https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-85-Cleaning-House-She-is-Xiao-Huhu/12582511/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-87-Qianqian-Astonishes-the-Lu-Family/12582513/
Chapter 86: The Grand Commander is Far Superior to Lu Lingxiao
Chapter 86: The Grand Commander is Far Superior to Lu Lingxiao
After leaving the morning court session, Lu Yuan had intended to return directly to the Grand Commander's residence. However, as his carriage passed by the seven-story tower, something occurred to him, and he ordered the carriage to stop.
The coachman knelt on the ground, offering his back as a seat.
Lu Yuan stepped on him to alight from the carriage and walked into the library with an expressionless face.
He scanned the room with a glance.
It was immediately apparent which rows of bookshelves had been organized.
To be fair, his library wasn't particularly disorganized to begin with, as there were servants in charge of maintaining it. However, the areas that Meng Qianqian had tidied up now looked even more aesthetically pleasing.
A young servant smiled and said, "All of this was organized by Miss Meng. We didn't dare touch anything after she was done. Miss Meng really has a talent for organizing."
Lu Yuan coldly snorted, "It's passable."
He waved his hand, and the servant understood, wisely leaving the room.
Lu Yuan walked over to the bookshelves that Meng Qianqian had organized and recalled the titles she had mentioned before: Carefree Seventy-Nine Forms, Spring Breeze Thirteen Diagrams, and Techniques of Courtesan. With a doubtful look on his face, he began searching for them.
A moment later, he frowned, "They're really here?"
He pulled out the three books and flipped through them casually. His expression gradually turned sour.
"Shangguan Ling!"
Just as he was contemplating whether he should drag Shangguan Ling out for a few dozen lashes, he heard the servant's voice from the doorway, "Miss Meng, it's been several days since you last came!"
Lu Yuan's hand shook, and he hastily stuffed the three books back into the bookshelf in a flustered manner.
When Meng Qianqian arrived, Lu Yuan was standing in front of the neatly organized bookshelves, casually flipping through a historical record.
Meng Qianqian's gaze swept across the bookshelves, and she gave a slight bow, "Grand Commander."
Lu Yuan didn't look at her and acknowledged her with a nonchalant 'hmph'.
Meng Qianqian walked straight past him and, right in front of him, took out the three books he had haphazardly stuffed back into the shelf, returning them to their original positions one by one.
"Grand Commander, please return the books to their proper places after reading."
Lu Yuan: "..."
The two of them stayed in the library for an hour.
Meng Qianqian diligently organized the bookshelves while Lu Yuan quietly read, neither disturbing the other.
In the afternoon, Meng Qianqian was reviewing accounts in the residence.
Baoshu came over for a visit.
She was still dressed like a little tiger cub. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she climbed down from Qing Shuang's embrace and toddled over to find Meng Qianqian by herself.
When she reached the doorstep, she tremblingly pulled herself up using the wall.
This was the first time Meng Qianqian had seen Baoshu stand up by herself, and she was delighted.
Baoshu seemed to want to try stepping over the threshold like an adult, but as soon as she let go, she plopped back down onto the ground.
Meng Qianqian couldn't help but laugh. Baoshu hadn't even learned how to walk properly yet, and she was already trying to cross the threshold.
Meng Qianqian picked up the little girl and brought her inside, holding her tiny hand as she practiced walking.
Baoshu was excited, jumping up and down, "Wuwawa!"
After a while, Baoshu wasn't tired, but Meng Qianqian was already feeling sore from bending over.
Tan'er squatted down with a giggle, "Baozhu Zhu, let's go for a walk... Cough, I mean, let's go flying!"
Baoshu immediately turned around and started crawling!
Tan'er grabbed her, "Let's—go—then—"
Baoshu's face was filled with terror, and her body shook, "Wuwawa—"
On the other hand, after Lu Xingzhou left the morning court, he immediately returned to the Lu family residence, intending to ask his son, Meng Xiaojiu, about his identity and why Yin Hu had chosen him as his successor.
However, Lu Lingxiao was at the military camp, and Lu Xingzhou didn't encounter anyone.
Lu Lingxiao stayed in the military camp for three days. It was only until the young emperor held a banquet to welcome the generals and soldiers that he returned, as he had brought Yin Hu back to the camp, and thus, his name was also on the list for rewards and recognition.
The banquet to welcome the soldiers also invited the family members of the officials.
