Chapter 369: Bloodline Suppression

Chapter 369: Bloodline Suppression

After a night, everyone in the main courtyard had heard the juicy gossip about the groom's embroidery obsession.

Lu Yuan rushed to fetch Wanping Princess and Ji Li, hoping to bring them back to the capital in time for the grand wedding ceremony.

Whether they agreed or not, he was acting under imperial orders.

Meng Qianqian woke up early and practiced her spear skills for half an hour.

Ever since she had used a long spear outside the city gate, she felt that it was easier to handle than the embroidered spring sword.

After the practice, she broke into a sweat, feeling lighter and more energetic than ever.

"Martial arts truly strengthen the body."

If it were the her from a year ago, she wouldn't have been able to practice the spear for half an hour, let alone hold it.

"I'll let Banxia practice too."

Banxia, who was just passing by with a food box: ... There's no need for that.

"Banxia."

Meng Qianqian noticed her.

Banxia approached with the food box, "Miss, you must be tired after these few days. Let's skip the martial arts practice today."

Meng Qianqian said, "I feel refreshed after practicing."

Banxia said with confusion, "But why do I feel sore all over after practicing?"

Tan'er also practiced martial arts, and occasionally she would bring Banxia along. Although the moves were very simple, they always left her in pain for days.

She never wanted to experience that kind of pain again.

Meng Qianqian curved her lips slightly, "You won't feel sore after practicing more."

Banxia took a step back, "I'd rather not."

Meng Qianqian couldn't help but find her evasive attitude amusing, and she no longer forced her, "Are Wuyou and Changle awake?"

Banxia replied, "Young Master is awake, but Second Miss is still sleeping. Young Master said he'll wait for Second Miss to wake up before eating. I'll bring a bowl of ginseng soup to Second Young Master first."

Banxia had been by Meng Qianqian's side for many years, and she was excellent at taking care of people.

Meng Qianqian nodded and asked, "Did Changle sleep well last night?"

Banxia replied, "She tossed and turned in the first half of the night, but slept soundly in the latter half."

Meng Qianqian said, "It must have been hard for her."

Being deceived for so many years, and then suddenly being told that her background was fake, and that the father who raised her was her clan's enemy, it would be hard for anyone to accept.

She had been too hasty yesterday, but fortunately, her grandfather had reminded her in time.

"Tell Wuyou that I'll go see them later."

"Yes, Miss."

Banxia left with the food box.

Meng Qianqian took a bath and changed into fresh clothes. After washing up, she went to the neighboring room to check on the siblings. Changle was still asleep, and although Wuyou was awake, he looked exhausted.

"The journey must have been tiring."

Meng Qianqian greeted Wuyou.

Wuyou's gaze was indifferent.

Without the Majestic King to keep him in check, he no longer had to accommodate Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian didn't mind and smiled, handing him the robe she was carrying. Seeing that he didn't take it, she placed it on the table, "Try it on later and see if you like it. It fits Changle perfectly, but it's a bit long for you."

Wuyou asked, "What do you mean?"

Meng Qianqian raised her eyebrows, "I didn't expect you to be so short."

Wuyou: "..."

Shouldn't she be trying to please him? Why this sudden disdain?

Wuyou and Zong Zhengxi were the same age, and Meng Qianqian had made the robe according to Zong Zhengxi's measurements. Last year, Zong Zhengxi was still a child, but this spring, he suddenly grew taller.

It wasn't that Wuyou was short; it was that Zong Zhengxi had grown taller.

Wuyou spoke in a cold voice, "You treat me like this, and you still want me to acknowledge you?"

Meng Qianqian smiled, "When I treated you so kindly yesterday, you didn't acknowledge me either."

Wuyou was speechless for a moment, then coldly huffed, "You don't even know how to pretend."

Meng Qianqian said frankly, "You have no use to me, so I won't bother putting on an act. It's not about whether you want to acknowledge me or not, it's whether I want to acknowledge you. I don't want a brother who acknowledges an enemy as his father!"

Wuyou wanted to say something but stopped, then said irritably, "I've never met a woman as unreasonable as you."

Meng Qianqian: "Now you have."

Wuyou: "..."

Meng Qianqian secretly nodded, showing her composure by not seeking immediate gratification through words or arguing with others. She had a bit of her second uncle's calmness.

"I'm going out for a while. If there's anything, tell Banxia to find Manager Cen. Don't make any noise before noon; my grandmother wants to sleep."

After giving her instructions, Meng Qianqian left the room without hesitation.

Wuyou frowned deeply.

This was different from what he had imagined.

Bai Yuwei had played in the snow a few days ago and caught a cold, so Meng Qianqian let her rest at home and only brought Tan'er along.

Tan'er hopped onto the carriage with a smile, "Let's go! Sugar-coated hawthorn!"

Meng Qianqian was going to buy clothes for Wuyou. The previous ones were too small, and it would take a few days to alter them. With the capital getting colder, she wanted to buy a few new sets for him to wear.

Meng Qianqian went to Misty Rain Pavilion.

