Chapter 26

Three days later.

Today was Huo Feiguang’s birthday banquet. Since the Lu family had accepted the invitation and agreed to attend, they could not back out. At this moment, several carriages were already parked near the shadow wall of the Lu residence. Shen Wei was holding Lu Mi Zhi’s hand as they walked toward the first carriage. This time, aside from the elderly Mrs. Xie, the third branch of the Lu family, and Lu Bu Yang, who was heading to court, the rest of the family members had all decided to go together to congratulate the birthday celebrant.

Just as Shen Wei had not yet reached the carriage, she heard a voice from behind: “Elder sister-in-law.”

Hearing this voice, Shen Wei’s brow furrowed slightly, though it was barely noticeable. In just a moment, she quickly composed herself, turning around to look at the person.

Wang Shi had not been out of the house for a long time, and this time she was naturally dressed up extravagantly.

Shen Wei observed her outfit from head to toe. It was indeed quite eye-catching. Although the sun was not yet at its peak, if it were noon, Wang Shi’s appearance would certainly attract a lot of attention from passersby.

Had they not been outside, Shen Wei really would have rubbed her temples in frustration. After all, she came from a prestigious family, so how had she ended up with someone like this?

Wang Shi, seeing Shen Wei stop and turn around, could not help but look her up and down. Women, no matter their age, always compare themselves when they meet. Seeing that Shen Wei, as usual, was dressed simply and modestly, Wang Shi smiled and said, “This is such an important day for Princess Changping. How come elder sister-in-law is still dressed so plainly?”

After saying this, she added, “You used to love dressing up.”

Shen Wei, hearing her words, could not be bothered to respond. She still held Lu Mi Zhi’s hand and, in a casual tone, said, “Second sister-in-law, is there something you need? If not, please get in the carriage. We are about to leave.”

Wang Shi, hearing this cold response, tightened the grip on her arm slightly.

This woman was indeed different since waking up. If anyone had spoken like that to her before, she would have coldly retorted. But today, she was in a good mood and could not be bothered to argue with Shen Wei. Wang Shi, thinking this, raised her eyes and looked around. Not finding Lu Qi Huai, she spoke again, “Didn’t you tell Xuan Yue?”

“It’s almost time, and yet he’s still not here. We can’t afford to miss the time,” she said with a concerned tone, though her eyes were full of amusement, as though she were eager to see a drama unfold.

Shen Wei, hearing this, glanced around. She had not noticed earlier, but now that she looked around, she indeed did not see Lu Qi Huai. The time was nearly up, and just as she was about to tell Mo Qi to call for Lu Qi Huai, a figure walked toward them from a distance. It was Lu Qi Huai.

Today, Lu Qihuai was dressed in his usual dark blue robe, with a pair of black boots beneath it. However, this time, his robe’s hem was embroidered with gold and silver threads, depicting four harmonious cloud cranes, which gave the outfit an air of grandeur compared to his usual attire. Under the sunlight, the cranes on his robe looked so lifelike, as if they were ready to soar into the sky.

He was walking at a steady pace, neither rushing nor hurrying, even though many were watching him. The closer he got, the more his clear and handsome features became apparent to everyone. His eyebrows and eyes were delicate and noble, and his presence was so refined that no one could take their eyes off him. Even some maidservants blushed and lowered their heads.

Wang Shi frowned as she looked at him. She remembered when Lu Qihuai first entered their household, he seemed awkward, stumbling over his words. But now, after only a short time, he had changed so much. Though his clothes were still modest—deliberately simple because of the mourning period—he still appeared more elegant than her own sons, who were carefully dressed.

She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear. She had never really taken this young man seriously before, but now, looking at his appearance and the confidence radiating from him, she realized that even without Shen Wei, the old lady might consider passing the title of Duke of Rong to him.

How could this happen? The Duke’s position was meant for her sons! How could it fall into someone else’s hands? As these thoughts filled her mind, she couldn’t help but look at Lu Qihuai with a gaze that carried a trace of newfound wariness.

Lu Qihuai didn’t seem to notice Wang Shi’s watchful eyes. He continued walking and stopped when he reached Shen Wei. As usual, he greeted her with a respectful bow and said, “Mother, I’m late.”

Shen Wei looked at his attire, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.

