https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-22-Misfortune-Strikes-the-Lu-Family/12582386/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-24-You-Are-Unworthy-of-the-Military-Family-/12582388/
Chapter 23: A Widow's Peaceful Life
Chapter 23: A Widow's Peaceful Life
Lu Xingzhou was completely stunned.
The Grand Marshal Lu had always been extremely amicable towards them, and he had assumed that this visit to seek his help would be a straightforward matter. Yet, he had suddenly turned against the Lu family and had them arrested?
"Grand Marshal—" Lu Xingzhou exclaimed.
Lu Yuan smiled and asked, "Are you implicating yourself as well, Lord Lu? Do you wish to join him in prison for a nice meal?"
Lu Xingzhou immediately fell silent. He glanced at his son, who was being restrained by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and clenched his fists in anger.
He had witnessed Lu Yuan's unpredictable mood swings and abrupt changes in disposition. There was probably not a single person in the world who could fathom the thoughts and temperament of this Grand Marshal! Lu Xingzhou couldn't afford to be implicated, and he had to find a way to rescue his son as soon as possible.
"Lu Yuan!" Lu Lingxiao glared at Lu Yuan, his anger reaching its peak at this moment towards the treacherous court official.
Lu Yuan smiled indifferently and strolled into the mansion with a casual air.
In the carriage, Baoshi wailed and fussed, seemingly furious that someone had forgotten about her again!
News of Lu Lingxiao being taken away by the Grand Marshal spread quickly back to the Lu family.
The elderly madam had just finished a day of dramatic scenes, and her anger had not yet subsided when she heard that her grandson had been arrested!
How could she tolerate this?
"What is the meaning of this?" She demanded furiously.
The maidservant did not dare to hide the truth and relayed what she had heard from the outer court: "It's all because of the second young mistress. She insisted on exposing Lin Wan'er, and now the young master is accused of both favoring a concubine and deceiving the emperor. He has been imprisoned by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and who knows what kind of torture he is enduring!"
The Embroidered Uniform Guard did not have a good reputation in the capital. They were known for their harsh interrogations, surveillance, assassinations, and all sorts of unsavory tasks.
Few who were taken by them met a good end.
The elderly madam was heartbroken.
She had only this one grandson. After suffering for five years at the border, he had returned only to face such a calamity—
Of course, she refused to believe that her grandson had done anything wrong. If anyone was at fault, it was that girl!
If it weren't for her publicly exposing Lin Wan'er and making a big fuss, her grandson wouldn't have been impeached by the censor and accused of deceiving the emperor!
"If I had known this would happen, I never should have let her enter our family! She's a jinx! Send her to the Grand Marshal's residence immediately! She is to kneel there until the Grand Marshal releases my grandson! Otherwise, she need not return to the Lu family! Our family does not need such a woman who brings disaster to her own husband!"
The maidservant delivered the message to the Hall of Crabapples.
Banxia was furious and placed her hands on her waist as she stomped her foot. "What gives her the right? Where has our young mistress wronged? Clearly, it's the young master who is being too much. If he hadn't brought back a vixen from the border, would we be facing these troubles now? Who does he think he is? If I had known this, I would never have agreed to this marriage!"
Maidservant Li also felt sorry for her young mistress. She wondered if the old master would regret his decision if he knew that his beloved granddaughter had been pushed into such a predicament.
"Young mistress, should we listen to the old madam and go to the Grand Marshal's residence to plead for mercy?" Maidservant Li asked.
"No," Meng Qianqian replied without hesitation as she continued to tally the accounts.
Maidservant Li sighed. "It's probably for the best. I've heard that the Grand Marshal is not a benevolent person. Going there might only result in humiliation."
The elderly madam didn't actually expect the young mistress to go and plead for mercy. She just wanted to make things difficult for her since her grandson was suffering.
Maidservant Li said to Banxia, "Later, when the old madam sends someone again, just tell them that the young mistress was so heartbroken that she fainted."
Banxia nodded seriously. "Understood, Maidservant Li!"
The elderly madam sent people over three times, and each time, Banxia sent them away.