Everyone knew that she was the master's last disciple, and that Wu Xiunang had been expelled from the sect for framing her. Thus, they were all extremely polite to her.

Manager Liu smiled and asked, "What wind blew you here, young mistress?"

"I'm not worthy," Meng Qianqian politely replied, "Is the master around?"

Manager Liu said, "The capital is too cold, and the master couldn't bear it, so she went south for the winter. She just left yesterday. The master left a key for you, young mistress, and said that you can enter her room whenever you like and take whatever you need."

Meng Qianqian took the key, "The master is so thoughtful. Also, please don't call me 'young mistress'."

Manager Liu slapped the table, making a loud sound, and said, "Young mistress, I, old Liu, have a good eye for people. One day, the Misty Rain Pavilion will surely be passed down to you!"

Meng Qianqian said, "That's not right either."

Manager Liu laughed, "Alright, alright, I won't call you that."

Meng Qianqian picked out a few sets of clothes for Shang Wuyou and settled the bill.

Manager Liu muttered, "Why is a family member settling a bill... Take your time, young mistress!"

Meng Qianqian touched her forehead.

"Skewered grapes! Skewered grapes! Skewered grapes!"

Tan Er was jumping with joy on the street, searching for the skewered grapes she had been thinking about.

Meng Qianqian had a hand warmer in her pocket and followed behind her at a leisurely pace.

Unintentionally, she lifted her gaze and caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.

It was Lu Mu.

Lu Mu, accompanied by her personal maid, Yulian, was exiting a spice shop.

After not seeing her for some time, her cheeks had become noticeably thinner.

Meng Qianqian thought of Lu Mu as the only person in the Lu family, aside from the Grandmatriarch, who truly cared for her. She wanted to greet Lu Mu.

Suddenly, a flowerpot fell, and before anyone could react, it was about to hit Lu Mu on the head.

Lu Mu and Yulian were completely unaware.

In a split second, Meng Qianqian shot out a silver needle, hitting the edge of the flowerpot. The flowerpot changed direction and smashed onto the ground next to Lu Mu.

Lu Mu and Yulian were startled.

"Madam!"

Yulian quickly hugged Lu Mu, using her body to shield her.

Meng Qianqian looked up at the building. The second-floor window was closed, but the third-floor balcony was wide open.

Tan Er also heard the sound of the broken flowerpot, but she didn't pay attention.

She had nothing to do with other people's affairs.

However, she soon discovered the silver needle embedded in the wall.

"Sister's needle!"

She pulled out the silver needle and turned around, noticing Lu Mu's pale face. "Huh?"

She looked at Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian signaled to her.

"Got it!" Tan Er responded.

Tan Er put away the silver needle and, with her light movements, leaped up to the third floor.

Meng Qianqian quickly walked up to Lu Mu, and just then, a porcelain shard splashed onto the back of her hand.

Meng Qianqian hurriedly pulled her hand to examine it, "You're bleeding."

Lu Mu, still in shock, looked at Meng Qianqian, "Qianqian..."

"Madam!"

Yulian excitedly bowed to her.

Lu Mu corrected Yulian's address, "I'm Madam Lu."

This Lu was not the same Lu family.

Lu Mu didn't dislike Meng Qianqian; on the contrary, she liked her too much, so she didn't want to give people a chance to gossip and cause unnecessary trouble for Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian said, "Madam, you're injured. Let me take you to Misty Rain Pavilion to treat your wounds first."

"It's not a problem," Lu Mu said.

Meng Qianqian spoke softly, "I'm worried."

Lu Mu sighed with a complex expression and followed Meng Qianqian to Misty Rain Pavilion.

Today, Misty Rain Pavilion was bustling with customers, and all the private rooms on the second floor were full. Meng Qianqian took Lu Mu to Yun Xiyao's room.

Misty Rain Pavilion was the largest embroidery shop in the capital, and ordinary customers had to wait for the private rooms on the second floor, let alone the third floor, which was exclusively for the master.

Lu Mu came from a noble background, but this was her first time here.

"Just now, the manager called you 'young mistress'," Meng Qianqian said as she opened her purse and took out the golden wound medicine and clean cotton cloth she always carried. While cleaning Lu Mu's wound, she said, "The master of Misty Rain Pavilion took me as her disciple, but I'm not the 'young mistress'. It's just Manager Liu calling me that. Does it hurt?"

Lu Mu shook her head, "No, it doesn't hurt."

After Meng Qianqian finished bandaging her, she took her pulse, "Madam, I'll send medicine to your mansion. Have you not taken it?"

Lu Mu discreetly withdrew her hand, "It's been busy during the New Year, and I occasionally forget to take it. By the way, the weather has turned cold. How is your maternal nurse?"

Meng Qianqian understood her temperament; more than half the time, it wasn't that she forgot to take the medicine, but that she didn't want to.

She no longer cared about her own illness.

Meng Qianqian said, "The maternal nurse is doing well, and I'm fine too."

Lu Mu relaxed, "Then I'm relieved."

"Sorry for the disturbance."

Manager Liu cheerfully brought in a pot of tea, "Young mistress, Madam Lu, please have some tea!"

