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Shu Mingwei hastened to reply, “I swear I won’t say a word.”
Xia added, “A few months back, just after Lady Lu had helped Lady Xie (Lady Yang) tremendously, I overheard Xie Shu defending Lu Shi, praising her beauty, talents, and how she had saved her sister-in-law and nephew while enduring such hardship. I inquired about it, and she whispered to me that Brother Jiang was cunningly using Lady Lu. He first utilized her entry into the military camp as a stepping stone for his own advancement. Then, he orchestrated a plan using Lady Lu to break away from the family, freeing them from oppression. When he returned from the border, he could rightfully divorce his wife. As the head of his own household, even the Princess and the old Marquis couldn’t interfere with his marital decisions…”
“Is that true?” Shu Mingwei’s sobbing ceased, replaced with a tone of surprise.
“Of course. I heard about it a few months ago, and hasn’t it all come to fruition? After breaking free from family control, Brother Jiang swiftly rose to the rank of a fourth-grade official. Recently, he separated his siblings from the household, nearly completing all the necessary steps before divorcing his wife. Until his return from military service, his siblings remained at the Princess Changting’s residence, under her care. Brother Jiang is afraid that his siblings will be mistreated, so he ensured their well-being… Jiang Zhanwei’s cunning schemes have left Lady Lu spinning around, feeling triumphant and oblivious… hahaha…”
“My goodness… Is this true?” Shu Mingwei’s voice was full of astonishment.
“Why would I lie to you? Let me tell you…”
The voices and footsteps gradually faded away.
Lu Man was utterly dumbfounded, feeling as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.
Xie Shu was Xie Yu’s younger sister, and Xie Yu was Jiang Zhanwei’s closest friend, with whom he shared all his worries and plans.
Gradually connecting the dots, Lu Man began to realize that what Xia had said was indeed true, she had been manipulated by Jiang Zhanwei.
On the day of their engagement, he had orchestrated a scheme to showcase his virtues, portraying himself as an exceptional man who had married an unworthy wife. This act, displaying his filial piety, endurance, and sacrifice for the grandfather, was a stark departure from his usual modest demeanor. It sowed seeds of discord and fear among the main and third branches, leading them to resist having such a strong-willed and insubordinate illegitimate son remain in the family.
Subtly, he hinted to her that as the favored new bride, she need not fear anyone except for a select few elders. He made it clear that he had straightened his spine and she must not lose face by backing down. He likely believed the original Lu Man was foolish and could be easily pleased by his approval, allowing her to challenge elders and peers alike without concern. He only spared the main decision-makers from her defiance not out of genuine concern for her, but to safeguard his grand plan from potential disruptions.
In addition to the Princess Changting’s disapproval and the eldest Madam’s displeasure, these three factors played a crucial role in his decision to split the household.
What cut the deepest was his desire to split the household without bearing the label of being unfilial. He was considerate towards the main and third branches, providing them with a perfect excuse to prevent them from resenting the overachieving illegitimate son. He hoped Lu Man’s supposed disobedience and turbulent behavior would justify his longing for a split, under the guise of protecting his reputation and avoiding discord with the elders.
Unfortunately for him, this version of Lu Man was not compliant, instead, she earned admiration from all elders except the eldest Madam.
As Jiang Zhanwei failed to achieve his goal through Lu Man’s behavior, an ideal opportunity presented itself courtesy of the eldest Madam.
Thus, he proposed the separation, using his professed love, Lu Man’s supposed naivety, and his chivalrous intentions to coerce the Princess into agreeing to the split. Without directly exposing the eldest Madam’s schemes, he cleverly manipulated the situation to his advantage during the separation. He secured numerous benefits, waiting for his return from war to divorce his wife, solidifying his authority as the head of the household.
Lu Man had always believed the separation was for her safety, little did she know it was to protect his siblings from potential mistreatment.
Thinking his motives were noble, she had assumed the split was to provide her with a peaceful home, where she could be in control and not easily discarded. However, in reality, only he held the power to make that decision.
Lu Man felt like a complete fool, manipulated in the palm of his hand!
Her heart shattered, tears uncontrollable, followed by stifled sobs of anguish.
If only she had heard these words before last night, how different things might have been. She would have guarded her body and heart, continuing their contractual marriage without falling for his lies, without being ensnared by his charm, without succumbing to his tenderness…
His professed love and affection, his gentle demeanor from last night were all deceitful, all meant to ensure she took better care of his siblings. He had even lured her with wealth, expecting her to reciprocate his “kindness” by caring for his siblings…
Thinking of her intoxicated state last night, Lu Man was overwhelmed with shame, feeling more humiliated than on her wedding night. Sobbing uncontrollably, she let go of Sweet Pea, dropping the cat to the ground.
She must be the most naive time-traveling woman ever.
Her mother’s advice echoed in her mind: “Judge a person by their faults first, then by their virtues, to avoid being deceived.” Yet, even after seeing his faults, she had been ensnared by him. How could she, with the experiences of two lifetimes, be so easily deceived by a cunning child? Even the Princess were fooled by him, let alone herself.
This man was too dangerous, too manipulative, too calculating, making him impossible to guard against…
“Third Lady Lu, are you alright?” asked Song Ming. Initially intrigued by the gossip, he now saw Lu Man’s deep sorrow and felt a pang of empathy.
That Jiang Zhanwei might seem clever, but he was a fool. To have such a rare gem—a woman as beautiful, gentle, and intelligent as her, a once-in-a-thousand-years kind of woman—and treat her so poorly was a disgrace. He should have treasured her, cherished her, but instead, he harbored such despicable intentions. How could he bear it!
Trying to console her against his better judgment, Song Ming said, “Their words may not be accurate, Third Lady Lu, please don’t be too upset.”
Lu Man felt as though she had been jolted back to reality by Song Ming’s words.
Through teary eyes, she looked at Song Ming, then at Xing, Tao, and Song Mo. Being publicly scorned, rejected, and plotted against by her husband, who was planning to discard her, was a humiliation she couldn’t bear.
Indeed, as Xia had pointed out, what did she have to be proud of?