Chapter 8

Lu You’s heart gave a jolt. Only now did the crowd realize—they hadn’t seen Lu Yan at all the previous night.

Being labeled unfilial would be far more damaging, so Lu You hurriedly ordered people to go find him.

Lu Hengzhi glanced at Song Wen, who immediately understood.

Moments later, it was Song Wen who brought Lu Yan and Liu Yanran forward. Lu Yan reeked of alcohol, his face flushed with irritation. His clothes were disheveled, and his hair hadn’t even been pinned—clearly dragged out in haste. Beside him, Liu Yanran hadn’t had time to tidy herself either. She raised a handkerchief to cover her face, her whole body trembling. From the looks of it, the two had clearly spent the night together.

Unable to restrain himself, Lu You slapped Lu Yan hard across the face. “You disgraceful brat!”

Lu Yan’s cheek burned, but he didn’t dare make a sound.

Lu Hengzhi asked calmly, “What happened?”

Song Wen reported, “I happened to find Fourth Young Master in the front courtyard’s tea room—lying in bed with Miss Liu.”

No further explanation was needed.

The crowd erupted.

“Lu Yan is utterly unfilial! His grandmother is gravely ill, and he’s out indulging himself?”

“Looks like that Miss Liu knows her way around. Poor Miss Su—who knows how much she’s suffered?”

“Shameless. Absolutely shameless.”

Lu You’s voice trembled with fury. “You ungrateful son—kneel!”

Lu Yan dropped to his knees at once, and Liu Yanran followed.

Coming to his senses, Lu Yan quickly said, “Father, I drank too much last night and fell asleep early in the tea room. I didn’t know what happened. I just heard the commotion—Grandmother is ill?”

By the end, his tone was genuinely anxious.

The label of “unfilial” was one Lu Yan absolutely could not afford to wear.

Lu Hengzhi leaned back in his wisteria wood chair, his tone laced with mockery. “So you’re saying—you have no idea why you ended up with Miss Liu?”

Lu Yan replied without hesitation, “I truly don’t know.”

Liu Yanran immediately began to tremble, furious at how heartless Lu Yan was. But this concerned her future—she had no choice but to fight for it. She didn’t care about appearances anymore and kowtowed. “It was all my fault. Last night, I saw my cousin drunk and only meant to bring him a bowl of hangover soup. Who would’ve thought…” She paused. “In any case, it was all my fault. I don’t dare hope for anything—just to stay by his side, even as a maid.”

Her words neatly absolved Lu Yan of all responsibility.

Madam Liu, finally able to breathe again, couldn’t help but speak up. “Yanran, you were foolish to do such a thing. What happens next is entirely up to Qingluo—whether she can accept you or not.”

The implication: if Su Qingluo refused, she would be seen as petty and unforgiving.

Su Qingluo’s voice was icy. “Since I’ve already decided to break off the engagement with Lu Yan, this matter has nothing to do with me.”

Someone immediately added, “Exactly. Miss Su is clean and blameless—why throw all the filth on her?”

Lu Yan’s face turned pale. He snapped, “Silence! My affairs are none of your concern.” He turned to Su Qingluo, appearing sincere. “Qingluo, I was wrong last night. I shouldn’t have gotten drunk. Even if I made a mistake, is that enough to break off the engagement? You know I’ve only ever cared for you. Everyone in the household knows how I’ve treated you. Just yesterday—”

“I knew you liked drunken crab, so I gave you my portion. Haven’t I treated you well? Besides, it’s normal for men to have multiple wives.”

Most of the men present nodded in agreement. Many had seen Lu Yan give her the drunken crab, so his words gained traction. For a moment, the tide turned against Su Qingluo.

She suddenly stood and said coldly, “If you truly cared for me, how could you not know I break out in rashes from eating crab?”

Lu Yan: “Impossible. You’re lying.” Who doesn’t like crab?

Su Qingluo’s tone was crisp. “I never eat crab. My maid and Grandmother’s maid can both testify. That drunken crab you gave me yesterday—who were you performing for?”

“You’ve given me many gifts over the years, Lu Yan, but not a single one I liked. If you claim to care for me, then go ahead—tell everyone here what I actually like.”

Lu Yan was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, “Even if I forgot these small things, it doesn’t mean I don’t care. And I’ve always been innocent with Yanran—”

Su Qingluo was taken aback. How could he be so shameless?

Lu Hengzhi suddenly spoke. “Small things?” His voice was calm and cold. “I ask you plainly—can you name even one thing Miss Su likes?”

There was a pressure in his voice that was hard to describe.

Lu Yan’s mind went blank, his courage shriveled with fear—how could he dare lie at a moment like this?

Lu Hengzhi lifted his chin slightly, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes. “You can’t even name one thing Miss Su likes—how can you claim to care for her?”

“I personally escorted her all the way from Jinling to the capital. Was it just so she could be treated like this?” His final words were sharp and commanding, sending a chill through everyone present.

Everyone except Su Qingluo. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken up for her like this. His words were clearly a show of support—he would not allow her to be bullied. She didn’t know why he was defending her so fiercely, but she was deeply moved. Her heart swelled with emotion, and tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes. Then she heard Lu Hengzhi’s cold voice: “Bring the witness.”

The person brought in was a waiter from Fuji Teahouse. He spoke honestly: “Fourth Young Master Lu and Miss Liu have been meeting for two years. They come to the teahouse about twice a month, always in the same premium private room. Regular patrons can all vouch for it…”

Everyone suddenly understood—Lu Hengzhi had already investigated everything. That’s why he had struck so decisively.

Su Qingluo felt a wave of relief. So he had already secured the evidence. She couldn’t help but glance toward the folding screen again—he had meant it. From the very beginning, he truly intended to stand up for her.

After the waiter finished speaking, Lu Hengzhi looked down at Lu Yan. “Anything else you’d like to say?”

Lu Yan’s face was deathly pale.

Lu Hengzhi said calmly, “In that case, I will personally annul the engagement between you and Miss Su. Does the second branch have any objections?”

Lu You had known nothing of this. Faced with the evidence, he had no room to argue. He said in a low voice, “I failed to raise my son properly. I apologize to Qingluo. The engagement is hereby canceled.”

Su Qingluo felt as if a great weight had been lifted.

But Madam Liu couldn’t swallow her pride. She gritted her teeth and said, “Fine, cancel the engagement. But what about the accusation that I coveted her dowry? How will that be resolved?”

She was certain Su Qingluo had no proof. If the engagement was to be canceled, she still wanted Su Qingluo to bear the stigma of falsely accusing her elders and repaying kindness with betrayal.

Su Qingluo’s heart tightened. She regretted bringing it up—no one from Madam Liu’s courtyard would testify for her, and without evidence, it could backfire. But Lu Hengzhi suddenly let out a mocking laugh.

“So, Second Aunt has no interest in Miss Su’s dowry?”

Madam Liu put on a righteous face, her voice firm and confident. “Of course not.”

Lu Hengzhi replied coolly, “In that case, return the fifty-plus shops under your management that belong to Miss Su.”

The room erupted.

“Fifty shops? That must be a fortune! And Madam Liu’s been holding onto them all these years?”

“She calls that not coveting her niece’s dowry? She really has the nerve to say that out loud.”

“No wonder she wanted to ‘bring joy’ and refused to cancel the engagement. Shameless!”

Madam Liu’s expression changed instantly—how did Lu Hengzhi know even that?