Chapter 28: One sentence led her to test the poison in public!
The Lu family's banquet was once again held in the main hall.
The atmosphere was completely different from the previous banquets at Hongmen; an eerie balance enveloped the entire space.
As Su Wanqing and Lu Zhanting walked into the main hall side by side, all the servants' eyes were glued to them.
The disdain and schadenfreude vanished from those eyes, replaced by awe, curiosity, and a hint of barely concealed flattery.
Liu Yuzhen and Song Tingyu were already sitting in their usual seats, their smiles stiff.
Lu Zhanwen, on the other hand, looked like a defeated rooster, his head drooping, seemingly lost in thought.
Only her cousin Lu Yao's eyes lit up when she saw Su Wanqing. She winked at her playfully, her expression one of pure amusement.
"Wanqing, come, sit next to Grandma."
Before anyone could even begin to think, Old Madam Lu, sitting next to the head of the table, smiled and spoke, patting the empty seat beside her affectionately.
That spot has always been reserved for the most favored grandchild in the family.
In the past, it was almost exclusively Song Tingyu's.
In an instant, the atmosphere at the dining table changed drastically.
The color drained from Song Tingyu's face, making her foundation look like a fragile mask. Her knuckles, gripping the teacup tightly, turned pale from the force.
Liu Yuzhen's facial muscles tensed, her smile completely vanished, and a cold glint flashed in the depths of her eyes.
This is the most direct statement.
The clearest signal.
The old lady used her own way to declare to the entire Lu family that Su Wanqing's status was no longer what it used to be.
Su Wanqing did not refuse and walked over gracefully to sit down next to the old lady.
Lu Zhanting naturally sat down on her other side, separating her from the others.
"Grandma, you look great today." Su Wanqing said with a smile.
"It's all thanks to you." The old lady held her hand, her palm warm and dry. "After drinking the soup you made, my old bones feel lighter, and I sleep soundly at night until dawn."
The two spoke softly, yet their voices were like countless tiny ice needles piercing the hearts of Liu Yuzhen and Song Tingyu.
Lu Zhenguo arrived last.
He remained as composed as a mountain, sitting in the main seat, his gaze sweeping across the room, carrying an invisible pressure.
When his gaze fell on Su Wanqing, it was no longer pure disgust, but rather a complex and difficult-to-discern assessment.
"Everyone's here, let's eat." He said calmly.
The dinner began.
The dishes were plentiful as always, but the table was so quiet you could hear someone breathing.
Liu Yuzhen tried to break the silence by serving food to Lu Zhenguo and the old lady as usual, attempting to liven up the atmosphere.
"Dad, Mom, try this. The new chef is quite good."
"Tingyu, you should eat more. You've been losing weight lately."
Her enthusiasm struck an invisible wall.
The old lady simply gave a faint "hmm," and Lu Zhenguo didn't even lift his eyelids.
That deliberate attempt at attentiveness seemed particularly awkward, even somewhat ridiculous.
"Hmph, some barefoot doctors from the countryside these days are really incredibly capable."
A sarcastic voice finally broke the suffocating silence.
It is Lu Zhanwen.
He rummaged through the rice in his bowl with his chopsticks, without even looking up.
"Just by brewing something, you can charm people into submission. If you didn't know better, you'd think it was Hua Tuo reincarnated."
"If word gets out, our Lu family will be laughed at."
His words were laced with veiled hostility; everyone present could tell who he was targeting.
What pig feed are you talking about?
Before Su Wanqing could react, Lu Yao across from her suddenly stood up, slamming her chopsticks down on the table with a loud thud.
"Lu Zhanwen, explain yourself! My sister-in-law prepared a life-saving medicinal diet for Grandma Zeng! Grandma Zeng's health has improved day by day since drinking it, and the whole family has seen it!"
"You keep slandering it, are you cursing your great-grandmother?"
When Lu Yao slapped that huge accusation on Lu Zhanwen's face, his face instantly turned a deep purplish-red.
"You...you're making baseless accusations! I didn't mean that!"
"Then what do you mean?" Lu Yao pressed on, "I think you're just jealous! Jealous that my sister-in-law has real skills, unlike some people who do nothing but eat, drink, and have fun all day long, and just follow others around wagging their tails!"
These words killed two birds with one stone, also implicating Song Tingyu.
"Lu Yao! How dare you!" Liu Yuzhen finally found an excuse to lash out, and shouted angrily, "How dare you talk to your brother like that? Have you no manners at all!"
