Chapter 164 The Confrontation Outside the Emergency Room
Lu Jingyan's fourth uncle, Lu Wende, a seemingly refined middle-aged man, has already changed his tune.
"Jingyan, it's not that your fourth uncle is criticizing you, but how much has the old man worried about you lately? How many meals has he eaten, how much sleep has he slept? Look at him now!"
As soon as he spoke, an elderly man next to him, leaning on a pear wood cane and with his hair neatly combed, Lu Zongren, the clan elder of the Lu family, slammed his cane heavily on the ground, making a dull thud.
“Wen De is right!” Lu Zongren’s voice was old but full of energy, and his cloudy eyes shone with a judgmental light.
“Jingyan! Our Lu family is a military family with a century-old reputation! Look at what you’ve done! You’ve ruined the Ye family, with whom you’ve had a friendship for decades! Now, even the old man…”
At this point, he seemed too grief-stricken to continue, pounding his chest and tears streaming down his face.
"She's a menace! The Lu family's century-old reputation must not be ruined by a woman of questionable character!"
"Yes! We can't destroy it!"
"Jingyan, you're so foolish!"
In an instant, voices of agreement arose from all sides. Those distant relatives who had been anxiously watching also found an outlet for their frustrations, and all eyes, whether accusing, scrutinizing, or gloating, turned to Bai Shu.
Some of these people were from collateral branches of the Lu family, who usually relied on the whims of the main family and had long harbored resentment towards the dominance of Lu Jingyan's lineage.
Some of them had vested interests with the Ye family and Lu Wenbo, and now that their backers have fallen, they are naturally blaming the instigators.
Bai Shu stood there, her posture upright like a plum blossom in the snow. Her face remained expressionless, her clear, cool peach blossom eyes calmly observing the farce unfolding before her.
Su Wantang's mind was racing, analyzing the situation.
These people are merely using this as an excuse to cause trouble. The old man's sudden collapse gave them a perfect opportunity to launch their attack.
Their goal was not to protect the family's reputation, but to take this opportunity to shake Lu Jingyan's foundation in the family and the military, preferably to force him to compromise or even force him to sever ties with them.
It's like a pack of hungry wolves that pounce on you at the smell of blood.
She didn't say anything.
She knew that anything she said at that moment would be wrong. To defend herself would be an admission of guilt. To refute would be arrogance. Silence, in their eyes, would be tacit agreement.
This is a family matter of the Lu family, a power struggle, and she, as an "outsider," has no right to speak. Only one person can keep these monsters in check.
Lu Jingyan made a move.
He didn't let go of Su Wantang's hand; instead, he gripped it even tighter. He simply took half a step forward, completely shielding her behind him. This subtle gesture was filled with undeniable protectiveness.
His cold gaze, like that of a general inspecting a battlefield, slowly swept over his fourth uncle Lu Wende, over the clan elder Lu Zongren, and finally landed on the faces of those restless collateral relatives.
The noisy chatter in the corridor vanished instantly.
Under his terrifying gaze, everyone instinctively shut their mouths.
"My grandfather is still inside being treated, and his life hangs in the balance." Lu Jingyan pointed to the red emergency light.
"What are your intentions in spreading heresy and spouting nonsense?"
Lu Zongren blushed under his gaze, and stubbornly argued, "Jingyan! We're doing this for your own good, for the good of the Lu family! You can't let this woman blind you!"
"For my own good?" A faint, yet sarcastic, curve appeared at the corner of Lu Jingyan's mouth.
“My wife was someone I, Lu Jingyan, personally proposed to and married, and my grandfather gave his approval! Are you questioning my judgment, or are you questioning my grandfather’s decision?”
He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold, carrying an aura of ruthlessness that seemed to have crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
"Or do you think that once my grandfather falls ill, it's your turn to take charge of this family?"
These words struck everyone like a heavy hammer blow!
To destroy their spirit!
That's so cruel!
