Chapter 8: The Well-Behaved Milk Baby
Chapter 8: The Well-Behaved Milk Baby
The man in purple continued walking forward, a smile playing on his lips, as he passed Meng Qianqian without a second glance.
Holding an umbrella in one hand and cradling the baby in the other, Meng Qianqian obediently followed behind him.
They exited the alleyway.
A horse-drawn carriage awaited them, braving the pouring rain.
The coachman jumped down, not to retrieve the carriage steps, but to kneel in the cold, muddy ground. His back served as a stepping stone, steady as a rock.
The man in purple stepped onto the carriage, using the coachman's back as support.
The coachman remained still.
Meng Qianqian hesitated for a moment, then followed suit, stepping onto the carriage using the man's spine as a foothold.
Only then did the coachman rise and return to his seat.
Meng Qianqian folded her umbrella and placed it outside the carriage curtain.
The carriage, unassuming on the outside, was a picture of opulence within—golden walls, eastern pearls for candles, seating made from agarwood, and cushions and pillows adorned with golden-threaded brocade. Even the floor was covered with an extremely rare white tiger pelt.
Unlike the Lu family's carriage, which let in drafts from all sides, every plank in this carriage was tightly fitted, and there was an ample supply of silver charcoal to keep the interior warm.
Her chilled body quickly warmed up.
The man in purple lounged lazily on the main couch, directly across from the curtain.
He possessed a strikingly beautiful face—his skin was a cold, pale white, like bone, and his eyebrows were thick and long, slanting into his temples. His pair of handsome, phoenix-like eyes held a hint of a smile, and his lips, more alluring than a woman's, curved slightly upward.
But that smile didn't reach his eyes, which sent a chill down one's spine.
Meng Qianqian sat down on the long bench beside him, still holding the baby.
The man in purple regarded her with a smile, his expression filled with amusement. "Is there something you wish to say?"
Meng Qianqian glanced at the incense burner by his side, emitting a delicate fragrance. "This kind of fragrance is not good for children."
The man in purple remained unmoved. "Is that all?"
Meng Qianqian thought for a moment. "Is there anything to eat? I'm hungry."
The man in purple gave a cold laugh and grabbed a bundle, tossing it onto Meng Qianqian's bench. "Change your clothes."
Meng Qianqian pushed up her rain-soaked sleeves, revealing a slender, fair wrist. Her frozen fingers worked slowly and clumsily to unwrap the infant's swaddling.
"I was talking about you," the man in purple said indifferently. "You're soaked, do you want to freeze her to death?"
Meng Qianqian didn't reply. She placed the baby on the couch and took out a set of adult clothes from the bundle.
Seeing that the man in purple not only didn't leave but also stared directly at her, Meng Qianqian remained silent. She slowly raised her hand and began to untie the sash at her waist.
When she had removed her white undergarment, the man in purple snorted, flicked his sleeves, and stepped down from the carriage, taking the fragrant incense burner with him.
"If she cries, kill her," he instructed the guards before disappearing into the torrential rain.
The first 'she' referred to the baby, and the second 'she' was Meng Qianqian.
After changing into dry clothes herself, Meng Qianqian also changed the baby's outfit.
The little one looked to be only eight or nine months old, with soft, tender skin and a round face. Her eyelashes were long, and she had a cute, pink mouth and delicate eyebrows. She was clearly a little beauty in the making.
Perhaps feeling more comfortable after the change of clothes, the baby lifted her chin and fell asleep in Meng Qianqian's arms, looking incredibly proud of herself.
The carriage came to a stop outside the back gate of a mansion.
Music from silk and bamboo instruments penetrated the thick rain, faintly audible.
Meng Qianqian lifted the curtain.
An old nanny, holding an oil-paper umbrella, was already waiting. Meng Qianqian handed the sleeping baby to her and reached for the umbrella beneath the curtain, only to find that it was gone.
"Please lend me an umbrella," Meng Qianqian said to the guards.