Meng Qianqian politely said, "Thank you."

Manager Liu chuckled and said, "Of course, of course! Is there anything else I can do for you? I'll take my leave now."

Meng Qianqian nodded.

Manager Liu left with a hearty laugh.

Lu Mu paused and said to Yulian, "Yulian, go to the carriage and bring me a cloak."

"Yes, Madam," Yulian replied.

Meng Qianqian could tell that Lu Mu was intentionally sending Yulian away, most likely to speak to her in private.

Lu Mu said, "Qianqian, regarding your great-grandmother, I feel like I've never brought it up with you."

Meng Qianqian asked, "What is it?"

Lu Mu sighed and said, "Your great-grandmother has had a difficult life, spending her entire life in the Lu family. Fortunately, she met you, and you treat her like your own great-grandmother, so she won't be too lonely in her old age."

Meng Qianqian felt that Lu Mu's words had a deeper meaning, but she remained calm and said, "Great-grandmother is surrounded by her great-grandchildren. Even without me, there's Lord Lu and Lu Lingxiao to care for her."

Lu Mu sighed again, her expression complicated as she said, "My grandfather wasn't the grandmatriarch's biological son. He was a bastard son. The grandmatriarch had a child, a son, but he died young."

Meng Qianqian suddenly understood.

So, the old Lu patriarch who went to the Meng family in Youzhou to deceive them into a marriage wasn't the great-grandmother's own flesh and blood.

She had been wondering why such a kind great-grandmother would give birth to a swindler who roamed around causing trouble.

He not only deceived the Meng family of their wealth but also caused harm by lending money with high interest. He didn't inherit any of the great-grandmother's kindness.

It was a pity for the great-grandmother's child.

If he had lived, he would have surely become an upright and honorable man.

It's true that good people don't live long, but their harm lingers for a thousand years.

Lu Mu sighed and said, "The pain of losing a child is unforgettable. It's not necessarily a bad thing that your great-grandmother doesn't remember things now. I can tell that you truly care for her, and the Lu family is different. They serve the grandmatriarch out of respect for the Retired Emperor. Once the Retired Emperor is no longer around, the grandmatriarch's life won't be as easy."

Meng Qianqian didn't think Lu Mu was exaggerating; this was something the Lu family was capable of doing.

Meng Qianqian said, "I'll take good care of Great-grandmother."

Lu Mu held Meng Qianqian's hand and said, "With you by her side, I can rest assured."

At that moment, Tan'er dragged a young servant up the stairs and kicked him into the room, saying, "Sister, I caught him! It was him who dropped it!"

The servant fell to the ground, face-planting into the dirt. He looked at Meng Qianqian and Lu Mu and hurriedly kowtowed, saying, "Please spare us, noble ladies! I didn't mean to do it. I'm just a servant at the tavern, cleaning tables. I accidentally knocked over the fire basin and almost injured you, noble ladies! I deserve to die!"

Tan'er sternly said, "Since you deserve to die, I'll grant your wish, rebel!"

"Spare me! Spare me—"

The servant was terrified, trembling with fear.

Lu Mu said, "Forget it, let him go."

Tan'er was taken aback, "Let him go?"

Tan'er looked at Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian said, "Let him go."

"Consider yourself lucky!"

Tan'er kicked the servant out of the room.

Lu Mu said to Meng Qianqian, "It's getting late. You should hurry back. If your great-grandmother doesn't see you, she'll start looking for you."

"Okay," Meng Qianqian replied.

Thinking of something, Lu Mu whispered, "Don't mention what I told you earlier to your great-grandmother. She's already forgotten it, so don't remind her and cause her distress."

Meng Qianqian nodded, "Okay, I'll remember."

After parting ways with Lu Mu, Meng Qianqian accompanied Tan'er to buy skewered grapes.

As soon as they returned to the mansion, Manager Cen hurriedly approached them, panting, and said, "Young Madam, you're finally back..."

Meng Qianqian asked, "What happened?"

Manager Cen held his lower back, breathless, and said, "There are two pieces of news, one good and one bad."

Meng Qianqian said, "Tell me the good news first."

Manager Cen replied, "The Wanping Princess has returned to the capital."

Meng Qianqian hummed in acknowledgment, "With the husband taking action, things are different. And the bad news?"

Manager Cen anxiously said, "Ji Gongzi is missing."

Meng Qianqian asked, "What do you mean by 'missing'?"

Manager Cen sighed, "The Grand Marshal had already brought him back to the mansion, but when Ji Gongzi heard that he was to become an imperial consort, he was so scared that he immediately escaped—"

Meng Qianqian's expression relaxed, "What am I worried about? Ji Li, come out."

Manager Cen was startled and looked around.

Tan'er, eating the skewered grapes, also curiously looked for him, "Where's the chicken?"

Meng Qianqian spoke nonchalantly, "I'll count to three. If you don't come out, I'll plaster your bare buttocks all over the streets and alleys—"

Ji Li slid out, her hair standing on end, and said, "Little Tiger, tell this handsome guard to shut up—"

4000-word chapter. It's the end of the month, so please support the author with your votes!

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