Chapter 44: On her return home, she was like a true wife.

Lu Xiuyi led Meng Yu to a house in the backyard. He pushed open the door and found the house filled with the smoke of incense, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

This is where Princess Minghua's memorial tablet is placed. Chu Ze lit incense and handed it over.

Unexpectedly, Lu Xiuyi brought her here. Meng Yu could only accept the incense offered by Chu Ze and bow three times with Lu Xiuyi to the memorial tablet of Princess Minghua.

Lu Xiuyi suppressed his smile, placed the incense stick into the incense burner, and said seriously, "Mother, today is the second day of my marriage. I should have brought her to serve you tea this morning, but I have been busy with military affairs and forgot. I am making up for it now. I hope you will not blame me."

The maid has already served tea.

Meng Yu realized that he had overheard her conversation with Tao Shi, which reminded him that he should bring her to serve tea to his mother-in-law. She had no choice but to accept the invitation and serve tea to Princess Minghua as instructed.

After serving the tea, Meng Yu raised her hand again: "Mother-in-law, please rest assured, Lu Xiuyi is very good. He became the General of Huaihua through his own abilities. I heard that the other day, during the exercise with the Eastern Camp, the Western Camp under his command won. The Western Camp has always been undisciplined and few people respected it in the past, but now it has won the exercise. This is all thanks to Lu Xiuyi. Without him, I'm afraid everyone would still think that the people of the Western Camp are all useless."

When she mentioned Xiying, her gestures and her disgusted expression made Lu Xiuyi laugh.

From the moment he left the ancestral hall until he returned to his room to rest, Lu Xiuyi's smile never faded.

When Meng Yu returned after washing up, she saw him lying on the chaise longue with his bedding, grinning foolishly. Finally, she couldn't help but say, "Don't overthink it. I only said that to put the princess at ease. It has nothing to do with you."

The floor was too hard, making his back ache, so he eventually followed Meng Yu's advice and laid the bedding on the chaise longue.

Lu Xiuyi nodded repeatedly: "I know."

He answered quickly, and Meng Yu, with nowhere to vent her frustration, raised her hand again: "There are some things we should clarify."

Seemingly anticipating what she wanted to say, he slightly raised the corners of his lips: "I promise, I will never touch you before you fall for me."

He agreed so readily that she had no choice but to swallow her words. In any case, with his promise, she was safe for the time being.

After thinking for a moment, Meng Yu added, "Tomorrow is my return visit to my parents' home, and there's something else I'd like to discuss with you."

Lu Xiuyi looked over, indicating that she should speak frankly.

Meng Yu raised her hand again: "The dowry prepared by my stepmother was originally for Meng Yin. I want to return all of this dowry to her."

Originally, Yuan Shi thought that Meng Yin was marrying Lu Xiuyi, so she prepared a ten-mile-long dowry for her, which included not only fertile fields and shops, but also jewelry, a canopy bed, and so on. Since it was a dowry prepared for Meng Yin, she never thought of keeping it for herself.

As if somewhat surprised, yet also as if it were expected, Lu Xiuyi nodded: "If you want to return it, then return it. The betrothal gifts I'm giving you are a hundred times more than the dowry your stepmother prepared. Anyway, I don't care about those things of hers."

“Tomorrow is my homecoming. I’ll take the house deeds and land deeds back with me first. They’re part of my dowry, so it wouldn’t be right to take the jewelry and bed back with me tomorrow. I’ll have Huaiyin pack them up and send them back another day.” “Okay, you can decide.”

"Also, now that we've dealt with Cui Hao, we need to arrange for people to manage those estates in the eastern suburbs as soon as possible. Who do you think would be a better choice?"

His eyes were filled with her image, and Lu Xiuyi felt a little dizzy. He subconsciously raised his lips and said, "Those estates are all yours. Send whoever you like to go. I have no objection."

At this moment, Meng Yu removed her jewelry and makeup, and changed into a rapeseed flower yellow nightgown. Her thick, dark hair was obediently hanging down her neck and shoulders. Her delicate skin, under the flickering candlelight, was like snow reflecting the morning glow, or the smoothness of a cold spring, giving her a natural and unadorned look.

She sat cross-legged on the couch, chatting with him like a true wife about the mundane things at home, gently and tenderly asking for her husband's opinion. The chaise lounge was close to her, and Lu Xiuyi stared at her blankly, occasionally responding with a few words. Suddenly, he felt that all the beautiful things in the world could not compare to the warmth and happiness of this moment.

