Her voice was soft and sweet, but the words she spoke were enough to make one's blood boil.
Lu Jiangnian's gaze darkened, his cold, hard eyes slightly upturned at the corners as he gritted out a few words from between his teeth: "Yuan Wanru."
"I'm right here."
She looked at him calmly and composedly, her face as smooth and fair as congealed fat, mere inches away.
He lowered his face even further, his lips brushing against her ear, his thin anger laced with menace: "Threatening me?"
She shook her head gently, her calm gaze resting on his handsome, jade-like face. A few strands of hair at her temples brushed against his skin, bringing a faint tickling sensation.
"Brother Lu misunderstands. I'm merely stating the facts. Rumors benefit neither you nor me, isn't that so?"
His breath sprayed against her ear. Yuan Wanru realized they were standing too close.
She felt somewhat unaccustomed to it and wanted to step back, but feared losing her momentum.
Lu Jiangnian lowered his gaze. The girl's snow-white, lustrous neck was fully exposed, that patch of fair skin glowing in the sunlight, almost dazzling to the eyes.
The two of them stood in sharp confrontation, sparks flying.
Yet they had no idea how intimate they appeared to onlookers.
The man was tall and imposing, the woman petite and delicate. They stood so close that Yuan Wanru seemed to be gathered into Lu Jiangnian's embrace.
Just now, when Lu Jiangnian had bent down to lean close to Yuan Wanru, from Lu Yun and Lu Miao's angle, it looked as though he had kissed her temple, instantly making the two unmarried young girls blush to the tips of their ears.
Were they really appropriate to be standing here?
Had their eldest brother forgotten that there were other people present?
The sunlight was brilliant, birds chirped merrily, and the surroundings were very quiet.
A gust of wind blew past, carrying wisps of floral fragrance that scattered in all directions—subtle, sweet, and serene.
The two of them stood beneath the crabapple tree as a few falling leaves drifted down, landing on their bodies.
Lu Jiangnian stared at her with heavy-lidded eyes for a long while before straightening up. He casually brushed off the withered leaves that had fallen on him, his every movement unrestrained yet elegant, fully displaying the refined nobility of a son of a distinguished family.
He turned to look at the dumbstruck Lu Yun and Lu Miao: "Rumors cease at the wise. You're not young anymore—can't you tell what's true from what's false?"
Lu Yun flushed crimson with shame.
"Eldest Brother…"
"Though my marriage to her was arranged in haste, the betrothal is real. Use your heads more in the future."
With that, he left without looking back.
Only when his figure had completely disappeared did Yuan Wanru relax her taut back.
Though she appeared calm and unruffled, Lu Jiangnian had spent years on the battlefield. Young as he was, he carried a killing coldness that ordinary people lacked. When he bared his edge, facing off against him was no easy feat.
Lu Yun looked ashamed but owned up to her mistake without hesitation.
"Sister Yuan, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for believing what others said."
Her eldest brother himself had admitted it.
Just now, eldest brother and Sister Yuan had looked exactly like a young man and woman deeply in love. She no longer had the slightest doubt.
Lu Miao spoke softly to mediate: "Sister Yuan knows her temper—she hears the wind and takes it for rain."
"You're just taking advantage of Sister Yuan's good nature."
Lu Yun was a concubine-born daughter of the eldest branch, and Lu Miao was a concubine-born daughter of the second branch. Both were around fourteen or fifteen, close in age, and they had a decent relationship with the original owner of this body.
"Since you've sincerely apologized, I'll reluctantly forgive you."
After parting ways with Lu Yun and Lu Miao, Yuan Wanru soon arrived at Wang Min's main courtyard, Wangchun Hall.
The Loyalty and Valor Marquis's residence was divided into a central route, an eastern route, and a western route. Momei Pavilion was on the western route, while Wangchun Hall sat at the center of the central route.
The closer she got to Wangchun Hall, the more she noticed servants hurrying back and forth, unusually busy.
