Chapter 69: The new bride (1/2)

The Duke's mansion

Su Liya bit her lips gently and summoning up courage said with a tiny voice ”can you not go?”

Lu Yaozhu turned around and looked at her with an expression that said 'Do you even know what you mean'. Su Liya felt her cheek heat up immediately, she immediately tried to explain ”I_ I don't mean it that way. It is just that leaving this quickly will make tongues wag.”

Lu Yaozhu nodded but didn't reply, he walked to the door and spoke with her servant Yu Tao. Her heart sank when she saw him walk to the door, she wasn't surprised he was leaving but she still felt disappointed. She had hoped that Lu Yaozhu would still help her save face, even if they got married this way, he was still her husband.

She stood and unkneaded her achy neck. There was no need to avoid the inevitable, she removed her out covers until she was left in just her inner clothes. She rose the blankets and got into the bed, she looked up at the overhead curtain.

As usual, the embroidery was very pretty, she silently processed the events of the day, when she heard footsteps at the door. She looked up expecting to find a maid when she saw Lu Yaozhu walk back in. Their eyes jammed when he walked in, Lu Yaozhu was amused by his new wife's expression.

She looked like a little rabbit looking at him from under the blankets, She rose the blanket up to her neck. Her clear eyes were all that could be seen from that position. Su Liya unlike most young Mistresses wasn't good at hiding her thoughts.

Her joyful expression was very easy to see, she must have assumed he was leaving. Lu Yaozhu cleared his throat and said ”I am not in the habit of embarrassing my wife, I only stepped out to instruct my subordinates. I want us to start how we want to go on”.

Su Liya smiled ”thanks”

He didn't reply and began to remove his red wedding clothes, stopping when it remained his white inner shirt and black trouser. He sat on the edge of the bed and took off his boots and placed it by the side of the bed, then got under the blanket.

Su Liya rolled inside, while he undressed. They both laid stiffly on the bed, there was a short distance between them. Su Liya was still a little nervous, the Jitters kept her awake for some time. After a while when there was no action from Lu Yaozhu side, she loosened up and finally fell asleep.

Su Liya fell asleep happy to have survived her wedding day, everything went smoothly. She wasn't the only person happy with the success of the wedding, so was Xia Ying.

Xia Ying waited till her maid reported that the wedding was concluded before going to bed. Xia Ying grew up hearing stories about brave warriors who uphold justice and protect the citizen. After hearing those stories, she decided to marry a man just like the heroes in those stories.

She was overjoyed when her grandmother informed her that she was going to the capital until she found out that her grandmother was arranging a marriage prospect for her in the capital. She had put on quite the resistance until her sister informed her that she would be marrying the popular general Lu.

Her sister told her a few of the stories she heard about the general, the stories were a little heroic. After hearing the stories, she decided to give him a chance. However, after meeting her saviour in the forest, Xia Ying fell in love at first sight.

Although she didn't know who her saviour was, Xia Ying was smitten. The thoughts of marrying anyone else felt impossible, She was initially worried about her future marriage but the Emperor's edict solved that problem.

Ignorance they say was bliss, no one understood that more than Xia Ying. A few days later the day she had received the news of Lu Yaozhu turned into the worse day of her life.

******

The next day, Su Liya and Lu Yaozhu woke up early. Today was the first day of their marriage, it was a tradition that the new couple served tea to the groom's family.

Yu Tao woke them at daybreak to get prepared to meet the family. This was going to be their first meeting after marriage, they both dressed appropriately and headed to madam Lu's courtyard.

It was 8 am when they arrived, everyone was seated in madam Lu's living room. Lu Yingjie and Zhu Fengyin were both seated at madam Lu's right while the other Lu siblings Lu Yiling and Lu Yong sat at her left.

Su Liya caught Zhu Fengyin's eyes as she walked beside Lu Yaozhu but pretended otherwise. Madam Lu's expression was a little rigid, she was watching Su Liya like a shark. Testing this woman's patient didn't look like a bright idea.

Su Liya saluted Madam Lu and everyone before they began to tea service. Lu Yaozhu and Su Liya knelt in front of madam Lu and holding their balled-up fist in their hands said simultaneously

”This son greets mother”

”This daughter greets mother-in-law”