Tears welled up in her eyes.
Jiang Fuying had lost count of how many times she had heard the word "family" since she married the Young Master Lu.
What was most remarkable was that they never just paid lip service. Instead, they truly regarded her as one of the family and treated her whole - heartedly.
Not only she, but Lu Huaizhou also saw the words on the letter clearly.
The corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly, and he felt a dull pain in his legs.
Was he really their biological son?
Why did his father threaten to break his legs even before he had done anything?
Moreover, was he the kind of person who acted casually and recklessly!
After reading the letter, Jiang Fuying felt as if her whole heart was bathed in the warm sunlight, extremely cozy.
Putting down the letter, she opened the wooden box herself.
A delicate and small dagger and a note came into view.
"Fuying, a woman should always pay attention to her own safety. Take this dagger for self - defense."
Another warm current flowed through her heart.
Although she had married the Young Master Lu, she had never met this "father - in - law" before.
To the Duke of Zhennan, she was just a junior he had never met, yet the Duke even took her safety into consideration.
Compared with her own father, who sent a steward empty - handed to lecture her...
The Duke of Zhennan was more like a father who sincerely celebrated his daughter's birthday!
After a long while, she calmed down her emotions and said hoarsely, "Mother, I like the birthday gift Father prepared very much. Thank you, Father."
Madam Lu let out a long sigh of relief. "I'm glad you like it. I was afraid it wouldn't suit your taste."
"Sister - in - law, see if this birthday gift suits your taste?" Lu Qingyu took out another letter and a brocade box as if by magic.
Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and Jiang Fuying was quite surprised. "What is this..."
"This is the birthday gift from Elder Sister. She got married far away in the south of the Yangtze River and it's inconvenient for her to return to the mansion. So she had to entrust someone to send this gift." Lu Qingyu explained to her with a smile.
Jiang Fuying was startled again.
She had heard the rumor before: Lu Qinghe, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhennan's mansion, had married far away in the south of the Yangtze River three years ago and rarely returned to the capital.
But she never expected that they would all be so dedicated to celebrating her birthday.
When she opened it, there were still sincere blessings and carefully - selected gifts.
In an instant, she could no longer hold back her emotions.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
In two lifetimes, this was the first time she had received such sincere birthday blessings. She...
Seeing her cry, Lu Huaizhou was flustered for a moment. He quickly handed her a handkerchief. "Madam, don't cry."
Just as Jiang Fuying was about to take it, she saw Madam Lu pat Lu Huaizhou on the shoulder reproachfully and scold him in a low voice.
"Huaizhou, as a husband, how can you be so cold to Fuying!"
Although the voice was soft, Jiang Fuying heard it clearly.
Looking at the Young Master Lu again, he winked at her: Miss Jiang, I'm sorry.
The next second, he raised the handkerchief with his big hand and gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes as if she were a rare treasure.
...
Although it was a family dinner, Madam Lu carefully arranged a whole table of dishes according to her taste.
Madam Lu and Lu Qingyu vied with each other to pick up dishes for her.
"Fuying, try this."
"Sister - in - law, you must like this."
And Lu Huaizhou took on the important task of being funny, telling jokes from time to time to liven up the atmosphere.
The family sat around, enjoying themselves in harmony.
In her memory, such a scene hadn't appeared for a long time.
Jiang Fuying felt a bit dazed.
Vaguely, she seemed to have returned to the time when her mother was still alive.
Whenever it was her birthday back then, her mother would carefully prepare many surprises. Even though her father doted on Jiang Fuyue, with her mother around, her birthdays were always lively.
It was a pity that since her mother passed away, no one had celebrated her birthday like this again. This year's birthday was... just like the old days.
She lowered her eyes, with tears welling in them, and carefully savored this warm lunch.
After lunch, Madam Lu put down her chopsticks, winked at her, and said mysteriously, "Fuying, we'll leave the evening time for you and Huaizhou to be alone. We won't bother you."
Jiang Fuying was stunned and felt a bit unnatural.
It seemed that Madam Lu firmly believed in their act of being an affectionate couple.
But how could she turn down the kind intention of the elder?
So she gave a shallow smile and replied, "Okay."
She originally thought that Madam Lu was just saying it casually, but the fact proved that she was wrong about this.
As night fell, there was a knock on the door of the bedroom.
"Knock, knock!"
When she opened the door, she saw that it was Lu Huaizhou.
During the day, to avoid embarrassment, they had reached a silent agreement.
One stayed in the study and the other in the bedroom. But now...
Lu Huaizhou's eyes were deep. "I know a restaurant where the dishes are delicious. I wonder if Miss Jiang would do me the honor of dining out with me?"
The twilight was closing in, stretching his shadow very long.
Both he and his shadow stood quietly in front of her, like a giant who could block all the wind and rain for her.
Something in Jiang Fuying's heart suddenly trembled.
As if possessed, she nodded. "Okay."
They really did go to a restaurant for dinner as he said.
But after dinner, the carriage didn't return to the mansion. Instead, it gradually headed in the opposite direction of the Duke of Zhennan's mansion.
Jiang Fuying knew the way and quickly noticed something was wrong. "Young Master, aren't we going back to the mansion?"
Lu Huaizhou didn't answer her directly. Instead, he lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.
The night was thick, and the stars in the sky were as bright as pearls.
"Miss Jiang, I've also prepared a birthday gift for you."
Jiang Fuying stared blankly at him.
He...
The carriage stopped just in time. Lu Huaizhou directly pulled her out of the carriage and climbed up the Star - Picking Tower.
The Star - Picking Tower had a wide view, where one could take in the night view of the capital city.
Lu Huaizhou stretched out his hand and pointed into the distance. "Miss Jiang, look. These stars are exclusive to you."
Looking in the direction he pointed, Jiang Fuying's pupils constricted sharply.
In the sky, hundreds of sky lanterns rose simultaneously, shining brightly like stars.
In the front, there was also a sphere with a wooden basket slowly rising into the air.
There was a wooden carving in the wooden basket, dressed in her clothes and looking about five or six - tenths similar to her.
Two ribbons of colored silk slid down from the sphere, with the blessing words written on them respectively: "May my wife be safe, happy, and care - free."
Warmth surged through her whole body, and Jiang Fuying's heart fluttered like a pounding drum.
These were the stars exclusive to her that he had prepared!
Below the Star - Picking Tower, many common people saw this grand sight, and praises came one after another.
"What a grand birthday celebration!"
"This lady is really lucky to have such a considerate husband!"
In a corner that no one noticed, Jiang Fuyue, who had gone out for a stroll, wrung her handkerchief tightly and glared at the sky with fiery eyes.
Even Chunhua and Qiuyue couldn't help but sigh, "The eldest lady is really happy to have such a unique birthday gift..."
Jiang Fuyue heard these words.
She was burning with jealousy!
Why did Jiang Fuying get such a grand birthday gift!
She gave the two maids a fierce look and sneered. "Since my dear elder sister is so happy, I, as her younger sister, must also send her a gift!"