Chapter 78 Stripping Lu Zhinian's Clothes
Song Tangning was stunned for a moment when she heard that Lu Zhinian was coming, but then she remembered that Prince Cheng was under house arrest by Emperor An today, and the entire Song family was imprisoned. Her brother had mentioned to her before that the affairs of the Song family could be traced back to the Crown Prince Li, and the Lu family might be implicated. She then understood why Lu Zhinian came to find her.
Hua Wu said, "Lord Xiao asked me to ask this young lady if she wants to meet Master Lu."
"What are you meeting?"
Princess Cheng raised her eyebrows and said, "Tang Ning has been injured for such a long time, and that Lu has never come to see her. Now that the Song family is in trouble and the Lu family is involved, he is running around diligently. He is so cold and indifferent that he is not afraid of offending others. Let's get someone to chase him away..."
Before she could finish her words, Tang Ning suddenly reached out and pulled Princess Cheng, then turned to Hua Wu and said, "Take her to the front hall."
"Tang Ning!" Princess Cheng was puzzled.
Song Tangning said softly, "Aunt, my marriage with the Lu family will have to be made clear sooner or later. I can't just keep avoiding Lu Zhinian now that he's come knocking on my door. If the engagement isn't cancelled and the Lu family can't get rid of it, they'll eventually start using me as a scapegoat."
"I avoided the Lu family before because I was worried that Song Hong and his men would interfere. Now that I have broken with the Song family, without the trouble of the Song family, my marriage with the Lu family should be settled."
Princess Cheng frowned and stood up when she heard this: "Then I will go with you..."
"Need not."
Song Tangning reached out and pushed the person back onto the couch. After helping Princess Cheng sit down, she continued, "Aunt, if you're not feeling well, just stay here and rest. I'll go see Lu Zhinian by myself."
"But…"
"It's okay." Tang Ning soothed Princess Cheng's worries: "I used to like Lu Zhinian, and that's how the Lu family controlled me. I don't like him anymore. The Lu family means nothing to me. Aunt, I have to do some things on my own and can't rely on you for everything."
Princess Cheng was about to say something, but when she met Song Tangning's cold and determined gaze, she pursed her lips, took her hand and said, "Then be careful. If that Lu guy gets involved with you, have him kicked out."
Tang Ning smiled when he heard this: "I know."
This is her Tang Mansion, she doesn't need to rely on anyone.
…
When Lu Zhinian was invited into the Tang Mansion, his originally tense heart relaxed a little.
Song Mo followed beside him, watching the person leading the way, and lowered his voice, "My dear, I heard that someone from the Song clan came to Jiyun Lane last night, but was blocked outside before even entering the door. Miss Song is willing to see you today, so I guess those words she said before were just angry words."
He glanced at Lu Zhinian's face and his voice became even softer.
"I know you're upset, my dear, but Miss Song is a woman after all. She treated you so affectionately before, and this time she's been hurt, so she's being cold to you. When you see Miss Song later, be kind to her and try to calm her down, and everything will be fine..."
Lu Zhinian held the brocade tassel hanging under the jade pendant at his waist in his hand, his face as gloomy as water.
The Tang Mansion is incredibly large, with carved railings and painted buildings, pavilions and waterside terraces. The green garden is brilliant, and the corridors that wind through it seem to have no end in sight.
Unlike the rumors outside that Xiao Yan just took in Song Tangning casually to use her to deal with the Song Mansion and the aristocratic families, he seemed to really treat her like a jewel in his palm. This house is almost comparable to the Lu family's house. There are strong men in front of the door, and the guards along the way also walk steadily.
Lu Zhinian became more and more frightened as he walked. When he held the brocade tassel tightly, he heard Song Mo talking beside him, and a cold frown appeared on his face.
"When do I need you to teach me?"
Song Mo's scalp tightened and he held his breath for a moment, not daring to say anything.
Lu Zhinian glanced at him coldly, remembering what his grandfather had said to him before. The corners of his mouth tightened and he clutched the things in his hand tightly. When he was led to the front of the hall and saw Song Tangning who had been waiting there, he subconsciously wanted to put on a stern face as before, but when he met her equally cold eyes.
His eyes paused, and a gentle smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "Tang Ning."
The little girl who used to run towards him with eyes full of surprise didn't move at all. She just looked up at him coldly and said, "Mr. Lu."
The smile on Lu Zhinian's lips froze.
He was a little annoyed, thinking that the little girl in front of him was making too much trouble. He had obviously taken the initiative to find her, and anyone could see that he wanted to lower his posture to coax her. He indulged her little temper, but she still wanted to make trouble with him.
