https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-22-Misfortune-Strikes-the-Lu-Family/12582386/
Chapter 21: A Beating for Lu Lingxiao
Chapter 21: A Beating for Lu Lingxiao
Meng Qianqian's book slipped from her hand and fell onto the footstool in front of the bed.
Lu Lingxiao leaned forward, kneeling with one knee at Qianqian's side. He pinned her wrists down, holding her lightly beneath him, his eyes burning with intensity as he looked at her.
Qianqian lay calmly beneath him, gazing back with composure and not showing any sign of resistance or struggle.
A chill ran through Lu Lingxiao as he said, "You're quite...compliant."
With the heavy clothing of winter and her habitual cloak, she didn't appear as frail as Wan'er at first glance. But now, as he held her slender wrists, he felt that he could break them with the slightest force.
When she had first arrived at the Lu family, he had caught a glimpse of her from a distance.
She had been a chubby, greedy little girl, but now, after five years, she had become so slender...
Lu Lingxiao tightened his grip on her wrist, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his drunk, red eyes.
But then he thought of how she had resorted to such underhanded means to consummate their marriage, and any trace of softness in his heart instantly vanished!
Even if he treated her rudely, it was what she deserved!
Just as Lu Lingxiao raised his hand to tear at her clothes, he suddenly sensed something amiss.
He paused and slowly lifted his head, only to see a person sitting cross-legged on the inner side of the bed, arms folded, staring straight at him.
His body jerked, and the alcohol in his system instantly cleared. "Grandmother?"
This was bad! What was his grandmother doing here?
The old matriarch narrowed her eyes. "Are you bullying Qianqian?"
Lu Lingxiao quickly denied it. "I wasn't..."
The old matriarch aimed at his head, and a loud slap rang out, "Do you think I'm blind? I saw everything!"
Lu Lingxiao's head rang from the force of the slap.
"You dare to lay a hand on Qianqian? I'll show you what it feels like! I'll teach you a lesson!"
The old matriarch rained slaps from both sides, the blows resounding through the room.
Lu Lingxiao quickly released Meng Qianqian and scrambled off the bed, covering his head. "Grandmother! It's not what you think... You've misunderstood..."
"Still daring to argue?"
The old matriarch jumped off the bed as well. Not satisfied with just slapping, she picked up the laundry stick from the table and began to beat Lu Lingxiao with it. He dared not fight back and could only flee around the room, but the room was small, leaving him with little space to escape.
"Don't dirty the table!"
Alright, he couldn't go on the table.
"Get down from there!"
He couldn't hide on the rafters either.
"Don't run so fast, trying to exhaust me!"
Even slowing down wasn't an option?!
In the blink of an eye, Lu Lingxiao had received several strikes from the old matriarch.
His grandmother seemed much tougher than she had been five years ago, and her blows truly stung.
As a warrior, he had endured greater pain, but this was different. Being beaten by his grandmother was humiliating!
As he fled, covering his head, he glared at Meng Qianqian, who was sitting up on the bed, eating fried fruit and watching him get beaten.
Lu Lingxiao gritted his teeth. "This woman..."
In that moment of distraction, the old matriarch caught him and delivered a solid blow to his head.
"Hey!"
Lu Lingxiao: "......!!!"
After a quarter of an hour, the old matriarch dragged Lu Lingxiao, now with a bruised and swollen head, to Lu Xingzhou's study.
Lu Xingzhou looked at the two of them, his face full of bewilderment. "Grandmother, what's going on?"
The old matriarch spoke sternly. "Keep your son in check! It's the father's fault if the son is unruly. If this brat dares to lay a hand on Qianqian again, I'll beat you along with him!"
After the old matriarch left, Lu Xingzhou turned a cold gaze towards his son.
His face was flushed, and the smell of alcohol was strong, indicating that he had drunk too much.
Lu Xingzhou's voice was filled with disappointment. "I asked you to move to Qianqian's courtyard, not to go on a drunken rampage!"
Lu Lingxiao had no defense.
Lu Lingxiao left.
Lu Xingzhou looked at his retreating back and waved his wide sleeve dismissively. "So childish!"
