Chapter 24: You Are Unworthy of the Military Family!
Chapter 24: You Are Unworthy of the Military Family!
"So, I need your permission to consummate my marriage? How arrogant!"
Meng Qianqian laughed sarcastically.
These two people truly deserved each other; they both thought that consummating their marriage was a great blessing for her.
Even her father-in-law thought the same. He believed that his son was a catch and that she should be grateful and accept everything that came her way now that her husband was back.
Did they ever consider if she even wanted this?
"You shameless harlot! Who do you think you are to give permission for my mistress and her husband to consummate their marriage? You think you're something special, acting like the lady of the house when you're not! Take a good look at yourself and reflect on your own behavior!"
Half-Summer pulled aside the curtain and stormed in, berating Lin Wan'er.
What had her mistress ever done to deserve such mistreatment from this family? And now, even an outsider dared to try and lord it over her mistress. It was too much!
Maid Li, with a stern face, entered the room and stood by her mistress's side. Turning to Lin Wan'er, she said, "I address you as Miss Lin, but you shouldn't take that to heart. What kind of decent woman offers herself as a concubine and then has the audacity to flaunt herself in front of the main wife? My mistress is kind and doesn't hold it against you, but you should have some self-awareness. To be blunt, my mistress does not acknowledge the child you carry. He is a bastard and not even worthy of being a legitimate son. Even if my mistress were to abort it with a cup of saffron, no one could blame her. If I were you, I'd keep a low profile and stop bringing bad luck to others!"
Maid Li was usually not this sharp-tongued, but when she was, her words could cut like a knife.
Lin Wan'er's face turned crimson with shame.
Clenching her fingers, she signed to Meng Qianqian, "I come from a military family, and I learned the skills to fight on the battlefield, not the scheming ways of the inner quarters. I don't understand them, and I don't want to!"
Meng Qianqian scoffed, "And did you learn how to steal another woman's husband at that military family, too? Stop disgracing the name; you are unworthy of it!"
Lin Wan'er: Do you know who I am?
Meng Qianqian: "I don't care who you are. Get out!"
Half-Summer immediately pointed to the door, "My mistress is telling you to scram!"
Lin Wan'er's chest heaved as she glared at Meng Qianqian furiously before storming out of the Hall of Crabapples, filled with indignation.
As she reached the small garden, she ran into Lu Xingzhou, who was returning from the Old Madam's quarters.
She adjusted her expression and bowed politely.
Lu Xingzhou had no love for this orphan girl who had brought endless trouble to his son. If not for the fact that her father and brother had saved his son's life, and that she now carried his grandson, he would never have agreed to keep her in the mansion.
He ignored Lin Wan'er and continued walking.
Lin Wan'er stopped him and broke a twig, writing on the ground, "Sir Lu, have you found a way to save Lu Lang?"
Lu Xingzhou replied solemnly, "That's none of your concern."
Lin Wan'er continued writing: I have a way to save Lu Lang.
Lu Xingzhou paused in his tracks and finally looked at her directly, "You?"
Lin Wan'er: Yes, I just went to speak with the First Madam about saving Lu Lang, but she threw me out.
It wasn't unusual for a concubine to be thrown out by the main wife.
Lu Xingzhou eyed her suspiciously and said, "Tell me your plan."
Lin Wan'er showed the scar on the palm of her left hand: The best way is to have the First Madam make the same injury on her hand and insist that she was the one who attended the banquet that day.
Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment, "A new wound is different from an old one, isn't it?
Lin Wan'er wrote: Of course, it's different. But what if it gets burned or scraped again? Who knows what it originally looked like?
Lu Xingzhou nodded, indicating for her to continue.
Lin Wan'er: The Grand Marshal and Lady Wang were both witnesses at the banquet. Since the Grand Marshal refuses to change his statement, we can make Lady Wang change hers. The eldest young mistress owes Lady Wang a life debt. As long as she asks Lady Wang for help, it won't be difficult for her to not only change her statement but even get Wang Yu to drop the charges against Lu Lang.
Lu Xingzhou frowned, "That's indeed a good way to resolve this matter perfectly."
Lin Wan'er wrote: It's a good idea, but unfortunately, the eldest young mistress refused and told me to get out of Hall of Crabapples.
Lu Xingzhou's expression darkened, "She threw you out because of this? Does she not care about saving her husband at all?"
Lin Wan'er wrote: I told her that if she agrees to save Lu Lang, I can give Lu Lang to her, but she still disagreed. However, if Meng Qianqian won't save him, then I, Lin Wan'er, will!
Lu Xingzhou asked, "Do you have another plan?"
Lin Wan'er took out a black Xuan iron token from her purse and handed it to Lu Xingzhou.
Lu Xingzhou felt its weight as he held it in his hand. Although he didn't recognize it, he felt a chilling aura of a formidable general emanating from it, "This is..."
Lin Wan'er wrote: "It's the token of the Black Armored Guard. My father was one of the twelve guards under the command of the Great Marshal of Chu, and my brother is also a member of the Black Armored Guard. I am willing to exchange my father and brother's merits for Lu Lang's life!"
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Lu Xingzhou had always thought that her father and brother were just minor captains appointed on the border, considering that if they were major generals, they would have already received their rewards.
Lin Wan'er: After the death of the Great Marshal of Chu, his ten thousand Black Armored Guards disappeared without a trace. If the people of Beiliang find out my identity, they will definitely come to capture me and force me to reveal the whereabouts of the Black Armored Guards. I did this not only for Lu Lang but also for my own safety and that of my unborn child. I had no intention of hiding it from you, sir.
Lu Xingzhou asked with a complex expression, "Does Lingxiao know about this?"
Lin Wan'er nodded: It was his idea.
"I see." Lu Xingzhou sighed, feeling a mix of emotions, "Rest assured, the Lu family will definitely protect you!"
Lin Wan'er wrote solemnly: As long as Lu Lang can be saved, my life does not matter.
Lu Xingzhou thought of Meng Qianqian. In the past, he hadn't thought that she was a bad person, but now, in comparison, he felt that Meng Qianqian was immature and selfish, willing to risk her husband's safety just to assert her own will.
In contrast, Lin Wan'er deeply cared for his son and was also much more considerate of the bigger picture.
Lu Xingzhou nodded in approval at Lin Wan'er, took the token, and headed into the palace to meet the Emperor.
Green Vine walked over and said with a giggle, "Miss, once we rescue the General, the Master and the Old Madam will definitely support you. At that time, let's see what that lady in the Hall of Crabapples has to say!"
In the morning, a light snow fell in the capital, covering the ground with fine snowflakes that were soon swept away by the servants.
Meng Qianqian brought the simmered medicine to Lu Mother's courtyard.
The Old Madam was also there.
Lu Mother's condition had worsened. She hadn't slept all night, coughed up blood in the morning, and had just managed to fall asleep.
The Old Madam sighed softly as she looked at Lu Mother's pale face.
Meng Qianqian stared fixedly at Lu Mother.
In this family, the only ones who treated her well were the Old Madam and Lu Mother.
As they left the main courtyard, Half-Summer sighed softly, "The Madam is truly pitiful."
Half-Summer didn't sympathize with her husband, but the Madam was a kind person, and seeing her so heartbroken made Half-Summer feel a twinge of sympathy.
"Miss, should we... go to the Marshal's Manor to plead for mercy?"
(End of Chapter)
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