Chapter 3: Entangled with a Great Villain
Chapter 3: Entangled with a Great Villain
"Madam, Steward Liu has a matter to discuss with you."
The maid's voice carried from outside the room.
The Lu family was strict with their rules, and it was uncommon for them to disturb their masters during mealtimes unless there was an urgent matter at hand.
Mother Lu addressed the couple, "Qianqian, you and Lingxiao go ahead and eat. I'll take care of this matter."
After Mother Lu left with Chuntao, only Meng Qianqian and Lu Lingxiao remained at the dining table.
Neither of them spoke, and an eerie silence filled the room.
"What if I were to hold a grudge?"
Meng Qianqian suddenly spoke up.
Lu Lingxiao realized she was responding to his earlier question.
He frowned, "You are the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu family, living a luxurious life here. How many osmanthus cakes have you desired? Wan'er grew up on the border; do you know how much she has endured these past years?"
Meng Qianqian looked at him, puzzled, "Did I cause her hardships? If not, why should I yield to her?"
Lu Lingxiao's expression darkened as he put down his chopsticks. "It's just an osmanthus cake. Eat mine, and I'll have the kitchen make another one. There's no need to be so stubborn."
"If she can take my osmanthus cake today, she could take my water chestnut cake tomorrow. If this continues, will I have to pick through her leftovers every time I want to eat something from now on?" Meng Qianqian argued.
Lu Lingxiao replied, "You already have the position of the main wife. Wan'er is just a concubine desiring a cake. Must she also ask for your permission?"
Meng Qianqian said, "Thank you, husband, for remembering that I am the main wife. Since ancient times, concubines have lived under the main wife's roof, and who among them hasn't had to watch the main wife's face?"
Lu Lingxiao's frown deepened. "You're making this sound unpleasant..."
Meng Qianqian looked at him seriously, "Which part is unpleasant? That she is a concubine or that she has to live under my roof?"
"Wan'er is not a concubine!"
"Then what is she? A mistress? A kept woman?"
Lu Lingxiao slammed his chopsticks on the table. "Meng Qianqian!"
Chuntao suddenly rushed in, flustered, "Young Master! Young Madam! Stop arguing! Madam has fallen!"
The two of them hurried to the outer hall where Mother Lu usually handled household affairs.
The servants helped Mother Lu to a chair.
Lu Lingxiao asked worriedly, "Mother, what happened?"
Mother Lu endured the pain and explained, "Your great-grandmother, grandmother, and second uncle's family went to the temple to offer incense, didn't they? They were supposed to stay there for a few days. I asked Steward Liu to go to the temple and inform them of your return. They started for home early this morning, but your great-grandmother fell ill on the way. I was anxious to meet her, so I hurried out and tripped."
Meng Qianqian squatted down and gently pinched Mother Lu's foot. "It's a sprain. The bones are fine."
Lu Lingxiao also examined it and confirmed that it was indeed just a sprain.
"Mother, what illness does Great-Grandmother have?" Lu Lingxiao asked.
Mother Lu replied, "You've been gone for five years, so you might not know. Your great-grandmother hasn't been very lucid these past three years."
Lu Lingxiao understood and said to Mother Lu, "I'll go and meet Great-Grandmother."
Mother Lu looked at her painfully swollen foot and sighed. "That's the only option now. Wait, take Qianqian with you."
Lu Lingxiao glanced at Meng Qianqian and hesitated for a moment before eventually agreeing.
After leaving the courtyard, Meng Qianqian said to Lu Lingxiao, "You wait for me at the entrance while I go back to the Hall of Crabapples to get something."
Lu Lingxiao was somewhat displeased, "Your great-grandmother is ill, and you still have the heart to go and get something?"
Meng Qianqian took a bundle and left.
Lu Lingxiao didn't bother to ask what was in the bundle and instead instructed the carriage driver to hurry.
After half an hour, the carriage stopped on a bustling street.
Lu Lingxiao lifted the curtain and alighted from the carriage. After a moment's thought, he reached out to help Meng Qianqian, but she jumped down from the other side, holding onto the bundle.
Meng Qianqian swiftly climbed the stairs, moving like a shooting star.
