Madam Wenxin and the others were quite surprised to see Xiao Yan. They had come today at the invitation of Princess Cheng, knowing that members of the Lu family would be present, fearing that Song Tangning might suffer losses.
She heard that Governor Xiao had to leave the city yesterday for an urgent matter and could not return home, but she didn't expect that he would return home exhausted before the Lu family left.
Song Tangning was very close to him, and the smell of blood was overwhelming.
Seeing the bloodstains on his robe, Tangning became anxious. “Brother, are you hurt?”
“Just other people’s blood.” Xiao Yan flicked his sleeve to cover the blood on his waist and raised his cold gaze. “Did these two bully you?”
Seeing Xiao Yan return, Lu Chongyuan’s eyes flickered slightly. He suddenly spoke in a deep voice, “Commander Xiao, please don’t falsely accuse others. I came here today just to discuss Miss Song’s marriage with Young Master San. Madam Fu and Madam Jun are present; how could I bully Miss Song? Instead, Miss Song has changed significantly; her courage and demeanor rival those of men.”
Xiao Yan raised his eyelids slightly. “The child of this commander should be free to act as she wishes. But the Lu family’s son can be said to be marrying up.”
“You!”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s blunt sarcasm towards Lu Zhinian, even though Lu Chongyuan knew he had a sharp tongue, he still felt his anger rising. Before he could retort, someone hurriedly entered from outside.
Gu Helian, with a disrespectful tone like Xiao Yan’s, mocked, “Even before entering the door, I hear someone questioning the upbringing of our Rong family’s daughters. Lu Zhongshu is half a foot in the grave, yet he still has the naivety of a child, speaking like a street urchin. Does he really think he can criticize young girls’ bravery? It seems that “gentlemen don’t discuss the faults of others” doesn’t apply to your Lu family.”
His words were quite crude, yet they seemed strangely charming coming from his ethereal face.
“Speaking of which, you came to discuss a marriage proposal with my niece, but the esteemed Zhongshu personally visited without following the customary rules of discussing debts. There’s not even a single box in sight, and none of the items taken have been returned.”
“What is this, Lu Zhongshu planning to swindle a young lady while empty-handed? How does your Lu family lack such decorum?”
As Gu Helian spoke, he squeezed between Xiao Yan and Song Tangning, jabbing an elbow into Xiao Yan’s waist.
Xiao Yan frowned lightly, his expression unreadable as he looked at him.
Gu Helian quickly looked up at the sky, pretending not to notice. He turned his head to Song Tangning, saying, “You’re just a silly girl. Did you clear the accounts with them before letting them in? They’re not your father; why do you listen to their lectures?”
“Later, those cunning people might trick you out of your dowry with just a few words, and they’ll act like they’re being wronged and magnanimous, not wanting to argue with a little girl. By then, you won’t even have a place to cry.”
“Gu Helian!” Lu Chongyuan roared in anger.
Gu Helian feigned surprise, saying, “Lu Zhongshu, don’t be angry; I wasn’t talking about you. You’re so mature; how could you bully a little girl who just reached maturity?”
He lightly ruffled Song Tangning’s hair. “My little Haitang has no parents. She’s just a little girl. Who dares to take advantage of her innocence to cheat her family’s wealth? As her uncle, I have to teach her to be cautious.”
Lu Chongyuan's face turned dark from Gu Helian's mockery, his lips trembling with anger. But he couldn’t scold Gu Helian; otherwise, wouldn’t that mean he was admitting to being that cunning old man who deceives others for their wealth?
“Utter nonsense!”
He angrily flicked his sleeve. “Gu Helian, don’t think that just because Xiao Yan is protecting you, you can forget that this is the capital, not Zuo Prefecture!”
“If my brother protects my uncle, what can Old Master Lu do?”
Song Tangning stood in front of Gu Helian, saying, “Old Master Lu, don’t forget, this is Tang Mansion, not your Lu family.”
“You!”