"Rules? I only know that filial piety is the most important rule." Lu Yao sneered, "Unlike some people, who can say the nicest things but whose true thoughts may be quite different."
“You…” Liu Yuzhen trembled with anger.
"Enough!"
A heavy shout brought all the arguing to an abrupt halt.
It is Lu Zhenguo.
He slowly put down the ivory chopsticks in his hand, and the soft "snap" sounded like a heavy hammer blow to everyone's heart.
His sharp eyes slowly swept across the entire room, finally settling on Liu Yuzhen and Lu Zhanwen's faces.
The coldness and displeasure in his eyes sent a chill down the spines of both mother and son.
“Starting tomorrow,” Lu Zhenguo said, his voice not loud, but carrying an unquestionable authority, “Wanqing will move to the east wing of the main courtyard.”
These words ignited an explosion in the deathly silent dining room.
The east wing of the main courtyard is right next to Lu Zhenguo's study.
That was the most central and convenient location in the entire Lu family compound, apart from the master bedroom.
The implications of this decision are self-evident.
"I disagree!" Liu Yuzhen was the first to scream, no longer caring about pretense, her face full of panic. "Zhenguo, this is too hasty! We don't know anything about her background, how can we let her live in the main courtyard? What if... what if she has bad intentions, what about your safety?"
“Yes, Grandpa!” Song Tingyu also hurriedly stood up, her eyes quickly reddening, her voice trembling as if she had suffered a great injustice. “Your body is precious, how can you entrust it to someone of unknown origin? She doesn’t even have a medical license, it’s too dangerous! If something goes wrong, who can bear the responsibility?”
The two of them, working in unison, directly targeted Su Wanqing's "background" and "qualifications".
"Danger? Responsibility?"
The old lady, who had been silent until now, suddenly let out a cold laugh.
She put down the soup bowl, her gaze as cold as ice, fixed directly on Song Tingyu.
"I'm asking you, where were those licensed doctors you all talk about when I was so angry a few days ago that I couldn't breathe?"
"And what are your so-called 'non-dangerous' methods?"
"It was my granddaughter-in-law, whom you all look down upon, it was me, Wanqing, whose origins are unknown, who pulled me back from the brink of death with just one needle!"
"My body is the best proof!" The old lady's voice suddenly rose, carrying a long-lost authority. "You're talking to me about danger and responsibility now? Are you questioning my judgment, or do you think I'm senile and can't tell who truly cares for me and who just wants me to die sooner?"
These words were scathing and merciless.
Song Tingyu's face was ashen; she hadn't expected the old lady to publicly humiliate her so badly.
She swayed and looked at Liu Yuzhen for help.
Liu Yuzhen felt a chill in her heart and quickly explained, "Mom, you misunderstood. We didn't mean that. We were just... just too worried about Dad's health."
"My wife is none of anyone else's concern."
A deep, cold voice rang out.
It's Lu Zhanting.
From beginning to end, his gaze was fixed on Song Tingyu like a nail.
The overwhelming sense of oppression made it almost impossible for her to breathe.
“I have witnessed her abilities,” he said slowly. “Grandpa’s decision is my decision.”
"It's not up to an outsider to interfere in the affairs of the Lu family."
He emphasized the words "outsider".
Song Tingyu's body swayed suddenly.
outsider.
In front of everyone, Lu Zhanting defined her as an outsider.
This is more thorough than any humiliation.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back with all her might. Her tearful appearance was enough to make any man feel pity.
Unfortunately, Lu Zhanting's eyes remained completely unmoved, as if he were looking at a stranger.
The air in the dining room was almost frozen.
Liu Yuzhen knew that they had completely fallen into a disadvantageous position.
The old lady and Lu Zhanting both clearly sided with Su Wanqing. The only variable left was Lu Zhenguo himself.
She steeled herself and decided to unleash her final trump card.
"Dad! Zhan Ting! I know you both believe her. But have you ever considered that all of this is too much of a coincidence?"
Liu Yuzhen's tone became sorrowful and grief-stricken, as if she were pouring her heart and soul into this family.
"Her medical skills are so amazing, why didn't she show them earlier or later, but only after Zhan Ting brought her back to the capital?"
"Who knows what she put in the medicinal food she prepared for Mom? We're naturally happy that Mom is better. But what if... what if it was some kind of potent medicine that's just draining her body for a temporary improvement? There are plenty of stories in folk tales about such harmful methods!"
