Everything Fell into Chaos

"Stealing another man's wife is a violation of the Imperial Court law. Brother, you... you're foolish!"

Lu Jia's face turned deathly pale. She couldn't believe that her outstanding younger brother, who had always been exceptional, would do such a despicable thing.

He secretly regretted his loose tongue.

I should have known better than to have my mother-in-law come over. She's seen this family scandal; how will she face her husband's family after she goes back home?

Lin Yunwan found it amusing.

Lu Jia is scared now, but this matter is far more than just breaking the law.

She seemed just as surprised as Lu Jia, and came out with a worried expression, pointing out, "If the Heir Apparent wants to take a concubine, where can't he do it? My younger female cousin's husband's family has already complained to the Prefect of Shuntian..."

Are you worried about not having a copy of the Marquis of Wuding Marquis Residence book?

If the Lu family's affairs escalate to the imperial court, the nightmare of almost being stripped of his title seven years ago will likely come true.

These words frightened everyone into a state of unease.

Old Madam Xia's expression also turned sour. The Xia family and the Lu family were related by marriage. If something really happened to the Lu family, the Xia family would probably also be affected.

She couldn't help but look at Lu Zhengliu.

If she weren't maintaining her dignity, she would have scolded him to his face, no matter how harsh the offense!

Lu Zhengliu broke out in a cold sweat. The incident happened so suddenly that he was so focused on saving people that he never thought about the lie he had made up about Ge Bao'er already being engaged.

He ignored Ge Bao'er on the bed and hurriedly explained, "Saving my younger female cousin was a last resort... There's nothing between us."

But who believes him!

Why force him to save someone when so many Matron couldn't be saved?

Moreover, he left Seventh Master Li behind and came all the way here.

It would be a miracle if nothing really happened between them!

Lin Yunwan looked at him with a complicated and disappointed expression, not believing him at all.

Old Madam Xia clearly didn't believe it either, and Lu Jia wanted to speak up for her brother, but she didn't know where to begin.

This is going to be the death of me!

In a panic, Wei Shi roughly pulled Ge Bao'er off the bed, gripping her shoulders tightly and asking, "Cousin Miss, what has made you so determined to hang yourself? Tell me quickly!"

Lu Zhengliu glanced at Ge Bao'er, his eyes carrying a hint of coercion.

He would agree to take a concubine if he promised.

She should have some sense of propriety; she can't ruin him and the entire Wuding Marquis Residence at this time!

Ge Bao'er got off the bed and knelt limply on the ground.

With her head bowed and tears blurring her vision, she cried out, "Old Madam, your Grandniece is unfilial and has always been a helpless and destitute person... Now that things have come to this, please execute me."

That's an admission!

Old Madam Lu's eyes widened.

Unbeknownst to others, she felt a metallic taste of blood in her throat, her legs stiffened, and although she remained standing, her mind began to fog up.

Old Madam Xia shook her head disdainfully and said solemnly, "To be engaged yet still not uphold womanly virtues, she deserves to be executed!"

Lin Yunwan sighed, "Old Madam Xia, you're right. Someone, bring a rope."

Ge Bao'er forgot to cry, her face filled with panic.

How could Lin Yunwan dare to actually execute her?

She's not officially a member of the Lu family, so even if Lin Yunwan is the matriarch of the Lu family, she has no right to decide her life or death!

In this matter, the Lu family should step in to "announce the engagement" for her, so that everyone is fine. Later, Lin Yunwan should generously offer to become Lu Zhengliu's Concubine.

How could he possibly strangle her!

The others also looked at Lin Yunwan in astonishment.

That's what they say, but it's not up to the Lu family to interfere, especially since she's just a daughter-in-law.

"Puff--"

Old Madam Lu coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Wei Shi screamed in terror, "My God! Quick, quick, get Physician!"

Lu Zhengliu forward and hugged Old Madam Lu.

Nanny Yan, who was supporting the Old Madam, turned around and saw Qing, who had followed her, rush over after hearing about the strangulation of Ge Bao'er. His mouth was open, and he looked like he was about to call out "Mother."

Little ancestor, you can't call him that like that!

She hurriedly covered Qing's mouth.

Qing bit down on her tiger's mouth, Nanny Yan saw stars from the pain.

"Ouch, ouch..."

The Side Courtyard was in complete chaos.

Zhu Qing panicked a bit and came out saying, "Old Madam Xia, don't you know medicine? Quickly, quickly give our Old Madam acupuncture!"

With a dark expression, Old Madam Xia nervously declined, saying, "My skills are not up to par; please fetch Physician quickly."