Meng Yu frowned and thought for a moment, then raised his hand: "Zhang, who manages the village in the northern suburbs, seems honest and keeps very clear accounts. However, you can't judge a person by appearances alone. Why don't we send someone to investigate him? If he's a good person, we can also entrust him with the management of these three villages in the eastern suburbs."

Lu Xiuyi replied, "Of these three village heads, he is indeed the most honest. If you are not at ease, I will have Chuze investigate him again tomorrow."

“Alright,” Meng Yu stretched and yawned. “It’s getting late, let’s get some rest. We have to get up early tomorrow.”

He responded calmly, but his heart felt as sweet as honey. He pulled the thin blanket around himself, closed his eyes with a smile on his face.

Only when the curtains were drawn, blocking the intense gaze of the person outside, did Meng Yu's pounding heart gradually calm down.

God knows how much effort she used to hold back her anger. She didn't know how long this would last. At this moment, she felt as if she were in a long, dark night, and she had been walking for a long time without seeing the way out.

***

He returned to his parents' home the following day.

Meng Yu and Lu Xiuyi got up early to wash up and had breakfast before boarding the carriage to return to the Meng family home.

The Meng family members have all gathered at Ci'an Hall.

The two first served tea to Old Madam Meng, Meng Yanqing, and Madam Yuan. After they finished, Meng Yu looked at Aunt Shen, who was standing in the corner.

After two days apart, Aunt Shen had dark circles under her eyes and her eyes were swollen. When she saw her, her eyes were full of unconcealed worry, and she looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Someone, bring more tea. We haven't finished serving yet," Lu Xiuyi suddenly called out.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, puzzled as to what he meant.

Meng Yanqing lowered his head first and asked with a smile, "General, didn't you and Yu'er already finish serving tea? Why are you still..."

“Who said we’ve finished serving tea?” Lu Xiuyi raised an eyebrow. “After all, my wife’s birth mother is my concubine. How could I not serve her tea on her homecoming today?”

Meng Yanqing glanced at Aunt Chen, who quickly lowered her head. He looked troubled and said, "But, but this is against the rules."

"Anything that goes against the rules is against the rules. What I say is the rule." Lu Xiuyi changed his self-reference, and the word "this general" carried the authority and pressure of a superior.

Meng Yanqing trembled in fright and responded repeatedly, urging him on his behalf, "Quickly, quickly serve the general tea."

The maidservant hurriedly brought tea.

Lu Xiuyi took it, walked to Aunt Shen, and gestured to the armchair, saying, "Please sit down, Aunt Shen."

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Meng Yu, who was standing there in a daze: "What are you still standing there for? Come over and serve tea to your aunt."

His gentle voice reached her ears, and Huaiyin gently nudged her waist with her elbow. Meng Yu's wandering thoughts instantly returned to the present. Concealing her shock, she took the tea and knelt before Aunt Shen with Lu Xiuyi.

Seeing that she couldn't refuse, Aunt Shen could only sit down awkwardly.

"May everything go well for you, Auntie, and may you live a long and peaceful life."

Lu Xiuyi served the tea. His voice was loud and clear, and everyone present turned their attention to him. When the words reached Meng Yu's ears, they seemed to seep into the solid ice wall deep in her heart, leaving a deep mark.

Aunt Shen's eyes were misty. Although she drank it with tears in her eyes, she felt very gratified.

After serving the tea, Meng Yu looked around. Meng Shuang and Meng Zhangzhou were both there, but Meng Yin was nowhere to be seen. Although she understood what was going on, she still asked according to custom, "Why is Fourth Sister not here? Is the rash on her face still there?"

Huaiyin translated the original words as usual.

Madam Yuan watched coldly as Meng Yu and Lu Xiuyi served tea to Concubine Shen, showing no regard for her, the mistress of the house. She had thought Lu Xiuyi was a dissolute man, and that even if Meng Yu, a mute, married him, he might not treat her well. But she never expected him to protect her so much.

She was seething with anger, but when she heard Meng Yu ask, she suppressed her temper and forced a smile: "Your fourth sister's rash has gone away, but she's not feeling well. She said she felt dizzy this morning, so she didn't come over."

Meng Yu smiled and took a mahogany box from Huai Yin's hand. She opened it and handed it to Madam Yuan: "These were originally Mother's dowry for Fourth Sister. I absolutely cannot accept them. Please keep them safe, Mother, and give them to Fourth Sister when she gets married tomorrow. I will also have someone bring back jewelry, canopy bed, and the like tomorrow."

