Lu Meng had never heard of such a good thing in her life, and her entire spirit instantly lifted!
However, constrained by the character setting of Zhangsun Lumeng in the book, Lu Meng quickly lowered her head again, afraid that her overly fervent gaze might burn two holes right through the male lead's face.
She let out a sob, fireworks exploding in her mind while her lips remained tightly sealed.
Unlike the typical transmigrators who were fortunate enough to inherit the original protagonist’s memories or had some system to assist in romancing the male lead, she was completely in the dark. The less she said, the better.
But Lu Meng didn’t realize that her silence and timidity pleased Wu Linxuan greatly. The bridal veil had been lifted, the ceremonial wine shared—even if he didn’t stay the night, he had already given this "Lady Meng" enough face.
Wu Linxuan still had a pile of matters to attend to and was about to leave, but when he glanced back and saw Lu Meng still crying, he noticed how exceptionally pretty she looked—her face wasn’t contorted, and her tears fell in large, quiet drops.
After a moment’s thought, he added, "If anything arises in the mansion or if you encounter any inconveniences in daily life, you may send someone to seek Nanny Wu."
"No…" Lu Meng had initially been hoping Wu Linxuan would leave quickly, but the mention of Nanny Wu reminded her of how she had used the old woman as a chew toy earlier.
That old hag was, after all, the head stewardess of the prince’s mansion—second in authority only to the male lead himself. While she might have suffered an unexpected setback earlier due to Lu Meng’s drugged state, she would undoubtedly seek revenge tenfold later.
Even if Lu Meng couldn’t recall the finer details of the book’s plot, she knew Nanny Wu had tormented Zhangsun Lumeng relentlessly, leaving her miserable and unable to voice her suffering.
She couldn’t just sit back and wait for disaster!
So after tearfully uttering "No…," Lu Meng quickly rose, determined to lodge a complaint against Nanny Wu to the male lead first, regardless of the consequences.
However, remnants of the drug’s effects still lingered despite her earlier soak in water, and the bed she had been sitting on was strewn with peanuts and dates, leaving her legs and bottom numb.
As a result, the moment she stood, she stumbled straight toward Wu Linxuan and crashed to the floor with a loud "thud"—thankfully cushioned by her thick layers of clothing.
Wu Linxuan, who had been heading for the door, paused mid-step, his expression instantly turning frosty.
He had assumed this woman was timid, sensible, and knew her place—yet it seemed she still harbored unrealistic fantasies?
He thought Lu Meng was throwing herself at him, trying to prevent him from leaving and pushing her luck.
Before she could even lift her head, the sight of the pristine white boots near her hands made her recoil as if electrocuted.
Not only did she pull her hands back, but she even scrambled backward on all fours, putting a considerable distance between them.
That was close!
Cold sweat broke out on Lu Meng’s forehead.
These classic male leads always had some combination of mysophobia, misogyny, or aversion to physical contact—otherwise, they wouldn’t qualify as male leads.
After all, how else could the female lead’s uniqueness be highlighted, or how could he be "redeemed" later by claiming he’d never touched another woman?
So even if Lu Meng couldn’t remember this particular male lead’s quirks, she knew one rule: don’t touch him. Never, ever touch him!
Wu Linxuan’s icy demeanor cracked slightly as he watched Lu Meng scoot backward on her hands and knees.
Though he quickly schooled his expression, amusement danced in his eyes.
It wasn’t his fault—he had genuinely never seen a noblewoman make such… an undignified movement.
His cold aura dissipated entirely, and he looked down at her with renewed interest. "What is it?"
Still refusing to meet his gaze, Lu Meng stayed in her comfortable sprawl and whispered, "Your Highness, Nanny Wu gave…"
She quickly swallowed the word "me" and continued, "…gave this concubine an aphrodisiac, saying it was to teach me proper manners so I could serve Your Highness well. If you leave now, how am I supposed to answer to her…?"
This accusation was something Lu Meng had carefully rehearsed. True to her expectations, before Wu Linxuan could even react with anger at the audacity of the old woman drugging his concubine, he caught the latter part—"how am I supposed to answer to her?"
With a derisive scoff, Wu Linxuan narrowed his eyes, his voice icy. "You can’t answer to her?"
"Do you even know who the master of this mansion is?"
"Of course it’s you, Your Highness. You are the master of the entire mansion—and of this concubine." Lu Meng discreetly stretched her legs. The six or seven layers of her robes cushioned her like a mattress on the floor.
As she organized her thoughts, her calf instinctively swayed beneath the voluminous red wedding gown.
"But Your Highness is occupied with matters of state and may not oversee the affairs of the inner household. This concubine has heard that Nanny Wu manages the mansion’s affairs. If she serves me tea and I refuse, she’ll find a way to force it down my throat. I’m new here and know nothing. I… I’m scared."
