On the night before the wedding, Qiuqiu mysteriously gave Lu Jinhuan an illustrated marital guide.
[Little Huan’er, study this carefully. My host before the last one drew this herself. She gave birth to seventeen princes and remained the emperor’s favorite for her entire life. Everything in here comes from her own experience!]
Lu Jinhuan opened it, took one look, and her face instantly turned bright red.
[Oh, don’t be embarrassed! Just read it so you’ll be mentally prepared. Otherwise, if you’re too shy when the time comes, it’ll ruin the mood. Let me tell you the more relaxed and comfortable a husband and wife are with each other, the more stable their marriage will be.]
“Really?”
[Of course! That host had all sorts of tricks, and the emperor was completely infatuated with her. He wasn’t interested in any of the other consorts at all. I don’t let just anyone read this!]
Ever since bonding with the system, Lu Jinhuan chatted with Qiuqiu every night before bed. Qiuqiu had told her many stories about its previous hosts, so topics like imperial harems and noble households were no longer unfamiliar to her.
“Alright then. I’ll study it carefully.”
Among all of Qiuqiu’s favorite hosts, Lu Jinhuan would definitely rank in the top ten.
Not because of anything special, but because she was genuinely obedient.
What Qiuqiu hated most were hosts who were foolish and refused to listen. Those were impossible to guide.
Some hosts became arrogant simply because they could bear children for men who otherwise couldn’t have heirs. In the end, the men would rather remain childless than share a bed with them, making it impossible for Qiuqiu to complete its performance targets.
Little Huan’er was much better.
She was like a blank sheet of paper who knew nothing, but her greatest strength was that she listened. That meant Qiuqiu could patiently teach and guide her.
That’s what you call raising someone step by step.
Lu Jinhuan spent nearly two hours studying the book until she felt she understood most of it.
She found it surprisingly similar to learning dance.
The only difference was that this was a dance for two people it required a partner.
The sky was cloudless, and the morning sun shone brightly.
At five o’clock sharp, Lu Zhao knocked on his daughter’s door.
Since their family had come from another city, Lu Jinhuan would be leaving for her wedding from the guesthouse instead of her parents’ home.
“Little Huan’er, eat something first. I’ll go get some hot water so you can wash up and get ready.”
Because she had stayed up late reading the marital guide, Lu Jinhuan hadn’t fallen asleep until nearly ten the previous night. She was still half-asleep.
Taking the breakfast from her father, she smiled sweetly at him before closing the door again and crawling back under the covers.
Lu Zhao smiled helplessly and didn’t disturb her further.
The groom wouldn’t arrive until nine o’clock, so there was still plenty of time.
Li Haili, however, couldn’t wait.
As soon as her husband walked away, she pushed open the door, strode to the bedside, and yanked the blanket off Lu Jinhuan.
“Get up. I have something to tell you.”
Without opening her eyes, Lu Jinhuan curled into a ball and mumbled,
“If you have something to say, Aunt Li, just say it. I’m too sleepy to sit up.”
Li Haili glared fiercely before sitting down on the chair beside the bed.
“Today you’re marrying into the He family, so there are a few things you must remember.
“First, once you’re in the He family, you must listen to Xiao Yun. Whatever she tells you to do, you do it.
“Second, didn’t the He family promise you a job? Work there for a few days, then say you can’t adjust and transfer the position to Xiao Yun. You can stay home and help her take care of the children.
“Third, once you’re in the He family, keep a low profile. Don’t deliberately try to win over the elders. Always put your sister first and do your best to help her establish herself in the family. Do you understand?”
After hearing this, Lu Jinhuan said nothing.
Instead, she burst into laughter.
“What are you laughing at?” Li Haili asked in confusion.
“Aunt Li, you’re really something!”
Lu Jinhuan laughed until she was fully awake before sitting up in bed.
“According to what you’re saying, it doesn’t sound like I’m marrying as the lawful wife.
“It sounds more like I’m becoming my sister’s husband’s concubine.”
Over the past few days, she’d heard plenty of stories about noble households in ancient times.
She understood perfectly.
“Those were exactly the duties expected of a wealthy family’s concubine. By your logic, should I also kneel every morning and evening to pay my respects to her?
“You may not be much to look at, but your imagination is certainly impressive.
“So tell me why should I agree to any of this?”
Li Haili froze for a moment.
“What do you mean, why? This marriage only happened because of Xiao Yun. Without her, do you think an inexperienced little girl like you would’ve had the chance to marry into the He family? Since you’re benefiting from it, shouldn’t you repay her?”
The smile disappeared from Lu Jinhuan’s face.
“I married He Congnan because I’m pretty, kind, and because he happens to like girls like me.
“Otherwise, even if Lu Jinyun held a knife to his throat, do you think he’d marry me?
“I may be soft-hearted, but I’m not stupid.
“These past few days, you’ve been doing everything you could to persuade me to marry. First, because you wanted me to shield Lu Jinyun in the He family. Second, because you hoped I’d help your son in the future.
“If you’d spoken to me nicely, I would’ve been willing to help Jin’an someday for Dad’s sake.
“But since you’re ordering me around like this…
“I’m telling you right now
“I won’t listen.
“In fact, I’ll do the exact opposite!”
Although Lu Jinhuan was genuinely angry, her soft, doll-like appearance made her look more adorable than intimidating.
Li Haili felt uneasy.
“So you think now that you’re marrying into the He family, your wings have grown strong enough that I can’t control you anymore?”
The truth was…
She didn’t actually have anything she could use to threaten this girl.
Lu Jinhuan proudly lifted her chin.
“You couldn’t control me even if I weren’t getting married.
“I’ve put up with you all these years because I didn’t want Dad caught in the middle.
“But let me warn you.
“If you keep pushing me, I’ll expose every secret Lu Jinyun has been hiding.
“Let’s see if she can still keep her marriage after that.”
“You !”
Li Haili completely lost her composure.
“How dare you! If you say anything, I’ll divorce your father!”
“Go ahead.”
Lu Jinhuan remained completely unfazed.
“If you divorce my dad, I’ll bring him to Beijing and find him a young wife instead.
“If you don’t believe me, try it.”
Just then, Lu Zhao walked in carrying a thermos of hot water.
Without sparing Li Haili a glance, he quietly helped his daughter wash up and finish breakfast.
Trembling with rage, Li Haili stormed out.
“Little Huan’er… you’ve suffered all these years.”
It wasn’t that Lu Zhao didn’t know what his daughter had endured.
He had simply always believed that avoiding conflict was easier than creating more trouble.
Lu Jinhuan merely smiled.
Today she was getting married.
As long as she never returned to her family home in Suzhou, she and Li Haili would probably never have to see each other again.
After breakfast, she applied a light touch of makeup, braided her hair into two neat plaits, and put on the bright red wool coat He Congnan had prepared for her.
“Dad…
“Thank you for raising me these past eighteen years.
“I’ll live a good life from now on.”
Lu Zhao’s eyes reddened as he nodded heavily.