"Madam, Steward Liu has matters to discuss with you."
The maid's announcement came from outside the room.
The Lu Family strictly adhered to traditions; unless it was an urgent matter of great significance, the masters would not be disturbed during their meals.
Lu Mother said to the two of them, "Qianqian, you and Lingxiao continue eating. I need to attend to something."
After Lu Mother left with Chuntao, only Meng Qianqian and Lu Lingxiao remained at the dining table.
Neither of them spoke; the room was eerily quiet.
"What if I mind?"
Meng Qianqian suddenly broke the silence.
Lu Lingxiao realized she was responding to the question he had asked earlier.
He frowned and said, "You are the Eldest Young Madam of the Lu Family, living a life of opulence and indulgence. Isn't there enough Osmanthus Cake for you to eat whenever you want? Wan'er grew up at the border; do you have any idea how much hardship she endured over the years?"
Meng Qianqian looked at him and asked, puzzled, "Was her suffering caused by me? If not, why must I yield to her?"
Lu Lingxiao's expression darkened as he placed his chopsticks down heavily and said, "It's merely a piece of Osmanthus Cake. If she ate yours, the kitchen can simply make another one. Why are you being so unreasonable?"
Meng Qianqian said, "If she can take my Osmanthus Cake today, then tomorrow she can take my Water Chestnut Cake. If this happens every day, does it mean that from now on, whatever I want to eat will have to be leftovers from her?"
Lu Lingxiao said, "The position of the main wife has already been given to you. Wan'er only wanted to eat a piece of Osmanthus Cake; do you really need her to seek your approval for that too?"
Meng Qianqian said, "Thank you, husband, for still remembering that I am the main wife. Since ancient times, concubines lived under the authority of the main wife. Who among them did not need to show deference to her?"
Lu Lingxiao's frown deepened. "Don't make your words sound so unpleasant…"
Meng Qianqian looked at him earnestly and asked, "Which part was unpleasant? That she is a concubine, or that she has to live under my authority?"
"Wan'er is not a concubine!"
"Then what is she? A mistress? A bed servant?"
Lu Lingxiao slammed his chopsticks onto the table with force. "Meng Clan girl!"
Suddenly, Chuntao rushed through the curtains in panic and exclaimed, "Young Master! Young Madam! Don't argue anymore! Madam fell!"
The two hurried to the outer hall where Lu Mother typically handled household matters.
The servants had helped Lu Mother to a chair.
Lu Lingxiao asked worriedly, "Mother, what happened?"
Enduring the pain, Lu Mother replied, "Your great-grandmother, grandmother, second uncle, and his family went to the temple for prayers, planning to stay for a few days. I had Steward Liu deliver your news to them at the temple, and they set off early to return home. On the way, your great-grandmother suddenly fell ill. I hurried to meet her and tripped on the way."
Meng Qianqian squatted down, gently squeezed Lu Mother's foot, and said, "It's twisted, but the bone is fine."
Lu Lingxiao pressed on it too, confirming the diagnosis.
"Mother, what illness is great-grandmother suffering from?"
Lu Mother said to him, "You've been gone for five years, so you wouldn't know. Your great-grandmother has had trouble recognizing people since three years ago."
Lu Lingxiao understood. He said to Lu Mother, "Mother, I'll go to bring great-grandmother back."
Lu Mother looked at her foot, grimacing in pain, and sighed. "It seems that's the only option. Wait, take Qianqian with you."
Lu Lingxiao glanced at Meng Qianqian, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed.
Outside the courtyard, Meng Qianqian said to Lu Lingxiao, "Go wait for me at the gate. I need to return to Haitang Courtyard to grab something."
Lu Lingxiao was displeased. "Great-grandmother has fallen ill, and you still have the mindset to fetch something?"
Meng Qianqian grabbed a bundle.
Lu Lingxiao didn't bother asking what was inside the bundle and simply instructed the coachman to speed up.
After less than half an hour, the carriage came to a stop on the bustling main street.
Lu Lingxiao lifted the curtain and alighted from the carriage. After thinking for a moment, he extended his hand to help Meng Qianqian down, only to see her clutching the bundle and leaping down from the other side on her own.
Meng Qianqian dashed upstairs like a shooting star.
The Second Madam was pacing the corridor in a disheveled state. When she saw Meng Qianqian approaching, relief washed over her face as she clutched her right arm and began complaining, "What took you so long? Look at what your great-grandmother did to me! Scratched me like a madwoman!"
