Chapter 179 Xiao Yeming, do you have someone else outside?
At this moment.
Lu Bohong looked at his younger sister and asked gently, "Little sister, what are your thoughts?"
Lu Zhaoruo smiled slightly.
Although she had been married once before, she still couldn't help but feel a little shy when the topic of marriage came up, and a faint blush rose on her cheeks.
She turned her gaze to Xiao Yeming, who remained silent, and said softly, "My sister is willing. However... it all depends on General Xiao's wishes."
Madam Xiao couldn't stop smiling, as if she could already see Lu Zhaoruo in her phoenix coronet and wedding gown marrying into the Xiao family, living happily ever after with her son.
In his spare time, he can also practice martial arts and chat about the world with his compatible daughter-in-law.
Wow, just thinking about it makes me feel like life is going to be so comfortable!
But after waiting for a long time, there was still no movement beside him.
She turned her head and saw that her silly son was still in a daze. She nudged him lightly with her elbow and whispered, "Ming'er, what are you standing there for! Quickly say you do! Say you want to go through the proper ceremony and marry her!"
As Xiao Yeming gazed at Lu Zhaoruo's smiling face, the soft words "willing" echoed in his ears. He should have been overjoyed, but his eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears.
He wants to marry her.
He dared not marry her.
Madam Xiao was extremely anxious and raised her voice again, urging, "A real man should naturally be the one to speak up about marriage, to say it openly and honestly! Now we're just waiting for your word!"
She lowered her voice, a confident smile on her face: "Your mother saw it long ago; you clearly like him very much!"
However, Lu Zhaoruo read a deep sorrow in Xiao Yeming's eyes.
Why is he so grieving?
Is it that he doesn't want to marry her?
For her, getting married or not getting married was fine.
But if I could get married, that would be the best.
Wang Miaoyin, standing to the side, nervously clutched her handkerchief, afraid of hearing the words "I'm willing."
At this moment, the matriarch Xiao, seated at the head of the table, finally spoke up with displeasure: "Has the new bride forgotten? The Lady of Yunxiu County, daughter of the Grand Princess, has always admired Ming'er. How could Lady Lu so easily occupy the position of principal wife? Besides, if we're going to take a concubine, we should take Miaoyin first!"
Madam Xiao immediately retorted, "Mother, although Lady Yunxiu is a good woman, Ming'er has never been interested in her. We can't force a cow to drink water. I think that Madam Lu and Ming'er are compatible and a perfect match. Besides, Ming'er, like his father, only wants to marry one wife in this life and will not take any concubines!"
Madam Xiao slammed her hand on the table in anger!
Just as the atmosphere was about to become tense, Xiao Yeming's deep, hoarse voice rang out: "Grandmother and Mother's kindness is appreciated by Yeming."
His Adam's apple bobbed, his gaze remained lowered, and he dared not look in Lu Zhaoruo's direction. His voice was suppressed but exceptionally clear: "However... the Japanese pirates are not yet quelled, and the borders and seas are not peaceful. As the garrison commander, Ye Ming has no interest in family matters, and the thought of taking a wife or concubine is absolutely impossible at this time. There is no need to mention this matter again."
His words effectively rejected both of them at the same time.
Wang Miaoyin and Madam He were initially furious, but seeing that he had also rejected Lu Zhaoruo, they felt strangely balanced and secretly sneered.
Lu Zhaoruo remained seated with her eyes lowered, maintaining her composure.
A sudden, sharp, stabbing pain shot through my chest.
She thought she didn't care.
Marrying is fine, not marrying is fine too.
But I never expected that my heart... would still ache.
Madam Xiao stared at her son in disbelief: "You clearly admire Lady Lu, why don't you marry her?"
Xiao Yeming looked away and said calmly, "Mother, now that everyone is here, please serve the dishes."
Madam Xiao was so angry that she felt a tightness in her chest.
She confronted her mother-in-law about the marriage, but the rebellious son simply said "I won't marry him!"
She looked at Lu Zhaoruo with deep remorse, about to speak—
Lu Zhaoruo had already stood up, her demeanor composed, and gave Madam Xiao a graceful bow, her eyes clear and bright: "Madam's kindness is deeply appreciated. General, you are concerned about the coastal frontier and take it upon yourself to quell the Japanese pirates. This is a matter of great righteousness. Although I am a woman, I know what is important and what is urgent. Marriage is a trivial matter. How can it interfere with the general's important business? I only wish that the general will soon wipe out the pirates and protect the peace and well-being of our border people."
Madam Xiao glared at her son, then stepped forward to hold Lu Zhaoruo's hand, her voice filled with guilt and resentment: "Good child, I'm sorry to have wronged you... It's just that this scoundrel is unlucky!"
She was secretly annoyed.
