Chapter 18

Wei Huailiang’s expression changed. Honestly, he wasn’t very satisfied with Lu Minghua as a daughter-in-law. In his view, it was best to marry someone of equal status. Therefore, Lu Minghua’s words were crucial. He wanted to form an alliance, to marry into a powerful family for the benefit of the Wei family, not to create enmity.

“Smart and insightful, what a pity,” Wei Huailiang sighed softly.

Yan Yuanhua also smiled lightly; indeed, it was a pity. Such a good wife, if obtained, would bring blessings to the family for three generations. It seemed the Ningguo Marquis’ residence wasn’t fortunate enough.

Lu Minghua didn’t care to know what Wei Huailiang meant by “pity.” Having said her piece, she smiled at Madam Sun and said, “Don’t forget Madam’s words. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now. Goodbye.”

Madam Sun was prepared and raised her hand, signaling the maid to present the deed to the estate.

With the transaction complete, Lu Minghua accepted it without hesitation, smiled, and left.

The carriage didn’t return to the Wen’an Earl’s residence. She sent a message and headed straight back to the villa outside the city. Just thinking about that serene little courtyard made her eager to return. Lifting the curtain, she watched as the carriage left the bustling city behind, gazing at the distant mountains. Lu Minghua savored the feeling of what could be called longing. It had only been a day.

At the end of the lunar year, a few red plum blossoms budded on the mountain, standing out vividly against the green hills. Smoke rose from the villa halfway up the mountain, bringing a sense of warmth and life. Just looking at it, Lu Minghua suddenly felt a deep sense of relief. She had only lived in this villa for a little over half a month, yet at this moment, it felt strangely and warmly familiar.

As if silently telling her, “Welcome home.”

Getting off the carriage, Mama Li hurried out to greet her, helping her down with a smile, “Miss, you’re back.”

Lu Minghua was momentarily dazed, then smiled brightly and softly said, “Yes, I’m back.”

“With the New Year approaching, I’ve tidied up the villa. I’ve already ordered lanterns and red paper. When the time comes, we’ll decorate and have a lively New Year,” Mama Li chattered about her plans, and Lu Minghua nodded with a smile.

“Mama, you decide. With you here, everything will be fine,” Lu Minghua said, holding Mama Li’s hand on her arm and giving her a gentle smile.

For years, Mama Li had been taking care of her. Sometimes, she regretted that Mama Li wasn’t her biological mother, but now she realized that this thought was rather ungrateful. After all, having someone who always cared for her was a blessing.

Mama Li was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, “Alright, alright, Mama will make sure everything is well arranged.”

Although she didn’t know why her young lady seemed much more relaxed after returning, it was undoubtedly a good thing. That family of rotten fish and shrimp wasn’t worth her young lady’s sadness and distress. But there was no choice; fate had placed her young lady in such a family to suffer.

The next day, people from the Earl’s residence arrived. Wen’an Earl sent several carts of daily necessities, and the head steward came along. After confirming several times that she wouldn’t return for the New Year, they sent many more items over the following days. These were all things needed for the New Year. With these, even though she wasn’t at the Earl’s residence, Lu Minghua could still have a good New Year.

Although she never lacked these things, Lu Minghua was happy for a long time for the thoughtfulness.

Time passed quickly, and before she knew it, it was the New Year.

New red silk hung from the branches in the courtyard, beautiful lanterns swayed gently under the eaves, red paper with black characters for “Fu” was pasted on the walls, and the door gods on the main gate looked vibrant and spirited.

Lu Minghua also prepared fireworks.

As night fell, the small village at the foot of the mountain echoed with the sound of firecrackers. Lu Minghua stood at the door, looking at the small village, listening to the children’s cheers, and smiled lightly, her hand instinctively touching her lower abdomen.

If only she could have a child too.

Outside, the servants set up the fireworks and lit them after reporting to her. Brilliant fireworks exploded in the sky, the lights in the small village flickered, and the children’s increasingly excited cheers made the New Year even more lively.

In this remote mountain village, without the need for social interactions, the New Year was mainly peaceful.

The Wen’an Earl’s residence seemed to have forgotten her. Lu Minghua’s parents only sent some items without mentioning her return. They were now focused on marrying Lu Mingxi into the Marquis’ residence, unwilling to let her return and cause gossip.

Unknowingly, it was already the fourteenth.

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival, the most bustling time with lantern fairs in the city. Without alerting the Lu family, Lu Minghua returned to the capital with her servants and stayed in the courtyard she had prepared. As night fell, the lanterns lit the night like day, and the streets crowded.

Lu Minghua, wearing an apricot-yellow cloak embroidered with wintersweet and a collar lined with white rabbit fur, carried a rabbit lantern and looked around curiously.