Actually, Lu Qihuai’s outfit wasn’t much different from his usual ones. The only difference was the aura around him… He had always been quite restrained in public, which dulled his appearance a little. But today, there was an undeniable elegance in his every gesture, making him appear quite striking.

Even Lu Mizhi noticed the change in him. She let go of Shen Wei’s hand and ran toward Lu Qihuai, reaching out to grab his sleeve. Looking up, she sweetly said, “Brother, you look so handsome today.”

Lu Qihuai smiled at her words. He gently patted her head and then turned to greet Wang Shi, saying, “Second Aunt.”

Wang Shi, however, didn’t respond with her usual warmth. She nodded stiffly, acknowledging his greeting, before being supported by Anxiang and heading toward the carriage.

Lu Qihuai didn’t say anything more. He turned back to Shen Wei and said, “Mother, the time is about right, we should leave now.”

Shen Wei didn’t object. She nodded, then extended her hand to Lu Mizhi, saying, “Mizhi, let’s go.”

Once they had boarded the carriage, Lu Qihuai stepped forward, walking toward the other carriages. His two younger brothers, Lu Qiyan and Lu Qixuan, had been waiting by the side, and as soon as they saw Lu Qihuai approaching, their expressions changed. Especially Lu Qiyan, who had always been unable to hide his jealousy. After hearing the conversation with his older brother, he had become increasingly envious of Lu Qihuai.

Recently, at the Yang family’s academy, he had been subtly targeting Lu Qihuai, and now, seeing his older brother in this new light, his jealousy was impossible to mask.

Thinking of the plans his older brother had told him earlier, the lingering hesitation in Lu Qiyan’s heart completely vanished. Without saying a word, he just pursed his lips and walked toward the horse, his jealousy evident in his every step.

Lu Qixuan, however, just watched Lu Qiyan walk away in silence. He then turned his attention to Lu Qihuai, who was drawing nearer. When Lu Qihuai reached him, he released the tightly clenched hands behind his back and, with his usual composure, greeted him with a bow and said, “Brother Xuan Yue.”

Lu Qihuai returned the greeting with a slight bow and responded, “Second Brother.”

Lu Qixuan’s eyes darkened for a brief moment after hearing the title, but it was only a fleeting moment. His face quickly returned to its usual calm expression, and he gave a polite smile, his voice as gentle as ever, “It’s almost time, let’s go.”

With that, he and Lu Qihuai continued walking together.

—-

The Huo family lived in Jiushi Alley, where the nobility and court officials resided, and the Shen family also lived there.

Since today was Huo Feiguang’s birthday banquet, the alley had been crowded since early morning. Shen Wei had to wait for an hour before reaching the Huo family’s door.

By the time they arrived, most of the guests had already gathered. When the Lu family’s carriages stopped in front of the gate, the conversation in the area came to a sudden halt.

Since Lu Buwei’s death, the Lu family hadn’t entertained many guests, let alone participated in public events. So, seeing them arrive together caused quite a stir. Before long, someone pointed at Lu Qihuai and said, “Isn’t that the eldest son of the Duke of Rong?”

Everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice.

Among the young men in front of the carriages, two were from the second branch of the Lu family, and they were easily recognized. But the young man in the middle, wearing a dark robe, was unfamiliar to them.

The Lu family only had four sons: the two from the second branch, the youngest from the third branch, and this dark-robed young man in the middle—who could only be Lu Bu Wei’s eldest son.

Since the incident at the Lu family had spread, everyone had been curious to see what the eldest son of Lu Buwei, Lu Qihuai, looked like. Although it was previously heard that he had passed Mr. Yang’s examination and entered the Yang family’s academy, not many had seen his true appearance. Now, as people watched him sitting on horseback, although he did not have the same commanding presence as his father, Lu Buwei, he still exuded an air of nobility and charm. He certainly didn’t match the rumors of being unremarkable.

Lu Qihuai noticed the gazes directed at him but said nothing, not even changing his expression. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he dismounted and walked toward the first carriage.

When he reached the carriage, he respectfully said, “Mother, we have arrived.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd followed his gaze to the carriage. After the Duke of Rong’s departure, it was said that his wife had fainted and had been bedridden for half a month before waking up. This small circle of aristocrats always shared gossip, so everyone was aware of the details.

The Duke and his wife were deeply affectionate, yet such an incident had occurred, and they had a son about the same age as Lu Qihuai. Although the Lu family was rather secretive, they were familiar with the Duke’s wife and knew she was not a woman who could tolerate much.

