Chapter 638: Touching the Heart
Chapter 638: Touching the Heart
Lu Yuan and Shangguan Ling stood outside Meng Laoye’s courtyard.
Behind them lay one load after another of Homecoming Gifts.
It was Uncle Meng who had led them to meet the old man, and he had already gone in to announce their arrival.
A First-Rank Grand Marshal, second only to the retired emperor, had never been made to wait so long.
Shangguan Ling sneaked a few glances at his master.
It felt oddly satisfying.
Lu Yuan said coolly, “If you keep daydreaming, I’ll remove your head.”
Shangguan Ling’s lips twitched.
He couldn’t even think?
How did he see through it?
He cleared his throat and whispered, “Grand Marshal, you’ve taken the old man’s favorite granddaughter. I doubt he’ll let you in.”
Lu Yuan glanced at him. “Do you want to die?”
Shangguan Ling silently took a step to the side.
Uncle Meng had been in there for a while.
Unable to contain himself, Shangguan Ling moved back to Lu Yuan’s side. “Grand Marshal, why didn’t you bring the young lady? Even if he doesn’t respect you, he’ll respect her. If she were here, Meng Laoye wouldn’t keep her waiting outside.”
Lu Yuan said coldly, “Should I let her share my scolding? I never let a woman stand in front of me.”
Shangguan Ling felt a sudden pang of jealousy.
Ji Li fiddled with his folding fan, leaning against a nearby tree with a raised eyebrow. “Do you need me to read your fortune, Grand Marshal? Friends’ rate, five copper coins.”
Lu Yuan: “Get lost.”
Meng Tianlan hurried back to Meng Laoye’s courtyard and wasn’t surprised to see Lu Yuan still outside.
If the old man let this brat in, it would be a miracle.
He patted Lu Yuan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, brother. I’ll go in and persuade the old man.”
Lu Yuan clasped his hands. “Thank you.”
Meng Tianlan took a deep breath and steeled himself to enter the old man’s room.
Uncle Meng was trying to soothe Meng Laoye.
But Meng Laoye was unmoved. No matter how much Uncle Meng praised Lu Yuan, in his eyes, Lu Yuan was still a scoundrel who had tricked his foolish son and abducted his precious granddaughter.
Uncle Meng was at a loss and subtly gestured to Meng Tianlan.
Meng Tianlan knew things would be difficult, but he hadn’t expected this much.
The old man might as well beat that brat to vent his anger.
“Father...”
“Be quiet, you too!”
Meng Laoye said angrily, “Look at the mess you’ve made!”
Meng Tianlan closed his eyes.
He had finally managed to make the old man overlook this issue.
He was on the verge of a comeback at the Meng Clan Estate.
But now?
He was being criticized again!
Meng Tianlan decided to find an ally.
He signaled to Uncle Meng to go to the shop and bring back his second brother.
Uncle Meng understood and left.
Meng Tianhe, upon hearing that Meng Qianqian had returned, immediately dropped everything and rushed back to the Meng Clan Estate.
He thought Meng Qianqian would be in the old man’s courtyard, but instead, he only saw Lu Yuan and Shangguan Ling outside.
Both were handsome and charming, but Lu Yuan clearly had a stronger presence.
Meng Tianhe frowned. “You’re the Grand Marshal who took Qianqian away?”
Lu Yuan, noticing the resemblance between Meng Tianhe and Meng Tianlan, bowed respectfully. “Lu Yuan greets Second Uncle.”
Meng Tianhe said, “You can leave. The old man won’t see you.”
Meng Tianlan, peeking through a crack in the door, was stunned!
He was supposed to persuade the old man to accept the guest, not to chase away his son-in-law!
Meng Tianlan sighed in frustration.
Meng Tianhe entered the room. “Father.”
Meng Laoye grunted.
Meng Tianlan moved to his side and whispered, “Second Brother, please persuade Father.”
Meng Tianhe asked curiously, “Persuade him about what?”
Meng Tianlan gritted his teeth, wishing he could cover his brother’s mouth.
Could he be any quieter?
Meng Tianhe thought for a moment and said, “If you’re talking about Qianqian and that man’s marriage, I agree with Father. We never approved it, so it’s invalid.”
Meng Tianlan was taken aback. “How is it invalid? I’m part of the Meng Clan! I wrote the marriage contract!”
Meng Tianhe pondered for a while. “Then we’ll disown you.”
Meng Tianlan stammered, “That’s so heartless...”
Meng Tianhe sternly said, “You’ve already made a mess in the Imperial Capital. If you plead for that brat again, don’t blame me for turning my back on you!”
Meng Tianlan dared not speak up.
Who could blame him for being lazy and irresponsible?
When the eldest brother died, Meng Laoye had wanted to divide the estate between the two of them.
But he was lazy and shirked his duties, leaving the burden entirely on his second brother.
Over time, his second brother became the undisputed authority in the family.
Meng Tianhe asked Meng Laoye, “Father, should we drive him away?”
Meng Tianlan quickly intervened. “Second Brother, don’t blame me for not warning you. He’s an official of the court! Don’t bring disaster to the Meng Clan!”
He had wanted to say that both men, the Grand Marshal and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, were ruthless killers.
But he held his tongue.
Meng Tianhe said coldly, “Just because he’s an official, he can abduct women?”
Meng Tianlan sighed. “He didn’t abduct her. It was a proper marriage with the Three Letters and Six Rites, arranged by our parents and the matchmaker...”
Meng Tianhe said coldly, “I may not be able to drive him away, but I can certainly drive you away.”
Meng Tianlan shut his mouth in frustration.
How could he save his sworn brother?
---
On the other side, Meng Qianqian met her Second Aunt, Lady Ji, and her Third Aunt, Lady Yan.
Lady Ji was a stern and serious woman, managing the household affairs.
Lady Yan was plump and jolly, very kind and approachable.
“Third Brother said you’ve lost weight and look different from when you were a child. I wondered how different it could be...”
Lady Ji held Meng Qianqian’s hand, her eyes red with concern.
Lady Yan was also choked up. “You must have suffered a lot in the Imperial Capital. If we had known, we wouldn’t have let you marry into that den of wolves...”
Lady Ji said sternly, “We couldn’t have predicted the situation back then. It’s fine to talk about it here, but don’t let the old man hear.”
Lady Yan wiped her tears. “I understand, Second Sister.”
Lady Ji told Meng Qianqian, “Your grandfather is still angry. If you go to see him now, you’ll get a scolding. Stay in your old room for now, and wait until he calms down before you visit him.”
“Okay,” Meng Qianqian agreed obediently.
“Your husband has returned, I hear.”
Lady Yan said.
Meng Qianqian replied, “Lu Yuan went to see my grandfather.”
Lady Ji, holding Meng Qianqian’s hand, said, “He didn’t bring you, so he’s considerate.”
If the husband had dragged Meng Qianqian to face the old man’s anger, Lady Ji would have looked down on him.
The Meng Clan cared more about her than she had expected.
Lu Yuan would have a tough time. Whether he could win over the old man was up to him.
Lu Yuan waited outside Meng Laoye’s courtyard from noon until sunset.
Shangguan Ling suggested, “Grand Marshal, why don’t you rest a bit? I can wait here.”
Lu Yuan said seriously, “No need.”
(End of Chapter)
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