Chapter 103: Suppression

The four Lu brothers surrounded Lu Man as they entered the main gate. Lu Xin remained in the outer courtyard to entertain the guards, servants, and coachmen who had accompanied them, as the Princess Changting’s staff were esteemed guests at the Lu family. The other three brothers accompanied Lu Man through the second gate, heading straight for the courtyard where the old lady resided.

At that moment, old lady Lu was seated in the main hall, with her eldest son, Lu Fangming, and second son, Lu Fangrong, seated to her left. To her right sat daughters-in-law, granddaughters, and others.

Upon hearing that Second Young Miss had entered the house, the old lady deliberately raised her voice and inquired, “Is she dead or alive?”

The attendant hurriedly replied, “To the Madam, she is alive, alive.”

The old lady suddenly grew furious and loudly exclaimed, “Bah! Why hasn’t she died yet! That wretched girl, actually went to the Princess Changting’s mansion to hang herself, she is trying to kill our whole family!”

Lu Fangming quickly intervened, “Mother, please don’t say such things. Since Man is unharmed, we should find a way to mend our relationship. You promised to do so, why change now?” He was at a loss, his career prospects depended on Lu Man, and his mother still hadn’t grasped the situation.

Mrs. Xiao Chen scoffed, “What Mother says is right, that wretched girl is trying to kill us all. I still shudder at the thought, if that girl had truly died, we would’ve…”

“You, shut your mouth!” Lu Fangrong angrily interjected, not sparing Mrs. Xiao Chen any dignity. He detested this coarse cousin turned wife, but his mother had forced the marriage upon him, leaving him no choice.

He was infuriated as well. With such a significant incident at home, no one had bothered to inform him, he only found out after returning yesterday. His eldest daughter had been married off to the Princess Changting’s mansion, and during the wedding night, inexplicably ending up hanging in the bridal chamber. Moreover, the young general Jiang Zhanwei, who had led him deep into the desert over a month ago, was apparently his son-in-law…

Though fearful that Lu Man’s death could spell disaster for his family, potentially jeopardizing their lives and his career prospects, Lu Fangrong couldn’t help but feel some affection for this daughter. Despite his neglect over the years, he was unaware of her reasons for such drastic actions. While his elder brother hinted at a possible connection with Chen Fei, he was reluctant to elaborate further.

Furrowing his brow, Lu Fangrong addressed the old lady Lu, “Mother, Man must have unresolved issues prompting her actions. Since she’s willing to come back, refrain from scolding her further. Instead, inquire about her reasons and untangle her emotional knots. She is your granddaughter, and my own precious daughter.”

The old lady coldly snorted, “If she’s well-fed and well-cared for at home, what unresolved issues could she possibly have? She’s just like her overly thoughtful mother, with a mind narrower than a needle’s tip…”

Before the old lady could finish her sentence, a graceful and extravagantly dressed woman entered the room.

If it weren’t for her familiar features, no one would have believed that this young beauty, exuding an ethereal charm, was the same Lu Man who was once chubby, full-faced, and brimming with hostility.

The old lady was momentarily stunned by the sight of the elegant woman, bearing a striking resemblance to He Mingzhu, causing a pang in her chest.

Lu Man recalled this room. Despite having a reserved seat here, the former Lu Man often faced disdain and mockery. Looking at the old lady seated on the main seat, glaring at her with hostility, brought back memories of past confrontations.

This old lady had never shown any affection towards the former Lu Man. After attempting to trade her for wealth and prosperity, when the former Lu Man eventually hanged herself, they distanced themselves, indifferent to her fate. Yet now, they gazed at her with disdain, as if she owed the Lu family, blaming her for their misfortunes.

With cold eyes and a subtle smirk, Lu Man approached.

As Lu Man neared the old lady, a sense of disdain washed over the old lady. She almost felt like He Mingzhu was gracefully approaching her, with a gaze that seemed to say, “You can keep your material possessions. Even if I were cast aside, with little wealth to my name, I remain nobler and freer than you…” The old lady felt a discomfort in her chest.

Lu Man stood before the old lady, bowed respectfully, and said, “Old Madam.”

She did not address her as grandmother, this old woman was not deserving of that title.

Lu Man’s soft yet icy voice jolted the old lady back to reality. She realized that this was not the gentle and serene He Mingzhu, but a transformed Lu Man, unrecognizable in demeanor.

This wretched girl had truly changed!

The old lady pondered that no matter how wealthy or transformed she may be, she was still the girl who had been under her thumb for fifteen years. Even if she married into the Princess Changting’s mansion, her deceased husband, the old master, had yet to be mourned, she was still a Lu family woman. If she didn’t quell her arrogance today, she feared she wouldn’t be able to control her in the future.

At this, the old lady abruptly stood up and attempted to slap Lu Man across the face. Lu Man dodged backward, narrowly avoiding the blow. The old lady missed and stumbled to the side due to the excessive force, needing support from a nearby maid to steady herself.

Furious, the old lady cursed, “You wretched girl, how dare you dodge!”

Lu Man coldly retorted, “Am I supposed to stand here and let you hit me again? Do you feel uneasy because I didn’t die at the Princess Changting’s mansion, hoping I would meet my end here in the Lu family to satisfy you?”

The maids and servants accompanying Lu Man quickly intervened, standing between the old lady and Lu Man.

Enraged by Lu Man’s defiance, the old lady was about to charge forward to strike, but Lu Fangrong stepped in and restrained her.

Liu Ya angrily interjected, “Old Madam Lu, your blows not only hit Third Young Madam’s face but also tarnish the reputation of the Princess Changting’s household. Let me remind you, there are several guards from our household in the front courtyard. If Third Young Madam were to be harmed, those guards won’t stand idly by.”

Xing chimed in, “Yesterday, Princess Changting specifically instructed us to ensure Third Young Madam’s safety. If anyone dares to mistreat her, we will respond appropriately.” The clever maid conveniently omitted the term “stepmother” to blur the lines.

Before the dignified Lu Ying could make her presence felt, Liu Ya and Xing had already voiced their concerns. She found herself standing in front of Lu Man, indicating that she would take the hit first.

Lu Fangming also hurried over to support the old lady, advising her, “Mother, Man is a guest now that she has returned home. You should treat her with care.” Turning to Lu Man, he added with a smile, “Mother is upset because she felt you didn’t value your life and stayed away for so many days. Love runs deep, and rebukes are harsh, which led to her reacting this way.” Despite his frustration, he was puzzled by his mother’s lack of insight.

Lu Man smiled mockingly and remarked, “Well said, Eldest Master. As far as I recall, from childhood to now, the old lady has only shown me blame, not love.”

A sly voice sneered, “Is this really the returning Miss Man? Such a drastic change, am I seeing things?”