Chapter 29 Murder Without Shedding Blood! Sister-in-law, let me set a trap for you, so he'll come crying to annul the engagement!
The tense atmosphere of that family dinner sent shockwaves throughout the entire Lu family.
The atmosphere at the Lu family compound changed completely the next day.
The servants walked on tiptoe, spoke in hushed tones, and looked at the main courtyard with a mixture of awe and speculation.
Song Tingyu was kicked out of the Lu family overnight.
It is said that the scene was extremely ugly, and the guards showed her no mercy.
Liu Yuzhen was placed under house arrest by Lu Zhenguo, and was not allowed to step out of the courtyard without his permission.
Lu Zhanwen was ordered to return to his unit by a transfer order, his vacation was canceled, and he was not allowed to return home without being summoned.
Overnight, Liu Yuzhen's influence in the Lu family, built up over many years, suffered a devastating blow.
Meanwhile, at the heart of this storm, the Jing Si Institute was bustling with activity again after a long absence.
Early in the morning, the steward led several servants and waited respectfully at the courtyard gate.
He said he was ordered by his superior to help the eldest daughter-in-law move.
"Young Madam, please let us know if there's anything you need to move. Please don't tire yourself out."
The butler bowed deeply, his facial muscles straining to create a stiff, ingratiating expression.
When he looked at Su Wanqing again, his eyes held not only fear but also an indescribable sense of awe.
Su Wanqing didn't have many things: a few changes of clothes, a few medical books, and some herbs that she had dried herself.
Xiao Cui busied herself around, her back straight, her joy barely concealed.
She directed the servants to move things, acting as if she herself had become half a mistress.
"Young Madam, the east wing has been thoroughly cleaned, and all the furnishings have been replaced with new ones!"
While folding clothes, Xiao Cui reported with suppressed excitement, "The old lady even specially sent over the finest Shu brocade quilts!"
Su Wanqing listened with a smile, without saying a word.
She knew she deserved it all.
It was through her wisdom and courage that she earned dignity for herself and Lu Zhanting, step by step.
Just as everything was ready and they were about to leave the dilapidated courtyard, an unexpected figure appeared at the gate.
It's Lu Yao.
She had lost her usual radiance, her head was down, and she was twisting the hem of her clothes with both hands, looking restless.
Seeing the moving scene in the yard, she paused, a hint of hesitation flashing across her face.
"Is something the matter?" Su Wanqing stopped and looked at her.
Lu Yao raised her head, her eyes darting away. She bit her lower lip, rushed to Su Wanqing, and pulled her into a corner.
Her voice was extremely low and trembling: "Sister-in-law, I... can I talk to you alone?"
This was the first time she had called him "sister-in-law," and her tone was even pleading.
Su Wanqing glanced at her and said to Xiao Cui and Lu Zhanting, "You two go to the east wing to settle your things first. I'll say a few words to Lu Yao and then come over."
Lu Zhanting's gaze lingered on Lu Yao for a second before he nodded to Su Wanqing: "Okay."
Soon, only Su Wanqing and Lu Yao remained in the courtyard.
"Speak, what is it?"
Lu Yao's eyes instantly reddened, as if she had made a tremendous decision, and her voice was trembling with tears.
"Sister-in-law, you have to help me!"
Before she finished speaking, she poured out the whole story.
It turns out that after the family dinner last night, although Liu Yuzhen was confined to her home, she gave her faction a strict order before being confined.
Lu Yao's father, Lu Zhenguo's second son, is timid and has been suppressed by his elder sister-in-law Liu Yuzhen for many years.
In order to get revenge on Su Wanqing and to consolidate her power, Liu Yuzhen took it upon herself to arrange for Lu Yao to marry the son of a deputy bureau chief in the city.
The deputy director was a former subordinate of Liu Yuzhen's father, and the two families were staunch allies.
Lu Yao had met that son before; he was a notorious playboy in the circle, skilled in all sorts of vices, and changing women more often than he changing clothes.
"My dad has already agreed! He said it's a family marriage, for the good of our second branch!" Lu Yao trembled with anger, tears welling up in her eyes.
"When I went to confront him, he actually slapped me! He said my marriage was not up to me!"
“I went to my mom, and all she did was cry and tell me to leave it to fate.”
“I went to my brother, and he advised me to accept my fate, saying that you can’t fight city hall!”
"No one in this family is willing to help me!"
Lu Yao's voice was filled with despair, completely different from her usual fearless self.
