Chapter 308 Piercing the Heart
As dawn approached, a note appeared under the courtyard gate.
The note was slipped under the door, its edges crumpled and stained with blood.
When Wang Ma saw the note, she immediately went upstairs and knocked on the door.
"Miss, Qiao Lingling has brought in something."
Su Wantang was leaning against the headboard when she heard this, so she picked up the note and glanced at it.
The note was covered with dense writing, and the handwriting was extremely messy.
"I was wrong, I was really wrong..."
It started with those few words, followed by a long confession.
They said she approached the Lu family under someone's orders. They said she stole the prescription to save her father. They said she shouldn't have been greedy and shouldn't have had such crooked thoughts.
After reading it, Su Wantang placed the note on her bedside table.
Whom did she support?
Lu Jingyan sat on the edge of the bed, picked up the note, and glanced at it.
"Qian Hao, the young master of Derentang."
Su Wantang nodded.
"Old Master Qian is seriously ill, and all the famous doctors he has consulted have been ineffective. Qian Hao heard about your skills and wanted to get your prescription."
Lu Jingyan frowned.
"This guy is pretty capable; he even dares to make a move on you."
Su Wantang smiled.
“He didn’t dare to seek medical help directly, fearing rejection. So he sent Qiao Lingling to get close to the Lu family, hoping to get a prescription from me.”
Lu Jingyan put the note back on the bedside table.
"So what are you going to do?"
Su Wantang stood up and walked to the window.
"Give her the antidote first."
Lu Jingyan then stood up.
"Then what?"
Su Wantang turned her head, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
"Then make her apologize."
Lu Jingyan walked over and pulled her into his arms.
"An apology is all?"
Su Wantang leaned against him and closed her eyes.
"No."
She paused, then continued.
"I still want her to continue working as an informant for the Qian family."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jingyan lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
"Wantang, your methods are ruthless enough."
Su Wantang opened her eyes and poked his chest with her hand.
"You have to be ruthless to deal with this kind of person."
Lu Jingyan grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"Should I go and bring her the medicine?"
Su Wantang shook her head.
"No need, let Qin Zheng go."
She paused, then continued.
"Go and post her letter of repentance on the bulletin board in the compound."
Lu Jingyan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Are you trying to ruin her reputation?"
Su Wantang nodded.
"right."
She turned around and looked out the window.
“There’s been a lot of talk in the compound these past few days, with everyone saying I’m taking advantage of my pregnancy to act like a big shot. Now’s the perfect time to let them see who’s really up to the tricks.”
Lu Jingyan hugged her even tighter.
"I'll listen to you."
Half an hour later, Qin Zheng knocked on Qiao Lingling's door.
Zhang Jianguo opened the door, saw Qin Zheng, and paused for a moment.
"You are...?"
Qin Zheng handed him the medicine.
"Madam Lu asked me to deliver this."
Zhang Jianguo took the medicine, his hands trembling.
"Really? Mrs. Lu is really willing to save my father?"
Qin Zheng nodded.
"This is the antidote; the instructions for taking it are written here."
Zhang Jianguo held the medicine, and tears immediately streamed down his face.
"That's great, that's great..."
Qin Zheng turned to leave, but Zhang Jianguo called him back.
"Please tell Mrs. Lu that our whole family would be extremely grateful..."
Qin Zheng waved his hand.
Don't thank me too soon.
He paused, then continued.
"Mrs. Lu also has a message for Qiao Lingling."
Zhang Jianguo nodded quickly.
"Please speak."
Qin Zheng glanced at him, his voice very low.
“Your father can live, but Qiao Lingling, from now on, belongs to Madam Lu. As for Qian Hao, she knows what to say.”
Zhang Jianguo turned pale after hearing this.
Qin Zheng ignored him and turned to leave.
Zhang Jianguo stood at the door, holding the medicine, his hands trembling violently.
He went back inside and told Qiao Lingling everything Qin Zheng had said, word for word.
Qiao Lingling sat on the sofa, listened, and then lowered her head without saying a word.
Zhang Jianguo became anxious.
"Lingling, say something!"
Qiao Lingling raised her head, her eyes filled with despair.
What else can I say?
She stood up and walked to the window.
"I have no choice."
Zhang Jianguo walked over and grabbed her shoulder.
"Lingling, what exactly does Mrs. Lu want you to do?"
Qiao Lingling turned her head and looked at him.
"She wanted me to continue working as an informant for the Qian family."
Zhang Jianguo released his grip and took a step back.
"You...you agreed?"
Qiao Lingling nodded.
"I must agree."
She paused, then continued.
“Dad’s life is in her hands. If I don’t agree, Dad will die.”
Zhang Jianguo stood there, speechless.
Qiao Lingling picked up her coat and walked towards the door.
"I'm going to deliver medicine to Dad now, and then I'll apologize."
Zhang Jianguo watched her retreating figure, feeling a tightness in his chest.
......
A crowd had gathered in front of the bulletin board in the compound.
Meng Wan stood outside the crowd, frowning.
"Old Lu, what's going on?"
Lu Zhenguo walked over and glanced at the notice board.
A piece of paper was pasted on it; it was Qiao Lingling's letter of repentance.
"Written by Qiao Lingling."
Meng Wan walked over, glanced at it, and her face turned ashen.
"How could she... how could she do this?"
Lu Zhenguo snorted coldly.
"Now you know you regret it? Too late."
Meng Wan looked at the letter of repentance and sighed.
"Wantang is a smart child."
Lu Zhenguo nodded.
"She's not at a disadvantage."
The murmurs among the crowd grew louder and louder.
"I knew it, that woman Qiao Lingling is no good."
"They said Madam Lu was being arrogant, but it turns out she was the one with ulterior motives."