As everyone speculated, the carriage curtain was finally lifted. A maid wearing a green gown stepped down first, followed by a delicate hand emerging from inside the carriage.

At that moment, the sun was just right, and the hand, pale and slender, seemed as delicate as jade under the sunlight. Everyone around fell silent, watching the scene with bated breath.

In this still atmosphere, Shen Wei placed her hand on Mo Qi’s arm and bent down to step out of the carriage. She naturally noticed the many eyes on her. There were both men and women, staring openly, which could be uncomfortable, but Shen Wei was already used to such attention. She had spoken in front of over a thousand people in the company before without a change in her expression, so facing these few people was nothing. Her brows were calm, and her face was composed. With Mo Qi’s support, she gracefully stepped down from the carriage without any sign of fluster.

When Lu Mizhi was also helped down, Shen Wei took his hand and calmly said to Lu Qihuai, “Alright, let’s go.”

Lu Qihuai responded respectfully.

Madam Wang and the others had already disembarked, and the group moved forward. The onlookers, having seen them approach, immediately parted to make way. The doorman of the Huo family also came forward to greet them. He first bowed respectfully to Shen Wei and then said with a respectful tone, “You have arrived. The Princess Dowager sent someone earlier to ask if you had come.”

After saying this, he bowed again and stepped aside, adding, “Please, come in.”

Shen Wei didn’t respond with words but simply nodded and continued walking with Lu Mizhi into the inner courtyard.

Only after they had left did the crowd behind begin to speak. Watching the group, their conversation was along the lines of, “We thought the Duke’s wife would surely not accept this eldest son, but it seems there’s no trace of discord between them.”

Shen Wei said nothing along the way. When they reached the hanging-flower gate in the front courtyard, she paused and looked at Lu Qihuai. The event was divided by gender into the outer and inner courtyards. Today, the men were received in the outer courtyard by Huo Longting, and the women were to be received in the inner courtyard by Zhao Wan. Although she knew that Lu Qihuai, with his abilities, would not be mistreated, she still felt a bit anxious.

After all, this was Lu Qihuai’s first time attending such a gathering.

Moreover, this scene wasn’t in the original text…

Noticing Shen Wei’s gaze, Lu Qihuai also stopped. He maintained his warm smile and said gently, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Besides…” He looked back at his two younger brothers, Lu Qixuan and Lu Qiyan, and softened his voice, adding, “I’ll have my two younger cousins with me.”

Shen Wei glanced at Lu Qixuan and Lu Qiyan. One was deeply strategic but spoke with honeyed words, while the other acted without thinking. She didn’t hold much hope in them.

However, she didn’t say anything further.

Lu Qihuai was not an ordinary person. If he couldn’t handle the troubles now, how could he ever rise to a higher position in the future? Her worry was unnecessary.

With that in mind, Shen Wei nodded and continued leading Lu Mizhi toward the hanging-flower gate.

As they passed through the gate…

Madam Wang, seeing Shen Wei’s expression, couldn’t help but say, “Look at you, big sister-in-law, you really treat him like your own son…”

After saying this, she chuckled lightly and then lowered her voice, continuing, “Don’t take it the wrong way. He’s not your biological son. Although he obeys you now because he’s weak, who knows what he might do in the future? Do you agree?”

Before Shen Wei could speak, Lu Mizhi, with a scowl on her face, retorted, “You’re talking nonsense! Brother would never do that!”

This was the first time Lu Mizhi had ever rebuked someone, and it was directed at Madam Wang…

Not only did the maid beside her freeze, but even Madam Wang was stunned for a moment. After she regained her composure, her expression darkened. Shen Wei might tolerate this, but how dare a concubine’s daughter speak to her like this?

She was about to snap back when she heard Shen Wei stop.

Facing Madam Wang, Shen Wei’s expression remained calm as she said, “Second younger sister-in-law, mind your words. If Mother finds out, I don’t know how she would view second brother.”

Madam Wang’s face, which had held some anger, suddenly turned pale. She had been trying to sow discord between Shen Wei and Lu Qihuai but had not considered the consequences with Lu Buwei. If the old lady or Lu Buwei learned of her words, the punishment would be far worse than a mere reprimand.

