some time."
The Royal Autumn Hunt was not a simple hunt; it was a grand event with the entire army mobilized. It wasn't something that could be rehearsed in just a few days.
"Taking my bow is enough!"
Bai Yuwei was going hunting, not a beauty pageant, and she wasn't afraid of the cold. It was better to bring more arrows than clothes.
At the front gate, the little supervisor stood with her hands behind her back, looking stern, "Cousin, you're not listening!"
Meng Qianqian went to bid farewell to the Elder Lady.
Sitting on the Elder Lady's bed, she held the Elder Lady's hand and spoke softly, "Grandmother, we'll be gone for a while. Please take care of my cousin brother."
The Elder Lady waved her hand, "I know, I'll take good care of Yu Li! I'll supervise his studies daily, not allowing him to play Leaf Tiles, drink and have fun, or sleep with maids."
Meng Qianqian coughed, "Grandmother, I didn't say the last part."
The Elder Lady blinked, "Didn't you say it?"
Meng Qianqian touched her forehead, "Grandmother, my cousin brother won't sleep with maids. Please read fewer of Zhao Si's talk books and plays."
The Elder Lady's eyes spun with curiosity, "I didn't see it."
In the blink of an eye, the day of departure arrived.
The main courtyard was bustling with activity from the early morning. Everything that needed to be packed was already done, and all the necessary preparations were made. All that was left was to load everything onto the carriages.
Concerned that Ban Xia and A Man might be overwhelmed, Manager Cen arranged for four additional nimble maids and three clever pageboys to assist them.
Li Tuo Tuo held Meng Qianqian's hand, "You've only just returned home, and now you're leaving again."
Meng Qianqian smiled, "Tuo Tuo, I'm going to have fun, not to war."
Wan Tuo Tuo hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, don't worry about the young lady...er...Miss. With the young master...er, the son-in-law here, the young lady is just going out for a change of scenery."
Li Tuo Tuo gave Wan Tuo Tuo a speechless glance.
Wan Tuo Tuo's inner monologue roared: The young master is giving too much! I really can't control it! Lu Yuan and the Emperor set off together, having already departed ahead of the group.
Han Ci dispatched a team of Capital Guards to escort Meng Qianqian and her party to the Royal Hunting Ground.
When Meng Qianqian, accompanied by Bai Yuwei and Bao Shu, reached the entrance, Ji Li and Si She also arrived.
The experience of being struck by lightning was unforgettable. Upon seeing Ji Li for the first time, Bai Yuwei instantly bristled, "Why is it you again? What are you doing here?"
Ji Li raised an eyebrow, "We're going hunting together."
Bai Yuwei firmly refused, "I won't go with you! I don't want to be struck by lightning again!"
"Sigh, I don't want that either."
Ji Li sighed and snapped open a folding fan, answering a different question, "But who can blame this Heroic Commander for being so handsome that it's tragic and enrages both heaven and humanity, even making the heavens jealous of this Commander's peerless beauty?"
Bai Yuwei clenched her fists, "Not only are Central Plains people cunning, but they're also shameless!"
Bao Shu bounced, "Ji Ji, Ji Ji!"
Ji Li said, "Don't call this Commander that!"
Bao Shu took a deep breath, her little arms flailing behind her, "Ji Ji Ji Ji Ji Ji Ji---"
Ji Li's face darkened.
Meng Qianqian, Bao Shu, Bai Yuwei, Tan Er, and Ban Xia rode in one carriage, while the four maids shared another, and the pageboys rode on horseback.
A carriage was also prepared for Ji Li and Si She.
However, Si She preferred to ride a horse.
As the self-proclaimed First Heroic Commander, Ji Li naturally rode a horse as well, allowing the ladies of the capital to admire his handsome and dashing appearance.
The group, escorted by the Capital Guards, left the South Gate in a grand procession.
After traveling a hundred li to the south, they reached a place with lush grasslands and picturesque scenery.
Large depressions spread across the land, flanked by mountains and rivers on both sides. Since the previous dynasty, it had been a royal hunting ground, and the tradition continued. Not only was there a considerable military presence, but a sizable market town had also formed nearby.
As they passed through the market town, they heard accents from all over the land.
Bao Shu was excited, pointing at every familiar object on the street, "Carts! Horses! Cattle! Right Side Table!"
Meng Qianqian curved her lips, and Wu Ge'er went to buy some meat buns.
Bao Shu took a bite, and her excitement vanished, "Disgusting."
After passing through the market town, they entered the Official Road guarded by soldiers.
A familiar scent wafted towards them.
It was a military camp.
"Are they drilling?"
Ban Xia asked, gazing at the soldiers sparring with spears on the training ground.
Meng Qianqian nodded.
Ban Xia exclaimed, "So impressive!"
Meng Qianqian explained, "It's the Emperor's first military drill after his ascension, so everyone is showing off their best skills."
Ban Xia curiously asked, "Is the young lady and the son-in-law also here for the drill?"
"We..."
Meng Qianqian had just opened her mouth when Qing Shuang's words, "The Marquis wants to bathe with you," inexplicably flashed through her mind.
Tan Er, with an air of experience, said, "Mother said that after a man and a woman's wedding, their first trip together is called a honeymoon!"
(End of Chapter)
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