Lu Xingzhou was completely dumbfounded.
The Grand Commander had always been exceptionally accommodating toward their family. He thought that seeking his help this ti would be a matter of course, yet unexpectedly, he broke the norm and arrested the Lu Family mbers?
"Grand Commander—"
Lu Yuan chuckled, "Lord Lu, do you think you’re an accomplice as well? Want to join him for a al of prison fare?"
Lu Xingzhou imdiately shut his mouth.
His eyes darted toward his son, who was pinned down by the Jinyi Guards, and he secretly clenched his fingers.
He had truly witnessed Lu Yuan’s unfathomable mood swings—turning hostile without warning. As for the thoughts and temperant of this Grand Commander, perhaps no one in the world could decipher them!
Lu Xingzhou could not let himself fall into this trap; he had to quickly think of a way to rescue his son.
"Lu Yuan!"
Lu Lingxiao glared fiercely at Lu Yuan.
At this mont, his anger toward this treacherous court official reached its zenith.
Lu Yuan brushed it off with a calm and carefree smile, strolling leisurely into the mansion.
On the carriage, Bao Shu was screeching in fury, as if accusing soone for forgetting about her yet again!
The news that Lu Lingxiao had been arrested by the Grand Commander quickly made its way back to the Lu Family.
The old madam, who had been occupied with washing off a day’s worth of "dog’s blood" drama, was still simring with anger when she learned of her grandson’s arrest!
How could she tolerate that?
"What on earth happened?"
She roared furiously.
The maid dared not conceal anything and relayed the situation she had heard from the outer courtyard: "It’s all because of the Eldest Young Madam! Insisting on exposing Miss Lin, and now look what’s happened. The Eldest Young Master not only faces charges of favoring a concubine over his wife but also deceiving the emperor, and now he’s locked up by the Jinyi Guards! Who knows how badly he’ll be tortured!"
The Jinyi Guards didn’t have a stellar reputation in the Capital City—infamous for brutal interrogations, surveillance, assassinations; all matters, seen or unseen, landed in their hands.
Anyone taken by the Jinyi Guards rarely ca to a good end.
The old madam was heartbroken.
Her one legitimate grandson—after suffering five years at the border, he returned only to be struck by this calamity—
She naturally refused to believe her grandson was at fault; if there was any bla to assign, it was surely on that girl!
If she hadn’t disclosed Lin Wan’er’s secrets in broad daylight, causing an uproar, her grandson wouldn’t have been reported by the Imperial Censor, nor would he have been accused of deceiving the emperor!
"Had I known this would happen, she should never have been allowed beyond our gates! A cursed harbinger, indeed! Send her to the Governor Mansion! Let her kneel there until the Grand Commander releases my grandson! Otherwise, she needn’t return to the Lu Family! Our family doesn’t keep such harmful and disgraceful matriarchs!"
The maid passed along the ssage to Haitang Courtyard.
Ban Xia was fuming, hands on her hips, stomping her feet: "Why on earth? What did Miss do wrong? Clearly, it’s the Young Master who’s gone too far! If he hadn’t brought back so vixen from the border, there wouldn’t be all this trouble now! And they think they’re such a noble family? Honestly, Miss should’ve never married into this ss!"
Nanny Li also felt sorry for her lady. If the family patriarch knew his cherished granddaughter had been shoved into such a miserable pit, who knew whether he’d regret his decision back then.
"Miss, are you planning to heed the old madam’s orders... go plead at the Governor Mansion?"
"No."
ng Qianqian, while combing over the accounts, answered without hesitation.
Nanny Li sighed: "Not going might be for the better. I’ve heard that Grand Commander is no benevolent figure; going there likely leads only to humiliation."
The old madam wasn’t sending Miss to intercede; she was clearly trying to tornt her. Her grandson suffered, so she wanted Miss to suffer as well.
Nanny Li told Ban Xia: "If the old madam sends soone over again, just say Miss is heartbroken, fainted from grief."
Ban Xia nodded solemnly: "Understood, Nanny!"