Not to mention what Lu Bu Yang was thinking, on the surface, he had been raised by the old lady.

A hint of panic flashed in her eyes, but she still forced herself to hold her head high and said, “You, don’t speak nonsense. I didn’t mean that.”

After saying this, she couldn’t be bothered to argue with Shen Wei anymore and hurriedly walked forward, as if any delay would cause trouble.

Shen Wei watched Wang Shi leave without speaking. She was about to continue walking when she heard Lu Mi Zhi’s soft voice: “Mother, did I cause you trouble?”

Shen Wei, hearing this, stopped and lowered her eyes. She saw Lu Mi Zhi slightly tilt her pale face and gave her a gentle smile. She placed her hand on Lu Mi Zhi’s head and spoke softly, “No trouble at all. Don’t worry.”

After saying this, she added, “But Mi Zhi, do you regret speaking up against her?”

Lu Mi Zhi immediately shook her head. She still held Shen Wei’s hand. Though her voice trembled slightly, her tone was firm, “I don’t regret it. I don’t like how she speaks about you and Brother. Even if Second Aunt wants to punish me, I don’t regret what I said.”

Shen Wei looked at her with a tender smile and gently stroked Lu Mi Zhi’s face. She then softly reassured her, “Silly girl, no one is going to punish you.”

Once she finished speaking—

Mo Qi beside her softly said, “Madam, it’s time for us to go.”

Shen Wei responded with a quiet “Hmm” and continued walking, still holding Lu Mi Zhi’s hand.

—-

The banquet in the inner courtyard was set up in the flower hall. By this time, the invited guests had nearly all arrived. When Shen Wei, guided by a maid, was close to entering, she could already hear the laughter of women inside. The maids outside saw her coming and bowed respectfully, then announced her arrival, before lifting the curtain and inviting her in.

Shen Wei didn’t speak, only smoothing her sleeve as she continued walking with Lu Mi Zhi toward the inside.

The people inside had already paused their conversations upon hearing the announcement. As the curtain was lifted, they looked toward the entrance and saw a young woman entering, holding a little girl’s hand. Because the sun outside was getting brighter, Shen Wei, as she entered, was bathed in a layer of light, causing the onlookers to have trouble making out her features.

As she got closer—

They finally saw Shen Wei’s face clearly. Unlike the usual image of the Marquis of Rong’s wife, Shen Wei, though dressed in simple clothes and with no extravagant jewelry, stood there so charmingly that no one could look away.

Shen Wei noticed their gaze but did not stop. She walked a few more steps, then bowed politely to Zhao Wan and said, “Greetings to you, Your Excellency.”

Lu Mi Zhi also followed suit, giving a proper bow.

Zhao Wan smiled deeper at the sight of them. She quickly extended a hand to support Shen Wei and said warmly, “I’m so glad you finally made it.” Her words were very affectionate, which made everyone stop in surprise. They had already found it strange that Princess Qinghe had invited the Lu family to the banquet.

For many years, neither the Lu family nor Princess Qinghe had had any interaction.

But now—

Not only had Princess Qinghe invited the Lu family, but she also seemed particularly close to the wife of the Marquis of Rong.

What was going on?

Shen Wei, noticing the familiarity in Zhao Wan’s tone, felt her own suspicions grow, but her face showed no change. She continued to smile and softly replied, “I was already on my way, but the roads were too congested, so it took longer than expected.”

After saying this, she smiled again and added, “Mother caught a slight cold a few days ago. She was afraid that coming here might disturb everyone’s mood. As for Third Sister-in-law…”

Before she could finish, Zhao Wan gently squeezed her hand and patted it, “You don’t need to explain further. I understand.” She then continued, “Today, your sister-in-law is also here, so I’ve arranged for you to sit next to her. You two can chat.”

When Shen Wei entered, she had already spotted Chu Fuyun, so when she heard Zhao Wan’s words, she naturally thanked her.

Zhao Wan smiled and then signaled for the maid to guide Shen Wei to her seat.

As soon as Shen Wei sat down—

The surrounding conversations resumed. Some continued talking with Zhao Wan, while others who had known Shen Wei for some time greeted her. Shen Wei exchanged pleasantries with them. Seeing Chu Fuyun smile at her, she asked, “Will Chun Ting be here today?”

“He’s been going to the academy recently, and besides, he feels a bit awkward here.”

