On the other side.
Night had already fallen, and the Lingshui Residence, which had bustled with activity all day, was now quiet.
Lu Jiangnian had returned from the front hall long ago. He did not go to the bridal chamber but instead went to the study to bathe.
Ever since he learned he was to marry Yuan Wanru, he had moved his belongings to the study.
From now on, his daily life would be in the study, and the bedchamber would be hers.
However, tonight, he still needed to go see her.
The Lu family had no shortage of relatives, and many of the women had gathered in the bridal chamber today, laughing and teasing. Even just sitting there as a decoration, Yuan Wanru's body had grown stiff.
Finally, when everyone had left, she hurriedly bathed and changed, then had someone bring her a bowl of chicken soup with shredded pork noodles to fill her stomach.
The noodles had just been served when Lu Jiangnian walked in.
He sat down beside her, and Yuan Wanru could smell the faint scent of soap on him.
She casually glanced at him. "Something on your mind?"
Her tone was most unwelcoming, as if he had no business being there. Lu Jiangnian raised an eyebrow—if he remembered correctly, tonight was their wedding night.
He gave a soft hum of acknowledgment. "Mm."
Yuan Wanru said indifferently, "Whatever it is, no matter how important, it can wait until I finish eating. I'm starving to death."
Nanny Pang handed her a pair of chopsticks and, upon hearing this, immediately spat "pui pui" twice, pressed her palms together, and bowed three times toward the heavens. "May the Bodhisattva forgive her—the young madam speaks without thinking."
Then she gave Yuan Wanru a reproachful look. "If you're hungry, just eat. Don't say such nonsense."
Yuan Wanru pressed her hand to her forehead. This was just like her grandmother in the modern world—if she misspoke even one word, a prayer of apology was required.
Paying no further heed, the tantalizing aroma drifted into her nose. She was truly famished, so she dug in with big mouthfuls.
Nanny Pang was frantic with worry. Before the eldest young master, couldn't the young lady at least take smaller bites? With such table manners, who knew what the young master might think.
Nanny Pang was overthinking it. Though Yuan Wanru ate quickly, her table manners were not at all unsightly.
It was a skill she had honed during her working days.
Lu Jiangnian had drunk quite a bit of wine, and watching her eat with such gusto, he unexpectedly felt a bit hungry himself.
She must have bathed not long ago—her hair was not yet completely dry. She wore a light pink gauze dress, and under the candlelight, her face held the unique innocence and tenderness of a young maiden. With her movements, a wisp of fragrance drifted through the air, cutting through the aroma of the food.
As she ate her noodles, her sleeve slipped down, revealing a delicate, fair wrist adorned with a jade-green bangle. The contrast made her pale skin all the more striking.
He sat quietly at her side, inexplicably finding this version of her rather agreeable.
A man who had spent time in the military camp, no matter how noble his birth, would always carry a certain roughness in his nature.
He had watched his younger sisters at meals—dawdling, taking forever to finish half a bowl of rice. He had never been able to understand how such a tiny amount could fill anyone's stomach.
The woman before him, however, had already polished off half a large bowl of noodles in no time—vivid and real.
Yuan Wanru finished eating and looked up, meeting his gaze directly.
For some reason, Lu Jiangnian's first instinct was to look away.
Halfway through turning, he stopped and casually shifted his gaze back. "Something on your mind?"
Yuan Wanru thought: Didn't you come to find me?
He realized his mistake as well and, to cover it up, picked up his teacup and took two sips before saying, "Everyone, leave us."
Nanny Pang withdrew with the servants, beaming with delight.
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Yuan Wanru had no intention of speaking first. She wanted to hear what Lu Jiangnian had to say.
She idly toyed with the jade bangle on her wrist as Lu Jiangnian finally spoke: "I never once heard my father mention any betrothal agreement. I very much doubt it ever truly existed."
"Today, you got what you wanted by marrying me. In the future, I will sleep in the study…"
He paused, then continued: "Your father's life-saving favor cannot be used to hold over me for a lifetime."
