Chapter 8: Your Tea Has a Strong Aroma
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Li Xianyue never expected Lu Lanxi to openly confront her and embarrass her in public, so she shifted her target.
“Young Master Zhuang, no matter how much Wanhe likes you, she would never marry a man who plays both sides. You are not a suitable match for Wanhe.”
“What do you mean by that, Madam Lu?”
Madam Han Xia, wife of the Marquis of Dongyang, sitting in the main seat, was displeased. Was this some kind of insult to the Marquis of Dongyang’s household, as if they had no men? If her husband hadn’t died early and the Dongyang Marquisate hadn’t declined, how could the Lu family possibly arrange a marriage with them?
“It’s clearly your daughter who is shameless—one after another, all trying to seduce my son. Now you turn it around and slander us? How disgraceful.”
“It’s your son who flirts around everywhere...”
Li Xianyue did not back down either. The two were locked in a tense standoff, as sharp as needles against wheat awns.
“Huai Jin, it’s your mother’s fault for agreeing to your marriage to the Lu family’s daughter. You’ve seen it yourself—the Lu family is a prestigious household; they look down on our marquisate.”
“Mother, I truly love Wanhe and will marry no one else in this lifetime...”
“You scoundrel! Even if you want to marry her, you should see whether she’s willing.”
Madam Han Xia looked at her unfilial son, nearly burning with frustration.
“I must marry Wanhe. No one can stop me!”
“You unfilial son!”
Madam Han Xia was furious to the point of near collapse.
“Looks like no matter how much you oppose it, Madam Han, Young Master Zhuang won’t give up. Sister, why don’t you speak to him yourself and make things clear—are you willing to marry him or not?”
Lu Lanxi, enjoying the spectacle, turned her sharp words toward Lu Wanhe. She wanted to see how the proud and aloof Wanhe would handle this.
Lu Wanhe and Li Xianyue both frowned upon hearing this.
Especially Lu Wanhe, who inwardly wished she could tear Lu Lanxi to pieces.
“I... I... I’m sorry...”
Lu Wanhe stammered for a long time, seemingly full of guilt, sobbing with convulsions. She did not want to marry Zhuang Huaijin, who was useless, but she could not cut off her own fallback plan. If she failed to marry into the imperial family, Zhuang Huaijin was her best retreat.
“Brother Huai Jin, my little sister is young. Please don’t be too hard on her...”
“It’s all Wanhe’s fault. Wanhe acted on her own and caused you and your sister to misunderstand each other...”
“Xi’er, marriage is a major matter decided by parents and matchmakers. It’s not something you can just reject because you don’t want to marry. I know you feel wronged. Today’s matter is because Brother Huai Jin was thoughtless, but that was because he was ill. He could only use a rooster to marry you—a mere ceremony. You shouldn’t be so petty.”
“Have you said enough? If not, go on with your performance.”
Lu Lanxi smiled lightly, mocking.
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“Wanhe, you are not at fault. The curse between her and me is the real problem. Don’t worry, you are wonderful. The one at fault is her... Don’t bother explaining to her... she’s not worthy.”
Zhuang Huaijin gazed at Lu Wanhe with deep affection.
Lu Lanxi, indifferent, casually approached Lu Wanhe and said disdainfully, “Hurry up and continue your lovey-dovey talk. Everyone’s watching with great interest.”
Lu Wanhe’s face instantly flushed with shame. She shyly walked over to Zhuang Huaijin’s side, tears in her eyes, trembling as she said,
“Brother Huai Jin, I... I...”
She seemed hesitant to speak, then suddenly began coughing violently and fainted within seconds.
“Lu Wanhe, your tea tastes very strong.”
Lu Lanxi admired Lu Wanhe’s acting skills.
Pretending to faint so often—she wondered how Lu Wanhe hadn’t fainted for real yet.
Madam Han Xia, seeing the chaos in her household, and hearing the guests whispering and pointing fingers, turned pale with anger and decided to drive them out.
“Shut your mouth! Your sister has poured her heart out to you. How can you be so sarcastic? This is the Dongyang Marquisate, not the Lu residence. This is not a place for you to act recklessly. Wanhe is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Lu family. You, a lowly wretch, have no right to insult her. Do you have no respect for us?”
Li Xianyue, watching Lu Lanxi stir up trouble and Lu Wanhe pretend to faint, immediately heightened the drama.
“Wanhe, Wanhe, my poor daughter!”
“No need to chase us out! We will leave on our own.”
Lu Wuwei finally lost his patience.
“Wanhe...”
Zhuang Huaijin, seeing Lu Wuwei pick up Lu Wanhe to leave, grabbed Lu Wuwei’s sleeve.
“Young Master Zhuang, since the marriage is off, our Lu family and your Dongyang Marquisate no longer need to see each other!”
No longer need to see each other?
Hearing this, Zhuang Huaijin panicked. He was determined to spend his life with Lu Wanhe, no matter what.
He wanted to fight for it again, but Madam Han Xia pulled him away.
“If you continue to disgrace the Dongyang Marquisate, I will disown you!”
Zhuang Huaijin lowered his brows, silent. There was still time; he could not be too hasty.
Lu Lanxi, sensing the moment was ripe, glanced at Bai Zhi.
“Bai Zhi, the show’s over. Take the chicken and let’s head home.”
“Alright.”
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Bai Zhi’s eyes lit up. She had long wanted to leave this miserable place. Holding the dead chicken, she happily followed Lu Lanxi.
At the gate of the Dongyang Marquisate.
“You beast, causing all this trouble today and even trying to frame Wanhe. Why don’t you hurry back and face your punishment?”
Li Xianyue cursed fiercely, then, with Lu Wuwei and Lu Wanhe, rushed off in a carriage.
Lu Lanxi’s face showed no emotion. Heh, the best was yet to come. Just wait and see!
This scene was deeply observed by someone inside a low-profile carriage not far away.
“Master, I just inquired. The Lu family’s third miss caused a commotion at the wedding today because Zhuang Huaijin used a rooster to marry her, which she felt was dismissive. In anger, she killed the rooster and called off the marriage, hence the uproar.”
The black-clad guard Chuan Mo lifted half the curtain, speaking in a low voice.
“Called off the marriage?”
Inside the carriage, Xie Jing’an narrowed his eyes and frowned, turning the jade ring on his thumb thoughtfully, with a serious expression.
“Yes, Master, this Lu family’s third miss is truly unusual.”
“Jing’an, do you know this Lu third miss?”
Another man inside, Shen Changfeng, teased with interest.
His father was the King of Pingnan guarding the frontier, the only prince with a different surname. The reigning emperor feared the Shen family’s rising power, so Shen Changfeng had been raised in the capital since age eight—ostensibly as a prince’s companion, but in reality a hostage.
Outwardly unrelated to Xie Jing’an, the two were actually close confidants.
“No, I don’t know her.”
Xie Jing’an’s voice was void of emotion.
Shen Changfeng was somewhat annoyed. “Don’t know her? You called me so early just to come to their door and listen to gossip?”
One had to know, Xie Jing’an was never interested in any woman.
“... Has everything been arranged?”
“Rest assured, Master.”
“Hm, let’s go. Notify Yan Chu.”
Xie Jing’an spoke calmly, gesturing to Chuan Mo to drive away.
Tang Yanchu was a disciple of the current imperial tutor, now serving as Deputy Minister of Justice. Young and talented, graceful and poised, rumors said he was iron-faced and impartial in handling cases, ruthless and cold-hearted, leaving no weeds growing where he went. Suspected persons were treated as criminals!
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