Chapter 38 A Panic "The Third Miss is of pure and kind nature, perhaps we should betroth her to her..."

Lu Xiuyi scanned her face inch by inch, trying to find evidence that she was sad about his upcoming marriage. However, after looking at every subtle expression on her face, he realized that in addition to relief, she also had a hint of longing for the future.

What is she longing for?

Longing for days without him? Longing for a peaceful life without him? Or longing to get rid of him and then swallow your pride and cling to Jiang Xuanli again?

Lu Xiuyi grew angrier the more he thought about it.

Even if neither owes the other anything? Dream on.

As long as he refuses to let go, she is destined to be entangled with him for the rest of her life.

After a long pause, Lu Xiuyi glared at her with a dark expression, his words dripping with coldness: "So you took care of me all night just to say this. Meng Yu, am I really that worthless in your eyes? Not even worth you lowering your head slightly?"

The words were spoken, and then, bang!

He slammed the door shut and left.

Suddenly, a loud bang shook Meng Yu's heart and woke up the four people who were fast asleep.

Huaiyin rubbed her sleepy eyes and opened the door first. She saw orange light shining from Meng Yu's room. Meng Yu was standing there in a daze at the door, her shadow stretching long behind her.

"Girl, what just happened? Why is it so noisy?" Huaiyin walked over and asked.

Aunt Chen, Zhi Mian, and Yan'er also opened the door and came out. Seeing that they were all awake, Meng Yu's heart gradually calmed down. She raised her hand and said, "It's nothing. I woke up and wanted to open the door for some fresh air, but it was windy and I accidentally closed the door. I'm sorry for waking you up!"

After spending this time together, Zhimian and Yan'er were able to understand Meng Yu's sign language. Therefore, when they saw her apologize, the two looked at each other in surprise.

Huaiyin knew her young lady's temperament well, so she smiled and said, "What are you apologizing for, young lady? Now that the east is bright, we should wake up too."

Aunt Shen echoed, then asked, "The door was closed so quickly, was Yu'er hurt?"

Meng Yu shook her head with a faint smile, but Lu Xiuyi's two sentences and his terrifying gaze lingered in her mind. She always felt that his marriage to Meng Yin was far more complicated than it appeared on the surface.

But she really couldn't understand what he wanted.

As she pondered this, her head throbbed even more. Meng Yu had no choice but to return to the couch by the window to rest, shaking her head vigorously in an attempt to clear her mind of these chaotic thoughts.

There are only a few days left until the seventh day of next month. Once that day is over and everything is settled, Lu Xiuyi will have no way to do anything to her.

***

As Meng Yin's wedding day approached, everyone in the Meng household was extremely busy. Even the old women and servants who patrolled the mansion every day were pulled away to help. People who came to offer their congratulations in advance were about to break down the threshold. Madam Yuan was busy entertaining her family members who had come from afar, so she exempted Aunt Shen and Meng Yu from their daily morning and evening greetings.

The entire mansion was filled with joy. Meng Yanqing and Madam Yuan were overjoyed. Even if the servants made some mistakes, they were not punished as severely as in the past.

The remaining officials relaxed their vigilance, and Meng Yu and Huai Yin were able to slip away several times, either eating and drinking with Ning Sui or traveling around the capital.

The hibiscus and mandarin duck pillowcase was almost finished, and Meng Yu embroidered it slowly and carefully for several days, finally completing it the day before the seventh day of the eighth lunar month.

That evening, she made a special trip to Zhenhuazhai, intending to personally deliver the pillowcase to Meng Yin, but unexpectedly bumped into Meng Shuang in her room, handing over the embroidered wedding shoes.

Meng Yin opened it and her eyes lit up instantly: "Wow! Second sister, your embroidery is even better than the embroiderer Mother hired. The shoes are also covered with pearls. They are so beautiful. I like them very much. Thank you, second sister."

Meng Shuang smiled and said, "Not only that, but to make it more festive, I also used my own money to have Butler Lin buy some gold thread to embroider. You can wear it tomorrow, and I guarantee it will look good and elegant."

Meng Yin took her arm and leaned against her, laughing, "Second sister is still the best to me. By the way, third sister, what is Huaiyin holding in her hand?"

