Chapter 226 World Nine (Twenty-three)

Upon learning that Luo's father had arrived in the main hall, Baoshan's long, black eyelashes trembled slightly, and her dark green eyebrows furrowed.

Although Luo's father did not treat Baoshan with any affection, he was Baoshan's biological father after all, so Baoshan could not help but worry about him.

Bao Shan stepped down from the bed, her figure swaying slightly, and a broad hand touched her waist. Bao Shan raised her beautiful eyes and saw Lu Yuanhui's reassuring profile. She murmured softly, "Sir..."

When Bao Shan stood firm, Lu Yuanhui withdrew his hand. He leaned over and looked into Bao Shan's watery eyes, his thin lips moving slightly: "I will go with you."

Just a few words instantly calmed Bao Shan's panic, but she still frowned and asked softly, "Isn't it unreasonable?"

Lu Yuan looked back at Manager Zhao, who was standing aside with his head lowered, and repeated Bao Shan's words: "Is it unreasonable?"

Manager Zhao immediately replied, "The master didn't give any special instructions, nor did he send anyone away. If the young master wants to go with you, that's fine."

This trembling expression clearly indicated a threat from Lu Yuanhui's fierce presence, not the sincerity of Steward Zhao's words. Steward Zhao thought to himself that Master Lu naturally didn't want Lu Yuanhui involved in this matter, but if Steward Zhao reported it in this way, he was afraid of being reprimanded by Lu Yuanhui. Steward Zhao pretended he hadn't grasped Master Lu's thoughts and acted as if he were watching his nose and his heart.

Bao Shan didn't understand the twists and turns. She only knew that Lu Yuanhui could accompany her. Her tightly furrowed brows immediately relaxed. She temporarily forgot the beautiful dream between her and Lu Yuanhui. Her beautiful eyes flickered, "My lord, that's great."

But when he saw Lu Yuanhui's dark eyes, Baoshan hurriedly lowered his head, avoiding Lu Yuanhui's secretive gaze.

main hall.

Mr. Lu sat at the head of the table. Although he was a gentle and polite civil official, he exuded a certain masterly aura as he sat at the top.

When Mr. Lu saw Bao Shan and Lu Yuanhui coming side by side, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

After all, he knew Lu Yuanhui's character best, and he was not very sentimental.

If it were in the past, Lu Yuanhui would definitely not interfere in such matters.

Mr. Lu quickly concealed his surprise and asked someone to find a seat for Baoshan.

The maid walked up to Lu Yuanhui, with a respectful attitude, trying to lead Lu Yuanhui to another place: "Master——"

Lu Yuanhui raised his hand lightly and sat down on the right side of the treasure fan.

In this dynasty, the left is the most respected, and Lu Yuanhui actually sat below the treasure fan.

This scene made Zhang Qingping, who had been looking better recently, suddenly turn pale.

Baoshan sat meekly on the rosewood carved chair, seemingly oblivious to the witty remarks of the people in the main hall.

Baoshan covered her lips with a handkerchief, lowered her eyelids, and thought to herself: He called her here specially, of course, to embarrass her as a widow.

Using the strategy of indirectly criticizing someone else, Zhang Qingping certainly had no good intentions in bringing the treasured fan to see Mr. Jiang.

But Zhang Qingping didn't reveal her intentions. She could have said it. It wasn't that she was intentionally pushing the precious fan into the fire pit. The Jiang family's good concealment had led Zhang Qingping to believe that Young Master Jiang was a good man. But Luo's father's actions were inexcusable. When the precious fan was humiliated, Luo's father didn't seek justice for his own daughter, but instead used the opportunity to enrich himself. This was undeniably shameful.

With such a terrible father, how could Bao Shan stay in the Lu family with peace of mind and accept Lu Yuanhui's kindness?

Bao Shan's beautiful eyes flickered slightly, and she already had a plan in mind. Given Bao Shan's delicate nature, she was sure to feel guilty towards the Lu family because of Luo's father, so she took the opportunity to suggest leaving.

Baoshan glanced at Lu Yuanhui and thought that he would not be able to get close to Lu Yuanhui often in the future.

Although it was a bit troublesome, the two of them had already had physical contact. If Lu Yuan was asked to let go, he would definitely not allow it.

It seems that leaving the Lu family has little impact on the treasure fan.

Baoshan felt relieved, but her face was full of panic as she stared at the door from afar.