The old madam sent people to press three tis, cursed three tis, and all were rebuffed by Ban Xia.
The old madam was nearly apoplectic—had her exhaustion from the "dog’s blood" drama not left her completely drained, she would’ve marched to Haitang Courtyard herself to slap ng Qianqian a few tis.
Lu Xingzhou had been bustling around all night, seeking various colleagues, yet as soon as they learned the arrest was decreed by the Grand Commander, everyone found an excuse to refuse.
In the borderlands, it might still be manageable, but this was the Capital City where the Grand Commander reigned supre; who dared plead for Lu Lingxiao?
There were indeed those who didn’t fear Lu Yuan, but the problem was those lofty aristocrats were far beyond Lu Xingzhou’s reach.
Out of options, Lu Xingzhou bit the bullet and went to the matriarch’s courtyard.
The matriarch had just woken up. The sight of his disheveled figure startled her.
"Grandmother."
Lu Xingzhou hurriedly bowed in greeting.
The matriarch responded testily, "What do you want?"
Lu Xingzhou said, "Lingxiao is in trouble. I beseech you to step in and plead for him."
The matriarch held an imperial title and was advanced in age; even if Lu Yuan was brazen, he wouldn’t dare bully an elderly lady.
Last ti at the Governor Mansion, Lu Yuan was respectful toward the matriarch; perhaps he might show leniency this ti.
The matriarch rolled her head back, eyes skyward: "I won’t go! That insolent brat deserves discipline—well caught!"
Lu Xingzhou: "..."
The matriarch was obstinate, impervious to reason. She had no grasp of the severity implied by an arrest by the Jinyi Guards.
Yet forcing the issue risked provoking her illness; then, forget pleading, she might not even rember who she was.
Lu Xingzhou left the courtyard in frustration.
Haitang Courtyard had its own uninvited guest—a surprise visitor unconnected to the old madam’s demands: Lin Wan’er.
Ban Xia barred her path: "You’re not welco here! Get out!"
Lin Wan’er shot Ban Xia a frosty glance, shoved her aside, and stepped into ng Qianqian’s room.
"Miss—"
Ban Xia followed in pursuit.
ng Qianqian said to Ban Xia, "Go check if the shredded chicken noodles are ready. Tell Nanny I want it spicy; have her add two spoonfuls of chili oil."
Ban Xia glared at Lin Wan’er, huffed, and stomped off to the small kitchen.
ng Qianqian was enjoying her bird’s nest soup.
She wore a light pink jacket, youthful and radiant, like the budding flower of early spring.
Lin Wan’er approached ng Qianqian, sweeping her gaze before reaching for the pen and ink on the table.
ng Qianqian said calmly, "Don’t touch my things. Whatever you have to say, speak—I can understand."
Lin Wan’er furrowed her brows, suspiciously, then gestured in sign language: Lu Lang has been arrested.
ng Qianqian acknowledged indifferently, "I know."
Seeing ng Qianqian’s apparent fluency in sign language, Lin Wan’er was visibly surprised.
ng Qianqian stirred her bowl of red swallow’s nest with her spoon, asking nonchalantly, "Finally dropped the act?"
Lin Wan’er averted her gaze coldly, paused to collect her emotions, and gestured: Aren’t you worried about Lu Lang at all?
ng Qianqian: "Why should I worry?"
Lin Wan’er: He is your husband.
ng Qianqian chuckled, "Only now do you rember he’s my husband? Yet when indulging in your illicit acts, you managed to forget entirely?"
Lin Wan’er clenched her fists.
She gestured: If he dies, aren’t you afraid you’ll truly beco a widow?
ng Qianqian offered a faint smile: "Now that you ntion it, I almost forgot—life as a widow might actually be far more peaceful than this."
Lin Wan’er closed her eyes briefly, suppressing her displeasure, before gesturing: I know you hold great resentnt toward . Do as you will to take revenge—but Lu Lang cannot fall. I have a way to save him; I need your cooperation. As long as we get him out, I... I’ll allow Lu Lang... to consummate the marriage with you!
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