Hearing this, Meng Yu, who was standing nearby, quickly gestured for Huai Yin to step forward and open the box. He raised his hand and said, "Knowing that Fourth Sister likes hibiscus flowers, I specially embroidered a pair of hibiscus and mandarin duck pillowcases for Fourth Sister. I wish Fourth Sister and General Lu a harmonious and loving relationship."

Meng Yin, still leaning on Meng Shuang's shoulder, glanced indifferently at the pillowcase in the box. In the flickering candlelight, her smile appeared both smug and charming: "The hibiscus embroidery is indeed beautiful, but the red thread makes it a bit tacky. It's not as grand as Second Sister's gold thread. However, I still want to thank Third Sister. I will definitely do as Third Sister said, and be as harmonious as a phoenix with General Lu, sharing a deep bond with him."

Zhixia took the box from Huaiyin's hands.

Meng Yu was not angry at all after hearing her words. She just smiled slightly and raised her hand: "It's getting late, Second Sister, Fourth Sister. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."

Meng Shuang nodded: "Take care, Third Sister."

Meng Yin did not get up, but said with a faint smile, "I am getting married tomorrow and I have a lot of things to do, so I won't see Third Sister off."

"That mandarin duck pillowcase was embroidered by the girl over nearly a month with a lot of effort. She even pricked her fingers with several needle marks. I didn't expect her to be that moved. There's no need to be so sarcastic!"

On the way back, Huaiyin frowned and stood up for Mengyu. As she got angrier, she kicked a pebble on the side of the road. Mengyu cried out in pain, but Huaiyin still reminded her, "Girl, if she has any problems in the future, don't go near her. It's best not to give her any gifts either, so you don't end up getting humiliated."

Meng Yu helped her up, stopped, raised her hand, and smiled back: "She's always been like this, and we're not just now realizing her nature. Giving her a gift is both a token of my goodwill and a way to shut people up. I'm not afraid of gossip, but I don't want my aunt to be upset. Now that we've given it and she's accepted it, it's hers to do with it as she pleases. Whether she lets it gather dust in a corner, gives it away, or quietly throws it away, it doesn't matter to me."

Huaiyin had always known that Mengyu was easygoing and plump, but she never expected her to be so easygoing. Mengyu patted her shoulder earnestly: "You too, don't let unworthy people and things bother you. In this life, you should think more about happy and fun things, relax yourself, and that's how you live a long life."

She talked on and on like a mother hen. Huaiyin always felt that she was too mature and steady. Not only was she mature in her actions, but she also had a sharp eye for people and her thoughts were different from those of girls her age.

After Meng Yu said that, her anger subsided considerably: "Since you've said so, what else can I do? I'll do as you say and not get angry over unworthy people and things."

Meng Yu raised her lips and gestured: "The other day, Zhi Mian brought back several millet dumplings from the main kitchen. They have your favorite salted egg yolk filling. I'll have Yan'er steam them and bring them to you when we get back."

Hearing that there was food, the last bit of pent-up anger in Huaiyin's chest instantly dissipated, and even the pain in her toes from kicking pebbles disappeared immediately.

***

The next day.

The sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, and the morning glow tinged the azure sky, drifting and swaying along the horizon.

Before the sun had risen high, the Meng family mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Red silk ribbons swayed under the eaves, and the old women and servants carrying things to and fro all wore festive red sashes around their waists.

Inside the Pillow Flower Studio, Zhi Xia prepared mother-of-pearl and pearl inlays. After the other maids took the wedding clothes off the wooden frame, she carefully lifted the floor-length curtains, intending to wake the sleeping person.

Perhaps because her wedding was approaching, the young lady was so nervous that she didn't sleep all night. She whispered secrets to the second young lady all night long until dawn, when she finally succumbed to sleepiness. The third young lady also hurriedly went back to her room to catch up on sleep.

Madam Yuan instructed them to prepare everything before calling her to get up, which is why Zhixia only lifted the curtain at this time.

Who knew what would happen next...

"ah!!!"

A scream ripped through the sky, abruptly shattering the festive atmosphere of the Meng residence.