The elderly madam was so furious that she nearly fainted. If she hadn't exhausted herself washing away the dog's blood, she would have stormed over to the Hall of Crabapples and slapped Meng Qianqian a few times.
Lu Xingzhou had been running around all night, seeking help from numerous colleagues. But as soon as they heard that Grand Marshal Lu Yuan had ordered the arrest, they all refused to get involved.
It would have been one thing if this had happened at the border, but this was the capital, and Lu Yuan's power was absolute. Who would dare to plead for Lu Lingxiao?
There were some who were unafraid of Lu Yuan, but the problem was that they were noblemen of such high status that Lu Xingzhou couldn't even approach them.
Desperate, Lu Xingzhou went to see the old matriarch.
The old matriarch had just woken up, and the sight of Lu Xingzhou's disheveled appearance startled her.
"Grandmother," Lu Xingzhou said, bowing respectfully.
The old matriarch asked impatiently, "What do you want?"
Lu Xingzhou replied, "Something has happened to Lingxiao. I implore you, Grandmother, to please intercede on his behalf."
The old matriarch held an imperial decree and was also of advanced age, so even if Lu Yuan was arrogant and domineering, he wouldn't dare to cause trouble for her.
The last time at the Grand Marshal's mansion, Lu Yuan had paid his respects to the old matriarch. Perhaps he would show leniency out of consideration for her old age.
The old matriarch shook her head and looked up at the sky. "I won't go! That good-for-nothing boy deserves to be punished! It's good that he was arrested!"
Lu Xingzhou: "..."
The old matriarch was stubborn, and reasoning with her was futile. She simply didn't understand the gravity of being taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
However, if he pushed her too hard, she might have a fit, and then, instead of pleading for mercy, she might not even remember who she was.
Lu Xingzhou left the courtyard with a headache.
The Hall of Crabapples also received an unexpected visitor, but it wasn't someone sent by the elderly madam. It was Lin Wan'er.
Banxia blocked her at the door. "You're not welcome here! Leave!"
Lin Wan'er gave Banxia a cold glance and pushed her aside as she entered Meng Qianqian's room.
"Miss—" Banxia trailed off as she followed Lin Wan'er inside.
Meng Qianqian said to Banxia, "Go and check if the chicken noodle soup is ready. Tell the nanny that I want it spicy, with a couple of spoonfuls of chili oil."
Banxia glared at Lin Wan'er and huffed off to the small kitchen.
Meng Qianqian was eating bird's nest soup.
She wore a delicate pink jacket, looking ethereal and radiant like a budding flower in early spring.
Lin Wan'er stood before Meng Qianqian, her eyes scanning the room before moving to pick up the brush and ink on the table.
Meng Qianqian said calmly, "Don't touch my things. If you have something to say, just say it. I can understand you."
Lin Wan'er furrowed her brows in suspicion. Using sign language, she conveyed, "Lu Lang has been arrested."
Meng Qianqian oh-ed. "I know."
Seeing that she truly understood sign language, Lin Wan'er was even more surprised.
Meng Qianqian stirred the blood swallow in her bowl with a spoon and asked nonchalantly, "Are you done pretending?"
Lin Wan'er turned her face away coldly. After a while, she calmed down and signed, "Aren't you worried about Lu Lang at all?"
Meng Qianqian: "Why should I be worried?"
Lin Wan'er: He is your husband.
Meng Qianqian smiled. "So now you remember he's my husband? During your trysts, you completely forgot about that, didn't you?"
Lin Wan'er clenched her fists.
She signed, "If he dies, aren't you afraid of becoming a real widow?"
Meng Qianqian smiled faintly. "If not for your reminder, I would have forgotten. Being a widow is much more peaceful than what I'm going through now."
Lin Wan'er closed her eyes, suppressing her displeasure. She signed, "I know you have many grievances towards me, and you can seek revenge any way you want. But Lu Lang must not come to harm. I have a way to save him, but I need your cooperation. As long as we can rescue Lu Lang, I... I will allow Lu Lang... to consummate the marriage with you!"
(End of Chapter)
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