Chapter 143 Asking Lu Xiang for a favor
For a moment, Qiao Jingru wanted to tell Lu Xiang about the uneasiness she felt after smelling the faint fragrance on Lu Chao's body yesterday, but the thought only flashed through her mind for a moment before she suppressed it.
Lu Chao has been much gentler towards her recently, and she doesn't want her groundless suspicion to make their relationship worse.
She... was extremely greedy for the tenderness that Lu Chao was giving her now.
Thinking about it, Qiao Jingru no longer felt too conflicted. Why should she bother herself with something for which there was no evidence?
"Let's go have breakfast. We'll be busy these days."
Lu Xiang smiled and nodded.
After having breakfast at the old lady's place, everyone dispersed.
Lu Youping went to the front yard, and people with lower official positions than him in the Ministry of Works came to wish him a happy new year. After meeting his colleagues, he went to the Anguo Mansion with the new year gifts.
There was a constant stream of people and cars coming and going in front of the Anguo Mansion. With the status of the Song family in the court, there were countless people who wanted to rush to give gifts and flatter. Lu Youping just thought that he was now in the same league as the Anguo Duke, and his daughter was blessed by the Queen, so he had to come to give gifts on the first day of the new year to show that he was sincere enough.
He did not expect to meet the Duke of Anguo. He just hoped that the gift he sent could be known to the Duke of Anguo. However, after he introduced his family background, he was led to a room in the side hall by a small steward of the mansion. Not long after, the Duke of Anguo came to meet him in person, and Lu Youping was so shocked that he almost choked to death on a mouthful of tea.
If it was simply because Lu Xiang was favored by the Queen, Lu Youping, who held an official position like this, would not need the Duke of Anguo to come to see him in person. However, Lu Youping did not know this, but the Queen did tell him a few things. The most important point was that the Eighth Prince had taken a fancy to the girl in his family.
Just for this reason, Duke Anguo has to be more polite to Lu Youping.
The two chatted for a few sentences and then Lu Youping left. After all, Duke Anguo was very busy, and so many important officials in the court were waiting to talk to him. How could they always accompany a small minister like him?
On the second day of the Chinese New Year, Lu Yao returned to her parents' home, carrying a whole carriage filled with gifts.
Lu Yao went straight to Fu'an Hall. The old lady had already received news that she would be returning home today, so she asked Qiao Jingru and Lu Xiang to wait together.
When Lu Yao first married and moved to the capital, she never even returned home after marriage because the journey was so long.
"Greetings to grandma, may you live long and healthy lives." Lu Yao entered the house and bowed to the old lady.
"Sister-in-law, third sister."
Lu Xiang stood up and returned the greeting to Lu Yao: "Hello, second sister."
"Second sister, please sit down." Qiao Jingru said with a smile.
Bizhu served tea to Lu Yao. The old lady looked at her kindly and said, "Didn't Huaicheng come with you?"
"My husband went out for a social event with my father-in-law. Before coming here, he specifically told me to apologize to my grandmother and come back to visit her when he is free." Lu Yao said.
The old lady waved her hand and said, "It's okay. There are always a lot of social activities during the New Year. Your father and your eldest brother left early in the morning."
Lu Yao: "Thank you, grandma."
"It's rare for us to celebrate the New Year together. Why don't you stay at home tonight?" asked the old lady.
Lu Yao smiled and nodded: "Yes, I haven't lived in the yard that my father prepared for me yet."
The old lady was very happy to hear this, and quickly told Mother Wen to ask someone to make Lu Yao's bed. The yard was carefully cleaned by maids every day, but because no one lived there, the house was rather deserted, and the bed was not made.
"Yes, I'll go right away." Mother Wen responded and left.
"Grandma, I heard that Aunt Liu is pregnant?" Lu Yao asked.
When the old lady mentioned the child, she smiled brightly: "That's right, we are going to have another baby in our house, but this baby had severe morning sickness, so we didn't ask her to come with us today."
Lu Yao nodded in understanding: "I brought some supplements for Aunt Liu to nourish her body. I will ask someone to send them to Aunt Liu later. I won't disturb Aunt Liu's rest." She was not familiar with Liu. Although she was a concubine, she was the mistress of the Lu family. There was no need for her to visit Aunt Liu specially. What's more, she married the second son of the Zhou family and was his legal wife. It would not be considered rude if she did not go.
"You are thoughtful." The old lady smiled.
At this time, Zhao Qingya lifted the curtain and walked in. She first saluted the old lady, and then saluted Lu Yao.
Lu Yao returned a half-bow: "Aunt Zhao."
Looking at Zhao Qingya with her hair in a woman's bun in front of her, Lu Yao felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
When she saw her a few months ago, she was still a maid serving her grandmother, but now she has become her father's aunt.
I heard that it was my grandmother who personally promoted her. Apart from the fact that it was my grandmother who decided on my father's marriage to my mother, she had never cared who my father took as a concubine over the years. This time, she suddenly gave the maid in the yard to my father. There might be some inside story behind this.
Lu Yao was puzzled, but she didn't ask about it.
After having dinner at the old lady's place in the evening, he left with Lu Xiang and others and returned to their respective courtyards.
On the way back, Lu Yao walked beside Lu Xiang, glancing at her from time to time, obviously wanting to say something but stopping herself. As they were about to go their separate ways, Lu Yao didn't say a word.
Lu Xiang smiled and looked at Lu Yao: "Second sister, it's still early, why don't you come to my room and sit for a while?"
Lu Yao was flattered: "Is it convenient?"
"It's not inconvenient at all. We have nothing to do these two days so we can roast sweet potatoes and chestnuts in the house. They are delicious. Let's join us, sister-in-law." Lu Xiang said.
"Sorry to bother you." Lu Yao smiled softly.
Still in Lu Xiang's room, Ah Man had moved a stool early and started her roasted sweet potato business. Several maids were chatting and laughing, which was very warm. Not to mention that Lu Yao was shocked to see this scene, even Qiao Jingru was dumbfounded.
"Go prepare some more sweet potatoes and millet. I'm afraid there won't be enough to eat later." Lu Xiang walked into the room and said to them.
Mu Jin quickly stood up and said, "I will go."
"Liangchen, Haitang, don't be so reserved, come and sit together." Lu Xiang said to Qiao Jingru and Lu Yao's maids.
Liangchen sat next to A'man very naturally and stared into the stove curiously.
Haitang had never had such an experience before and looked at Lu Yao with some fear.
After Lu Yao was shocked, she smiled and nodded to Haitang: "Sit down."
Third sister is truly a real talent that makes people look at her in new light after three days of absence. However, seeing this, Lu Yao became more certain about what she wanted to beg.
The stove was not big and it was crackling with sparks.
Lu Xiang looked around at the crowded room and was stunned.
She was only concerned with inviting Lu Yao to come, forgetting that if she had a secret, she would be unable to speak in front of so many people.
"Um... Second sister, there seem to be too many people here. If it's not convenient, let's go to the outer room to talk."
Lu Yao couldn't help but feel warm in her heart when she heard Lu Xiang's considerate words: "It's okay, how can I not trust someone you trust?" Besides, she was not plotting to do anything big.
Lu Xiang nodded: "Second sister, if you need any help from me, just let me know. I will do my best to help you as long as I can."
"Then I'll be frank." Lu Yao said, "I've been married for so long, but I still haven't been able to get pregnant. I've seen many doctors and taken many medicines, but none of them worked. You're loved by the Queen, so I want to ask you to ask the palace physician to take a look at me?"
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