Disbelief

The Lu family's reputation can no longer withstand further damage.

If she could Lu Zhengliu with a gentler approach, Old Madam Lu certainly wouldn't want to resort to a forceful one.

She picked up her teacup, took a leisurely sip, and said with lowered eyes, "Do you know what Ge Bao'er's Jade Pendant symbolizes?"

I'm not worried at all that Lu Zhengliu won't be curious.

He frowned and said, "Grandmother, stop beating around the bush and just say what you want to say."

Old Madam Lu set down her teacup with a resounding thud. "That's Jade Pendant that only the masters of the Duke Xingguo's Residence possess!"

Lu Zhengliu was stunned, his cold eyes filled with disbelief.

"The Duke Xingguo's Residence?"

He scoffed, not believing it at all.

Regardless of whether it was true or not, Old Madam Lu lifted her eyelids and asked him, "If she really is the missing Di Daughter of the Duke Xingguo's Residence, will you write the Divorce Deed or not?"

Lu Zhengliu his lips, then finally clenched his fist and said, "I won't write!"

He said with great disgust, "Just because she is the Di Daughter of the Duke's Residence, I should divorce her and marry someone else. What will outsiders say about the Lu family? Will the Duke Xingguo's Residence respect me?"

"Grandma, I don't want to live my life at the mercy of others."

The Lin Family alone has already made the Lu family lose face; if the Duke Xingguo's Residence comes along, he'll never have a chance to rise in the world.

"Grandmother, the people of the Duke Xingguo's Residence have a reputation for being arrogant and domineering; they're not easy to befriend."

The thought of being restricted by his in-laws in every way in the future, and even having them interfere in his domestic affairs, made him frown.

No matter what choice he makes, he feels that now is the best option.

Old Madam Lu pondered her grandson's words deeply.

She paused for a moment, then said, "What you said isn't without merit. But—"

"That's the Duke Xingguo's Residence!"

Even though the Wuding Marquis Residence was still one step ahead of the Chen family, it was still much stronger than it is now.

She asked, "Do you now have a better way out?"

He patiently advised, "People should strive for higher positions. Let's get to those higher positions first, and deal with whatever comes our way! No matter how far the Duke Xingguo's Residence can reach, how much can it control a son-in-law like you? This is the Lu family! Your father and I are still alive!"

Nanny Yan also came in and said, "Sir, you don't need to think so far ahead. Let's get through this difficult time first."

The Lu family's stripping of their titles is not just a simple matter of losing their salary; from now on, no one outside the family will support their business.

Old Madam Lu said dejectedly, "You can't see it now, but you'll see after the New Year. Our family's life is getting worse every day."

"If the manor loses face a little today, it will be incomplete tomorrow. In two or three years, the Wuding Marquis Residence will collapse!"

This left Lu Zhengliu extremely embarrassed.

He lowered his head, his face showing a mixture of ambition and frustration at having nowhere to put it to use.

Old Madam Lu couldn't bear to see her grandson like this. Looking at the bruises on his face, she asked with concern, "Did you get into a fight with someone outside?"

Lu Zhengliu pursed his lips and said, "Who told you that?"

"Just because no one told me, you think I didn't know?"

Old Madam Lu sighed, "Don't let this little thing get you down. The Lu family survived seven or eight years ago, can't we survive this now?"

Lu Zhengliu said, "Grandmother, your grandson has not fallen into depravity."

"So you go out and get into drinking and arguing with people?"

Lu Zhengliu explained helplessly, "I've considered the crisis you mentioned. That's why I want to recruit a few talented advisors to build some businesses in the future. The manor can't just sit around doing nothing; Chang Gong and Qing still need money to pave the way."

"I happened to encounter a few weak and helpless idiots, and that's how..."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I haven't caused any trouble."

Old Madam Lu was quite surprised.

Her grandson was more ambitious than she had imagined.