Lu Zongren's face instantly turned from red to deathly pale, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. Lu Wende was so frightened that he took half a step back, not daring to meet his gaze again.
They can engage in underhanded tactics and stir up trouble behind the scenes, but no one dares to admit that they have any intention of "taking advantage of the situation"! They cannot bear that accusation!
Lu Jingyan snorted coldly and spoke again, his voice full of warning:
"Listen up, all of you. Anyone who dares to utter a single disrespectful word to my wife is disrespecting me, Lu Jingyan!"
"Anyone who dares to spread rumors and disturb people's peace at this time is committing the greatest act of filial impiety against Grandpa, who is still being rescued!"
"I don't care what your past identities or thoughts were. From today onwards, if anyone dares to lay a finger on her, I, Lu Jingyan, will do what I say and make them regret ever being born!"
His words were forceful and filled with murderous intent.
The entire corridor was deathly silent.
Those clan elders and relatives who had been indignant just moments before were now silent as cicadas in winter, their expressions shifting constantly, but not one of them dared to utter a sound.
They were completely stunned.
They forgot that the Lu Jingyan before them was not only the eldest grandson of the Lu family, but also a cold-faced devil who had fought his way out of countless battles! He held real military power and had achieved remarkable military exploits!
Su Wantang was protected behind him, feeling the firm warmth from his palm, and looking at his broad and reliable back.
This man will always be like this. In the most direct and domineering way, he will create a safe haven for her, shielding her from all storms.
In the midst of this tense standoff, the glaring red light above the emergency room door snapped off.
Everyone's heart was in their throat.
The heavy iron door was pushed open from the inside, and a doctor in a white coat and mask walked out, looking exhausted. His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and his eyes held the helplessness unique to doctors facing death.
"Doctor! Doctor! How is my dad?" Lu Wende was the first to rush over.
Lu Jingyan's body visibly tensed up.
The doctor slowly removed his mask, revealing a face full of wrinkles and weariness. He glanced at the crowd that had gathered around him, his gaze finally settling on Lu Jingyan, and he shook his head heavily.
"We...did our best."
The simple four words, like a bolt from the blue, exploded in the corridor.
"Impossible!" Lu Wende screamed.
The doctor ignored him and continued to explain in a somber tone, "The old man's vital signs are extremely weak. His heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure are all declining. From our examination, it appears that all of his organs are failing at an extremely rapid rate, like... like an oil lamp that is about to burn out."
Lu Jingyan's lips moved, uttering a hoarse, almost inaudible syllable: "...What's the cause of the illness?"
The doctor sighed, his face filled with deep confusion and frustration.
“We can’t figure it out. It doesn’t resemble any single condition we know of, such as a heart attack or a stroke. His failure is systemic and very strange. We…we really can’t find the specific cause.”
He looked at Lu Jingyan one last time, his tone carrying a hint of apology and advice.
"Prepare for the funeral. Let the old man have loved ones by his side in his final days."
Lu Jingyan's vision went black. His tall, upright body swayed violently, and the color drained from his face at a visible speed. He instinctively tried to walk forward, but his foot slipped, and he almost lost his balance.
Su Wantang immediately stepped forward and used all her strength to support him.
Through the thin fabric of his military uniform, she could clearly feel that the muscles in his arms were as stiff as iron, and his body was trembling slightly and chillingly cold.
The entire corridor was initially deathly silent, then filled with suppressed, fragmented sobs.
Lu Wende's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.
Amidst this sorrow and chaos, a piercing, venomous cry suddenly ripped through the air.
It was clan elder Lu Zongren!
His face, covered with age spots, was contorted with excitement and grief. He stretched out a withered, claw-like hand, trembling, and pointed desperately at Bai Shu, who was being protected in Lu Jingyan's arms.
"It's all her fault!!"
The old man's voice was as mournful as a cuckoo weeping blood.
"It's her! It's this ominous woman! She's the one who killed the old man! She's the one who brought bad luck to our Lu family!"
"Get this jinx out of here!!"
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