Chapter 7: To Defy These Words Is Like This Shattered Wedding Dress

“You unfilial daughter!... Huai Jin, your actions are indeed somewhat improper. Since you took the initiative to marry Xi’er...”

With so many guests watching, Lu Wuwei refrained from lashing out at Lu Lanxi, feeling it would be shameful to do so openly. Even when reprimanding, one must consider propriety—there was no need to humiliate her so.

“Uncle Lu, Wanhe and I are mutually fond of each other. Both are your daughters—you cannot let Wanhe be heartbroken like this. You must not show favoritism; Xi’er’s life matters, but so does Wanhe’s. Now, it’s Xi’er herself who refuses to marry. Neither the House of Marquis Dongyang nor Wanhe is to blame. I am willing to marry Wanhe and swear by heaven that I will never take a concubine. Otherwise, the House of Marquis Dongyang will face extinction.”

Those seated at the head table in the Marquis Dongyang’s residence nearly lost their breath in anger upon hearing this.

Seeing Lu Wuwei remain silent, Zhuang Huaijin continued with heartfelt sincerity:

“I have never harbored any romantic feelings for Xi’er. The one I truly love has always been Wanhe. The reason I sought to marry Xi’er was because Wanhe begged me desperately—not wanting Xi’er’s reputation to be tarnished or for her to take her own life. I could not bear to see Wanhe so heartbroken and guilty, so I resorted to this desperate plan. Today, Heaven has mercy, allowing Wanhe and me to renew our bond. I humbly ask Uncle Lu to marry Wanhe to me.”

Standing to the side, Lu Wanhe frowned deeply, biting her lip in displeasure, inwardly cursing:

“You must be crazy. It was so hard to get rid of you and throw you off to Lu Lanxi as a pawn, yet now you don’t play by the rules and come running to curry favor with me? Like a stubborn leech, impossible to shake off.”

Lu Wuwei was momentarily speechless, as if Zhuang Huaijin’s words carried some truth.

“That won’t do. Our Wanhe is gentle, magnanimous, and understanding. Even if she were to die, she wouldn’t want her sister to follow suit...”

Li Xianyue could no longer hold back. Having finally discarded this hot potato, she was determined not to take it back again.

Taking her own life?

Lu Lanxi couldn’t help but smile bitterly. When had she ever thought to end her life? It was all a result of the vile schemes concocted by Wanhe and her allies to sully her reputation and spread rumors. Every time she tried to defend herself, her mother suppressed her words, leaving her voiceless and powerless—trained in martial arts yet unable to protect herself.

“Xi’er, dear sister, please don’t be impulsive. You clearly like Brother Huai Jin so much. As your elder sister, I beg you, don’t cause trouble...”

Lu Wanhe approached, grasping Lu Lanxi’s hand with heartfelt earnestness.

“Heh, does he deserve my affection?”

Lu Lanxi raised her hand and shook off Lu Wanhe’s grip. “Take your hand away—I find it filthy.”

“Xi’er, how can you treat your sister like this? For the sake of your reputation, your father lowered himself to arrange this marriage for you. Now you refuse to marry on your wedding day in front of everyone. Have you considered the other unmarried daughters of the Lu family? If you didn’t want to marry, why didn’t you refuse earlier? Why wait until the wedding day under all these eyes? Where does that leave your father? Where does that leave the Lu family? What about your conscience?”

“And you, Young Master Zhuang, you claim to be devoted to Wanhe, yet you have had intimate relations with Xi’er behind her back... Do you think the daughters of the Lu family are all easy to bully?”

Lu Wanhe played her part well, eyes closed slightly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Intimate relations?

Ha.

Lu Lanxi’s stomach churned. She wanted to vomit. What they called “intimate relations” was merely that Zhuang Huaijin had accidentally fallen into water and was almost drowned. She had risked her life to save him, both drenched to the skin.

Li Xianyue donned the guise of a virtuous wife and mother; no one would associate her with a venomous woman of malicious heart. If it weren’t for the many witnesses, Lu Lanxi would have gladly stabbed Li Xianyue to death.

But reason prevailed over impulse. Killing her would only benefit her; murder is easy, but to destroy the heart is the real challenge.

She vowed to drag Li Xianyue, Lu Wanhe, and the others from their heights down to the depths of despair—living a lifetime in pain and fear, sleepless nights filled with nightmares. She would make them experience a torment more cruel than having one’s heart ripped out or eyes gouged—a torment inhuman and unimaginable.

“You speak as if I sought my own death. Didn’t I tell you, those are your words, not mine. Whoever speaks first isn’t necessarily right. Besides, it was Zhuang Huaijin who fell into the water, nearly drowned—I happened to pass by and, out of kindness, saved his life. Now that makes me shameless in your mouths? If saving him is a crime, then I shall never save anyone again.”

As she spoke, Lu Lanxi strode up to Zhuang Huaijin and, catching him off guard, delivered a sharp slap across his face. Instantly, half of his face went numb with pain. Dazed and grimacing, Zhuang Huaijin prepared to retaliate.

“Furthermore, let all present here bear witness: on the day of Zhuang Huaijin’s wedding, he insulted me first, then confessed his love for my legitimate elder sister, stating that marrying me was a reluctant necessity. Therefore, the marriage between Lu Lanxi and Zhuang Huaijin is hereby annulled. From this day forth, we are strangers, severed in both favor and affection.”

Lu Lanxi spoke coldly, then seized a corner of her wedding gown, twirling a dagger in her hand and slicing the fabric into countless fragments that scattered like brilliant flames.

“It’s not that he doesn’t want me, but that I do not want him. If I break this vow, may my life be as shattered as this torn gown!”

Everyone was stunned into silence.

“Lu Lanxi, I agree to part ways with you. No matter how much you resent or hate me, I have nothing more to say. But whatever happens, it has nothing to do with Wanhe. Do not drag the innocent into this!”

Hearing Lu Lanxi’s words, Zhuang Huaijin realized that he and Lu Lanxi were truly finished. He could accept her slap; he accepted it as his due.

“I’m not as malicious as you all,” Lu Lanxi sneered. “If I had known saving you would cost me my life, I, Lu Lanxi, would rather be hated and reviled by thousands than risk my life to save an ungrateful, heartless scoundrel.”

“When I liked you, you were the moon in the sky, and I would have given you my heart and life. But now that I hate you, you’re nothing but a pile of stinking dog dung—I wouldn’t even deign to glance at you.”

Zhuang Huaijin was shocked by Lu Lanxi’s clear-cut feelings. This was the first time he had truly understood her; it seemed he had never really known her.

When he was fifteen, he had come to the Minister’s residence to celebrate Lu Wanhe’s birthday, accidentally fallen into the water, and was on the brink of drowning. It was Lu Lanxi who had risked everything to save him. When she dragged him ashore, still soaked through, a group of noble daughters suddenly appeared and witnessed the scene, thus giving rise to the rumors of their so-called intimate relations.

Because of that incident, Lu Wanhe pleaded with him to take responsibility for Lu Lanxi. Otherwise, with her reputation ruined, Lu Lanxi had no future but death. Forced by circumstances, he had no choice but to marry her.

Later, on the day of their wedding, Wanhe, heartbroken, told him that the entire affair was orchestrated by Lu Lanxi herself—that they had all been deceived. As a result, he neglected Lu Lanxi after marriage, resenting her for ruining both his and Wanhe’s lives.

Knowing Lu Lanxi’s martial skills, he personally devised the fake death scheme to catch her off guard and make her life worse than death.