The newlyweds walked into the main hall under the gaze of everyone.

Li Hao was wearing bright yellow prince’s clothes, handsome and tall, full of energy. Beside him was the bride Meng Yunluo, with a faint glow on her face, her eyes moving, shy but revealing the charm of a new wife.

Su Fei looked at her son and daughter-in-law, the joy in her heart almost overflowing from her chest.

Finally, the hardship had paid off and the sweetness had arrived.

Li Hao and Meng Yunluo stepped forward together, kowtowed Empress Dowager Zhao, greeted her, and offered her tea.

Empress Dowager Zhao was feeling upset and wanted to make things difficult for Lu Mingyu. She was particularly kind to her new granddaughter-in-law Meng Yunluo and did not set any rules at all. She took the tea with a smile, took a sip, and praised Meng Yunluo for her beauty and filial piety.

The gift given as a meeting gift was much more generous than the one given to Lu Mingyu that day.

As expected of Empress Dowager Zhao who was famous for her partiality, she never changed her methods to annoy people.

Although the method is simple, it is effective.

Su Fei was in high spirits, while Meng Guifei and Empress Qiao were both unhappy.

Meng Guifei was better off, as the Eldest Huangzifei had been married for several years. Lu Mingyu had only been married for a little over a month, and she could still vividly remember the harassment and harshness she had received on the day of the tea ceremony. It was in stark contrast to today.

Empress Qiao suppressed her anger and glanced at Emperor Yongjia.

Emperor Yongjia was like all men in the world. He turned a deaf ear and dumb when his mother was mean to her daughter-in-law, and pretended to be unaware of Empress Qiao’s anger.

Meng Yunluo knelt down to serve tea. Emperor Yongjia took the teacup with a smile, took a sip, and gave her a gift.

Next, the bride should offer tea to Empress Qiao.
“The daughter-in-law kowtows and offers tea to her mother.”

A daughter-in-law born out of wedlock also had to address her mother-in-law as “Royal Mother” when she saw her legal mother-in-law. Before getting married, Meng Yunluo was repeatedly taught and reminded of the palace rules by Madam Guangping. There was nothing wrong with the tea ceremony today.

Empress Qiao was unhappy, but she didn’t have the habit of taking her anger out on others. At most, she said in a cold tone, “No need for formalities, just stand up!” She took the tea without making any difficulty.

Meng Yunluo secretly breathed a sigh of relief. When she stood up, her legs felt a little sore and weak. A hand stretched out from her side and supported her arm. Her newlywed husband’s low and concerned voice rang in her ears: “Be careful, stand firm.”

The passionate, confused, and shy scene of last night flashed through Meng Yunluo’s mind at an inopportune time, and her cheeks flushed.

As newlyweds, it was inevitable for them to be more intimate in front of others.

Everyone laughed, regardless of whether they meant well or not.

Meng Yunluo blushed and then paid her respects to her aunt, Meng Guifei.

Meng Guifei hated Su Fei and her son but was very close to her niece. She smiled and joked, “Seeing you two loving each other makes me very happy. When you come to the palace to pay your respects next time, don’t forget to visit the Yanxi Palace.”

Meng Yunluo felt warm in her heart and agreed with a smile.

…

Su Fei saw this and felt very unhappy.

In her previous life, Meng Yunluo had always been close to Meng Guifei, but she was cold and distant from Empress Qiao. She tried her best to ask Meng Yunluo to marry her son, but she didn’t want to be picked by Meng Guifei for nothing.

When Meng Yunluo saluted Su Fei, Su Fei acted particularly affectionately. She held Meng Yunluo’s hand and said with a smile: “You and Ah Hao standing together are simply a perfect match made in heaven. From now on, you two should be united as one and live a good life. That will be filial to me.”

Meng Yunluo’s smile paused slightly, and she subconsciously glanced at Empress Qiao.

Su Fei said this, in fact, she had already gone too far. It didn’t matter what they said in private, but to say that she was filial to her in front of the Empress, didn’t that mean she didn’t take the Empress seriously?

Sure enough, Empress Qiao’s expression was slightly gloomy, and there was a hint of coldness in her eyes.

Li Hao smiled and continued, “Mother is right. From now on, Yunluo and I will be filial to our Royal grandmother, Royal Father, Royal Mother, and Mother.”

Yes, this was the correct order.

Su Fei also realized that she had said something wrong, and hurriedly smiled and said, “Yes, yes, yes, look at me, I forget myself when I am happy, and I speak inconsiderately.”

Empress Qiao smiled faintly and said, “It is natural that Su Fei is happy about the Third Prince’s marriage. However, no matter how happy you are, you can’t get carried away. I won’t mind if you occasionally speak inconsiderately. But if you often speak inconsiderately, it will be difficult for me not to be suspicious.”

As the Empress, she had the responsibility and power to manage the six palaces and teach the concubines.

Even Emperor Yongjia would not offend Empress Qiao and speak up to defend Su Fei.

Su Fei stood up with an embarrassed look on her face and said, “I just made a slip of the tongue. I never meant to offend the Empress. The Empress is magnanimous. Please forgive me this time.”

Empress Qiao curled her lips but said nothing.

Su Fei had no choice but to continue apologizing as if she was wronged. It would be fine on normal days, but today was the day when the daughter-in-law came home to serve tea. How could she, as a mother-in-law, have the face to show it in front of her daughter-in-law?

Li Hao pursed his lips.

Meng Yunluo felt ashamed and humiliated. She quickly lowered her head. Her face felt hot and even behind her ears was burning.

Empress Qiao didn’t make things difficult for her, but it made her more embarrassed than if she was mean to her.

Su Fei…except for her presentable face, she had no rules when she spoke or acted. Didn’t she know what her identity is? She had to jump out when she was serving tea. Now, Su Fei had made such a big fuss that she embarrassed her new daughter-in-law as well!

After a while, Empress Qiao said, “Okay, stand up! Today is the day for Meng Shi to serve tea so that Meng Shi can recognize her xiōngdì ^[1]younger brothers of her husband, zhóulǐ, ^[2]wives of other brothers of her husband gūmèi ^[3]sisters of her husband. Please sit down!”

Su Fei thanked the Queen dryly, stood up, and sat back down. A layer of fine beads of sweat had already appeared on her forehead, and she looked quite embarrassed.

…

Lu Mingyu watched this wonderful scene with great interest.

In her previous life, when she entered the house to offer tea, Su Fei also did the same thing and was scolded by Empress Qiao. Her daughter-in-law immediately stepped forward to support Su Fei.

Meng Yunluo was not that powerful, and she had no intention of supporting Su Fei. Su Fei had to endure this humiliation.

Li Hao was not in a good mood either. He did not want to show it on his face, so he pretended to be calm and greeted his brothers one by one with his newlywed wife.

Soon he arrived in front of Lu Mingyu.

Li Hao’s dark eyes swept across Lu Mingyu’s face, and then he smiled at Meng Yunluo and said, “Yunluo, this is my second sǎo.”

Meng Yunluo’s face was still red, but it was hard to tell whether it was because of shyness or anger: “Second sǎo.”

The etiquette between peers was much more casual.

Lu Mingyu smiled and called out “Third dìmèi”, which was considered a complete courtesy.

After the tea ceremony, they went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay respect to their ancestors as usual. The palace banquet at noon was also held in the Jiofang Hall. After the banquet, Lu Mingyu and Li Jing left the palace and returned home.

Li Hao took his new bride to Yihua Palace, the residence of his biological mother, Su Fei.

For the first time in her life, Meng Yunluo witnessed Su Fei crying tenderly with tears in her eyes.

(End of this chapter)