Chapter 216 Lu Zhaoruo moves into her new home, she wants both the title of Imperial Lady and the title of Royal Merchant!
Inside Kangning Hall, however, the atmosphere was stagnant.
Madam Xiao leaned against the couch, her eyes half-closed, slowly twirling a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, her face revealing no emotion.
He Shi and Wang Miaoyin's faces clearly showed suppressed sourness and resentment.
Wang Miaoyin couldn't hold back any longer. She tugged at Madam He's sleeve and complained in a tearful voice, "Mother... the Emperor actually... actually rewarded her with a mansion... won't she just stay by my cousin's side even more and refuse to leave..."
The gentle smile that was usually on Madam He's face was now somewhat stiff. She quickly glared at her daughter, signaling her to be quiet.
Immediately, she put on that kind smile again, walked to the bedside of Old Madam Xiao, and gently advised, "Aunt, please don't trouble yourself with these trivial matters. If you ask me, this is also Lu Niangzi's good fortune. To receive such a favor from the Emperor, she will have something to rely on in the future. It's a good thing."
She changed the subject slightly, sighing softly, "But... this sudden windfall of wealth, I wonder if she, at such a young age, can keep it up? She is currently residing in our household as a guest, and there are many eyes and ears in the capital. If she makes a mistake and loses her composure... outsiders won't say anything bad about her, an outsider, but they will gossip, saying that our Xiao family has not been strict enough in its selection of guests and has not been able to judge people well. I'm afraid it will needlessly tarnish Ye Ming's and the family's reputation..."
After Madam He finished speaking, she carefully observed Madam Xiao's expression.
Madam Xiao's hand, which was holding the Buddhist prayer beads, did not stop, nor did she even lift her eyelids. She spoke in a detached tone: "Sudden wealth and status are not necessarily a blessing. She is a merchant's daughter with no roots or foundation. The higher she is lifted in this quagmire of the city, the harder she will fall in the future."
"As for Ye Ming and the reputation of the Xiao family... the foundation of the Xiao family, a military family spanning three generations, is not so easily tarnished by a mere guest maid."
She paused, then finally raised her eyelids, her gaze sweeping over Madam He and Wang Miaoyin: "As for Miaoyin's future, I have my own plans. These irrelevant people come and go eventually."
Finally, she closed her eyes again: "Don't worry, just watch."
Upon hearing this, He felt a great weight lifted from her heart, and her face immediately lit up with joy. She exchanged a delighted look with Wang Miaoyin.
The next morning.
After Lu Zhaoruo finished washing and dressing, she took Dongrou to Kangning Hall.
Inside the hall, Madam Xiao was having breakfast with Madam He.
Lu Zhaoruo entered and performed a proper curtsy, her voice soft and respectful: "Zhaoruo greets the old lady."
Madam Xiao didn't lift her eyelids, only giving a faint "hmm".
Lu Zhaoruo didn't mind and maintained her respectful demeanor, saying gently, "Zhaoruo has come today specifically to bid farewell to the old lady. I am deeply grateful for the care and assistance you and the Xiao family have provided over the past few days. Yesterday, the Emperor bestowed upon me a residence, and I cannot disobey the imperial decree. I must go and settle in, and it is inconvenient for me to continue to trouble your household. I will definitely come again in the future to express my gratitude to the old lady."
That's a clever thing to say.
Madam Xiao slowly put down her teacup, her gaze sweeping over her calmly, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "Since it is the Emperor's grace, the imperial decree shall naturally be taken seriously. Go."
Lu Zhaoruo bowed deeply again: "Thank you for your understanding, Madam. I will take my leave now."
After observing all the proper etiquette, she calmly and leisurely withdrew from Kangning Hall, accompanied by Dongrou.
Madam He still wore a gentle smile on her face. She sighed softly, "Aunt, look at this Madam Lu. She is so well-mannered. The Emperor bestowed a mansion upon her, yet she did not forget to come and bid you farewell first. Such composure is truly unlike someone from a humble family."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao slowly put down her teacup, her face expressionless. She merely glanced at Madam He, her gaze seemingly able to see through one's heart.
She didn't respond to He Shi's question about Lu Zhaoruo, but instead directly exposed He Shi's real concern: "She has her own place to go, why are you panicking?"
Then, she changed the subject: "Her foundation is not in that house, but in Ming'er's heart. As long as Ye Ming's heart is not on her, even if she gets the house, she will be a rootless duckweed."
Finally, she instructed Madam He, "Have Miaoyin visit Ming'er more often; that's the right thing to do!"
Madam He quickly composed herself and respectfully replied, "Aunt is right, I understand."
Wang Miaoyin dressed up carefully, putting on a dress that she thought best suited her temperament. She also asked her mother, Madam He, for some light incense to use, thinking that she must find an excuse to say a few words to her brother Yeming today.
With girlish thoughts swirling in her heart, she quietly approached the path leading to Xiao Yeming's residence, hiding behind a pillar and waiting with a pounding heart.
However, Xiao Yeming, who was alone, did not arrive as she had been waiting for.
Xiao Yeming and Lu Zhaoruo walked out of the courtyard side by side.
Xiao Yeming tilted her head slightly to listen to Lu Zhaoruo speak, her expression showing a focus and gentleness she had never seen before.
The summer morning light shone on the two of them, and they seemed to be an inexplicable match.
Although Lu Zhaoruo was dressed simply, her composed demeanor made her carefully crafted outfit look like that of a clown.
Wang Miaoyin's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.
She watched as the two of them walked towards the gate of the mansion, talking all the way. Xiao Yeming even deliberately slowed down his pace to accommodate Lu Zhaoruo's slightly limping steps due to her foot injury.
