Princess Yongning noticed the look of confusion on her face but only gave a mysterious and charming smile.
Lu Xunguang also heard the commotion here. He raised his sword - like eyebrows and looked at Shi Hu.
The bridegroom had been toasted with glass after glass of wedding wine. His face was flushed, and his steps were a bit unsteady.
He supported Shi Hu and calmly walked to the center of the guests.
Lu Xunguang cleared his throat, looked around, and said in a deep voice, "Shi Hu, although we are master and servant, I've long regarded you as a brother. Now that you're marrying A Man, we'll be brothers - in - law in the future."
"On this happy occasion of your wedding, I'll give you this as a wedding gift."
Following everyone's gazes, Shi Hu looked at what was in Lu Xunguang's hand.
What he was holding was actually an ancient and simple black iron token.
The guests at the banquet might not recognize this item, but Shi Hu knew exactly what it was. Most of his drunkenness immediately faded away.
It was the token to dispatch the servants of the Lu family!
Those who saw this token were to treat it as if they saw Lu Xunguang himself. It was a crucial item second only to the order of the head of the Lu family!
"Mas... Master... You... What is this for..."
Shi Hu was so nervous that he stammered.
Lu Xunguang solemnly stuffed the token into his palm, then grabbed his hand and held it high so that all the guests could see it clearly.
"Shi Hu, from today on, you'll be the second in - charge of the Lu family!"
All the guests were stunned.
Although what the dancer said was a bit harsh, it actually voiced the secret complaints of many people.
A Man was just a Hu girl who served Li Ying day in and day out, and Shi Hu was just a servant under Lu Xunguang. Their marriage was no more than a match between a maid and a servant, wasn't it?
Although all the guests here today were smiling, in fact, they didn't feel much excitement. They were only here because of Lu Xunguang, the popular and wealthy merchant.
But now, in just a moment of conversation, that poor boy Shi Hu had suddenly become the second in - charge of the Lu family?
From now on, they really had to put away their contempt and treat this "Boss Shi" with great courtesy!
The servants of the Lu Mansion had already bowed to Shi Hu and said, "Greetings to Second In - Charge Shi. Congratulations on your wedding!"
Li Ying looked at the guests with different expressions, Shi Hu who was standing there like a wooden chicken, still in a daze, and Lu Xunguang who was calm and composed as if nothing around him mattered. She felt a complex mix of emotions.
With the status of "Second In - Charge Shi", no matter where A Man was in the future, Shi Hu would surely protect her well and would never let what happened with Young Master Yang happen again.
Brother Lu knew her worries and deliberately cleared away all her concerns for her!
He respected and loved her so much. Loving her and extending that love to those around her, he had properly arranged a future for A Man. How could Li Ying not be touched?
Princess Yongning observed the three of them, and a faint and understanding smile gradually appeared on her face.
"I've long heard that Second In - Charge Shi is loyal. No wonder the head of the Lu family values him so much."
She waved her hand, signaling the nanny who was following her to take out a jade token from her bosom and give it to Shi Hu.
"Second In - Charge Shi and Miss A Man travel between the south - western border and the capital. If you have any novel and rare items or food, send some to the Princess Mansion. With this jade token, you can enter the Princess Mansion freely."
As soon as she said this, all the guests gasped.
What?
The Princess actually valued this young man surnamed Shi so much?
Today, A Man and Shi Hu had really gained a lot of face!
Seeing the different expressions of the guests, Princess Yongning didn't stay long and left gracefully.
Li Ying was left behind. Although she was still chatting and laughing with the guests on the surface, a thick cloud of suspicion had gathered in her heart.
Finally, when all the guests had left, she felt as if every bone in her body ached, and her face was stiff from smiling.
Lu Xunguang pulled her into his arms and gently massaged her sore legs with his big hands while listening to Li Ying chatting with him casually.
"Brother Lu, after much thought, I still think Princess Yongning's actions today are really strange."
She originally thought that Princess Yongning had just come to boost her morale and make her whole - heartedly manage the toothpaste shop.
But later, when she bestowed the jade token on Shi Hu, allowing him to enter the Princess Mansion freely, it was obvious that she had other motives.
"Brother Lu, could it be that since Princess Yongning sees that you have no feelings for her, she's trying to win your favor by treating Shi Hu well in the hope of gradually getting closer to you?"
Lu Xunguang was just concentrating on looking at her legs. Pressed by her repeated questions, he didn't even lift his eyelids and casually joked, "Maybe this Princess has a habit of stealing someone else's love. First, she tried to compete with me for you. Seeing that I'm unwavering, now she's going to compete with A Man for Shi Hu?"
Li Ying rolled her eyes. "Impossible, impossible. Although Princess Yongning's temper is unpredictable and her actions are often without a plan, she's a noble princess after all. She wouldn't be so crazy."
Her eyebrows furrowed even more tightly. "Brother Lu, stop joking. After much thought, I'm afraid Princess Yongning has grand schemes."
Most of the money from the princess's women's club had flowed into the national treasury like water.
But Princess Yongning had repeatedly instructed that the toothpaste shop should not be publicized. Without her order, no one should notice that she was the one behind it.
At first, Li Ying only thought that the princess just wanted to make some money privately and didn't think much about it. But if she connected it with the matter of bestowing the jade token on Shi Hu today...
"Brother Lu, could it be that since Princess Yongning knows you have no intention of marrying her, she's trying to support Shi Hu to take your place as the head of the family, take over your business and money?"
The more she thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, and her face became even more ugly.
Seeing that Lu Xunguang was still calmly massaging her legs, she was both angry and amused and grabbed his hand.
"Master Lu, there's trouble in the backyard, and yet you're still here leisurely flirting with a woman!"
Lu Xunguang looked up and gently tapped the tip of her nose.
"Why are you in such a hurry, A Ying?"
"Matters of the country, family, and the world are all a fraction of my A Ying."
Seeing that Li Ying wasn't joking at all, he finally stopped and said seriously, "A Ying, do you trust A Man? Even if she's threatened with a knife to her neck, she would never hurt you."
Li Ying nodded. Of course, she trusted A Man.
"I also trust Shi Hu."
Hearing his words, Li Ying understood and didn't ask any more questions.
Lu Xunguang lowered his eyes. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "Moreover, if Shi Hu can really replace me, I can live a care - free life, put aside all these complicated matters in the capital, and fly away with A Ying, roaming the world as a pair of loving couple. Isn't that also a great blessing in life?"