Chapter 141: A start of something beautiful 3

There were loud gasps from the madams and young ladies present in the hall as Lu Yaozhu hugged Su Liya close and led her towards the Crown Prince's table. There was a brief silence right before the whispering began. Contemptfull gazes and heavy criticism were all aimed at Su Liya. 

It didn't matter that the hug was initiated by Lu Yaozhu at least not to the judgemental madams who didn't like this new Princess. To then Su Liya was nothing more than an opportunistic gold-digger who seduced a bright talent of Northern Wei. These women have never liked her and never would, they have always searched for an opportunity to put her down and this was it.

Su Liya didn't like the attention focused on her by these women, they didn't even bother to hide their disgust. She kept her face forward and ignored their comments and looks. Lu Yaozhu was right, why should she worry about what they said. People like them will only have something bad to say about her.

They stopped a few steps away from Zhongshan Ling and Xia Ying and bowed. The greeting process for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort wasn't A elaborate as that of the Emperor and Empress. Which she now appreciated, because, in her current drowsy state, such elaborate greetings would make her faint from exhaustion.

Lu Yaozhu took the lead in the greeting, he said stretching both as forward, balled up his fist and held it to his palm. "This official, Yaozhu greets his highness, the Crown Prince and her highness the Crown Princess".

While Su Liya joined in but instead of bowing, she held up her skirts and curtsied head bent low. "This Princess Liya greets, his Highness, the Crown Prince and her highness, the Crown Princess"

"Rise", The Crown Prince said smiling.

Lu Yaozhu and Su Liya stood at his instructions. The Crown Prince continued, "It is getting late, General Lu. No need to be so proper" he looked up at Su Liya and said, "Little sister looks well, Yaozhu must be treating you well."

Xia Ying commented on that, "his highness is right in his observations. General Lu and little sister-in-law are well matched for each other, they are like an eternal couple, his highness can now relax". 

Su Liya almost snorted on hearing this load of bull but she didn't respond badly but maintained a neutral expression. Her mouth twitch a little at Xia Ying's exaggerated praises. She glanced at Xia Ying discretely only to catch the other woman sizing her up.

She had to applaud Xia Ying's acting skills, the woman was a mark of smiles. It was like they were old friends and not love rivals, no that she could call them that since Xia Ying's love for Lu Yaozhu was one-sided. Su Liya clicked her lips silently but maintained a neutral expression.

After a few more words, they were dismissed by the Crown Prince and took their leave. No one approached them as they left, They walked behind two palace maids holding up two paper lamps to light up their path to their carriage. They waited at the gates with the two maids while their driver drove around the small hick-up my the gates.

As soon as the carriage was driven over, a private guard seated next to the driver brought down the step and placed it by the opened door. Lu Yaozhu climbed up the step a stretched out his hand for Su Liya. He helped her up the step and into the carriage.

The guard raised the step back up to the front of the carriage and returned to his seat next to the driver's seat. They waited for the instructions from Lu Yaozhu to get moving, which came once Su Liya and himself were settled. 

As the carriages rode forward slowly, Lu Yaozhu noticed her closing eyes and tapped his shoulder. "If you are feeling sleepy, just rest your head on my shoulder and sleep, I will take you when we arrive at the mansion".

Su Liya but her lips thoughtfully, she tried to find a good way of turning him down gently. Lu Yaozhu noticed her uncertainty and said

"why think so much about this, you were leaning on me not so long ago in public. Why act is shy when we are alone, shouldn't this be more comfortable in private than in public. I am only asking you barrow my shoulder for some time, it is not like I am a monster that would eat you"

Su Liya face heated up at his words, there was some reason in what he had said. If she could lean on him in public, resting on his shoulder in private can not be that hard. She leaned her head to the right and shut her eyes. The carriage's slow pace slowly drew Su Liya into a deep slumber. 

She didn't wake even after they arrived at the Duke's mansion. The guards brought down the step and placed it at the door before opening the door. Su Liya's maid Baozhai got down from the second carriage, which the servants used and rushed to stand by the door. She needed to be handy in case, her mistress needed her to help her up.

She came forward as the sustains at the carriage door was pushed apart, she took a step back expecting the general as usual to come down first before helping her mistress down but was surprised when the General carefully carried her mistress out of the carriage.

"Ge-general" she stuttered in shock but was hushed by Lu Yaozhu who placed his index finger on his lips. 

Lu Yaozhu walked down the stairs slowly, careful not to wake her. Baozhai immediately rushed forward and collected a paper lamp from a maid to light their wet back to her mistress's rooms. Although there were lamps set up from the gates to every corner of the mansion, She still held the lamb to the ground 

Rong Rong quick ran to their courtyard to arrange the bed. She lit the incense up by the bed and closed a few windows in the room. Rong Rong rose the sheer bed curtains and tired them at the side before pulling the bed covers up. She stood by the door and waited for them to come over.

********

As the carriage came to a stop at the gate, Lu Yaozhu glanced down at the woman lying on his laps. He had moved her to that position minutes earlier to make her more comfortable. She slept peacefully, her breathing slower. He knew the exact moment she had finally surrendered to sleep after resulting for some time. Su Liya wasn't a very quiet sleeper, which was irritating to someone like him who had very sensible ears.

It had irritated him a few times during the first few days of their marriage but he quickly got used to her noisy sleeping pattern. While she didn't snore, she did make a few faint noises as she turned in her sleep, all of which he found cute. He Raised her to a seating position from his lap and leaned her head by the wall before placing both hands under her next and knee.

He slowly carried her up, holding her close and pushing the curtain aside, walked down the short steps. Su Liya's first-ranked maid rushed forward to him but them. 

"Ge-general!" She said in concern.

He got down from the last step and hugged her closer to his chest and glancing at the surprised expression of Baozhai. He shook his head and placed his right index finger on his mouth before continuing forward. Baozhai didn't need to be told anything else, she glanced at Rong Rong. Who stood a few steps away and gestured into the house with her head.

Rong Rong immediately got the hint and ran off to her mistress's room. She ignored the greeting from the other maids in the courtyard and ran into the bedroom. After setting everything up for Su Liya's arrival she stood outside the door to usher her in. 

Lu Yaozhu carried her through the front door and into the main room. The entire Pavillion was lit, he carried her through the main room and into the bedroom the bed covers were already up. He knelt on the bed and laid her down on the middle of the bed. He carefully removed her hairpins, necklace and bangles then placed them on the bedside table.

He carefully rose her to a searing position, resting her head on his shoulder. He pulled her jacket down slowly and carefully removed her hands from the sleeve until she was left in her white inner garments. He laid her back on the bed, pulled the blankets over her and stepped away from the bed.

"Take care of your mistress," he said to none of them in particular and left silently. 

Baozhai brought down the bed curtains and stepped out of the room. She dismissed Rong Rong and stood in the hallway outside the room with six maids standing behind her. They were on night duty today until dawn. She would take the first watch before Rong Rong took over.