The second madam looked disheveled as she paced anxiously in the corridor. When she saw Meng Qianqian approaching, she immediately acted as if she had been pardoned, hugging her right arm and complaining, "What took you so long? Look what your great-grandmother did to me! She's a crazy old woman!"
Meng Qianqian gave her a cold glance, "Second Aunt, where is Great-Grandmother?"
The Second Madam pointed east impatiently, saying, "In that room with the closed door! Oh, it hurts so much! Did you come alone? Where's your eldest sister-in-law? What about Lingxiao?"
"Second Aunt," Lu Lingxiao called out as he ascended the stairs.
"Lingxiao!"
"Second Aunt, what's going on with Great-Grandmother?"
"Your great-grandmother suddenly started demanding to eat Zhou Ji's osmanthus cake on the way here. Your grandfather and second uncle were afraid she'd have an episode, so they brought her here. There was only one jin left, and the people had already paid their silver. Your great-grandmother, with her muddled mind, snatched the cake and even beat up the owner! If it were an ordinary family... even a high-ranking official's family could have saved face for the Lu family. But that person is the manager of the Governor's office! He's under the command of the Great Governor Lu; our Lu family can't afford to offend them!"
At the mention of the Governor's office, Lu Lingxiao's expression turned solemn.
He had heard plenty about this powerful figure in the capital during his five years at the border.
This man was a notorious villain, manipulating politics, purging dissenters, and causing untold misery to the people. His crimes were innumerable and unforgivable!
Although they shared the same surname, the two families were not related in any way.
If it were him they had offended, it wouldn't be a matter of whether they could afford to or not.
He was heartless and ruthless, meticulous and merciless, and his underlings were equally lawless and unrestrained.
...This could spell trouble.
"Lingxiao, think of something quickly!" the Second Madam urged.
"Don't worry, Second Aunt. I'll go see Great-Grandmother first," Lu Lingxiao replied, striding forward to catch up with Meng Qianqian.
The two of them arrived at the door. Lu Lingxiao raised his hand to knock.
"Great-Grandmother, it's me, Lingxiao. Your Xiao'er is back. Please open the door!"
"Great-Grandmother, please open the door," Meng Qianqian added.
"It's me. I really have returned," Lu Lingxiao insisted.
No matter how much Lu Lingxiao knocked and called out, the door remained silent.
"Could something have happened?" Lu Lingxiao furrowed his brows, ready to break down the door.
Meng Qianqian spoke softly, "Great-Grandmother."
The door creaked open, revealing a small gap.
The old lady peered out through the crack, her eyes darting about furtively.
Upon seeing Meng Qianqian, she pulled her into the room and slammed the door shut!
Lu Lingxiao: "..."
The old lady hung her head, looking like a child who had done something wrong. "Qianqian, I wet my pants again."
Meng Qianqian opened the bundle and said, "I'll change them for you."
Soon after, the old lady emerged, looking refreshed.
Lu Lingxiao watched as the old lady, now changed into a new outfit, and Meng Qianqian, calmly packing up the bundle, realizing he had misunderstood her earlier.
"Who's this young man?" The old lady asked, her snowy eyebrows furrowed.
"Great-Grandmother, I'm your great-grandson, Lingxiao," he replied hastily.
"Didn't you die?" the old lady asked.
"Great-Grandmother still remembers me," Lu Lingxiao said, delighted. "The story of what happened is rather long."
The old lady made a refusing gesture. "Then don't tell it! Qianqian, let's go!"
The old lady tugged at Meng Qianqian's hand and started walking forward.
Just as Lu Lingxiao was about to follow, Lady Lu, accompanied by the Second Master Lu, emerged from the farthest room on the west side.
Without sparing a glance at the old lady and Meng Qianqian, who brushed past her, Lady Lu rushed towards Lu Lingxiao, embracing him tightly and bursting into tears: "Xiao'er, my dear grandson, you've finally returned..."
The old lady shuddered, sticking out her tongue and dry heaving: "Ugh—"
Once they were in the carriage, the old lady took out the snacks she had hidden all morning, now somewhat wrinkled, and handed them to Meng Qianqian. Her eyes shone with childlike innocence.
Manager Liu had said that the wretched boy had brought a bad woman home.
"Eat the osmanthus cake, Qianqian won't be sad."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