Meng Qianqian stared coldly at her and asked, "Second Aunt, where is great-grandmother?"
The Second Madam pointed toward the eastern end and said impatiently, "In the room with the closed door! Ouch—it hurts so much! Did you come alone? Where's my sister-in-law? Is Lingxiao back in the Capital City?"
"Second Aunt."
Lu Lingxiao had also ascended the stairs.
"Lingxiao!"
"Second Aunt, what exactly is happening with great-grandmother?"
"Your great-grandmother suddenly insisted on eating Osmanthus Cake from Zhou's Bakery while traveling. Your grandfather and second uncle, fearing she might have an episode, brought her here. There was only one remaining pound of cake, already paid for by someone else. Great-grandmother, in her dazed state unable to understand the situation, grabbed the Osmanthus Cake and even assaulted the person! If it were an ordinary family… even an official's household might let the Lu Family save face. But the person in question happens to be Governor Mansion's steward! Steward of the Grand Commander! Someone our Lu Family cannot afford to provoke!"
At the mention of the Governor Mansion, Lu Lingxiao's expression grew somber.
Despite being stationed at the border for the past five years, he had often heard tales of the Capital City's Grand Commander.
He was a universally despised Great Traitor who monopolized court affairs, purged dissent, and brought calamity to the nation; his crimes were too numerous to count!
Though the two families shared the surname Lu, they were entirely unrelated.
If it was him, this was no longer a matter of saving face but a dilemma with no simple solution.
The man was ruthless and calculating, with subordinates notorious for their arrogance and lawlessness.
…This was a problem.
"Lingxiao, think of something quickly!"
"Second Aunt, don't fret. I'll go check on great-grandmother first."
Lu Lingxiao spoke and swiftly followed after Meng Qianqian.
The two arrived at the door.
Lu Lingxiao raised his hand to knock.
"Great-grandmother, it's me, Lingxiao. Your Lingxiao is back; please open the door!"
"Great-grandmother, please open the door."
"It's me; I've truly returned."
No matter how much Lu Lingxiao knocked and called out, the door remained shut.
"Could something have happened inside?"
Lu Lingxiao furrowed his brows and was about to force the door open.
Meng Qianqian spoke quietly, "Great-grandmother."
The door creaked open a crack.
The elderly matriarch leaned against the door frame, peering out stealthily.
Upon spotting Meng Qianqian, she immediately pulled her inside and slammed the door shut without ceremony!
Lu Lingxiao: "..."
The Elderly Matriarch hung her head low, looking like a child who had done something wrong. "Qianqian, I wet my pants again."
Meng Qianqian opened the bundle. "I brought clean clothes for you."
A moment later, the Elderly Matriarch emerged, rejuvenated.
Lu Lingxiao eyed the elderly, now dressed in fresh attire, then glanced at Meng Qianqian efficiently tidying the bundle. He realized he had wrongfully blamed her earlier.
"Who's this brat?"
The Elderly Matriarch frowned her snowy-white brows at Lu Lingxiao.
Lu Lingxiao hurriedly replied, "Great-grandmother, I am your great-grandson, Lingxiao."
The Elderly Matriarch said, "Didn't you die?"
Thrilled that she still remembered him, Lu Lingxiao responded, "It's a long story."
The Elderly Matriarch gestured dismissively. "Then don't bother telling it! Qianqian, let's go!"
The Elderly Matriarch grabbed Meng Qianqian by the hand and started to walk away.
Lu Lingxiao was about to follow, but the Old Madam, accompanied by Second Master Lu, emerged from the farthest room at the western end.
The Old Madam, ignoring the Elderly Matriarch and Meng Qianqian as they brushed past her, rushed toward Lu Lingxiao and enveloped him in an earth-shattering embrace, sobbing uncontrollably:
"My Lingxiao—my grandson—you've finally returned—"
Shaken by the scene, the Elderly Matriarch trembled, stuck out her tongue, and dry-heaved: "Blehhh—"
Back on the carriage, the Elderly Matriarch took out from her bosom a slightly crumpled piece of confectionery she'd been hiding all morning, and handed it to Meng Qianqian, her gaze as innocent as a child's.
Steward Liu had already informed her that the wretched boy had returned with a wicked woman.
"Have some Osmanthus Cake; Qianqian won't feel sad."