"So, you came to find me?" Su Wanqing's tone remained calm.
"Yes!" Lu Yao looked up abruptly, her eyes like those of a drowning person grasping at the only piece of driftwood. "Sister-in-law, I know only you! Only you can help me!"
"You're so smart, even a vicious woman like Liu Yuzhen isn't a match for you, you must have a way, right?"
She stared intently at Su Wanqing, her eyes burning with a last glimmer of hope.
Su Wanqing did not answer immediately.
She paused for a moment, then asked, "Do Grandpa and Grandma know about this?"
Lu Yao shook her head: "Liu Yuzhen gave my dad the order before he was placed under house arrest. My dad only told me this morning, telling me to prepare to meet next week. They don't dare tell my grandparents at all; they want to force the issue!"
"What's that man's name? Does he have any particular fetishes or weaknesses?" Su Wanqing continued to press.
“Wang Hao. Weaknesses?” Lu Yao’s face was full of disdain when she mentioned the name. “He has too many weaknesses! He’s a gambler, and his gambling etiquette is terrible. He cheats when he loses. He’s also a womanizer. I heard he’s been keeping several women on the side, and he even got one of them pregnant. In the end, his father had to pay to settle things.”
Su Wanqing had already made up her mind.
A gambler with a chaotic private life is a spoiled brat, full of flaws.
"Sister-in-law, do you have a solution?" Lu Yao noticed the change in her expression and asked nervously.
“A solution can be found.” Su Wanqing looked at her, her voice not loud, but every word clear. “Going directly to ask Grandpa is a bad idea. Even if Grandpa cancels the engagement, you and your father will completely offend Liu Yuzhen’s faction, and life will be even more difficult in the future.”
"We cannot confront them head-on."
"The best way to deal with this kind of thing is not for us to call off the engagement, but to let the other party take the initiative to break off the engagement."
Lu Yao's eyes suddenly lit up: "Get the Wang family to cancel the engagement? How is that possible? They'd love to curry favor with our Lu family!"
“It’s the Wang family that wants to climb the social ladder, not that Wang Hao.” Su Wanqing’s lips curled up slightly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes, revealing a calculating look.
"For a playboy who is used to having fun, marrying a young lady from the Lu family is like putting shackles on himself. He may not be willing."
"What we need to do is make him think that this marriage is a huge problem."
"Let him cry and beg his parents to cancel the marriage."
Lu Yao was stunned, feeling like her brain couldn't keep up at all.
"Then...how exactly do we do it?"
“It’s very simple.” Su Wanqing’s gaze sharpened. “You just said that he’s a gambler, right?”
"Yes! I heard he spends almost every day at that black market casino in the west of the city."
"Very good." Su Wanqing nodded. "What are gamblers most afraid of?"
"lose?"
"No, it's losing everything and accumulating a mountain of debt that I can't pay off."
Su Wanqing's tone was calm, but the words she uttered sent a chill down Lu Yao's spine.
"What we need to do is set a trap for him."
"A scheme that made him lose everything and incur huge gambling debts."
"At that point, we won't even need to intervene; the casino people will naturally go to the Wang family for their money. No matter how rich a deputy bureau chief is, he can't withstand this kind of turmoil. More importantly, if this matter escalates, it will be a huge blow to his father's reputation. To protect his position and name, do you think he will still insist on this marriage?"
Lu Yao was completely stunned.
She looked at Su Wanqing in front of her, a woman who was only a few years older than herself, yet her mind was so meticulous and her methods so ruthless.
In just a few words, he sketched out a perfect plan that would leave the Wang family overwhelmed and unable to take care of themselves.
"But... how can we get involved in a place like a casino?" Lu Yao was still worried.
"You don't need to worry about the casino. I'll take care of it." Su Wanqing's tone was full of confidence.
She has Lu Zhanting, his comrades-in-arms, and the gold bars in her spatial storage that are considered a fortune in this era.
Setting up a trap and luring a spoiled brat into it is as easy as turning one's hand.
“What you need to do,” Su Wanqing looked at Lu Yao, her expression turning serious, “is to cooperate with me. From today onwards, you must pretend to accept your fate and stop resisting.”
"You should even act like you have a good impression of Wang Hao to lower his guard."
"And we have to...pretend we like him?" Lu Yao's face was filled with disgust. "I feel like throwing up just looking at him!"
“Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles,” Su Wanqing said calmly. “This is called playing hard to get. The more you show interest in him, the more complacent he becomes, and the easier it is for him to fall into your trap. Can you do that?”
