Lanting

Kapitel 153

The smile on Hong Qiaoying's face seemed to have been wiped away by a hand.

Hong Wantong chuckled, "Daughter, no need to worry. Qing Jianyue will disappear from Lu Qingcheng's side sooner or later."

Just then, Lu Qingcheng and Qing Jianyue walked over. Lu Qingcheng cupped her hands and said, "Lord Hong, seeing that you look radiant and in a good mood, I am relieved."

Hong Wantong laughed heartily and said, "How could I not be delighted to attend the wedding of my son-in-law's subordinate?"

Son-in-law?

Qing Jianyue stared at Lu Qingcheng suspiciously. Lu Qingcheng's lips twitched again, her smile frozen. Frozen as she was, she still had to utter those flattering words.

"The reason why our humble abode is so splendid and why we have so many happy events is all thanks to Lord Hong's blessings."

Kiyoshi thought to herself: I thought only handsome older brothers were good at saying these hypocritical compliments that made my skin crawl, but I didn't expect him to be able to say them too, and so easily as if he were drinking tea or eating. I really underestimated him.

Turning his head, he met Hong Qiaoying's unfriendly gaze. Hong Qiaoying suddenly raised her chin, striking an arrogant pose. Qing Jianyue grinned, turning her back to her. Hong Qiaoying's face turned pale with anger, but she didn't dare to act like a spoiled princess in front of Lu Qingcheng, almost causing her internal injuries from holding it in.

The bridal sedan chair arrived, and everyone crowded towards the entrance. The groom dismounted, and the bride was helped out of the sedan chair. They entered the hall, and amidst laughter and chatter, they bowed to heaven and earth before being led to the bridal chamber. Qing Jianyue, of course, would not miss the chance to join in the wedding night festivities. After greeting Lu Qingcheng, she quickly ran off with the white fox.

In the bridal chamber, the bride sat on the carved wedding bed. The matchmaker brought a scale adorned with red flowers, and Li Anguo lifted the red veil. The bride, her face lowered, was radiant and dazzling in the lamplight, making Li Anguo almost forget to breathe, his soul swooning and his head spinning. Qing Jianyue and Liu Xicheng shouted, "Drink the nuptial wine! Drink the nuptial wine!" Soon, two cups of wine were brought, and Li Anguo, like a puppet on a string, amidst the laughter of the crowd, helped the bride up, drank the nuptial wine, ate raw noodles…

Someone shouted, "Alright, alright, everyone's had enough fun. Let's go out to the wedding banquet and let the bride and groom consummate their marriage. If we're lucky, we might be able to hold a chubby baby by the end of the year."

People burst into laughter and, like a tidal wave, left the bridal chamber in the blink of an eye, disappearing without a trace, leaving only the shy bride and the bewildered groom.

At the wedding banquet, Old Madam Lu was beaming, and Hong Wantong and his wife were also all smiles. Hong Qiaoying, dressed in her finest attire, sat shyly beside her mother, her head bowed, her sweet and happy appearance more intoxicating than any celestial wine. Hong Qiaoyan, as if someone were backing her up, kept bothering Qingfeng, and while she couldn't quite stomach Cai Zhonghe, she also couldn't bear to give him up.

Interestingly, Madam Cai would shiver whenever she heard Hong Qiaoyan speak, and if her son smiled at Hong Qiaoyan, she would pinch her youngest son's thigh hard with her fingers.

Now let's talk about Lu Qingcheng and Qing Jianyue. As soon as Qing Jianyue returned from the wedding night festivities, before he could even sit down properly, Lu Qingcheng was already handing him chopsticks, serving him tea, and picking out his favorite dishes. When he got food stains on his face, she immediately brought him a hot towel to wipe them away—she was even more attentive and considerate than a servant. However, even so, Qing Jianyue still found the food increasingly unpleasant.

He could no longer contain himself and leaned close to Lu Qingcheng's ear to ask, "Did you do something to Miss Hong to make her beautiful eyes turn into something like an axe that could chop people down?"

Lu Qingcheng looked at Hong Qiaoying, who lowered her head shyly. Lu Qingcheng naturally understood what was going on, and put another piece of fish dipped in sauce into his bowl. "No matter how sharp her eyes are, as long as you don't look at them, nothing will happen." Then, without saying a word, she picked up her wine glass and took a sip, her gaze fixed on him, refusing to look away.

Hong Qiaoying felt an indescribable disappointment and her hatred for Qing Jianyue grew even stronger, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets. Qing Jianyue didn't hold back either; he would take a bite of food and then make a face at her. By the end, he had stuffed his belly into a round little ball, while Hong Qiaoying's face turned ashen with anger.

After the banquet reached its climax, Bai Yiting whispered a few words in Lu Qingcheng's ear, and Lu Qingcheng nodded. Bai Yiting then whispered to Old Madam Lu, who looked at her son, and after a few seconds of silent eye contact, Old Madam Lu stood up with a beaming smile, raising her hands to signal for quiet, "Tonight is not only the joyous occasion of Lord Li and Miss Zhou's wedding, but also the auspicious occasion of Qingcheng and Qiaoying's engagement."