Chu Fuyun smiled as she spoke, handing some candy to Lu Mi Zhi, and then added, “Your Seventh Miss has really grown into a lively and lovely child.” She often visited the Lu family and was familiar with Lu Mi Zhi. In the past, the Seventh Miss had seemed quiet and reserved, but today she appeared different.

Shen Wei only smiled at this. She gently wiped Lu Mi Zhi’s lips with her handkerchief and said, “Children should indeed be lively.”

Huo Feiguang and the other young women were chatting in another part of the hall…

After a while, the women in the flower hall moved outside to watch a performance.

The theater troupe Zhao Wan had invited was one of the best in the city. They rarely performed for other families, but thanks to Zhao Wan’s royal status, they were able to enjoy the performance here. Shen Wei, who had no particular interest in the plays, found herself somewhat captivated after watching for a while.

The play had just reached its most intense moment when a maid hurriedly approached. Her footsteps were flustered, and though she tried to conceal it, her pale face couldn’t hide her anxiety. Upon reaching Zhao Wan, she first bowed respectfully, then whispered urgently, “Your Highness, something has happened.”

Zhao Wan frowned upon hearing this.

She turned her head to look at the maid, and after listening to the detailed explanation, her furrowed brows tightened even further.

She withdrew her hand from where it had been resting and softly instructed, “Have someone take care of it first. Don’t let others know…”

“Your Highness, it’s too late…” The maid’s voice was still soft, but when she finished speaking, she added, “The first to find the body was one of the young ladies attending the banquet today. The noise caused a stir, and the princess and the other young ladies have already found out. The princess has already rushed over, and the other ladies, upon hearing of the incident, refused to stay inside and have also gone over.”

“The area is connected to the outer courtyard, so by now, it’s likely that everyone outside knows as well.”

“Also…” The maid hesitated, clearly struggling with the next words. When Zhao Wan glanced up at her, it took a while before she bit her lip and continued, “The wet nurse said the maid who drowned appeared to have more than just drowned. There are… signs of a man on her body.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan was immediately enraged. She had initially thought the maid’s death was simply an accidental drowning, something unfortunate but not a major matter. However, if the maid’s death was indeed more than just drowning, whether it was a suicide due to humiliation or someone else throwing her into the river, this was unacceptable. Especially since it happened right under her nose during the grand birthday banquet for Feiguang.

This was a direct slap in the face to her family’s reputation!

With a cold voice, Zhao Wan said, “Investigate immediately. I want to know who dares commit such an act under my watch!”

Her words were not concealed, and the entire hall heard her clearly.

The performers on stage, who had been singing before, immediately knelt, while everyone else turned to look. Zhao Wan was sitting in the front row, and when the maid had approached, they had thought it was just a trivial household matter that needed the Princess’s attention. They hadn’t expected her to become so furious.

A thief? Could it be that the Hou family had been robbed?

Shen Wei, seated beside Zhao Wan, had overheard part of the conversation, though the maid had whispered. The fact that something like this could happen at a major event like Feiguang’s birthday made her uneasy. People with a loose temperament wouldn’t dare to create such a scene under the eyes of Hou Shangshu and the Princess of Qinghe, so this incident must be serious.

She couldn’t explain why, but she felt an ominous premonition. Her professional instincts had always been reliable, and this time, she felt the incident might somehow be related to Lu Qihua. It might even be something directed at him.

She resolved to have Mo Qi find a way to check on him in the outer courtyard later and see if he was involved.

The maid had already left to carry out Zhao Wan’s orders…

Zhao Wan, having calmed her anger, took a deep breath before turning to address everyone. “There has been an issue at home, and I apologize for causing you discomfort.”

She continued, “Normally, matters within the household should not be shared openly, but this one is too big to hide, and after much thought, I feel I should inform you all.”

Upon hearing this, the other women, though still unaware of the full details, understood it must be something serious. They responded, “Your Highness, there is no need to keep it from us. If something has happened, it’s inappropriate for us to stay here and continue enjoying the performance. We would like to know what has happened and whether we can assist in any way.”

Zhao Wan remained silent for a moment before raising her hand, supported by Hong Ling, to stand. After a pause, she spoke again, “Please, ladies, follow me.”

The women exchanged glances but said nothing. They simply responded with a soft “Yes” and followed Zhao Wan.

