Chapter 215: Watching the Fun

Gao Ming Lan agreed whole heartedly.

“Sister-in-law, you really think things through. Otherwise, I might have made another huge mistake,” she said.

“I’ll go back and ask elder sister-in-law now.”

Gao Ming Lan turned to find Leng Qing Yu. After some persuasion, she finally got Leng Qing Yu to relent.

“I’ll give you the address, but you must not tell the Marquis that I gave it to you. They are brothers, and we can’t let a single word ruin their relationship.”

“I understand. I’ll say I found it by accident and won’t tell anyone it came from you,” Gao Ming Lan quickly promised.

“Good! We are sisters-in-law, fellow women, so we should help each other out with these things. If you really catch him in the act, I’ll back you up,” Leng Qing Yu said as she wrote down the address.

After they left, Ye Xin Ran came out from behind the room. She looked at Leng Qing Yu and smiled. “Mother, are you planning to let them take the lead?”

Leng Qing Yu motioned for the maid to clear the tea and snacks from the table, then replaced them with fresh ones. She invited Ye Xin Ran to sit down before replying, “They’ve been eating and drinking from me for years, it’s about time they helped me out a little.”

“Did Uncle really send that woman home?” Ye Xin Ran asked.

Leng Qing Yu hadn’t mentioned this matter to her, so she thought Leng Qing Yu was just speaking strategically earlier. If it wasn’t true, how could she make Lu Ting Cong appear there?

Ye Xin Ran was thinking about how to make it work when Leng Qing Yu nodded. “Yes, he did.”

The answer was truly unexpected.

“Isn’t she Lu Ting En’s concubine? How does she also have ties with Lu Ting Cong?” Ye Xin Ran couldn’t help but ask.

This was something Leng Qing Yu found surprising as well when she first heard it.

“Maybe Lu Ting En couldn’t get directly involved in this matter, so he had Lu Ting Cong step in to handle it for him.”

“Does that mean that Lu Ting Cong’s keeping a concubine is something all the brothers know about?” Ye Xin Ran speculated.

Leng Qing Yu sneered. “They may have deep brotherly feelings and be thick as thieves, but in the end, that works to my advantage. It saves me some effort.”

…

Leng Qing Yu not only gave Gao Ming Lan the address but also sent people to continue watching Ning Yu Er’s movements.

Once they discovered that Lu Ting Cong went there, they would immediately send a message to Gao Ming Lan.

A few days later, Leng Qing Yu and her daughter, along with Lu Ting En, were having dinner when suddenly a servant rushed in.

“Madam!”

When the servant saw Lu Ting En, she lowered her head and closed her mouth.

Lu Ting En sensed something was off and spoke up, “If you have something to say, just say it. Is there anything in this household that I don’t know about?”

The maid glanced at Leng Qing Yu as if seeking her permission.

Leng Qing Yu remained calm, picking up a dish while saying, “If the Marquis says you should speak, then go ahead.”

The maid finally spoke, “Just now, Second Madam’s servant, Qiu Yue, came over and said… said that Second Madam and Third Madam are planning to catch someone in the act and want Madam to go over and mediate.”

“Ridiculous!”

Before Leng Qing Yu could respond, Lu Ting En slammed his chopsticks down and said, “Why should you get involved in the dirty matters of their household?”

Leng Qing Yu leisurely ate a shrimp, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and then replied, “I haven’t had much contact with the second and third branches in recent years. My mother always says I’m not close to them, but today, since the second branch is inviting me, I should go and have a look. After all, I’m the eldest daughter-in-law of the family.”

Lu Ting En’s expression darkened. “If it were about something else, it would be one thing, but witnessing such a thing would only dirty your eyes.”

“Better not go.”

“Mother, I want to go and see.”

As soon as Lu Ting En finished speaking, Ye Xin Ran immediately said, “I’ve seen the first wife and second wife fighting in the village before. I wonder what it’s like for the women from wealthy families to teach a concubine a lesson. Could you let a maid accompany me? I want to watch the commotion.”

“You stay home quietly!” Lu Ting En said sharply.

Ever since Ye Xin Ran returned, Lu Ting En had barely spoken to her except for the day they changed the family register.

Lu Ting En explained to Leng Qing Yu that his daughter had grown up, and some things were difficult for him, as a father, to say. Besides, his daughter held some resentment against him. He thought it was better to wait until they became more familiar before addressing these matters.

Of course, Ye Xin Ran was also indifferent to him.

This was the first time in a long while that Lu Ting En had lost his temper with her.

Ye Xin Ran ignored him and looked at Leng Qing Yu instead.

She looked like a child who had been scolded by her father and was now whining to her mother: “Mother, I want to go!”

Leng Qing Yu turned to look at Lu Ting En and said, “Since Xin Ran wants to go, I’ll take her with me. Besides, we can’t let them make too much noise. It will tarnish the reputation of the Marquis’ family. We need to keep an eye on it.”

“Then I’ll go with you!” Lu Ting En said, helplessly.

There was no other way, he had to agree.

Along the way, he held Leng Qing Yu’s hand, secretly cursing Lu Ting Cong for being careless, getting caught even when sneaking around.

If they were really caught in the act, he’d have to teach them a lesson, pretend to make it look good, and calm his second sister-in-law down.

The sound of a familiar street vendor calling out “flat bread” suddenly brought his thoughts back to reality.

Lu Ting En leaned his head out to look and saw the familiar road. A strange feeling suddenly rose in his chest.

Why were they here?

Before he could think clearly, a loud scream echoed ahead, filling everyone’s ears.

For a moment, the street vendors stopped calling and looked toward the source of the noise.

Leng Qing Yu urged the coachman to speed up. Within moments, they arrived outside a courtyard.

Seeing the familiar courtyard and the crowd gathered outside, Lu Ting En suddenly felt like he couldn’t breathe.

What was going on?

Why had Ting Cong come to Yong Ning Alley?

“Marquis, why do you look so pale?” Leng Qing Yu asked, noticing his sudden change in demeanor.

Lu Ting En came back to his senses and quickly said, “I suddenly feel unwell, a little short of breath. How about we go back first? I’ll send the housekeeper to handle things here.”

Leng Qing Yu had finally gotten to such a scene, there was no way she was going back with him.

She said, “This place is a bit chaotic, and your identity is not suited to be here. Perhaps it’s better for you to go back first. I’ll handle things here, and then Xin Ran and I will ride back together.”

“You’re not coming back with me?” Lu Ting En grasped Leng Qing Yu’s wrist.

Leng Qing Yu was about to get off the carriage, but when he grabbed her, she reluctantly sat back down.

“Why are you acting like a child? Let the coachman take you back first, and once I’ve handled things, I’ll come back to be with you.”

Lu Ting En wanted to persuade her further, but when he saw the confused expression on her face, he feared she might figure something out, so he reluctantly added, “Then I’ll stay with you!”

The two of them got off the carriage, and Ye Xin Ran was already walking ahead of them.

Before they could see what was happening inside, they heard another scream.