Chapter 11: Leaving Me Two Carp (1) That’s inappropriate.

When Meng Xuanli heard the word "wedding dress," his heart tightened and his voice became even more bewildered: "My Lord, isn't this a bit too hasty?"

Lu Guanque was already upset because of what had just happened, and now seeing her so confused and helpless, he felt even more annoyed. He lowered his eyes to look at her: "The wedding is in a few days, why aren't you anxious?"

Lu Guanque's heart twitched, and he tightened his grip, binding her to him along with the blanket. He closed his eyes, her scent lingering on him. "Don't give my gifts to others anymore."

His tone was cold and heavy, like an icicle that suddenly broke and hit the ground, making people's hearts palpitate.

"I can't usually wear so many." Meng Xuanli shuddered slightly as he explained, "Besides, Mr. Su has always been very devoted to you and me, so this is our way of thanking him."

us?

Couple?

"I misunderstood Ah Li." He walked straight into the inner room, laid her on the bed, and suddenly said gently, "I was afraid you would fall, so I spoke a little harshly."

"Don't take it personally."

Meng Xuanli was stunned for a moment, then replied, "It's okay."

"Your Highness, please don't hug me in the future. If something happens to you, others will say I'm inconsiderate."

"Who dares to say that?" Lu Guanque looked at her lips and said faintly, "Besides, it's just a hug."

Meng Xuanli was bathed in his warm breath. She leaned back quietly, saying awkwardly, "It's inappropriate to do this in public."

"Is that inappropriate?"

Lu Guanque leaned closer, his eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at her: "What about this?"

Meng Xuanli lay on her back in the quilt, and Lu Guanque's figure loomed over her from above, covering her completely.

She was dressed in a plain white skirt, her black hair covering the soft pillow, entwined with Lu Guanque's dangling hair, resembling a Tai Chi pattern in ink and wash painting. From a distance, the two of them resembled the black and white "Yin Yang Fish", with Yin within Yang and Yang within Yin, a seamless and incomprehensible combination. [1]

The warm breath brushed against his cheek. Meng Xuanli panicked and opened his mouth slightly, speaking in a mosquito-like voice: "This won't do."

"Oh? Then what should I do?"

Lu Guanque's brows were cold and he held her slender wrists separately: "Why are you blushing?"

Meng Xuanli secretly struggled with his hand: "It's not red."

"Let me see." Lu Guanque loosened his grip and touched her forehead with the back of his hand. "If it's not a fever, what is it?"

The moment they touched, Meng Xuanli subconsciously closed her eyes. Lu Guanque was very close to her, his eyes fixed on her slightly stretched lips.

The inner room was dim, and Meng Xuanli's fair face was shining brightly, with fine beads of sweat appearing on it, like snow beads falling in the wind, tiny, light, and faintly revealing a cold and repulsive feeling.

He knew that she was confused.

Lu Guanque stood up straight, a smile on his lips, and said lightly: "If Ali wears a wedding dress, will she be more beautiful than now?"

Meng Xuanli buried his face in the soft pillow, curled up, and said sullenly, "I don't know. Anyway, I can't see it."

"It's all I need to see." Lu Guanque turned around and flicked his sleeves. "I'll go call Chen Bi to help you try on the wedding dress."

"...Hmm?" Meng Xuanli turned around and looked at Lu Guanque with a smile that deepened.

He walked out of the inner room and went to the corridor.

Huo Yuan, who was hiding in the shadows, saw Lu Guanque coming out and hurried forward, bowing and whispering, "My Lord, everything is done."

"Very good."

Lu Guanque cast his gaze towards the distant lights and said in a subtle voice, "Later, take the silver and go to Renjitang."

"By the way, I'd like to remind Su Zixu not to return to Dongdu after he leaves."

"I understand."

Huo Yuan understood what he meant and disappeared into the night.

*

A few days later, Meng Xuanli woke up with a dry throat and a bit of fatigue. She said lazily, "Chenbi, pour me some tea."

Chen Bi answered and held up the tea, saying softly, "Miss, the master sent someone to say that he has something personal to discuss with you in person."

Meng Xuanli straightened up, drank it all in one gulp, and asked calmly, "What's the matter?"

Seeing that she was completely unconcerned, Chen Bi advised, "Perhaps the young lady is getting married tomorrow, and the master is still worried about her?"

"care?"

Meng Xuanli curled the corners of his lips slightly, with a hint of sarcasm: "From what I see, he doesn't really care."

"Miss, please at least meet me... just consider it a formality between father and daughter?"

Hearing Chen Bi say this, Meng Xuanli couldn't refuse anymore and nodded slightly: "Then go and reply. Just say I'll go after dinner."

"yes."

After lunch, Meng Xuanli arrived as promised.

"I heard from the little boy that father has something to tell his daughter?" Meng Xuanli said in a calm tone, sitting upright on the chair, with no intention of standing up to greet him.

Meng Zhongliang sighed: "Now, your elder sister has married into the Pan family, and you will be married tomorrow. There is no one by Daddy's side anymore." As he said this, he had a complicated expression and sat down on the chair opposite.

"I called you here today to warn you." Meng Zhongliang straightened his expression, "When you go to the Duke's Mansion in the future, you must abide by the rules and regulations and do not bring shame to the Meng family."

"It's natural."

Meng Xuanli chuckled, paused, and said in a calm tone, "Father, if you have nothing else to do, I will go back to my room first."

"Wait a minute."

Meng Zhongliang glanced at Chen Bi who was standing beside him and lowered his voice: "I know A Li resents me, but you will be leaving home tomorrow. I have personally counted the dowry you need."

He paused and pulled out a snack box from his sleeve: "This is your favorite. I made it myself this morning. Would you like to try it, Ali?"

