Looking again at the red robe on the corpse, Lu Yueming suddenly released her grip and vomited.
Qi Huan handed her a handkerchief, wiped her mouth, and then took her to the river to wash her hands.
"Yueming, let's go back."
Let's go back and see if it's Xiu Wen coming to propose marriage.
Qi Huan took her friend's arm, and together they rode their horses back towards the Lu's Residence.
As for Yan Qinghe, he felt so disgusted that he just wanted to hurry home and bathe and change clothes. Yan Wu was left behind to help Dong Geqiu collect the corpse.
An hour later, as they neared the Lu's Residence.
In the distance, they saw that the entrance was crowded with people. Two groups vying for marriage were jammed on either side of the road, neither willing to give way.
On the left stood an old lady, accompanied by a mother and son, with maids and servant girls beside them.
On the right was The Man in Red Robe, with Wang the Matchmaker standing akimbo next to him.
The betrothal gifts behind The Man in Red Robe stretched in a winding line, almost three times as long as the other side's.
Seeing The Man in Red Robe by the stone lions, Lu Yueming's eyes grew hot, blinking non-stop, afraid that it was all a dream.
She no longer wanted to wake up from it.
Qi Huan nudged her with a riding crop, teasing, "Our Yueming is quite popular, who will you choose?"
"Neither of them." Lu Yueming turned her head away, suddenly laughing, then forcing down the corners of her mouth and composing her expression.
After going a little further, she jumped off her horse and rushed into Old Lady Du's embrace, acting spoiled, "Grandmother, why have you come?"
"This child, you're so grown up now, how can you still act like a little kid?"
Old Lady Du complained with her words, but her hands gently stroked Lu Yueming's head.
"What's that smell? So foul!"
Next to her, Mrs. Du pinched her nose and shrieked, backing away a few steps.
Following behind her, Du Ziteng hurriedly waved his folding fan, remarking, "It's my cousin!"
Reminded by her son, Mrs. Du scrutinized Lu Yueming with disdain, curling her lip in contempt, "Yueming, have you fallen into a cesspit? You stink!"
Lu Yueming took a deep whiff, indeed it was quite foul.
It must have been the stench of the corpse she had encountered earlier, mixed with the smell of vomit.
"Yueming, it's not because your aunt is saying this, but after your mother fell ill with no one to take care of you, look at you, reeking all over, not grooming yourself properly, not the slightest bit like a proper young lady."
Pinching her nose, Mrs. Du kept criticizing her niece's flaws.
In her heart, she resented how the partial Old Lady Du only wanted to care for her youngest daughter and granddaughter, forcing her to bring her son to propose marriage, calling it a union of close kin.
Mrs. Du looked down on this niece, seeing her as unruly and unbecoming.
Previously, when Lu Baiian had merely taken a concubine, she had written letters to her father-in-law, urging him to have Lu Baiian stripped of his official position. Such a jealous and obnoxious daughter-in-law, who would want her?
What if she turned out like her barren and unproductive mother, all flower and no fruit? That would be even more distressing.
But with her arm twisted, unable to defy her mother-in-law's "filial" decree, Mrs. Du had no choice but to comply, however unwillingly.
Her eyes flashed with malicious intent, plotting that the first thing after her mother-in-law passed away would be to have her son divorce Lu Yueming and marry the Governor's daughter instead.
Detecting the malice in her eyes, Lu Yueming stepped forward and affectionately embraced her aunt, nuzzling her, "Auntie, Yueming has missed you too."
"Yueming, your aunt has missed you too... but you, you let go first." Mrs. Du desperately craned her neck back, holding her breath, just wanting to get away from her.
Just as Mrs. Du was about to vomit from the stench, thankfully her precious son came to her rescue.
"Cousin Yueming, don't you think you should explain? Who is that man?"
After examining The Man in Red Robe, Du Ziteng shot Lu Yueming an expectant glance, his interest piqued.