The joyful atmosphere in the banquet hall instantly turned into a hellish silence and coldness. Apart from the infinitely happy Hong family, all the lords, managers, stewards, and women of Lu Family Fortress had expressionless faces.

Qing Jianyue was struck dumb, his mind went blank, and the chopsticks slipped from his hand, falling to the ground with a crisp sound. Everyone looked over. Lu Qingcheng immediately reached out and grabbed his hand. Qing Jianyue tried to snatch them away, but Lu Qingcheng pulled them back.

Lu Qingcheng looked at him anxiously yet tenderly, as if to say, "It's fake, Jian Yue, it's all fake. Didn't I tell you?"

Kiyomi Tsuki exuded a terrifying killing intent, her eyes glaring fiercely at him like a cheetah eyeing its prey, as if to say, even a fake won't do. No. Absolutely not.

Lu Qingcheng squeezed his hand even tighter.

With her mother's support, Hong Qiaoying stood up happily. Old Madam Lu went over, took her hand, and led the blushing woman to her son's side. Qing Jianyue suddenly felt her breathing quicken, sensing an unprecedented torment in her heart.

Seeing this, the people in the banquet hall couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Lu Qingcheng slowly rose, allowing the shy Hong Qiaoying to stand beside him. The Hong couple wore satisfied smiles. Qing Jianyue felt utterly dark, the wind biting cold, and her entire body felt as if it were being sliced and pierced by arrows.

Madam Lu announced gently and elegantly, "Qingcheng will marry Miss Hong. As for the wedding date, we will announce it after we discuss it with Lord Hong."

Kiyomi Tsuki felt as if a knife had slashed his chest, drawing blood. He clenched his fists, thinking: What's wrong with me? Knowing this is all an act, why am I still so angry, wanting to kill someone?

Old Madam Lu asked curiously, "What's wrong with all of you? Why didn't you even offer your congratulations?"

The lords, officials, and their wives in the banquet hall looked at each other, but no one spoke. They remained silent, and neither did the deacons below. The atmosphere in the banquet hall was unusually somber.

Of course, Madam Lu didn't expect any congratulations. She smiled and said, "Qiaoying, sit down. Sit next to Qingcheng."

Hong Qiaoying said softly, "Yes."

Xu Yun quickly brought over a stool. Hong Qiaoying looked at Lu Qingcheng meaningfully, fantasizing that he would extend a warm hand to help her. Unexpectedly, Lu Qingcheng, with a cold face, plopped down first, and as if she were a plague, desperately squeezed towards Qing Jianyue. Hong Qiaoying felt extremely uncomfortable. After slowly sitting down, she looked at Lu Qingcheng again. Lu Qingcheng was holding Qing Jianyue's hand; Qing Jianyue tried to pull it back, but he wouldn't let go. Seeing this, Hong Qiaoying almost burst into tears.

Madam Hong praised her daughter with great delight, and Old Madam Lu echoed her with a beaming smile. Apart from their back-and-forth banter, no one else spoke in the entire banquet hall.

After watching for a while, Madam Cai couldn't help but ask her youngest son, "What play is this?"

Cai Zhonghe silently watched Qing Jianyue, and when he saw her smile disappear, he couldn't help but feel anxious and sad for her.

As her turbulent emotions gradually calmed down, Hong Qiaoying subconsciously glanced at Xu Yun beside Old Madam Lu. Xu Yun was also looking at her with a half-smile. Hong Qiaoying recalled what Xu Yun had told her before attending the banquet.

"Are you asking about Young Master Jian Yue? He's no ordinary person. He's a man of great wisdom and resourcefulness, and in Lord Lu's heart, no one can compare to him. So, even if you're the daughter of an official, you have no chance of winning. I advise you to give up the idea as soon as possible. Fighting with Qing Jian Yue will only leave you humiliated."

Hong Qiaoying unconsciously straightened her back. Damn it, I won't lose to him.

Xu Yun's voice seemed to echo in my ears again, "If you want to teach Qing Jianyue a lesson, I have a very good idea."

Hong Qiaoying coughed lightly and smiled gracefully, "Fortress Master, I heard that you and Young Master Jian Yue first met at a banquet. Young Master Jian Yue met you as a dancer, is that true?"

Kiyoshi immediately became alert, thinking to herself: What is this woman up to?

Lu Qingzhi raised an eyebrow but did not reply.

Hong Qiaoying smiled coquettishly and said, "My lord, I am very curious. What kind of dance did Young Master Yue perform that day that made you fall in love at first sight?"

The banquet hall fell into an unusual silence as everyone strained to listen to what they were saying.

Unfortunately, Lu Qingcheng didn't say anything, but the terrifying aura emanating from him was enough to express his feelings. Hong Qiaoying felt as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water, her whole body turning icy cold.

"Young Master Jianyue, it's such a joyous occasion today. Would you please perform a dance for us? It would be wonderful for me to witness such a wonderful performance."

Since we're already in a bind, we have no choice but to grit our teeth and keep going.