Lu Chongyuan glared at Song Tangning.
Gu Helian was also taken aback by the sudden protective stance of the little girl, looking at her bun and feeling a bit soft-hearted.
Xiao Yan, however, found Gu Helian increasingly annoying. How could his little Haitang be so indiscriminate in her protection?
Xiao Yan’s gaze grew slightly irritated as he swept past Gu Helian, reaching out to pull Song Tangning behind him, blocking Lu Chongyuan’s line of sight, and said coldly, “Does Lu Zhongshu want to discuss power with me?”
Lu Chongyuan: “…”
Song Tangning peeked out from behind Xiao Yan, noticing the changing expressions on the Lu family’s faces.
“Old Master Lu, you needn’t entangle with me here. You know very well about my relationship with Lu Zhinian. I have already made my desires clear; if you can’t fulfill them, feel free to return. There’s no need to force an apology on me; I won’t put you in a difficult position.”
“There are still two days left in the three-day deadline. Instead of arguing with me, it would be better for the old master to gather the items and return them sooner. I won’t disturb the Lu family again.”
Lu Zhinian stared intently at Song Tangning but only saw the little girl not glancing at him at all. She merely tugged at the hem of the eunuch’s clothing, exuding familiarity and softness.
“Brother, tell them to leave.”
Xiao Yan’s expression softened slightly as he raised his eyes coldly. “Didn’t you hear? Show them out.”
The sword-wielding Canglang entered along with Hang Li, lifting his chin. “Lu Zhongshu, please.”
Lu Chongyuan glared deeply at Song Tangning. “You, very well!”
He waved his sleeve and turned to leave.
“Master Lu?”
Seeing Lu Zhinian standing still, Canglang poked him with the scabbard in his hand.
Lu Zhinian pressed his lips tightly and hissed, “Song Tangning, if you want to settle accounts with me, then I’ll return this to you as well.”
He opened his hand, revealing a beautifully woven tassel lying in his palm, stained with mottled blood. His palm was also red.
Lu Zhinian stubbornly looked into Song Tangning's eyes, wanting to see even a hint of hesitation or doubt on her face.
This tassel was something she had spent days making for him. Each bead and piece of jade on it had been personally selected by her, and when she gifted it to him, she was filled with shyness and anticipation.
She said this was a mandarin duck tassel, meant only for couples to wear. She said as long as he wore this tassel, it represented that she would be with him at all times, never to be separated.
But the once sweet and shy girl now frowned in disgust and said, “Such a dirty thing, throw it away.”
Such a dirty thing…
So dirty.
Lu Zhi Nian curled his fingers, his face pale, and the last bit of hope in his heart dissipated completely. His mind buzzed as he was driven out of Tang Mansion, and as he passed the stone steps outside the gate, he felt dazed and nearly stumbled.
Song Mo, who was guarding outside, quickly caught him, and Lu Chong Yuan assisted him from the other side.
Cang Lang stood at the door with his sword, coldly mocking, “Lu Lang Jun, do watch your step. Don’t trip and fall then blame my lady for having uneven ground in her mansion.”
“Don’t go too far!” Song Mo shouted in anger, looking up.
Cang Lang snorted, “You don’t treat yourself as a person, yet you complain that others are going too far?”
“You…”
“Enough!”
Lu Chong Yuan shouted, and Song Mo, who was about to retort, immediately shut his mouth in fright.
Lu Chong Yuan looked up at the entrance of Tang Mansion, feeling utterly humiliated for the first time in his life, having been driven out in such a disgraceful manner.
He resented Song Tang Ning for being so ruthless in her actions and also despised Xiao Yan for being so rampant. With a cold face, he grabbed Lu Zhi Nian’s arm and said, “San Lang, let’s go…”
Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly felt a weight beside him.
“San Lang?!”
Lu Chong Yuan was caught off guard and felt his hand empty. He turned abruptly to see Lu Zhi Nian had collapsed straight to the ground.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 200 here
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