Free Web NovelChapter 394: Chapter 220: Wife Swapped for Mother-in-Law, Lu Yuan Is Not Quite Used to It
Lu Yuan crouched down again, patting Xiaotian’s back. "Alright, stop playing dead. Let’s go!"
Xiaotian, still dazed, forced himself to act like everything was fine. He staggered to his feet and whispered, "Big Bro, is your little ancestor gone? She almost killed me!"
"Alright, I’ve taught her a lesson. It won’t happen again. I’ll treat you to roast suckling pig today!" Lu Yuan said.
Today, Xiaotian had nearly become the roast suckling pig himself.
Hearing this, Xiaotian’s spirits lifted. "Alright! Let’s go, let’s go!"
"What’s the rush? We have to wait until noon!"
"Hehehe..."
Lu Yuan brought Xiaotian back to his room and handed him over to his wife before going to arrange for the trip to the Imperial Capital.
For this trip to the Imperial Capital, Lu Yuan chose to be accompanied by six of his trusted confidants. He also requisitioned two Grand Celestial Masters, two Spirit Binders, and two Celestial Masters from the Martial Hall. All of them were people Lu Yuan trusted.
The Imperial Capital was teeming with talent and all sorts of people; Lu Yuan had to be fully prepared.
One thing worth noting was that as a Fourth Grade official of the Court, only Lu Yuan could manage to have Grand Celestial Masters as bodyguards.
It couldn’t be helped. Who else but Lu Yuan was so wealthy? And all his money came from legitimate channels, so as long as the Emperor didn’t mind, it was fine.
Regarding the trip to the Imperial Capital, Lu Yuan had already asked for Xiaotian’s opinion, and Xiaotian was not keen on going.
Xiaotian’s reason was simple: the cars were too bumpy. Compared to being jostled around on a long journey, staying in the Zhao Mansion with plenty of food and drink was the obvious choice.
Lu Yuan’s mother-in-law heard that her son-in-law was heading to the Imperial Capital for this trip.
After much hesitation, Su Liyan’s mother carried Bengbeng to Lu Yuan and Su Liyan’s room and told her daughter that she wanted to go to the Imperial Capital again.
The last time she went to the Imperial Capital was because she had divined that Empress Ma was about to pass away and wanted to see her one last time.
Later, Empress Ma was cured by Lu Yuan.
Going to the Imperial Capital now felt like "fulfilling a vow." She just wanted to be near Empress Ma one more time, as she might never have the chance again.
Lu Yuan could understand this sentiment. It was just like how, before he transmigrated, his parents from his rural hometown had wanted to see the Capital.
Su Liyan’s mother rarely made requests. Since she had asked, Lu Yuan, as her son-in-law, would not refuse.
But Bengbeng still needed someone to take care of her.
Lu Yuan suggested to his wife that they could bring Bengbeng along, so the family of four could go to the Imperial Capital together.
Su Liyan felt Bengbeng was too young for such a long journey.
Su Liyan thought that, like last time, they would only be staying in the Imperial Capital for a few days.
Now that they had cars, the round trip wouldn’t take much time.
Su Liyan said to Lu Yuan, "Ge~ how about you just take Mother this time? I’ll wait for you at home."
Lu Yuan replied, "How could I do that? I can’t sleep without you by my side."
Su Liyan said shyly, "Ge~ what nonsense are you talking about? Mother is right here."
Su Liyan’s mother said with a smile, "It’s alright, we’re all family. It’s nothing!"
Since her mother said so, Su Liyan didn’t dwell on the matter. "I’ll just take care of Bengbeng at home. You two should just make it a quick trip."
Lu Yuan thought for a moment. ’If we’re only staying in the Imperial Capital for a few days, then the whole trip won’t be that long.’
In the end, Lu Yuan agreed to his wife’s idea. He would take his confidants and Mansion Guards and travel with his mother-in-law to the Imperial Capital.
At lunch, the chubby uncle had already prepared a full table of food.
Before the meal began, Bengbeng, in front of everyone, took the initiative to apologize to Xiaotian.
Xiaotian bared his teeth, signaling that he forgave Bengbeng’s childish behavior.
For a honey badger, there was no obvious difference between baring its teeth in anger and baring them in happiness.
Except for Lu Yuan and Su Liyan, everyone else thought Xiaotian was just an ordinary honey badger.
Bengbeng’s behavior earned everyone’s unanimous praise. "Bengbeng is such a well-behaved, good child."
Hearing this, Bengbeng clapped her hands happily, gurgling and babbling with delight.