"Things you should not dare to hope for, you had best not hope for. Conduct yourself accordingly."
Though Yuan Wanru had guessed he would not say anything pleasant, anger still rose unbidden in her heart.
"I got what I wanted?"
"You overestimate yourself far too much."
"Lu Jiangnian, you think I schemed against you in the Wangzhu Lake incident, that Uncle Lu forced you to marry me because of my father's life-saving favor, and that you've been wronged."
"But the one truly wronged here is me."
"You saved my life, and I am grateful to you."
"But that day, I was also a victim of someone's scheme. I never once thought of forcing you to marry me."
Lu Jiangnian did not believe a word.
His eyes suddenly turned cold, and his tone dripped with biting sarcasm: "The rumors outside have already been cleared up. Now that things have come to this, what harm is there in admitting it?"
"Is deceiving yourself really so amusing?"
Yuan Wanru said indignantly, "I don't have a habit of being wrongly accused. If I didn't do it, what do you want me to admit to?"
"Lu Jiangnian, I will get to the bottom of this and make you completely convinced."
"If you've wronged me, I wonder whether the esteemed Young Master Lu has the courage to apologize to me?"
Lu Jiangnian stared at her steadily, his narrow phoenix eyes carrying a chill.
What he despised most was not those who made mistakes, but those who refused to admit their faults and shifted the blame.
"Why would I not."
Neither of them spoke again, facing off in silence.
Suddenly someone shouted, "Something's wrong! The old lady is vomiting nonstop—her condition isn't good. Everyone is heading to Rongshou Hall."
Lu Jiangnian's eyes darkened, and he immediately rose to leave.
"Wait for me. I'm coming too."
Quick as a flash, she grabbed his sleeve: "Regardless of everything, you married me, and in public you owe me proper respect."
"If you go ahead alone and leave me behind, what will others think of me?"
He narrowed his eyes at her, then after a moment's deliberation, said, "Hurry up."
Lingshui Residence wasn't far from Rongshou Hall, but Lu Jiangnian walked extremely fast, and Yuan Wanru struggled to keep up behind him.
She simply lifted her skirts and broke into a jog, with Liuyan following behind holding a lantern, watching with her heart in her throat.
"Eldest Young Madam, slow down—mind you don't trip."
Lu Jiangnian's pace faltered, and he finally shortened his strides. Yuan Wanru managed to arrive at Rongshou Hall alongside him.
Lu Song and his wife were already there keeping watch, along with Lu Song's full younger brother Lu Bai, who had brought Second Madam Zhou Fang to wait outside.
After they arrived, Lu Bai's eldest son Lu Jiangxun also came.
The other children of the household were absent—they likely hadn't been disturbed.
Yuan Wanru immediately spotted two unfamiliar girls, and without needing to guess, she knew they were the Cao sisters who had returned with the old lady.
They lived in Rongshou Hall, so naturally they would keep vigil now that the old lady had fallen ill.
Just as in the book, on the wedding night, Old Madame Lu fell sick.
But with the female lead Liang Yusong present, the old lady would be fine.
This was the female lead's first moment of glory before the Lu family, showcasing her medical skills.
"How is Grandmother?"
Lu Jiangnian looked at Lu Song, whose face was taut: "The household physician can't decide on a course of action. Fortunately, Miss Liang is familiar with the illness—she's inside administering acupuncture to your grandmother right now. We'll only know once she comes out."
As the heir, little escaped Lu Jiangnian's ears regarding matters of the Loyal and Brave Marquis's household.
He had long since learned of this Miss Liang's background.
He stood in silence, and Yuan Wanru turned her head to gaze at his young, resolute profile, momentarily lost in thought.
The next part of the plot should be the male and female leads meeting.
The male lead would unexpectedly discover that he had seen Liang Yusong two years ago.
Because of that prior encounter, he already held Liang Yusong in high regard, and now that she had saved Old Madame Lu, the male lead would immediately develop feelings of admiration.
The door creaked open, and a young woman in a pomegranate-red skirt stepped out.