Yan Yuanhua watched from upstairs, also curious. Everything seemed ordinary, yet she looked so happy, her eyes brighter than the lanterns on the street. Suddenly, he noticed someone suspicious following her and quickly went downstairs.

Ignoring the few exclamations, Yan Yuanhua, thanks to his height, spotted the apricot-colored figure in the crowd and followed.

Hearing that the King of Lanterns had appeared, the crowd became excited. When Lu Minghua finally broke free, she found her servants had disappeared. She frowned, looked around, and was about to decide whether to wait or search when she noticed something off about the people around her.

Her heart tightened.

Although Lu Minghua couldn’t go out in previous years, she had heard about children and women disappearing at the lantern fair. So, these people…

Her heart raced. Pretending not to notice, she prepared to leave but found the people subtly closing in. Quickening her pace, she suddenly bumped into a woman.

About to apologize, she saw the woman’s strange expression and stepped back.

The woman hesitated, then quickly approached and whispered, “Miss, come with me quickly. Someone is targeting you.”

This person? The situation was urgent, and Lu Minghua couldn’t tell if she was good or bad. About to refuse, the woman grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside. Lu Minghua’s eyes sharpened, and she stabbed the woman with the hairpin in her other hand.

The woman screamed, drawing the attention of those around her.

Lu Minghua took a step back.

Several people came over, cursing and speaking indecently, implying that Lu Minghua had run away and needed to be taken back. Lu Minghua’s heart tightened as she looked around, noticing that people were avoiding the scene.

It was unclear whether they hadn’t noticed the situation or simply didn’t want to get involved.

Lu Minghua felt a chill in her heart, gripping the hairpin tighter.

Seeing her like this, the woman, clutching her bleeding hand, didn’t dare approach. With a glance, several men stepped forward. Their eyes roamed greedily over Lu Minghua’s face.

She was beautiful and carried herself with grace. However, her clothes and the servants around her were ordinary, indicating she wasn’t from a wealthy family, and there were no men with her. The woman assumed she was a concubine who had sneaked out. Such people were her favorite targets. Even if something happened to them, the legitimate wives wouldn’t pursue it. They might even thank her for solving a big problem. As she calculated how much money she could get from this woman, a shadow flashed by, and in an instant, the six men blocking the way were all on the ground. Her heart skipped a beat, and she turned to run but felt a sharp pain in her back and blacked out.

The situation changed in an instant, and Lu Minghua was stunned, staring at the newcomer.

With gorgeous brows and bright eyes, he was a very attractive man. Unlike the gentle scholars admired at the time, he was tall and imposing, more like a soldier.

“Are you alright?” Yan Yuanhua asked, looking at her. His gaze fell on the hairpin still tightly held in her hand, which was dripping blood onto the ground. Remembering the woman clutching her hand earlier, he realized where the blood came from and couldn’t help but admire her.

He hadn’t expected that in the flourishing capital, a delicate and beautiful young woman would have such courage. Or was she just different?

“Are you hurt?” he asked again, concerned about the blood.

Lu Minghua finally came to her senses and instinctively shook her head.

“I’m fine. Thank you for saving me,” she said, bowing slightly. Looking at the hairpin in her hand, she frowned, threw it on the ground, and then calmly wiped her hands with a handkerchief.

Everything seemed normal, but Yan Yuanhua noticed her slightly trembling fingers. So, she was scared, too.

“The flower tea at that teahouse is quite good. Why don’t you go there for a cup of tea? Your servants should find you soon,” Yan Yuanhua suggested softly after looking around.

Lu Minghua’s heart was pounding, and she needed a cup of hot tea to calm down, so she nodded instinctively.

“What about them?” she hesitated, glancing at the people on the ground, worried about letting these villains go.

“Don’t worry. My friend has already gone to find the patrol guards. You go ahead, and I’ll wait here,” Yan Yuanhua’s eyes softened, surprised that Lu Minghua still remembered those people, and his voice became gentler.

Lu Minghua felt reassured, ordered a cup of hot tea, and sat by the window, watching the patrol guards arrive before she relaxed.

Seeing the guards about to salute, Yan Yuanhua signaled them to stop, not wanting to draw attention, and had them quickly take the people away.

Looking up at the teahouse, he saw a group of servants surrounding Lu Minghua and decided not to approach. After all, it was just a chance encounter, and he left.

Taking a step, he stepped on something hard. Looking down, he saw it was the hairpin Lu Minghua had just thrown away. The pearl inlaid on the hairpin was stained with a faint trace of blood, reminding him of the young woman.

After a moment of hesitation, Yan Yuanhua bent down and picked up the hairpin.