One of the guards asked, "Are you really going to let her go? Won't you silence her?"
Another guard replied, "Our master said that if the young miss cries, we should kill her. But she didn't cry."
The First Birthday Celebration was held in the Jade Pavilion of the Governor's Mansion. The guests had already taken their seats, and the hall was filled with lively conversations, clinking cups, soft music, and dancing.
Lu Xingzhou sat in his designated seat, his brows furrowed as he watched the sky gradually darken, his gaze occasionally drifting to the empty seat beside him.
"Wu Qi!" He called out.
A servant bowed and replied, "Yes, Master."
"Go and see if the young master has arrived."
"Yes, Master."
Wu Qi hurried off but soon returned, his clothes soaked. "Master, I didn't see Young Master's carriage."
Lu Xingzhou's frown deepened. "What's going on with that boy?"
"Could it be that Young Master forgot the way to the Governor's Mansion?"
Lu Xingzhou shook his head. His son was a military officer, and he knew the city's defenses like the back of his hand. There was no way he could have forgotten the way.
Unless the heavy rain had caused their carriage to break down midway?
Even then, they should have arrived by now, even if they had to hire another carriage.
As Lu Xingzhou pondered this conundrum, a loud and clear voice rang out from outside: "The Governor has arrived!"
The lively banquet hall fell silent, the singers and dancers stopped, and the guests all rose to their feet, bowing respectfully towards the entrance.
Governor Lu strode in, a smile on his face. He wore purple robes, his head adorned with a purple crown, and his black hair flowing like ink. His face was as exquisite as jade, and his eyes held a cold, ruthless glint.
There was no man more strikingly handsome, nor more ruthless, than him.
With a casual laugh, he said, "I apologize for the delay. I had a few matters to attend to. Please, everyone, be seated. This is a family gathering, so there's no need for formalities."
Only Governor Lu could speak so nonchalantly about killing people.
The guests exchanged awkward glances, too afraid to voice their displeasure.
Lu Yun smiled and said, "Please be seated."
The guests waited for General Han, who had contributed the most to the recent military campaign, to take his seat before they cautiously sat down themselves.
Lu Yun's gaze swept across the empty seats before landing on Lu Xingzhou.
Lu Xingzhou stood up and said, "Governor Lu."
Lu Yun smiled. "How is Madam Lu doing?"
Lu Xingzhou politely replied, "Grandmother is doing well. Thank you for your concern, Governor Lu."
Lu Yun's eyes flickered to the empty seat. "Where is your son?"
Lu Xingzhou's expression became complicated. "My son..."
Lu Yun chuckled. "Could it be that your son looks down on me and doesn't wish to grace me with his presence?"
Lu Xingzhou quickly explained, "It's not that, Governor Lu. My wife is injured, so my son stayed home to take care of her."
"Father!"
Lu Lingxiao's voice rang out from the doorway.
Lu Yun's lips curved upward, his eyes holding a hint of amusement. "It seems Madam Lu has recovered quite quickly."
Lu Xingzhou's eyes flickered with embarrassment as he turned to his son and said sternly, "Lingxiao, come and pay your respects to Governor Lu."
Lu Lingxiao coldly eyed the man before him, who was only a few years older than himself. He reluctantly bowed and said, "Governor Lu."
Lu Xingzhou whispered to his son, "Why are you so late? Where's Qianqian?"
Lu Lingxiao opened his mouth to speak but stopped.
A young woman in plain clothes entered the hall, supported by Green Lotus.
The woman's face was covered, revealing only a pair of pitiful yet captivating eyes.
Lu Xingzhou immediately recognized that she was not Meng Qianqian.
He glared at his son, anger flashing in his eyes.
Lu Lingxiao held Lin Wan'er's hand and whispered, "Father, I'll explain later."
Lu Yun's eyes flickered to their intertwined hands, and he asked with a smile, "And who is this? Could it be the young Mrs. Lu?"
(End of Chapter)
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