—-

Shen Wei, holding Lu Mi Zhi’s hand, walked along with Zhao Wan. Initially, she had planned to have Mo Qi find a way to check on Lu Qihua in the outer courtyard, but with so many people around, leaving now might raise suspicion. After some thought, she decided to let it go for now.

Zhao Wan said nothing, and the group walked in silence. When they reached a garden, they heard a lot of noise, both male and female voices. The women exchanged glances once more.

This garden was close to the Hanging Flowers Gate, connecting the inner and outer courtyards. What kind of trouble had brought everyone together in this place?

As they passed through the path, the scene before them was clear: not only was Hou Feiguang there, but so was Hou Longting. Both father and daughter appeared uneasy. Some young gentlemen and ladies from noble families stood around but kept their distance.

As Zhao Wan led her group forward, the noble young men and women quickly bowed to her.

Hou Feiguang approached. After greeting Zhao Wan, she spoke, “Mother, I have had people investigate. Qingliu was knocked unconscious and thrown into the river. In addition, I found bloodstains on her fingers, which must have been left when she struggled with the attacker. If we find someone with these traces, we will know who the culprit is.”

Huo Feiguang, who had long been in the borderlands and did not adhere to the traditional gender distinctions, spoke with such composure that it caught the attention of the surrounding noble ladies, causing them to be momentarily startled.

These women, seasoned in the ways of the inner court, had immediately understood the subtle hints in Princess Changping’s words, even if they were phrased delicately. It was no wonder that such an incident had occurred today. At the birthday banquet for Princess Changping, the guests were all noble young masters from prestigious families. Immediately, the mothers of sons looked anxiously toward that area, breathing a sigh of relief only when they saw their own sons standing there unharmed.

Shen Wei, too, turned her gaze in that direction. There were many people gathered in that spot, and after looking carefully several times, she still couldn’t spot Lu Qihuai.

Her already heavy heart sank further.

After hearing Huo Feiguang’s words, Zhao Wan finally spoke, “Have you sent someone to investigate?”

“We’ve already sent people to check on the young masters here, but no findings,” Huo Feiguang replied. Then, her gaze turned toward Shen Wei, and she added, “However, I did find that the eldest son of the Duke of Rong is not among them.”

At her words, the other women turned to look at Shen Wei. Some even whispered among themselves, saying, “It seems that a child raised outside doesn’t know the rules. Perhaps he’s used to behaving this way. What kind of banquet would allow such behavior? Especially today, when the Duke of Rong has just left, he dares to act like this. How unfilial!”

Once one person started, others followed suit, murmuring their own opinions.

Though Wang Shi did not speak, there was a look of amusement on her face. She had not even made a move yet, but that young man had already caused such a scene… even in the Huo family. No matter how much Shen Wei and the old lady cared for him, what did it matter now? After today, Lu Qihuai’s reputation would be utterly ruined.

Not to mention inheriting the Duke of Rong’s title, it was doubtful he would even be able to sit for the imperial examination in the future.

As she thought about this, Wang Shi’s excitement was impossible to hide, and her lips curled into a smile.

Though Shen Wei was concerned, she was not afraid. She trusted Lu Qihuai; with his abilities, he would certainly be able to handle this situation. She only wondered, where could Lu Qihuai be?

When Zhao Wan heard Huo Feiguang mention “the eldest son of the Duke of Rong,” her heart sank. After hearing the murmurs of the surrounding women, her face darkened even further. Her hand rested on Hong Ling’s arm as she calmly said, “The situation has not been clarified yet. Ladies, please be cautious with your words, as you all come from esteemed families.”

After Zhao Wan spoke, the whispers immediately stopped. Shen Wei, unfazed, gave Zhao Wan a subtle glance.

Once the chatter ceased, Zhao Wan turned to Hong Ling and said softly, “Send someone to search for him.”

Hong Ling nodded quickly in response.

Without the chatter, Wang Shi, seeing Shen Wei’s calm expression, couldn’t help but lower her voice and say, “Big sister-in-law seems completely unconcerned?”

Shen Wei did not reply, only giving a faint glance toward Wang Shi. Wang Shi was about to say more, but before she could speak, she saw Lu Qihuai coming down the side path with steady steps.

Upon seeing everyone staring at him, Lu Qihuai was momentarily stunned, then he smiled lightly and asked, “What’s going on? Why is everyone staring at me?”