Lu Zhinian endured it again and again, and finally lowered his voice and tried to be gentle: "Tang Ning, are you still angry with Brother Lu?"
"I know I shouldn't have gotten angry with you and left you in the mountains that day. Later, I was tied up by things in the capital and didn't go look for you. My grandmother punished me by making me kneel for a long time, and my grandfather also lectured me several times. When I saw you at Prince Cheng's mansion yesterday, you refused to speak to me and even said such hurtful things. Don't you know I was awake all night?"
"I know you're angry with me, but I really didn't mean to hurt you. Let's talk it out. Brother Lu will explain it to you, okay..."
As he spoke, he wanted to go forward and hold Song Tangning's hand, but he didn't expect the person opposite him to take half a step back.
"Tang Ning?" Lu Zhinian's face stiffened slightly.
Song Tangning looked quietly at the person in front of her. She had never seen Lu Zhinian so humble, but she just thought it was a little ridiculous.
So it’s not that this guy doesn’t know how to talk to her, nor does he not know how to get along with her. He also knows how to make her happy, but he never bothers to do it.
His current patience and flattery did not move people at all, but instead made his previous indifference stand out even more, causing Tang Ning to feel a sense of disgust from the bottom of his heart.
Perhaps because the coldness on her face was too obvious, Lu Zhinian frowned slightly, and his tone was tinged with dissatisfaction: "Do you really want to distance yourself from Brother Lu to this extent?"
Song Tangning sneered as she listened, suddenly remembering what Xiao Yan had said when he had confronted Prince Cheng. The situation that day was exactly the same as today. She tilted her head and said, "Lord Lu, my brother is currently in the Criminal Division. You're so eager to replace him. Do you want to reunite with him in prison?"
Standing behind the screen, Gu Helian's mouth twitched.
Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment, and a smile appeared in his eyes.
Lu Zhinian didn't react at first, but when he realized that Tang Ning was mocking him by calling him "Brother Lu", the smile on his face disappeared completely.
He has never had much patience with Song Tangning, and in the past it was the girl in front of him who coaxed him. Now that he has lowered his attitude and still received no response, the warmth on his face has completely disappeared.
"Are you really going to talk to me like that?" Lu Zhinian said coldly, "Song Tangning, you should stop."
"My dear!"
Song Mo was startled when he saw Lu Zhinian getting angry. He quickly stepped forward and said in a hurry, "Madam Song, the incident on the mountain earlier was my fault. It has nothing to do with you, my husband."
"That day, my husband did ask me to stay in the mountains to escort you back to Lingyun Temple. I was anxious at the time, and I thought that Mr. Song and Master Xie were both your brothers, so they would definitely leave someone to protect you. That's why I made a mistake. But my husband was truly unaware of this. He always thought that there were people left in the mountains, and that you had already returned safely to the temple."
Song Mo looked anxious, as if he was afraid that Song Tangning had misunderstood his master, and explained hurriedly.
"After your accident, the young master has been feeling remorseful and blaming himself. The old lady and the others in the mansion also punished him for this. His knees are still swollen from kneeling. Yesterday, because of the matter between the Prince of Cheng's Mansion and the Song family, he spoke up for you in front of the young master and the old lady, and was whipped last night."
"Yesterday, you said you wanted to cancel the engagement in front of so many people, and the old lady was furious. My husband had a hard time convincing the old lady to come see you. Please don't be angry with me, he is still injured."
Song Tangning frowned when he heard this: "Are you injured?"
Seeing that she took the initiative to ask, Lu Zhinian's anger subsided a little, and he said coldly: "It's just a minor injury."
"It's just a minor injury, why bother trying to show off with Miss Song?"
Song Mo's eyes were red as he spoke, "Madam Song, you don't know. The old lady and the others were furious about what happened yesterday. The young master was especially furious when he heard you were talking about breaking off the engagement. The young master was so angry that he got beaten with a stick several times for speaking up for you. His back was covered in blood."
"Miss Song, although the young master made a mistake regarding the mountain incident, he truly cares about you. He was afraid you'd worry, so he just now specifically told me not to tell you about what's going on in the mansion, let alone mention his injury."
Song Tangning was silent for a moment after hearing this. He looked up at Lu Zhinian, who hadn't said anything in response, and asked with a frown, "Is Brother Lu really hurt?"
"Don't listen to Song Mo's nonsense."
"So what he said is true?"
Lu Zhinian pursed his lips and didn't answer. He only said, "The Lu family rules are strict, and my grandparents have to consider the family's reputation. But you are my fiancée, and I will protect you no matter what."
"Brother Lu..."
Song Tangning seemed to be moved by his words, and his eyes softened.
