The next time I saw Lu Jingze was in a quiet courtyard.
The courtyard is surrounded by lush bamboo. A gentle breeze rustles the bamboo leaves, as if they are whispering.
Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating dappled patterns that add a sense of tranquility and mystery to the courtyard.
Lu Jingze sat at an exquisite sandalwood table, intently savoring a cup of fragrant tea.
He was dressed in the most popular style of brocade clothing in Yongzhou at the time, with subtle patterns embroidered on the fabric, exuding luxury in a low-key manner.
Unlike his previous tough-guy general appearance, this time he really looks like a refined and elegant young nobleman from Jiangnan.
Wang Xiuxiu stood quietly to the side, watching him gently pick up the teapot and pour hot water into the teacup.
Instantly, the aroma of tea filled the air, and even Wang Xiuxiu couldn't help but sniff.
Throughout the tea appreciation process, Lu Jingze maintained an elegant demeanor, and every move he made exuded a noble air.
Based on her previous experience at the Cheng family, Wang Xiuxiu guessed that he must be an official from a prominent family who entered officialdom.
No one would dare offend such a person.
"Well, have you figured out how to convince me?" Lu Jingze suddenly asked, his voice low and calm, as if he were just talking about the weather.
Wang Xiuxiu raised her head, and within her gaze, Lu Jingze's eyes were like a deep pool, making it impossible to see through his true thoughts.
"I didn't mean to."
"Oh? Why don't you want to?" Lu Jingze asked leisurely, his tone seemingly carrying a hint of curiosity and inquiry.
Wang Xiuxiu took a deep breath and slowly said, "You are a big shot. If you come to investigate the Du family, the Du family will be doomed. Once the Du family falls, my friend will naturally regain his freedom. An innocent person will naturally not need to cede territory or pay reparations to prove his innocence."
Lu Jingze's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile: "That's right, but you've forgotten one thing."
Whether it was Wang Xiuxiu's imagination or not, she saw a fleeting cunning in Lu Jingze's eyes.
"What?"
Even though she knew she might have fallen into a trap, she couldn't help but ask.
"Can your two friends really hold out until the truth comes out?"
"What do you mean?" Wang Xiuxiu was anxious. At this moment, she didn't even care about honorifics, and her voice unconsciously rose eight octaves.
Lu Jingze put down his teacup, his gaze icy. "Luo Qiyou and Qi Ming are both in prison right now. Du Ren hates them to the bone and plans to stage a suicide attempt in prison in three days."
"How could this be!" Wang Xiuxiu's eyes widened, her face filled with shock and anger. "You're lying to me! Not to mention Brother Luo, even Qi Ming's family would never allow such a thing to happen!"
Lu Jingze smiled dismissively, "Qi Ming's family does have some connections, but he's not the only son in the Qi family. Official families always prioritize the greater good. The Du family is currently very powerful in Yongzhou, how could they possibly sacrifice the entire family for one man?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuxiu was struck dumb and almost lost her balance.
My mind went blank, as if all hope had been utterly shattered in that moment.
He did it on purpose; he deliberately chose this moment to tell me all this, easily destroying all my cleverness.
Under his indifferent gaze, Wang Xiuxiu felt like a fool.
In the end, Wang Xiuxiu, unwilling to accept defeat, knelt on the cold ground, her back soaked with cold sweat.
She lowered her head, her voice trembling but firm: "My lord, I am already engaged to Brother Luo. I beg you to show mercy!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Jingze's lips curled up slightly, revealing a mocking smile: "Oh, was it just decided in the last few days? Luo Qiyou has been locked up in jail the whole time. Are you sure it's him who you've pledged your life to, and not some other person?"
Wang Xiuxiu braced herself and gritted her teeth, saying, "This humble woman and he have long been in love."
Lu Jingze suddenly stood up, clapped his hands, and laughed, "Good! What a wonderful display of mutual understanding!"
The laughter stopped abruptly, and his eyes instantly turned cold and sharp. "Wang Xiuxiu, this is the brilliant plan you came up with after staying indoors for the past few days, isn't it?"
The smile on his lips was faint, and when he looked at Wang Xiuxiu, it was as if he were looking at a young and weak prey, arrogant and determined to have her.
"Let me tell you straight, even if you two aren't truly in sync, you still have to completely take back those thoughts! Otherwise, you'll hurt yourself and others."
Wang Xiuxiu's heart was completely broken.
It was her fault; he was arrogant.
She naively believed that he had saved her twice, so she could regard him as a virtuous person.
Wang Xiuxiu raised her head, her eyes still holding a glimmer of hope, and asked softly, "Do you have a wife and children?"
"Yes," Lu Jingze replied coldly.
He felt no guilt, not even the slightest bit embarrassed.
That look was so indifferent that, in Wang Xiuxiu's eyes, it seemed to be mocking her overestimation of her abilities.
Even the last glimmer of hope was shattered.
"and you……"
Wang Xiuxiu wanted to ask him if he didn't feel sorry for his wife and children who were far away in the capital.
But before he could even say it, he laughed first.
There was a hint of bitterness and self-mockery in that smile.
What place is this?
This was an era dominated by monarchical, patriarchal, and husbandly power, and also an era firmly bound by the ideology of male superiority and female inferiority.
Here, women exist more as appendages to men, and their value depends largely on their ability to bear children for the family and manage household affairs.
And she actually naively thought that she could awaken his moral conscience with just a few casual words? How ridiculous!
This world is cruel to women, and even more so to Wang Xiuxiu.
She was originally a girl who was not very aware of the hardships of life. When she came here, she was dragged into the cruel world without any warning. What she was met with was the era's harshness that she had never experienced or truly felt before. Every cut was bloody and caused her deep pain.
If one has not experienced light, darkness is not so painful.
They have enjoyed the rights fought for by their female predecessors and witnessed the unique power and charm of women.
However, suddenly, ideals, pursuits, and independent personality have all become insignificant jokes.
She is trapped in this era, trapped in this identity, and doesn't even have the right to express her true thoughts.
Before I knew it, the sky had become covered with dark clouds.
Wang Xiuxiu raised her head and looked out at the gray sky, feeling an indescribable loneliness and despair.
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