In reality, she had no medical skills at all; it was just something Lu Jia made up on the spot to persuade her to come and see the Lu family's shameful affairs!

She glared at Lu Jia again.

Fearing something might happen to her grandmother, Lu Jia ignored her mother-in-law's glare and helped by pinching her philtrum.

Lin Yunwan calmly walked into the Courtyard and decisively instructed the Matron to disperse the servants. She urged Lu Zhengliu to take Old Madam Lu back to Hall of Longevity to see Physician.

He then saw off Old Madam Xia with apologies and sent Nanny Yuan to appease the guests in the Garden.

Seeing Lin Yunwan's composure, Wei Shi was immediately relieved.

Before following them to the Hall of Longevity, she turned back to look at Ge Bao'er, whose face was ashen, slapped her across the face, and spat out, "Disgusting!"

They had Ge Bao'er tied up.

Strangling her is out of the question; tying her up is always the best option.

The banquet that day was, to put it mildly, a complete mess.

Lu Zhengliu and Wei Shi stayed by the Old Madam's side. Lin Yunwan had other matters to attend to, but Wei Shi earnestly urged her to go back and rest.

Wei Shi added earnestly, "The family can't do without you. I don't mind if I suffer a little, but you absolutely mustn't overwork yourself."

If she's blamed for all this mess, then we're doomed!

She can't handle it.

While serving the Old Madam, Wei Shi would frequently cry and curse in front of Lu Zhengliu and Nanny Yan: "It's all that little hussy's fault! She's a menace! I think she should have been strangled!"

Lu Zhengliu preoccupied, his face dark and gloomy.

After a long day of work, having finally found out what had happened with Seventh Master Li, he tried to apologize to Lin Yunwan, but seeing the disappointment and disgust on her face, he couldn't say a word.

Finally, taking advantage of the darkness, I went to see Ge Bao'er.

Are you satisfied now?

He looked coldly at Ge Bao'er sitting on the ground, regretting that he had been soft-hearted today.

"I always think that you are Qing's mother and my childhood sweetheart. Even if I'm a little short-sighted, I can't just abandon you."

"As soon as I heard you were suicidal, I rushed over to save you."

"But you want to harm me and my grandmother..."

Ge Bao'er shook her head, crying, "Brother Azhen, I never intended to harm you or the Marquis's Residence! Qing is still with the Lu family, how could I possibly do such a thing? I didn't know it would turn out like this."

Lu Zhengliu left with a cold face, leaving her with a warning before he went. "Bao'er, don't squander the friendship we had when we were young."

They didn't ask anyone to untie her.

Ge Bao'er was a little flustered. Would he really forget their past feelings?

\

Lu Zhengliu returned to the Rain Apricot Pavilion.

Zhu Qing didn't sleep either. She didn't dare to sleep, Old Madam. In case the old lady needed her help, she stayed in the room waiting for news.

"Your Heir Apparent, what brings you here?"

Unexpectedly, Lu Zhengliu was the first to arrive at this time.

"Pour me a cup of tea."

Lu Zhengliu frowned, sitting listlessly in the Zhu Qing room.

Zhu Qing handed him a cup of hot water, saying, "It's too late, tea isn't good for you. Your Heir Apparent, drink something warm first, it'll soothe your stomach."

She served him very attentively.

Lu Zhengliu silently accepted the tea and drank it all in one gulp.

Zhu Qing stood beside him and said softly, "Heir Apparent Highness, I would like to say a few more words about what happened today."

Lu Zhengliu frowned slightly, but did not stop her.

Zhu Qing continued, "That Cousin Miss is really cunning! You don't know, she not only chose the right time for you to go and rescue her, but also sabotaged your trip with Seventh Master Li to see Madam Lin for her eye ailment, thus sowing discord between you and Madam."

"Today, Young Master Qing even fought with Young Master Chang Gong right in front of the Old Madam Madam Young Madam. Otherwise, how would anyone know that you went to rescue Cousin Miss?"

"Not a single moment can be wrong. If there's even the slightest mishap, things will escalate."

"The Cousin Miss looks naive and hasn't read many books, but she's like a female strategist in the Inner Residence. Even though she's under house arrest in Side Courtyard, she still plans and schemes, making everyone look foolish."

"Your Heir Apparent, I can't help but have some doubts. How exactly did this Bao'er manage to persuade the Old Madam to bring her into the manor? Is she really as lonely and helpless as the Old Madam said?"

"I have a feeling that this may not be the case."

Lu Zhengliu's heart suddenly sank.

Did he really find Ge Bao'er on his own, or did Ge Bao'er wait until Qing was old enough to remember things, and deliberately let him find her?