Chapter 172 My son's marriage is driving me crazy!
Side room.
Once the door was closed, only their own people remained inside.
Lu Zhaoruo was not in a hurry to rest. She first took a basket wrapped tightly in thick brocade from Dong Rou and carefully placed it on the soft couch by the window.
She gently untied the straps, and inside the basket lay a pure white cat.
It was indeed Abao.
She was afraid of being impolite to the host family if she carried the cat, and since Abao had been sleeping the whole way, she kept her hidden in the basket.
At this moment, Abao's peaceful dream was disturbed. She stretched lazily, her jade-like eyes shining brightly in the light, and looked around the unfamiliar yet exquisite room without any fear.
Watching from the side, Wan Wanning couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "My bones are practically falling apart from all the bumpy ride, yet my sister has the nerve to protect this cat so meticulously, really..."
Before she could finish speaking, Lu Zhaoruo glanced at her indifferently.
Wan Wanning subconsciously swallowed the second half of her complaint.
She really couldn't understand why, even if someone loved cats, they would pamper them to such an exquisite degree...
Thinking about it, she glanced at Abao with disgust.
Dongrou said gently, "My lady, I'll take Abao to cleanse itself first. It's always been clean and probably won't be used to the dust and dirt of carriages and horses."
Lu Zhaoruo nodded.
Upon hearing that he needed to cleanse himself, Abao jumped into Dongrou's arms and gave a soft "meow".
She said something only Lu Zhaoruo could understand: "Aunt Dongrou understands me best."
After cleaning Abao up, it jumped onto the eaves and looked around.
I wonder where Xiao Wuyun is and what he is doing right now?
inside the house.
Dongrou looked at the white jade hairpin and whispered, "My lady, this jade is of extremely pure quality; it must be quite valuable... And the camphor and tea cake look extraordinary, like tribute items. Madam Xiao is giving such generous gifts on our first meeting; I wonder what her intentions are..."
Wan Wanning had already moved closer, staring intently at the jade hairpin: "It's more than just expensive! The color of this jade is so fine that even if I sold myself, I wouldn't be able to afford half of it! High-class families are indeed different; the things they casually give away are enough for an ordinary family to live on for half a lifetime."
Lu Zhaoruo's gaze swept over the gifts, and her heart trembled slightly.
She picked up the jade hairpin; it was warm to the touch, smooth and translucent, clearly no ordinary object.
She had assumed that the matriarch of a noble family would be somewhat aloof, but she hadn't expected that this Madam Xiao would be so straightforward and approachable, offering such a generous gift on their first meeting.
What was even more unexpected was that Xiao Yeming, a cold and taciturn person, had such a lively, interesting, generous, and somewhat humorous mother.
This mother and son are completely opposite in temperament.
She gently placed the jade hairpin back and instructed, "Keep it safe and don't let it get bumped or knocked."
Afterwards, she took a bath to wash away the dust of her journey, and then rested on the couch for a while, gradually regaining her clarity of mind.
Around noon, Hua Yue arrived with two maids carrying food boxes.
A plate of translucent white stir-fried river shrimp, a plate of savory and fragrant steamed yellow croaker, a bowl of steaming hot ham and bamboo shoot soup, and a bowl of sweet lotus seed and red date soup.
The four side dishes are: rose pastry, crab roe dumplings, sesame soft cake, and honey-wrapped dates.
Although there weren't many dishes, each one was exquisite, cooked and seasoned to perfection, showing that careful thought had been put into them.
Hua Yue smiled and said, "Madam has instructed that Madam Lu rest and have a meal here, without any formalities. We will hold a family banquet in Zhaochun Hall this evening to formally welcome you back."
After saying this, he instructed the maid to serve the dishes and pour the tea, which was done with great care and attention.
During the meal, when Hua Yue left, Wan Wanning sat down on her own, picked up her silver chopsticks and started picking up shrimp, her movements completely unrestrained.
Dong Rou remained quietly standing behind Lu Zhaoruo, her head bowed and eyes lowered.
