Chapter 6

In just a moment, Lu Hengzhi returned to his usual calm. Looking at the gentle and graceful young woman before him, he asked evenly, “Breaking off an engagement isn’t a trivial matter. Are you sure? You won’t regret it?”

Su Qingluo nodded. “Yes. I’ve thought it through. I won’t regret it.”

Lu Hengzhi’s gaze deepened slightly.

Su Qingluo began, “Third Master, about me and Lu Yan—”

“Call me Third Brother,” Lu Hengzhi suddenly interrupted, his voice melodious, like spring water flowing over stone.

Su Qingluo was caught off guard by the abrupt request, unsure why he was suddenly fixated on how she addressed him. Years ago, at a family banquet, she had called him Third Brother along with the others. But now that she was older, and given the difference between men and women, such an intimate term felt inappropriate.

As if sensing her hesitation, Lu Hengzhi added, “You want me to stand up for you, yet you still keep me at arm’s length?”

So that’s what he meant. Without further thought, Su Qingluo immediately said, “Third Brother.” Her voice was clear and ethereal—even more melodious than a golden oriole’s song.

Lu Hengzhi looked at her for a moment. “Third Brother agrees.”

Su Qingluo was momentarily stunned. “But you haven’t even heard my reason…”

“Does it matter?” Lu Hengzhi’s tone carried a proud disregard for convention. “If you want to break off the engagement, whatever the reason, I’ll make sure it happens.”

Su Qingluo felt a jolt in her heart. Why did he trust her so completely? After the shock came a sudden, inexplicable unease.

Just then, Song Wen rushed in with an urgent report. “Master, Old Madam has suddenly collapsed. Everyone’s waiting for you to take charge.”

Zi Yuan followed closely behind, her face full of worry.

“What did you say?”

Su Qingluo, panicked, immediately rushed out. In her haste, she missed a step and stumbled forward. Just as she was about to fall, a steady force pulled her back—and she landed in Lu Hengzhi’s arms. She felt a rush of embarrassment and frustration, but in the next instant, Lu Hengzhi released her—as composed and gentlemanly as ever.

“Don’t panic,” he said, his voice carrying a quiet steadiness that instantly calmed Su Qingluo’s nerves.

Lu Hengzhi then instructed Song Wen in a calm tone, “Take my card and immediately invite Imperial Physician Song to the residence.”

Imperial Physician Song Yu was the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Su Qingluo was deeply grateful, but had no time to express it. She bowed quickly and rushed off with Zi Yuan toward her grandmother’s courtyard.

Most of the women had already arrived; the men waited in the outer courtyard.

As soon as Su Qingluo entered, she grasped Old Madam Lu’s hand, tears falling in steady drops as she called out to her grandmother again and again.

Old Madam Lu appeared to be asleep—her breathing was steady, and she remained motionless. The family doctor who regularly treated her arrived shortly after, took her pulse, then shook his head and left with a sigh.

Su Qingluo couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into sobs.

Yue’e, the head maid by Old Madam Lu’s side, came over and held her, eyes brimming with tears. “It’ll be alright. The Chief Minister has sent for the imperial physician. Everything will be fine.”

Su Qingluo leaned into her arms, crying uncontrollably.

Imperial Physician Song arrived swiftly and dismissed everyone from the room.

Su Qingluo had no choice but to wait outside with the others, anxious and uneasy.

Night deepened. No one knew how much time had passed before Imperial Physician Song finally emerged, his expression grave. “These next three days will be critical. If she pulls through, she’ll recover. If not…”

Su Qingluo bit her lip, digging her fingertips into her palm.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

Madam Qian Wenling, the eldest madam, took charge and told the others to get some rest. She and a few sisters-in-law would take turns keeping vigil. Su Qingluo refused to leave and insisted on staying.

Madam Liu said solemnly, “This is when we need people most. I won’t shirk my duty. I’ll come relieve Sister-in-law first thing in the morning.” With that, she turned and went off to sleep.

