"First bow to Heaven and Earth—"
Lu Yuan and ng Qianqian faced the doorway and slowly bowed.
"Second bow to the parents—"
The newlyweds turned around and bowed respectfully toward ng Third Uncle, seated in the chair.
ng Tianlan, who was usually scorned at ho by the Old Master, was experiencing the highlight of his life. Once back in You State, he must boast about this to the Old Master and show off in front of his second brother too.
"Husband and wife bow to each other—"
The two slowly turned to face each other and bowed deeply.
However, since they were so close, their heads bumped together, causing the guests to burst into laughter.
The humor of bumping heads during the wedding ceremony was akin to the two suddenly kissing in front of a crowd for no apparent reason.
In their haste to rise, they bumped heads again, drawing even louder laughter from the guests.
The composed and calculating Grand Commander losing his cool like a flustered young lad was truly an eye-opening sight for the attendees.
The wedding concierge, tears streaming from laughter, declared, "Ceremony complete!"
The officials, who relished seeing the Great Traitor make a fool of himself, were delighted. Despite his misstep, the Great Traitor, who had successfully married his bride, was gleaming with joy, leaving only the Yu Family and Lin Wan’er nursing their wounds in silence.
Especially Yu Family—this incident was an unbearable blow to her.
The Grand Commander’s new wife turned out to be her daughter, and yet she, the birth mother, had been entirely unaware. That should have been her place—to be honored as an elder by the Grand Commander, to sit at the head table—it should have been her!
Her emotions reached a breaking point when she saw Yu Li seated at the main table too.
"Yu Li... Yu Li!"
She seed to lose her mind and charged toward the main table without care.
Several young ladies were so startled by her expression that they whispered amongst themselves.
"Isn’t that the Marchioness of Anyuan? What’s going on? She looks terrifying."
"I don’t know. I saw her at Lady Xing’s banquet, and she wasn’t like this at all—she seed gentle and composed then."
Steward Cen, smiling, stopped the rampaging Yu Family in her tracks. "Lady Xie, the Anyuan Marquis Mansion’s seats are over there."
Steward Cen knew who Yu Family was, but the Grand Commander had specifically instructed that both Yu Family and ng Little Nine should be treated as distant guests, with no special accommodations, and received only basic courtesy.
"I... I..."
At that mont, Yu Family’s blood churned to the point that she nearly blurted out, "I’m the Grand Commander’s mother-in-law."
But she swallowed the words at the last second.
She glanced toward the head table. "I’m looking for Yu Li. I’m his biological aunt."
Steward Cen smiled politely and, instead of inviting her to the head table, sent a maid to notify Yu Li.
Yu Li was chatting with ng Tianlan when he heard the maid’s report. Both n turned to glance at Yu Family.
The coldness in ng Tianlan’s gaze made Yu Family shiver unconsciously.
Yu Li approached her. "Aunt, let’s talk outside."
The two headed to a small garden nearby, a quiet space unlikely to be disturbed by guests.
Yu Family said, "You seem quite familiar with the Governor Mansion."
Yu Li replied, "I accompanied Third Uncle here once before."
"Young Master!"
Two passing maids curtsied respectfully to Yu Li, their deanor proper.
They also paid Yu Family a polite greeting suitable for a guest, addressing her as "Madam" by protocol.
Yu Family’s emotions beca even more conflicted.
After the maids walked away, Yu Family asked in disbelief, "You’ve only been here once?"
Yu Li truly had only visited once. Steward Cen had given him a tour of the Governor Mansion, sparing only the interrogation room and the dungeon.
He knew what had shocked his aunt—he’d visited the Marquis Mansion three tis, yet she had been so worried he’d offend the Marchioness and others that she only allowed him to stay in her and the Marquis’ private quarters.
He barely even knew what the Marquis Mansion looked like, nor did many of the servants recognize him.
Not wanting to argue, he cut to the chase. "Aunt, you didn’t bring here just to ask about that, did you?"
Yu Family, struggling to calm herself down, burst out again, demanding, "What is the situation with your cousin? Didn’t she already marry? Why is she now the Grand Commander’s bride? Why didn’t you tell anything about her situation earlier?!"
Yu Li hit the nail on the head. "Did you ever ask?"
Yu Family froze.
Yu Li continued, "When Cousin married into the Capital City, the family sent you a letter, asking you to at least look out for her a little. We didn’t expect you to acknowledge her fully—just visit her occasionally."
Yu Family retorted, aggrieved, "The Marquis was assigned to West City, and I followed him there. What was I supposed to do? Stay in the Capital City alone just for her?"
Yu Li could not believe these words were coming from his aunt. "Her husband died. The ng Family sent soone to bring her back. So did the Yu Family. She refused both. She endured five years of living as a widow! I can’t even imagine what kept her going in the Capital City—was it the hope that by staying, she might see her mother just once?"
Yu Family was utterly shaken. "Her husband died? She’s a second wife?! How could a second wife possibly marry the Grand Commander?"
And to be treated with such honor!
This was the Grand Commander—the Emperor himself had to address him as Imperial ntor—bending so low for a second-ti bride?
The disappointnt in Yu Li’s eyes was overwhelming. "Is that all you care about?"
He didn’t want to say another word to his aunt.
As Yu Li walked past her, Yu Family called out coldly, "Yu Li, stop right there! I said stop! I’m your aunt! Are you ignoring your aunt’s words now? I told you to stop!"
No matter how she shouted, Yu Li didn’t pause or look back, striding away without hesitation.
When he returned to his seat, Yu Li’s mood was clearly subdued.
On a day of great joy, encountering sothing like this would dampen anyone’s spirits.
ng Tianlan patted his shoulder. "Don’t be upset."
Yu Li looked down. "I’m upset for my cousin."
ng Tianlan glared at him. "What are you upset for? Among all of you in your generation, she’s the most capable and has the best fortune! You’d better worry about yourself—three years in the Imperial College, and if you don’t stand out, let’s see how your Old Master deals with you!"
"Got it, Third Uncle."
Yu Li was always respectful and dutiful in front of ng Tianlan—as he was with most elders—but his aunt’s actions today were just too disheartening...
He didn’t want to dwell on unhappy things during his cousin’s wedding and asked ng Tianlan, "By the way, Third Uncle, where’s my cousin? I want to go find her."
ng Tianlan quickly pulled him back into his seat. "You clueless boy! The couple has gone to their bridal chamber—what are you planning to do, crash the room?"
The bridal chamber.
ng Qianqian sat quietly on the wedding bed.
Lu Yuan sat beside her, his face distant and cold.
Tan’er had gone off in search of Treasure Piggy, leaving Ban Xia and Nanny Li stationed outside.
The two of them had no idea what was happening inside. Why was the Grand Commander still staying in the room for so long? Didn’t he have to go out and entertain the guests?
Under the veil, ng Qianqian bowed her head, fiddling with the pearl tassels on her wedding dress.
What a fine dress Madam Yun had made—the pearls were so large and round. But she’d already counted them over a dozen tis; why hadn’t the Grand Commander lifted her veil yet?
Could he intend for the two of them to sit like this all night?
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