Chapter 6: The Daughter's First Birthday Ritual
Chapter 6: The Daughter's First Birthday Ritual
Since she was a child, Lu Linglong had never let anyone touch a single finger on her, let alone be slapped.
Her left cheek stung with a burning sensation, causing immense pain, but more than that, she was shocked.
"You slapped me?"
She immediately raised her arm to hit back.
Smack! Meng Qianqian slapped her again, this time on the right cheek.
Lu Linglong was completely stunned by this turn of events.
Was this the same cowardly sister-in-law she used to bully, who wouldn't dare make a sound? Did she just imagine that?
The sharp pain on both sides of her face reminded Lu Linglong that this was indeed real and that her spineless sister-in-law had just slapped her.
"How dare you hit me, Meng Qianqian? Have you gone mad?"
"Well done! Well done!"
The old matriarch suddenly popped out from behind the fake mountain, eager to sneak in a couple of kicks, but Meng Qianqian held her back.
Lu Linglong was furious. "Great-grandmother!"
The old matriarch stuck out her tongue. "Hmm, hmm, hmm."
Meng Qianqian calmly asked Lu Linglong, "Do you want more?"
Lu Linglong gritted her teeth.
Just then, Lu Lingxiao arrived.
"Great-grandmother."
He greeted the old matriarch first.
Lu Linglong immediately clung to him like a savior, her eyes reddening as she sobbed, "Big brother! You have to stand up for me! Your wife bullied me! Look what she's done to my face...ah..."
"Oh dear—"
The old matriarch sat down on the ground, kicking her legs and wailing, "Boo hoo—she hit me! She hit me!"
Lu Lingxiao quickly withdrew his arm, knelt on one knee, and supported the old matriarch's shoulders as he examined her. "Great-grandmother, who hit you? Are you hurt? Does it hurt?"
The old matriarch pointed at Lu Linglong. "Her."
Lu Linglong was taken aback. "Great-grandmother! When did I ever hit you?"
Lu Lingxiao sighed. "Great-grandmother, Linglong wouldn't hit you."
Lu Linglong didn't have the guts to do that.
The old matriarch's beady eyes sparkled, and she said righteously, "She hit Qianqian, which is as good as hitting me!"
Lu Linglong was enraged. "I didn't hit her!"
The old matriarch's face turned serious. "You did. You pulled Qianqian's hair just because she didn't buy you new clothes."
Lu Linglong stomped her foot. "But I didn't even get a grip on her hair, and she slapped me!"
The old matriarch turned to Lu Lingxiao. "You see?"
Lu Linglong was left speechless.
Why was this crazy old lady acting so sane all of a sudden...
"Great-grandmother, the ground is cold. Please get up."
Lu Lingxiao helped the old matriarch to her feet and then turned a stern gaze towards his spoiled cousin.
As a general who had killed on the battlefield, his piercing look made Lu Linglong tremble in fear.
"Big...big brother..."
Lu Lingxiao spoke sternly, "She is your sister-in-law, and no matter what, you should not disrespect her."
Lu Linglong protested, "But what about her hitting me? What do you have to say about that?"
Lu Lingxiao said, "You were out of line, and as your sister-in-law, it's only natural for her to discipline you."
Lu Linglong felt wronged and tears welled up in her eyes. "I don't like my big brother anymore!"
After saying this, she wiped her tears and stormed off without looking back.
Lu Lingxiao frowned and sighed deeply. Turning to Meng Qianqian, he said, "Second uncle and aunt only have Linglong as their daughter, so they tend to spoil her. I hope you can be more magnanimous as the sister-in-law. If she offends you, a verbal reprimand should suffice. Please refrain from using your hands again."
Meng Qianqian glanced at him indifferently. "Great-grandmother, let's go play over there."
The old matriarch glared at Lu Lingxiao. "Go play over there!"
The two of them, one old and one young, strutted away.
Lu Lingxiao was left bewildered.
He had tried to be a peacemaker, but it seemed like he ended up pleasing neither side.
Now, the story shifts to the second wife, Lu Linglong's mother. When she learned that her daughter had been slapped twice by Meng Qianqian, she was so furious that she almost went to confront Meng Qianqian to demand an apology for those slaps.
