Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 51 Adding to the Dowry

Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Adding to the Dowry

Lu Yuan poured himself a cup of hot tea with an indifferent expression: "Did this governor ask you to pry into the Lu Family’s gossip?"

Qing Shuang responded with an "oh," bowed, and headed out.

Yu Zichuan turned and followed her.

Lu Yuan said coldly, "Why are you leaving?"

Yu Zichuan replied, "I want to listen."

Lu Yuan: "..."

Lu Yuan snorted coldly and leisurely picked up his teacup.

Qing Shuang recounted what had occurred in the Lu Family. When she mentioned that Meng Qianqian had proposed a separation from Lu Lingxiao, Lu Yuan froze mid-sip.

Yu Zichuan asked curiously, "And then?"

"Then I came back."

Qing Shuang replied.

Qing Shuang, trained as a scout and a death warrior, was adept at detecting danger but lacked an understanding of emotions. Therefore, whatever Lu Lingxiao’s expression had meant back then, she couldn’t discern.

Yu Zichuan picked up his bow and arrows and walked out.

Lu Yuan tapped the table: "Urgent report."

Yu Zichuan begrudgingly turned back and placed an eight-hundred-li expedited secret letter on the table.

After reading it, Lu Yuan chuckled coldly.

On the other side, Lu Lingxiao returned to Songzhu Courtyard with a blank expression, entirely oblivious to Lin Wan’er waiting for him under the corridor.

Lu Luo asked suspiciously, "Miss, what’s wrong with the General? He seems utterly lost..."

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Wan’er stepped into Lu Lingxiao’s room.

Without saying a word, Lu Lingxiao sat on the bed, his expression not quite suggesting he’d weathered a thunderstorm, but undeniably as though he’d suffered a profound blow.

Lin Wan’er seated herself beside him, took his hand, and wrote in his palm: "General, what happened? Won’t you go save the Eldest Young Madam?"

Only then did Lu Lingxiao snap out of his stupor, weakly murmuring, "She came back."

Lin Wan’er froze.

Lu Lingxiao said despondently, "Wan’er, do you recall when I mentioned how, upon first arriving at the border, my men and I nearly starved to death?"

Lin Wan’er nodded.

Lu Lingxiao continued, "The mountain passes were snowbound, and the court’s provisions couldn’t be delivered. A caravan took the southeastern waterways, landed at Li State’s ferry, journeyed hundreds of miles, and braved the mountains to deliver provisions and military supplies to Yumen Pass. The caravan left no names, claiming only that they were contributions gathered by residents of various states and towns."

Lin Wan’er: "Why does the General suddenly bring this up?"

Lu Lingxiao mulled over her question for a long time before admitting shamefully, "That caravan was from the Meng Family."

Lin Wan’er was stunned.

She gestured: "Who told the General this?"

Lu Lingxiao replied, "She just told me herself. I never knew."

Lin Wan’er clutched her skirt tightly.

Lu Luo muttered, "If it was truly the Meng Family’s generosity, why didn’t they bring it up earlier? Waiting until now—could it be that the Eldest Young Madam is trying to block the General from marrying the Miss?"

Lu Lingxiao’s face darkened.

Lin Wan’er sharply rebuked Lu Luo: "Leave!"

Lu Luo glanced at Lu Lingxiao, whose fury seemed on the brink of erupting, and hurriedly retreated.

Lin Wan’er tugged at Lu Lingxiao’s hand: "It was my lack of discipline with the servants. Don’t be angry; anger harms the body."

Out of deference to Lin Wan’er, Lu Lingxiao suppressed his temper.

Lin Wan’er lowered her gaze, gesturing: "The Eldest Young Madam doesn’t want me to marry into this family—I understand. I won’t covet what’s not mine. I’ve said before, as long as I can stay by the General’s side, I don’t care about anything else..."

"She wants to separate from me."

Lin Wan’er was astonished for the third time.

Her lashes quivered as she gestured: "She’s likely acting out of spite, saying it on purpose. The Eldest Young Madam is still young and has suffered grievances in the palace; she needs someone to vent on—you should give her some leeway."

