Chapter 87: Joining the Lu Family

At the entrance of the Wang family’s mansion, facing the aggressive Madam Luo and the evidence she presented, Madam Wang could do nothing but invite her inside while looking at her unfortunate son.

As soon as Madam Luo sat down, she began to berate Wang Shancun viciously. Her son, Zhao Bin, had suffered so much, and now they even tried to bribe servants to salt his wounds, sow discord between him and his relatives…

What could the Wang family do but apologize?

So, the unfortunate Wang Shancun was forced by his mother to apologize with his head pressed down.

“Madam Zhao, it’s my fault. I’m sorry for Zhao Bin. I shouldn’t have let the servants say he was mistreated by so many people, shouldn’t have said he was dirtier than a servant boy, shouldn’t have said his current state was caused by his elder sister, shouldn’t have said he became useless because his parents didn’t educate him properly…”

“Enough!” Hearing this apology, Madam Luo was so angry that her eyes blurred. She pointed at Wang Shancun, her voice trembling, “Is this your idea of an apology?”

Seeing her reaction, Madam Wang was displeased. Why wasn’t her son apologizing? When her son apologized, he would point out his own mistakes one by one, and it would be sincere!

“Our Wang family’s apologies are like this. If you don’t accept it, there’s nothing we can do!” Madam Wang continued, “But our Wang family apologizes sincerely. In addition, we have prepared two hundred taels of silver as an apology gift for the Fourth Young Master of your esteemed family. Please take it with you later, Madam Zhao.” How about it, Madam Zhao, does this handling method seem familiar to you?

Two hundred taels? Just to get rid of me! If not for this, Madam Luo wouldn’t be so angry. Now, she stood up and walked out, saying, “Alright, alright, your Wang family is so generous!”

Madam Wang didn’t stop her from leaving, let her go if she wanted.

Until Madam Luo walked out of the Wang family’s gate, the Wang family didn’t try to stop her or apologize properly. The indifferent attitude of the Wang family made Madam Luo’s heart ache, and she made a mental note of it.

“Mother—” Wang Shancun called out cautiously.

“What’s wrong? There are so many people who kick you when you’re down, and you’re the only one who’s caught.” Madam Wang was also helpless with her son. He was too slow, look at Yao Zining, Sheng Huai’an, they were so smart and quick to act.

“Mother, you know about it?” Wait, what did she mean by so many people kicking him when he’s down? Could it be… before he could figure it out, his mother interrupted his thoughts.

Madam Wang took a sip of tea, of course she knew. It was precisely because she knew that she let her youngest son make a fuss, just to vent her anger.

In the past, the Zhao siblings often bullied others in this way. Whenever Zhao Yutan was wronged, Zhao Bin would find trouble with others. Moreover, Zhao Bin was ruthless in his actions, often tormenting the children of other families. Sometimes, before the parents could intervene, Zhao Yutan, as the elder sister, would come out to apologize and smooth things over. The siblings often did this, making others feel petty if they minded, and uncomfortable if they didn’t. It was truly disgusting!

When someone was wronged and went to the Zhao family, they would just brush it off.

This time, when several children saw the Lu family’s second young lady make a move against Zhao Bin, they all joined in the attack. However, these children were secretive and didn’t know about each other’s actions.

The adults of these families just nodded lightly and decided not to interfere, letting them do as they pleased and see how far they could go.

In fact, the adults of these families were quite grateful to the Lu family’s second young lady. Children born into official families like theirs couldn’t be too kind, but the timing and extent of their actions were also crucial. Second Miss Lu had essentially taught these children a lesson.

“Alright, stop looking so nervous. What are you worried about? Apologize when you should, make amends when you should, we’ve done our part in this matter.” They all made their children apologize and prepared compensation, two hundred taels in total. What more did the Wang family want?

In fact, they were just following the Zhao family’s example. You used to do this kind of thing all the time, now that the tables have turned, and your children are being bullied, our family is just brushing it off. Can you not stand it because it’s your turn to be bullied, but it’s not okay for others to retaliate?

“I’m worried about causing trouble for the family.”

Madam Wang shrugged it off, “What trouble could it cause? With so many people acting at once, can the Zhao family handle it? The current Minister of Justice is Yao Songwen, not like the previous Ji Yongqing from the Xie family. If the Xie family really helps the Zhao family against us, and we’re pushed too far, I’ll have the master directly join the Yao family or the Lu family! Although my husband’s official position is not high, it is a real one!”

Madam Luo returned home with a belly full of anger.

Although Madam Wang didn’t blame her son, Wang Shancun was forbidden from going out.

He couldn’t go out, but his friends came to see him. Even Lu Mingzhi was invited.

The one who invited him was Sheng Huai’an. The Lu family and the Sheng family had no connection in the capital. Sheng Huai’an invited him under the guise of being fellow students at Bailu Academy, but they were only nodding acquaintances at the academy.

“Go,” Lu Songli encouraged him, “Tell me who else is going.” An enemy’s enemy is a friend. If they have a common enemy and have fought together, there’s a basis for cooperation.

Wang Family

Lu Mingzhi was personally picked up by Sheng Huai’an at the Lu family’s residence. They went to the Wang family together.

As they approached the Wang family’s residence, Lu Mingzhi noticed that besides them, there were also Yao Zining and Sun Congyi. The two groups met not far from the Wang family’s gate, exchanged greetings, and then entered the Wang family’s residence together.

Lu Mingzhi felt comfortable with them.

Sheng Huai’an was a classmate and the one who invited him. He was very friendly to Lu Mingzhi.

Yao Zining was from the Yao family, and Yao Songwen was his great-uncle. A few days ago, the Yao family had won the position of Minister of Justice with the help of Lu Desheng. Now, the entire Yao family was very fond of the Lu family. He was naturally friendly to Lu Mingzhi, the legitimate second son of Lu Desheng.

The Sun family, like the Qin family, had been in the military for generations. However, the Sun family guarded the southern border, while the Qin family guarded the northwestern border. For the sake of the Qin family, Sun Congyi was also friendly to him.

The four of them first went to pay their respects to the Wang family elders, which was a matter of courtesy.

Madam Wang looked at the four young men, chatted with them amicably for a while, and then asked a servant to lead them to Wang Shancun’s courtyard.

Wang Shancun, who was forbidden from going out, was very happy to see them. “Why did you come?” He looked at Lu Mingzhi and muttered to himself, who invited him?

Sun Congyi teased him as soon as he saw him, “You little rascal, you’re so daring, you even dared to reach into the Zhao family’s backyard?”

Wang Shancun glanced at Lu Mingzhi and said self-deprecatingly, “I did, so what?”

Sun Congyi put his arm around him, “Actually, I…”

“You what?”

Sun Congyi gave him a “you know what I mean” look.

Wang Shancun immediately understood, “Alright, so you did it too?”