At the end of spring, Old Madame Lu returned to her maiden home in Xu County to visit relatives.
Xu County was over a thousand li from the capital. After the wedding date was set, Lu Song had also sent someone to deliver the news to Xu County.
By the pace of travel, the message would only arrive this evening or tomorrow morning at the earliest.
Unexpectedly, Old Madame Lu had returned to the capital without giving any notice—and had arrived right at the time of the wedding ceremony.
He could only hope that his old mother wouldn't cause a scene later.
Lu Song's mind churned with thoughts, but his face betrayed nothing: "Today is an auspicious day. If my mother missed Jiangnian's wedding, she would surely blame me."
"The ceremony is complete. Send the newlyweds to the bridal chamber. I and my wife will take care of things here."
Lu Jiangnian shot Lu Song a mocking glance.
The two were not only father and son, but also comrades-in-arms and fellow soldiers, understanding each other thoroughly.
He calmly led Yuan Wanru toward Lingshui Residence, feeling somewhat gleeful at his father's predicament.
Lu Song shot him a glare—an unfilial son, daring to laugh at his old man's misfortune.
The bridal chamber was packed with people. The matchmaker's face beamed with joy as she signaled Lu Jiangnian to lift the veil.
On the large red bedding embroidered with mandarin ducks nestled together sat a graceful young woman, her delicate hands resting properly on her knees, so fair they were almost blinding.
He picked up the weighing scale and lifted the veil, their gazes meeting.
Yuan Wanru saw that Lu Jiangnian, dressed in a grand red brocade robe, had a flicker of admiration in his eyes.
His expression was calm, his sharply defined handsome face stunningly beautiful against the red attire. His robust, towering figure stood proudly, and his deep, quiet eyes concealed a charming yet mysterious aura.
What she didn't know was that Lu Jiangnian, looking at her, also lost his composure for a moment.
Beneath the bridal veil, the young woman's exquisite makeup was radiant and dazzling. Her rosy lips, vivid and tempting, carried a unique allure. The gold and silver jewels adorning her hair all seemed to pale in comparison.
At that moment, he felt the reality of marriage settle in.
No matter what, he was truly married now.
The matchmaker held a tray between them: "The newlyweds shall drink the cross-cupped wine."
Each took a cup, their arms intertwining, their breaths clearly audible to one another.
Yuan Wanru tilted her head back and downed the wine. The wine was cold, but as it reached her throat, a wave of heat surged up, and she nearly spat it out.
She had forgotten—in the modern world, she never touched alcohol. This was practically her first time drinking.
Instantly, a charming flush spread across her face, and a hint of dreamy allure crept into her eyes and brows.
She looked up at Lu Jiangnian with a pitiful expression, speaking softly: "It tastes awful."
Her warm breath brushed against his Adam's apple, carrying a faint scent of wine. Her round eyes looked up at him, her expression somewhat pitiful.
Lu Jiangnian lowered his gaze, rubbed the cup between his fingers, and placed it back on the tray: "Finished."
He needed to go out and entertain the guests.
The banquet had ended.
At Rongshou Hall, Old Madame Lu's residence.
"Eldest, you are truly my filial son."
Old Madame Lu pointed at Lu Song, her anger flaring: "With something as important as Jiangnian's wedding, I, his grandmother, wasn't even deemed worthy of knowing?"
Lu Song remained composed and explained gently: "Mother, saying that makes your son feel utterly ashamed."
"Your son is never reckless in his actions; you should understand that."
"Many things can't be explained in a few words. In any case, he is my son—I would never harm him."
"Wanru was raised under my wife's watchful eye. We know her background thoroughly. What's wrong with marrying her?"
Old Madame Lu stared at Lu Song, as if trying to see through him.
The fire in her heart gradually died down, but the dissatisfaction lingered.
Jiangnian was the heir of the Loyalty and Valor Marquisate, her most outstanding grandson. Matching him with Yuan Wanru was a waste.
Not to mention she was a quiet, dull girl—what could her background possibly bring to her grandson?
Yuan Chuan had been Lu Song's guard and died for his master, dying a worthy death.