As an animal, Xiaotian couldn’t eat at the main table. Lu Yuan had a small table specially made for him, complete with new bowls, giving Xiaotian plenty of face.
Lu Yuan tore a front trotter from the roast suckling pig and gave it to Xiaotian.
Xiaoqian asked, "Brother-in-law~ you’re so attentive to Xiaotian. You take such good care of him."
Lu Yuan said with a smile, "This little guy just loves roasted meat."
After the meal, it was time for Lu Yuan to depart for the Imperial Capital.
Lu Yuan said his goodbyes to Aunt Zhao, Aunt Song, his wife, and the others one by one. Then, he and his six confidants drove seven cars, with all the passenger seats occupied.
Lu Yuan’s mother-in-law, of course, rode in Lu Yuan’s car.
A few Jinyi Guards, who had heard Lu Yuan was departing today, had arrived early at the Zhao Mansion’s gate on horseback, waiting.
At that moment, these Jinyi Guards were positioned behind the convoy, waiting for Lu Yuan to finish his farewells before setting off for the Imperial Capital.
One Jinyi Guard said to their leader, "Big Bro, is Lord Lu really driving those things to the Imperial Capital?"
The leading Jinyi Guard brushed his Brocade Spring Saber and said, "It doesn’t matter how Lord Lu gets to the Imperial Capital. We’ve delivered the imperial decree. As long as we escort Lord Lu to the Imperial Capital, our mission is complete."
These Jinyi Guards were all from the Northern Town Patrol Department. Unlike the Celestial Masters and Spirit Binders of the Southern Town Patrol Department, the members of the Northern Town Patrol Department were all military-trained and skilled with various weapons.
"Big Bro..." the Jinyi Guard who had spoken first tried to say something else.
The impatient leader of the Jinyi Guards said, "’Big Bro’ what? Since when did you become such a nag, worrying about so much!"
After Lu Yuan and the others got into the cars, they started the engines. As the Spirit Stones supplied a continuous stream of energy, the seven cars sped off in a flash.
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey..." The Jinyi Guards behind the convoy spat out the dust and dirt from their mouths.
"Big Bro, what I was trying to say is that Lord Lu’s convoy is the one that made us eat dust a few days ago. We can’t keep up with them!" said the Jinyi Guard who had spoken earlier.
"Why the hell didn’t you say so earlier? Brothers, let’s hurry and catch up!"
The leader of the Jinyi Guards whipped his horse’s rump. The horse cried out in pain, reared its front hooves with a loud neigh, and then broke into a gallop.
Sitting in Lu Yuan’s passenger seat, Su Liyan’s mother watched her son-in-law’s skilled driving and praised him, "Our son-in-law is so capable! These cars are so much faster than horses or bicycles."
Driving the car, Lu Yuan said, "Yes, Mother. This thing only needs Spirit Stones to run, no manual labor required!"
Su Liyan’s mother said, "I heard that the Zhao Mansion’s Spirit Stone Mine has been confiscated by the Court? What will we do when we run out of Spirit Stones? Buy them?"
"Buy them? No need, Mother." Lu Yuan gripped the steering wheel, took a breath, and said, "The Zhao Mansion got wind of it beforehand. The Spirit Stones mined in the last three months are all stored in a warehouse in Taiping City. It’s enough to last the Zhao Mansion for decades, no problem."
With his mother-in-law in the passenger seat instead of his wife, Lu Yuan felt a little unused to it.
Before, Su Liyan had always been by his side during all his travels. If he wanted to suck on her snake tail at night, Su Liyan would always grant his wish, never refusing.
’I hope this trip to the Imperial Capital goes smoothly,’ Lu Yuan thought to himself. ’It would be best if that old geezer, the Emperor, hasn’t summoned me for anything important. That way, I can get this over with and head back sooner.’
Along the way, Lu Yuan’s mother-in-law also took meticulous care of her son-in-law, making Lu Yuan feel quite embarrassed. Each time, he would say, "Thank you, Mother, but I can get it myself!"
Su Liyan’s mother was a very simple and honest person, handing Lu Yuan water and food, taking good care of her son-in-law.
Under his mother-in-law’s care, Lu Yuan only had to focus on driving the lead car, leading his confidants and Mansion Guards toward the Imperial Capital at top speed.
After several days, Lu Yuan and his group had already entered the territory of the Imperial City.
Meanwhile, the few Jinyi Guards following Lu Yuan had only just left Qilu Province.
"Big Bro, where has Lord Lu gone? I think we lost him!"
"You think? We lost him on the first day!"