Where are they going?
She could no longer hold back and quickly walked out of her hiding place, just in time to see a maid carrying a tea tray passing by.
She grabbed the maid's arm: "Where are you going with Lady Lu, General?"
The maid was startled and timidly replied, "Miss Wang, I heard from the people in front that the General... the General is going to personally escort Lady Lu back to her newly granted residence."
With a loud "boom".
Wang Miaoyin felt as if something had exploded in her head.
He's going to escort her back to her residence? He actually wants to do it himself?
My mother and great-aunt's words from last night still ring in my ears, saying that "Ye Ming's mind is not on her," and that "she will leave eventually after getting the mansion"... But the situation before me shows no sign of her being uninterested. It is clearly a display of meticulous care and concern!
Her eyes suddenly reddened and filled with tears. Ignoring the maid's presence, she murmured in a sobbing voice, "Why... why is Brother Yeming so kind to her now when he clearly... clearly rejected her before? He personally escorted her... What about me? What should I do... what should I do..."
Tears streamed down her carefully applied rouge-covered cheeks.
She couldn't bear to watch any longer, turned around abruptly, and ran back to her own yard crying.
The carriage came to a stop in front of the newly bestowed mansion.
Dong Rou was the first to get off the carriage lightly, neatly placed the footrest, turned around and reached her hand into the carriage, saying softly, "Wife, we've arrived."
With a slight movement of the carriage curtain, Lu Zhaoruo, holding the snow-white Abao in her arms and supporting Dongrou's hand, calmly stepped out of the carriage.
Ah Bao wriggled its round body in her arms, its pair of bright green eyes darting around alertly, curiously surveying the magnificent new home with its high red gates and walls.
At this moment, Lu Bohong and Sun Jing also got off the carriage behind and stood aside.
Xiao Yeming gently tugged on the reins, and the horse neighed softly before stopping. He then nimbly dismounted, his gaze naturally falling on Lu Zhaoruo.
Almost simultaneously, the tightly closed vermilion door slowly opened inward.
Ten servants, their heads bowed, stood on either side of the carriage. When their master alighted from the carriage, they all bowed in greeting.
A woman of about forty years old, dressed neatly and simply, stepped forward quickly, bowed deeply at the foot of the steps, and said respectfully, "Please welcome the lady into our home."
After a slight pause, she took the initiative to state her identity: "This old servant, Wang, has been appointed by the Imperial Household Department to temporarily manage the affairs of the household. I greet you, Madam."
Lu Zhaoruo's gaze lingered on the female steward for a moment, taking in her composed demeanor, and she gently greeted her, "Granny Wang, you've worked hard."
Upon hearing this, Granny Wang bowed deeply again and replied respectfully but not humbly, "You flatter me, madam. This is my duty, and I dare not complain of hardship."
Lu Zhaoruo nodded slightly, then raised her eyes and said in a clear yet gentle voice to the servants who stood respectfully with their hands at their sides, "Thank you all for waiting here. I am new here, and I will need your help in handling all matters in the household from now on."
As soon as she finished speaking, led by Granny Wang, all the servants bowed again and replied in unison, "We will obey your orders, Madam!"
Granny Wang immediately stepped aside to make way, bowing slightly as she guided the way: "Please, madam, enter the house to inspect it."
Lu Zhaoruo turned to Xiao Yeming and nodded slightly: "General Xiao, please."
Then he said to Dongrou and the others, "Let's go in."
Dongrou carefully carried the bundle containing valuables and followed behind.
Lu Bohong surveyed the surroundings with a smile on his face, while Sun Jing silently stood guard.
Stepping into the courtyard, one sees pavilions and towers arranged in a pleasing manner, lush summer trees providing ample shade, banana trees spreading out, lotus leaves reaching to the sky in the lotus pond, and several early lotus branches standing gracefully.
Although it is summer and the heat is still intense, the flowers and trees in the yard are taken very seriously.
Abao wriggled gently in Lu Zhaoruo's arms, meowed, and then lightly jumped down. With its fluffy tail wagging, it took elegant steps and began to inspect its new home on its own.
Seeing this, Dongrou's eyes lit up with joy. She walked to Lu Zhaoruo's side and said softly, "My lady, look, even Abao likes it here. This courtyard is so bright and quiet. The magpie perched on plum blossom carvings on the eaves are so auspicious and elegant. It would be perfect for you to read and play the zither here in the future."
Lu Bohong straightened his back and said in a booming voice, "Good! This house is square and well-proportioned, with high and wide walls and an imposing gate! It's safe to settle down here!"
Sun Jing walked slowly to the tall sycamore tree in the courtyard, touched the thick trunk, and a faint look of satisfaction appeared on his face: "Wife, the tree is good. Deep roots and lush foliage, it's a pillar of the house. This house has a solid foundation."
As Lu Zhaoruo watched A Bao's leisurely figure as he surveyed the area, listened to everyone's joyful words, and then looked at Xiao Yeming beside her with a smile in his eyes, she felt a sense of peace and warmth in her heart.
She raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the exquisite pavilions and looking towards the distant imperial city.
From then on.
This place in the capital city is now a place that belongs only to me, Lu Zhaoruo!
I know full well that relying on others is ultimately a mirage; only by holding onto one's own foundation can one face the storms of life without fear.
Thinking of this, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
"I will fight for this title of Imperial Noblewoman."
It is not only a source of glory, but also a talisman that no one can disrespect me at will.
"I will seize this power as a royal merchant!"
It is not only a source of wealth, but also the foundation upon which I can make a living and control my own destiny!
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