No one had expected such a crisis to erupt in the middle of a birthday banquet.

Outside, the men were led by Lu Hengzhi. Since he hadn’t left, no one dared to leave either—afraid of offending the cold-faced Chief Minister at such a critical moment.

No one expected that the vigil would last the entire night.

That night, Su Qingluo didn’t sleep at all. She stayed by Old Madam Lu’s side the whole time. Ironically, it was Madam Qian Wenling who managed to nap for two hours on a rattan chair outside.

Imperial Physician Song had stayed overnight at the Lu residence. At dawn, he returned to take Old Madam Lu’s pulse, his expression grave as he adjusted her prescription and instructed everyone to attend to her with utmost care—this was a critical moment.

Madam Liu arrived yawning, complaining, “Had I known, I should’ve stayed last night. I was so worried about the old lady, I couldn’t sleep at all.”

Madam Qian Wenling gave a faint smile, unwilling to argue, and simply said, “Qingluo was exhausted last night. She should go rest for a while.”

Su Qingluo felt she could still manage, but knowing she might have to stay up again tonight, she rose to head to the guest room next door for a nap—only to hear Madam Liu call out with a smile, “Wait, I have something to discuss with Qingluo. Sister-in-law, you should hear it too.”

A sense of foreboding rose in Su Qingluo’s chest. She and Qian Wenling followed Madam Liu into the outer room.

Madam Liu got straight to the point: “I’ll be blunt. With the old lady in such a state, things don’t look good. I was thinking—why not bring some joy into the house? Let’s hold Qingluo and Yan’er’s wedding tomorrow. If the old lady is happy, maybe she’ll recover. I’ve already prepared everything.”

Qian Wenling hesitated. “This…”

Madam Liu pressed on: “I know it’s a bit unfair to Qingluo, but she’s family. Once she marries in, I’ll make it up to her—no one will dare look down on her. Besides, Qingluo has always been a filial child. If this helps the old lady, she surely won’t refuse.”

Su Qingluo nearly bit her lip bloody—how vicious Madam Liu was!

With her grandmother on the brink of death, she still had the nerve to bring up the marriage. She feared that if the old lady passed, Su Qingluo would break off the engagement and cost her a fortune. So she devised this scheme, using filial piety to trap her.

Su Qingluo let out a cold laugh. “I refuse.”

If Madam Liu were heartless, then she wouldn’t hold back either.

With her grandmother in such a state, Su Qingluo suddenly felt fearless. She was ready to risk everything. Her voice turned icy. “Second Aunt, have you forgotten? I already said I want to break off the engagement with Lu Yan.”

Madam Liu panicked and immediately interrupted, “Nonsense! The old lady personally arranged this engagement. Now that her life hangs in the balance, how dare you speak of breaking it off? How could you be so unfilial?”

Su Qingluo met her gaze head-on. “Not breaking it off would be the real betrayal. Grandmother said she only wants me to be well.”

“You’ve pushed me again and again. I have no choice but to ask the Chief Minister to intervene.”

Madam Liu’s heart jolted. “What did you say?”

Su Qingluo turned and strode out. Zi Yuan followed closely behind.

Madam Liu’s panicked voice echoed behind them: “Stop her!”

Outside, the male relatives had yet to disperse. The setup was still the same as the night before, with a folding screen separating the courtyard and the main hall.

Through the screen, Lu Hengzhi’s silhouette could be faintly seen. He sat at the head of the table, holding a teacup, sipping elegantly. As if sensing someone’s approach, he looked up—his gaze seemed to pierce through the screen and land on her.

Su Qingluo had made up her mind to escalate the matter. Without hesitation, she knelt before the screen and called out loudly, “Commoner Su Qingluo wishes to break off her engagement with Lu Yan. Yet my aunt, Madam Liu, has repeatedly obstructed me. I beg the Chief Minister to uphold justice on my behalf!”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.