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Imagine, in the face of all the rumors, what could silence people more than a life? Oh no, not a life, she should be unwilling to part with it, half a life, perhaps, half a life could still have the desired effect.
However, Lu Songli was very curious. After Zhao Yutan did such a thing, would Madam Xie not be disgusted by her tarnished reputation?
In the midst of her thoughts, Lu Songli understood these tricks, and then called out to Zhao Yutan, but she seemed to be heartbroken, walking back regardless. Darling, did you overdo it? Lu Songli was speechless, and could only call out to Guo Yan behind her.
“What’s the matter?!”
Lu Songli kindly reminded her, “When you go back, tell the Zhao family to keep a close eye on Zhao Yutan, so she doesn’t take matters into her own hands again.”
What is meant by killing with a borrowed knife, this is it!
Zhao Yutan’s footsteps paused, filled with hatred.
Guo Yan turned back and glared at her, “What nonsense are you talking about?!”
“In any case, I have already reminded you, in case she really plays too far and ends up dead, I won’t take the blame for it.” After saying this, Lu Songli also turned and walked towards her own carriage. It was getting late, time to go back for dinner.
The two turned their backs and walked away, symbolizing the different paths they had chosen. The last ray of sunlight divided this place in two, as they each walked towards their chosen futures.
In the Zhao family’s carriage, Guo Yan thought about the words Lu Songli had said to her at the end, and she was still angry, “Cousin, did you hear what nonsense Lu Songli said at the end, isn’t she cursing you?!”
At this moment, Zhao Yutan’s heart was in turmoil, Lu Songli’s reaction was beyond her expectations. In her assumption, seeing herself humbly coming to make amends, shouldn’t Lu Songli be gloating over her misfortune? Why was she so calm and clever? Clearly, she used to be very foolish. And what should she do next? According to the original plan, Lu Songli’s words just now were like a slap in the face, harshly hitting her and mocking her incompetence.
“She is heartless and ungrateful. Cousin, you lowered yourself to reconcile with her, and she still…”
Zhao Yutan felt depressed, but Guo Yan kept blaming Lu Songli, her voice annoying Zhao Yutan, making her feel irritated, “Alright, cousin, stop talking for now, I have a headache.”
Lu Songli had no idea that her final act of jumping the prophetess would put Zhao Yutan in such a dilemma.
By now, the twilight had completely enveloped the earth, and Lu Songli’s carriage had just arrived home.
Being so late and not returning home, her parents were extremely worried, afraid that something might have happened on the way. Lu Desheng was planning to send someone to meet her in the direction of Baoding Lane, and only when he saw her return would he feel relieved.
Seeing Xu Erge, Lu Desheng hurriedly greeted him, “My dear nephew, thanks to you for escorting my daughter back.”
Xu Erge nodded and said his goodbyes to them, then wanted to go back.
“My dear nephew, the city gates are probably closed by now. Why don’t you stay and rest for the night, and go back tomorrow?” At this time of night, Chang’an City implemented a curfew, and the city gates were already closed. It was not convenient for Xu Erge to leave the city, so Madam Jiang invited him to stay.
Lu Songli also chimed in, “Yes, Xu Erge, your parents know you sent me back, even if you don’t go back tonight, they can guess you will stay the night, they won’t be too worried.” If it hadn’t been for Zhao Yutan’s delay, he wouldn’t have been so late that he couldn’t leave the city.
Xu Erge glanced at the sky, then estimated the time, and finally said, “I’m bothering you.”
“Father, Mother, is there any food? I’m starving.”
“Yes, yes, why are you so late? Your father almost went out to meet you.” Madam Jiang instructed someone to set the table while asking.
And then they knew that their daughter was delayed in returning because she saved her grandson-in-law and was stopped on the way by Zhao Yutan, which made them arrive home only at night.
When the matter of Lu Songli saving someone was brought up, Second Brother Xu once again thanked them sincerely.
“Second Brother Xu, when I was at the Xu family, the mistress of the house has already thanked me. We are all relatives, and I helped when I encountered it, so you don’t have to be so formal. Besides, you just escorted me all the way back. Shouldn’t I thank you again?” Lu Songli finished speaking and urged Second Brother Xu to quickly have a meal.
Master Lu and Madam Jiang modestly added, “Yes, she just happened to be there at the right time.”
With their daughter showing her abilities and saving someone, Lu Desheng and Madam Jiang, as parents, felt extremely proud. But it was not appropriate to keep mentioning this favor. So they quickly changed the topic.
“Why did Zhao Yutan stop you?” Lu Desheng did not forget that his daughter was delayed in returning because she was stopped by her.
Lu Songli was eating and she was really hungry, so she didn’t have time to reply. But she had someone to speak for her, and Mo Bing answered her parents’ question on her behalf.
After listening to Mo Bing’s explanation, Lu Desheng only muttered, “It’s meaningless.” It seemed that the punishment the Zhao family received was too light.
Thinking about how Zhao Yutan accurately blocked her halfway, the couple furrowed their brows, indicating that it was necessary to investigate the servants in the mansion.
Not wanting to disturb the family of three, Second Brother Xu quickly finished his dinner, and Madam Jiang arranged for him to stay in the guest room, then led the servants to prepare the return gifts from the Xu family.
After finishing her meal, Lu Songli patted her satisfied round belly and said to her father, “Father, the Zhao family is probably going to make a big move in the next few days, so our people can withdraw.”
Some time ago, she and Zhao Yutan fell into the water at the same time. The Zhao family manipulated public opinion, arranged for people to slander them, and tried to switch their identities. Her father also arranged for people to muddy the waters and shift the blame onto Zhao Yutan. With this plan, Zhao Yutan’s reputation became tarnished while hers remained relatively unscathed.
As she predicted, the Zhao family would likely send themselves away next. If their people were added to the mix, the situation would escalate. If the Zhao family turned the tables on them, wouldn’t the Lu family suffer? If she were in charge of the Zhao family, she would definitely do this – catch the thief by the stolen goods and also vent some of their grievances against the Lu family. Besides, it wasn’t easy for her father to maintain these water forces, it must have cost a lot of money, so saving a little now would be beneficial.
Hearing her words, her father gave her a questioning look.
Lu Songli then shared her speculation with her father.
Lu Desheng listened and didn’t know what to say, but he affirmed her analysis. He had also noticed that the rumors about Zhao Yutan had become increasingly intense, more fierce than before. They were throwing buckets of dirty water onto Zhao Yutan, portraying her as worse than a courtesan. Lu Desheng was even surprised, the Zhao family was really ruthless towards their daughter, so relentlessly smearing her own reputation was unprecedented.
Madam Jiang, who was listening to the conversation between father and daughter, remembered something. “By the way, the Xie family sent us an invitation today, inviting our four families – Lu, Qin, Zhao, and Xie – to discuss how to resolve the issue of the marriage changes after the incident of falling into the water. The location is at the Xie family.”
Lu Songli said, “Decline it.”
What’s there to discuss? The Zhao family is clearly about to unleash a big move, who cares about the Xie family’s petty invitation? Besides, this invitation is just a fig leaf. The Zhao family and the Qin family have long been estranged, and the Zhao family is clinging to the Xie family, in fact, they only want to resolve the engagement between our Lu family and the Xie family.
However, this also reveals a problem, namely, the Xie family and the Zhao family are not acting in unison. Looking at the name of the person who sent the invitation, Xie Zhan, Lu Songli smiled playfully, this is going to be interesting.