The servant boy asked cautiously, "Young Master, do you mean that Young Master Lingxiao is childish, or that Young Mistress Meng is childish?"
Lu Xingzhou replied, "Both of them are childish!"
After a moment's pause, Lu Xingzhou made his way to Madam Lu's chamber.
Madam Lu had sprained her ankle previously, and after being summoned by the elderly matriarch to tend to chores all morning, her injury had yet to heal completely.
Lu Xingzhou spoke to her about their son's behavior. "You should also advise Qianqian to be more sensible. It's only natural for a husband and wife to have disagreements, but there's no reason to push your husband away. After all, Lingxiao is her husband."
While their son's actions today were indeed inappropriate, it was also unseemly for their daughter-in-law to constantly rely on the elderly matriarch as her savior.
"Married couples should resolve their issues behind closed doors. If they truly can't, then they should seek the help of their parents. There's no need to create such a ruckus that the entire household knows about it, causing your husband to lose face."
"Yes, I understand," Madam Lu replied, her gaze lowered.
Lu Xingzhou detected the perfunctory tone in her voice and her lack of enthusiasm. "I know you dote on Qianqian, but Lingxiao is your flesh and blood too. You wouldn't want the news of a discordant marriage and a chaotic household to spread and affect his career, would you?"
As he spoke, Lu Xingzhou rose to his feet. "Have someone prepare dinner. I'll be staying here tonight."
Madam Lu's body stiffened at his words.
The incident of the Beiling spy attacking in broad daylight had caused quite a stir in the capital, and the folk tale of the General's wife risking her life to save others had also spread throughout the city.
Everyone praised the strong and courageous woman from the military family, and Lu Lingxiao's reputation among the common people rose along with it.
However, just as the Lu family was feeling proud, Wang Yu, the Imperial Inspector, submitted an impeachment against Lu Lingxiao.
In his memorial, Wang Yu accused Lu Lingxiao of neglecting his wife and favoring his concubine, violating the three cardinal guides and the five constant virtues. He claimed that Lu Lingxiao was capable but not virtuous, lacking in moral character, and unfit to hold the position of the Right Minister of War. Furthermore, he argued that Lu Lingxiao knew the laws but deliberately broke them, and his crimes were grave, deserving severe punishment!
When asked for evidence, Wang Yu straightened his back and replied, "Hmph, my wife witnessed it with her own eyes! Lu Lingxiao brought his concubine to the Governor's mansion for a banquet and introduced her as Mrs. Lu. Moreover, on the day he was captured by assassins, he disregarded his wife's life to save his concubine. Such a person with deplorable morals should be dismissed from his position, Your Majesty!"
The young emperor turned his head and glanced at the empty seat behind the curtain before responding to Wang Yu, "I understand."
After the court session, Lu Xingzhou caught up with Wang Yu and bowed respectfully. "Esteemed Wang, there has been a misunderstanding regarding this matter. My son..."
"Hmph!"
Wang Yu turned up his nose and flapped his sleeves, dismissing Lu Xingzhou without another word.
"Father!"
At the palace gates, Lu Lingxiao hurried forward with a few large bumps still visible on his head, hidden under a straw hat.
He had already heard from officials who had left the court earlier about the impeachment against him.
"Look what you've done!" Lu Xingzhou chided.
"Father..."
Lu Xingzhou continued, "Fortunately, the Grand Governor didn't come to the court today, and His Majesty hasn't made a decision yet. You must come with me to the Governor's mansion immediately."
Lu Lingxiao clenched his fists. "Father, do you want me to beg that sycophant?"
"There's no other way at the moment," Lu Xingzhou replied.
Lu Lingxiao frowned. "Can he stop Wang Yu?"
Wang Yu was known for his incorruptibility, and half of the officials in the court had been impeached by him at some point, including the Grand Governor.
"It doesn't matter if he can't stop him," Lu Xingzhou said. "Don't forget, he's also a witness. As long as he confirms that it was you and Qianqian who attended the banquet at the Governor's mansion, Wang Yu's wife's testimony will be invalidated."
In this world, people ultimately favored men, especially those in positions of power and influence.
(End of Chapter)
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