When Madam Yuan took the documents, she saw that they were the house deeds and land deeds she had prepared for Meng Yin that day. The incident happened suddenly that day, and she originally wanted to take these things back. However, Meng Yanqing felt guilty towards Meng Yu and said that these things should be regarded as Meng Yu's dowry. Although she was very unhappy, she had no choice but to agree.

Yuan feigned joy, her eyes filled with tears, as she was about to thank Meng Yu.

Unexpectedly, Meng Yanqing snatched the mahogany box away and shoved it back into Meng Yu's hands, saying, "Since this is your dowry, you should take it. Why bring it back? It would only make the general laugh at you."

Holding the box in both hands, Meng Yu couldn't use sign language. Seeing this, Lu Xiuyi took the box from her and handed it back to Madam Yuan, saying with a leisurely smile, "Father-in-law, please rest assured, Yu'er has a dowry. I have already added my six estates, three thousand acres of fertile land, and thirty-six shops in the eastern, western, and northern suburbs to Yu'er's dowry list. Now she is richer than me, and I still rely on her to give me a few bites of food."

Meng Yu: "..."

While what he said was true, it was perhaps a bit of an exaggeration.

Upon hearing this, both Madam Meng and Meng Yanqing smiled happily: "If the general values ​​Yu'er so much, then I can rest assured."

Just then, a maid came to report: "Reporting to the old lady, the feast has been prepared."

"General, please!" Old Madam Meng hurriedly stood up and smiled at Lu Xiuyi.

Lu Xiuyi stepped aside, raised his hand and smiled, "Grandmother, please go first."

Madam Meng no longer declined, and with a smile in her eyes, she led everyone to the front hall for dinner.

***

After a quiet meal, Meng Yanqing and Meng Zhangzhou led Lu Xiuyi to the study to appreciate famous paintings, while Meng Yu also made an excuse to return to Qingli Courtyard with Aunt Chen.

Everyone dispersed.

As Deng's mother helped Yuan Shi back to Zhenhuazhai, she sighed with emotion, "The Third Miss does have some conscience; she didn't embezzle these house and land deeds."

Madam Yuan snorted coldly: "Leaving aside the three thousand acres of fertile land and the more than thirty shops, just the six estates that Lu Xiuyi gave her bring in nearly ten thousand taels of silver a year. How could she possibly care about what I have? Besides, she did this because Aunt Shen still has to live under my care. If she doesn't return them, it's just because she's afraid I'll mistreat her because of this."

Thinking of how Lu Xiuyi protected that little vixen, Madam Yuan clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her face contorted with jealousy that seemed to ignite sparks.

These six estates, three thousand acres of fertile land, and more than thirty shops, along with the position of the general's wife, should have originally belonged to her daughter, Meng Yin.

As if enlightened by her words, Madam Deng belatedly said, "This old servant is foolish. Madam is much more insightful. I never imagined that this little hussy would be so cunning."

“She was able to win Lu Xiuyi’s favor entirely because of her face. I should have hardened my heart when she came back,” Madam Yuan said, increasingly regretful. “If I had done it then, she wouldn’t be back to swagger around today.”

Thinking that Madam Yuan still harbored those thoughts, Madam Deng panicked and hurriedly advised, "That General Lu is a vengeful person who doesn't even acknowledge his own father. Now that the Third Miss has married her, and he is protecting her so much, Madam must not be foolish. The truth will eventually come out. If it is done at home, it will not be hidden."

Madam Yuan glanced at Deng's mother as if she were an idiot, and said in a cold voice, "Do you think I'm stupid? If I were to take action, I would never do it at home."

Deng's mother lowered her head after being scolded: "This old servant is foolish."

As they talked, the two returned to Zhenhuazhai. Madam Yuan continued, "Now that girl is protected by Lu Xiuyi, instead of going to great lengths to ruin her, we should think about how to marry Shuang'er and Yin'er into high-ranking families."

Madam Deng helped Madam Yuan sit down: "Speaking of which, the Third Miss is now married. The Emperor's decree of marriage is a done deal, and there is no room for negotiation. Why hasn't the Marquis of Chengyi's family come to propose marriage yet?"

Madam Yuan frowned, about to agree, when just then, a maid rushed in to report: "Madam, Madam Qin has come to propose marriage to Master and Madam with Baoshan and betrothal gifts."