It wasn't until Bao Shan saw her father, Luo, being escorted in by a servant and in a state of disarray, that she called out softly, "Dad..."

Bao Shan stood up gently, but when she noticed the people around her staring at her, she had to sit back down.

Master Lu comforted her, "Miss Baoshan, don't worry. If your father is innocent, he will be safe and sound."

But if there is any mistake, he will be escorted to the authorities.

When he was taken to the main hall, it was obvious that Mr. Luo had suffered a lot, and his face was wrinkled.

Zhang Qingping looked at his hateful face and asked coldly whether Luo's father admitted to taking a lot of silver and money from her.

Luo's father admitted it readily.

Zhang Qingping felt that the bad air of these days had dissipated in an instant, and she subconsciously looked at the treasure fan.

That usually pitiful face was now worried about the safety of Luo's father, which made Zhang Qingping feel refreshed.

No matter how the dispute in the main hall was, Lu Yuanhui didn't care at all. His eyes, as calm as water, were only staring at the weak figure.

Zhang Qingping felt as if she was standing on a stage. She, Mr. Lu, and the disheveled Father Luo were singing, reciting, acting and fighting with all their might. But in Lu Yuanhui's eyes, they were not as significant as Baoshan's frown or blink.

Mr. Lu's expression was calm, and it was obvious that everything was within his expectations. He spoke slowly, "In that case—"

Bao Shan looked at Luo's father worriedly, her eyes sparkling. She knew that Luo's father had done something wrong, and her voice was too weak to speak. Even if she begged, it would not change anything. But Bao Shan's voice trembled as she called out to Luo's father, "Dad..."

She turned around and faced Lu Yuanhui, unable to bear to listen or watch any longer.

Father Luo suddenly grinned and said, "Even if you want to convict me, you have to listen to what I have to say."

Mr. Lu's brows wrinkled slightly, he didn't understand what else Father Luo had to say when the matter was already clear.

Father Luo continued, “I am a rotten person, but Master Lu’s new wife is not a good person either.

My daughter Baoshan was born with a gentle nature. Before and after her marriage, no one disliked her.

But for her own selfish reasons, Mrs. Lu wanted to marry the precious fan to a rich young man.

Baoshan is cowardly and doesn't know how to resist, but I don't want to.

My son-in-law is Wei Mao, a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He is tall and comes from a wealthy family. He and Bao Shan are a perfect match.

Wei Mao is dead, and although Bao Shan is now a bachelor, she is not worthy of such a despicable man.

I beat Young Master Jiang not only for the precious fan but also for my own reputation.

Later, in order to keep me quiet, Mrs. Lu wanted to use money to silence me, and I naturally agreed.

Not only that, when Mrs. Lu found out that I had discovered her secret thoughts, she even gave me her personal jewelry.

I'm certainly not a good person, but compared to me, Madam Lu is even worse."

Mr. Lu frowned, but before he could say anything, Zhang Qingping stood up and walked straight to Luo's father, angrily saying, "You are slandering me. I have never had any secret thoughts, and how could I use my personal jewelry to silence you!"

Luo's father calmly pulled out the jade bracelet he had taken from Zhang Qingping's wrist that day. Seeing Zhang Qingping's slightly panicked expression, he said, "If Madam Lu doesn't have a guilty conscience, she can just use the money to get rid of me. Why bother giving up her personal jewelry?"

Zhang Qingping's face flushed with anger. She didn't even know that Luo's father asked for the jade bracelet that day not because of the money, but with the intention of slandering her.

Zhang Qingping felt extremely regretful. She should have given Luo's father something else that day. Why did she give him the jade bracelet that she wore on her body?

Mr. Lu naturally recognized the jade bracelet. It was the one Zhang Qingping wore on her hand on the day of her wedding.

But Mr. Lu didn't believe that Mr. Luo could know any secrets of Zhang Qingping. He was afraid that Zhang Qingping was not on guard and gave things to others carelessly.

But Master Lu's silence made Zhang Qingping think that he believed it. Zhang Qingping raised her voice and demanded, "Tell me the secret today!"

Zhang Qingping concluded that Mr. Luo did not know any secrets, and that it was just a means for him to slander others.

Father Luo was not panicked, he looked around and said, "Since Madam Lu has promised it herself, I will tell you.

Just Madam Lu, please don't blame me for this matter in the future."