Since that night's argument, father and daughter rarely saw each other. After Meng Xuanli went blind, they rarely spoke to each other. Meng Xuanli had assumed her father was preoccupied with her eldest sister, but unexpectedly, he'd been sending her Wufangzhai pastries regularly these days.

Even, he did it himself today?

Meng Xuanli was slightly stunned when he heard this, clearly not believing him to say such a thing. Chen Bi noticed the tense atmosphere nearby and hurriedly smiled to smooth things over, "Master, this craftsmanship is even better than Wufangzhai's. I will accept it for you first."

Hearing Meng Zhongliang's dry laugh, Meng Xuanli's face flashed with embarrassment, and he lowered his head and nodded: "Thank you very much, father."

When they reached the corridor, Meng Xuanli whispered to Chen Bi, "Tell me, what exactly is the meaning of father's action?"

"I can't guess it either, but I heard from the little boy that this cake was indeed made by the master himself." Chen Bi lowered her eyes, "Perhaps the master really feels guilty."

"...Hmm." Meng Xuanli shook his head and sighed, "Forget it, whether it's guilt or pretense, whatever, let's just keep living in this muddle."

"Put your things away."

"yes."

The master and servant walked slowly, and Meng Xuanli suddenly asked in a low voice, "How's the matter I asked you to inquire about?"

Chen Bi looked around cautiously and replied quietly, "I have sent people to investigate carefully. The Su family from Xuzhou did come to Changsheng Temple that year and enshrined the tablet in the west corner of the side hall. It cannot be false."

Meng Xuanli nodded slightly, his brows relaxed. "This way, when he and my mother are together at Changsheng Temple in the future, I can also pay my respects together."

"Who is this old friend of yours?" Chen Bi asked deliberately.

Meng Xuanli smiled and said, "Come with me to Changsheng Temple in a few days, and you will know."

Her old friend had a tragic fate. Not long after she was born, her mother died of a serious illness, and she entrusted her child to her uncle, the Su family, before her death.

Uncle Su was kindhearted and treated him like his own son, naming him Su He. From then on, he inherited the teachings and mastered the essentials of medicine. When Meng Xuanli was injured as a child, he would seek treatment from Su He. Over time, their friendship deepened.

Unfortunately, Su He died young, and Meng Xuanli was later brought back to Dongdu.

A few days ago, she heard that Su He's tablet was also in Changsheng Temple, so she sent Chen Bi to inquire about it. Now, for the sake of their childhood friendship, she decided to go and burn a stick of incense.

"Yes." Chen Bi replied, and then suddenly remembered something, and said with doubt, "By the way, young lady, I just heard from the servants that the eldest young lady has returned to the mansion. She is probably looking for the master now."

"You're back again?" Meng Xuanli frowned slightly, his tone slightly annoyed. "What's the reason today?"

Chen Bi whispered, "It seems that Madam Pan said a few words to the eldest lady."

"So that's how it is." Meng Xuanli seemed to understand the reason. "She chose her own path, who can I blame?"

After a short pause, Meng Xuanli's legs felt a little sore. "Forget it, help me back to the house. I don't know what's wrong with me these past two days, I've always been very tired."

Chen Bi also nodded: "I guess his eyes are almost healed, that's why he is so sleepy."

"You are quite good at talking." Meng Xuanli responded with a smile.

The figures of the master and servant gradually disappeared in the depths of the corridor. A little maid walked out from the darkness, smiled, then gathered her sleeves and hurried out.

*

On the day Meng Xuanli got married, the sky was cold and clear, and the light shining on her vermilion wedding dress looked like a candle flame shedding tears.

Meng Xuanli was supported by Chen Bi, and his ears were filled with noisy laughter. The voices of these people were sharp and piercing, making people feel cold.

"I heard that she was the evildoer who was raised in the countryside. Lord Meng, seeking fame and fortune, and wanting to curry favor with the powerful, actually stuffed such a person into the Duke's Mansion."

"Who says it's not?"

"His eldest daughter just married into the Pan family, and this one immediately took her place. Maybe she did something herself..."

Meng Xuanli couldn't tell the direction of the whispers, so he smiled softly and patted Chen Bi's arm carefully: "Don't listen, help me walk."

The wedding procession moved forward in a long line, everyone beaming with joy. The bridesmaid carefully helped Meng Xuanli into the room, the red silk tassel pinned around her waist swaying slightly in the wind.

Inside the sedan, Meng Xuanli sat quietly, surrounded by a sea of ​​red, but what met her eyes was endless darkness.

She didn't know how long she had been walking when suddenly she felt dizzy and raised her hand to press her forehead, but her wrist seemed to weigh a thousand pounds and she couldn't lift it no matter what she did.

Meng Xuanli had a splitting headache, and his body was like wet willow catkins, sinking into the cold sea tide bit by bit.

She endured the pain and leaned against the cold wall of the sedan. The noise outside was rippling and pushing her body, as if she was lying in a pile of pollen full of thorns. The slightest movement would cause her to feel piercing pain.

Heart-piercing.

Meng Xuanli suddenly remembered that she had only drunk a glass of cold wine this morning and had nothing else to eat...

When she was getting dressed in the morning, Meng Xiuyu sent someone to visit her and they stayed in the inner room for a long time. At the time, she thought Meng Xiuyu sent too many gifts and didn't take it seriously. Now it seems that Meng Xiuyu deliberately had someone add something to the wine?

The sedan came to a steady stop, but the noise outside continued. Meng Xuanli's face flushed crimson, his eyes heavy, like a moldy tribute fruit, as he slumped there.

What medicine is this?

Is she dying...?

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References

[1] Refer to the Bagua diagram