Chapter 167 Geng Qionghua
The convoy drove into the city gate.
Inside the city gate, three rows of people stood in orderly rows, all there specifically to welcome them.
The most prominent group was led by a chief eunuch dressed in a crimson palace robe, followed by several junior eunuchs, all with impeccable manners and holding whisks, clearly representing the palace.
With a smile on his face, but with a look of caution typical of those in the palace, he stepped forward first and said loudly, “His Majesty is greatly pleased to hear of the general’s triumphant return and has specially sent me here to welcome you. Please return to your residence to rest first, and the rest of the soldiers will rest at the Imperial Guard Camp in the west of the city. Lady Lu will rest temporarily at the Court of Ceremonies and await further notice.”
Xiao Yeming nodded slightly, instructing Wang Wu to lead his personal guards to the Imperial Guard camp in the west of the city, and also telling Ban Ling to return home to visit his parents.
To his right was Uncle Fu, the old steward of the Xiao family, who led a group of servants and household guards, all dressed neatly, their faces showing excitement and pride, waiting quietly to the side.
After the head of the Imperial Household Department stepped aside, Uncle Fu stepped forward and bowed deeply, his eyes slightly red with emotion: "Young Master, you've finally returned safely! The Old Madam and Madam have been chanting sutras and praying for you in the Buddhist hall every day, just waiting for you to come back and rest!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeming frowned slightly.
His grandmother chanted sutras and prayed for blessings in the Buddhist hall, and he naturally believed in it.
As for the mother?
He didn't believe it at all.
However, Xiao Yeming did not leave first.
The first row on the right, slightly behind, was led by a woman of dignified bearing.
Her gaze bypassed everyone else and fell directly on Lu Zhaoruo, who was quietly lifting the curtain behind her.
Lu Zhaoruo silently looked back, taking in her entire outfit.
She was dressed in a tulip-dyed silk skirt, with a silk shawl over it. The gold hairpin in her hair was still there, but compared to her previous visit to Jizhou when she was adorned with jewels and made a grand entrance, this time her attire, though still exquisite, subtly revealed a deliberate attempt to maintain her dignity.
Lu Zhaoruo understood.
Her husband, Meng Jiang, had been demoted from a powerful and responsible fourth-rank official in charge of the Maritime Trade Office to a mere sixth-rank sinecure.
And she was Geng Qionghua, Meng Xi's stepmother.
Geng Qionghua first bowed to Xiao Yeming, then walked straight to Lu Zhaoruo's carriage, her voice familiar: "Sister Zhaoruo, you must be tired from your journey! I've come here to welcome you. I've missed you dearly since we parted in Jizhou. Now that you've arrived in the capital, how can I let you stay outside? You must come back to my residence with me and rest well, so that I, your elder sister, can show you the hospitality of a host."
Their words were very warm and friendly.
In her previous life, Lu Zhaoruo did indeed temporarily reside in the Meng family mansion when she entered the capital many years later.
At that time, Geng Qionghua was already well-known among the noble ladies. She later realized that the other party was just using her as a "chaste widow" to show off his loyalty and righteousness, and to win the favor of the Empress...
After Lu Zhaoruo returned to Jizhou, he gradually distanced himself from her and they had almost no contact.
The "chastity arch" that the other party sent her trapped her in a small space for the rest of her life, causing her unspeakable suffering.
She recalled Zhang's cold words from her past life: "This is an official commendation personally inscribed by the Emperor! If you dare to show the slightest disrespect, I will immediately file a lawsuit against you for disobeying your elders and showing contempt for the Emperor's grace! At that time, not only you, but your entire Lu family will not escape the charge of 'great disrespect'!"
Once she receives this honor, she must uphold the chastity she proclaims for the rest of her life, otherwise she will be considered to be deceiving the emperor.
Fortunately, in this life, she had already smashed that facade with her own hands.
However, there was another matter on this trip to Beijing.
That is, she needs to find out why the jade pendant she gave to Shen Rongzhi ended up in Geng Qionghua's hands.
Lu Zhaoruo looked up and caught a glimpse of shrewdness and calculation in the other person's eyes.
She knew perfectly well what was going on.
Geng Qionghua's eagerness was simply because she had already heard the news and knew that she would soon meet the emperor and be rewarded for accompanying the army to the capital. Furthermore, she would become famous before the emperor for donating all her wealth to help the army, and her future was no longer the same as before.
Now that her husband has lost power, she is eager to cling to any available support, hoping to use his influence to rekindle her fading wealth and glory.
