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"That Heir Apparent is really something. It's just a younger female cousin, and he can't even let her go. The Old Madam has already made that suggestion, and he just nodded in agreement. What's wrong with him ruthlessly executing her?"

Zhu Qing was indignant.

Feeling sorry for Lin Yunwan, she sat down on the Embroidery Stool and asked, "Madam, should I go and clarify things with the Heir Apparent again?"

Lin Yunwan asked, "What do you want to clarify?"

Zhu Qing said, "If the Heir Apparent knew that keeping this Concubine would not only damage the reputation of the household and the relationships between relatives, but also break your heart, he would surely act decisively to salvage the situation..."

Lin Yunwan smiled, "Zhu Qing."

"Lady?"

Zhu Qing didn't understand why the lady had interrupted her. Had she said something wrong?

Lin Yunwan smiled.

She never expected that the Old Madam and Lu Zhengliu would actually execute Ge Bao'er.

As long as Qing is around, they will be hesitant to act rashly.

Besides, the saying "death absolves all debts" is merely the lightest consequence of wrongdoing!

"It's too easy to kill someone. But to make them wish they were dead, to drive them to their own destruction."

Zhu Qing smiled and said, "That's true."

"Once Cousin Miss becomes Concubine, won't she be at your mercy, to be manipulated as you please?"

Lin Yunwan but remained silent.

The next day, when the Old Madam summoned her, she also invited Zhu Qing along, specifically saying to Zhu Qing, "Didn't you also say you would go and take care of the Old Madam when she was ill?"

Zhu Qing thought for a moment and said, "This concubine will go with Madam."

When they arrived at the Hall of Longevity, Lu Jia was also there.

It seems her house arrest is over?

Even if it hadn't ended, Old Madam Xia, who values women's virtues so much, wouldn't Lu Jia from coming to serve her when Old Madam Lu family was ill; that would be unfilial.

"Eldest Aunt."

Lin Yunwan and Zhu Qing saw Lu Jia first upon entering, so they greeted her before paying their respects to the Old Madam.

Lu Jia sat next to the Old Madam, holding a medicine bowl in her hand, with candied plums beside her.

The Old Madam disliked bitterness, so she kept the plums to moisten her mouth.

Perhaps because she was confined to her husband's family home, her arrogance had subsided somewhat, and Lu Jia was in no hurry to speak.

Old Madam Lu spoke first, "Yun Wan, after thinking about it, I've decided to have Bao'er and her husband's family annul their engagement first..."

Lin Yunwan remained silent, listening quietly. Zhu Qing observed their expressions closely from the side.

In the end, the Old Madam's conclusion was. "As long as Bao'er's husband's family agrees to annul the engagement, the matter isn't so serious. Zhengliu this poorly, but ultimately it's just a matter of taking a concubine."

Lu Jia's personality won't change overnight.

Holding the bowl of medicine, she said to Lin Yunwan, "As long as you, as the mistress of the house, nod your head, there's nothing to worry about. It all depends on how magnanimous you are. You don't want the Marquis's Residence to get into trouble, do you?"

She looked down on Lin Yunwan and said, "Sister-in-law, you've always been dignified and virtuous, and never one to be jealous. The Old Madam is ill, and even if the Old Madam doesn't say anything, you should take the initiative to handle this matter."

"You've caused so much trouble that everyone is in an uproar, and you've even brought shame upon the Lu family. As the Principal Wife, you bear eight-tenths of the blame!"

After a moment of silence, Old Madam Lu said, "What your sister-in-law said isn't without merit."

Lin Yunwan shouldn't have been so angry. The annulment was just a fabrication, and it could have been easily explained away. There was no way the husband's family would go to the capital to file a complaint.

If she takes the initiative to suggest taking a concubine as a solution, it will save face for everyone.

Zhu Qing was surprised.

How can this be blamed on the lady?

Thinking of Lu Jia's temper, she opened her mouth, but in the end, she didn't say anything.

Unlike Zhu Qing, who was Concubine, Lin Yunwan didn't dare to talk back to her Great-Aunt.

She deftly deflected the question, asking, "I wonder where you meant by 'losing face,' Eldest Aunt? Aren't we family the only ones who know about these things?"

Old Madam Lu realized what was happening and frowned, asking, "What did your mother-in-law say?"

How can I not say anything then!

Lu Jia said awkwardly, "It's nothing, I just overheard the maids gossiping. What could my mother-in-law possibly say?"

Old Madam Lu only listened to these words.

She said with dissatisfaction, "If your husband's family hadn't said anything behind your back, they wouldn't have refused to introduce you to someone."

Lu Jia moved her lips slightly, wondering if she could still talk back.

Because of this, she mentioned it to her husband's family, and her mother-in-law almost told her to divorce her.

She dared not interfere again.

Lin Yunwan said, "The Old Madam and the Heir Apparent have made up their minds, so I have nothing more to say."

"However, as you said, the first thing is for Cousin Miss to break off her engagement with her fiancé's family..."

Old Madam Lu coughed twice, then raised her hand and said to Lin Yunwan, "You don't need to worry about that."

Lin Yunwan said, "Although it's not my concern, if taking a concubine causes trouble..."

She glanced at Lu Jia and said, "I'm afraid my Eldest Aunt will think it's eight-tenths of my fault again."

"Therefore, I must add that taking a concubine is a minor matter, but taking a woman who shouldn't be taken..."

Lu Jia interrupted her abruptly, "What do you mean by 'a woman who shouldn't be taken in'? I think you just don't want Zhengliu in your younger female cousin."

Lin Yunwan calmly, "Great-Aunt, don't be impatient, I haven't finished yet. Taking a woman of low social status as a wife, or harboring a woman of criminal status who has been punished, or a servant of a disgraced official, are all violations of the law. They will be impeached."

Old Madam Lu's heart sank. Since Ge Bao'er entered the manor, she only knew that Ge Bao'er was a village woman, but she didn't know her details.

Zhengliu certainly wouldn't be so foolish as to keep such an important matter from her.

But it's hard to guarantee that Ge Bao'er isn't deliberately deceiving him.

Zhu Qing sensed something was amiss. Without thinking too much, she said to the Old Madam, "Please forgive my indiscretion, Cousin Miss's character is questionable... It would be best to investigate further."

In short, Lin Yunwan simply didn't want to take this Concubine!

Lu Jia said, "Since she's Grandmother's distant Niece, what problem could there be? My younger female cousin has already lost her chastity. If we don't let her marry into the family now, people will think the Lu family is disrespecting their relatives."

Old Madam Lu said, "Let's not give her a formal title yet; we'll discuss it after her engagement is called off."

"Grandmother! You..."

How foolish!

Lu Jia wanted to offer some advice, Old Madam Lu wouldn't let her say anything more.