But the thought of Meng Qianqian being with the old matriarch at the moment made her hesitate.
She could hit Meng Qianqian, but she couldn't hit the old matriarch, could she?
"You go!"
With an impatient shove, she prodded her husband.
Reclining in his wicker chair, Lu Er Ye was in the midst of playing with his pet bird and asked in confusion, "What's the matter?"
Er Furen urged, "Go discipline that girl!"
Lu Er Ye hummed in response, "I'm not going."
Er Furen glared at him, her eyes widening in anger. "Is Linglong not your biological daughter?"
Lu Er Ye nonchalantly replied, "She bullies Meng Qianqian all the time too. It's about time she gets disciplined."
Er Furen punched him. "Are you trying to drive me to my death?!"
Lu Er Ye was a man without ambition, spending his days idly either playing with his birds or fighting cocks. He never involved himself in serious matters.
Er Furen gritted her teeth inwardly. "How did I end up marrying such a useless man?!"
"Hey, I'm not deaf," Lu Er Ye retorted.
Er Furen held back her anger and sat down beside him. "At least come up with a plan."
Lu Er Ye frowned. "Why are you meddling in a squabble between two children?"
"I'm not talking about Linglong," Er Furen glanced around and waved her hand at the maid, who promptly withdrew.
Lowering her voice, she continued, "Your brother, Xiao Ge, has been gone for five years, and with no descendants in the main branch, the Lu family inheritance and Meng Qianqian's dowry were supposed to come to our branch. Now that your brother is back, the cooked duck has flown away."
Lu Er Ye yawned. "Don't worry, even if your brother hadn't returned, it wouldn't have come to us anyway."
Er Furen asked curiously, "What do you mean?"
Lu Er Ye turned over, his back now facing her. "It's nothing."
That night.
Lu Xingzhou returned to the Lu family residence.
Working in the Ministry of Works, he was often busy with official duties and supervising the construction of palaces, mansions, and roads. Thus, he could only return home during his days off.
After five years, father and son were reunited once more.
"Father!"
In the study, Lu Lingxiao performed a deep kneeling ritual.
"Get up," Lu Xingzhou helped him up. "It's good that you're back."
Unlike the female family members' concern for his well-being, the father and son discussed more official matters.
"Son, after you staged your death and infiltrated Beiliang, you hid in the royal capital for four years. Later, together with General Han, you killed the Prince of Rong'an of Beiliang and captured twelve third-rank officials."
Lu Xingzhou nodded in satisfaction. "The Prince of Rong'an was a formidable general of Beiliang, and killing him was no small feat. No wonder the Emperor bestowed upon you the title of Northern Defense General. Have you met with Qianqian?"
"Yes," Lu Lingxiao replied.
Lu Xingzhou said, "Serving in the court is different from fighting on the border. Your every action will be scrutinized, and the auditors' pens are not to be taken lightly. As your father, I hope you will tread carefully and avoid any missteps."
Lu Lingxiao paused before saying, "Father, my feelings for Wan'er are sincere, and we will never betray each other in this life."
Lu Xingzhou said, "As a man, your wife should be your top priority."
Lu Lingxiao turned away, "Father only says this because he married the love of his life."
He knew that his parents shared a deep bond.
His father had never taken any concubines or mistresses, only having one wife whom he adored. After his birth, his father didn't want his mother to endure the pains of childbirth again, so she never had another child.
Lu Xingzhou said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. The reason for my return this time is also because of another matter. Tomorrow, the Governor's Mansion is hosting a banquet. You should prepare Qianqian, and I will bring your mother, you, and Qianqian to attend the banquet."
Lu Lingxiao was puzzled, "We have no dealings with the Governor's Mansion. What kind of banquet is it?"
Lu Xingzhou replied, "A baby's first birthday celebration."
Lu Lingxiao asked, "Whose baby?"
Lu Xingzhou said, "The Governor's daughter."
Lu Lingxiao was even more surprised, "He has a child? But he's not married yet, is he?"
This Governor was indeed of marriageable age, but for some unknown reason, he refused to take a wife. Rumors had it that he was a profligate and a libertine, and no respectable woman dared to marry him.
Lu Xiao Meng Bao: Waa Waa!
(End of Chapter)
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