Lu Meng was exaggerating—even if Nanny Wu had the courage of a bear and the ferocity of a leopard, she wouldn’t dare actually force-feed her.
But who knew how the original body had ingested the drug? Regardless, the aphrodisiac was real, and in an era without surveillance, the old woman would have no defense.
"Your Highness… I married you, so I am yours now. I’ll be obedient—very obedient. You promised to protect me for life. I don’t want to drink any more strange concoctions…"
As she spoke, Lu Meng propped herself up on her arms and looked pleadingly at Wu Linxuan, embodying helplessness and vulnerability to perfection.
This wasn’t an act—it was her genuine state.
Stranded in an unfamiliar world with no knowledge of the plot or even a system to guide her, and with the original character’s tragic fate looming over her, she was truly at a loss. For now, her only option was to cling to the male lead who had pledged to provide for her—to see if she could rely on him.
Unlike the original, she had no designs on his beauty—only his wealth. And he clearly didn’t mind her coveting his money.
She wasn’t foolish enough to think ancient people would buy the "amnesia" excuse. Even in modern times, memory loss was rare—who knew if claiming it here would get her branded as a demon and burned at the stake?
After all, in ancient times, a woman with an inauspicious birth chart couldn’t even marry. Superstitions about spirits and possession were taken deadly seriously.
Wu Linxuan was so incensed he nearly laughed.
He did hold Nanny Wu in special regard—she was the last remaining person from his mother’s household and had been loyal to him. But he had no idea she had grown so bold as to mistreat someone under his protection!
Yes, Lu Meng’s repeated reminders had successfully drilled into him that she was now his responsibility.
This was a bit of psychological manipulation—akin to modern sales tactics where you don’t ask if someone wants to buy, but whether they want one or ten.
By constantly reinforcing that she was Wu Linxuan’s woman and displaying utter dependence on him, Lu Meng was playing to the classic male lead’s ego. What kind of male lead would he be if he wasn’t domineering and possessive?
This was nothing short of a precision strike.
Wu Linxuan watched as Lu Meng prostrated herself on the ground, her humility so profound it seemed to sink into the earth. For once, a faint trace of pity stirred in his heart. With a cold expression, he pondered for a moment before saying, "Tomorrow, this prince will arrange for another nanny to be assigned to your courtyard."
Seeing that Wu Linxuan had taken the bait, Lu Meng inwardly rejoiced, thinking, This male lead is someone I can work with!
She quickly pressed her hands against the floor in exaggerated gratitude—though mostly because she was too lazy to get up. Lying down was far more comfortable than kneeling. Propping her cheeks in her hands, she offered Wu Linxuan a demure smile and said softly, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."
Wu Linxuan, noticing she still hadn’t risen, assumed the lingering effects of the drug had left her weak. After a brief hesitation, he turned back and reached out to help her up.
Lu Meng, seeing his outstretched hand, panicked and scrambled to her feet. In her haste, she tripped over her own robes but managed to twist her body and grab the nearby table for support, narrowly avoiding his touch.
Almost threw out my back, she thought.
She hastily added, "There’s no need to trouble yourself, Your Highness. This humble one is covered in dust from the fall—I wouldn’t dare dirty your hands..."
Even as she stood, Lu Meng kept her head bowed and her posture hunched, ready to collapse sideways at any moment. She wasn’t naive—she’d read enough novels to know that whenever a heroine stumbled, she’d inevitably land right in the male lead’s arms.
No matter how strong or skilled the male lead was, the delicate heroine would always knock him over, and her lips would somehow find his with pinpoint accuracy.
While she’d found such scenes thrilling to read, she absolutely couldn’t let it happen to her now. All her efforts would be wasted!
The man before her wasn’t just a person—he was a god, a living Buddha, the final boss, her meal ticket.
Wu Linxuan’s hand hung in the air, and he raised an eyebrow. Is my consort so timid that she sees me as some kind of beast?
Too much of anything was a bad thing. If she truly was this timid, fine—but if not... His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her cowering form.
Still, he said nothing more and soon turned to leave with effortless grace.
Only after he’d exited the room did Lu Meng finally relax. The maids waiting outside had assumed the prince’s lengthy stay meant he would spend the night—they’d even prepared bathwater and other necessities for the morning after.
But when the prince emerged alone, they quickly curtsied in farewell.
Then, from inside the room, their mistress called out, "Send two attendants in to assist me."
Xiuli and Xiuyun exchanged a glance before quietly slipping inside.
Lu Meng sat on the edge of the bed with a long exhale, remaining still as the maids helped her undress, removed her phoenix crown, and prepared her bath.
Having servants wait on you really is the life, she mused as she stood in the tub, letting the maids scrub her down. Her mind wandered to the future—how was she going to survive here?
Nanny Wu shouldn’t be a problem anymore. The male lead himself had promised to assign someone new—surely that person could handle her.
But the bigger issue was ensuring she didn’t reveal her "fox tail."