Zhang Qingping said coldly, "Of course not."

Because Mr. Luo couldn't say it at all.

Father Luo turned around and his eyes passed over Lu Yuanhui.

It is natural that Mr. Luo did not suddenly change his personality from a carefree person to a kind-hearted man who loves his daughter dearly.

He just felt that Zhang Qingping still had feelings for Lu Yuanhui, and she was Mr. Lu's second wife.

If Zhang Qingping intended to stop her, how could his daughter Baoshan become the wife of the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

Father Luo thought that he might as well reveal Zhang Qingping's thoughts so that she could no longer interfere in Lu Yuanhui's marriage. Then he could get what he wanted and act tyrannically under the title of son-in-law.

When Zhang Qingping noticed Luo's father's gaze, she panicked. Just as she was about to speak to stop him, she heard Luo's father speak loudly.

"Mrs. Lu misses Commander Lu, so she's naturally unhappy with the precious fan under his protection. That's why she's trying every possible way to marry the fan off."

Everyone in the room was shocked.

Everyone vaguely knew Zhang Qingping's feelings for Lu Yuanhui, but Master Lu didn't care, and everyone turned a blind eye.

But now, this fig leaf has been carelessly torn off by Luo's father.

Zhang Qingping's feelings for Lu Yuanhui have not changed, and she is even willing to marry the precious fan to an extremely despicable person for this reason.

Zhang Qingping's eyes were slightly startled, her legs went limp, and she fainted.

Zhiyi hurried forward to support him. Mr. Lu looked calm and not at all anxious. He just asked Manager Zhao to send Zhang Qingping away and call a few doctors.

Seeing this, Zhiyi felt a chill in her heart. Although Master Lu had been cold and distant in the past, he had always been polite to Zhang Qingping. But now… Zhang Qingping had fainted, but he didn't even look at her, simply handing the matter over to Manager Zhao.

Zhiyi looked at Zhang Qingping who had fainted, and prayed in her heart that Zhang Qingping would wake up soon.

In everyone's eyes, Zhang Qingping's appearance was exactly what Luo's father had said.

It is clear that Luo's father was wrong, but Zhang Qingping is not innocent.

If Mr. Luo were sent to the government, the news that the Lu family's newly married wife was infatuated with her stepson would spread throughout the capital.

The matter of Luo's father was left unresolved. As for the money that Luo's father had used up, it was from Zhang Qingping's private treasury. Presumably... Zhang Qingping would not get it back.

Baoshan escorted Luo's father to the door and gave him a few taels of silver.

Father Luo thought Baoshan was just soft-hearted, but only Baoshan knew that this was given specially because Father Luo could make Zhang Qingping faint from anger.

Father Luo looked at Bao Shan's delicate face and asked in a low voice, "How are you and the Commander?"

Bao Shan's cheeks flushed, and she said timidly, "Father, what are you talking about? I have nothing to do with you, sir."

Father Luo didn't believe it. Just now in the main hall, Lu Yuanhui's eyes seemed to want to swallow the treasure fan into his stomach.

Father Luo was worried that the treasured fan was too fragile, so he carefully warned her, "When you were with Commander Lu, didn't he..."

Baoshan's porcelain-white face was full of shame and anger.

Father Luo said no more, took the change he had just received, and went back to the casino.

But soon, Luo's father found that he couldn't even enter the casino.

The casino staff stood outside the door and kindly said, "Not to mention here, you can't enter any casino in Beijing."

It wasn't out of kindness that they didn't want Luo's father to lose his money gambling. It was because the Imperial Guards had specifically warned him not to enter casinos or any other places where people indulged in pleasure.

Anyone who dares to offend the Jinyiwei is risking his life.

Not allowing Mr. Luo to gamble is more painful than taking his life.

Not only the casino, but even Luo's father's usual gambling friends were avoiding him, which made Luo's father so painful that he even forgot the pain of his broken finger.

Master Lu said slowly, "Miss Baoshan is the widow of your subordinate. You can take good care of her. But she... is a woman after all."

Lu Yuan looked back at Mr. Lu, and recalled the tears in Lu's mother's eyes and Mr. Lu's indifferent attitude.

He said in a deep voice: "Father, you are always so self-righteous."

“It was then, and it is now.”

But Lu Yuanhui's temperament was not like his mother's, who kept all kinds of emotions hidden in his heart.