Lu Linglong, from childhood to adulthood, had never been touched by anyone, let alone slapped.
Her left cheek immediately burned, the pain was unbearable, but what overwhelmed her more was the shock.
"You hit me?"
She immediately raised her arm to retaliate.
Smack!
Meng Qianqian slapped her right cheek this time.
Lu Linglong was utterly dumbfounded now.
Was this really the cowardly sister-in-law who wouldn't dare to make a sound even when bullied?
Could she have seen wrong?
The searing pain on both sides of her face confirmed that everything was indeed real—she had truly been struck by this timid sister-in-law.
"How dare you hit me! Meng Qianqian, have you gone mad?!"
"Good hit! Good hit!"
The old madam jumped out from behind the rock garden, intending to sneak in a few kicks, but was stopped by Meng Qianqian.
Lu Linglong was infuriated: "Great-grandmother!"
The old madam stuck out her tongue: "Bleh bleh bleh."
Meng Qianqian calmly asked Lu Linglong, "Want another?"
Lu Linglong gritted her teeth.
At this moment, Lu Lingxiao arrived.
"Great-grandmother."
He first paid his respects to the old madam.
Lu Linglong immediately acted as if she'd found a savior, her eyes reddened, and she clung to his arm, crying: "Big brother! You need to stand up for me! Sister-in-law bullied me! Look at what she did to my face… Ah…"
"Oh dear—"
The old madam plopped herself onto the ground, kicking her legs and letting out a wail that drowned out Lu Linglong's sobs: "Waaa—she hit me! She hit me!"
Lu Lingxiao quickly freed his arm, knelt on one knee, and supported the old madam's shoulders, examining her head to toe: "Great-grandmother, who hit you? Are you hurt? Does it hurt?"
The old madam raised her hand and pointed at Lu Linglong: "Her."
Lu Linglong froze: "Great-grandmother! When did I hit you?"
Lu Lingxiao sighed: "Great-grandmother, Linglong wouldn't hit you."
Lu Linglong didn't have the guts.
The old madam's shifty gaze darted about, but she boldly proclaimed, "She hit Qianqian—that's the same as hitting me!"
Lu Linglong exploded: "I didn't hit her!"
The old madam put on a serious face: "You did. You pulled Qianqian's hair simply because she wouldn't buy clothes for you."
Lu Linglong stomped her foot: "I didn't even manage to pull it; she slapped me first!"
The old madam turned to Lu Lingxiao: "See for yourself."
Lu Linglong was dumbfounded.
This crazy great-grandmother—how is she suddenly not crazy right now…
"Great-grandmother, the ground is cold. Let's get up."
Lu Lingxiao helped the old madam up, then turned a stern gaze toward his spoiled cousin.
He was a general who had killed on the battlefield, and this look made Lu Linglong tremble in fear.
"B-big brother…"
Lu Lingxiao said solemnly: "She is your sister-in-law. No matter what, you must not be disrespectful to her."
Lu Linglong protested: "She hit me—what do you have to say about that?"
Lu Lingxiao replied: "You've behaved improperly; it's only natural for your sister-in-law to discipline you."
Lu Linglong felt so wronged that tears rolled down her cheeks: "I don't like you anymore, big brother!"
With that, she wiped away her tears and stormed off without looking back.
Lu Lingxiao frowned and let out a long sigh. He said to Meng Qianqian: "Second Uncle and Second Aunt pamper Linglong excessively, as she's their only daughter. You, as her sister-in-law, must be more magnanimous. If she offends you, you should admonish her verbally—refrain from using physical punishment."
Meng Qianqian cast him a cold glance and said, "Great-grandmother, let's go. Let's play over there."
The old madam shot Lu Lingxiao a fierce glare: "Let's go play over there!"
The old and the young left together in high spirits.
Lu Lingxiao was left mystified.
Trying to mediate the situation, he somehow ended up displeasing both sides.
Meanwhile, titled Lady Second learned of her daughter being slapped twice by Meng Qianqian and nearly stormed over to settle the score.
But when she remembered Meng Qianqian was now with the old madam, she lost her nerve.
