The elderly woman looked up. "Young Master Ayuan."
Four young n from Miaojiang saluted Lu Yuan with a gesture unique to their region.
The elderly woman said, "You all wait outside for ."
They left the room.
The setting sun hung low in the west, the evening embraced the surroundings, and the room was without lights. Shadows intertwined in half-light and semi-darkness, while Bao Shu’s calls and the maid’s reminders to slow down echoed faintly from the courtyard outside.
The elderly woman spoke, "It’s been several years since I was last here, but the Governor Mansion finally feels a little less lifeless."
Lu Yuan was indifferent, showing no intention of engaging in conversation with her.
He was always like this—distant and unapproachable, sparing no warmth even for his own mother.
The elderly woman, used to his coldness, took out a small bottle of dicine and placed it on the table. "This is the dicine Mada prepared for you. She combed through the boundless mountains of Miaojiang, risking her life to find these ingredients and brew this dicine. You ought to appreciate her effort."
Lu Yuan replied coolly, "If it was only to deliver dicine, it’s hardly worth troubling you for a personal visit."
The elderly woman was unsurprised and nodded, saying, "Indeed, there’s more to talk about. I heard you now have a child — is it the one outside? Mada is delighted and had co to see. If you’re unwilling to raise her, I could take the child back for Mada to care for."
Lu Yuan said, "No need to trouble Mada."
The elderly woman continued, "Alright, the first two matters are settled. Then for the last issue—Young Master Ayuan, when do you intend to marry?"
Lu Yuan’s expression finally shifted. "Even my marriage is sothing you want to ddle in?"
The elderly woman shook the bell at her waist, summoning a young man from Miaojiang who entered the room, carefully placed three scrolls on the table, and withdrew with a bow.
With a wave of her sleeve, the elderly woman unfurled the scrolls. "These three won have been ticulously chosen by Mada for you. Pick one and proceed to marry her."
"And if I refuse?"
"Mada will personally visit the Capital City, escorting Young Master Ayuan to the altar for marriage. I’ll remain in the city until I receive your answer, but I won’t stay long. Mada’s patience is not infinite."
After finishing, the elderly woman opened the door and left.
Steward Cen smiled as he watched her leave. Once she and her attendants had gone far enough, Cen quickly closed the door and lit the oil lamp on the desk, adjusting it to its brightest setting.
Having stayed outside, he had overheard everything—whether he should or not.
He spoke sincerely, "Grand Commander, you shouldn’t resent Mada. After all, n ought to marry, just as won are destined to wed—"
Lu Yuan interrupted, "Do you think I’m old now?"
Cen was startled, baffled by this sudden question. Why was this topic about age out of nowhere?
Cen replied earnestly, "Grand Commander, you are young and vigorous, rely three years senior to Lu Lingxiao..."
Receiving a sharp glare from Lu Yuan, Cen forced an awkward smile. "Though, truth be told, you’re at the age where marriage and children should no longer be delayed. Plenty of n marry at sixteen or seventeen, and by their twenties, so already have children running around."
Lu Yuan said, "She does not crawl."
Cen: "..."
The Grand Commander seems particularly irritable today.
Plucking up courage, Cen continued, "Grand Commander, I truly think you should give this so proper thought. Surely the Governor Mansion could use a mistress, and Miss Bao Shu needs a mother. We can’t wait until she grows up and becos ridiculed for not having one."
Lu Yuan responded frostily, "Who dares ridicule my child? I’ll kill them!"
Now Cen was more certain than ever: the Grand Commander was like gunpowder today. If the conversation continued much longer, the mansion might end up blown sky-high.
But there were words Cen couldn’t evade saying.
"Grand Commander, you know Mada’s temperant. When she decides on sothing, it’s final. Instead of creating conflict, why not follow her wishes? Just settle the marriage ceremony quickly—it’s not a big ordeal. Bow at the altar, extinguish the lamp...it’s done just like that..."
Lu Yuan shot him a searing glare. "What do you take for?!"
Cen dared not fan the flas further. Another word might cost him his life.
Handing him a letter, Cen said, "Miss ng ca by earlier, waited for you all afternoon, and left this letter for you."