She could imagine how her grandson had been wronged, so she said in a gentle tone, "Your thoughts are all good, but things aren't that simple. If you really care about the family, think carefully about what I'm saying."

Release the Lin clan's daughter from the marriage as soon as possible.

Thinking about the mistreatment he had suffered outside, Lu Zhengliu's attitude softened, but in the end he still didn't agree to a divorce.

After he left, Old Madam Lu's expression changed, becoming extremely cold and Nanny Yan, "What Zhengliu said is true. Divorcing Yun Wan for the sake of the Duke's Residence's Di Daughter will damage his reputation. And he's so stubborn—the situation can force him, but I can't force him any further."

Nanny Yan was startled. "Old Madam, you mean to..."

"Is there any medicine left?"

It refers to poison obtained from a nunnery.

Nanny Yan said, "There's still a lot left. Didn't Concubine stop taking her medicine? That's why we have nowhere to dispose of it."

Old Madam Lu said slowly, "Keep it for now, there's no rush. Everything needs to be stable first... We can't do something that results in losing both our wife and our army."

At the very least, it needs to be confirmed that Ge Bao'er is indeed the Di Daughter of the Duke of Duke Xingguo's Residence.

Nanny Yan wanted to offer some advice, but she swallowed her words back.

This is a true case of favoring a concubine over the wife!

It's not as simple as poisoning a Concubine; one wrong move and the Lu family could face a catastrophe.

\

Drooping Silk Hall.

Ping Ye and Lin Yunwan said, "The old man has already gone to see the Old Madam."

Lin Yunwan responded.

She had already guessed that the Old Madam wanted to force Lu Zhengliu to divorce her.

With her eyes closed, she whispered, "If we can divorce peacefully like this, it won't harm the reputation of the Lin Family or mine."

I just never expected things to turn out this way.

Tao Ye said worriedly, "A woman cannot serve two husbands. Young Madam, the Lin clan will not allow you to remarry."

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "I don't want to remarry either."

She said calmly, "Finding a quiet nunnery to spend my days in would be quite nice. Chang Gong can study at the Lin Family; it probably won't be any worse than studying at the Lu family's."

Life will definitely be very mundane from now on, but mundane isn't necessarily a bad thing.

However, she still felt somewhat uneasy.

The shamelessness of the Lu family is always beyond that of ordinary people.

Her anxiety was immediately put to rest when the Old Madam brought her bird's nest and several pieces of jewelry.

The maid said, "Young Madam, these were all sent by the Old Madam. She also said she has a few good ginseng roots. If Madam Lin needs them, please feel free to go and take them."

Ping Ye was completely bewildered and asked the maid directly, "Why would the Old Madam, who was perfectly fine, send bird's nest to Young Madam? And all these things?"

The maid said blankly, "Yes, it was the Old Madam who sent me to deliver it."

"Ping Ye, step back."

Lin Yunwan clenched her handkerchief, first having someone accept the gifts, but she dared not use them. After changing her clothes, she went to see Old Madam Lu.

The Old Madam knew she was coming and why, and said with a faint smile, "Yun Wan, if you think the Lu family would abandon you for the sake of a legitimate Di Daughter of Duke Xingguo's Residence, then you are underestimating the Lu family."

Lin Yunwan's expression was extremely cold.

It's not that she looked down on them; it seems she overestimated the Lu family!

Old Madam Lu knew she wouldn't believe him if she said that, and said earnestly, "As long as Zhengliu refuses to let you go, I, as his grandmother, will not force him to do anything else."

"Yun Wan, let alone that she's the legitimate Di Daughter a noble family, even if it were Princess marrying into the Lu family, we wouldn't want her."

"All I hope for now is that you and Zhengliu will manage the household well."

"If that Concubine Ge is truly the legitimate Di Daughter of the Duke's family, and if you have the kind heart to let her go, it would be a good deed for Chang Gong and to accumulate merit for your mother. If you don't want to... then forget it!"

Lin Yunwan a cold laugh.

She didn't believe a single word!