Chapter 98: Her Cruelty Shakes the Lu Family to the Core
Chapter 98: Her Cruelty Shakes the Lu Family to the Core
The man in black glared coldly at Meng Qianqian, his jaw clenching, only to receive a swift and precise kick from her that knocked it out of place!
"Planning to bite your tongue and end it all? If you don't start talking, I'll sever the tendons in your hands and feet, leaving you begging for death!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a sharp sound cut through the night, and three cold arrows flew straight at Meng Qianqian. With a flourish of her sword, she deflected the arrows and, in the same motion, used her toes to nudge Old Madam, who was backing away rapidly, pulling her behind a large tree for cover.
Old Madam obediently hid herself.
Several more arrows rained down, causing the Second Madam and her maids to panic.
"Big Brother, watch out!"
As the Second Master shielded his wife, he attempted to dash forward and pull Lu Xingzhou away, but an arrow pierced through his sleeve, forcing him to retreat.
In this critical moment, one of the guards stepped forward, placing himself in front of Lu Xingzhou and deflecting the arrow with his sword.
Using the cover of the arrows, one of the masked men displayed remarkable lightness of movement and swept in to carry away the man in black lying on the ground.
"Trying to run?"
Just then, Tan'er arrived and, with a flying kick from the rooftop, dislocated the masked man's arm. However, without even a glance, the man popped his arm back into place and vanished into the night with his companion.
Tan'er turned to give chase.
"Tan'er, don't bother," Meng Qianqian called out, stopping her.
Tan'er pouted, "Why not?"
Meng Qianqian replied calmly, "We're no match for them."
"But they're so skilled—" Tan'er protested.
"They won't make it far," Meng Qianqian interrupted.
If they moved at all, the broken ribs would pierce their spleens.
After making her statement, she glanced at the token that had fallen from the man in black and discreetly pocketed it.
"Qianqian, can I come out now?" Old Madam asked from behind the tree.
Meng Qianqian nodded, "Yes."
Old Madam hurried over to Meng Qianqian, her legs moving swiftly despite her age.
At this moment, the masters and servants of the Lu family were all stunned. They were not shocked by Old Madam's actions but rather by the unfamiliar side of Meng Qianqian that she had just displayed.
They had witnessed how Meng Qianqian had spent her five years in the Lu family—enduring the old madam's nagging and the servants' strange attitudes, even when her husband had brought home a concubine from the border, she had said nothing.
In their eyes, the eldest young madam was weak and docile, easily manipulated, a typical bullied daughter-in-law. Yet, just now, she had been more formidable than the assassin!
What a powerful killing intent, and what a terrifying gaze!
Lu Xingzhou kept his hands behind his back, his fists clenched tightly.
The Second Master, still reeling from the surprise, had a complex look in his eyes.
The Second Madam's body trembled, and she hid behind her husband, whispering fearfully, "That military officer said she had made a great contribution on the battlefield... is it true... did she really kill people at the border?"
Meng Qianqian looked at the long sword in her hand and replied nonchalantly, "Yes, Second Aunt, I've killed more than one."
The Second Madam froze.
Far from being pleased by being addressed as "Second Aunt," she was terrified!
This girl... wouldn't she be settling old scores and taking action against her right here?
She tugged at her husband's sleeve.
The Second Master whispered, "I told you not to bully her."
However, she was still his wife, and he couldn't let Meng Qianqian beat her up, especially since Meng Qianqian was so formidable; he feared that one punch would be enough to take her life.
"Big Brother," he said, looking at Lu Xingzhou.
Forget it; it was impossible to ask him to step in. After all, he had been a good-for-nothing heir for half his life, always relying on others.
Lu Xingzhou's eyes held a deep, mysterious gaze.
He was the only one who had thoroughly inquired about Meng Qianqian's deeds at the border, and he knew her abilities better than the rest. Yet, he, too, was astonished.
This former daughter-in-law's martial arts skills were no weaker than his son's.
In a calm tone, he asked, "After spending five years in the Lu family, why have you hidden your abilities so deeply?