Lu Yuan coldly accepted the letter.
Cen asked with a grin, "Grand Commander, would you have dinner at Miss Bao Shu’s courtyard tonight?"
"No need. I’ll go out for a walk."
Lu Yuan, already angered to the point of fullness, had no appetite for food.
In the busy streets, his presence often attracted attention. To avoid the crowd, he ducked into a quiet alleyway.
The soft breeze brought calm, isolating him from the clamor of the city. The alley was serene, almost unrecognizable as part of the Capital City.
"Grand Commander?"
ng Qianqian’s voice abruptly sounded from up ahead.
Lu Yuan halted his steps, composed and steady, and turned to gaze at her.
"Oh, it’s you." ng Qianqian’s steps quickened, performing a formal bow. "Little Nine greets the Grand Commander."
Lu Yuan responded nonchalantly with a hum.
ng Qianqian inquired, "Is the Grand Commander here specifically to find Little Nine?"
Lu Yuan, hands clasped behind him, said without expression, "Passing by."
ng Qianqian replied, "Oh. I thought perhaps the Grand Commander had read Little Nine’s letter."
Lu Yuan glanced at her. "Out so late?"
ng Qianqian smiled faintly, "Buying sugar-coated hawthorns for Tan’er and my great-grandmother. Would the Grand Commander care to join ? We can bring one for Bao Shu as well."
Lu Yuan replied indifferently, "Sure."
The two walked side by side.
On Zhuque Avenue, the crowds surged. ng Qianqian moved to his outer side, shielding him from the bustling flow of people.
Suddenly, Lu Yuan’s mory flashed back to her drunken words, "Little Nine is the Grand Commander’s lackey."
"Hmph, she’s lived up to it."
ng Qianqian focused on clearing the path for him and missed what he said. "What did the Grand Commander just say?"
Lu Yuan replied, "Nothing."
They passed through the most crowded stretch, where the number of vendors and pedestrians thinned.
ng Qianqian edged a half step closer, their sleeves nearly touching. Noticing this, she subtly pulled her sleeve back.
Lu Yuan frowned.
ng Qianqian assud he disliked her being too near and quickly moved further away.
But she couldn’t distance herself too much; otherwise, their conversation would be hard to hear.
"Grand Commander, Little Nine ans no offense, but I have sothing to say."
Lu Yuan said coldly, "Speak."
Had she still stood too close? He seed upset.
ng Qianqian moved another half step away. At that mont, a rider rode toward them at a gallop.
Seeing this, Lu Yuan reached out to pull her back, but before he could, she pushed off her toes, flipped over the rider’s head in a graceful arc, and landed flawlessly.
Lu Yuan, who had reached out in vain: "..."
He retracted his hand, clasping it behind his back.
ng Qianqian ran back to him, and recalling his earlier move, asked, "Grand Commander, were you trying..."
"No."
"To save ?"
They spoke at the sa ti.
Lu Yuan said icily, "Co near again and I’ll kill you."
"Oh."
ng Qianqian stepped back a large pace.
Lu Yuan’s gaze shifted to the city’s glowing lights as he asked, "Consort Li wishes to ask you—are you willing to enter the palace as a concubine?"
ng Qianqian froze, clearly surprised by the favor Consort Li showed her, sending Lu Yuan himself to solicit her thoughts.
She answered softly, "Little Nine is unwilling."
Lu Yuan stared at her.
ng Qianqian puzzled aloud, "Why does the Grand Commander gaze at Little Nine so?"
Lu Yuan: "Finished speaking?"
ng Qianqian nodded. "Finished."
Lu Yuan asked faintly, "Then do you have soone you fancy? I’ll arrange a marriage for you."
ng Qianqian asked, "Anyone at all?"
Lu Yuan’s expression darkened. "You truly have soone?"
ng Qianqian quickly shook her head. "No, I don’t."
Why is this man so irritable tonight?
Did he take the wrong dicine?
Lu Yuan gave a cold snort.
ng Qianqian furrowed her brow. If she liked soone, he was upset. If she didn’t, he was upset. A man’s heart—truly as elusive as a needle in the ocean!
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