Similar remarks had been made by Lin Wan’er in the past, yet this time—for some inexplicable reason—Lu Lingxiao felt that Meng Qianqian wasn’t acting out of impulse.

That calmness, for a fleeting moment, made her seem untouchable.

Seeing Lu Lingxiao’s silence, Lin Wan’er gradually clenched her garment tighter and tighter.

Meng Qianqian had proposed separation to Lu Lingxiao at the Fushou Courtyard. Servants had eavesdropped. As soon as the two family elders were sent away, the matter was immediately reported to the Old Madam.

The Old Madam, nearly flipping the table in anger, exclaimed: "Separation? Dream on! A barren woman—does she really think she’s something special? How dare she propose separation? Even becoming a nun feels too dignified for her wretchedness!"

Mammy Wu smoothed the Old Madam’s temper while chiming in agreement: "Alas, she fell into the water half a year ago and caught cold. The doctor said she would be unlikely to bear children in this life. We spent a fortune on elixirs to help her conceive, but now it seems she lacks the fortune for them to work!"

"That immortal pill—one alone costs a hundred liang—thank goodness we didn’t let her take it!"

After finishing her rant, the Old Madam remembered that the medicine was still in Lu Mother’s keeping. She immediately ordered someone to retrieve it.

She had deliberately excluded Lu Mother from today’s meeting to prevent her from speaking up for that girl. But who could have anticipated that Meng Qianqian would prove to be such a fierce fighter? Her words nearly suffocated everyone in the room!

"Oh dear, help me lie down for a while."

The Old Madam’s headache was unbearable.

Just as Mammy Wu helped her lie down, a report came from outside: Lin Wan’er was requesting an audience.

The Old Madam frowned and said, "In such heavy snowfall, shouldn’t she focus on nurturing her pregnancy in the Feng Courtyard? Why bother me now!"

Though in a foul mood and unwilling to see Lin Wan’er, the Old Madam relented, thinking of the precious great-grandchild within her belly, and allowed her in.

To her surprise, Lin Wan’er didn’t come empty-handed. Lu Luo, along with a few Feng Courtyard servants, carried armfuls of items, filling the Old Madam’s table to the brim.

Silk and satin, gold and jade ornaments, ginseng and lingzhi, calligraphy from famed masters.

The Old Madam’s eyes widened: "This..."

Lu Luo smiled and said, "To the Old Madam, these are rewards bestowed by the Noble Consort yesterday when my Miss entered the palace. My Miss says they are all for the Old Madam!"

Gifts from the Noble Consort—all handed to her!

The Old Madam immediately latched onto the key point in Lu Luo’s words. After being infuriated all morning by Meng Qianqian, she was finally presented with a delightful turn of events.

The Old Madam’s gaze towards Lin Wan’er softened considerably. She beckoned to Lin Wan’er: "Come, sit closer!"

Lin Wan’er slowly seated herself next to the Old Madam.

She had observed Meng Qianqian’s decorum on a prior occasion, so this time, Lin Wan’er mimicked her posture: taking only a small corner of the seat.

But after sitting for just a short while, Lin Wan’er grew visibly fatigued, beads of sweat forming on her brow.

The Old Madam, however, lovingly took Lin Wan’er’s hand, scrutinizing her with increasing fondness.

Now this—this was what a granddaughter-in-law ought to be: someone who understood filial respect for her grandmother. Unlike that other girl, who had kept all of Lingxiao’s rewards for herself!

The Old Madam gently touched Lin Wan’er’s belly. "Two months already, hmm? The first three months are critical. You must be extra careful."

Lin Wan’er gave a soft nod.

The Old Madam glanced once more at the lavish gifts on the table and solemnly stated, "These items are rewards from the Noble Consort meant for you; you should take them back for your own use."

Lin Wan’er shook her head and gestured for Lu Luo to explain.

Lu Luo, smiling, said, "Old Madam, my Miss can’t possibly use all of it. Besides, the Noble Consort is sure to send more rewards in the future!"

"Oh?"

This piqued the Old Madam’s interest.

Lu Luo, looking proud, declared: "The Noble Consort mentioned that on my Miss’s wedding day, she would personally take the lead in providing our Miss with a grand dowry!"

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