I just don't know if Meng Xi smashed the 'chastity arch' that she had sent from afar, or if she informed her that Shen Rongzhi, whom she claimed died at the hands of the 'Japanese pirates,' had returned the moment she left.
They should be on their way to exile now.
Seeing that Lu Zhaoruo remained silent for a while, Geng Qionghua smiled and asked, "What are you thinking about, little sister? Are you unwilling?"
At this moment, Xiao Yeming had already approached on horseback. He sat upright, his gaze first sweeping over Geng Qionghua, giving her a slight nod in return, before turning to Lu Zhaoruo's carriage window and saying, "I appreciate Madam Meng's kindness. However, Madam Lu has been a benefactor to me, having given me a second life. If she hadn't poured all her family's wealth into supporting the army, the outcome of the Battle of Linhai would have been uncertain. Both publicly and privately, she and Brother Bohong are the most honored guests of my Xiao family. How could I possibly go to such lengths and disturb others?"
His words were perfectly watertight, highlighting Lu Zhaoruo's special status due to her contributions to the country and elevating her status, while defining this act as the proper thing to do as "the host entertains his benefactor," completely erasing any ambiguity regarding the separation of men and women, leaving Geng Qionghua with no way to refute.
Having said that, he stopped looking at Geng Qionghua's slightly stiff expression and directly instructed the old steward, Uncle Fu: "Uncle Fu, go back to the manor first to inform Grandmother and Mother, and prepare 'Chengrui Courtyard' and 'Zhufeng Garden' to welcome Madam Lu and Young Master Lu to their lodgings."
Old Guan Ganfu Bo agreed with a smile.
Finally, he looked at Lu Zhaoruo, his tone slightly softer than before, with a hint of respect: "What does Madam Lu think? Although the mansion is simple, it is quiet and peaceful, convenient for resting, and also convenient for... future audiences."
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoruo's gaze lingered on Xiao Yeming's calm face for a moment before she smiled slightly and nodded in Geng Qionghua's direction: "Thank you for your kindness, Madam Meng. However, since General Xiao has made all the arrangements, I, Zhaoruo, will respectfully accept your offer."
Her voice was gentle, yet it carried an unwavering resolve.
The carefully maintained smile on Geng Qionghua's face froze instantly, and her fingertips dug into her palms from inside her sleeve.
She had already prepared an exquisite banquet in her residence. She had even carefully considered how to "casually" mention Lu Zhaoruo's righteous act of donating her family fortune and how to use this to introduce her husband's words about how, although he was currently in a humble position, he was concerned about the affairs of the country. She was just waiting to use Lu Zhaoruo as a "stepping stone" to reopen the circle of noble families in the capital.
After Meng Jiang, the official, was demoted, those ladies who used to call her sisters found various excuses to distance themselves from her.
Her carefully cultivated reputation for virtue—especially the favor she had gained from the Empress by claiming to have taken care of "chaste widows" like Lu Zhaoruo—was about to vanish with the decline of her family.
What's even more hateful is her stepson, Meng Xi, whose cold eyes, so much like her birth mother's, always carry undisguised sarcasm, as if constantly reminding her that everything she has now is nothing more than a usurper who has taken her mother's place.
She needs Lu Zhaoruo so much!
They needed the glory of her upcoming audience with the emperor, the potential support from the powerful General Xiao behind her, and even more so, they needed to use her to prove to everyone that although the Meng family had temporarily lost power, they still had benefactors to help them and had not truly fallen!
But all these calculations were completely shattered by Xiao Yeming's casual remark.
Geng Qionghua suppressed the surging jealousy and hatred in her heart. Her gaze swept over Lu Zhaoruo's overly calm face, and then looked at Xiao Yeming, who was sitting upright on his horse, protecting her. An extreme sense of resentment and bitterness suddenly surged into her heart.
What makes Lu Zhaoruo so special?
She was just a widowed merchant who barely scraped by with two shops!
If it weren't for the "protection" she had given in the past, she would have been devoured by those scoundrels in Jizhou long ago! Now she has transformed into a righteous merchant who has contributed to the country, and has won the emperor's favor. Even someone like Xiao Yeming looks at her with great favor and personally arranges her accommodation, his words full of protection!
How could she, the wife of a high-ranking official, beg and wait for her to bestow a little glory upon her?
This world is truly unfair!
However, she forced a polite smile and said softly, "General Xiao's consideration is certainly thoughtful. In that case, I will not bother you any longer. I only hope that when Sister Zhaoruo has time, she will definitely come to my residence for a chat, so that I can properly welcome you back."
After speaking, she curtsied, her posture remaining elegant.
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