Her words were like a venomous snake, cleverly twisting Su Wanqing's "merits" into "faults," and even directly implying that she might be using insidious means to harm people.
This is a blatant frame-up.
All eyes were once again focused on Su Wanqing.
Faced with this bucket of dirty water being poured on him, Su Wanqing didn't even flinch.
She slowly finished the last sip of soup in her bowl and gently wiped her mouth with a napkin.
Then, she raised her head, looked at Liu Yuzhen, whose face was ashen, and suddenly smiled.
The smile was faint, yet it inexplicably made Liu Yuzhen feel a pang of unease.
"Auntie is right."
Su Wanqing spoke, her voice clear and calm.
"Grandpa's health is indeed of utmost importance, and we cannot afford to make any mistakes."
Liu Yuzhen was stunned, never expecting that she would agree with her.
“Since Auntie is so worried about me, afraid that I might tamper with the medicinal food,” Su Wanqing’s gaze swept over Liu Yuzhen and Song Tingyu, her tone carrying just the right amount of “sincerity,” “How about this.”
“Starting tomorrow, every medicinal meal and every dose of herbal soup I prepare for Grandpa will be tasted by you, Auntie, first.”
"If you think it's okay, then you can let Grandpa use it."
"In this way, we can ensure Grandpa's safety and also fulfill Aunt's filial piety."
"What do you think of this method?"
Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.
Lu Yao couldn't help but burst out laughing, then quickly covered her mouth with her hand, but her bright eyes were full of barely suppressed schadenfreude.
That was a ruthless move.
Su Wanqing put Liu Yuzhen in a very difficult position.
Agreeing means she has to personally try the "potion" she herself is talking about every day, contradicting herself and putting herself in unknown dangers.
Disagreeing would be tantamount to publicly admitting that her previous remarks about "the safety of the Lu family" were all fabricated and framed.
No matter what she chooses, she's destined to lose.
Liu Yuzhen's face instantly turned purplish-red. She opened her mouth and stammered "you you you" for a long time, but couldn't utter a single word.
She felt like an ugly puppet, nailed to the pillar of shame by Su Wanqing's casual remark, unable to move.
“I think this is a very good idea.” The old lady spoke slowly, making the final decision in this confrontation. “Yuzhen, since you care so much about your father’s health, I’ll leave this matter to you.”
"I……"
Liu Yuzhen's vision went black, and she almost fainted on the spot.
Bang!
A loud bang.
Lu Zhenguo slammed his hand heavily on the table.
His eyes, brimming with thunderous fury, were fixed on Liu Yuzhen, and his voice seemed to be squeezed out from the glaciers of the far north.
"Enough! Aren't you embarrassed enough already?"
"When did it become your place to question my decisions?"
"That's settled then!"
He stood up and looked down at Liu Yuzhen and Song Tingyu, whose faces were ashen.
"Furthermore, watch your mouths and keep to your own duties. The Lu family doesn't need outsiders to meddle in our family affairs!"
He used the word "outsider" again.
That gaze, like a precise scalpel, pierced straight into Song Tingyu's heart.
After saying that, he turned and strode away from the dining room without looking at anyone else.
A fiercely contested family dinner ended in a near-crushing fashion.
Liu Yuzhen and Song Tingyu were utterly defeated.
The dining room was deathly silent.
Su Wanqing stood up, smiled slightly at the old lady and Lu Yao who were still standing there in a daze, then took Lu Zhanting's hand and walked out calmly.
The two walked in the courtyard late at night.
The rain has stopped, and the air is filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass.
The moon peeked out from behind the clouds, casting its cool, clear light.
Lu Zhanting held Su Wanqing's hand tightly.
"You were really amazing just now," he exclaimed sincerely, his voice tinged with a pride he himself didn't realize.
Su Wanqing turned her head to look at him; in the moonlight, her eyes shone brighter than the moonlight itself.
"This is just the beginning."
She said softly.
"Tonight, we've only torn a hole in their skin."
"They'll only get crazier from here on out."
Lu Zhanting nodded, looking at the eaves of the main courtyard not far ahead, which appeared particularly deep in the night.
"I know."
He said.
"But no matter what lies ahead, I will be with you."
Su Wanqing smiled, and she gripped his hand tightly, interlocking their fingers.
The banquet has ended.
But the real war has only just begun.
Their new battlefield was in that brightly lit courtyard.
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