Lu Yao bit her lip hard, then nodded emphatically: "Yes! To avoid marrying that bastard, I'd do anything, even stab him in the back, let alone pretend to like him!"
“Stabbing someone in the back is the act of a reckless man. What we need to do is kill without drawing blood.” Su Wanqing patted her shoulder, then changed the subject, “Lu Yao, I’m not helping you for nothing.”
Lu Yao was taken aback, then straightened her chest and said, "Sister-in-law, just tell me what you need! From now on, you're my sister-in-law! I, Lu Yao, would be inhuman if I even flinched, even if it meant going through fire and water!"
"I don't need you to go through fire and water."
Su Wanqing stared at her and said, word by word, "I need you to be my eyes and ears."
“Your rebellious nature and lack of supervision at home are actually your greatest advantages. Although Liu Yuzhen is under house arrest, she will never give up and will definitely continue to cause trouble through her people.”
"I need you to keep an eye on them for me. I need to know immediately who they meet, what they say, and what they do."
"You are the most important pawn I have planted within the enemy's ranks."
"Are you willing?"
Lu Yao's heart began to pound violently.
Looking at Su Wanqing, at those all-seeing eyes, she felt as if she were not accepting a mission, but joining an exciting war.
Su Wanqing was the commander-in-chief of this war.
"I do!"
Lu Yao's answer was loud and firm, her eyes burning with an unprecedented brilliance.
"Sister-in-law, no, boss! From today onwards, I, Lu Yao, will follow you!"
Su Wanqing was amused by her; this energetic girl was indeed a promising talent.
"Alright, stop calling me 'boss,' it sounds awful," Su Wanqing said. "Remember your mission, go back first, and don't arouse suspicion. Wait for my news."
"Yes, sir!" Lu Yao, like a soldier receiving orders, gave an awkward military salute before turning and running off excitedly.
Watching her energetic figure disappear into the distance, a smile of relief finally appeared on Su Wanqing's lips.
In this cold, secluded mansion, she found her first true ally.
After seeing Lu Yao off, Su Wanqing also left Jingsi Courtyard.
She took one last look at the small courtyard where she had lived for only a short time but had weathered countless storms, then turned and walked towards the main courtyard without any further hesitation.
When she stepped into the east wing, Lu Zhanting was already waiting for her.
The east wing was more than twice the size of the Jingsi Courtyard, with brand-new mahogany furniture, bright and clean windows, and several osmanthus trees in the courtyard, filling the air with a faint fragrance.
"Have you finished negotiating?" Lu Zhanting stepped forward and naturally took the small bundle from her hand.
"Okay." Su Wanqing nodded and briefly explained Lu Yao's predicament and their plan.
After listening, Lu Zhanting frowned slightly: "The black market in the west of the city? That place is a mixed bag and not safe. Leave the setup to me. I'll have Monkey and the others handle it. I guarantee it will be foolproof."
Monkey was the most clever and reliable soldier in his unit.
“Okay.” Su Wanqing did not refuse. “I have the money.”
She plans to use the gold bars in the space.
"You don't need to worry about the money." Lu Zhanting held her hand.
"Although I am poor, I still have enough money to do this."
His tone was domineering, but his eyes were full of pride and unquestionable protection.
"My wife is not someone I have to pay to settle these messes myself."
A warm current instantly flowed through Su Wanqing's entire body.
She looked at the man in front of her. He wasn't good with words, but he always showed her the strongest support through his actions.
The two exchanged a smile, their understanding unspoken.
Just then, Lu Zhenguo's bodyguard walked in and bowed respectfully to Su Wanqing.
"Young Madam, the Chief requests your presence."
"His headache has flared up again."
Su Wanqing and Lu Zhanting exchanged a glance.
They've arrived.
The real battle is about to begin.
Su Wanqing smoothed out the wrinkles at the corner of her clothes.
When she looked up again, all the sharpness and calculation in her eyes had disappeared, leaving only the calmness of a doctor.
“Let’s go,” she said to the guard.
Crossing the courtyard, we walked towards the study that symbolized the highest power in the Lu family.
This time, she was no longer a prisoner who had come to be tried.
She walked in with her head held high, as a healer.
She knew that from this moment on, she would have to face more than just Lu Zhenguo's illness.
It is also the culmination of decades of deep-rooted problems within this family.
She is confident that she can cure them one by one.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com