Seeing this, Lu Zhinian felt relieved. He said, how could Song Tangning not care about him, and how could she be willing to give up the habit and dependence of so many years.
Even if she pretended to be cold and indifferent, she was just mad at him, but deep down she still cared about him. Otherwise, why would she lose her composure when she heard that he was injured?
Lu Zhinian was just feeling smug and was planning to take advantage of the opportunity to show weakness and take advantage of her when he heard the little girl in front of him, who had a gentle expression just now, say something shocking.
"I actually never realized that Brother Lu actually cared about me so much. Since Brother Lu was injured for me, I naturally can't just sit back and watch."
When Lu Zhinian heard this, he was about to pretend to be gentle and tell her not to worry, but he saw Song Tangning suddenly step forward and reach out to his collar.
He stepped back in shock and muttered, "What are you doing?"
"Of course, I'm applying medicine for Brother Lu."
Song Tangning's eyes were full of tenderness, as if she was saying sweet words, but what she said made Lu Zhinian horrified.
"You were willing to suffer such severe injuries due to family discipline for me, so naturally I feel sorry for Brother Lu. You and I are engaged, and there are no outsiders here. Hua Wu, go get some medicine..."
She pretended to go forward and help Lu Zhinian undress, and Lu Zhinian was so frightened that he stepped back repeatedly.
In the past, even if Song Tangning acted coquettishly with him and was obsessed with him, she would at most pull his sleeve, and her face would turn red with embarrassment every time she held his hand back. He never thought that he would be so "reckless".
Lu Zhinian was shocked and angry: "What are you doing in broad daylight? We are all servants here. Besides, you and I are not married yet. Even if we are engaged, we still have to keep the rules between men and women."
He seemed to be frightened by Song Tangning's audacity, and angrily shouted:
"Tang Ning, you will be the wife of the Lu family in the future. You must remember the virtues of a woman, be docile and careful with your words and actions. If others saw you acting like this, what would they say about you and the Lu family? Where have all the rules you learned over the years gone?!"
Song Tangning watched Lu Zhinian lecturing her with such righteous words, as if she had returned to the past, when he always criticized her by using the rules and the dignity that a wife of the Lu family should have.
Every time, she would carefully admit her mistakes, even if it was clearly not her fault, even if she knew that they were making a fuss out of nothing, she would still try her best to become what they said the wife of the Lu family should be, step by step making herself no longer the same as before.
Song Tangning laughed sarcastically, "Lu Zhinian, are you afraid that I'll mess around and ruin the Lu family's reputation, or are you afraid that you, the third son of the Lu family, will be exposed for showing weakness?"
Lu Zhinian's heart skipped a beat: "Tang Ning, what are you talking about?"
Song Mo's expression also changed: "Miss Song, how could you misunderstand my husband like this? It's true that my husband is injured. You don't know the family rules. He should have stayed in the mansion to recuperate, but he forced himself to come to see you because he was worried about you..."
"Yeah?"
Song Tangning sneered, and without arguing with the master and servant, he simply called out, "Guard Hang."
"Girl."
Hang Li, who was standing in front of the door, came in.
"Strip Mr. Lu's clothes and take a good look at how badly he's hurt!"
"Song Tangning, you're crazy!"
Lu Zhinian's face was horrified, and he could no longer maintain his composure. Song Mo also looked at Song Tangning in shock, but Song Tangning didn't care about his anger at all, and said coldly:
"Strip him!"
Hang Li took a few steps forward and stretched out his hand to grab Lu Zhinian.
Lu Zhinian was immediately shocked and angry: "What are you doing? Let me go..."
"Song Tangning, are you crazy? Do you know what you are doing...you...ah!"
Before Lu Zhinian could finish shouting, his arm was suddenly grabbed and twisted backwards, causing him to cry out in pain.
Song Mo, who was standing next to him, was horrified. He shouted "My dear" in fear and rushed forward to rescue Lu Zhinian, but was kicked away by Hang Li before he got close.
Hang Li reached out and grabbed Lu Zhinian's collar, ignoring his shouts and struggles, and pulled it down hard. The originally gorgeous robe split down along the shoulders, revealing his fair upper body in an instant.
She was tall and slender, with skin as white as snow. Her back was smoother than a woman's, without a single scar on it.
Not to mention the bloodstains left by the family whipping sticks, there weren't even any bruises from bumps or scratches.
Lu Zhinian had never encountered such a brutal thing, and he never thought that one day he would be stripped of his clothes and stood there naked for people to watch.
He pulled the torn clothes to cover his upper body and was about to curse out loud, but before he could open his mouth, Song Tangning, who was standing not far away, tilted his head and sneered.
"So this is the family rule of your Lu family. Mr. Lu's injuries are really serious."
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