"What exactly are your intentions?" Meng Qianqian asked, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Lord Lu, do you suspect that I have ulterior motives against your Lu family? You should consider whether your family is even worth my efforts. Is it your mountain of debts, your impending homelessness, your son's fickle heart, or your mother's constant rules that I'm after? If it weren't for my grandfather falling for your father's tricks, I wouldn't have married into your family and endured five years of torment."
The Old Madam retorted defiantly, "Exactly!"
The Second Madam was taken aback. "Grandmother, whose side are you on?"
Lu Xingzhou's expression turned grim as he knew Meng Qianqian's words held truth. The Lu family, indeed, had nothing worth coveting back then.
However, he couldn't understand why she had hidden her true capabilities.
"If you had been honest with us, how could the Lu family not stand by your side?" he asked, his tone serious.
"If that's what you think, Lord Lu, then there's nothing I can do about it," Meng Qianqian replied, refusing to fall into the trap of justifying herself. After all, it was he who harbored resentment, not her.
While Lu Xingzhou maintained a calm facade, only Lu Er Ye could tell that his older brother was seething with anger.
The Old Madam extended her hand, complaining, "Qianqian, my hand is dirty."
Meng Qianqian handed her sword to Tan'er and supported the Old Madam's arm gently. "Let me accompany you back to your chamber and help you wash your hands."
"Let's go!"
Tan'er skipped along behind the two women, and as she passed by Lu Xingzhou, she paused. "Mom said that a qualified ex-mother-in-law should be as good as dead!"
With that, she strode away, her voice carrying on the wind, "Don't bother my sister again in the future! Ask around, we Lu family members are annoying!"
Lu Xingzhou's chest rose and fell heavily.
Once they were out of earshot, the Second Madam finally spoke up. "Big Brother, look at her—"
Lu Er Ye gave her a sharp tug, signaling for her to be quiet.
Lu Xingzhou walked away, his face cold.
The Second Madam pinched Lu Er Ye's arm. "Why did you stop me from speaking?"
Lu Er Ye reprimanded her. "Big Brother is in a bad mood. Can't you show some sensitivity?"
The Second Madam huffed. "It's not like I caused his bad mood. If he has the guts, he should go settle the score with that girl! By the way, how did she become so formidable?"
After returning to the chamber, Meng Qianqian helped the Old Madam wash her hands and took the opportunity to ask, "Grandmother, where did you learn that?"
The Old Madam whispered, "From storybooks."
Meng Qianqian: "..."
During the two months she was away from the capital, the Old Madam had grown bored and asked the maids to buy her storybooks to pass the time.
Dissatisfied with the books the maids bought, she had Zhao Si purchase more stimulating ones.
Meng Qianqian massaged her temples.
As Meng Qianqian accompanied the Old Madam to bed, the latter soon fell into a deep sleep.
Seeing that the Old Madam wasn't traumatized by the night's events, Meng Qianqian breathed a sigh of relief.
Tan'er pointed at Meng Qianqian's purse. "Sister, that thing—"
Meng Qianqian made a shushing gesture and pointed at the roof, warning her to keep quiet.
Tan'er looked up, ready to storm upstairs and confront the eavesdropper, but Meng Qianqian stopped her with a glance, not wanting to wake the Old Madam.
Tan'er rested her chin on her hands. "Fine."
The two of them stayed in the Old Madam's chamber for half an hour before leaving.
After they left, one of the guards climbed onto the roof and made his way to Lu Xingzhou's study.
"Master, they didn't say anything important. Just casual conversations," he reported.
Lu Xingzhou's eyes darkened. "I understand. You may leave."
Upon returning to Feng Shui Hutong, Meng Qianqian took out the token. "Tan'er, do you recognize this?"
Tan'er nodded. "Yes! This is the token of Wan Hua Lou. Only Yan Niangzi's trusted experts have them!"
"So he's one of Yan Niangzi's people?" Meng Qianqian clenched the token, her eyes icy. "No wonder he went to Wan Hua Lou. I thought he was just trying to hide in a crowded place."
Tan'er asked curiously, "Sister, why does he want to kill us?"
Meng Qianqian paused before replying, "I stumbled upon his secret dealings with the Honorable Consort Li, and he tried to kill me. He's here to ask for the antidote to my poison needle."
Her enemy turned out to be connected to Yan Niangzi.
(End of Chapter)
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