Feng Xiwu took a breath and got straight to the point, "The wedding date is set for the eighth of next month, but as this King understands, the war in the Western Frontier cannot end in a short period.
This King believes you are not willing to let your maternal aunt manage your wedding affairs. Do you have any ideas on how to proceed with the ceremony?"
Lu Qingwan's brows furrowed, "Can this wedding date not be postponed?"
"An imperial decree has been issued. Do you wish to defy it?"
"Pretend I didn't say anything."
Lu Qingwan was quite disgruntled, "I don't know what needs to be prepared for the wedding.
My dowry is still at Prince Chen's manor. If Prince Chen doesn't send it over, I'll be penniless, with nothing. So, let's forgo the betrothal gifts.
You don't truly want to marry me, and I don't truly want to marry you anyway.
I'll just get a wedding dress. When the time comes, you can pick me up, and we can go through the motions. Is that acceptable?"
"No."
Feng Xiwu's eyes narrowed slightly. So this girl's previous declaration of being willing to spend her life with him without a formal betrothal or grand procession was merely a prelude to slacking off for the wedding.
Lu Qingwan's fur bristled, "Why not?"
She had nothing, and forcing her to go through all those formalities was truly putting her, Big Tiger, no, this little devil Lu, in a difficult position!
"You may disregard the reputation of Marquis Zhaolie's manor, but the Regent's manor has its own dignity. Every rule for a grand wedding must be observed."
Feng Xiwu said coldly, "You have two options. First, this King will have the Noble Consort send palace officials to manage everything at Marquis Zhaolie's manor. Your dowry will then be retrieved.
Second, Duke Hua can petition His Majesty to have Madam Hua manage everything for you at Marquis Zhaolie's manor.
You only have these two choices. Make your decision now, and this King will present the betrothal gifts to the Marquis's manor in a few days."
Lu Qingwan listened, utterly bewildered, "But Your Highness, the Marquis's manor has no lady of the house. I understand your letting the Noble Consort send palace officials to handle the wedding.
But could you first explain to me why Duke Hua needs to get involved?"
Feng Xiwu's expression shifted slightly. In that instant, Lu Qingwan saw confusion in his eyes.
"Duke Hua's manor is your maternal grandmother's maiden family. By seniority, you should call Duke Hua your great-grandfather."
He spoke, his expression somewhat puzzled, "You seem... unaware of this?"
Lu Qingwan quickly calculated the complex family tree in her mind. The history of marriage alliances between Great Gan and Xi Liang spanned over a century.
Back then, Great Gan first sent a princess to Xi Liang for a marriage alliance. As Great Gan had no princess of suitable age, Duke Hua's legitimate daughter, Hua Yunshuang, was made Princess Yongning and married into Xi Liang.
After Princess Yongning arrived in Xi Liang, she gave birth to a daughter, who became Princess Anyang of Xi Liang.
Later, Hua Yunshuang, yearning for her homeland, happened to coincide with another marriage alliance between the two nations. She sent her daughter to Great Gan, who married the then rising star Lu Zhenting and gave birth to a daughter, Lu Qingwan.
Therefore, Duke Hua... equaling her great-grandfather, seemed correct.
However, "We haven't been in contact for over a decade. What difference does it make whether I knew or not?"
Feng Xiwu was speechless.
Lu Qingwan smiled, "So, please have the Noble Consort send some palace officials. If possible, also retrieve my dowry.
Including what's from Prince Chen's manor and what's in the hands of my maternal aunt. My dowry represents Your Highness's prestige, and I presume Your Highness wouldn't mind helping me with this small favor?"
"The dowry in your maternal aunt's possession?"
Feng Xiwu raised an eyebrow, "Was this King mistaken that night?"
Lu Qingwan's face remained impassive, "This King may have been mistaken, but I know that Your Highness would not want Lu Siwan to transport those things to Prince Chen's manor."
With the Crown Prince undecided, all adult princes coveted that position.
If Feng Qingheng possessed excessive financial resources, it would disrupt the current balance. Feng Xiwu, as someone who assisted the Emperor in maintaining this balance, would naturally not wish to help Feng Qingheng.
However, Feng Xiwu did not believe that Lu Qingwan, a young lady from a noble household, should know such things. Thus, his gaze upon her became even more complex.
The next day, Lu Qingwan woke up early and exercised in the courtyard.
The physical condition of this body was simply too poor. Returning to the city from the back mountain of Xiangguo Temple that day almost killed her.
From that day on, she woke up early every morning to exercise. Even now, she had not recovered even a tenth of her peak state from her previous life.
After completing her morning workout, she had just finished washing up when the respectable Steward Zhou arrived, "Eldest Miss, someone from the palace has arrived. They say they are sent by the Noble Consort to handle your wedding."
"I understand."
Lu Qingwan put down her handkerchief and walked towards the main courtyard.
Steward Zhou, seeing that Lu Qingwan showed no fear towards him, was immediately displeased.
"Eldest Miss, the manor has the Second Madam. She is your maternal aunt. Your wedding affairs should naturally be managed by her. How can outsiders be allowed to interfere?
They call themselves esteemed guests from the palace, but in reality, they are just servants.
What if something goes wrong? Wouldn't it disgrace the Marquis's manor and displease the Regent and Consort Dowager Wen?
As you know, His Majesty treats the Regent as if he were his own son. If anything goes wrong with this wedding, you will be the first to bear the consequences!"
His words were framed as being for her own good, but in reality, he still wanted Lan Shi to manage her wedding.
Lu Qingwan did not want to ponder whether it was for the dowry that Lan Shi had embezzled, or simply to vent her anger for Lan Shi.
She simply said with feigned innocence, "But the Noble Consort has already sent people. I dare not send them back, can I?
Perhaps Steward Zhou could go and tell them that my wedding can be handled by Aunt Lan and that they don't need to interfere?"
Steward Zhou: ...
If he dared to say such a thing to Noble Consort Ye's people, why would he be wasting so much time talking to her?
If it weren't for the fact that this little vixen was about to be married to the Regent, he would truly want to teach this little vixen a lesson!
His gaze, sharp as knives, pierced Lu Qingwan's back. Lu Qingwan acted as if she hadn't noticed and calmly entered the main courtyard, where she saw the people sent by Noble Consort Ye.
Two female officials, two wet nurses, and four ordinary palace maids.
A pile of things was placed on the table, its purpose unknown. Lan Shi and Lu Siwan were there, fawning and smiling obsequiously.
After Lu Qingwan entered, Lu Siwan instantly lost her composure.
But before she could make a scene, Lan Shi spoke first, "Qingwan, why are you so late?
Didn't I tell you yesterday that important guests were coming to the manor and that you should wake up early? This child always loves to sleep in."
As she spoke, as if pampering her own child, she turned to the female officials and said, "Forgive us, two governesses. Qingwan is young and doesn't understand things."
The two female officials acted as if they hadn't heard her. They rose directly and bowed to Lu Qingwan, "Greetings, Eldest Miss Lu. We pay our respects to Eldest Miss Lu."
The two wet nurses and four palace maids also followed suit to pay their respects.
Lan Shi, who had been flattering them so much before and hadn't even received a glance from the female officials, was instantly so angry she felt like spitting blood.