That silly kid, he's clearly burning with anger, but he's pretending to be ice! Just wait and see how I deal with him later!
Madam Xiao smiled and said slowly, "In that case, the marriage will be called off for now."
Wang Miaoyin finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She thought, "Even Brother Ming rejected her, so it's clear it wasn't just targeting me."
He sneered inwardly. If Xiao Yeming didn't admire this merchant's daughter, then her Yin'er still had a great chance.
At this moment, the maids brought out the soup and dishes, and the banquet began in a subtle silence.
No one mentioned the marriage again during the meal. Although Madam Xiao was unwilling, she stopped pressuring him and only served Lu Zhaoruo food from time to time, her words full of protection and affection.
Madam Xiao's expression was indifferent, but she did not say anything more.
He and Wang Miaoyin observed each other secretly, each with their own thoughts.
Xiao Yeming remained silent, unable to taste his food.
Lu Bohong knew that General Xiao had refused, and although he felt sorry for him, he did not blame him.
After the banquet ended and everyone rinsed their mouths and washed their hands, Madam Xiao spoke first, her tone leaving no room for doubt: "Ye Ming, it's getting late. You should escort Zhao Ruo back to Cheng Rui Courtyard."
Xiao Yeming paused slightly and replied in a low voice, "Yes."
The moonlight was cool and clear as the two walked side by side along the quiet corridor.
A night breeze swept by, carrying only the sound of footsteps, but not a single word was spoken.
The long silence made Xiao Yeming almost unable to breathe.
Finally, Lu Zhaoruo stopped first, turned to face him, and smiled faintly: "General Xiao, there is no need to be so reserved and awkward."
Xiao Yeming suddenly looked up and met her clear and calm eyes under the moonlight.
"Thank you for your care all this time, General."
Her tone was sincere, then she changed the subject slightly, speaking of the future with a hint of independent resilience in her voice, "After meeting the Emperor, I plan to open a brothel in the capital, and then... I will be able to settle down here."
Her words were gentle yet distant, as if drawing a clear line between herself and others.
I appreciate your kindness, but my life doesn't have to depend on you.
Xiao Yeming looked at her, his throat tightening, a thousand words stuck in his chest, and finally he said with difficulty, "Okay."
The night was deep.
Lu Zhaoruo once again fell into that familiar dream.
Snow and wind.
General.
kneel.
She asked loudly, "Can you tell me who you are? What grudge do we have against each other?"
The general remained silent with his head bowed, only the wind and snow howling.
She suddenly woke up.
Abao, who was sleeping next to her, was startled awake by the noise. He came over and rubbed his head against her cheek: "Mother, did you have another nightmare?"
Lu Zhaoruo hugged Abao tightly, pressing her face against its warm, soft fur, and whispered, "It's alright, Mommy disturbed you."
Ah Bao made a gurgling sound in his throat, shifted into a more comfortable position in her arms, and soon fell asleep peacefully again.
Lu Zhaoruo gently got up, tucked the blanket around Abao, and walked into the courtyard alone.
The night was cool and still, and the Milky Way hung low in the sky.
She came to the capital, but she still harbored a private matter in her heart.
That means going to Xiangguo Temple to see the merit stele that records the names of the fallen soldiers.
While dreams shouldn't be taken seriously, why does this particular dream keep recurring in my dreams? Why are they always exactly the same, without any difference?
The heaviness and sorrow in the wind and snow truly touched her heart every time.
Ning Anju.
Xiao Yeming had been kneeling upright on the cold floor tiles for nearly two hours.
Madam Xiao was asleep, but her dream was filled with the scene of her son stubbornly telling Lu Zhaoruo that he would not marry her. She was so angry that she kicked off the quilt and sat up abruptly.
"That bastard!"
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She hastily threw on a coat and shoes, then flung open the door.
Seeing her son still kneeling upright on the ground, her anger flared up instantly. She rushed over in her slippers, pointing her finger at him and yelling, "You troublesome brat! I didn't even have this much trouble when I was trying to take your father away! Because of your cold face, I swallowed my pride and glared at your grandmother, wishing I could rip my heart out for Lu Niangzi to see! And you, you just casually dismiss me with a 'I won't marry you'?"
She was so angry that she stood with her hands on her hips, panting heavily, her chest heaving violently: "Huh? With a character and beauty like Madam Lu, is her martial arts inferior to yours or is she just less knowledgeable? Is it because she eats too much and bankrupts your Xiao family, or is it because her fists are too strong and you dare not fight back? You'd better give me a straight answer!"
She was so angry that she blurted out, "Could it be... that you're seeing someone else? And you're hiding it from me?"
Xiao Yeming remained silent with his eyes down, letting his mother scold him until he heard the last sentence. Then he suddenly looked up and blurted out, "Mother! Absolutely not!"
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