He had no desire to marry his fierce cousin, having always lost their childhood fights and been whipped by her until he ran around the courtyard.
He had already taken Qiu Shui and Yi Ren as his concubines, and if he married his jealous cousin as well, he feared he would only have to constantly walk on eggshells around this tiger mother.
He didn't want to, nor dare to.
At this moment, Du Ziteng felt grateful as he excitedly looked towards the knight in the red robe, wanting nothing more than to push his cousin into the man's embrace.
Reminded by him, Lu Yueming glanced sideways at The Man in Red Robe, then averted her gaze to the line of betrothal gifts behind him.
"He is an admirer of mine."
"Oh, Cousin Yueming really is irresistible, I wish you two lovers a lifelong union."
No sooner had Du Ziteng finished speaking than he was slapped by his grandmother.
"You foolish boy, what nonsense are you saying."
Old Lady Du took Lu Yueming's hand, saying earnestly, "Yueming, when your mother married, your grandmother went along with her wishes, but look at the kind of man she chose!
So, Yueming, listen to me. I've come today to have your cousin make the marriage proposal. If you marry into our Du family, it will be like returning to your own home, where no one can bully you.
I'll also bring your mother back, and we three generations can live happily together."
Beside them, Du Ziteng closed his fan, looking displeased as he muttered, "You'll be happy, but what about my 'happiness'?"
Seeing through his selfish motives, Lu Yueming directly exposed him, "Grandmother, you see, my cousin doesn't like me at all. I only want to marry someone who loves me."
"Feelings can be cultivated slowly, can your grandmother not help you with that?" After being defied, Old Lady Du glared sternly at her unfilial grandson.
Standing behind them, Qi Huan blinked, marriage between close relatives was not ideal.
Then looking at Mrs. Du, her face was practically carved with the words: I am a malicious mother-in-law.
And Du Ziteng, who was wholeheartedly trying to push Lu Yueming away, clearly showed he was just a melon being forcibly twisted.
But Lu Yueming's marriage was none of her business to comment on.
So, she pulled Li Shuchen over to Xiu Wen's side, boosting his presence and gravitas.
"Hey, Brother Wang!"
"Go for it, Brother Wang!"
After she finished speaking, Xiu Wen twitched the corner of his mouth, purposefully deepening his voice, "Thank you, Miss Qi."
Then, he approached Old Lady Du, gave a bow and politely greeted her, "Prospective Grandmother, greetings."
"How dare you, who is your grandmother!"
"Prospective Grandmother, my name is Wang Xiu. I have long admired Miss Lu, and have come today to propose marriage. I beg you to grant your blessing."
He kept calling her "Prospective Grandmother," giving Old Lady Du a ringing headache.
No matter how she scolded or refused him, this young man stubbornly followed them, incessantly professing his affection.
Just as she was about to have the servants beat him away, a maid came to report that Mrs. Lu had awoken!
Everyone rushed over to see Mrs. Lu leaning against a cushion, sipping tea aided by a maid.
She had a pale complexion and had lost a significant amount of weight.
Upon overhearing the gossiping maidservants discussing the struggle between two parties vying for her daughter's hand in marriage, she forced her eyes open.
A man fears choosing the wrong career, a woman fears marrying the wrong husband.
Her daughter Lu Yueming must marry the right man!
Thus, she rasped out, "Which one of you wishes to become my son-in-law?"
Xiu Wen stepped forward and greeted her, "Greetings, future mother-in-law!"
Behind him, Du Ziteng stealthily retreated a few steps, only to be forcefully pushed forward by his grandmother Old Lady Du, awkwardly calling out, "Auntie."
Mrs. Lu glared at him and said impatiently, "To marry Lu Yueming, there are three conditions!"
"Name them! I shall surely accomplish them," Xiu Wen hastily responded.
As for Du Ziteng, he chose to remain silent, believing that silence is golden.
He said nothing.
Mrs. Lu glared at him again, already mentally eliminating him from the contest even before it had begun.