The Lu family had raised her for so many years, clothed and fed her in luxury. Finding her a good family to marry into would have repaid any debt of gratitude. Why did they have to gamble with their grandson's lifelong happiness?
But what was done was done—what could she do now?
In the end, it was just lingering resentment.
Old Madame Lu said petulantly: "You wield great authority now, making all the decisions in this household. The heir's wedding was handled so hastily and carelessly that people might think we've done something shameful and are trying to cover it up."
She shifted her focus, turning her fire on Wang Min: "And you're useless too. He's a man who doesn't understand these intricacies—but don't you?"
"He's muddled, and you follow along in his muddle-headedness!"
Wang Min had known this would happen.
No matter what Lu Song did, if Old Madame Lu was dissatisfied, the blame would ultimately fall on her.
But it was just empty words—she wouldn't actually do anything. So Wang Min let her have her say.
"It's all this daughter-in-law's fault for being useless, unable to persuade the Marquis."
Lu Song had been caught between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for years, so he naturally knew it was time for him to speak up.
"Mother, I had a master calculate the date."
"Today is the most auspicious day for Jiangnian and Wanru's birth charts—a rare alignment that comes once in a decade. It was my selfish wish for the children's well-being that led me to settle on this date hastily. How could my wife have any say in it?"
Old Madame Lu let out a cold snort and said no more.
Though she complained that Wang Min couldn't persuade Lu Song, if Wang Min had stronger opinions than Lu Song, she would be displeased as well.
"Enough. We come back and immediately encounter such troublesome matters, giving me a headache."
She pointed to the two young women standing beside her. "This is Lanxin, your eldest cousin's daughter, and this is Lanzhi, your second cousin's daughter."
After the two girls paid their respects, Old Madame Lu took the hand of another woman in red robes beside her and smiled warmly. "Take a look, who is this?"
Wang Min examined her carefully before speaking. "Could it be… the Liang family's daughter from next door…"
Liang Yusong stood with proper bearing and said respectfully, "Aunt Lu has such sharp eyes. Even after so many years apart, you still recognize me."
She bowed gracefully. "Yusong pays her respects to Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu."
Liang Yusong's father, Liang Shangjiong, had been a fellow soldier with Lu Song back in the day, and the two had served together for three or four years.
Coincidentally, the Liang family—that is, the Duke Weiguo's household—was located right next door to the Marquis Zhongyong's residence.
The two families had frequent interactions, so Wang Min naturally recognized Liang Yusong.
Seven years ago, when Liang Shangjiong took his wife and children to an out-of-town post, the connection between the Lu and Liang families gradually faded.
Wang Min was somewhat curious. "How did you happen to meet Miss Liang, Mother?"
At this, Old Madame Lu affectionately took Liang Yusong's hand. "I have a fortunate connection with this child. If not for her, I'm afraid I wouldn't have lived to see Jiang Nian get married."
It turned out that when Old Madame Lu was returning to the capital from Xu County, she fell suddenly and critically ill while passing through Luoyang.
Her servants searched everywhere for a doctor, and when Liang Yusong heard about it, she took the initiative to come and treat her.
"Her maternal grandfather was the head of the Imperial Medical Institute. Yusong has exceptional talent and studied medicine under Imperial Physician Gao for many years."
"At the time, we found several doctors in Luoyang, but none could help. Fortunately, we encountered her."
Lu Song and the others hurriedly thanked Liang Yusong, who naturally insisted repeatedly that she couldn't take the credit.
Old Madame Lu continued, "Her grandmother passed away, and she observed a year of mourning at her home in Luoyang—a truly filial girl. Since I hadn't fully recovered, she accompanied me back to the capital."
"Her parents and brothers are still away, her grandfather is traveling, and the only ones at home are her uncle and aunt from a concubine branch. So why not let her stay at our residence? That way she can also conveniently look after my health."
Wang Min felt this was inappropriate.
But Old Madame Lu was insistent, and Liang Yusong produced a personal letter from Liang Shangjiong stating that he would likely be transferred back to the capital by year's end and entrusting them to look after Liang Yusong for a period of time.
And so, Liang Yusong, along with the two Miss Cao, temporarily took up residence at the Marquis Zhongyong's estate.