First, she needed to think every word through three times before speaking. No slipping into modern slang or phrases.
She’d only ever seen ancient forms of address in dramas and novels, and even then, the details of etiquette varied wildly. Some stories mashed together different dynasties, and even the accurate ones were beyond her knowledge.
By the time her hair was nearly dry, the maids helped her back to the bed. The peanuts and red dates had been cleared away, and the crimson wedding quilt was folded back slightly, ready for her to rest.
Lu Meng adopted a "go with the flow" approach, letting the maids guide her under the covers. She settled in, quietly enjoying the luxurious bed.
Pretty comfy. Heh heh heh.
Once she was lying down, a maid asked softly, "Does Lady Meng require anything else from this servant?"
Lu Meng shook her head with a solemn expression.
The two maids withdrew without a sound, leaving her alone beneath the covers. She closed her eyes, her mind spinning.
Overthinking just gives me a headache. I’ll take it one step at a time... If it really comes down to life or death, I’ll just run.
Her solid gold phoenix crown sat on a nearby table, gleaming faintly in the darkness—her emergency escape fund.
Of course, unless death was knocking at her door, she had no intention of seeking "freedom."
Back in the modern world, pursuing freedom at least came with basic human rights—but even then, it required money. A woman wandering alone was still at risk.
In this ancient world with no rights to speak of, if she ran, she’d probably end up sold to a brothel. In this era, even a common cold could be a death sentence, let alone... other diseases.
Besides, in her past life, Lu Meng had dropped out of school in her teens due to family troubles. She’d worked odd jobs, saved up, and eventually opened a bubble tea shop. Once the business stabilized, she’d bought a small apartment, hired someone to manage the shop, and holed up at home, barely stepping outside.
No one can out-sloth me.
With a mix of anxiety for tomorrow and a "whatever happens, happens" resignation, she drifted off to sleep at some unknown hour.
The next morning, while the sky was still pitch black, she jolted upright like "a dying man startled awake."
At this hour, even the dogs are still asleep.
Lu Meng was the type who could laze in bed for twelve hours straight, but in this world? No such luxury.
When she had something on her mind, she slept lightly—waking up even more reliably than an alarm clock. Especially since she’d gone to bed early, she naturally rose early.
She had no idea how things worked in the prince’s mansion. Were there elders expecting morning tea or daily greetings? She didn’t dare risk oversleeping.
Staring blankly at the nearly burnt-out giant red candle on the table, she finally called out toward the door, "Attendants!"
Sure enough, being a princess consort—even a secondary one—had its perks. A maid responded almost immediately, her voice gentle despite the late hour, and entered the room.
"Does Lady Meng need to relieve herself?" The maid’s face was pale from the night watch, but her demeanor remained impeccable. Lu Meng glanced at her but couldn’t tell if it was Xiuli or Xiuyun.
She yawned, tears welling in her eyes—the plight of a chronic late riser.
Thank goodness I didn’t transmigrate as a maid. I’d probably have offed myself within days. Serving people is torture.
"No, I need to get up. What time is it now?" Lu Meng avoided using any pronouns or titles whenever possible. No ordinary modern girl could flawlessly navigate ancient forms of address without memories to guide her.
Even history buffs would struggle when the setting was fictional. Better to just skip it.
"It’s just past the Hour of the Ox."
The maid was genuinely surprised, even turning to glance at the still-dark sky outside. "Lady Meng may rest for two more hours. Breakfast will be served at the Hour of the Rabbit. If you’re hungry, there’s red bean porridge warming on the stove in the small kitchen. This servant can fetch it for you."
That porridge was probably meant for after the wedding night... but since the prince left...
Lu Meng sighed inwardly. I’d love to sleep more, but I can’t! If I miss some important tea ceremony or morning greetings, the worst they can do is make life difficult. The real danger is the more people I meet, the higher the chance I slip up.
After a moment’s thought, she opted for a flexible approach. "No more rest. Help me dress—I’ll be going out soon."
After speaking, Lu Meng observed the maidservant's reaction closely. At first, the maid looked utterly bewildered, but after a moment, her expression cleared as she nodded in understanding. "Does Madam Meng wish to light the way for His Highness and see him off to court?"
Seeing this, Lu Meng felt a wave of relief wash over her. She knew nothing of the customs here, but these maids surely knew everything.
The fact that the maid didn’t mention serving morning tea or paying respects to elders meant there were no senior family members in Prince Jian'an's Mansion. And since the maid assumed she was going to escort the prince to court… that meant aside from the male lead, Lu Meng was the highest-ranking person here!
Yes!
Her spine instantly relaxed, and she nearly collapsed back onto the bed, ready to sleep until noon.
But since she’d already announced her intention to go out, lying back down now would seem odd. So she stifled another yawn, eyes watery, and nodded.
After washing up and dressing, she resigned herself to her forced "work shift."
