"Huaizhou? Huaizhou!" Seeing him in a daze, Mrs. Lu called him several times in succession.
Only then did Lu Huaizhou come to his senses. "Huh? Mother, what did you say we should do for Fuying's birthday?"
Looking at his appearance, Mrs. Lu pursed her lips. She knew it. Huaizhou must not have been listening to what she said just now.
"I said we should prepare a surprise for Fuying," Mrs. Lu said crossly, throwing him a sideways glance. "I treat Fuying as my own daughter. A birthday only comes once a year. As her family, we should surely prepare a carefully - planned birthday banquet for her."
Lu Qingyu nodded repeatedly and chimed in, "Brother, Mother and I have been discussing for a long time how to hold a birthday banquet for Sister - in - law. You should also think about it and give us some ideas."
A surprise? A birthday banquet?
The combination of these two words made Lu Huaizhou feel somewhat unfamiliar, yet vaguely excited.
Right, now that he was her husband, he should prepare some surprises for her.
As for the birthday banquet, when he accompanied her back to her natal family, he had clearly seen the relationship between her, Minister Jiang and Mrs. An.
They didn't cherish her, let alone prepare a birthday for her.
Moreover, the second and third branches of the family, and even the neighboring Marquis of Pingning's Mansion, harbored ill intentions.
In addition, she was not a person who liked to be high - profile. The birthday banquet should focus on being warm and low - key.
Thinking of this, Lu Huaizhou frowned tightly and specifically instructed, "Mother, Qingyu, Fuying has always been low - key and especially loves a harmonious family atmosphere. So, there's no need to hold a grand birthday banquet. It's fine for just our family to sit around a table and have a good meal."
"By the way, let's set the birthday banquet at lunchtime," he added specifically at the end.
Mrs. Lu and Lu Qingyu were completely confused.
They could understand that Fuying didn't want a grand birthday banquet, but why did the birthday banquet have to be at lunchtime?
Mrs. Lu pondered for a while and then asked, "Huaizhou, does Fuying have any taboos or special requirements?"
When preparing a birthday banquet for Fuying, they were afraid of hitting some of her taboos, so it was better to ask clearly in advance.
A look of uneasiness flashed across Lu Huaizhou's face. "Mother, it's my idea."
"Your idea? Then you..."
It was Lu Qingyu who instantly pierced through the mystery. "Mother, Brother is going to prepare a surprise for Sister - in - law alone at dinnertime."
His handsome face instantly flushed red. Lu Huaizhou turned his head away, trying to cover up his embarrassment with a cough. "Cough, cough, cough."
After all, he was her own son. How could Mrs. Lu not see what he was trying to hide?
She shook her head and chuckled, instructing, "Huaizhou, Fuying is a young lady. Remember to prepare surprises that suit her preferences and put your heart into it."
"Mother, I know these things," Lu Huaizhou seemed to respond reluctantly, but in his heart, he had already secretly made up his mind.
He was going to give her a birthday gift she would never forget!
She was not valued in the Jiang family, and surely had never had a proper birthday. He would make up for all the missed ones in the past for her!
Different from this side, the Marquis of Pingning's Mansion presented a different scene.
Jiang Fuyue managed to kneel for a full hour with great effort before finally waiting for Nanny Liu to announce contemptuously from a superior position.
"An hour has passed. The madam allows the wife of the heir apparent to go back to the East Courtyard to rest."
Hearing this, Jiang Fuyue struggled to get up. "Thank you, Mother..."
She had just said a few words when she felt blackness in front of her eyes, dizzy and unsteady on her feet. Her body involuntarily fell forward.
Fortunately, Chunhua and Qiuyue were quick - eyed and quick - handed to support her. "Miss, let this servant take you back."
Nanny Liu stood on the steps, coldly watching them leave before going back to report.
After the Marchioness of Pingning heard about this, she gave a cold snort instead. "Can't even endure kneeling for an hour? She's so weak. No wonder her belly isn't up to the task and can't conceive an heir!"
Back in the East Courtyard, Jiang Fuyue lay on the soft couch for a long time before finally regaining a bit of energy.
"Miss, the master and madam have always doted on you. When have you ever suffered such an injury?" Chunhua applied medicine to her knees and shed tears distressedly. "The Marchioness is torturing you like this. Why don't you go back to the Minister's Mansion and tell the master and madam? They will surely stand up for you..."
Unfortunately, Jiang Fuyue didn't listen to a single word of Chunhua's words.
"Chunhua, you said Mother thought ginseng had a bad omen. What other ways can I use to send gifts to please her?"
Chunhua looked up in surprise.
Wasn't her own miss acting crazy?
The Marchioness had tortured the miss like that, yet the miss still wanted to please her?
But Jiang Fuyue didn't notice her reaction at all and just muttered to herself, "Qing'an was right that day. As long as I'm sincere, I can always touch Mother."
All of Jiang Fuyue's dissatisfaction and resentment disappeared, and instead, she was a bit delighted. "Look, although Mother punished me today, she finally accepted that ginseng. Even when Qing'an returned to the mansion, he specially sent the golden sore medicine only available in the palace through Mo Ling."
Chunhua stopped crying. Although she was extremely distressed, she still came up with an idea for her. "Miss, you're going to serve the Marchioness tomorrow. Why don't you take out the gift you prepared for the Marchioness when serving the dishes? The Marchioness will surely be surprised then."
Jiang Fuyue's eyes lit up. "This is a good idea!"
She secretly calculated in her heart. The Marchioness of Pingning was of noble status and didn't want the items from her dowry. Why didn't she buy some precious jewelry and headdresses for the Marchioness instead?
In this way, the purchase of jewelry and headdresses could be charged to the mansion's public account. She could successfully send out the gifts and please the Marchioness. Qing'an would surely praise her for her thoughtfulness when he found out.
It was a win - win - win situation. Wasn't it wonderful?
Jiang Fuyue considered herself an action - oriented person. Thinking like this, she did it right away.
She raised her hand and summoned Qiuyue. "You take the jade token of the wife of the heir apparent and go to the Jewelry Pavilion. Buy the eight - treasure inlaid ruby headdress, which is their signature item. Then ask the shopkeeper to charge the bill to the Marquis of Pingning's Mansion."
"This servant obeys."
Qiuyue was extremely efficient. In less than half an hour, she bought back the headdress.
Looking at the dazzling rubies on the headdress, Jiang Fuyue hooked her lips in satisfaction.
She didn't believe the Marchioness of Pingning wouldn't like this surprise!
"Chunhua, you go and tell Nanny Liu that I'll personally serve dishes for Mother at dinner."
Chunhua wanted to say something several times but couldn't. Unable to withstand her persistence, she could only say, "Yes."
In the Hall of Gathered Elegance,
Qiuyue had just delivered the message when the shopkeeper from the Jewelry Pavilion who came to ask for the bill arrived and recounted the whole story.
The Marchioness of Pingning looked displeased. "Our Marquis of Pingning's Mansion won't renege on this debt. We'll send the money to the Jewelry Pavilion later."
"Thank you, Marchioness!" The shopkeeper was very observant. After getting this promise, he quickly disappeared.
As soon as the shopkeeper left, Nanny Liu served the Marchioness a cup of heat - clearing tea. "Madam, should this old servant invite the wife of the heir apparent now?"
What's the use of seeing Lady Jiang now?
She wanted to teach Lady Jiang a good lesson!
"Didn't she say she would serve dishes for me at dinner?"
"Go and tell Qing'an to come for dinner too. Let him take a good look at what kind of new wife he's brought back to the mansion!"