Lu Zhaoruo sighed softly and said gently, "When you're traveling, there's no need to observe these formalities. Dongrou, sit down and let's eat together."
Dong Rou then responded softly, "Yes," and sat down slightly to the side.
Wan Wanning felt a wave of disdain in her heart, but continued to eat the exquisite and delicious food.
At this moment, in Zhufeng Garden, Lu Bohong had returned from the Anguo Pavilion Marquis's residence and was being led by Fu'an to the east wing to rest.
Upon learning that her younger sister had been properly taken care of, she felt somewhat relieved and then they rested and waited for the dinner.
Ning Anju.
After returning from the ancestral hall, Xiao Yeming went straight to Ning'an Residence, where his mother lived.
At this moment, the mother and son were having a meal in the east side room.
Madam Xiao, however, did not focus on her food. She simply put down her silver chopsticks and stared at her son with a smile and unblinking eyes.
Xiao Yeming felt uncomfortable under her gaze and couldn't help but say, "If Mother has something to say, please ask directly."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao immediately leaned closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and lowered her voice, saying, "A while ago, Xian-ge told me... to stop worrying about your marriage, you blockhead, saying that you already have someone you admire in Jizhou. But... is it that Miss Lu from today?"
Xiao Yeming's ears suddenly burned, but he forced himself to remain calm and picked up the spoon: "How did Mother find out?"
"What's so hard to guess?"
Madam Xiao raised an eyebrow, looking as if she knew everything. "Although she has made a donation and received an audience with the Emperor, she should be placed in the Court of Ceremonial according to protocol. But you insisted on bringing her back to your residence yourself. Just now, look at the way she looked in the courtyard..."
She deliberately dragged out her words, "Mother is an experienced woman, how could she not see it?"
Xiao Yeming lowered his head and ate silently, but a slight smile couldn't be suppressed on the corners of his lips.
Seeing his tacit agreement, Madam Xiao was overjoyed and couldn't help but lean closer: "Quickly tell your mother... how far have you two gotten?"
"Mother!"
Xiao Yeming looked even more embarrassed and interrupted, "You don't need to worry about this matter too much."
He paused for a moment, his voice lowered, yet carried an unusual seriousness: "Son... truly admires Lady Lu."
He paused, his tone becoming calm and restrained, "As for what Madam Lu thinks, I do not know, nor dare I presume to know."
Upon hearing this, Granny Zhang, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but speak up: "Young master, what do you mean by that? You are handsome, a high-ranking general, and from a military family. How could you be unworthy of a lady like Lady Lu?"
Xiao Yeming remained silent.
Madam Xiao chuckled and waved her hand, saying, "Granny, don't flatter him. He's just an empty shell! He's always cold-faced, never says a kind word, and is both straightforward and boring—so dull! I think he's unworthy of the intelligent and insightful Lady Lu!"
"lady!"
Granny Zhang was both amused and exasperated. "How can you belittle your own son like that?"
Just then, Wang Wu's voice came from outside the courtyard: "Reporting to the general, the personal guards have been temporarily stationed at the western camp of the city. All arrangements for their accommodation are still pending your instructions."
Xiao Yeming's expression turned serious. He immediately stood up and nodded to his mother: "I have military duties to attend to, so I will go and take care of them first."
Madam Xiao raised her hand, but before she could speak, she said, "Oh, you child..."
But Xiao Yeming had already turned around and strode away without the slightest hesitation.
Madam Xiao frowned as she watched her son's figure disappear outside the courtyard gate. She turned to Granny Zhang and scolded, "Look at this stubborn temper of his, always leaving without a word! I wonder who he took after!"
Granny Zhang smiled and gently advised, "It is a blessing for the Xiao family that the young master is so devoted to military affairs."
Madam Xiao shook her head, picked up the wine cup in front of her, took a slow sip, a sly glint in her eyes, and said to herself with a smile, "So it's still unrequited love... This can't go on. Well, in the end, I, as his mother, have to give him a push."
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