She could hit Meng Qianqian, but she wouldn't dare challenge the old madam.
"You go!"
She impatiently shoved her husband.
Lord Second was half-reclined in a wicker chair, playing with a bird, and looked utterly baffled: "What do you want?"
Lady Second said, "Go teach that girl a lesson!"
Lord Second snorted: "Not going."
Lady Second glared at him in fury: "Is Linglong not your own daughter anymore?"
Lord Second replied nonchalantly: "She's bullied the Meng Family girl plenty. She'll learn from this incident."
Lady Second punched him in exasperation: "Are you trying to infuriate me to death?"
Lord Second was a man of no ambition, spending his days idly. Whether it was playing with birds or cockfighting, he never involved himself in serious matters.
Lady Second secretly gritted her teeth: "How did I end up marrying a useless bum like you!"
Lord Second said: "Hey—I'm not deaf, you know."
Lady Second restrained her temper, sat down next to him, and said: "Think of a solution, will you?"
Lord Second frowned and said: "It's just a spat between two kids. What's there for you to meddle in?"
"I'm not talking about Linglong." Lady Second glanced around, then waved at the maid.
The maid tactfully withdrew.
Lady Second leaned closer to her husband and whispered: "It's been five years since Lingxiao's supposed death, and the first branch remains without an heir. Originally, the Lu Family's business and that girl's dowry were supposed to fall to our branch. Now that Lingxiao is back, a cooked duck has flown away."
Lord Second yawned: "Don't worry, even if Lingxiao didn't return, it wouldn't have come to us."
Lady Second asked suspiciously: "What do you mean?"
Lord Second turned over, back facing her: "Nothing."
That night.
Lu Xingzhou returned to the Lu Family.
He worked for the Ministry of Industry and was constantly busy with public duties. He spent most of his time overseeing construction projects for the palaces and estates or building roads, only returning home during breaks.
After five years of separation, father and son finally reunited.
"Father!"
In the study, Lu Lingxiao knelt deeply in formal salute.
"Stand up." Lu Xingzhou helped him up, "It's good that you've returned."
Unlike the care and concern typical of women in the family, father and son spoke more about official matters.
"After faking my death, I infiltrated Beiliang, hiding in the Royal Capital for four years. Later, I coordinated with General Han to kill Beiliang's Prince Rong'an and capture twelve third-rank Beiliang officials alive."
Lu Xingzhou nodded in satisfaction: "Prince Rong'an was Beiliang's divine general. Killing him was no small accomplishment. No wonder His Majesty promoted you to Northern Border General. You've seen Qianqian already, correct?"
"I have," Lu Lingxiao replied.
Lu Xingzhou said: "Holding office in court is different from fighting at the border. Every word and deed will be scrutinized by countless eyes. The Imperial Censors wield pens that do not show mercy—I hope you will not stray from proper conduct."
Lu Lingxiao paused and said: "Father, Wan'er and I genuinely admire each other, and we vow never to betray one another in this lifetime."
Lu Xingzhou said: "As a man, you must prioritize your wife."
Lu Lingxiao turned his face away: "Father only speaks this way because he married the woman he truly loved."
He knew his parents shared deep affection.
His father had never taken a concubine, had no mistresses, and remained devoted to his one wife. After his birth, his father had spared his mother from the hardships of childbearing and had not allowed her to have more children.
Lu Xingzhou said: "Let's not discuss this. I've returned this time for another matter. Tomorrow, the Governor Mansion is hosting a banquet. Inform Qianqian to prepare, and your mother and I will accompany you two there."
Lu Lingxiao asked curiously: "We've had no prior connection to the Governor Mansion. What kind of banquet is this?"
Lu Xingzhou replied: "A grab-the-thread ceremony."
Lu Lingxiao asked further: "Who's participating in this grab-the-thread ceremony?"
Lu Xingzhou answered: "The Governor's daughter."
Lu Lingxiao was even more taken aback: "He has a child now? Wasn't he still unmarried?"
This Grand Commander, though long of marital age, had postponed his marriage repeatedly. It was rumored that he was a notorious philanderer, so no reputable woman would dare marry him.