“I heard you’re holding a birthday banquet for Yuan’er and Yao’er tomorrow?” the master of diplomacy asked.
“So Second Master has heard about it too,” Fang Qianxue placed the peeled chestnuts on the small table and took a sip of tea. “A few days ago, I sent someone to ask for your opinion, but you said it would be extravagant and wasteful, so I didn’t dare ask again.”
“What I meant was that it hasn’t even been half a year since Elder Brother passed away, so we should keep things simple,” Lu Changqing’s eyes flickered. “But a small celebration would be acceptable.”
“Mm,” Fang Qianxue nodded gently. “I suppose Second Master’s wedding to Miss Xu will also be a small affair?”
“Ahem!” Lu Changqing coughed awkwardly twice, glancing down at the two innocent children. “Let’s stick to discussing the birthday banquet for now. Other matters can wait.”
Ever since Xu Miaoyan lost her virginity, she had been urging him to marry her. He had no choice but to brace himself and make the arrangements. Invitations had already been sent to most of the capital.
Lu Changqing had initially thought not many would attend. However, when people heard that the legendary auspicious fairy was getting married, they all wanted to catch a glimpse of her divine grace. As a result, quite a few officials agreed to attend—over a hundred, in fact. Including their families, the number would exceed two hundred.
Lady Chen insisted that since they were going to hold the wedding, they should showcase the Lu family’s grandeur. She went ahead and hired chefs and staff from the Four Seas Restaurant on Vermilion Bird Street to prepare the wedding feast at home. The Four Seas Restaurant charged a hefty fee, and the bill was still unpaid.
“Yes, let’s talk about Yuan’er and Yao’er then,” Fang Qianxue’s lips curved faintly, concealing her disdain. “I thought a third birthday banquet couldn’t be skipped, so I had a few tables of food and drinks prepared casually and invited a few friends to liven things up for the children.”
“That’s only right,” Lu Changqing nodded, then smiled and added, “I’ll come tomorrow to support you.”
Fang Qianxue was reclusive by nature and rarely interacted with outsiders. Over the years, Lu Changqing had met very few of her friends.
Who could she possibly invite? Without him there to lend her some prestige, the birthday banquet would likely be embarrassingly modest.
Fang Qianxue frowned slightly. “If you’re busy, it’s fine.”
“It’s the children’s birthday. No matter how busy I am, I should come,” Lu Changqing’s starry eyes reddened as he lowered his voice. “Qianxue, you were right about the Heart’s Blood matter. I was wrong…”
“Oh? How were you wrong?” Fang Qianxue drank her tea expressionlessly, inwardly sneering.
No wonder he had been trying so hard to please her today—it turned out he felt guilty.
“Miaoyan indeed doesn’t have a heart condition. What you said… was all true,” Lu Changqing sighed, lowering his gaze. “But she had her reasons too. She’s young… misled by others, she acted rashly to change her fate. Qianxue, please forgive her.”
“I understand what you mean, Second Master,” Fang Qianxue replied with a serene smile. “Then I’ll see you at the banquet tomorrow.”
Lu Changqing, we’ve been husband and wife for years, yet for the sake of another, you wanted to take my Heart’s Blood and cast me into eternal damnation. And now you think a simple apology can make it all go away?
Then Fang Qianxue would be far too cheap!
“You won’t ask me to stay?” Lu Changqing hadn’t planned to stay in the first place, but he hadn’t expected Fang Qianxue not to urge him.
“Miss Xu would be upset,” Fang Qianxue shook her head.
Lu Changqing’s face flushed red. He patted the children’s heads. “Then Father will take his leave now. See you tomorrow.”
Leaving Plum Blossom Pride, Lu Changqing was in a good mood. He had finally managed to persuade Fang Qianxue. She hadn’t made a scene after learning he was marrying Madam Xu, so she must have accepted it.
This woman is like a stone—all those sharp edges will be smoothed down with enough grinding. Tomorrow, I’ll go and grind her down a bit at the children’s birthday banquet, making Fang Qianxue take the initiative to propose that he take on the dual inheritance. Once that’s done, everything will fall into place.
See, it’s not that Lu Changqing is fickle or unfaithful—it’s Lady Fang who is considerate and magnanimous, wanting him to continue the lineage for the eldest branch of the Lu family.
“Second Brother, where have you been? I was just looking for you!” Just as Lu Changqing was about to head to the Pine Sound Residence, he ran into Lu Wanrou, dressed in a brocade robe adorned with pearls and jade.
“I went to Plum Blossom Pride. Why are you here so late?” He frowned, clasping his hands behind his back. “Whatever it is, we can talk about it tomorrow.”
His intuition told him that Lu Wanrou seeking him out was never a good sign—most likely, she was after money.
“You still went to Plum Blossom Pride? Have you seen what your wonderful wife has done?” Lu Wanrou pulled him toward the main hall of Pine Sound Residence. “Mother wants to see you!”
“What did Fang Qianxue do?” Lu Changqing stopped in his tracks. “Explain clearly!”
“She returned the account books and tally tokens to Mother, saying she’s washing her hands of everything!” Lu Wanrou said angrily.
“She’s no longer managing the household?” Lu Changqing’s eyebrows twitched uncontrollably. “Impossible! She clearly forgave me!”
Even if she was throwing a tantrum over Madam Xu, there had to be limits. How could Fang Qianxue disregard the bigger picture? The Lu household had elders to care for and children to raise—could they really expect Miaoyan to take charge?
Miaoyan was an otherworldly fairy who detested the smell of money. She said that worldly riches would taint her Spiritual Energy.
“What’s even more infuriating is, guess how much money is left in the accounts?”