Chapter 37:
That year, news spread to the Capital City that Lu Family’s Second Master and his two sons had all died on the battlefield together. His wife attempted to hang herself that very day to follow her husband in death. If not for her personal maidservant noticing something amiss, where would the Lu Family’s Second Madam be now.
Xie Wanning, who was only ten years old at the time, was deeply moved upon hearing this.
For a very long time, she believed Lu Family’s Second Madam to be a model for women of this world.
Loyal, chaste, devoted.
The affection between her and Lu Family’s Second Master as a couple was even more worthy of being sung through the ages.
But at this moment, she heard Lu Ziyan’s low voice.
He said: “Back then, my Second Uncle had just gotten married not long ago and was ordered to Bianzhou to serve as Military Governor. Second Aunt was pregnant and did not go with him. Seeing him alone, his subordinates in Bianzhou sent him two women. Before his term ended and he returned to the Capital City, Second Uncle gave them some silver to dismiss them, but he did not know that one of them was pregnant.”
“That woman recovered her good family status and had no intention of remarrying. She wanted to give birth to the child and live dependently with him, but she worried that if the news leaked, they would take the child and discard the mother. So she hid in the countryside and raised the child. Before dying, she told the child his background.”
“He is called Lu Zishuo. By age, he should be my cousin. He grew up in the countryside, earned the title of Recommended Scholar, and while staying at a classmate’s home, Liu Manrou was arranged to serve him. From then on, she became his concubine.”
“Later, bandits ran rampant in Bianzhou. Lu Zishuo was hacked on the street, and I happened to encounter him while on imperial orders heading to Bianzhou for bandit suppression.”
“He looks very much like my Second Uncle. After I saved him, in his dying moments he told me his background. I then sent my confidant to investigate carefully and confirm it. Only then did I finally determine that the Lu Family still had bloodline left outside. Unfortunately, on the very day we brothers met, he died under the bandits’ blades.”
Xie Wanning felt as if she were listening to a book from heaven. Her fingertip, lightly tapping the table, had long unconsciously stopped. She stared blankly at his lips opening and closing.
Lu Ziyan kept looking at her, recounting earnestly: “The bandits were successfully suppressed. On the eve of returning to the Capital City, Liu Manrou came to me, saying she was pregnant. She had been by Lu Zishuo’s side for two years as a recognized concubine. Since she was pregnant, I naturally could not let the Lu Family bloodline be left outside again.”
——So he brought her back to the Capital City.
Xie Wanning supplied the rest of that sentence for him.
She even began to spontaneously wonder why he did not directly make Liu Manrou’s identity public.
Lu Ziyan was not the eldest son of the Lu Family’s eldest branch. He had two elder brothers above him, but they had all died on the battlefield with their father.
As the legitimate youngest son, from the time he was sensible, he rarely saw his father, who was stationed year-round at the Northern Frontier. Meanwhile, Lu Family’s Second Master spent more time in the Capital City.
The uncle and nephew had deep affection. Since he learned that Second Uncle had bloodline remaining in the world, he naturally should arrange for the person to recognize ancestors and return to the clan.
But the Lu Family still had a Lu Family’s Second Madam who had kept chastity for her husband for many years.
That year, Lu Family’s Second Madam attempted suicide but was saved by her maidservant. Afterward, she tried to die several times until her own mother, who was bedridden with illness, dragged her sick body to the Wuyuan Marquis’s Estate for a good scolding, finally persuading her back.
Though she was still willing to live, Lu Family’s Second Madam from then on avoided meat and strong colors, worshiped Buddha year-round, and directed all her care to Lu Ziyan, treating him as her own son.
Her affection with her deceased husband was the spiritual pillar supporting her many years of widowhood. If she learned that he had left offspring outside…
Years of affection amounting to nothing—whether she could retain the will to live was unknown.
The Lu Family offspring were too few. Lu Ziyan both wanted to bring back Second Uncle’s bloodline and was concerned for his Second Aunt, so he decided to conceal Tang Manrou’s identity and claim this child himself.
This actually made sense. For someone like him, with his cold temperament that disliked maidservants approaching since childhood, to go out once and bring back a woman himself.
But…
Xie Wanning thought of those dreams.
After Liu Manrou gave birth to the eldest son, he had truly given her the status of main wife of the second branch, not the concubine status he now claimed to have arranged for her.
And those red marks that Liu Manrou deliberately showed her every time they met, half-hidden and half-revealed.
In the dream, Lu Ziyan’s undisguised favoritism toward Liu Manrou and her son let everyone know that she was the woman he loved.
He pushed through opposition to give her the status of main wife, gave her child legitimate status, gave her enough favoritism to be arrogant and domineering.
Everything women wanted most, he gave unsparingly to Liu Manrou.
Now he came to tell her that she was his cousin’s concubine?
The next instant her hand was grasped, Xie Wanning snapped back to her senses, feeling everything was absurd and laughable.
She struggled to withdraw her hand, took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped it, then said calmly: “Are you finished speaking?”
“Wanwan!” Not expecting this reaction after she heard everything, Lu Ziyan’s voice sank slightly: “Everything I just said is absolutely true, not a single false word.”
Xie Wanning hummed and said: “If you’re finished, then remember to send the marriage certificate tomorrow.”
Lu Ziyan’s jaw tightened, his face turning unpleasant: “Don’t you have anything you want to ask me?”
…He wanted her to repeat that day’s questions?
Xie Wanning frowned and thought, then asked: “What other stupid things did I ask that day afterward? Tell me all at once. I really can’t remember.”
Lu Ziyan’s expression stiffened, silent for a long time, then said bitterly: “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have said that nonsense…”
“Which ones?” Still harboring some resentment, Xie Wanning feigned confusion: “The one where even if we marry, it’s not wrong for you to have more women by your side? Or the one where you won’t stay with just me?”
She smiled and added: “Or surely not the one where no matter how many women you have, it won’t affect my status as main wife?”
“Wanwan,” Lu Ziyan pursed his lips: “If you’re angry, do with me as you will.”
“No need,” Xie Wanning stood up: “Young Master Lu, your status is noble. How dare I dispose of you.”
With that, she stepped forward to leave, but he grasped her wrist.
“Let go!” Xie Wanning glared at him angrily.
Lu Ziyan released her as told, looking at her: “We haven’t finished talking. If you just leave like this, I can’t fulfill my words.”
Xie Wanning was amused to anger: “I never knew you were such a rogue.”
Refusing to break off the engagement and using this to threaten her.
Mocked by her like this, Lu Ziyan’s gaze dimmed slightly, his tone stubborn: “Everything I said is true. Liu Manrou and I are completely pure.”
At this point, he paused, then said with difficulty: “I have not yet shared a bed with anyone.”
Xie Wanning: “…”
She was stunned for a moment, then forced herself to understand his meaning.
After a long time, she said softly: “I don’t believe it.”
She didn’t believe it.
Even if he was now revealing uncomfortably before her that he was pure, she still didn’t believe it.
Since the dream was real, even if he had no intentions toward Liu Manrou now, in the days ahead he would gradually fall in love with her and give her all his favoritism.
Not caring that she had been his cousin’s concubine, not caring that she had borne another man’s child.
Thinking this, Xie Wanning almost couldn’t help praising their love.
Transcending status and position, ignoring ethics and propriety.
What was this if not true love?
PK2 Day 2, to show ceremony, as usual, asking for votes.
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