While Madam Yuan was still busy, she suddenly heard a scream coming from Meng Yin's room. It sounded like Meng Yin's voice. Her face immediately darkened, and she dropped what she was doing. Supported by Mama Deng, she hurried over, only to run into Zhi Xia, who was running out in a terrified voice, trembling and crying, "Madam, Miss, Miss's face is covered with dense rashes..."

Just then, bang!

Bang! Bang!

The sounds of things being overturned came from inside the room, accompanied by Meng Yin's angry roar, which was choked with sobs: "Get out! Get out! All of you, get out of here!"

Madam Yuan frowned, her face darkened, and she hurriedly went inside. She saw that the maids who had been carrying the wedding dress had all stepped aside, and Meng Yin was sitting on the couch, sobbing and covering her face. Several broken mirrors with handles and various cosmetics were scattered on the ground.

Madam Yuan gave Deng Mama a wink, and she quickly led all the maids out, closing the door behind them.

Once there was no one else in the room, Madam Yuan sat down on the edge of the bed, gently patted her back, and said softly, "Yin'er, don't be afraid, let your mother take a look."

Meng Yin remained motionless, her shoulders trembling, her hands clasped on her knees, sobbing as she buried her face in her arms.

Madam Yuan sighed, "Today is your big day. If you don't let your mother take a look, how can your mother find a solution for you?"

After a long pause, Meng Yin slowly raised his head.

When Yuan looked at it, her heart clenched instantly.

Her once fair face was now covered with dense, almost gapless, red rashes, making it look terrifying and horrifying.

How can someone with such a face wear a wedding dress and meet people?

Madam Yuan immediately had Deng's mother secretly invite a doctor into the house. The doctor said that the person had accidentally touched something and that no medicine was needed; a light diet for four or five days would be enough for a full recovery.

As time ticked by, and further delays meant the arrival of the general's wedding procession was imminent, Madam Yuan had no choice but to summon Meng Yanqing. She hoped he could personally visit Lu Xiuyi to explain the situation and see if the wedding could be postponed for a few days, with a new auspicious date to be chosen.

When Meng Yanqing saw Meng Yin's face, she sighed repeatedly. However, she thought that Lu Xiuyi was deeply in love with her and would surely agree to reschedule after hearing the news, so she hurriedly went to the Huaihua General's Mansion.

But Lu Xiuyi sneered, "Lord Meng, you must have seen when you entered the manor that my manor is filled with guests, all of whom are important officials of the court. Now you want to reschedule? Where do you expect me to put my face?"

Unexpectedly, Lu Xiuyi was so aggressive, and Meng Yanqing broke out in a cold sweat: "But, but my daughter's face is like that, how, how can she go out and see people?"

Lu Xiuyi crossed his legs, bent his knuckles slightly, and gently tapped the table, making a crisp sound. This sound, along with his leisurely laughter, seeped into Meng Yanqing's ears: "What's so difficult about that? Besides the Fourth Miss, Lord Meng has two other daughters. Just choose one of them to marry me."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yanqing suddenly raised her head, her face filled with disbelief.

Although he had a smile on his lips, his sharp eyes contained an imposing authority and seriousness, as if to say that if he did not agree, the Meng family would only face death.

Meng Yanqing was so frightened that he immediately lowered his head and understood what was happening.

He wants to marry his precious daughter, Shuang'er!

Meng Yanqing tremblingly raised his hand to wipe away the cold sweat. After thinking for a moment, he tentatively asked, "The Third Miss is of pure and kind nature. Why not betroth her to the Young Marquis?"

In the end, he still couldn't bear to part with Xu Mengshuang.

If Lu Xiuyi is furious upon hearing these words, it's not too late for him to change his mind.

Unexpectedly, the incomparably noble man leaned back in his armchair, chuckled softly upon hearing this, and lazily said, "Alright!"

The lighthearted tone was brimming with satisfaction, as if he had obtained something he had longed for.

Meng Yanqing was surprised, astonished, delighted, and doubtful all at once.

When the news of the substitute marriage reached Qingli Courtyard, Meng Yu turned pale and instantly understood everything Lu Xiuyi had done.