"Serves him right! Stealing the prescription harmed his own father, and now he has to apologize. He's utterly disgraced."
"Who would dare to associate with her after this?"
The murmurs carried far; Qiao Lingling had just returned from the hospital when she heard them.
She stood in front of the bulletin board, looking at her letter of repentance, her face deathly pale.
Someone in the crowd saw her and immediately pointed at her and said that.
"Look, Qiao Lingling is back!"
Everyone turned to look at her.
Qiao Lingling stood there, trembling all over.
She wanted to run, but her legs wouldn't obey her commands.
Someone shouted from the crowd.
"Qiao Lingling, how dare you come back?"
"Thief who stole the prescription, get out of the compound!"
"You harmed your own father, and now you want to stay here?"
The insults grew louder and louder.
Qiao Lingling stood there, tears streaming down her face.
She looked up at the crowd, her voice hoarse.
"I'm sorry... I was wrong..."
Someone in the crowd sneered.
"Now you realize you were wrong? Too late!"
Qiao Lingling bit her lip and turned to walk towards the Lu family's house.
She walked to the Lu family's door, took a deep breath, and knocked.
When Wang Ma opened the door and saw Qiao Lingling, she frowned.
What are you doing here?
Qiao Lingling knelt at the door.
"Wang Ma, I want to see Madam Lu."
Wang Ma glanced at her, then turned and went inside.
After a while, Su Wantang came out.
She stood at the doorway, looking down at Qiao Lingling kneeling on the ground.
Qiao Lingling looked up and saw Su Wantang, her eyes full of pleading.
"Madam Lu, my father has taken his medicine and is feeling much better now."
Su Wantang nodded.
"That's good."
Qiao Lingling bit her lip.
"Mrs. Lu, I... I know what to do."
Su Wantang looked at her without saying anything.
Qiao Lingling took a deep breath.
"I will go to the Qian family and act as your informant."
Su Wantang's lips curled into a faint smile.
"very good."
She paused, then continued.
"But before that, there's one more thing you need to do."
Qiao Lingling raised her head.
"Please speak."
Su Wantang looked at her, her voice as cold as ice.
“Go and apologize. Go to every household and apologize for all the rumors you spread before, one by one.”
Qiao Lingling was startled.
Su Wantang turned and went back into the house, leaving behind a single sentence.
"Apologize and then come find me."
The door was closed, and Qiao Lingling knelt at the doorway, tears streaming down her face.
She knew there was no turning back.
In the afternoon, Qiao Lingling began to apologize to each and every household.
She walked from the east end of the compound to the west end, kneeling at the door of each house and tearfully admitting her mistakes.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spread rumors..."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that Mrs. Lu was being arrogant..."
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault..."
Her voice was hoarse from crying, and her knees were red and swollen from kneeling, but she still went from house to house.
Some people in the compound sympathized with her, while others watched coldly.
Regardless, the rumors stopped.
No one dared to speak ill of Su Wantang anymore.
In the evening, Qiao Lingling visited all the houses and returned to the Lu family's door.
She knelt at the door and raised her hand to knock.
Wang Ma opened the door, saw her, and sighed.
"Come in."
Qiao Lingling walked into the courtyard and saw Su Wantang sitting in a rattan chair, holding a cup of tea in her hand.
Su Wantang looked at her and put down her teacup.
"Is the Tao finished?"
Qiao Lingling nodded.
"That's all."
Su Wantang stood up and walked up to her.
"So, you know what to do next, right?"
Qiao Lingling bit her lip.
"I...I know."
Su Wantang looked at her, her voice indifferent.
"Tell Qian Hao that you developed the formula yourself and that it has nothing to do with me."
Qiao Lingling was stunned for a moment.
"But……"
Su Wantang interrupted her.
"Do as I say."
She paused, then continued.
"I will help you with Old Master Qian's illness. But you must remember, from now on, you belong to me."
Qiao Lingling knelt on the ground, tears falling again.
"I see……"
Su Wantang turned and went back into the house, leaving behind a single sentence.
"I will have Qin Zheng contact you regarding the Derentang matter."
Qiao Lingling knelt in the courtyard, looking at Su Wantang's back, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
She knew that she had become a pawn in Su Wantang's hands.
At night, Su Wantang sat in her study, looking at the map on the table.
Several places are marked on the map, one of which is Derentang.
Lu Jingyan pushed the door open and came in, standing behind her.
"What are you thinking about?"
Su Wantang didn't even look up.
"I'm thinking about Derentang."
Lu Jingyan reached out and swept her hair to one side.
"What are your plans to do about Qian Hao?"
Su Wantang put down her pen and turned around.
"There's no rush yet."
She paused, then continued.
"Qiao Lingling has just been subdued, so we'll have to see how useful she really is."
Lu Jingyan lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
"Then don't overwork yourself."
Su Wantang leaned against him and closed her eyes.
"I'm fine."
Lu Jingyan picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.
"Let's go back and rest."
Su Wantang leaned against him, her voice sounding tired.
"Jingyan, I can handle these things myself from now on."
Lu Jingyan placed her on the bed and lay down beside her.
"no."
He paused, then continued.
"Leave these kinds of things to me from now on. I don't mind getting my hands dirty a little more."
Su Wantang turned her head and looked at him.
"Need not."
She reached out and took his hand.
"To deal with this kind of person, it's more effective to destroy their spirit than to kill them."
Lu Jingyan looked at her, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes.
"Wantang..."
Su Wantang smiled.
"I know you're worried about me, but this is my problem, and I have to solve it myself."
She paused, then continued.
"Furthermore, I've made a note of Derentang and Qian Hao."
Lu Jingyan pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"Okay, I'll do as you say."
Su Wantang leaned against him and closed her eyes.
"Jingyan, it's so good to have you."
Lu Jingyan lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
"I'm here."
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