The wedding date Lu Song had set was too rushed. Wang Min was run off her feet, having slept only two hours a night for the past two days. She almost wished she could split herself in two.
Yuan Wanru looked at the festive decorations but felt no sense of an impending wedding at all.
Wang Min had finally managed to carve out time to see her, mainly to hear with her own ears about the wedding dress: "If it doesn't fit, tell me right away. Don't be shy."
"A woman only marries once in her life—it's a momentous occasion. Though time is tight, Auntie Min will absolutely make sure the wedding is grand and glorious."
Yuan Wanru saw that she was so busy that blisters had formed at the corners of her mouth, and her heart softened involuntarily.
She had already guessed that Wang Min, stretched thin these past few days, certainly hadn't noticed the rumors.
That was why she didn't want to add more trouble for Wang Min, and had instead threatened Lu Jiangnian into clarifying the rumors.
In the book, Wang Min had been extremely good to her from beginning to end.
"The wedding dress fits perfectly. It's beautiful, and I love it."
"This is chrysanthemum cake I specially had made—it clears the heart and dispels heat, lightly sweet without being cloying. Please, have a taste."
Wang Min hadn't even eaten a proper lunch, and her stomach was indeed a bit hungry now.
She took a piece—it was quite delicious—and before she knew it, she had finished all six pieces in the small dish.
"Good child, Auntie Min knows you're thoughtful."
She took Yuan Wanru's hand and carefully instructed her: "Your dowry was prepared long ago. I've already had it inventoried and carried over to the house on Baima Street."
"Tonight, go stay there first. Tomorrow, wait in peace for Jiang Nian to come marry you. Everything will go smoothly—don't worry."
"Jiang Nian has a bad temper, but he's not an unreasonable person. Don't worry—with Aunt Min and Uncle Lu around, he wouldn't dare bully you."
There was much she wanted to say, but too many people had come seeking Wang Min. In just this short while, several stewards had already gathered outside, waiting to report matters and receive instructions.
Yuan Wanru didn't linger. She left Wangchun Hall and went straight back to Momei Pavilion.
She was lodging at the Lu residence, but she couldn't very well be married off from the Lu household.
Wang Min had arranged for her to stay tonight at the Lu family's private residence on Baima Street, and had also given her the deed to the property as part of the betrothal gifts.
And her wedding dress—the one that had been destroyed tonight.
She wanted to see exactly who was behind this.
After a busy day, Nanny Pang hurried back from Baima Street: "Miss, everything is arranged over there. It's getting late—shall we head over now?"
Nanny Pang bustled about, packing the daily necessities and leaving behind anything non-essential. After all, they were only staying one night; the young miss would enter the household tomorrow morning. Why bother with extra effort?
"Mm, Liuyan, bring the wedding dress."
Passing through the second gate, a luxurious carriage came into view.
A tall frame of fine hardwood, a canopy draped with colorful silk, gemstones glittering at the four corners, and an exquisite wind lantern bearing the character "Lu."
But the first thing Yuan Wanru noticed wasn't the carriage—it was the man on horseback waiting beside it.
She hadn't expected to see Lu Jiangnian again today.
Nanny Pang's delighted whisper reached her ears: "The madam had the eldest young master escort you to Baima Street."
Hearing the sound, the man looked down from his elevated position. Astride his horse, he was as towering as a mountain, his bearing overwhelming—a single glance carried the weight of heaven and earth pressing down.
She imagined he must be even more formidable on the battlefield.
Nanny Pang walked over with a beaming smile and bowed to him. He gave a slight nod, then lowered his head to pat his horse's neck.
As if receiving some signal, the black horse snorted heavily, its hooves pawing restlessly at the ground, as though it couldn't wait to set off.
The silent urging made Nanny Pang even more nervous, and she quickly helped Yuan Wanru into the carriage.
Yuan Wanru silently grumbled to herself—this man's temper was cold and hard as stone. She had no idea what the female lead saw in him.