For the Lu family, it was the Empress's trusted eunuch, Wang, who came to extend the invitation.
The elderly madam was flustered and overjoyed, "Please convey my greetings to Her Majesty. I will definitely pay my respects to Her Majesty in person at the Changchun Palace!"
Eunuch Wang smiled, "The Empress has not seen Miss Lin in a long time and has been thinking about her. I wonder if Miss Lin is feeling well these days?"
"This..."
The elderly madam hesitated, not because she was unwilling to bring Lin Wan'er to the palace, but because Lin Wan'er hadn't been looking her best lately, and she was concerned that the journey might be too taxing on her delicate condition.
Eunuch Wang's smile remained unchanged as he said, "If it's inconvenient..."
Lu Xingzhou entered the room. "Wang Gonggong, please convey my respects to the Empress. Wan'er will attend the banquet."
After Eunuch Wang left with a smile, the elderly madam hesitated again. "If the baby is at risk, should we really bring Wan'er along?"
"The fetus is stable at four months. There won't be any problems," Lu Xingzhou assured her.
What he didn't say was that with the Emperor having lost the support of Yin Hu, Consort Li would definitely keep a tight hold on Shen Hou. By attending the banquet, Consort Li would surely bestow rewards upon Wan'er.
Even though his son couldn't become Yin Hu, if his grandson could become the next Shen Hou, their Lu family would still be a force to be reckoned with in the capital.
Lu Xingzhou then went to Lu Mu's courtyard. "Tomorrow, you will also attend the banquet."
It wasn't a suggestion but a statement, leaving no room for argument.
Lu Mu lowered her gaze. "Understood."
Lu Xingzhou moved to unfasten his collar. "I'll be staying here tonight..."
Lu Mu tightened her grip on her handkerchief. "If you stay... then I won't go."
Lu Xingzhou frowned. This was the first time Lu Mu had ever defied him, and he gave her a cold glance.
Lu Mu's body trembled slightly.
Just as she was about to collapse, a curtain behind her stirred, and Lu Xingzhou's figure disappeared from the room.
Lu Mu slumped back into her chair, tears of fright falling from her eyes.
At the Maple Courtyard, Lu Qing took the opportunity to share the good news of the palace invitation with Lin Wan'er.
"Consort Li specifically requested for you to attend the banquet. This time, only you are invited, not Meng Qianqian. Let's see who else dares to say that you're inferior to her in the future!"
Lin Wan'er gestured: "Will the General be going?"
"He will!" Lu Qing replied.
Lin Wan'er gently caressed her slightly protruding belly.
Lu Lingxiao, I'll make you understand that I'm a better wife for you than Meng Qianqian.
What you need is not a merchant's daughter reeking of money, but me, the daughter of the Twelve Marshals.
That night, Qing Shuang came to pick up the sleeping Baoshu and took the opportunity to pass a message to Meng Qianqian.
"A banquet to welcome the soldiers? Can I decline?"
Meng Qianqian wasn't very interested.
"The Emperor has issued an edict to specifically see Meng Xiaojiu. If you don't want to go, I can disguise myself as you," Qing Shuang said.
"That would be deceiving the Emperor," Meng Qianqian pointed out.
"With the Grand Commander there, nothing will happen," Qing Shuang reassured her.
Meng Qianqian considered for a moment. "Alright, since the Emperor has summoned me, let's go."
The next morning, after breakfast, Meng Qianqian was about to set off for the palace. As she stepped out of the courtyard, instead of their simple carriage, she was greeted by an extremely luxurious palanquin.
Cai, the steward, smiled as she pulled open the curtain for Meng Qianqian.
Meng Qianqian immediately spotted Baoshu sitting on the soft couch. The little one was dressed in tiger cub clothing, with a small flower in her hair, proudly tilting her chin to show off her perfect... chubby side profile.
Cai smiled and said, "Miss Baoshu has come to escort Miss Meng to the palace banquet."
Meng Qianqian looked at the smug little one... it was hard to refuse.
Meng Qianqian, along with Tan'er and Ban Xia, climbed into the palanquin.
Tan'er gazed at the array of snacks on the table, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Osmanthus cake, chestnut cake, rose pastry... Steward Cai, our Grand Commander is so much better than that Lu Lingxiao! I like him! I wish he could come to our house as a guest sometime!"
Tan'er's liking was as pure as her love for pig's trotters and braised pork.
(End of Chapter)
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